Picks 16-20
By this point, teams are starting to draft for need withing the best player available model.
If the Colorado Avalanche miss out on Byram, like I think they will, I’d like to see them pick a defenseman at #16. Thomas Harley is the best available at this point, and he’s got some good upside. I think he could be just the kind of defenseman the Avs could groom to take a top-four role in four years or so.
Vegas Hockey Knight: “There seems to be plenty of puck-moving defensemen around where the Knights are picking, but feel the franchise needs a legitimate goalie to be the heir to the throne to Fleury.”
I chuckled a little when I saw I’d be giving the Vegas Golden Knights a player named Knight. However, that was just a happy accident — they want a goalie, and Spencer Knight is the best in this draft class.
Krebs was a definite BPA by this point in the draft. Plus, his skills seem to fit with the Stars’ M.O.
SenShot: “The Ottawa Senators will have an interesting decision to make on draft day. They are clearly looking at rebuilding from the blueline, but if a top goalscoring forward is available, it might be too hard to pass over.”
I looked at Heinola long and hard for the Colorado Avalanche, but he had a couple deficiencies I felt wouldn’t work for the team. However, he could be Erik Karlsson Lite for the Senators.
Raphael Lavoie was one of the players whom some of the draft boards had moving up. So, since this is the Rangers’ second pick of the first round, I thought they might take a chance on him.