Post-Trade Deadline B/R 2026 Mock Draft

Our last mock draft was in January. Between the Olympics, the trade deadline, and everything that has happened off the ice—well, a lot has happened, to put it mildly. And thanks to what has happened on the ice, we've got a whole new draft order to play with.

Putting together a mock draft is like playing cornhole, but someone keeps moving the boards, and you're throwing live fish instead of beanbags. You'll hit a few, but mostly you're just trying to figure out the impossible.

I'm working with a lot of knowledge, but I'm not working with the scouts' brains, who are actually making the selections. With that in mind, if you don't like your team's pick in this hypothetical—and I mean this sincerely—I'd love to know who you would choose instead, whether it's here or on social media. Just be nice about it.

For record keeping, the Senators do not have a pick in this year's Draft, which is why we go from 14 to 16.

Key reminder: mock drafts aren't rankings. Don't start yelling about how you'd probably rank someone else first overall. I would too. That's not the game we're playing.

Draft Order as of March 10 and provided by Tankathon

1. Vancouver Canucks: Keaton Verhoeff, D, University of North Dakota (NCAA)

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I admit this first overall pick is a little spicy, depending on who you're talking to. But hear me out: in the wake of losing 'Captain America defenseman who is small', the Vancouver Canucks selecting 'solid Canadian defenseman who is large' (Verhoeff is 6'4" and 212 pounds) just makes sense. At least, I imagine it would make sense to the Canucks.

One thing didn't work out, so you make a 180 and go the other way. The Canucks aren't the only team I can envision selecting Verhoeff first overall, either.

Let's ignore that they would be leaving value on the table in the form of Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg and check out what Verhoeff brings to the table. It begins with his combination of size and offensive skill; while holding his own as an underager at this year's World Junior Championships, he recorded 4 points in 5 games, and he's at 20 in 32 NCAA games as a freshman.

He doesn't shy away from being physical. He shows really nice flashes of creativity and intelligence that, if refined, could turn into something very special. And perhaps most attractive to NHL teams, he's that ever-elusive right-handed defenseman.

2. Calgary Flames: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)

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If they're picking second and he's still available, the Calgary Flames are 100 percent selecting Western Canada boy Gavin McKenna.

While his name has been in the news for more than just his on-ice play recently, that on-ice play is what we're focusing on here. And that on-ice play is stellar.

At the end of February, he recorded eight points in a game in which he showcased all the key facets of his game: elite puckhandling, processing speeds that rival the speed of light, deception, and puck control you won't see from many other players. He's averaging about 1.5 points per game right now, with 48 in 32 games.

If I've said it once, I've said it a million times; McKenna is the kind of player that you can build a winning team around. The Flames have been drafting well for a while now; adding McKenna to that would be like throwing water on a grease fire, if you'll excuse the obvious pun.

I've complained about his engagement levels off-puck up to this point, but the last month or so, I've been a little less worried about that than I was in the Fall. I'm not letting that concern go yet, but I'm definitely more on board with it than I was.

3. New York Rangers: Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)

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I am incapable of giving the New York Rangers the benefit of the doubt. By that I mean: I think there's no chance they get a pick this high and don't go galaxy-brain on it. Lawrence is a good player, but he's not third overall material. He is, however, exactly the kind of player that the Rangers would pick too early.

This is not to say that I don't like Lawrence as a player!

There's a lot to like, so let's talk about it. He made the leap to the Boston University Terriers for the second half of his draft season (spent the first half with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL), and so far he's recorded 4 points in 16 games. Making the leap from the NCAA to the USHL is a big adjustment; playing in the NCAA as a 17-year-old is an even bigger one.

We're not going to judge by numbers right now. He's incredibly intelligent, thinking the game at a high level and at top speeds; that's not translating to game-breaking plays at the college level yet, but the signs are still there. He's a great skater, and he plays at a high pace. I can see the Rangers taking a swing at his potential.

4. Chicago Blackhawks: Ivar Stenberg, LW/RW, Frolunda HC (SHL)

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Finally, Swedish winger Ivar Stenberg goes off the board. If the Chicago Blackhawks get first overall talent at a fourth overall pick, two things are going to happen: everyone is going to hate them more than they already do, and Connor Bedard's life is going to get a little bit better from here. Maybe. 

A lot of people have Stenberg at the top of their draft boards. It's a fight I've been having with myself, and if I'm honest, I'm probably going to end the season perfectly satisfied with either him or McKenna going first overall.

He's an incredible player, someone who can come in and be a difference-maker from the word go thanks to his high skill level at both ends of the ice. He's just as good in the defensive zone as he is making plays. His skating and stick work both stood out to me at World Juniors against his peer group, and across the rest of his season against older opponents.

He brings great deceptive abilities, high-level intelligence, and a nonstop motor. The thought of him on Connor Bedard's wing makes me sick (this is a compliment). 

5. St. Louis Blues: Carson Carels, D, Prince George Cougars (WHL)

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Defenseman Carson Carels at fifth overall is a bit ambitious, but not by much. It was the fact that the St. Louis Blues have this pick that really sealed it for me. Carels is a great skater, relentless on every shift, and straight-up mean.

And though the Blues' attempt to trade away Colton Parayko didn't go through, they're probably already looking ahead to the future of their defensive corps. Carels feels like a no-brainer target for them.

Alongside his composure on the breakout, Carels brings a steady offense. Currently, he sits at 66 points in 53 games for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. His physicality is something I can see attracting teams, because he knows how and when to use it; he's not just hitting to hit, and he knows when to shift gears and focus on using his awareness and connecting his passes.

He does a lot of game management; not a surprise when a player is relied on as heavily as he is. I don't think he's as far away from the NHL as others in this draft class.

6. Winnipeg Jets: Ryan Roobroeck, C, Niagara IceDogs (OHL) 

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Very similar to our New York Rangers early pick in our last mock draft (and this one), I've got the Winnipeg Jets galaxy braining it and taking center Ryan Roobroeck.

I'm going to get hate for not thinking he's a top-10 pick, but despite liking a lot of what he brings to the table, I just haven't been convinced of his engagement levels. And with the way he's dropped down several boards across the season, it appears I'm not alone. I don't think the Jets will care, though; I think if he's their man and he's available, they're going to take him wherever they land. 

So what is there to like about Roobroeck's game? He's got high-level tools, including an already NHL-calibre shot. He's at 58 points in 49 games for the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL right now, including 30 goals. We've seen flashes of high-level playmaking at times, making him dangerous both as a scorer and as someone creating for teammates; he just needs consistency.

And to give him credit, his pace has been improving in the second half. Is he a project? Yes. Could it be worth it? No guarantee, but the signs are certainly there.

7. Boston Bruins (via TOR): Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

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Don't let the broken clavicle fool you; Ethan Belchetz would be an excellent quality draft pick for the Bruins. I'm rarely this generous with their picks, preferring to assume (based entirely on evidence they have provided) that they're going to make it weird instead. But Belchetz is a) too good to pass up at this point and b) someone that I can see both fitting into and elevating the Bruins' prospect pool. 

Belchetz brings size (he's 6'5" and 227 pounds), which we know the Bruins like, and pairs it with high-end tools to boot. Before he went down, he was at 59 points in 57 games, including 34 goals. One of the main issues with his game is the lack of consistency across the above.

Watching him, you got a good taste of what he's capable of, and then you got frustrated with the moments where he almost seems passive; you wanted to see him take over shifts regularly, and it wasn't always happening. Still, whether he's consistently reaching that ceiling or not, the floor is high, and I have faith in the potential here.

8. Nashville Predators: Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste Marie Greyhounds

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Finally, defenseman Chase Reid is off the board. He's a lot higher than 8th in my personal rankings, but we're fitting pieces into a puzzle here. A season of change is on the horizon for the Nashville Predators, with general manager Barry Trotz currently searching for his replacement, and adding several high-quality prospects at this year's draft would be a great way to ease that transition. 

Chase Reid is better than high quality. 

Every time he steps onto the ice, he's able to affect the flow of play. He currently has 47 points in 42 games as a draft-eligible defenseman, leaving last season's 40-point total in the dust. His mobility catches your eye right off, and then you notice his ability to suffocate his opponents' plays. The way he is able to read developing plays is not psychic, but is something close to it.

The Predators would be quite smart to add Reid to their future plans.

9. New Jersey Devils: Viggo Bjorck, C/RW, Djurgardens IF

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Swedish forward Viggo Bjorck is another player I fully expect to see off the board before this point, but it just didn't work out. And that is quite fortunate for the New Jersey Devils of this hypothetical! Other than Stenberg, Bjorck was one of the players I had the most fun watching at this year's World Juniors; it felt like he was everywhere whenever I watched Sweden. He's playing against grown men with Djurgardens in Sweden's top professional league, and saying that he's holding his own feels like an understatement. 

Bjorck plays center on the top line—recall that he's 17 and that's not typical—and is used in pretty much every situation; it's hard to find a moment in the game where his team doesn't trust him to get the job done.

His motor and his puck skills don't have an off switch, and both his ceiling and floor are high. I do have some concerns about just how high-end his intelligence is and whether he can add another layer of deception or creativity to his offense, but that feels like complaining about icing flavors on a cupcake at the moment. I definitely expect him to be inside the top 10.

10. Florida Panthers: Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

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There are conditions to this pick: the Panthers' first-round pick is Top-10-protected, and it goes to Chicago to complete the Seth Jones trade unless Florida is in the Top 10 of this year's draft. For this exercise, they just make the cut.

Given that their prospect pool rankings drift ever lower (Scott Wheeler of The Athletic just put them in last place, and I'm inclined to agree), the Florida Panthers really need to start making smart decisions about their drafting.

It's fine to mortgage the future when you're going for the Stanley Cup, but they're not even in a playoff spot right now. Defenseman Daxon Rudolph from the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL wouldn't be a bad place to start. 

I personally have other players ranked higher than Rudolph, but watching him play, he feels like someone the Panthers would consider a fit. He's extremely smart, both in terms of how he reads the play and the decisions that he makes, and he brings pretty good size (6'2" and 203 pounds) and physicality alongside that intelligence. He pairs that with great stick work, handling pucks nicely when he has them and using his stick to bust up opponents' plays when he doesn't. He's a heavy hitter as well, and doesn't default to just one way of producing offense.

11. Los Angeles Kings: Alberts Smits, D, Jukurit (Liiga)

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That's Olympic defenseman Alberts Smits to you now. He even recorded two assists in the four games he played in Milan. I'm not sure whether that honor—one not often bestowed on draft-eligible players—will give him a boost come draft day, but I also don't think that he needs it because his play speaks for itself. His hockey sense is a particular highlight of his game for me, but it's certainly not all he brings to the table. 

He was recently loaned to EHC Red Bull München of the DEL, Germany's top hockey league, to compete for a German championship. He was able to jump directly into regular play thanks to his size (he's 6'3" and 205 pounds) and his excellent skating, a combination that I anecdotally feel like we're seeing more of in recent years. Maybe big players have learned they can get skating coaches, too. His puck retrieval, his processing, and his positioning are all top-notch. I think he's one of this year's draft-eligibles with a shorter runway to the NHL.

12. Seattle Kraken: Xavier Villeneuve, D, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

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Sometimes I just want to write things like "Villeneuve good" and call it a day because that's the crux of what you need to know. Xavier Villeneuve is good, and Seattle Kraken fans would like him very much. He's one of those players I have ranked outside of the top 10 that I could easily see someone who gets, say, the fifth overall pick going off board to select because they're convinced someone else will snap him up if they don't. I could also see him falling to the end of the round because of concerns about his size and durability. I don't pretend that what I think is what everyone thinks. But I like the player.

Quick rundown on Villeneuve, who has unfortunately not played since we last discussed him in a mock draft: he's maintained a steady point-ish-per-game pace with 36 in 35 games.

I would have preferred to see a bigger jump from last year's totals (62 in 61, roughly the same pace), but I sometimes get nervous when defensemen from the Q score at a gaudy rate. It makes me think they're cherry-picking and developing habits they won't be able to sustain in the NHL.

Villeneuve is dynamic, efficient, and intelligent, with the ability to both create plays and smother them. His agility and puck skills are top-notch. I think you take the swing.

13. Washington Capitals: Adam Novotny, LW/RW, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

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I don't have a clue where Peterborough Petes winger Adam Novotny will end up in June, but if it were up to me, it would be a higher spot than many expect.

Watching him play, I think he makes sense as a Washington Capitals selection; he brings a high level of engagement and the ability to be a menace both with and without the puck. He's also already got pro experience; he spent last season playing in Czechia's professional league against much older opponents.

Novotny is extremely well-rounded, particularly compared to many of his peers, and he's one of those players who you can see consistently raise his game across the course of the season. He's an absolute force on the forecheck, something else that I can see the Capitals appreciating, and everything he does is underpinned by excellent awareness and efficiency.

He affects the game positively in just about any situation, creating on the cycle and on the rush, and I honestly feel bad for defenders who have to go up against him. You're not keeping the puck if you do, make peace with that now.

14. Philadelphia Flyers: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)

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Center Caleb Malhotra made a big jump in his time around, both because he's risen up my personal list and because I imagine he has definitely risen on the lists of NHL teams. I could see him going just about anywhere after pick 10, depending on how badly a team wants him—and maybe even before, depending on the team. Here, I had him selected by the Philadelphia Flyers.

One standout reason is his excellent work ethic; the quick follow-up is his high-level hockey sense. 

A very attractive piece of his game is his attention to detail. The way that Malhotra combines his offensive instincts with his careful, detailed approach to putting those instincts into action is probably why he's risen so high, honestly. You can trust him anywhere on the ice. He recently set a single-season record for points by a rookie with the Brantford Bulldogs—and while the record-setting total was 66 points, he's currently sitting at 79, including 28 goals. His skating is a little bit of a question mark at an NHL level, but I frankly think he does everything else well enough that it won't matter.

16. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

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Skipping right over our favorite pick forfeiters (sorry Senators fans), we move on to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Vancouver Giants captain Ryan Lin, who recently returned from a long-term injury, just feels like he makes sense as the pick here. I can see him going off the board sooner, but because of his size I can also see him falling; if I'm remembering right, no defensemen shorter than 6'0" got drafted in the first round last season, so we'll see if anyone takes the chance this year.

Lin is an extremely intelligent defender with excellent edgework and an impressive detail game, particularly when it comes to his stick work. Though he's been limited to 48 games at the time of writing, he's at 55 points, surpassing his total of 53 last year in 60 games.

As that was a facet of his play he was looking to improve, it's good to see the evidence that he has. I still want to see growth in terms of his creation, but he's suffocating defensively, shutting down opponents in a consistent way that speaks well to his long-term potential.

17. San Jose Sharks: Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Liiga)

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I remain convinced that Oliver Suvanto will be selected between picks 13 and 21. We had him at 21 last time, but given the number of moving pieces, I've bumped him up to 17th. What Suvanto brings to the table feels like it would be attractive to the San Jose Sharks; he's a true two-way center, legitimately effective at both ends of the ice, and that's a natural fit for a team that has Macklin Celebrini leading the way into the future.

Suvanto's high-end hockey sense allows him to create intelligently and then turn around and use those smarts to absolutely smother his opponents' opportunities.

He won't be 18 until September—one of the youngest players in the draft class—but there's a maturity to his game that surpasses many of his older peers. He doesn't project as the flashy, high-end point scorer on his line in his NHL future, but I think he's going to have a long career as maybe a number two center who stabilizes and supports more dynamic, flashy linemates.

For the Sharks, that could mean putting him with someone a bit more freewheeling, like Quentin Musty.

18. San Jose Sharks (via EDM): Oscar Hemming, F, Boston College (NCAA)

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Second San Jose Sharks pick in a row, second Finn in a row. What can I say, I love a theme. Add to that the fact that Hemming and Suvanto are both hovering in the mid-round area in terms of rankings, and I couldn't resist. I don't have any intel that the Sharks want Finns or anything. While I'm not 100 certain this will pan out yet, I think Hemming has top-six power-forward potential, and with the stable of prospects the Sharks are building, adding someone like him is a good idea.

Brief rundown on Hemming: while I said he has top-six potential, I genuinely don't see his floor lower than a third-line player (and I think the former is more likely). He's 6'4", 198 pounds, and currently sitting at 7 points in 17 games with Boston College.

This is his first season playing North American hockey, but to my mind, you wouldn't know it watching him play. He brings an excellent physical game, is fantastic on the forecheck, and has the high-level awareness necessary to support elite linemates while showing flashes of dynamic ability himself.

19. Calgary Flames (via VGK): Marcus Nordmark, RW, Djurgardens IF U20 (U20 Nationell)

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There are quite a few Swedish options for this year's first round, and we're about to go on a little run of them. First up: right wing Marcus Nordmark, who currently plays for Djurgardens U20 team. Nordmark is a well-rounded forward with a strong set of tools.

Of those tools, his vision underpins everything I like about his game. His rankings range from 14th to 49th, at last check, and while I don't have him ranked this high personally, he's the kind of player I can see a team going off-board to select.

One reason I don't have him ranked as high for myself is that he prefers to do most of his creating from the perimeter, and I don't like that. That said, there's a lot of will to create in his game. I want to see more than just flashes of dynamic ability, though.

He's incredibly smart and highly aware. I just don't see him driving play, particularly in transition. He's got a quick release; his passes are deceptive. The pieces are all there! I am just not yet convinced he can put them together at the NHL level. But I also think there will be an NHL team willing to take that risk. If it's one with a good development environment, I feel good about his chances.

20. Utah Mammoth: Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (SHL)

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We're on a run of Swedes at the moment, and our current focus is defender Malte Gustafsson of HV71 in the top Swedish league. With the Utah Mammoth being early in their existence, they're likely still looking to add as many kinds of high-quality prospects as possible (yes, they inherited the Coyotes' prospect pool, but teams are naturally going to want to put their own stamp on things).

Gustafsson has been splitting his time between various levels of play this season, including the SHL, HV71's U20 team during the Olympic break, and even a couple of games at the U18 level. SHL ice time has taken a bit of a nosedive since Christmas, but he's still playing a solid game even in lower minutes. 

While he's a higher risk than a lot of other defensemen available in the first round, there's so much to like about Gustafsson's game. His awareness is terrific, closing gaps and quickly getting off passes to teammates.

He's not a high-rate creator, but he has good offensive abilities, and he's a dynamic, mobile skater, so he's able to nab opportunities when they arise. His appeal is definitely more on the defensive side of things, though. I'm really interested to see who takes a chance on him, and where, in June.

21. New York Islanders: Elton Hermansson, RW/LW, MoDo Hockey (Hockey Allsvenskan)

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Next Swede up?

Winger Elton Hermansson of MoDo Hockey in the second-tier Swedish league. Taking him 21st overall is higher than I personally would go, but it's a move that I can easily see the Islanders making due to the key facets of his game. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer is clearly leading the next generation of Islanders, and they're going to need players who can keep up with him to surround him.

If Hermansson lives up to his high skill level, I can see him being a good piece of that puzzle, particularly with improvements we've seen of late. His stick work is sublime, and his skating speed and edgework are excellent. His playmaking ability isn't one-dimensional; rather, he can create in a variety of circumstances.

I think there's still a decent level of risk to his game, but he's got a better chance of panning out than some toolsy Islanders picks of the past. I'd like to see his decision-making improve, but hey, isn't that something we could all use some work on? Skating posture could also use work.

22. Boston Bruins: Ilia Morozov, F, Miami University (NCAA)

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Continuing our trend of not allowing the Bruins to galaxy-brain their picks, because I know they'll be doing it in real life, so I get to make them act sensible in our hypothetical world, we've got Miami University forward Ilia Morozov.

At 17 (his birthday is not till Aug. 3), he's the youngest player in D1 college hockey this season, and yet he's able to overpower his competition nightly. He spent last season with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, where he recorded 22 points in 59 games; with Miami, he currently sits at 20 in 36 games.

Highlights of Morozov's game include quick reaction times, high-end defensive anticipation, and engagement levels, notably on the backcheck. While he initially received a B-grade from NHL Central Scouting, I don't really agree with that. He's a natural problem-solver, one who you can trust in any area of the ice, and he reads the ice and how the play is developing very well.

He's the kind of guy who makes life easier for his teammates, and I have a hunch we'll continue to see growth.

23. St. Louis Blues (via DET): Mathis Preston, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)

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While I'm not entirely convinced that Vancouver Giants winger Mathis Preston will be around at pick 23, I am convinced that if he is, the Blues wouldn't hesitate to take him off the board. Like teammate and captain Ryan Lin, Preston spent an extended amount of time out with a serious injury, but he's back for the end of the regular season. Prior to being traded, he was thrust into a high-level role with the Spokane Chiefs after playing behind both Berkly Catton and Andrew Cristall.

Preston is not the top five pick. I saw many touting him before the season began, but he is a player with high potential. He's extremely smart, able to think the game at top speed, and his highlights include excellent stick work and skating, as well as effective problem-solving under pressure.

I said last time that I wanted more offensive consistency, and I stand by that, but I don't think we've got time to see it before the draft in June. This late in the first round, it's worth taking the swing that he finds that consistency after you draft him.

24. Pittsburgh Penguins: JP Hurlbert, C, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

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This is maybe ever-so-slightly high for Hurlbert, but my philosophy is that once you get past about pick 22, it's a bit of a crapshoot. The Penguins selecting JP Hurlbert here feels spiritually similar to their selecting Will Horcoff at, ironically, 24th overall last year, so I'm rolling with it. 

Hurlbert moved from the USNTDP to play for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL this season, and while I don't always love players who make the jump from the NTDP to a CHL team (because often they do it just to dominate and get their point totals up without having to address bad habits), it's clearly been a good fit for him.

His consistency away from the puck has noticeably improved, and his instincts and vision are supporting impressive production—he's sitting at 92 points in 62 games. I'd like to see better habits that I feel can make his game even more translatable, and improvement to his skating, but I like his tools a lot.

25. Montreal Canadiens: Yegor Shilov, C, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

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Same draft spot as our last mock for the Montreal Canadiens. We even have them selecting another Russian player. In this go-round, however, they're selecting a player from their own backyard (so to speak) and taking Yegor Shilov of the Victoriaville Tigres in the QMJHL. The Tigres center is also a Boston University commit, a path that I find entertaining because the Terriers are basically the QMJHL of the NCAA. The BU connection is also a notable one because of future Norris Trophy winner Lane Hutson. 

In all seriousness, I kind of want the QMJHL to NCAA path to become a regular thing; in a free-flying defense optional league, it can be easy for some players to develop bad habits, and by going to a league that is kind of the opposite in a holistic sense, those rough edges can be sanded off. Shilov's rough edges come in the form of a need for urgency and engagement; he already processes the game at very high speeds and has fantastic stickwork. Going to a tougher league will force him to raise the former to meet the level of the latter.

26. Buffalo Sabres: Juho Piiparinen, D, Tappara (Liiga)

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The Buffalo Sabres being this low on the draft list/this high in the league is as big a surprise to me as it was to you, or to the writers of Heated Rivalry. Apparently, that diss was one of the most motivating factors.

Because we're working with an entirely different crop, I gave them Finnish defenseman Juho Piiparinen this time around. He's not the flashiest player out there, but he's steady; the kind of defenseman you don't notice until he's shutting down your opponent's top players.

Piiparinen is one of the younger players in this year's draft—he won't turn 18 until August. Nominally a teammate of fellow projected first-rounder Oliver Suvanto on Tappara in the Finnish Liiga, he's spent time with both Pyry of Mestis, the Finnish second-tier league, and Tappara's U20 team this season.

Size is one aspect of his game—he's 6'3", 203 pounds, and knows how to use that size to take time and space away from opponents—but passing is his biggest highlight. He's defense-focused, with good gap control and poise under pressure.

27. Vancouver Canucks via Minnesota Wild: William Hakansson, D, Lulea HF (SHL) 

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Same team, same pick spot, different Swede. Let's try out defenseman William Hakansson of Lulea HF in the top Swedish league for this Vancouver Canucks pick, shall we? Hakansson wasn't in our last mock draft, so we didn't discuss his play at this year's World Juniors. Across seven games for the gold medal-winning Swedes, Hakansson was quite reliable, providing strength and stability on defense. 

Something that I think teams will find attractive about Hakansson is that while he has a low ceiling, he has a very high floor. He's not going to be producing flashy offense—he had two points at World Juniors and four in 16 games with Lulea's U20 team—but there's a good chance the other team won't either. He's a solid skater who can play heavy minutes. I see him as more of a second-round pick myself, but I understand NHL teams well enough to know that there's definitely a team out there that would draft him in the first, and it very well could be the Canucks.

28. New York Rangers via Dallas Stars: Alexander Command, C, Orebro HK (SHL)

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If I'm recalling correctly, this is the same spot I had Swedish center Alexander Command picked in our last mock draft, and I honestly feel pretty good about it—indeed, about him going anywhere from about pick 25 to the end of the round. At the same time, I can see him being the type of team that jumps to take off the board before someone else can. It's not a choice I would make, but when considering the combination of high-end vision and physicality he brings, I do understand it.

Command's engagement level is high pretty consistently, and he pairs that with an ability to process the game at a high level. His defensive game is strong; he can create with little space and few options. Most of the time, I really like his decision-making, though he definitely has his hiccups. I would like to see his skating improve and his pace and production increase to really convince me that he's worth anything greater than a late first- or early second-round pick, but the bones of his game are appealing.

29. Washington Capitals (via ANA): Brooks Rogowski, C, Oshawa Generals

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This is roughly the same area I had Oshawa Generals center Brooks Rogowski picked in our last mock draft; my assessment of him hasn't really changed, and that's not an insult. I'd rather think a guy was a late first-rounder and consistently be proven right than be yo-yoed all over the place by an inconsistent player who looks like a top-five pick one night and a second-rounder the next.

Rogowski is a Michigan State University commit, which means he could be teammates with Porter Martone next season—a diabolical combination, if you ask me—and is a smart player whose standout aspect of his game is his attention to detail. There's also his size, as he stands 6'6" and 231 pounds, but he doesn't rely on that size as a key factor in his play; his intelligence is what shines. 

He's got good vision and is skilled at using it to quickly identify his options and select the best one; he's got a great shot. He's never going to be the most fancy and deceptive playmaker, but that intelligence allows him to be quite effective regardless, and he's great at supporting his linemates, who are more creative players.

30. Seattle Kraken (via TBL): Nikita Klepov, LW, Saginaw Spirit

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I had Saginaw Spirit winger Nikita Klepov at 20th overall last time; he's at 30th overall here.

I think the most realistic outcome in terms of draft position lies somewhere in the middle of those two. But more than that, I think the Seattle Kraken need to cut it out with the "oops, all centers" approach and draft some skilled wingers, and Klepov certainly is one of them. I keep stumbling upon Michigan State University commits in this first round, to no surprise, though Klepov is currently embarrassing OHL opponents. 

At the time of writing, Klepov is sitting at 88 points in 62 OHL games, including 36 goals. There's a shot he hits that 40-goal mark in the Spirit's remaining 5 games, but given that he's already leading the overall OHL scoring race (like he was in our last mock draft), I don't know that he needs to.

Tenacity is not a strong enough word for this guy's relentless nature, and he pairs that work ethic with high-end processing and excellent puck skills. I think he's gone before 30 in a just world, but if he's available, that's a lot of value this late in the round.

31. Carolina Hurricanes: Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)

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So here's a funny anecdote for you: it's been a minute since I wrote my last mock draft, and I didn't look at it before I made the list for this one because I try to do my mocks with fresh eyes every time. So imagine my surprise when I realize I've selected Liam Ruck for the Carolina Hurricanes yet again. Is this the universe telling me that the Hurricanes will draft him? Maybe! But it's just as likely that they will pick a Russian player from a league I've never heard of who will end up a perennial 80-point NHLer. 

It will surprise no one, or at least no one who pays attention to these things, that Ruck's point totals have skyrocketed since our last mock. He's currently at 94 points in 63 games, including 39 goals (easy to predict he hits the 40-goal mark in one of Medicine Hat's four remaining games). He's not out here riding the PDO wave to the bank, either; the upside of his game is legit.

He's smart, he's efficient, and he has excellent vision. I think he's the real deal. Size concerns are probably holding him back because he's a little weedy, but I'm not worried about that.

32. St. Louis Blues (via COL): Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)

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I don't know where he'll go, but I have a feeling Youngstown Phantoms center Jack Hextall is going to end up somewhere at the end of the first round. Here, the St. Louis Blues use the late first-round pick they acquired from the Colorado Avalanche to snag him, because it just makes sense.

He's headed to Michigan State University next season, a plan that I think he should stick to because a longer, steady development runway feels like the right fit for him.

Hextall's hockey sense is one of his strengths, allowing him to see the play in front of him develop before opponents can, and his engagement level is high. He's been winning battles in the middle of the ice, but there's also been improvement along the wall of late.

He's a versatile player, able to play the wing or center, and we sometimes see flashes of deception in his playmaking. I would like to see him add muscle, and I'd really like to see him focus the physical aspect of his game into something more productive, but the bones are good.