2026 NHL Draft Mock Draft: Predicting All 32 Picks In The First Round With Chris Peters And Cam Robinson

It's the MOCK DRAFT Episode! The Called Up crew goes pick for pick in the first round as Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects and Chris Peters of FloHockey predict the first round, from the Toronto Maple Leafs at No. 1 to the Ottawa Senators at No. 32. Will Toronto make the pick everyone expects them to or go a different way? When is the first defenseman selected? Will there be trades? You will not want to miss this annual treat where two veteran NHL Draft analysts make the tough decisions ahead of this highly-anticipated and wildly unpredictable draft. Chris also previews the 2026 Calder Cup Finals which begin Friday on FloHockey.

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Video Transcript

Hello, everybody, and welcome to Called Up the Prospects podcast.

I am Chris Peters, joined as always by Cam Robinson.

And Cam, it's mock draft day.

Mock draft day.

We're mocking it.

We're mocking it.

Are you ready to mock this draft?

Buddy, I'm excited.

I am excited.

Yeah.

Didn't even sleep last night.

I don't know, I, I, I don't know that there's ever been a more wide-- Like, it, it really is wide open in terms of the possibilities that exist.

And with that comes a lot of unpredic- predictability.

So the way this is gonna work today is Cam and I are gonna go back and forth.

We're gonna talk about the draft, we're gonna each make picks for teams, okay?

So we're gonna have that, and then we're gonna go into, the, you know, the nitty-gritty.

We'll, we'll-- Maybe we'll disagree with each other.

We're gonna try to go through it as quickly- Hopefully as we can.

We're gonna go one through 30 because the Stanley Cup Final has not been decided.

That's what we need to decide the last two picks.

And we're gonna go ahead and, and kind of go forward with what we have here, and, and just get you one through 30.

So we have our, our draft rankings, we have our, our list, we have all those different things, but we're also gonna try to give you the best picture we can of what we think will happen.

and then if you guys are longtime listeners of both Cam and r- Cam and my work, you'll also be able to hear us do something a little bit different on the PDO cast with our pa- pal Dmitry Filipovic as we move forward, 'cause we've done that for, gosh, a number of years now, and that probably precipitated this podcast from that.

That's where it came from, those debates- Yeah and, and everything else.

So we're gonna have a lot of fun today.

and, and Cam, like, before we get into the actual mock draft portion of this, y- you know, you did the Cam's Consensus Ranking.

I'm in the middle of doing the, you know, the TSN, consensus ranking as well that I've been doing.

and I gotta say, it is a fascinating exercise, and I just wonder for you, like, ha- has it ev- like, since we've been doing this, like, has it ever been this chaotic in terms of the range of opinions that we see even in the top five, six, seven here?

Gosh.

May- maybe like, maybe 2017, maybe 2022.

You know, we've, we've, we've seen some, we've seen some pretty crazy years and, like, for me, like, this is my first year getting an actual look at teams' lists other than, like, picking guys' brains after the fact and, like, being like, "Oh, they had him here," and, like, just kinda, like, trying to thread that patchwork together.

so, so seeing the discrepancies across teams' lists has been, like, really eye-opening.

Being like, you know, we hear that all the time, but then when you see it in front of you, being like, "Wow, is this normal or is this because this season- Mm-hmm is just so varied on how people see it?"

And I think it's probably a little bit of both.

it does feel like it's extra chaotic this year.

Yeah, it definitely is, and, and that has been, that's been fun.

I mean, honestly, that's been fun- Yeah because I think, like, in the Shane Wright draft, it was really a late push.

Like, there were people- Mm-hmm like, there may have been some people sowing doubt earlier in the year.

It really didn't become that fever pitch until right at the end, when it was like Slafkovsky had just had this incredible world championship run, he had had the Olympics and all these other things.

And so- Mm-hmm there were a lot of different things that kind of led to that.

This year, it's been that kind of slow drumbeat, and everybody has looked at Gavin McKenna, and I think they still look at Gavin McKenna as the number one guy.

But it's still a, you know-- A- and not a-- And that is not across the board, I will say.

But the, the fact is, is that we have this player that, you know, has, has largely been the guy, but then we have all of these other different things that have kind of popped up and, and the question being, "Do we have a true number one?

Do we have a lot of..." Relative to, "Do we have a lot of twos and threes?"

Like, the thing is, we might have more twos and threes than we would normally have in a draft, like guys that could be options for those picks.

But- Yeah somebody's gotta go one, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are on the board.

And, and before we, we hop into this, real quick, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody that reached out.

I know I, I kinda scared some people with my tweet that I had a bit of a health scare at the Combine.

The good news is nothing lingering, nothing long term.

it was very scary in the moment, and I was very tired the next day after spending some time in the hospital.

I put the APP out to our draft analyst friends here, "Who has a car?

I need to go to the hospital."

Scott Wheeler luckily had a car, got me to the hospital.

they were like, "Hey, uh..." You know, I, I thought I was having a stroke, just sort of like that's what it was, I thought was happening.

I, I did not have a stroke.

That's the great news.

So, um- Thank goodness quick trip to the hospital, got the all clear.

Hopefully everything else is fine.

Obviously, if you feel off, go to see your doctor and certainly I will continue following up with my doctors and trying to get my health in order so I don't have any more scares like that.

But I just wanna say thanks to everybody for the kind words.

Very, very much, heard from a lot of people and, and just wanted to say thank you to everybody.

And certainly, Cam, you were, you were there too.

You were, you were keep-- You were asking for updates.

You were-- I was getting you the updates and everything and, just really appreciate that from you as well and, a- and, and everybody out there.

Of course.

So, onwards and upwards.

Let's get to the fun stuff, all right?

Let's get to the fun stuff.

And Cam, you graciously-- I gave you the option.

I was like, "What you wanna do here?

What-- How you wanna, how you wanna swing this thing?

How you wanna go with this?"

And you said, "You know what?

You take number one."

You have it.

So I'll take number two.

Yeah.

And, and so obviously the Toronto Maple Leafs are the first team on the clock here.

They are the number one pick.

And I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna go into a long preamble here, aside from the fact that I think that it is more complicated than simply rubber-stamping the player that I have going number one.

But- It is also very complicated to pass on this player as well, and that's Gavin McKenna.

So we're gonna go Gavin McKenna at number one to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I think that if you're John Chayka, this is a big decision.

It's your first decision really of consequence as a general manager, beyond some of the personnel decisions that were made overall.

But I will say that there is a lot of, of just, you know, chaos and, and craziness around this draft.

I do think that, you know, the Leafs will ultimately step up and pick Gavin McKenna.

Any, any objection there, Cam, or any, any additional thoughts on the Gavin question here?

No.

I, I would just like to point out, and, and forgive me if you did kinda say this earlier and I just spaced, unlike the PDO Cast where we mock and pick who we would pick, right now we are mocking- Yes we are trying to guess the future- Correct for the Leafs to make that.

Yeah.

And which, which I completely agree with you.

I believe this will be Gavin McKenna at the top.

Yeah.

And, you know, the fact that it is a debate is not, is not made up.

I just wanna say that, because a lot of the teams, you know, there are teams that definitely do not have him as the number one.

Um- Yep obviously it's typically difficult to get the list of, of a team that's k- you know, having a number one.

So I'm not, you know We, we're obviously doing all of our work here, and so without, you know, giving, that away, I just think that all the signs are pointing to Gavin McKenna being the number one pick.

So Cam, that, that brings us to number two.

That's the San Jose Sharks.

Where are you going with this one?

'Cause this is really where I think the fun truly begins.

Yeah.

It, it, it, it really is, and, and by me gifting you number one, I really took a, had to, a tough pill to swallow here at, at number two- because I kinda have to set the stage.

I have to set the course, and which is exactly what San Jose has to do.

And, you know, I've said this, you know, privately to people, I've said it publicly a couple times too, is that I, I, everyone I speak to on the team side, not in San Jose, thinks they're gonna do something defense at this spot.

Yeah.

Whether that's take the best defenseman on their board at number two, whether that's slide back a couple spots and take the best defenseman at number two or at number four, whatever, or they trade it completely for a, a defenseman that they can put on their roster right now and can fit in their core.

forever my gut has kept saying, I'm like, "I feel like he's just gonna go up there and take Ivar Stenberg."

But for this exercise I'm gonna lean with the, with, with the information we're gathering from the team side, we're gonna lean logically here and we're giving San Jose Chase Reid, adding that, you know, he, he is, he is the best bet to be a number one defenseman in this class.

Someone who can generate offense, who can play defense, who can skate, who has size.

He has all those boxes ticked.

Yes, he played as an 18-year-old this year and he didn't, the numbers don't jump off the page, little over a point per game.

But I think if you watch him play and you see him in those big moments at the World Juniors and, and his ability to control the puck at the top of the zone.

Not to say Sam Dickinson can't do that, but I think that there's just that little bit higher ceiling potentially with Chase Reid, and it's on the right side, so you have, now you got, you know, a big hitter on both sides.

So I, I think they go Chase Reid at this spot.

Yeah.

A- and I, I think that's where I would've probably leaned as well, and I think that the, the situation with the Sharks being what it is, you know, there's, there's nothing that says they have to pick a defenseman, but certainly if you look at their organizational need area, if you think there's really not a lot of distance between Ivar and Chase, then you would, I would definitely take the defenseman.

And I also think, like, I keep hearing this phrase a lot is like, "We don't think the best player in this draft is gonna go number one."

We think, like there's- Yeah there, it, the thing is is that that's based on projection- Mm-hmm and projection carries a lot of risk, and I think that's really what you have with, like, a Chase Reid situation here.

so that is, that is another thing, you know, to just consider.

But I, I agree.

I think they should go, I think they should go defense because the quality that's up there is pretty significant.

Now, I will say Ivar plus Macklin, like, that's a really difficult duo to play against, and I could understand if there is a, if there is a, if they think that Stenberg is the best player, they will, I think, take Stenberg in the end.

but as you mentioned, that's also a pick that could move in terms of trades and other things like that.

So keep an eye on the Sharks.

I think that there is a lot that can happen right there at the top.

so- I am gonna jump in before we move on.

Yep.

I wanna jump in with two things here.

Please do.

I also don't think we should discredit the, the, the, the Carson Carls.

I think that they really like- Correct Carson Carls too, and I think that- Correct that might surprise a lot of people if all of a sudden Carson Carls went number two.

But we're just setting the stage right now that if that happens, don't be shocked.

Carson Carls is very, very well respected as, and a lot of teams have him as the top defender, whether he's on the left side or not.

The second thing I wanted to bring up, are you open to trading?

How are we feeling about moving picks?

I'm, I'm absolutely, I, I'm open for business, and I think if I'm, I have to do my due diligence here.

So do you have a proposal for me?

Absolutely.

Okay.

So- All right I'm thinking you, you got three.

Okay, I'm looking to move up a little bit here.

I'm offering pick number four, Chicago Blackhawks, which is a tough pick to make.

I apologize right there.

That's a tough pick to make.

And then I'll dish you, like, 18.

I'll give you the Caps at 18 to move up for three here.

What do you think?

Oh, so you're taking-- So we got different teams, different teams.

man.

Gonna shift things around.

Yeah, you know what I think?

I think because I think, because what I see what's on the board here, I'm gonna go ahead and I'm gonna take that deal.

I'm gonna, I'm gonna give you three, so Chicago moves into three.

I'm getting that 18th pick, so I'm gonna, I'm gonna change, change out our order here.

Chicago stays at Ch- Chicago's staying at, at four.

I want the Vancouver pick.

So you want the Vancouver pick.

Right.

I'm switching with you physically Okay, so you want the Vancouver pick- Not the teams.

I want the Vancouver pick.

You have to take Chicago at four Okay, so you, oh, so you're trading me so that you can make this pick.

I see.

Yes.

I got you.

Yes.

All right, because our order I got you.

All right.

Yeah.

Deal.

You can take it.

Deal.

I would love to hear what Vancouver got.

I was even gonna throw in a bag of pistachios, so this is great.

I, I was willing to bend.

I was gonna go deep.

That's bad.

See, I'm allergic, so Yeah, right.

Of course.

Which I don't think we disclosed- How could I forget?

that was a sponsor.

We, we, you know, we, we did off air though.

Yeah.

That was hilarious.

Ah, that's funny.

All right.

So Cam, you are picking now- Should've made a video out of it for Vancouver.

I will take- Yes the Blackhawks, and I will also take, the Capitals at 18.

So, all right.

So we're gonna have, we're, we're doing some musical chairs here.

So Cam, you are now picking.

You are on the clock for Vancouver.

What are you doing here?

Finally, I, I get to tell 10-year-old Cam he's making the, the first pick for the Canucks here at third overall.

That's, that's gonna make his, that's gonna make his year, for sure.

I've been waiting a long time for this.

you know, I've been taking a lot of heat online.

People are very upset that I've been saying, "You know, it's, it's probably Caleb Mulholtre.

It's probably Caleb Mulholtra."

Right.

Today, Chris, today we're gonna change some people's minds a little bit here.

Ooh, okay.

I'm taking Ivar Stenberg at three for Vancouver.

Ooh.

Okay.

I'm taking, I'm taking Stenberg, and I'm shifting this whole thing up.

Now the next few picks are in trouble.

I'm taking the best player available.

I think Ivar's gonna be the best player available for them.

I think that whether or not Caleb and Manny can get along and do just fine as father-son coach, and I think it would be fine.

I think, yeah, I think it Were you getting the vibes?

I mean, you weren't there, but were you, have you been getting vibes off other people that it's, like, at the combine, it, it felt a little, just a little queasy maybe a little bit about it.

They had Caleb under lock and key at the combine.

We really didn't get access to him at all, unlike all the other top prospects.

Yeah.

Right?

Just up on the scrum in front of everybody.

I, I think they're, I, I'm going Ivar here.

I'm giving the Canucks Stenberg.

I know they'd like a center, but I'm giving them, I'm giving them this rocket, this another Swedish rocket.

Well, if they do that, then they now, then they would have the three highest scoring Swedish players in their draft year in SHL history because their two co-team presidents or what- what- whatever the, the Sedin twins' title is, they are one and two.

Stenberg is three.

and you know, there, there's been a lot of talk about that.

There's talk about, you know, the Matt Sundin relationship with, with Stenberg at w- you know, for the possibility at one.

There's the- Yeah now the Sedin twins and, and their, their awareness.

So I, that shakes things up, and I think if you're Chicago at that point, now you've got, which is number four, and I'll take the pick for Chicago.

This has been the one that we've heard the reports from, like, Elliotte Friedman and others, and certainly that has been the buzz among the, the scouts is that four is in play for a trade.

I think if it- Yeah went like this, there is a strong chance that Chicago would trade this pick.

Um- Mm-hmm a- and, and even they might do it before the draft.

Who knows?

Because they have more immediate needs.

This is a team that is ripe with prospects.

They can get a better prospect here.

The question would be now that they're at four, 'cause I'm just gonna make the pick for them because we don't have, I'm not gonna trade it.

Um- Trade it.

Just steal it.

Yeah.

Well, I would, I think if I'm them, I probably do trade it.

I'm trading it- You're little bargain hoping for more immediate help.

I don't think a trade back scenario h- is of any interest to me at this point.

It is either- Yeah help for now or I'm moving maybe a few, a spot or two, you know, not, not any further than that.

So this is a weird spot because now you've got center depth on that roster as well.

So I'm thinking Caleb Malholtra for a minute there.

I'm thinking another forward.

I'm thinking about premium guys.

But now I'm gonna have to go, because Stenberg's there, I'm gonna have to go D. I'm gonna have to go D, and, and I think that, you know, for me, this, the guy that I would go with immediately, in this group, if Chase Reid is off the board, I'm going Carson Carls.

I'm gonna say Carls.

Yeah.

I think he's got the most well-rounded profile.

He's physical.

He's not as big as some of the other guys, but he's strong.

He's, just a brilliant skater.

I think that, you know, Carson Carls, and I look, and if I'm the Blackhawks, I'm looking, I'm saying, "Okay, well, we've got, you know, Lebuchinov, Rinzel, Vlasic," like younger guy, like and Vlasic's the older guy of that group, and then you've got Korchinski, who, you know, is really kind of stuck in limbo at this point.

I think that Carls is probably the guy that provides the most value to my prospect system at that point.

I think my preference- Mm-hmm would be that Ivar is available, but I think that Ivar could be gone at one, two, and three at that point.

And now you're just saying, "All right, well, where, where can I go?"

And so my gut is that if this goes this way, I think s- I think that a lot of people would be interested in trading for Chicago.

I think they'd be interested in Malholtra.

They'd be interested in Carls.

They'd be interested in Smits.

Like, a lot of teams love those guys at the very top of the draft.

So that play would be in pick, but I will go Carson Carls for the Chicago Blackhawks.

And because Cam traded, that brings it right back to me and the New York Rangers, and I think this pick, honestly to me, is easy for the Rangers.

It's a layup.

It's easy.

It- It's a layup Let's just say it at the same time.

Caleb Malholtra.

One, two.

I was counting down.

Yeah.

Yeah, I couldn't count that way.

I was just like Yeah, I, the- Caleb Malholtra yeah, this is, this is what happens.

Yeah, Caleb Malholtra.

So, you know, and I think if you're the Rangers, this is a great op- this is a great chance, and th- it's certainly a possibility that you end up with the best center in the draft.

You get a guy that's going to be a, a quality two-way player.

I think they need to inject some more, you know, culture players into their team.

And the thing is, is like, I feel like people kind of get their backs up a little bit when we talk about, like, character, culture, other things like that because we're not talking about the skill and on the on-ice acumen.

That's not a problem with Caleb Malholtra.

We don't have to necessarily- caveat that.

Is he as dynamic as Stenberg or McKenna?

He is not, but he is an incredibly effective offensive player, incredible vision, really good passer, has a good enough shot, you know, does things well, gets to the middle.

Caleb Malhotra, easy pick for, at number five for the Rangers.

I'm thrilled if that's the guy that's there at five.

Totally.

Totally.

And, and, you know, like, looking at this, looking at this board right here, this top five, I feel this is very realistic.

I do wonder- Absolutely I do, I do wonder if, like, Chicago could go with the righty in Keaton Verhoeff there instead of Carlsson, and then leave Carlsson for, for Calgary, which I think Calgary would love Carson Carlsson.

But in this world, I think this is good.

I think this is a very plausible board so far.

So far so good.

We're doing well.

Yeah, I, I think- Think we're doing well I, I, I really think, I think the f- the first 13 players of the draft, the order may change, but I think that the, those 13 players- Players are absolutely gonna be the 13 players selected.

so I think- Ooh yeah, this is absolutely a realistic-- We're not, we're not getting crazy here yet.

All right.

No.

So Cam, we go to number six with the Flames.

Just to recap real quick, Leafs get McKenna, Sharks get Reid, Canucks get Stenberg, Blackhawks Carlsson, Rangers get Malhotra.

Calgary Flames, you're on the clock.

Yeah, so I, like I said, I think Calgary would have loved to have had Carson Carlsson to the left side of that blue line to complement Zane Parekh.

they don't have that option in this world, and so I think that that would also impact them going with another righty like a Verhoeff or a Daxon Rudolph or something like that.

So I think at this point, I'm saying it, I think Craig Conroy's got the stones to make the big swing here.

We're taking Viggo Bjrk at number six.

Ooh.

Putting Viggo at number six.

This is a player you build around.

This is a player you put into your lineup, and you instantly find out everybody loves Viggo, and there's a reason for it.

Players love Viggo, coaches love Viggo, management loves Viggo, the community loves Viggo.

He is gonna be one of these guys that fits in seamlessly into whatever organization he lands in, and he's gonna be the belle of the ball in a hurry.

Calgary's gonna do well if this is their pick.

I like it.

I, I You know, because here's the thing, it's like Viggo, Viggo is absolutely up the charts in terms of, like, he was a combine darling.

Um- Oh, yeah you know, obviously I wasn't there, but I did hear the, uh- You what?

I did, I, I did hear a little bit more about just kind of the way that he carried himself and the way that he was around other players, and just, he is like, like, one of the terms is like, okay yeah, he's five foot nine, but he's a total alpha.

You know, like he's just- he just, people just gravitate to him.

Inside-- And he's unassuming.

He's not, you know, he's not boisterous.

He's-- But gosh- Mm-mm if, if, if everybody just doesn't love the fella.

so I think it's realistic.

I think if you're a team in the West, and if you're a team in the Pacific division specifically, this is where I would say, I think Craig Conroy, it would take a lot of stones to do it, because- It would that is-- 'Cause now you've got, you know, you look at the core of your picks right now, Colin Potter, also, um- Reschney Reschney, Cole Reschney in the last draft, and then you've also got Parekh.

There's not a lot of hard, you know, there.

Now Viggo is- Reschney's got hard.

He's got hard, but like, you know, is he- And Viggo's got hard he's got size, and neither- But he's five nine.

Yeah, so like- Yeah like that's the thing is like these guys, Viggo is, Viggo is incredibly competitive.

Like that's the thing, like he- his compete level is outstanding, like elite level.

Unreal.

but man, it's-- And that's the thing, and I, I think if you're, you know, the Seattle Kraken at number seven, this plays into your needs so well.

You, you are, you are suddenly feeling a lot better about, you know, the entire, the entire outlook of, you know, things.

Because I think you could be tempted to go Viggo if he's there.

But I don't think- that that's gonna happen.

I think that there is such a clear need on defense, and I think that you have the opportunity to land the best available defenseman that you have in your group.

and I think if you are, if you're looking that way, okay, so you got those guys gone.

I'm gonna go a little bit off the beaten path here, because I think- Oh a lot of people are, would say, would say either Smits or Verhoeff.

I'm gonna say Daxon Rudolph, and I'm gonna say Daxon Rudolph- Interesting.

Yeah.

So I'm, I'm go- Like Rudolph is-- Once we get to this stage of the D, there is definitely some Verhoeff down and Verhoeff And, and, but I'm gonna go with Daxon Rudolph, and I, I think it's basically that offensive element.

I think he has more of that than both of the available players, and I think that's gonna resonate.

Like, let's also think about Seattle's makeup and their front office and the analytical, like, you know, they're definitely looking at those stat, you know, like stats are gonna be a big part of it.

I think Rudolph's statistical profile is probably better than the other two, even though I think both Verhoeff and Smits ultimately might be the better options for them.

I just think that that, that Rudolph offensive element is going to supersede, you know, maybe the size of the oth- and strength of the other two guys.

Thoughts?

Yeah, I mean, fair enough.

I, I, I-- At the combine there, Seattle took both Daxon and Keaton out for dinner, I do believe.

They took Keaton out for sure.

I think they really do like Verhoeff.

I would have a, I would be a little surprised if they did pass over him for Daxon, but I know that they like Rudolph too.

So it's not, I, it, it, I feel like if it's, comes down to those two guys, it's probably gonna be one of those two.

and- Yeah they'll have that internal debate.

So I don't think that's crazy by any means.

I do personally think it would be Verhoeff, but I think it's, it's right there with Dax.

Yeah.

So that- He's good I, I mean, I think-- I, I don't think you can go wrong with any of those defensemen that are on the board there.

I think they're all- Yeah they're all gonna bring something.

I, I, yeah.

I think it's just the, the Daxon postseason run was, was, was helpful to his cause.

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, and they both did very well at the combine.

They're very, both they're both well-spoken.

Like, they're, they're kind of fun.

Yeah.

They're, they're light-hearted.

They-- I heard the teams enjoyed chatting with them both, and not surprisingly- Yeah I figured Verhoff would be kind of like a darling at this event.

which is- Yeah who is going right now, because the Keaton Verhoff- the slide ends.

The slide ends at eight with Winnipeg.

I think that, I mean, it's, Nodak's, he can just, he can basically, like, jog there from school, right?

Like, it's not even a problem.

Yeah, yeah.

It's a walk.

Grand Forks.

Right?

He, it's a, it's a decent walk.

Hopefully it's not snowing.

But, I mean, he's already used to that climate a little bit now, so why not, why not just stick around for one more year at North Dakota and then slide up to Winnipeg?

So they're taking Keaton Verhoff.

He's, you know, 6'4", right shot defenseman.

Talking to him at the combine there, like, he knows.

He's like, "I need to get quicker.

I need to get more explosive, and that's all my training this summer, like, is pri- focused on."

And I love that.

I love that awareness, and I love that he's putting in the work.

He was showing people his phone.

He was showing me the stuff, how they're measuring the power and the quickness while he's on the treadmill skating and stuff like that.

Like, he, they've got it dialed in, and so I think he's gonna, I think he's gonna improve, and I think he's a hard worker, and I think he's a smart kid.

I like this pick for Winnipeg if they can get Verhoff at eight.

I, I think, I think you're ecstatic if, if, if that's the pick there.

Yeah.

I think you got the size- Really the athleticism, all those different things.

You know, you think about the picks that they made in past years.

You know, Josh Morrissey obviously a home run pick, and- Mm-hmm and their D picks have been- Kyle Connor a little bit hit or miss, you know, since then, because you've got, you know, Stanley worked well enough, you know, worked in a trade, those kinds of things.

Y- you know, they, Hanela has been kind of a, a tough, a tough journey for him.

So that's, that's interesting.

But now, now you got the Florida Panthers, and I think to me you're just saying, "All right, who's, who's the next best available?"

And I do think that Albert Smits is a real wild card here, but I, I think you gotta go, if you're Florida, I think the debate would be between two players for me.

It would be between Smits and Malte Gustafsson.

I would- You know, they've, they've got a, they've got a little Latvian mafia going, in, in, in, in Florida.

and I think that Smits would be the kind of guy that has the personality to fit into their group.

That's a big, that's a big reason for it.

Um- Yeah you know, I think he could slot in sooner than later.

I do-- Like, he, he wants to play in the NHL next year.

I think that, you know, because of their cap situation, that might be a viable option, where you have a player that's on an ELC that you could put in.

I just think that he checks the most boxes for them.

Does he have-- Like, the question will be, like, does he have the upside of a Gustafsson?

Does he have an upside of one of, like, you know, if, are you a big believer in Tynan Lawrence?

Are you a big believer in any of those players, Belcheck and others- Yeah you know, in terms of upside?

But I think for me, Smits is the pick there, and I think they'll be happy with that.

I think he's, you know, he's, he's a, he's a pretty solid player and a, a- and a guy that, you know, y- you don't get to be two, two times Stanley Cup champion and then pick 10th the next time you miss the playoffs, or ninth when you p- miss the playoffs a lot.

This is a great opportunity for Florida to bolster their blue line.

Yeah.

I, I mean, it's fun because, like, I was at the WHL Top Prospects game back in, like, February, and I had a little nugget fall into my lap where it was basically like, if Florida, if the injuries keep piling up, they're gonna try to, they're gonna just sit the guys, and they're gonna try to bottom out as far as they can to get Albert Smits, plug him into the lineup next year, and now they've got a young ELC on their blue line on a hard-nosed hammer-type kid, you know?

And, and so we've said it lots- Yeah he's the most NHL-ready D probably in this class, just because of how he plays the game, his physical status.

You know, he's, he's shown throughout the league at the DEL, the world championships, the Olympics, he can play against men.

He can simplify his game enough to handle that, and I think he could do that at the NHL.

I think, I think ideally I'd maybe have him in the American League at least to start.

You know?

Like- I agree see how he looks in camp and early on, and, and, like, but have that up and down option.

But, you know, 20-year-old Smits playing 20 minutes in the NHL, absolutely, right?

I, I don't think the ceiling is as high as some of these other guys, but I do think that there's just, like, second pair, very reasonable upside here, and, and someone who has a, you know, snarl and, and enough skill, and a great skater too.

So, I like that pick for Florida.

Now Nashville's a fun one, though, here.

Nashville at 10.

Nashville at 10, we got Chris McFarlane in the house.

We got Rob Blake- Mm-hmm in the house, right?

Mm-hmm.

They've been, it's a, it's a shift.

It's gonna be a shift of priorities.

It's like, it's hard to-- I, I don't know about you, but I, I don't have a bead on them right now on, on really on how they're, how they're gonna lean at this pick.

So this is a tough one for, for me to go.

What's he gonna do, folks?

I like, I feel like I wanna g- He's thinking.

I feel like I, I, I am thinking.

I, I should've traded the pick.

Like, I keep wanting to say Ethan Belcheck, but I think I'm gonna go Tynan Lawrence here.

I think I'm gonna go Tynan Lawrence.

I like-- All right.

Tynan Lawrence, yeah.

I'm not, I'm not, you know, like Malte Gustafsson was right on the tip of my tongue too.

This te- this team has done well- Uh-huh you know, drafting defensemen historically, but I'm going Tynan Lawrence.

I'm going with the kid who's very, very young in this class, in a center-like class.

We know the priorities here.

Maholtra's gone, Viggo's gone.

If, if you want a center, Tynan's your guy, and I think you bet on him taking a nice big step at BU next year.

He's shown historically that he does have upper echelon pedigree in, in offense.

He needs to refine that, reignite that at the college level next season.

I do think that that's plausible.

I think that that's, that's realistic, and when you're getting him at number 10, I think that's a pretty good bet.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I, I agree with you, and I think, like, you know, there's, I think there's a lot of different things that they could potentially do there.

the center opportunity- Oh, yeah with Lawrence.

If there are a lot of teams that still are believers in Tynan Lawrence, the skating, the, you know, the motor, the different things that he can do.

he does have good skill too.

So I think that that's a really good you know, I just think that's a really good opportunity for, for them to kind of take a little bit of a swing on a player that probably, you know, could have gone earlier.

You know, if we, if we got to see a little bit- Yeah more of the Tynan Lawrence we saw over the full body of work at the second half of the season.

But yeah, that, that creates challenges 'cause I, like I said, I, I, I think that the, the 13 guys, barring something unforeseen that, that, that- Mm-hmm we kind of all talk about in the top 13 are gonna go, and Lawrence is still in that mix.

Lawrence is still- Yep in that mix of players of those 13.

The other three are still available, and to me, and I don't know if the years are different, but to me it's Belches, Gustafson, Wyatt Cullen.

Like, those are the guys- Yes I feel like are the thir- the rest of the 13 that are most- Yeah likely gonna go within these picks.

And St. Louis is in a really interesting pick here with number 11.

So with the St. Louis Blues pick, I am gonna go and take a bet on the offensive upside, and I'm going with Tynan Lawrence.

Or sorry, not Tynan Lawrence.

We just picked him.

I'm going with Wyatt Cullen.

Yes.

There we go.

The offensive upside of Wyatt Cullen.

I was just looking at Tynan's name on our list- Yeah.

as I just wrote it down.

We're go- So let's, let's retake that for the Clippers that are gonna look at this for a second.

So with the 11th overall pick, the St. Louis Blues are going on skill, Wyatt Cullen.

I think he's the most dynamic player available in the draft at this stage.

I think that that's something the Blues need a little bit more of.

They've got some guys that are really good two-way players.

Adam Jiricek, Blues fans, he's coming.

Good defenseman, one of the best offensive defensemen in the OHL last season, and in all of junior hockey, quite frankly.

you know, you've got Theo Lindstein that's, that has a year of AHL experience under his belt.

You've got good two-way guys in Stenberg and, and, and also with, Dvorsky.

So you've got players that I think are gonna fill those.

Get a little rocket fuel, get a little scoring, get a little injection.

That's what I think Wyatt Cullen is.

Now, there is risk in that projection because we are kind of extrapolating out.

He didn't have an amazingly productive season at the NTDP.

Wasn't a very good team, though.

You know, and I, I, I do- Yeah I do think that the numbers, when you, like, compare him historically to other players and you say, "Well, how did guys like, you know, whoever, Sonny Milano or Troy Terry or others that, that, you know, didn't go that, that high, outproduce him?"

I was like, "Well, yeah, but honestly he didn't have the, the supporting cast that, you know, was there."

So I'm going with, with, with Wyatt Cullen.

I think he's the most intriguing player in the draft.

I could see either of Malte Gustafsson or Ethan Belches fitting just as well there, but I'm taking- Yeah the little chance on the upswing, on, on the upside here and going with Cullen.

I like it.

I like it.

I, I mean, he, he, he was in my mind for a few of those picks, too, just because, again, dynamic skill is lacking.

Yep.

And he has it.

And he is trending in the right direction.

He's still growing.

He has NHL bloodlines.

He's got all sorts of good stuff going there.

So again, like, I think there's a real shot that he's in the top 10, but getting him at 11 there, it's a good pick.

It's a good pick for the Blues.

They can ingest some, some, some good skill.

Now 12.

I ke- I, I, I, I hate that I'm not taking my guy Malte here, so I've let him drop so many times, but I'm, I'm gonna pass on him again.

I'm gonna pass on him again.

Even though it seems like Simon Nemec is probably out of town here, I'm going Ethan Belches.

I think that, that, that the uniqueness of his physical profile and his skill, that combination, we don't see it very often.

And he can be mean, and he's got a little snarl.

Yeah.

I think I said this last week, too.

It's like when I was in , when I was chatting with him at the Combine, there's not a lot of guys that tower over me.

There's a couple every year- Yeah but he was certainly one of them.

He's looking down on me.

He's got about 20, 30 pounds of muscle on me.

He's a big cat, man.

He's a big dude.

He's got good hands.

Big dude.

He can score goals.

You just wanna get that switch flicked constantly.

and, and I think that that's, that's gonna be, that's gonna be the ticket here, is that if you can get him to be fully engaged, focused, aggressive all the time or the majority of the time, you're gonna have yourself a handful that teams are gonna hate lining up against.

And so he has that unique upside.

And so for the Devils, we're getting Ethan Belches here at 12.

I, I like it, Cam.

You know, like I think that, I, I, I, I think it could go either way on that one with the two guys we've talked about as being kind of like the remaining of the 13.

And the issue with, with the Devils there, you know, definitely, you know, injecting some of that, that size, that physicality, like, you know, giving They have some, like, power in their, in their lineup, but you need more, and you need guys.

And I, I- Yeah do think that while Belches had There were things that were concerning over the course of the year in terms of just, like, feel for the game and other things, and, and when he didn't flip that switch on, that was when I was getting more concerned, but he does have the hand skills.

He does have the shot.

Mm-hmm.

By the way, he's 6'5" and 200, over 220 pounds.

I think he weighed in at 230 at the, at the Combine.

Did you say that?

So, like, it was, you know- He's a big boy yeah, he's a large, large human being, and, I can totally see that as being, resonant with the Devils where they're at currently.

they've got a lo- lot of good young players.

We'll see, 'cause, like, I do think that their defense is a little bit in flux, and that's why, you know, like with Malte, like you're like, "Oh, well maybe that's a guy that could, you know, inject a little bit of stability," 'cause, like, Nemec is apparently, you know, could potentially be on the move.

You never really know.

Like they're, there are guys that they've tried to inject there.

Obviously got Lou Cooz long term.

So, but that, that creates a, that creates a bit of a dilemma here for the New York Islanders because what do they have a lot of right now?

Mm-hmm.

Left shot defensemen.

or they have two really- There's a righty.

There's a righty Well- Look pretty good there Yeah, but I mean, I'm also like, if I'm looking at who the best defenseman is on the board- You know he's a lefty.

I think it, I, I think it's tight.

I do think it's tight between him and Lynn.

I do.

I think that they're both- Yeah, that's, that's fair can you imagine having Lynn, though, as your backup for, for, for Shea, though?

As your, as your Like, it's the perfect spot for him.

PP2, run a second pair in his prime.

Yeah.

You know, kill penalties.

He doesn't have to be the guy on the blue line, but he gets to bring all that, all that skill, all that speed, all that defensive acumen.

I'm, I'm just, like, lobbying for my guy here, too.

He's trying.

He's trying.

He's in, he's in the draft room now.

He's pounding the table for Ryan Lynn.

But I'm gonna let him go.

I'm gonna let him go right to you because I do think Malte, Malte wait- M- Malte comes in, he's, he's, he's almost what?

Almost 6'5" based on the measurement at the combine.

He's so big.

Um- Yeah he's mobile, he's mean.

You've got Acheson, who is mean, but he's got that more offensive streak.

I think you need to shore up that defensive element of your game, and yeah, you might have too many guys on the left side, but you are gonna probably have to have somebody play on their off hand.

I think you've got guys that can do that quite easily.

so I'm going with Malte Gustafsson.

I don't love it, like, you know, in terms of just, like, where the Islanders are, but I think I'm staying true to that 13, and I think a lot of teams are staying true to that 13.

Lynn could be in that 13 for some of those teams.

You're absolutely right.

But now I've just left him, if, if, if, if you so choose, but maybe he's not the right fit for, for the next team 'cause we're going to 14, to Columbus.

Yeah.

Why you gotta do me like that?

'Cause I don't think it is a good fit.

I don't think with Matejchuck there and Werenski, I don't think it's a good fit for Lynn, and I think my guy deserves to get a pick.

Here I'm going a little fun, Chris.

I'm going a little fun here.

Okay.

All right.

Vibes.

Going on vibes.

We're going Oskar Hemming.

We're going Oskar Hemming- Ooh at number 14 to CBJ.

He had obviously the tumultuous year.

All right.

Couldn't, couldn't find a spot to play, thank you Finnish hockey, and landed at school.

Young- one I think the, I think the second youngest player in college hockey this year.

One of the, one of the youngest players.

Yeah, he's up there.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Up there, right?

He, he's got power, he's got speed, he's got skill.

I don't know.

I, I think, I think there was times this season we felt like he was gonna be a top 10 pick.

I'm going Oskar Hemming here.

Yep.

Number 14.

He's got, he's got the power forward.

He's got power forward skill.

Got the body.

Got the feet.

We're going Hemming.

Oskar Hemming.

So I, I mean, I, again, I think when we get to this range, it, it Like, I won't have debates with you because really at, at this point- we're talking about very minimal d- Yeah like, gaps between players, and I think with Columbus you've got opportunities.

Like, they've, they've drafted bigger players.

They've gone after some of those guys.

You know, we're gonna have to see what happens with Kaiden Lindstrom.

Like, that's still a very touch-and-go situation.

That's a guy that you used a number four pick on with a lot of risk due to injuries.

Hemming didn't play that first half of the season, but the risk isn't really tied to injury concerns, it was just the chaos.

he did taper off offensively.

Like, I think that was one of the moderate concerns, but I do think, like, in that range you're gonna talk about a lot of different players, and Hemming is absolutely one of the guys that you're gonna speak about there because he has that, you know, that capability.

So it makes it really interesting for them.

and, and I think that he's gonna be, at least someone that warrants some further discussion here.

but yes.

So that brings us to 15, and, and the St. Louis Blues are on the clock once again.

and I'd already given them Wyatt Cullen.

So where do we go here on this one?

this is an interesting one because I think you could pick a number.

You could pick a Ryan Lynn.

You could pick a guy like that.

Mm-hmm.

He would make some sense.

You know, there's some, there He's a smart guy.

He's, he's high-end hockey sense.

You know, I think where, where does he fit relative to your guys that you kinda have?

Like, I think, you know, I, I think his puck moving is better than Lindsten's.

I think, you know, he's got, he's not as, dynamic as, as I think Adam Jiricek can be at the top of his game.

and the other, the other guy that I'm looking at here, just because of the type that they draft is- Yeah is, Alexander Command, who I think is a big-time riser- Yeah in this class in terms of I think he's, plays a style similar to what the Blues play.

I think Lynn is a, is an option, but I'm gonna go with Alexander Command here at number 15.

So Command is a high-motor guy.

I think he's got the offense, too.

Like, it's gonna, we'll have to see.

He's, he, he had the option.

He, he was exploring schools.

He was exploring the NCAA.

Re-brokered- He sure was a pro contract.

He goes ahead and, and he, and he signs.

and now he's gonna be playing in the SHL next year.

You know, so he's got an opportunity to Or he's playing in Sweden, so he, he's got an opportunity to do a lot of big things.

I just think that Oskar Hemming, even though they have, you know, Stenberg and, and Dvorsky, I just think he fits their mold and it's another center option there.

so, so I'm gonna go with, Alexander Command for the, Co- St. Louis Blues.

Yeah.

I, I like it.

I actually was gonna have him going to Washington next.

Oh, shoot.

I just wrote the wrong thing on the board there.

Um- That's all right.

I got you.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Sorry.

yeah.

No, I like him.

I like Command.

I think that he is, like you said, he, he's a big body.

He's strong.

I think of those guys that kind of look like more third line centers, ye- he's the one I think could be a second line center.

And so, so I, I like that- Sure for St. Louis, and I think it does fit the mold there.

I think- You know, Alex Steen might see a little of himself in, in Alex Command.

They, they, they got great names anyways, don't think so.

Yeah.

and you're absolutely right, North Dakota identified Command very early to try to recruit him, and I think they got pretty far down the, down the path.

That, that, it was, it was looking pretty promising that he was gonna be in North Dakota next season.

And then, like you said, he decided that he wanted to spend another year at home.

And, and, you know, that's totally fine.

Yep.

Now for the Caps, at 16 I was gonna give him Command 'cause I thought that that fit what they were looking for too.

He's a really good fit for them.

So now I'm- Really good fit for them right?

Really good fit for them, so now I'm thinking, do I take the guy that's, that cl- closest to?

I'm giving them Oliver Savanto.

All right.

Giving them Oliver Savanto.

Another super young for this class, another big-bodied center, physically mature, 6'3", he's a heavy load.

We saw him at the juniors playing down the lineup but taking, like, big faceoff defensive zone draws, playing net front on the power play.

My, my, my concern with him is that he's never, he hasn't popped offensively anywhere this year.

Right.

You have to go back to J18 last year as a 16-year-old where, where he put up over a point a game, otherwise he's really, he hasn't put up big numbers.

But I think, I think, I think there is some offense there.

It's like, it was old Capo cackle question, can he, can he get off the wall and then do something with it?

And so I think he can get off the wall.

So I'm g- I'm gonna give them Oliver Savanto there.

I think that it might be a little rich just on how his statistical profile goes, but, but again, we, Kings love centers.

They love big centers.

They love centers who win draws, who can kill penalties, who can play defense.

Yeah.

And if you can chip in offensively, all the power to you.

So yeah, let's give them Savanto at 16.

Yeah.

No, I, I think that, I think that's totally fair.

I think it's a really good spot for, for, for him there.

And, and really, you know, I think Savanto is, is, is, this is absolutely the range where I would expect to see the Savanto conversation begin.

And I just, I think he's gonna play.

He might not be as- Yeah you know, he's not, probably not a star, but I think he's gonna play and probably play for a long time, and be a guy- Mm-hmm that, that really helps you, down the road here.

Yeah, so, so the Kings, the Kings are, the Kings are a little tricky here.

I kn- I have back-to-back- They are picks because I have the 18 that you gave me for, to, to, to trade for, to, so you could make the, the pick for Vancouver and throw this off a little bit in here.

Hey, wait, who were you gonna give Vancouver?

Who were you gonna give Vancouver?

Did I waste that pick?

I was, I was gonna go with, I was gonna go with Malhotra, even though- Yes I, like you- You changed things up I believe the winds were blowing in such a way where, you know- it's not, it's not the lock that I think people had, had- Yeah presented it as.

so that's, that's another, another element there.

So all right.

So the Kings are in a really interesting spot here because they're go- kind of in, you know, that limbo of kind of a disappointing regular season.

they have a number of, you know, elements.

They did trade, you know, Liam Greentree for, i- in the, in the Panarin trade.

You know, so now you're, you're saying, "Okay, well where, where are some of the voids?"

And really in their prospect system there's quite a few.

there's, there's not a lot of, you know, super high-end there.

So I think that that's where I start looking at opportunities for, for other players that maybe would make sense there.

And I'm looking at one of the more polarizing guys, I feel like, that I've talked to in this range.

And so I like him, I think you like him as well.

Um- Let's hear it but I know that there are NHL teams, and, and I, I wish I could tell you with any definitive sense about, you know, what, what, what I think, what, what LA thinks of this player, but I think just in terms of type, I'm gonna go and say Maddox Dagenais here- Ooh at 17.

So that's a guy that I think- Ooh.

Ooh is probably trending into the later stages of this draft based on what I've been hearing.

I have, I'm looking at the list and I'm looking at guys like, you know, Hermansson, Lynn, you know- Yeah like other the defensemen.

You know, I, I think you could make a case for, for some other guys like, like Pogachef- Klepop or even, you know, there's, there's a lot of guys.

There's a lot of guys.

But I'm gonna go with Dagenais.

I think you get the size component.

I think he's more likely to be a wing than he is a center.

That's one, one element of it.

I think that he actually might have a little bit, I think he has more upside than Greentree does, quite frankly.

I think there's a little bit more- Yeah.

Maybe overall game there.

I think Greentree might think it better, but I think Dagenais is probably a bit more of a, like when he's, when he's switched on, he's pretty good.

You know, 6'4", really good shot on him as well.

I just think that he kind of fits at least around what they're looking at.

so it's a little bit out, a little bit out of the way maybe.

And Greentree's gone anyways.

What's that?

And Greentree's gone anyways now.

Yeah.

Yeah, he's gone.

That's gone.

Yeah.

So- Yeah, so they need, they gotta replace Yeah They gotta replace.

Uh- Oh, sure I'm not mad about it.

I, I think that I, my, my gut feels like they might go, like, swing on skill, because that will wind up, I feel like, you know, it's gonna need some skill coming up.

Yeah, they need more.

So, like, an Elton Hermansson or Niitakota Klepop.

But again, at this stage of the draft, throw the balls in the air, right?

Throw the balls in the air.

Yeah.

Like we're, we're, it's, we're, we're blending.

Yeah.

We're blending here, so I'm not mad about that.

It's, yeah.

You actually get three picks in a row, Kris.

I know.

You're running the table here.

Oh, wow.

Yeah.

You got three in a row.

That's right, 'cause yeah, this is getting, this is getting out of control.

Four or five.

This is stupid.

It's the Kris show.

I don't know what's happening here.

Hold up, the Kris show.

yeah.

So Washington Capitals, you know, they've had, they've, this is, this is another one where I'm just like, gosh, who knows?

so Caps earlier- Who knows picked Savanto, which I think is a really fair pick, and that, that takes out one of the guys I was looking at for them as a possibility.

Mm-hmm.

And that guy would've been, Ilya Morozov from Miami, another big guy that, you know, has, has that.

So I think if you got a Savanto in there, not, probably not gonna make that pick at that point.

Um- Mm-hmm so I'm gonna go a little bit- out of, out of the way for skill.

I'm gonna go a little out of the way 'cause, like, he's lower on my personal board.

Yeah.

He's, but, and, and he's, but he's interesting to me, and I think interesting is good, and I like offense, and I'm gonna go with Nikita Klepov right here at 18.

My man.

So, Klepov- It's a good pick.

It's a good pick did not go to the combine.

Highly controversial.

Going Gold Star.

Probably didn't help his case.

Going Gold Star.

Chance he doesn't go in the first round.

I don't know.

But I think that- Oh there is a, just, he's got to.

Like, for me, he's got to because the skill just dropped.

He's led the OHL in scoring.

His drop-off in skill just continues.

So I'm going with Nikita Klepov, led the OHL in scoring, yes, indeed.

Really lightning cl- quick release.

I think as he matures, he's only gonna get better.

I, I like the dynamic element that he has there, so I'm gonna go with Nikita Klepov for, for the, the great, the great folks of Washington, DC.

So Nikita Klepov there.

And now, at 19, I gotta go Utah Mammoth?

Utah Mammoth.

Man, okay.

So Mammoth have, have, I, I, I think they have guys they like, type of guys that they like.

They also haven't been afraid to dip into the Russian pool.

Um- Mm-hmm and that's where I'm going right here again.

So we're, we're looking at another Russian going, 'cause Nikita Klepov, dual USA-Russia citizen.

He's Russian.

Um- Washington's not afraid.

Yeah, Washington's not afraid.

Utah Mammoth not afraid.

No.

Daniel Boot.

No.

you know, they've got Sergachev, they got all these guys- that are, are good.

So I'm going there.

I'm going Gleb Poguchev right here.

Gleb Poguchev, bigger guy.

Gleb.

has, has a bit of Yeah, he's got a, he's got some nastiness to him when he, when he w- wants to.

He's got some offensive game.

I also think that the, the Mammoth are not in a position where they have more immediate needs.

I could also see them, could 19 be on the table for, a team that sees somebody that they really like to, for, for- for Utah to maybe look for a little bit more immediate help.

I, so- Mm-hmm I'm gonna go with Gleb Poguchev.

I think he's a really intriguing player.

could be in the mix for them.

and Utah has not been afraid.

And, I think of the Russians, you know, between Klepov and Poguchev, those are the guys that are, are, are likely to go, you know, in this range of the, the lower third of the draft.

Yeah.

First round, I should say.

He's a human missile.

All right, we're, we're- He's a human missile.

Yeah, he is.

He will- He's kind of crazy he hurls himself.

He skates and he smashes.

He's fun.

Like, he, he- He's fun to watch.

It's just like- you know, it's so tough.

I think it gets tougher and tougher to kind of judge these guys and based on what we see from them in the MHL relative to- Yeah what they can ultimately do.

But I think, like, Daniel Boot is really starting to come around for Utah.

you know, they, they've got some really good players in that mix, so I, I'm going with Gleb there.

Yeah.

Hoo.

I'm not mad about it.

I'm not mad about What I am mad about is what I do here for San Jose.

I gave him Chase Reid already, right?

I already gave him Reid.

So it's like, again, I'm probably not taking Ryan Lin here.

I'm not probably doubling down on the right shot defensemen.

That's precluding me from taking Tommy Bohm.

I mean, they don't have a lot of them.

Gosh, could you, could you come out of this draft with Reid and Lin and be like, "Done."

You know what?

You just talked me into it.

You just talked me into it.

Yes.

All of a sudden they're, everyone's like, "Hey, San Jose doesn't have defense."

No, they do.

They've got Chase Reid, Ryan Lin, Sam Dickinson, and they're all, like, f- four minutes apart in age, and they're gonna play 25 minutes a night.

Boom, Ryan Lin, I love it.

San Jose.

Great.

Yeah, I honestly- Thank you for walking me through that like, I think- We held hands through that.

I, I, I, yeah, I, I will be probably fairly surpri- this is just the way the board works sometimes, but I would probably be surprised if Lin does end up at 20 or below.

but it's also not out of the realm of possibility because there is- No, it's not such a jumbled bag here.

There's such- Yeah a jumbled bag and, and teams are, you know, it's, it's, it's really, it's really interesting to see kind of where they, where they go from here.

So, so yeah, so you've got Ryan Lin there.

That puts Philly on the clock.

'cause like, yeah, I think what a If you do get Lin and Reid, I think you gotta be thrilled about that- Ooh especially now you've got Dickinson in the mix.

Like, yeah.

Great.

Great stuff.

Sharks, Sharks having a good day over there.

All right, so the Flyers.

This is another one where, you know, your guess is as good as anybody's.

I think that the Flyers are probably looking like, "Hey, who knows what's gonna fall there?

We'll see what we end up with.

We'll, we'll, we'll take what we get."

I think there's, you know, could they go D?

Could they find something a little bit more, you know, exciting, enticing?

I, I'm gonna go with a guy here that I just think is gonna play, and a guy that I think helps you.

He's not as exciting, but I just think he helps you, and I'm gonna go Adam Novotny in this range.

He's a- Oh, I like Adam Novotny he's a thick young man.

I like that.

He's a thick young man.

Yep.

He, he's, he's good two-way, scored 30-plus goals- Mm-hmm in the OHL this year, has the size and, and strength.

I think that there are definitely, you know, lacks that dynamic element, but I do think that there's skill there.

so I'm going with Adam Novotny to the Philadelphia Flyers at 21.

Think that's-- I, I fully expect him to land in the teens to early 20s when he goes.

Um- Mm-hmm and so I'm going that way with the Flyers.

I don't have enough of a feel for the defensemen that are available still, that, that I would, I would push them in that direction.

Yeah.

I like Adam Novotny, EP Ambassador, shout out.

He's a good kid, too.

But he's a tank, right?

Like, he, and I do, I do think he can- He is play with skilled players as well.

Like, he, he might not have the highest skill level, but I do think he can play with skilled players.

And, and, like, not to say Like, I think he has top six upside still.

Like, as far as the guys that are left on the board here with, like, top six, he's probably a third liner, but I think he has top six upside.

He's a middle six guy.

You know, him, Hermansson, you know, I, I, I had a little, a little bee whisper that maybe they, they had a, a good, a good chat with him at the combine.

Maybe they like Hermansson.

no, I, I think Novotny there, that's, that's solid for sure.

Penguins I'm gonna get this out of the way right now.

Let's, let's just, let's, let's test this out.

I was told from a couple of sides here that Pittsburgh is, like, gonna be gearing up to try to get as high as they can in this draft to get Vigo Bjork.

Ooh, okay.

How much fun would that be?

I love it.

To see We, we called it earlier, right?

Like Pittsburgh, like that's a, that's- He- Vigo's a Pittsburgh guy.

Like that's a, that's Kyle Dubas pick right there.

so, so that would be fun.

But in this world they're sitting at 22.

In this world they're sitting at 22.

I'm going Tommy Bliel.

I'm going- Tommy Bliel Tommy Bliel at this spot.

I'm going Tommy Bliel.

Right shot guy, put up a ton of points in the queue for Moncton.

Wheels.

He's got great wheels on him.

You know, he's, it, the development's been shooting up like a rocket.

Like he was probably in prep school three weeks ago it feels like.

He is, like he's jumped into the league as a rookie, he's stepped up, he's doing well.

Sticking around for another year with Gardner Mcdougall.

Yep.

Then going to MSU and get Nightingale.

Pretty prime development system that's set up for him, and then, and then to go to Pittsburgh.

Yeah.

I'm going Tommy Bliel here at 22.

I like it.

I mean yeah, probably the best skater in the draft.

I think he's one of the absolute weapons on, on his feet just in terms of, you know, his ability to get up the ice.

I think he moves pucks extremely well, and he, like you said it, like these guys that play prep school, it's not that prep school is, is, you know, bad or anything like that.

We're not trying to say that, but when they get into the junior element- It's a new level it's a different thing.

And to see how- Yeah he transitioned and took to that.

You know, he had the opportunity to potentially go to the USHL.

He decides to go to Moncton, which was a great setup for him because he was one of the best teams in the league.

But then he has more points than any defenseman, rookie defenseman in the history of the league, you know, and just is just an absolute, you know, puck moving machine.

So things will get tougher for him as he moves, you know, 'cause when he goes, the jump from the queue to the college is gonna be pretty significant, especially the Big Ten.

but I think that that's gonna be pretty good.

So, so that brings us to the Bruins, and the Bruins are always in this kind of sludgy middle, right?

Like, where there's just like we can't get- Yeah necessarily the guy, but then every now and again they're like, "But we got Pastrnak," you know, kind of in a, in a good range here.

Way to get me started.

you know, so yeah.

They've, they've, they've been, they've been doing a lot of, of, of good things here I think in their, in their scouting.

even just like Dean Leturno was a real risk.

He's really starting to look like that could be a, a pick that, that is exciting for them because he had a huge- Mm-hmm breakout season in college.

And, you know, they, they've had some of those, and I was thinking maybe Ilya Miroshov in this spot, but I'm actually gonna go back to the USHL.

They've had really good success drafting out of the USHL in the past.

I'm going with Jack Hextall here.

Yeah.

So Jack Hextall, a center.

Interesting.

A guy that plays- Mm-hmm good two-way game, plays- Mm-hmm a really aggressive style, on top of, you know, having some skill.

He had a great, you know, world, he had a, a pretty strong Hlinka was over a point per game player, was about a point per game player in the USHL this year.

A do everything guy for the team that had the best record in the league.

so I'm going with gi- giving the Bruins, Jack Hextall here.

it's, it's a h- it's purely, a guess in terms of the range and the teams that, you know, also have kind of been, eager to pick guys out of the US, ranks, but Hextall is a real intriguing guy.

And is that another Michigan State guy that we got, we got going there too?

So, um- Yeah, he is, isn't he?

He- Yeah, they got everybody.

Yeah.

So it's like, you know, yeah.

I- if, yeah, if, if in doubt, guess Michigan State it seems like.

So, yeah, he's, he's committed to Michigan State for next season.

Cl- you know, if he ends up- Klepov too.

Klepov's going there too.

Yeah.

Klepov, Klepov's there.

Yep.

Bliel.

So- So we got that run.

So I'm going Jack Hextall.

It's a little off the beaten path, but I think that's also the, the Bruins have a type when they're in this range.

I think that he's a guy that, that checks the boxes for them.

Yeah.

I'm not mad about it.

Now, we had heard that Vancouver was, was pretty sweet on Mathis Preston, going into the combine.

Preston was one of the best performers at the combine.

You know, Linner called him a, he's a, you know, game breaker in a, in a, basically in a sea of guys that aren't game breakers here.

But I'm not gonna do it, not in this universe after they went Stenberg with their first pick.

Yeah.

We're going Ilya Miroshov here.

We're going with the heavy- All right the youngest player in college hockey.

Miami, Ohio.

Big, powerful.

You know, there was a game against Western Michigan really early in the season where he went barreling down the ice and burned wide and power moved to the net and finished it.

I was like, "Ooh, this kid just turned 17.

He can play."

And so the numbers don't pop.

Yeah.

They're fine, right?

20, 20-odd points, right?

22 points or something like that.

Pretty darn good for, for college hockey at 17.

But I, I'm, I think that they'll want some of that stability down the middle.

Having Miroshov and Coots, you hope that's your two and three Cs, not your three and four Cs.

But y- you build down the spine, especially after you went Stenberg with their first pick.

So Canucks are getting Miroshov.

and I will say that I think Miroshov is one of those guys where if he hits, he's gonna hit big because there is-- He's one of those guys where you see the little glimpses of that- Yeah "Hey, there's a little bit more dynamic element there.

There's a little bit more of a power offensive player there."

Mm-hmm.

And if he gets that, a- and it's harder, you know, there's risk in that, but he is one of those guys within his size profile, his age, all those other things, there's a lot to be really excited about for, you know, for that, for that guy.

So gonna be interesting- I'll say, add one more thing real quick.

Go- One more quick.

Yeah, please, please.

One, one team- Yeah one team had him closer to 10 than they did 15 on the, on the list that I was given too, so.

I don't, I don't doubt that at all.

I don't doubt that- Yeah.

So he- because there is an upside he does have some love.

There's a real upside there.

There's a real upside there.

Mm-hmm.

All right.

So after we made sure that the Kraken went and got defense early in the draft- I'm going to get, w- we're like, "Oh gosh, all the big centers are going, all the big centers are going.

What are we gonna do?

Let's get the biggest one.

Let's go Rogo."

Brooks Orpikowski- Big man out of the Oshawa Generals.

Little bit against type for them, because he w- he is not- Yeah that protot- like, doesn't have that statistical profile that, that really is there.

But I think if you are playing in the Pacific division, you wanna get a guy that's gonna be hard to play against down your lineup.

He's not gonna be a star.

He is gonna be a guy that, that helps you win games, I think.

There's, as he gets meaner too, like, he's a guy, we talked about Bliel playing prep school.

Two years ago, two years ago, Brooks Orpikowski was playing Michigan High School, which is not prep school.

It's not at that level.

It's a good level of hockey, but it's not at the triple A level.

It's not at that kind of- Mm-hmm and he was playing for Detroit Catholic Central.

I think Brooks Orpikowski is right in this range.

Somebody's gonna take him right in this range.

I think he's gonna go in the first, and I think it's gonna be here.

And if you're a team that has already made a pick that you think is a pretty significant piece for you, give me that guy that I think will play down my lineup for a few years and, and, you know, we just saw Michael McCarron get a bunch of, a whole bunch of money.

Or, well, actually a whole bunch of- Yeah years more than a whole bunch of money.

players like that are the guys that, that get you through in the playoffs.

So I'm going Brooks Orpikowski, 6'7" center.

we'll see ultimately if he does stay down the middle, but I think he's playing in your bottom six, and he's gonna be a guy that gives you a lot of good, good years and, and good play.

So Brooks Orpikowski, and now, Cam, the Rangers are back on the clock, and we go to you.

Not as easy as last time.

Not the layup for, for, for Maholtra- Not at all this pick here.

Not at all.

It's like, you know, part of me wants to be like, do they just go, like, big swing and go Zav at this spot as their, like, future replacement to Adam Fox?

I think that would be a fun pick here.

I just don't get the vibes that, that he's, that Villeneuve is going in the first round.

Like, and if he is, we're at the tail end.

This is the spot.

I'm gonna go Elton Hermanson.

I'm gonna go Elton Hermanson.

Okay.

He's got size.

He's got skill.

He is, again, I think when you look at this board, what's remaining, and you want a top six offensive player, right?

Is there any other name that fits that bill other than him?

Like, he is- No he's the guy.

Now all of a sudden you're like, you, you inject him and Maholtra up front into your prospect pool a couple years out.

Like, it's a couple young, exciting pieces that you can play potentially together.

I'm g- I'm giving him, I'm giving him Elton Hermanson here, but yeah, we're certainly at the part of the draft now where it's like, who knows?

Yeah.

Exactly.

I mean, you know, there's, there's, yeah, w- who does know?

Nobody?

I guess nobody.

Probably nobody.

Nobody.

Nobody knows.

yeah, and I, I, I think, I think we're gonna see the wide variance on, on all sorts of, of, of boards and yeah, there are gonna be probably some names that you've never heard of that are literally in some of these teams' areas right here.

which brings us to Buffalo, and Buffalo obviously now has this kind of unique, unique kind of spot.

but man, it's, it's tough here for, for me to make a pick for them too, 'cause I think, like, they've drafted so many of these, like, you know, smaller skilled guys, like, that ha- Mm-hmm also have a motor, so like I'm like contemplating the Liam Ruck discussion at this point.

Um- Yep you know, I'm contemplating going in the complete opposite direction and getting a big winger like Simas Ignavicius.

I'm, you know, am I, am I opposed to taking the swing on the skill of Xavier Villeneuve?

No, I am not.

But I will go ahead, and I'm gonna just, I'm just gonna go ahead and do it.

I'm gonna go Liam Ruck to the- Okay Buffalo Sabres.

So Ruck- Yeah second leading scorer.

His brother, twin brother was the leading scorer in the WHL.

But Liam Ruck- Decent has the motor.

He has the competitiveness.

He's not small.

I shouldn't say he's small.

Like he's just, he needs to gain weight is more th- more than anything 'cause he, they're right around six foot.

Um- Yeah maybe just, you know, so they're, they're, they're not tiny or anything like that.

So, I'm gonna go ahead and pick Liam Ruck for the Sabres.

Okay.

Going back to Medhat, I think that's a good deal.

I think a couple teams pushed for him to come.

Both those boys go to school next year.

They're gonna wait, and they'll probably go a year out.

Wanna- Yeah bring something up here, Chris.

I changed the board on us.

I was thinking we were gonna skip the last two picks 'cause of the finals, but it's like we know Ottawa's picking 32, so we should probably skip 30, 31.

That's right.

Do you wanna just do 'em?

Do you wanna just do 'em?

'Cause Calgary's got one of those picks, and you know Flames fans.

Yeah, let's just do 'em.

Like we don't know who we're picking, right?

Let's do 'em anyway.

Let's just do 'em all.

So should we give Calgary, what, 30, and then we'll give Carolina 31 because we'll just try to manifest- Yeah, that sounds good the Hurricanes getting the dub here?

Yeah.

Yeah, we root for the good guys?

Yeah, yeah, we can do that.

The good guys?

Yeah, root for the good guys.

Yeah.

Go, go.

The an- yeah.

The heroes versus the anti-heroes.

We got, we got more friends on the Hurricanes staff.

Hey?

Yeah, yeah.

Yoki Nevelinen, we got Reece Jeschke, we got Kuhn.

We got lots of boys in there, Dar.

York, I love Tulsa.

Yeah, good, good group.

great group.

Great group.

Yep.

Okay, so now, so I'm up with the Habs here at 28?

Yeah.

I'm up at the Habs for 28.

Geez, you know?

I'm going Casey Mutron.

I'm gonna go- Ooh, okay big body, big body, heavy player.

On the wing, but still, he's a heavy player.

I think he's got, he's got, he's got enough skill.

I think he's got a, you know, a good motor.

I think he's gonna play.

I think he's gonna be one of these guys that plays, plays in your bottom six and contribute in a couple different ways.

Won't, won't light the lamp a ton.

But I think for Montreal, I think they're going, they're going safe player here, and they're going Casey Mutron.

I like it.

yeah, 'cause Casey- Yeah yeah, he, he's definitely in the mix on a lot of first round boards.

I think that he is, you know, the athletic profile's very enticing.

I think that people were less concerned about the numbers just because of the situation this year.

so that's, that's good.

Somehow I've made all the picks for the St. Louis Blues, and now I'm at the Blues at 29.

Yeah.

you know, and so- Shout out Blues, for, I, I hope that you like what I'm doing with your- Running their draft with the place.

yeah, so I am gonna go, like, because I went forward on all those, I'm gonna go D on this one, and I'm gonna go with William Hkansson- Mm-hmm out of Sweden.

Ooh, the Hak.

Big guy, more def- All right.

All right.

Yeah, the big, big, big man.

you know, played on the Swedish U20 team this year, won a world junior gold medal.

you know, I, I think that he's just kind of scratching the surface.

I think he'll play NHL games.

Could he be a 4 or 5?

I think probably more 5, 6, but at the same time, I think if you're the Blues, you wanna just continue to fill out your group, and I think he, he checks a lot of the boxes that they're, they're usually pretty, pretty keen on.

So we go to you, and now we're back to the Calgary Flames.

So Calgary, I gave them Bjork, right?

I gave them Bjork.

Yep.

So I think, I think we'll give them a D-man here.

I think we'll give them a D-man.

All right.

I'm just double-checking.

Oh, yeah, yeah.

I, I think I know he's a righty.

Hkansson would've been a good one for them.

Hkansson would've been a good one for them, and that would've been a nice easy pick for me.

But I'm gonna go with, ah, shoot, eh.

I'm, I'm thinking Pippo Rein in here.

Yeah.

I'm thinking about giving Pippo Rein.

Okay.

You know, he's a righty.

Could they go Soko?

Could they go the monster 6'8" Sokolofski, you know?

I'm gonna go Pippo Rein.

It's not, I- I'm gonna go Pipp here somebody's gonna take a swing.

Oh yeah, someone's gonna I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm not gonna lie, I'm saving him for Ottawa at 32 there.

'cause they love their big meat sticks, eh?

Meat sticks.

They love their big meat sticks.

So I'm going Juho at this spot.

I'm gonna go Pipp, and I know that there are a good number of teams that like him in the first round, some as, like, high as, like, late teens, early 20s.

But again, this is such a blender.

Yeah.

But for, for Calgary at 30, we'll go Juho.

I also had Liam Ruck kind of tagged at this spot too, because then I was going to- Oh, yeah take hi- his brother in the second round early for Calgary and, and bring the twins.

Do you think they're going to the same spot?

I feel like they're going to the same spot.

I, I feel like it's probable at this point.

Like, I, I think the thing is, is that, you know, Liam is pretty much universally the top of most people's Ruck twins board.

Yeah.

and then- Yeah you know, Marcus'll, Marcus'll probably be, you'll probably be able to spend a, you know, a second rounder or, you know, maybe even wait.

probably a second rounder, but yeah.

Oh yeah, second rounder, for sure.

We'll, we'll- He'll go, he'll go, I think he'll go- Yeah in the 30s, maybe even early, early 40s.

Let's not remember, back in the day, Daniel was the guy in the Sedin twins too, right?

That's right.

Daniel was supposed to be the guy that goes one or two, and Henrik was more viewed at, like, eight or nine.

And so when Vancouver did it- Yeah two, three, it was kind of like, ooh, they reached a little bit on Henrik to get them both.

And then I think at the end of the day, Henrik probably considered- Yeah just a hair, just a hair.

Playing center- Yeah.

So- wearing the C, more career points.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, one other, one other defenseman to look at, and the, and, and a guy that I didn't mention that I, that I should've said when I was talking about the Blues was Golyar, from, from Slovakia, Adam Golyar, so, or Goljar, Goljar, Golyar.

Um- Golyar I think he's, he's on a lot of, he's on a lot of first round boards, so I think there's a real chance there.

However, I'm gonna go with one of the highest scoring players available for the Carolina Hurricanes here.

Come on.

Here we, here we go.

We're gonna go with JP Hurlbert here.

Is that where you thought I was going?

Yeah.

I mean, it was just like- Oh, man if you're picking Carolina, like, don't, don't pick a depth guy, that's for sure.

You better swing big.

Yeah, exactly.

Like, I was looking, like, Simas, like, you know, Adivizus, could Golyar.

Like, I think Golyar would absolutely be up, in the mix there.

but I'll go JP Hurlbert.

I think, you know, the highest upside opportunity with the, with the scoring capabilities that he has.

You know, does have a lot of skill.

I think that there's gonna be some rounding out of his game that's gonna need to happen over the next couple of years for him to be an everyday guy.

But I mean, you look at the success that, that Carolina has with taking guys, like, you know, that, that are on the cusp of You know, they, they, they show it production-wise all the time, and they might have a few things that people don't like about them, and then Carolina's like, "I'll take him.

That's fine.

Thank you."

and so we'll go JP Hurlbert at 31, which I think would be a, a really solid value add there at that point.

I, I think you're right.

I think it would be a fine pick there, but this spot, that spot to me screams Villeneuve.

That's, to me- Oh, yeah.

Yeah like, Carolina's just like- For sure, yeah "Oh, power play quarterback that could be Hudson-esque in the, with our late first here?"

Yeah.

No, you're right.

"Sure, we'll take the-" You're right.

"We'll take that kid."

So that, to me, but I mean, whatever.

Yeah.

It's cool.

That, that's another great option.

Hurlbert there is fine.

That's another great option.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know Carolina's not gonna be scared of anything.

And then finally, I said it.

I already, I already showed my hand.

We're going, we're going Maxim, we're going Sokolofski, 6'30.

He's a monster.

I was told months and months ago this kid's going in the first round.

He's not getting out of the first round.

He's going to Ottawa.

Him and Gabriel Eliason are gonna just stand over people and take hopefully not too many dumb penalties.

But Soko, Soko to the Sens, number 32.

Yeah.

Are locked on Sens fans right now.

The thing that strikes me about Sokolofski is he is huge, but he, he's, the mobility isn't bad.

Like, you know, like, and he's got this incredible reach.

Oh, he can skate.

He doesn't score, but, you know, like it's, it's, he, he's, he's, he's got a lot of, a lot to him.

So Sokolofski, yes, almost 6'8".

Like, he was over 6'7" at the combine- Yes wasn't he?

6'7" and a half or something.

Or was he right at 6'7"?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Just insane.

6'7" and a half, I think he was.

He's gonna be an insulator.

He's gonna help out a second pair, like, and, and just be stabilizing and physically punishing and making up outlet passes that you don't notice him, but, but just he'll chew up, he'll chew up minutes.

Yeah.

He'll be, he'll be a good player.

you know, I think if you get him at 32 there- He will be I imagine he's probably going in the 20s.

But, uh- He Yeah he'll be a good player.

Yeah, so we, so we've gotten it.

So we, we made it, Cam.

We got all the way through- We did it, buddy to our, our, our, our, our, the end.

We made it to 32.

We decided, hey, let's, you know what?

Let's go.

Yeah, 'cause Ottawa is, is, is locked into 32.

Well, yeah, which was-- I'm glad you remembered that, 'cause I certainly was- Mm-hmm making my list, and I was like, "I'd love to get out of here quicker," but- Ha we're giving the people what they want.

so just very quickly to recap, and then Cam, I want you to get your, your promo code ready 'cause you're gonna get some-- you're gonna give some people some, deals, and we'll make sure we get that in the, the show profile.

But to recap the mock- draft here.

To recap- Recap it you've got the Toronto Maple Leafs, Gavin McKenna, number one.

Number two, Chase Reid to the Sharks.

Number three, Ivar Stenberg to the Canucks.

Number four, Carson Carls to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Number five, Caleb Malhottra to the Rangers.

Number six, Viggo Bjork to Calgary.

Rudolf to Seattle.

Verhof to Winnipeg.

Smits to Florida.

Lawrence to p- to Nashville.

Wyatt Cullen to the St. Louis Blues at 11.

Ethan Belchets, New Jersey Devils.

Malte Gustafsson to the Islanders.

Blue Jackets, Oscar Hemming.

Alexander Command to the Blues.

Oliver Savanto to the Caps.

Maddox Dagenais to the Kings.

Nikita Klepov to the Caps.

Gleb Poguchev to the Mammoth.

Ryan Lind to the Sharks.

Novotny to the Flyers.

Tommy Blile to the Penguins.

Jack Hextall to the Bruins at 23.

Ilya Marozov to the Vancouver.

Brooks Orgovsky to Seattle.

Elton Hermanson to New York.

Liam Ruck to the Buffalo Sabres.

Montreal Canadiens get Casey Mutron at 28.

29, William Hawkinson to the St. Louis Blues.

Number 30, Juho PPiirainen to Calgary.

JP Hurlbert to the Carolina Hurricanes, and Maxim Sokolovsky rounds us out at number 32 to the Ottawa Senators.

Wow.

We made it.

Wow.

We made it.

Woo.

And I will, I will be honest with you.

That was fun.

Every single mock draft that you see, re-regardless of how well-researched or, or, or, or dialed in or locked in, it just takes one pick for it all to go to hell.

So we are fully expecting that to happen.

But I do think that there is a lot of realism in this list, because- Yeah of the chaos that is going to exist.

I do think there are gonna be names that we're not even thinking about that could potentially end up in the first round.

I bet there are gonna be guys that I don't even have on my draft board that somehow end up in the top 40 picks.

that's just where we're at- Think so?

at this stage.

it's possible, man.

Oof.

Some of the stuff- It is possible I've started to hear, I'm like, I, I was like, "Okay, sure.

Yeah.

All right."

'Cause I think a lot of teams are, you know, you just, you just never know.

But, but Cam, before we, we're, we're gonna, we're gonna talk a little bit of, about the Calder Cup, but before we did that, I w- I did wanna give you an opportunity to, to give our listeners a chance to, get some Elite Prospects action here.

Yeah.

I mean, I'm hoarding all this good stuff over at EP.

So if you don't have a subscription, I figured for the last month here, we're gonna make it cheaper for you.

Use the promo code CAM33, C-A-M 3-3, and you'll get 33% off a premium subscription.

I'm gonna keep that offer going all through June, so get the guide right now.

Surf it, learn it, study it.

We've just released all our film rooms too.

You can go back and learn all, all in depth on all the top players in the first round.

Go get the sub, 33% off, CAM33.

Learn everything you need to know.

Head into the summer much smarter than even just listening to us here.

There's way more good stuff there.

Yeah.

I, I think it's also important to note, like, if you love the draft and you wanna do your own research and everything, EP is a great-- Especially, even if-- Read the content- Yeah of course, but also, you know, y- get, make use of those stat filters and other things, and look at- Ooh, yeah historic numbers.

It's a great way to, utilize a, a tool that most of us in the industry are using on a daily basis.

So, good stuff there.

Also, we're gonna talk a little bit real quickly about the Calder Cup finals, because that's where I'm going next.

I'm gonna be heading to Chicago.

The Chicago Wolves are playing the Toronto Marlies in the Calder Cup finals.

That is all on Flow Hockey.

We're also in the midst of the Kelly Cup finals in the ECHL.

That series is now 2-1 involving the Kansas City Mavericks and the Florida Everblades.

So make sure that you get that Flow Hockey subscription.

You can watch the Wolves and the Marlies, and if you get that annual subscription now, it's gonna cover you all through next season too at a discounted rate.

That is a limited time offer.

Make sure you get that in now.

Yeah, there's not as much going on this summer but, hey, your team's about to draft somebody that we have a ton of video for, so make sure you get over there and get onto that because Flow Hockey ha- is where all that action is.

Go to flowhockey.tv/signup.

Get on it now.

Get that annual subscription.

It's gonna save you a bunch of months, and you'll be able to watch some great playoff hockey.

By the way, the, the Wolves and the Marlies, a number of high-level prospects, which we're gonna get into real quick right now.

So Cam, I've been watching the Calder Cup playoffs all the way through.

Obviously, Flow Hockey, love that partnership with the- Absolutely AHL, getting the opportunity to watch those games.

And it has been an absolutely incredible and often shocking postseason in the AHL.

Cannot stress that enough.

Did not think the two teams that we see here standing at the end, the Chicago Wolves and the Toronto Marlies.

The Wolves finished 20 points behind the Grand Rapids Griffins in the standings, ended up eliminating them in the playoffs, and now here they stand.

Toronto Marlies took out the Laval Rocket in the great, you know, Toronto-Montreal rivalry, that they had a very difficult path to get there, and now they're there.

And the Wolves actually were on the brink of elimination in their last round.

They get there.

Couple of the prospects that you guys will wanna watch.

Easton Cowan spent most of the year in the NHL.

Well, guess what?

He's with the Marlies now, and he has, I believe, seven goals so far in the Calder Cup playoffs.

He has been an absolute dynamic talent for them, making things happen every game.

You look at the Chicago Wolves on the other side.

Cam, here's a, here's a name that you know and love, Bradley Nadeau.

he has been a- Oh a, a, a sniper.

The shooter.

You know who else has been really good for them?

This is-- Now, this-- So if you were following our draft coverage last year, one of the players that ended up on a lot of people's do-not-draft list was Ivan Rabkin.

Oh, yeah We talked about him a lot.

Carolina, as we've mentioned before, they're like, "Okay-" They don't care " you don't want that player?

We will take that player."

He has-- he scored, the insurance goal, in game seven, or in game six I think, where he, you know, was just looking like an everyday player in the AHL.

He's only 18 years old.

you know, spent a good chunk of the year in the queue, comes back to the Wolves, looks really good.

So if you're looking for really, really good hockey, and, and obviously, you know, the Stan- Stanley Cup playoffs, they're-- the finals are, are just about over.

It's been one of the best we've ever seen.

If you're not ready to be done with hockey, make sure you get signed up for the Calder Cup finals.

Cam, yeah, I gotta hear you.

What do you got?

Did you know, do you remember, I don't know if I said this last year, that Ryabkin was, like, married at, like, 17?

What?

That when, when he g- when he got drafted last year, like, he was already married.

Like, th- they're-- like, he wanted to come over- I know they get married pretty young and he didn't, he wanted to-- he wanted to come over to North America right away, and then, like, he-- they were, like, getting him all set up with his stuff, and I'm pretty sure that he was like, "And what about my wife?"

And the Canes were like, "W- what?

We didn't-" " we didn't know you were married."

He's like, "Oh, yeah."

Like, you know, "She's coming too."

So, like, it was a package deal.

All right.

I didn't know that.

Ryabkin, he might've been married at 12.

The- But yeah, he was married before the draft.

He was already, he was already hooked up.

Wow, that's crazy.

Ring on the finger.

Well, they-- a lot of the Russian players do get married fairly young.

I, I seem to remember Vasilevskiy- He feels fairly young, though and a few others that, that had gotten Yeah, so that's really young.

Pud Colton I feel like got young too.

but yeah, but Ryabkin- Yeah, yeah hey, he's been, he's been doing stuff, man.

And so if you wanna get a glimpse of the future of the NHL, and if you wanna be locked in for next season, and don't forget, it's not just the AHL.

You're getting the ECHL.

You're also getting the OHL, the QMJHL, the USHL.

Mm-hmm.

I mean, the list goes on and on.

We have so much of Canadian junior hockey at the Junior A level, the Junior B level.

VIJ level.

So you're getting great value.

If you are a hockey fan, there will always be a game on, or you can at least get the game on demand that you most wanna see.

So make sure you do that.

Calder Cup finals, I will be on site.

Robert Babiak will be on site in Toronto for us.

we'll have lots of great coverage for you guys, so make sure you stay tuned to that.

And Cam, we've got a lot of great stuff coming up on Called Up the Prospects podcast, 'cause we just- We do did our mock draft today.

Next week, we're gonna take a look at each other's rankings.

We're gonna talk about where we differ.

We're gonna talk about the different things.

We're also gonna get into our player comps.

People love player comps.

They're hard to do.

They're often wrong.

But we are gonna do the best that we can to give you the best, glimpse into who these players are, who they play like, what you would like.

Also get in maybe in some NHL draft superlatives.

So we don't have our regulars, our regularly scheduled segments, 'cause there's just too much to get to, and that's what we're gonna be- Bangers only focused on, is getting you ready for the draft.

Then the Thursday before the draft, we'll give you our latest and greatest information.

We'll provide all the notes that we can.

It'll be one of the best draft companions you can have as you get ready to get s- to watch those picks start flying in Buffalo.

So much is going on.

Cam, mock drafts, dude, they are fun.

They are fun.

Oh, they're fun.

This was fun.

Did you have fun?

I had a great time, and yeah, we're, we're gonna have you guys covered.

Like I said, bangers only the rest of the way here.

We talked about it on the phone there yesterday.

It's like we got three weeks of episodes left.

Yep.

We're just gonna hit, roll out the hits.

It's like that time I saw The Offspring back in like '04.

What do you wanna hear?

We wanna hear the old stuff.

We wanna hear the old jammers, man.

I don't wanna hear new stuff.

I wanna hear, "Ya da da da da da da."

Give me Smash.

Give me that.

Yeah, give me Smash It Up.

Right?

Right?

Yeah.

Let's, let's go.

Yeah, so- Yeah I love it.

So nothing but bangers, man.

Yeah, and that's, and that's where we're at.

We're, we're gonna do our very best to give you all the best information that we can, what we're hearing, what we're seeing, all the different things.

This is by f- to me, it's by far the most chaotic draft and unpredictable draft that I've covered.

and I'm really excited to try to wrap our arms around it and help you guys get ready for it, 'cause a lot of craziness is gonna happen.

and what would be really funny is it's just that everything looked exactly like our mock draft, and we'll be like, "Oh, see?

You should've done that."

That'd be amazing.

But it's not gonna happen.

32 for 32.

It's not gonna happen.

We should win, like, something huge.

Million dollars.

I think, yeah, I think- Perfect bracket probably a job with an NHL team.

Right?

That's all right too.

Maybe, maybe.

It's something like that.

Special advisor.

It's like, "Hey, you-" Yeah "predicted that really well."

or yeah, or maybe the prediction models are gonna start, start sniping.

So, but anyway, it's, a lot of good things are coming your way right here.

Super excited.

Once again, thanks to everybody for joining us on another episode of Called Up the Prospects podcast.

Don't forget that s- that code, CAM33, over at Elite Prospects, and also we have that limited time offer for that subscription here on flowhockey.tv.

make sure you get signed up, and you'll be covered through next season if you get that annual plan.

Well worth it in my humble and paid-for opinion.

All right.

That's gonna do it, everybody.

I am gonna talk to you guys next week, along with Cam Robinson.

That's Called Up the Prospects podcast for this week.

We'll see you next time.

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