Updated Mock Draft

The Vegas Golden Knights now have a roster, and three picks in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft.

We expect a lot moving and shaking between now and the end of the draft, but Ryan Wagman takes a run at an updated mock draft.

The “previous mock” referenced can be seen in the McKeens Hockey 2017 Draft Guide. Details can be found here. 

RND	Team-Pick
1	New Jersey Devils - Nico Hischier, C, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) - No change from the last mock. The Devils should take the most offensively gifted player in the draft.
2	Philadelphia Flyers - Nolan Patrick, C, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) - No change from the previous mock. I see no compelling reason to have anyone outside of Hischier and Patrick as the first two players off the board.
3	Dallas Stars - Gabriel Vilardi, C, Windsor Spitfires (OHL) - Here is where the draft gets interesting. I had previously connected Dallas with Finnish blueliner Heiskanen, but a look at their system shows that a large proportion of their prospects are already Scandinavian blueliners and there is a paucity of skilled forwards who are not already in the top six. Vilardi has a chance to play right away (although a return to Windsor is more likely) and he will make Dallas' offense deeper once he is ready. Many rumors have this pick in play.
4	Colorado Avalanche - Miro Heiskanen, D, HIFKK Helsinki (Liiga) - Not only is the Colorado blueline porous, the best defenders in the system profile as no more than a decent #4. Heiskanen is not far from being a top 4 NHL blueliner and could be a number one in time. Would be a game changer for the Avs.
5	Vancouver Canucks - Cale Makar, D, Brooks Bandits (AJHL) - No change from the last mock. Makar will be groomed to team with Olli Juolevi as the first pairing for many years in Vancouver.
6	Vegas Golden Knights - Casey Mittelstadt, C/LW, Eden Prairie HS (Minnesota HS)/Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) - Another switch here. Mittelstadt is a mesmerizing puck handler who needs some time to get used to playing with skilled players. He will get that at the University of Minnesota while the Golden Knights get a forward who projects to ascend to their top six when they are ready to compete
7	Arizona Coyotes - Cody Glass, C, Portland Winterhawks (WHL) - Another player that fits the Arizona mold of talented forwards who push the puck in the right direction. With multiple first rounders, the Coyotes can and should take a portfolio approach.
8	Buffalo Sabres - Elias Pettersson, C/LW, Timra IK (Allsvenskan) - Versatile forward can team with Nylander and Asplund as the Tre Kronor line. Needs to add beef to his frame, but his game is remarkably mature.
9	Detroit Red Wings - Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound Attack (OHL) - A true two-way center who is as responsible in his own end as he is exciting in the offensive end.
10	Florida Panthers- Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW, Frolunda (SHL) - Same as the previous mock. This pick should fit whether the Panthers continue to base their draft off their heavy analytics department recommendations, or whether they return to "traditional scouting" in the mold of Dale Tallon.
11	Los Angeles Kings - Klim Kostin, RW, Dynamo Moskva (KHL) - Same as the previous draft. Kostin recently stated that he wants to play in the AHL if he does not his draft team's roster.
12	Carolina Hurricanes - Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) - A big drop from the previous mock, as I see the more well-rounded players chosen before Tippett. He may be somewhat one-dimensional, but when that dimension is goal-scoring, the rest of his game does not need to carry the weight.
13	Vegas Golden Knights (from Winnipeg Jets) - Martin Necas, C, HC Kometa Brno (Czech) - Presuming they keep their two mid-round picks, the Golden Knights have plenty of options here. In Necas, they will take a high skill energy player who can be dangerous near the opposing crease. He needs time, but he will get it with the expansion team.
14	Tampa Bay Lightning - Kailer Yamamoto, C/LW, Spokane Chiefs (WHL) - Yamamoto would nicely fill the organizational void left by the trade of Jonathan Drouin to Montreal. Not right away, obviously, but sooner than later. Tampa, the proud employers of Tyler Johnson, should be quite comfortable drafting the undersized offensive dynamo.
15	Vegas Golden Knights (from New York Islanders) - Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle (SHL) - Another home run swing for the Golden Knights. The shine that was on Liljegren as the year began has dulled somewhat, but the raw ingredients for a potential power play quarterback are still here.
16	Calgary Flames - Erik Brannstrom, D, HV71 J20 (SuperElit) - A thrilling puck rusher would be ready for the NHL as Mark Giordano begins to show signs of wear and tear. The prototype of the modern puck playing blueliner.
17	Toronto Maple Leafs - Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City Americans (WHL) - The Maple Leafs will appreciate both his skill set (shot and hockey IQ) and production.
18	Boston Bruins - Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City Americans (WHL) - As with the last mock, the Bruins take a large man who has more skills than most his size. Rasmussen, selected right after his WHL teammate Valimaki, will be a force down low.
19	San Jose Sharks - Eeli Tolvanen, LW, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) - No change from the last mock. The news that Tolvanen will not be able to attend BC next fall should not change anything.
20	St. Louis Blues - Jason Robertson, LW, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) - There are very few players in this draft with the nose for the net that Robertson has. He could stand to be more physical and pay more attention to defense, but you need to score to win.
21	New York Rangers - Callan Foote, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL) - The Rangers system below the NHL level is pretty weak across the board. Foote is a big, smart blueliner who could be groomed for a quick ascension for a top four role.
22	Edmonton Oilers - Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP (Liiga) - Could be the player they hoped they were getting when they traded a id-round pick to the Islanders for new Vegas Golden Knight Griffin Reinhart. But a better skater. Very smooth all-around game.
23	Arizona Coyotes (from Minnesota Wild) - Nicolas Hague, D, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL) - Just like Jakub Chychrun was the bookend to the earlier first round selection of Clayton Keller last year, so Hague can be the funhouse mirror pick after grabbing Cody Glass earlier in the round. Massive with a massive shot and physical presence, Hague also moves well for his size.
24	Winnipeg Jets (from Columbus Blue Jackets through Vegas Golden Knights) - Conor Timmins, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) - Before they swapped picks with the Golden Knights as part of an Expansion Draft side deal, we had Winnipeg drafting a defenseman in the first round. No change on that front, but a different blueliner here in the mobile Timmins, whose game took huge leaps forward this year in the Soo.
25	Montreal Canadiens - Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) - The blueline depth of this system was decimated in the last week. Joseph is a bit of a project, but with a ceiling as high as many of those selected before him.
26	Chicago Blackhawks- Lias Andersson, C/LW, HV71 (SHL) - No change from the previous mock as Andersson, a versatile and skilled Swedish forward is still available for the Blackhawks.
27	St. Louis Blues (from Washington Capitals) - Robert Thomas, C, London Knights (OHL) - In the previous mock, we had St. Louis drafting Thomas with their earlier first rounder. This time, Thomas still ends up a Blue and they get a future playmaker to dish passes to goal scorer Robertson. Somewhat reminiscent of their 2010 first round haul of Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko in a roundabout way.
28	Ottawa Senators - Josh Norris, C, USNTDP (USHL) - Another player in the mold of their 2015 first rounder Colin White. Norris can do everything.
29	Dallas Stars (from Anaheim Ducks) - Grant Mismash, LW, USNTDP (USHL) - A high energy disturber. Mismash can play a top six offensive role or a bottom six rugged game. Has an NHL shot.
30	Nashville Predators - Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State (NCHC) - Although Poehling struggled at times as one of the youngest players in NCAA, a very strong performance at the WU18 tournament should quell any concerns. Very mature game with untapped offensive upside.
31	Pittsburgh Penguins - Isaac Ratcliffe, LW, Guelph Storm (OHL) - The Penguins so rarely pick in the first round, it is hard to know what to expect. Ratcliffe was the brightest light on the blight that was the Guelph Storm this year and there are signs that he can dominate at the OHL level, while the jury is still out on what role he would play at the highest level.