The Ottawa Senators chose defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker with the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Jacob Bernard-Docker
Position: D Height: 6 feet Weight: 187 lbs Age: 17 Club: Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) Nationality: Canadian
GP
G
A
P
49
20
21
41
Bernard-Docker earned Most Outstanding Defenseman honors in the AJHL this spring, and he has committed to the University of North Dakota for next season.
He was ranked 33rd in NHL Central Scouting's final list of North American skaters, rising from a No. 62 midterm position.
The St. Louis Blues traded up to pick No. 25 - sending the 29th and 76th overall selections to the Toronto Maple Leafs - which they used to select forward Dominik Bokk.
Bokk is offensively gifted, with smooth hands and a strong shot to go with high-end skating ability. In 35 contests with Vaxjo's under-20 team, Bokk led the club with 41 points. He also appeared in 15 SHL games in 2017-18, registering one goal and one assist.
He'll need to work on his commitment to a team system at both ends of the ice in order to make an impact in the NHL, but based on his raw ability, Bokk is a worthwhile project for the Blues late in the first round.
"Bokk is a big kid with room still to grow. He is so deceptive that he plays like he's smaller than he is. He's extremely poised with the puck and one of the better skaters in the class, which made him an offensive force in SuperElit," writes Scott Wheeler of The Athletic.
The New York Rangers selected K'Andre Miller with the 22nd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday in Dallas. New York acquired the selection from Ottawa for the 26th and 48th overall picks.
K'Andre Miller
Position: Defense Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 206 lbs Age: 18 Club: USA U-18 (NTDP) Nationality: American
Bursting with raw potential, Miller is among the most intriguing defensemen in this year's draft class. He's a natural athlete and an exceptionally smooth skater for a defender of his stature, even though the 18-year-old has only played the position for a handful of seasons.
Originally a forward, Miller patrols the blue line with the offensive instincts of a front-line skater. That much is evident from his stat line, as this season Miller outpaced all defenders on the U.S. National Development Program's Under-18 team. When the season wrapped, Miller had the opportunity to showcase his offensive acumen as part of the American squad at the Under-18 World Championship, where he picked up a goal and two assists across seven games.
While there's little doubting Miller's ability with the puck, he must continue to develop the defensive details of his game. He'll have the opportunity to do that next season at the University of Wisconsin.
"(His) upside is too much to ignore when you consider the size, skating ability, and athleticism," said Sam Cosentino of Sportsnet. "(He) has cleaned up his game from the start of the season."
Ahead of picking forward Oliver Wahlstrom and defenseman Noah Dobson, Lamoriello attempted to trade one of his two first-round picks for a roster player who could contribute right away, he told Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
Lamoriello would not confirm if the player in question was goaltender Philipp Grubauer, who earlier in the night was traded from the Washington Capitals to the Colorado Avalanche. It was recently reported that the Islanders were among the teams interested in acquiring Grubauer.
Bouchard established himself as one of the most gifted offensive blue-liners available in his second season with the Knights, leading the club with 87 points (eighth in the OHL).
He isn't as flashy as Rasmus Dahlin, but he has great hockey sense and passing ability. His vision and penchant for hanging on to the puck until the right moment creates countless opportunities for his linemates.
"An incredibly smart player, Bouchard reads the ice at a high level, anticipating plays developing around him when he doesn't have the puck and making difficult plays look simple when he does. His passing skills, in particular, are excellent and have improved considerably over the past season. He has an impressive (and accurate) array of shots, with slap shots and wrist shots already approaching NHL caliber, and a quick release." - Hannah Stuart, theScore
Hughes is not only one of the most complete skaters in the draft, but he's also one of the most exciting, as his offensive talent and ability to take over games cemented him among the top-ranked North American skaters for most of the year.
"Last season in his Draft-2 year, Hughes was a point-per-game player in 26 USHL games. Those numbers are almost unheard of for a defenseman his age. To give you an idea of just how good they are, no other defenseman in USHL history has put up a better points-per-game ratio in his Draft-1 year (i.e. the season leading up to his draft). That includes fellow Americans Seth Jones and Charlie McAvoy, who are widely considered some of the top defensemen among USA Hockey’s younger set," theScore's draft expert Hannah Stuart wrote.
High hockey IQ and quickness make Hughes the prototypical offensive rearguard, as evidenced by his 29 assists in 37 games for the Wolverines this season. He also chipped in with one goal and four apples in seven games for Team USA at this year's World Junior Championship while earning a bronze medal.
Quinn's limited 5-foot-10 frame could spook some teams from selecting him in the top five, but an offensively elite puck-moving D-man with wheels like his won't be around long past that.
A dynamic playmaker with exceptional offensive instincts, Filip Zadina possesses the quick release of a gifted goal-scorer as well. He also brings a steady two-way game that makes him effective at both ends of the ice.
The Czech Republic native has spent just one season in North America, but needed little time to adjust. He finished second in team scoring for the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Halifax Mooseheads, a top program that's churned out a handful of high picks in the last five years, including Nathan MacKinnon, Jonathan Drouin, Nikolaj Ehlers, and Nico Hischier.
The hype around Zadina peaked at the World Junior Championship when he powered the underdog Czech Republic to an appearance in the bronze-medal game. Zadina wrapped the tournament with seven goals and one assist in seven contests.
"The power winger has been destroying CHL competition and saved his best performances for the Czech national team this holiday season," stated Cam Robinson of DobberProspects.com. "He uses his size and strength to create space and then delivers electric moves and finishing ability. Can beat you from anywhere on the ice. A tireless worker."
In his second year with the Greyhounds, Hayton rose up the scouting charts for his strong two-way play and gifted hockey sense. He finished his draft year as the ninth-ranked North American skater, and appears to have the tools to develop into an NHL pivot down the road.
Hayton has exceptional hands, good scoring touch, and a strong ability to set up his teammates. It's unlikely Hayton immediately makes the jump to the pros, but another year of seasoning with an increased role in the Soo should play a positive role in his development.
"Hayton can play and contribute in all situations. He reminds me of Boston Bruins star Patrice Bergeron in the sense of being complete, strong, and able to produce whatever play is necessary to win. Like Bergeron, there’s not a lot of flash to his game, but winning teams will always value players with Hayton’s skills," TSN's Craig Button said.
A hulking net-front presence with soft hands and the tendency to get under opponents' skin, Tkachuk's potential to develop into a dangerous power forward with the ability to create scoring chances and lay the body is very real.
"When Tkachuk goes to the crease, everyone watching knows he'll shoot as soon as he gets the opportunity - that's why he crashed the net in the first place. His offensive strengths lie more in his creative playmaking ability, however. His hockey sense and passing ability are high-end. He can make the kind of perfect pass in a tight space that other players might not be able to execute, and his stickhandling is good," theScore's draft expert Hannah Stuart wrote.
Tkachuk also brings an element of versatility to the table for the Sens, as the 18-year-old American can play up the middle and on the wing despite being utilized mostly on the latter at BU.
Described as a relentless puck pursuer who plays with more edge than both his brother Matthew and father Keith, Brady has the opportunity to carve out a niche for himself as a playmaker who can punish you physically. Any way you slice it, Tkachuk is sure to be a player to watch over the next number of seasons in the NHL.