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Colorado Avalanche: 2018 NHL Mock Draft of the First Round

By Nadia Archuleta

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 24: General manager Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche listens to president of hockey operations Trevor Linden of the Vancouver Canucks on the draft floor during the 2017 NHL Draft at United Center on June 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 24: General manager Joe Sakic of the Colorado Avalanche listens to president of hockey operations Trevor Linden of the Vancouver Canucks on the draft floor during the 2017 NHL Draft at United Center on June 24, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Picks 11 Through 15

Center. Drummondville . Joe Veleno. 11. player. 106.

The New York Islanders may need to look at moving on without the face of their franchise, captain and leading scorer John Tavares. He looks suspiciously like he might want to test free agency. Center Joe Veleno is in now ways going to replace Tavares, but he would be the best forward still available in this draft scenario.

player. 106. . Right Wing. Traktor Chelyabinsk. Vitali Kravtsov. 12

Whether the Islanders think they’re keeping Tavares or not, they’re going to want to keep bolstering their forward depth. Though Barrett Hayton is the next highest-rated forward, I think the Islanders might go for flash — the player I wanted for the Colorado Avalanche, Vitali Kravtsov. He’s the third-rated skater after Dahlin and Svechnikov among Europeans.

Note: This pick is from a trade the Islanders made with the Calgary Flames.

13. player. 119. . Center. S.S. Marie. Barrett Hayton

If Barrett Hayton is still available when the Dallas Stars take the podium, I think they’re going to snap him up as best available. They’ve got their top line set with Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn with a side of Alex Radulov. All those are flashy scorers. I think they’d like the complement of a crafty, responsible player like Hayton.

Oshawa . Serron Noel. 14. player. 68. . Right Wing

The Philadelphia Flyers have always favored a big, bruising style of hockey. I don’t think they’re going to be able to resist a winger who’s 6-foot-5, 205 pounds as a 17-year-old. Noel also has the power forward tendencies to back up his size.

*Note: This pick is from a trade the Islanders made with St. Louis.

87. . Left Wing. Lokomotiv Yaroslavl. Grigori Denisenko. 15. player

The Florida Panthers just acquired a winger — rumor-laden Mike Hoffman — from Ottawa by way of San Jose. No telling if they’ll keep him or keep playing hot potato. That said, they’ll still need some wing help. Denisenko is a talented, skilled winger who can eventually augment their forward corps.

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