#16 - Edmonton Oilers (From Pittsburgh) - Jakub Zboril (D)
With the Oilers' second pick of the 1st round, I have them grabbing Czech d-man Jakub Zboril. Zboril was playing with the QMJHL's Saint John Seadogs. He put up 33 PTS in 44 GMS along with 73 PIMs. Zboril is a relatively big, two-way defenseman that has a great skating ability. He uses his senses in both the defensive and offensive zones to make an outlet pass or shut down the forecheck. He isn't afraid to lay some body and stand up for his teammates, which his 73 PIM suggests. He played on a horrendous Seadogs team that finished last in the "Q", but managed to show he is a solid two-way defender that plays with an edge and isn't afraid to punch someone out. With Connor McDavid already grabbed with the 1st overall pick, the Oilers would be happy to land a d-man of Zboril's calibre with #16.
#17 - Winnipeg Jets - Nick Merkley (C/RW)
The Jets first round pick is a lot higher than last year when they nabbed Dane winger Nikolaj Ehlers with the 9th pick. After a successful year, the Jets will pick at #17. With that pick, I have them taking Western Canada boy Nick Merkley. Merkley played on a Memorial Cup finalist team in the Kelowna Rockets, where he notched 90 PTS in 72 GMS (20G, 70A). Merkley is a clear-cut playmaking center/winger with outstanding hockey IQ and vision. He is extremely determined and despite his small stature he will never give up on a play, and always battles battles battles. Merkley still has to work on his footspeed and other little tweaks, but he's a player with a bright future. The Jets have a record of taking these small skill players (Nic Petan for example) so if Merkley's still on the board, I don't see him getting much farther than the 'Peg.
#18 - Ottawa Senators - Paul Bittner (LW)
A very successful year for the "Hamburglar" and the Sens, as they find themselves picking at #18 this year. They would've picked at #10 last year but they previously traded that pick to Anaheim in the Bobby Ryan deal. Back to 2015, I have the Sens taking big boy Paul Bittner. An American born winger, Bittner notched 71 PTS in 66 GMS for the WHL's Portland Winterhawks. Bittner is a player that uses his 6"4 203 lb frame to his advantage as he plays with tenacity and an edge. He goes to the net hard and works well in those dirty areas, and puts up his goals while being a forechecking pest. This is a gamble pick here as Bittner's ranking is relatively all over the place, but I have the Sens taking him at #18.
#19 - Detroit Red Wings - Colin White (C)
After a first round playoff exit, the Babcock-less Wings select at #19. Detroit seems to always draft well no matter where they pick, so you know this pick will be a good one. Colin White is a center who is ranked a little higher than #19 on most scouts lists, and if he's still available when Detroit picks, I'm sure he'll be taken. He put up 17 PTS in 20 GMS with the USNTDP Juniors, and 54 PTS in 54 GMS with the U.S. U18 Team. White is a center who is effective everywhere around the rink, he can be good defensively or a scoring threat. He's a good puck possession player that has a 100% work ethic with or without the puck. White does lots of things right, and a lot of teams like players of his talent level.
#20 - Minnesota Wild - Oliver Kylington (D)
When did Minnesota pick last year? #20. No improvements or decreases, as they get another late first round pick. Last year they selected big U.S. winger Alex Tuch, and this year I have them taking high risk-high reward D-man Oliver Kylington. Kylington is a Swede that bounced around many different leagues this year. He had 7 PTS in 10 GMS with Farjestad J20, 5 PTS in 18 GMS with Farjestad of the SHL (men's league), and 7 PTS in 17 GMS with AIK of the Allsvenskan (2nd highest league). Kylington is an extremely smooth skater that is projected to go literally anywhere in the draft. He has a great vision for the game and the ability to make outstanding outlet passes, and he uses his smooth sleek skating to get back if he jumps up offensively. The problem is he's relatively small and lacks consistency, so this is a bit of a gamble pick. He could fall to round 2, or even sneak into the top 10! Minnesota already has a good core of smooth skating d-men, but they lack solid depth (I don't fully trust Spurgeon (YET), Dumba (YET) or Leopold) so why not add Kylington.
That's all for this installment, please leave feedback below. Remember these are all opinion based and this could be COMPLETELY wrong! Who do you think goes in the mid-first round?
Cheers,
~UWNHL TEAM
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