Picks 26-31
The teams in this section are already pretty solid. However, I think they’ll obviously be looking at this draft with an eye to the future.
As noted in the previous slide, Egor Afanasayev is the BPA at this point. It makes sense the Flames would take him on. Besides, someone’s got to make up for Johnny Hockey’s diminutive stature at some point.
The Tampa Bay Lightning are a solid team, so I think they won’t shy away from a guy who’s undersized when he brings offensive gifts to the table.
Cardiac Cane: “Best offensive player available.”
Hoglander has the offensive skills to develop into the kind of player Carolina needs. Plus, he has the word hog in his name, and the Hurricanes have a hog as their mascot.
I don’t think the Ducks will be able to help themselves — gritty power forwards with size is the M.O.
Jokob Pelletier is another player who jumped up in mock drafts. I feel like the Bruins need to start looking at some of the finer aspects of the game in their draft picks.
The Sabres could use some size and some of Vlasic’s talent. They’re definitely a team trying to rebuild, and Vlasic can help them to that end.
The first round of the 2019 NHL Draft takes place on June 21. According to Sporting News, the time is 6 pm MT.