The NHL Draft takes place Wednesday and Thursday in Nashville and the Chicago Blackhawks will have the privilege of selecting prospect Connor Bedard with the first overall pick.
Thereafter, several scenarios are possible and it is difficult to predict who the Montreal Canadiens will select in fifth place. This is without taking into account the possibility of exchanges being made.
Here are five issues to watch during the draft.
Which dominoes will fall?
Although the draft has often had its share of surprises, it is unthinkable to see a scenario in which the Blackhawks do not select Bedard first overall in the draft.
Bedard led the Canadian Hockey League with 143 points in 57 games and rewrote the Canadian team record books at the World Junior Championship, helping Canada win gold.
There seems to be consensus in second place. The Anaheim Ducks should choose Ontario forward Adam Fantilli. The latter won in his first season with the University of Michigan the Hobey-Baker trophy, awarded to the player par excellence at the American university level.
Going forward, it could all come down to GM preferences and it will be interesting to see how each pick impacts the next one. Many quality attackers are available, each with particular characteristics. Swede Leo Carlsson and Americans Will Smith and Ryan Leonard could quickly find a buyer, as could Russian Matvei Michkov.
The Russian factor
The Michkov case is probably the one that gets the most attention as the draft draws near. He shone on the international scene during the World Under-18 Championship in 2021, scoring 12 goals in 7 games and amassing 16 points, 2 more than Bedard.
However, he has spent the last few seasons away from the spotlight in Russia. While he has continued to be productive with HC Sochi, following a loan from SKA Saint Petersburg, his situation has dampened the interest of general managers for several reasons.
First, Michkov is still under contract with SKA Saint-Petersburg for three seasons, which will delay his arrival in the NHL. In addition, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has increased the number of question marks regarding the future of young Russian hockey players, who may, you never know, eventually have to be sent to the front line like the rest of the population. .
We should also not forget the mysterious death of Michkov’s father, whose body was found in a stream in Sochi.
At what rank will the first defender be chosen?
The hottest prospects this year are all forwards, which isn’t to say that no defender isn’t attractive. However, opinions are more varied.
Austrian David Reinbacher could come out as high as fifth, but some observers question his attacking potential.
The Swede Axel Sandin Pellikka is also attracting attention. He has excellent offensive skills and some believe he is the most talented defender available. Others have concerns about his size and see him coming out in the second half of the first round instead.
An active trading market
The draft session brings together the 32 general managers in the same room and there are often several transactions that are concluded.
Last year, Kent Hughes delighted Montreal fans at the Bell Centre. He stole the show by completing two trades to get his hands on young forward Kirby Dach. The Ottawa Senators have also been active, securing Alex DeBrincat.
This year, the spotlight is once again on Hughes, as the Canadian finds himself at the heart of trade rumors involving Winnipeg Jets center Pierre-Luc Dubois. The latter asked to change his address, but Montreal is not the only possible destination. The Los Angeles Kings have also reportedly expressed interest in Dubois.
Since the group of unrestricted free agents who will be on the market on 1er July does not count on many stars, the clubs will have to pull off spectacular exchanges if they wish to change the face of their organization.
Few first-round QMJHL prospects
The forecasts are not particularly encouraging for the QMJHL in the first round, while only two names sometimes come up in draft simulations.
Sherbrooke Phoenix forward Ethan Gauthier and Moncton Wildcats defenseman Étienne Morin could be selected late in the first round, but nothing is guaranteed.
The number of QMJHL players drafted in the first round has fluctuated from two to five per year since 2015. The last time a single prospect was selected was in 2014, when the Jets picked Nikolaj Ehlers.
You have to go back to 2008 to find the last NHL draft session in which no QMJHL prospect was selected in the first round.