Latest news with #Schaefer
New York Times
13 hours ago
- Business
- New York Times
NHL Mock Draft 2025: Schaefer at No. 1 and Misa at No. 2 in Corey Pronman's first round projection
It's NHL combine week, and as teams begin to conclude meetings and we start hearing general trends about how the league values certain players, here is our latest attempt to project the first round of the NHL Draft. Schaefer gives the Islanders a true potential No. 1 defenseman to build around. His high-end mobility, intelligence and competitiveness project him as a cornerstone on the blue line for years to come. Misa's elite speed and creativity give San Jose a franchise-caliber center. The addition of Misa gives the Sharks flexibility to move either him or Will Smith to the wing long term while building one of the most desirable groups of young forwards in the league. Frondell brings high-end skill, an elite shot and a complete 200-foot game and fills Chicago's need for a strong two-way pivot to pair with Connor Bedard or potentially move Bedard to the wing. Utah prioritizes being hard to play against, and Martone will provide a lot of size and a high compete level while also being very skilled for a big man. Nashville adds high-end skill and speed down the middle with Hagens, even if he isn't the biggest player. He brings the potential to be a major point producer. Desnoyers is a complete center with the size, skating, skill and off-puck play to be a big-minute NHL center, which is something Philly truly craves. Martin brings an intense, physical two-way game while also having an excellent skill level. He is a potential top-two-line center that Boston desperately craves and plays the way the Bruins like. Mrtka is a 6-foot-5 defenseman who skates well and has offensive flashes, giving Seattle a rare right-shot blueliner with top-four upside and much needed young defense talent. O'Brien is a cerebral, playmaking center with top-line upside. His skill and vision are clear NHL traits, which will give Buffalo some more dynamic traits at forward. A 6-foot-5 center with speed, hands and bite, McQueen gives Anaheim a potential massive talent down the middle. He would have gone top five if it weren't for a concerning back injury. Aitcheson adds significant physicality to Pittsburgh's system while also having the size, mobility and skill of a top-four NHL defenseman. A fast, strong winger with a dangerous shot, Carbonneau adds both scoring and the power elements that the Rangers tend to target in their draft picks. Eklund's speed, high motor and ability to create offense gives Detroit an important addition of offensive talent to its system. Smith brings size, skating and offensive tools to the Blue Jackets' blue-line pipeline. He didn't end his season on a high note at the U18 worlds but the league is still very high on this player and his potential. A competitive and highly skilled winger who plays a physical game, Bear could provide a lot of elements to Vancouver's top six. Reschny is a very skilled and intelligent player who plays hard and was as good as any junior player in the second half of the CHL season. Reid is a dynamic skater who closes well defensively and can generate clean exits and secondary offense. He adds to an already promising Habs blue-line group. Cootes brings speed, compete and two-way versatility to the Flames' forward group, giving them a hardworking center with offensive potential. Lakovic is a big man with legit speed, skill and goal-scoring ability. He would be a highly talented forward addition to the Blues' system, even if his compete level still draws some debate. Nesbitt is a heavy center with strong puck skills and playmaking vision. Despite questions about his skating, his offense and physicality make him a legit first-round pick. Fiddler's size, defensive ability, skating and hardness make him exactly the type of defenseman Ottawa has coveted. A responsible, hard-nosed, two-way center, Gastrin adds leadership traits and versatility to the Flyers' forward group that is building their center depth with this draft class. Hensler adds a reliable two-way defenseman to Nashville's system, with size, mobility and puck-moving skill that they hope will lead to top-four minutes. One of the better-skating defensemen in the class coming off a record-setting U18 World Championship, Boumedienne provides transition ability with the potential for some offense at the NHL level as well, to go with a decent frame. A big, skilled forward with great hockey sense, Horcoff needs to work on his skating but has the potential to be a legit scorer as a pro and looked quite good at the college level as a U18 player. Ravensbergen is a big, athletic goaltender with starter upside — the type of swing Nashville can afford to take here with multiple first-round picks, though his stock has cooled a bit recently. Washington rolls the dice on the top Russian in this class, who is a tall, fast winger who is very physical and has some scoring touch, too. Brzustewicz is a smart, mobile right-shot who adds a steady two-way game to a Jets system that needs reliable defenders. The Hurricanes take a swing on a tall winger with NHL-caliber feet, hands and scoring ability, hoping he becomes a future middle-six scorer. Spence brings high effort, responsible two-way play and a solid track record for Canada. He's not the flashiest forward but has enough talent to play in a middle six and plays the way the Sharks want. Zonnon is a big winger who skates and shoots well enough to be a middle-six contributor in Calgary's forward pipeline. Potter's great skating and puck skill give the Flyers a dynamic, high-upside forward, even if his size and perimeter play do raise questions. (Photos of Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa: Michael Miller / ISI Photos / Getty Images)
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
On the Record: Trucking industry surges as tariffs threaten holiday season
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — As uncertainty over tariffs persist, trucking companies are hustling to move goods as fast as possible to store shelves. Don Schaefer, who heads the Midwest Truckers Association, joined 'On the Record' for a snapshot of what's happening here in Central Illinois. He said the transportation, distribution and logistics industries, which represent about one in 10 jobs in the Midwest, are feeling the pressure. 'We're seeing a mad dash to get products into the country, especially from places like China and Hong Kong,' he said. 'This is the trucking industry's Christmas. Everything that hits store shelves for the holidays has to be stateside by Labor Day.' Many products, especially toys and electronics, come from overseas. Schaefer says the journey can take up to two months, starting by boat, then train, and finally by truck. 'Right now, it's all over the board because everyone's kind of up in the air about, what the tariffs mean, and how quick things are going to move, what's going to come over and what is not going to come over,' he said. Schaefer says truck shipments are up 70% compared to this time last year, a sign that companies are racing to beat potential tariffs. 'Trucks are full right now,' he said. 'The uncertainty about tariffs is why there's this pressure.' That concern stretches beyond consumer goods. Central Illinois farmers are watching closely too, especially those exporting soybeans and corn. Much of their product is trucked to river terminals along the Illinois River before being shipped abroad. With harvest season approaching, Schaefer said timing is critical. 'The export of that is critical, especially right now, because what the farmers want to do is make sure they get their grain beans cleared up before harvest time comes in the fall. So it's a very tight timetable,' he said. So what does this mean for you at the store? Schaefer says companies are doing what they can to avoid raising prices, even if tariffs go into effect. 'If a tariff is imposed, the goal is to keep price hikes minimal. But much depends on ongoing trade negotiations,' he said. 'The administration wants fair agreements, so we could see more deals struck in the months ahead.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
2025 NHL Draft odds: Who is favored to go first overall to the Islanders?
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. For the first time in a while, we have a genuine debate about who should go No. 1 overall at the NHL Entry Draft. And it's not just because there isn't a runaway No. 1 prospect in this year's class, but also because of which team owns the top pick at the draft, which is set to take place on June 27 at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The New York Islanders jumped 10 spots in the 2025 Draft Lottery, cashing in on their 3.5 percent odds to land the No. 1 overall pick after finishing 23rd out of 32 teams during the 2024-25 season. It was a massive windfall for the Islanders, but the timing couldn't have been funkier. The Isles are still searching for a new general manager after the club let go of Lou Lamoriello following his seven-year stint on the Island. And then there's the James Hagens connection. James Hagens was born on Long Island and grew up an Islanders fan. Getty Images Considered the No. 1 overall prospect coming into the 2024-25 season, Hagens was passed by defenseman Matthew Schaefer on just about every ranking by the time December rolled around. Hagens is still regarded as a top-three pick in this class by just about every prospect pundit, but his stock fell during a good-but-not-great freshman season at Boston College. Despite being passed by Schaefer and Michael Misa in most mock drafts, there is still a chance that Hagens goes No. 1 overall to the Islanders. That's because Hagens, 18, is a native Long Islander and grew up an Islanders fan. Betting on the NHL? So while it would make sense for just about every other team in the NHL to just go with Schaefer, the consensus top prospect, with the No. 1 overall pick, the Isles have a decision to make. The bookmakers believe that the Isles, who do have a big need for a top-end defenseman in their system, will likely go with Schaefer. The 17-year-old rearguard is -210 to go No. 1 overall, ahead of Hagens (+250) and Misa (+300). If you convert those odds to implied probability, you get Schaefer at 67.7 percent, Hagens at 28.6 percent, and Misa at 25 percent. NHL Draft odds: Who will go No. 1 overall? Player Odds Matthew Schaefer -210 James Hagens +250 Michael Misa +300 Anton Frondell 50/1 Porter Martone 50/1 Caleb Desnoyers 50/1 Odds via BetMGM Schaefer was limited to just 17 games this season, but he was so impressive during that span and during international tournaments that he shot up the rankings and landed at the head of the table in Central Scouting's rankings. But the gap between Schaefer and Hagens (and Misa, for that matter) is perceived to be small enough that you can make a coherent argument that it makes sense for the Isles to go with the local product and hope that the fanbase rallies around one of their own. Matthew Schaefer is the No. 1 prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft according to NHL Central Scouting. Getty Images And the oddsmakers are not counting out that scenario. Hagens would likely be a relative long shot to go No. 1 overall if any other team landed in this spot, but he's the second-favorite since the Isles are the current owners of the pick. And, since the Isles are without a general manager, nobody has any idea what they're thinking. Another interesting wrinkle to this whole song and dance is the fact that Hagens is a 15/1 outsider to go No. 2 overall, which tells us that the San Jose Sharks have little to no interest in picking the Hauppauge native. 2025 NHL Draft odds: Who will be picked No. 2 overall? Player Odds Michael Misa -165 Matthew Schaefer +130 Porter Martone 12/1 James Hagens 15/1 Caleb Desnoyers 25/1 Anton Frondell 30/1 The most feasible scenario where Hagens would go No. 2 overall would be if the Islanders and Sharks worked out a trade that saw San Jose jump to the front of the line to take Schaefer, allowing the Islanders to collect more assets and then pick Hagens. That is unlikely to happen, which is why Hagens is sitting at 15/1 to go second. Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
What might the San Jose Sharks do with the No. 2 NHL Draft pick?
Winning the NHL Draft lottery for a second straight year would have been a lot for the San Jose Sharks. Until fortune struck for them last summer, they had never won the lottery since the league introduced it in 1995. Mind you, the Sharks weren't in that position for much of the last three decades. Consistent success and numerous playoff berths don't result in getting a seat at the lottery table, much less a prime one. Besides, the Sharks might have drawn some comparisons to the Edmonton Oilers, who landed the No. 1 pick in three consecutive years and four times in a six-year span. That's both good, given how the Oilers accumulated first-rate talent, or bad, in that they have yet to turn that fortune into a Stanley Cup championship. Advertisement The Sharks getting the No. 1 pick again, after landing Macklin Celebrini last year, would have been a bonus. That won't happen, since the New York Islanders jumped up from the No. 10 position to win the lottery, but drafting at No. 2 won't be a bad thing for San Jose. The Sharks are less likely to add potential franchise defenseman Matthew Schaefer, who's expected to go off the board first, but they're not feeling particularly disappointed about getting to choose next. 'We're going to get a good player,' Sharks general manager Mike Grier said following the lottery. 'Whenever you're picking at the top of the draft, there's going to be some really good players available. We're excited about the opportunity.' If it's destined for Schaefer to call Long Island home, does that mean Grier will call out the name of Michael Misa on June 27? Should the Sharks start printing No. 77 jerseys with the Saginaw Spirit star's name on the back? Or might they go in another direction to further boost a well-stocked prospect pool that was The Athletic's choice for No. 1 in the league? In 2022, Misa became the eighth player granted exceptional status by Hockey Canada to play in Canadian major junior hockey as a 15-year-old. Current NHL players John Tavares, Aaron Ekblad, Connor McDavid, Joe Veleno, Shane Wright and Connor Bedard were also granted such status. Now 18, Misa has lived up to that with a stellar junior career. Last year, Misa won the Memorial Cup with Saginaw as the team's second-leading scorer behind Zayne Parekh. Individual honors came Misa's way in his massive draft season as he led the Ontario Hockey League with 134 points. His 62 goals (up from 29 in 2023-24) tied him with Patrick Kane for the most by an OHL player in a draft-eligible year. He earned league Most Outstanding Player honors. Advertisement The Sharks have plenty of forward talent in their system. But when you're picking that high, you take the best player available. All draft projections have Misa as that player, after Schaefer. And it's easy to imagine the product of Oakville, Ontario, who has drawn many comparisons to fellow Greater Toronto Area native Tavares, in the San Jose lineup. Because of his ability to play wing and center, Misa could slot behind Celebrini as the Sharks' future 2C or shift to the wing if they're determined to have Will Smith play in the middle. Smith's growth throughout his rookie season and his chemistry with Celebrini could make it tempting for Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky to leave things as is and play Misa at the position he favors. Misa returned to center in 2024-25 after playing on the wing the year before. 'Just felt more confident down there,' Misa said on an ESPN interview. 'Played there growing up in minor hockey. That transition definitely helped me. But being able to play both positions also helps. It was good overall.' The Sharks have had plenty of viewings of Misa. They like that he isn't solely focused on the offensive side of the ice. And it didn't hurt that Igor Chernyshov, their third selection in the 2024 draft (and the No. 33 overall pick), instantly clicked with Misa once he joined the Spirit after recovering from shoulder surgery. 'He plays a good 200-foot game,' Grier said of Misa. 'He's got a heavy stick. Sees the ice well, can make plays. I think he played in all situations and he kind of has a knack for scoring goals. Really, really solid year this year. I think we've seen him a bunch even going back to last year scouting Parekh. 'Good player. Like I said, when you're at the top of the draft, there's lots of good players available. He's one of them.' It feels like this draft is set up for San Jose to welcome Misa to the Bay Area. But what if the Islanders don't take Schaefer at No. 1? If there is one area where the Sharks aren't overflowing with high-end prospect talent, it's on defense. There are some promising players – Luca Cagnoni, Leo Sahlin Wallenius, Mattias Havelid and Eric Pohlkamp, to name a few – so it's not as if the blue-line pipeline is empty. Shakir Mukhamadullin is set to play his first full NHL season. Advertisement Let's not forget that atop that group sits Sam Dickinson, the No. 11 choice last year, who had 29 goals and 91 points in the regular season to trail only Parekh (the No. 9 pick in 2024 for Calgary) among OHL defensemen, and who amassed another 31 points in 17 playoff games for the champion London Knights. But if Schaefer were to stay on the board, there's no way the Sharks could pass on someone projected to become an impact No. 1 defenseman. Such a scenario won't play out – unless the Islanders have a reason to choose someone else. James Hagens might be that someone else. Hagens, 18, grew up as a diehard Islanders fan in Hauppauge, N.Y. At one point, he was projected as the No. 1 pick, and while his stock has slid somewhat, he had a productive freshman season at Boston College. Despite the Eagles being led by returning standouts Ryan Leonard and Gabriel Perreault, Hagens had 37 points to rank third on the team. Hagens would make for the ideal hometown-kid storyline. That's not to say the Islanders will do that, or that it's even a smart choice given that Schaefer is the one seen as the clear-cut No. 1 pick. Still, they could pull a surprise and take Hagens. Or they could see what teams that are highly interested in Schaefer might offer in a trade — in addition to their own high selection. Would the Sharks consider a package that enticed the Islanders to move off the No. 1 pick in order to secure Schaefer? 'I haven't really given that much thought, to be honest with you, and I don't know what the Islanders are thinking, what they're going to do with the pick themselves,' Grier said. 'We'll take some time to let this kind of marinate a little bit and go through our options, and we'll kind of see where that goes.' Grier simply could be keeping every option open. That also could include moving down from No. 2 if it meant getting an additional player who could help the Sharks improve now. 'If there's a package out there that someone presents us with, we'll have to think it through and see if it makes sense for us to do,' Grier said. 'I'm always trying to be open-minded to things like that.' Advertisement Smoke screens are often sent out by teams ahead of the draft. As much as the idea of a team trading a top-five pick brings intrigue and excitement, teams simply do not move them in the salary-cap era. Anaheim Ducks rookie Cutter Gauthier, the No. 5 overall selection in 2022, was traded, but only after the Philadelphia Flyers drafted him and he requested a move 18 months later. Any team, whether it's the Islanders or anyone else with No. 1 overall, is going to ask for a huge price to even consider a trade. And it's generally not worth it for a team to surrender multiple quality assets simply to move up a few spots, when it could get a similar-level player with its own high pick. The Sharks have an overflowing prospect pool, but is acquiring Schaefer worth losing a quality player or multiple draft picks? Drafting at No. 2 is an enviable position. The Sharks could have a lot to think about – or nothing to ponder at all. (Photo of Michael Misa: Kevin Sousa / Getty Images)
New York Times
20-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
NHL Mock Draft 2025: Predicting all 64 picks of the first two rounds with Pronman and Wheeler
Today, we attempt a projection of how the first two rounds of the 2025 NHL Draft will take place, this time with our two NHL prospects writers, Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler, alternating picks. After a coin toss, Pronman selected for the odd-numbered teams in the draft order and Wheeler picked for the even-numbered teams. A note that the mock was finished on Friday, before the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs was completed. As a result, the draft order at the end of Rounds 1 and 2 has changed slightly since these picks were made. Schaefer is the most special talent in this year's class. Despite the limited number of games, when healthy, he displayed that he's the only true game-breaker in this draft. He could be a potential No. 1 defenseman for the Islanders. — Pronman Schaefer would have been the preferred outcome for the Sharks, but they should be excited about building around the trio of Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith and Misa — three of the bright young forwards in the game — up front as well. — Wheeler Chicago picks the top player in Europe in Frondell. He's a great all-around center who is highly skilled and competitive and a gifted goal scorer. — Pronman The Mammoth get their 2C of the future to play behind Logan Cooley. Desnoyers' combination of smarts, skill, leadership and two-way play is an ideal fit for them. — Wheeler Nashville adds much-needed dynamic traits to its organization by picking Hagens. He will hopefully provide a spark to the Predators' offense. — Pronman The Flyers strongly consider center Brady Martin and winger Porter Martone here, but O'Brien's smarts come the closest to matching Matvei Michkov's, and they bet on that pair working in sync. — Wheeler Boston rolls the dice on a player who could quickly reset their organization if he hits. McQueen is the rare game-breaker you can get at 7, and is here solely due to injury concerns. He addresses a critical need for them at center. In an ideal world, there isn't a huge run on centers like there was in this mock. — Pronman The Kraken's pool could use a top D prospect and they consider Seattle's WHL standout Radim Mrtka and the ultra-competitive Kashawn Aitcheson here for that reason, but they pass on a defenseman (again) because they can't pass on a winger of Martone's skill to pair with one of the three centers they've already taken in the top 10. — Wheeler Mrtka is tempting here for Buffalo but the Sabres opt for the skill and hard elements that Martin brings to their forward group. — Pronman Mrtka is tempting here as well, but after taking a right-shot winger with their first pick a year ago with Beckett Sennecke, the Ducks double down at an area of organizational focus and turn it into a strength with the competitive, skilled and fast Eklund. — Wheeler It's tempting to add a center or defenseman here for the Penguins, but Bear's high-end skill and tenacity will be highly appealing, especially since he's a late birthday who can be on the team potentially in a year or two to play alongside their aging star centers. — Pronman There's never just one D taken in the top 12 picks and the Rangers could use another one in their pool. They consider the toughness of Kashawn Aitcheson here but they prioritized length and skating with their selection of E.J. Emery a year ago and they double down on those two attributes with even more emphasis with Mrtka. — Wheeler Aitcheson brings the high-end compete traits that Detroit tends to crave while also being mobile and skilled with decent size, too. — Pronman The Blue Jackets would probably love to get Mrtka or Aitcheson here, and likely consider defensemen Cameron Reid, Logan Hensler and Jackson Smith, but they could also use a left-shot wing prospect and Lakovic fits their type/range. — Wheeler Vancouver adds a much-needed quality young center in Cootes who provides a very good two-way game, with NHL caliber speed, skill and compete. — Pronman All of Lakovic, Bear, and Carbonneau fit the bill of the type of winger the Habs should/could be after. Two of them are gone for good reason but Carbonneau's combination of strength and skill make him a natural choice. Center Cole Reschny and defensemen Cameron Reid, Jackson Smith and Logan Hensler would warrant consideration here as well. — Wheeler Smith's stock is down after a so-so U18 worlds but his slide ends here. Montreal jumps at the opportunity to pick a big, mobile defenseman who can move a puck and hope his trajectory can be similar to Thomas Harley's from the same age. — Pronman The Flames could benefit from taking a center here and Reschny's combination of skill, smarts and two-way play fits their type. They haven't shied away from taking 5-10/11 players in the last couple of years either. — Wheeler The Blues add a defenseman with their top pick in back-to-back drafts. Boumedienne is a 6-foot-2 defender who can fly and just set the record for most points by a defenseman at the U18 worlds. He projects as a two-way second or third pair guy in the NHL. — Pronman After going forward with their earlier pick, the Blue Jackets draft one of the top remaining D in Reid with their second selection. Blue Jackets rookie Denton Mateychuk is a natural comp for Reid. — Wheeler Ottawa continues to build a huge, mobile, physical blue line adding USA's top defenseman from the recent U18s. Fiddler projects as a very reliable NHL defenseman. — Pronman After taking a center with their first pick, the Flames add a potential up-and-down-the-lineup two-way winger. Spence is also off to Michigan with Flames prospect Henry Mews in the fall. Jack Nesbitt and Ben Kindel made some sense if they decide to double down on centers here, too. — Wheeler Carolina drafts arguably the best skater in the draft in Potter who is a very skilled forward albeit on the small side. He is a gamble but one the Hurricanes have shown a history of taking before. — Pronman In one fell swoop, the Flyers rebuild their pool's center depth. O'Brien, Jett Luchanko and Nesbitt give them their potential top three Cs of the future. — Wheeler Hensler slides, but it ends here as the Flyers use their third pick of the first round on the 6-2, mobile puck-mover who was up and down as a freshman. — Pronman After trading Yaroslav Askarov, the Preds take Ravensbergen, whose timeline better aligns with Juuse Saros'. — Wheeler The Kings add a potential future middle-six center in Gastrin, who is highly competitive, fits their team identity and has decent offensive traits as well. — Pronman Ideally the Sharks get a D here but the top group is gone and this is a little early for the next tier. Instead, they continue to add smarts and skill up front with Kindel, who moved from the wing to center this year but may end up back on the wing in the NHL. — Wheeler Zonnon is a well-rounded forward with strong speed and skill and the ability to provide value on both special teams. He fits in with the type of player Chicago wants to build with. — Pronman The Preds inject more skill and scoring into their pool with the talented 6-foot-2 shooting winger, who fills an area of need as a right-shot winger within Nashville's system. — Wheeler Washington takes the top Russian in this class in Prokhorov. He's a big winger who skates well, is very physical and has shown a goal-scoring touch. — Pronman The Jets pool could use a D prospect behind Elias Salomonsson and while the top group has all been selected, Brzustewicz, a teammate of Jets prospect Jacob Julien in London, is justifiable in the 30s. — Wheeler San Jose would probably be frustrated if this is the way the draft goes, with a run on the top defensemen before their later picks. They opt for one of the best athletes in the draft in Wang who is huge, mobile and physical, but very raw and a work in progress with the puck. — Pronman The Blackhawks have an abundance of 5-11 speedsters, but Romano is their type and has another level to find still. — Wheeler Once a potential lottery pick, Moore falls to the early parts of Day 2 due to worries about his compete. He's still a big, fast, skilled center who, on his best days, looks like a legit NHLer. — Pronman The Flyers add more size with Horcoff, betting that a positive second half at Michigan and U18 worlds is sign of things to come. He's got pro attributes for an NHL bottom six. — Wheeler Washington adds the program's top center in McKinney. He's a well-rounded player whose compete, speed, hands and shot could make him a bottom-six center in the NHL. — Pronman After taking a forward (yet again) at the top, the Kraken add Kettles, a 6-foot-5 right-shot D who is one of the youngest players in the draft and has the potential to be a stopper. — Wheeler Buffalo opts for the two-way center in Nilsson who was excellent at the Swedish junior level this season. He has strong offensive skills and some bite in his game as well although he is average sized. — Pronman The Flyers can afford to take a swing with their bevy of first-round picks and they take a big one on the talent of the mercurial and frustrating Ryabkin. They've taken three Russians in the last two drafts as well, so he'll have some countrymen in the organization. — Wheeler Montreal takes one of the most purely talented players in the draft in West, a 6-6 center who can skate and has legit offensive tools, but has scared teams during the draft process due to being a football recruit as well. — Pronman A year after drafting an NTDP scorer bound for Boston University in the first round in Cole Eiserman, the Islanders take another in the second round in Murtagh, a natural goal scorer and standout athlete who is one of the younger players in the draft. Murtagh isn't Eiserman, but he gives the Islanders pool some more scoring punch. — Wheeler The Rangers add a huge center in Gard who skates well for a big guy and has a hard, interior style game even though he's not the most creative offensive player. — Pronman The Red Wings add Vansaghi, a big, strong, powerful, heavy forward playing at MSU who can skate and projects as a bottom-sixer. — Wheeler A true throwback Flyers type of pick, Genborg is one of the most physical players in the draft while also having a strong athletic toolkit and some offensive touch. — Pronman The Mammoth scouting staff has prioritized size over the years and they add more to their pool with Nestrasil, a rangy 6-5 winger who projects as a potential bottom-six forward. — Wheeler Vancouver goes back to Sweden with Hallquisth, who is a tall right-shot defenseman who can skate, makes a steady first pass and provides value at both ends. — Pronman Philly adds Behm, who was a riser in the first half. While he regressed a little in the second half, he's still a pro-built 6-2 winger who scored 30-plus goals in the WHL this season and makes sense for the Flyers. — Wheeler Montreal picks one of the top players in the USHL last season. Lee's skating worries teams but he's super skilled with a great shot and has legit scoring potential at higher levels if he can handle the pace. — Pronman The Devils add Zharovsky, a highly skilled winger who was one of the top young forwards in the MHL this season. With the right patience, his talent could deliver value in the late second. — Wheeler Psenicka is a tall right-shot who can skate and is a steady all-around defenseman. It wouldn't surprise me if he's gone by 51 but if not he fits what Boston likes for its blue line. — Pronman After a challenging season for Jesper Wallstedt, the Wild shore up their goaltending depth with the best European goalie prospect in this class. Andreyanov was lights out in the MHL this season. — Wheeler Limatov is a good sized defenseman who skates well, plays hard and shows good flashes of skill with the puck. He has a lot of NHL traits and there were points in the season where he looked like he may go higher. — Pronman Brad Treliving has prioritized building through size on the back end and the 6-foot-6 Rombach, a Minnesota commit, offers what they're looking for in Toronto right now. — Wheeler Czata is one of the more physical players in his age group who played a big role for Niagara and won gold for Canada at the U18 level twice. He's fast, makes some plays and could be a versatile pro center. — Pronman The Flames have drafted a lot of talented, average-sized, offensive defensemen over the last couple of years. Amico's a 6-foot-5 D who gives their pool something a little different. He lost almost all of his draft year to knee surgery but has appeal for his length and mobility. — Wheeler Nashville drafts the smooth skating Schock who played big minutes for the NTDP. He can make difficult plays with the puck while being one of the most mobile players in his age group albeit with average size. — Pronman Andrei Vasilevskiy isn't getting any younger and the depth chart behind him is thin within the Lightning organization. This is the range where goalies like Medvedev, Semyon Frolov, Lucas Beckman and Jack Ivankovic could start getting serious consideration, too. The Lightning take Medvedev, a talented goalie who is one of the youngest players in the draft. Austin Elliott wouldn't give back the net with the Knights this year but Medvedev impressed in his action in the first half of the season as well. — Wheeler Conrad is mobile, especially for being 6-foot-3, and played big minutes for Charlottetown. He makes a decent first pass, although his offense underwhelmed this year. — Pronman This is the range where the talent gap between the draft's three big-name 5-7 forwards and the rest of the available players will be noticeable enough that some teams will consider taking a swing. The Golden Knights have never been shy, even if they've often ended up dealing their prospects. Schmidt can frustrate but his speed and shot are both dynamic. — Wheeler Klippenstein is one of the most competitive players in this draft. That he's 6-3, a center, and skates like an NHL player gives him a path to potentially making it for Anaheim even if he's not a huge points producer. — Pronman Paupanekis is a big two-way center who skates well, works and played in all situations for Kelowna this season. He's got a chance to become a reliable depth forward. — Wheeler Pittsburgh drafts a hopeful goalie of the future. Frolov is a talented goalie, but he had sparse playing time this season. In his best games, he looked like a potential first-rounder. — Pronman The Devils add Stockselius, a good-sized forward who was very productive on a talented J20 team playing with good players, and also showed he could play with good players in more of a support role with the Swedish national team this year. — Wheeler (Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; photos of Michael Misa, Matthew Schaefer and Caleb Desnoyers: Michael Miller, Dale Preston / Getty Images)
