NHL Draft 2018: 1st-Round Mock Predictions and Latest Order

Building a successful NHL team is an ongoing process. As the 2017-18 season nears its regular-season climax and preparations for the Stanley Cup playoffs begin, every team is already looking to the future.

That includes teams like the Nashville Predators and Tampa Bay Lightning, who have Stanley Cup aspirations for the season, and teams like the Buffalo Sabres and Arizona Coyotes, who are miles behind the leaders and can only think about the coming years.

The 2018 NHL draft will be held June 22-23 in Dallas. Here's a look at the draft order with mock draft selections prior to Tuesday night's games.

1. Buffalo Sabres: D Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda (SHL)
2. Arizona Coyotes: LW Filip Zadina, Halifax (QMJHL)
3. Vancouver Canucks: LW Brady Tkachuk, Boston University
4. Detroit Red Wings: C Oliver Wahlstrom, US Under 18
5. Ottawa Senators: RW Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie (OHL)
6. Montreal Canadiens: D Evan Bouchard, London (OHL)
7. Edmonton Oilers: D Noah Dobson, A-Bathurst (QMJHL)
8. Chicago Blackhawks: C Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
9. New York Islanders: D Bode Wilde, US Under 18
10. New York Rangers: C Joe Veleno, Drummondville (QMJHL)
11. Carolina Hurricanes: D Ty Smith, Spokane (WHL)
12. Florida Panthers: D Adam Boqvist, Brynas (SHL)
13. New York Islanders (Traded from Calgary Flames): D Ryan Merkley, Guelph (OHL)
14. New Jersey Devils: RW Serron Noel, Oshawa, (OHL) 
15. Philadelphia Flyers (Traded from St. Louis Blues): D Quinton Hughes, US Under 18
16. Dallas Stars: RW Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Assat Pori (SM-liiga)
17. Columbus Blue Jackets: LW Joel Farabee, USNTDP (USHL)
18. Philadelphia Flyers: Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
19. Anaheim Ducks: C Rasmus Kupari, Karpat Oulu (SM-liiga)
20. Los Angeles Kings: D Jared McIsaac, Halifax (QMJHL)
21. Colorado Avalanche: C Ryan McLeod, Mississauga (OHL) 
22. Ottawa Senators (Traded from Pittsburgh Penguins): LW Grigori Denisenko, Yaroslavl (KHL)
23. San Jose Sharks: D Alexander Alexeyev, Red Deer (WHL)
24. Washington Capitals: D Jett Woo, Moose Jaw (WHL)
25. Minnesota Wild: C Jeff McBain, Toronto Jr. (CCHL)
26. Toronto Maple Leafs: C Akil Thomas, Niagara (OHL) 
27. St. Louis Blues (Traded from Winnipeg Jets): RW Dominik Bonn, Vaxjo (SHL)
28. Detroit Red Wings (Traded from Vegas Golden Knights): D Calen Addison (WHL)
29. New York Rangers (Traded from Boston Bruins): D Jonathan Tychonick, Penticton (BCHL)
30. New York Rangers (Traded from Tampa Bay Lightning): C Isac Lundestrom, Lulea HF (SHL)
31. Chicago Blackhawks (Traded from Nashville Predators): C Jacob Olofsson, Timra IK (Allsvenskan)

D Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda

Rasmus Dahlin is the top prize in this draft, and he appears to be the best prospect by a sizable margin. He is a special player, and Bill Placzek of Draftsite.com has declared the Swede as the best defensive prospect in the last 10 years of the draft. 

Dahlin is 6'1" and 184 pounds, and he has excellent speed and puck-moving skills. He is fully responsible on the defensive side of the ice, and he doesn't have to apologize for his offensive skills.

He is a world-class player, and while he will make some mistakes by being too aggressive, he looks ready to fulfill the role of a No. 1 defenseman.

Dahlin has scored seven goals and 13 assists in 41 games for Frolunda.

Adrian Kraus/Associated Press

LW Brady Tkachuk, Boston University

The son of former NHL star Keith Tkachuk, Brady Tkachuk plays much like his father with plenty of toughness and leadership ability. He will battle for the puck and won't give up, and he combines that ability with excellent stickhandling. 

Tkachuk, 6'2" and 195 pounds, is a creative player, and that gives him NHL potential. He is also strong from a defensive perspective, and he is not afraid to throw his body in front of the puck to block shots.

He has scored eight goals and 21 assists at Boston University this year, and he also scored three goals and six assists in seven games.

LW Filip Zadina, Halifax

Filip Zadina is a big-time scorer from the Czech Republic, and while he does not have brilliant straight-ahead speed, he has excellent agility that allows him to get what a scorer needs most: time and space.

He has quick hands that allow him to get off his shots without any hesitation. He also plays strong defense and is clearly a tough three-zone player. 

Like many top scorers, Zadina demonstrates patience. He will not rush his shot and will hold on for an extra split second, throwing off the goalie's timing. That's his gift, and it should pay off at the next level.

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Scouting information derived from Bob McKenzie of TSN.ca, Draftsite.com and MyNHLdraft.com.