Post-Stanley Cup Final NHL Mock Draft: Maple Leafs Add McKenna, Canucks Get Stenberg
How could the first round of the NHL draft go down on June 26? Prospect expert Tony Ferrari makes an informed projection for each of the top 32 picks.
Video Transcript
The Carolina Hurricanes have won Stanley Cup this year, and that means we finally move into off-season mode, and the focus right now is on the NHL draft.
There's so many teams that are gonna be looking to change their fortunes as they go into next season, and this is their first chance to build for next year as they chase down the Canes in pursuit of the Stanley Cup next season.
Now, the Toronto Maple Leafs have the first overall pick, and many expect them to take Gavin McKenna.
So in our mock draft right after the Stanley Cup Finals, that's exactly who they're taking.
The Leafs add an incredibly highly skilled playmaker, a guy that can mesh with Austin Matthews on paper, and really all it's gonna take is seeing exactly how they look on ice together, because they could be the next dynamic duo.
Now, we move on to the second team in the NHL draft, and that is the San Jose Sharks once again, and there's a number of options for them here.
Right now, they're mocked to take Chase Reid, the right-handed defenseman out of the Sault Greyhounds, and that pick makes a lot of sense for them.
But the reality is, he might not be the best player available.
Ivar Stenberg would still be on the board, and he's legitimately in the conversation for number one.
So could they look to trade down, or could they just go with Ivar Stenberg?
They have a number of options there, and it's gonna be really interesting to see what they do.
One of the most interesting teams of the draft is the Vancouver Canucks at number three.
When, and while all the rumors have the links between Caleb Malhotra and his father, the Canucks' new head coach, making a lot of sense, there's one link that everyone's not talking about.
Ivar Stenberg put up one of the most historic seasons in the SHL this year.
The only two players that really compare?
Daniel and Henrik Sedin, Canucks legends and their new co-presidents.
So it's gonna be really interesting to see if they'll end up passing on what would truly be the best player available at number three.
Check out my entire mock draft of the first round as we finally know the order from one to thirty-two in the NHL draft this upcoming June.
