Ted Kulfan's 2018 NHL mock draft

1. Buffalo Sabres: Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda (Sweden): He is considered by many scouts to be the best defenseman prospect in decades. He should become a cornerstone of the Sabres’ organization for many, many years.

2. Carolina Hurricanes: Andrei Svechnikov, LW, Barrie (OHL). Sorry Red Wings fans, but there will be no Svechnikov brothers reunion. Andrei is a dynamic goal-scorer, and likely will make an immediate impact in Carolina.

3. Montreal Canadiens: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat-Liiga (Finland). The first two picks are considered automatic. This is where it gets tricky. Montreal has a huge hole at center and Kotkaniemi has been rocketing upward in many scouts’ estimation. This just seems too good of a fit.

4. Ottawa Senators: Quinn Hughes, D, Michigan. With the Senators likely to trade defenseman Erik Karlsson, why not take a player who is similar – just about a decade younger? A good piece for a rebuilding organization.

5. Arizona Coyotes: Filip Zadina, RW, Halifax (QMJHL). He is a prolific goal-scorer who a couple of scouts likened to a young Brendan Shanahan. Zadina will be another great, young asset for the improving Coyotes.

6. Detroit Red Wings: Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL). The Wings need someone like this – a defenseman with size, ability at both ends of the ice, and character. But if Hughes is still here, it's going to be a difficult choice.

7. Vancouver Canucks: Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL). The Canucks will be awfully tempted by two great goal-scoring wingers still available, but Dobson fills a desperate hole in the organization for a defenseman. He is stronger offensively, but the defense is expected to come around.

8. Chicago Blackhawks: Brady Tkachuk, LW, Boston University. The Blackhawks need an infusion of young talent, and the son of Keith Tkachuk and brother of Calgary's Matthew Tkachuk would be a great addition. A true power forward.

9. New York Rangers: Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, USNTDP. The Rangers have a decent amount of defensive prospects, so help up front is needed. Wahlstrom is considered by many scouts to be one of the best pure goal-scorers in this class – and very well could be snatched a bit higher.

10. Edmonton Oilers: Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas (Sweden): He's risky defensively, and not big (5-11, 165), but he is electric offensively and is a terrific puck-mover, which the Oilers badly need.

11. New York Islanders: Barrett Hayton, C, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL): Hayton's stock has gone up steadily the last few weeks, and the Islanders would be happy to have him. The type of player who could be productive for a decade.

12. New York Islanders (from Calgary): Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL). The Islanders have huge needs on the blue line, and Smith (24) is one of the best left. He isn't big or physical, but is really good offensively – and the Islanders will take that.

13. Dallas Stars: Vitaly Kravtsov, RW, Chelyabinsk (Russia). GM Jim Nill likes selecting Europeans, and this one is a bit of a sleeper. Kravtsov (74) had a great rookie season in the KHL and his upside is huge.

14. Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis): Joel Farabee, LW, USNTDP. One of the best players in the USA program, Farabee can play anywhere in the lineup. He would be a fine fit with what the Flyers are building.

15. Florida Panthers: Joseph Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL). The Panthers are collecting a lot of talent, and Veleno (9) would be one more great addition. A strong skater and playmaker, he would add considerable depth up the middle.

16. Colorado Avalanche: K’Andre Miller, D, USNTDP. A raw, 6-foot-4, blue-chip skater who is only getting better, Miller could be snapped up even quicker than this. Physically, few players are more gifted in this class.

17. New Jersey Devils: Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat-Liiga (Finland). Just turned 18, Kupari has shown outstanding offensive skills but is likely a year or two away from contributing at the NHL level.

18. Columbus Blue Jackets: Bode Wilde, D, USNTDP: Wilde is raw defensively and consistency has been a problem, but offensively he's probably already NHL-ready. Wilde is a bit of a wild card, but if you gamble correctly, he could be an impact player.

19. Philadelphia Flyers: Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL). Having gotten a forward earlier, the Flyers now add to the defense. Sandin was one of the OHL's best rookie defensemen and isn’t far away from being NHL ready.

20. Los Angeles Kings: Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL). The Kings need help offensively and McLeod would be a safe pick. He has the size (6-2) the Kings like, and can distribute the puck.

21. San Jose Sharks: Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo (Finland): Bokk has a lot of fans among scouts, and could be picked earlier. He is a smooth skater with a nice shot, and the Sharks could use some young blood up front.

22. Ottawa Senators (from Pittsburgh): Mattias Samuelsson, D, USNTP. The son of former NHL defenseman Kjell Samuelsson, Mattias is the type that will be an effective, steady player for many years. And Ottawa needs that.

23. Anaheim Mighty Ducks: Serron Noel, RW, Oshawa (OHL). Noel (left) is the type of player the Ducks like. He has great size (6-5) and he uses it in a variety of ways. The Ducks can let Noel develop at his own pace, too.

24. Minnesota Wild: Isac Lundestrom, C, Lulea (Sweden). Lundestrom (20) has been linked to the Red Wings, also, but the Wild need this two-way center who is a fantastic penalty killer.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs: Ryan Merkley, D, Guelph (OHL). He's an extremely interesting player. Merkley is a dynamic player with the puck, but drives scouts crazy with taking too many chances. Can Mike Babcock curb Merkley's tendency to play out of control?

26. New York Rangers (from Boston): Grigori Denisenko, LW, Yaroslavl (Russia). Denisenko (right) is another player who could go somewhere between 10 and 15 if a particular team can't resist. Scouts love that Denisenko plays in tough areas.

27. Chicago Blackhawks: (from Nashville): Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL). The Blackhawks have a history with OHL players, and Dellandrea (middle) would fit their mold. He is a fine two-way center who can play up and down the lineup, and whose ceiling is high.

28. New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay): Jared McIsaac, D, Halifax (QMJHL). McIsaac (14) has a bit of mean streak in him, so the Rangers wouldn't mind adding that element to their mix. He has a good shot from the point, too.

29. St. Louis Blues (from Winnipeg): Akil Thomas, C, Niagara (OHL). He needs to grow physically – he's under 6-foot and only about 165 pounds – but Thomas is an outstanding playmaker and plays bigger than his size.

30. Detroit Red Wings (from Vegas): Jakub Lauko, LW, Chomutov (Czech Republic). The Wings have been linked to Lauko (20) a lot recently, and he's the type of game-breaking, offensive player that are few and far between in the organization.