After losing the draft lottery for a second straight year — much to the chagrin of general manager Tim Murray and their fan base — the Buffalo Sabres do get the privilege of picking first in the second round. And being a deep draft year, as mentioned, they will still have their pick of a pretty good litter.
So, picking up where we left off, the Sabres are on the clock:
Second Round
31) Buffalo Sabres — Brock Boeser (RW, USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0.5/191 pounds
Playoff Stats: NA
Regular Season Stats: 57 GP-35 G-33 A-68 PTS
Central Scouting: 27 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: 27
Future Considerations: 26
TSN Bob McKenzie: 26
TSN Craig Button: 9
Sportsnet: 27
ANALYSIS: Murray adds a character guy here, somebody to flank Zemgus Girgensons on the third line in the future. Boeser is a 200-foot player who can chip in offensively. The Sabres picked a similar player with their early second-rounder in 2013, and that selection of J.T. Compher is looking very promising, so they take Boeser in hopes he can develop along the same lines at the University of North Dakota.
32) Arizona Coyotes — Thomas Chabot (D, QMJHL’s Saint John Sea Dogs)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1.5/180 pounds
Playoff Stats: 5 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 66 GP-12 G-29 A-41 PTS
Central Scouting: 16 N.A.
ISS Hockey: 16
McKeen’s Hockey: 21
Future Considerations: 21
TSN Bob McKenzie: 25
TSN Craig Button: 19
Sportsnet: 18
ANALYSIS: Don Maloney was likely debating between Dunn and Chabot with his late first-rounder and decides to grab them both. Chabot would arguably be the best player available at this point, so picking him makes sense from that perspective as well. He’s not as flashy or offensive as his teammate Zboril, but he’s a smooth skater and makes that all-important good first pass. He reminds some of Ladislav Smid back in his draft year when the Ducks took him ninth overall in 2004.
33) Edmonton Oilers — Ryan Pilon (D, WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2/206 pounds
Playoff Stats: 19 GP-1 G-11 A-12 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 68 GP-11 G-41 A-52 PTS
Central Scouting: 24 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 70
TSN Bob McKenzie: 55
TSN Craig Button: 51
Sportsnet: HM
ANALYSIS: With six picks in the first three rounds, Chiarelli will want to add some defence prospects and Pilon is one with a fair bit of potential. He was overshadowed by his partner Provorov this season, but projects as a quality second-pairing guy. He’s got good size and can contribute at both ends of the ice, yet he’s considered a faller for this draft. That might be the Provorov factor, that his partner was so good under the microscope that it made him look bad some nights. Brandon will ice a very strong team again next season and Pilon will continue to be a key player there. If he gets off to a good start to the season, Pilon could be in the mix for Canada’s world-junior team as well. His playing style is a bit like Brent Seabrook. On a side note, he’s a distant relative of former NHL defenceman Rich Pilon, not a nephew as others have reported. For the record, I was able to clarify that in an interview with Rich this winter. They are more like second or third cousins and don’t have a real close relationship by the sounds of it.
34) Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto via Los Angeles) — Jacob Larsson (D, Sweden, Frolunda)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2.3/188 pounds
Playoff Stats: 8 GP-0 G-4 A-4 PTS (junior)
Regular Season Stats: 20 GP-1 G-2 A-3 PTS (pro)
Central Scouting: 3 EU
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 30
TSN Bob McKenzie: 31
TSN Craig Button: 22
Sportsnet: 24
ANALYSIS: Jarmo Kekalainen will also be shopping for defencemen and probably prefer the overseas options. Larsson is a riser and could sneak into the first round, but he should be a good value pick at this spot. Sweden has been producing some of the world’s best defencemen over the last decade — led by Erik Karlsson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson — but this Larsson doesn’t have that kind of elite talent. He’s more of a solid all-around guy, similar perhaps to another Swede in Anton Stralman.
35) Carolina Hurricanes — Filip Chlapik (C, QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1.3/189 pounds
Playoff Stats: 9 GP-1 G-8 A-9 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 64 GP-33 G-42 A-75 PTS
Central Scouting: 18 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 35
TSN Bob McKenzie: 39
TSN Craig Button: 46
Sportsnet: 15
ANALYSIS: Ron Francis will want a creative forward here, somebody to complement Elias Lindholm in the future. Chlapik has been described as a “bigger version of David Krejci”, so that’s a nice comparison. If he reaches that potential, he could be a steal for the Hurricanes.
36) New Jersey Devils — Jack Roslovic (C/RW, USHL, USNTDP)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1/182 pounds
Playoff Stats: NA
Regular Season Stats: 65 GP-27 G-52 A-79 PTS
Central Scouting: 39 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: 26
Future Considerations: 33
TSN Bob McKenzie: 34
TSN Craig Button: 28
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: Ray Shero takes his best player available here, an American forward with high-end skill. Roslovic is another guy who could go late in the first round, so the Devils would be thrilled to snag him in this spot. He’s got a bit of Paul Stastny in him, but will probably play as a winger.
37) Boston Bruins (from Philadelphia via N.Y. Islanders) — Jordan Greenway (LW, USHL, USNTDP)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5/216 pounds
Playoff Stats: NA
Regular Season Stats: 53 GP-9 G-35 A-44 PTS
Central Scouting: 47 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 39
TSN Bob McKenzie: 62
TSN Craig Button: 90
Sportsnet: HM
ANALYSIS: Don Sweeney may already be looking for the next Milan Lucic and they don’t come much bigger or meaner in this draft than Greenway. Problem is, he’s been pigeonholed as a grinder with limited offensive upside after only scoring nine goals this season. That stat will hurt his stock, but his size certainly stands out and will be enough for some team to take that chance.
38) Columbus Blue Jackets — Gabriel Carlsson (D, Sweden, Linkoping)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4/183 pounds
Playoff Stats: 10 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS (pro)
Regular Season Stats: 39 GP-0 G-7 A-7 PTS (junior)
Central Scouting: 2 EU
ISS Hockey: 30
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 49
TSN Bob McKenzie: 27
TSN Craig Button: 56
Sportsnet: HM
ANALYSIS: Kekalainen might be torn between Larsson and Carlsson at 34th overall — deciding to go with Larsson because he has more offensive upside — but fortunately for the Blue Jackets Carlsson is still available at 38th, so they decide to take both. Carlsson is bigger and more physical, but he’s a stay-at-home type. The hope would be that he turns into the next Niklas Hjalmarsson.
39) San Jose Sharks — Noah Juulsen (D, WHL’s Everett Silvertips)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1.5/174 pounds
Playoff Stats: 6 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 68 GP-9 G-43 A-52 PTS
Central Scouting: 22 N.A.
ISS Hockey: 29
McKeen’s Hockey: 20
Future Considerations: 32
TSN Bob McKenzie: 37
TSN Craig Button: 41
Sportsnet: HM
ANALYSIS: Doug Wilson was happy with Mirco Mueller’s development under former Sharks coach Kevin Constantine, so he doesn’t hesitate in taking another blue-liner from that organization. Juulsen was a teammate of Mueller’s as a rookie two seasons ago and actually plays a similar game. He’s effective at both ends of the ice and does everything above average but nothing great. San Jose will like the looks of a Mueller-Juulsen pairing in a couple years time.
40) Colorado Avalanche — Jonas Siegenthaler (D, Switzerland, GCK Zurich)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2.5/220 pounds
Playoff Stats: 18 GP-0 G-2 A-2 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 41 GP-0 G-3 A-3 PTS
Central Scouting: 12 EU
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: 28
Future Considerations: 47
TSN Bob McKenzie: 32
TSN Craig Button: 53
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: This pick comes highly recommended by Marc Crawford, who is coaching Siegenthaler in Switzerland and still has strong ties to Colorado from coaching the Avalanche to a Stanley Cup championship in 1996. Joe Sakic, now the GM in Colorado, and Patrick Roy, the coach, were star players on that team and will value Crawford’s opinions. In Seigenthaler, they could be getting a clone of Uwe Krupp, the big German blue-liner who scored the Cup-clinching goal that year.
41) New Jersey Devils (from Florida) — Denis Malgin (C, Switzerland, Zurich)
Height/Weight: 5-foot-9/176 pounds (did not attend combine)
Playoff Stats: 18 GP-4 G-2 A-6 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 23 GP-2 G-6 A-8 PTS
Central Scouting: 20 EU
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 63
TSN Bob McKenzie: HM
TSN Craig Button: 34
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: That name sounds a lot like Malkin, which could get Shero’s attention, but Malgin is only 5-foot-9, so there really is no comparison between the two. Malgin is a diminutive playmaker who might be coming over to play for the QMJHL’s Rouyn-Noranda Huskies next season. If not, he’ll continue to develop under Crawford’s watchful eye.
42) Ottawa Senators (from Dallas) — Zach Senyshyn (RW, OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1/192 pounds
Playoff Stats: 14 GP-4 G-3 A-7 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 66 GP-26 G-19 A-45 PTS
Central Scouting: 38 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 42
TSN Bob McKenzie: 40
TSN Craig Button: 49
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: After missing out on Konecny in the first round, Ottawa makes good by picking a local kid in Senyshyn, who was overshadowed on a powerhouse Sault Ste. Marie team. Senyshyn should get a bigger role next season and could have a breakout campaign in the OHL. He’s already scored 26 goals in his draft year, but he could net 40-plus with increased opportunities. Senyshyn could become a Clarke MacArthur type.
43) Los Angeles Kings (from Los Angeles via Buffalo) — Mitch Vande Sompel (D/LW, OHL’s Oshawa Generals)
Height/Weight: 5-foot-10/182 pounds
Playoff Stats: 16 GP-3 G-9 A-12 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 58 GP-12 G-51 A-63 PTS
Central Scouting: 34 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 41
TSN Bob McKenzie: 63
TSN Craig Button: 25
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: Dean Lombardi takes his best player available here and, in the process, replaces 2014 second-rounder Roland McKeown, who was traded to Carolina as part of the package for Andrej Sekera. Vande Sompel is a swingman, capable of playing forward or defence, and therefore has good offensive instincts. He helped Oshawa to a Memorial Cup championship, and the Kings will like the idea of adding another winner.
44) Tampa Bay Lightning (from Boston) — Nikita Korostelev (RW, OHL’s Sarnia Sting)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1/195 pounds
Playoff Stats: 5 GP-1 G-2 A-3 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 55 GP-24 G-29 A-53 PTS
Central Scouting: 50 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 62
TSN Bob McKenzie: 69
TSN Craig Button: NA
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: This would be considered a reach and it might also be a stretch to think Steve Yzerman could take two straight Russians, but it wouldn’t be unprecedented. He did the exact same thing in 2011, drafting Vladislav Namestnikov out of the OHL with a late first-rounder and then Nikita Kucherov out of the QMJHL in the second round. Flash forward to the present and after selecting Svechnikov late in the first round, Yzerman goes back to the OHL for the other first-year Russian who had a decent amount of hype coming into the campaign but didn’t dominate in transitioning to the North American game. This is a project pick, a real boom-bust type. Not to mention a nightmare for broadcasters as Nikita Korostelev sounds awfully similar to Nikita Kucherov.
45) Calgary Flames — Ryan Gropp (LW, WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2/187 pounds
Playoff Stats: 6 GP-1 G-7 A-8 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 67 GP-30 G-28 A-58 PTS
Central Scouting: 71 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 54
TSN Bob McKenzie: 56
TSN Craig Button: 92
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: Brad Treliving takes a Western Canadian kid with good size and scoring upside. After getting significant contributions from Lance Bouma and Michael Ferland this season, the Flames will see added value in Gropp, who would have put up bigger numbers if his centre, Mathew Barzal, wasn’t hurt for half the season. Expect those two to light it up together next season.
46) Pittsburgh Penguins — Anthony Beauvillier (C/LW, QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes)
Height/Weight: 5-foot-10.8/170 pounds
Playoff Stats: 7 GP-2 G-5 A-7 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 67 GP-42 G-52 A-94 PTS
Central Scouting: 33 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 31
TSN Bob McKenzie: 43
TSN Craig Button: 18
Sportsnet: HM
ANALYSIS: Jim Rutherford and the Penguins need to develop some scoring wingers and Beauvillier fills that future organizational need. He’s also among the best players available at this spot, so it makes sense on a couple fronts. Beauvillier served as a captain opposite McDavid in the Top Prospects Game and had a respectable showing there, so he could potentially go 10 spots higher.
47) Winnipeg Jets — Adam Musil (C/RW, WHL’s Red Deer Rebels)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2.75/202 pounds
Playoff Stats: NA
Regular Season Stats: 66 GP-15 G-24 A-39 PTS
Central Scouting: 61 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 65
TSN Bob McKenzie: 65
TSN Craig Button: NA
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: This would be a typical Winnipeg pick, with its preference for WHLers such as Adam Lowry, Nic Petan, Chase De Leo, Ryan Olsen and J.C. Lipon. Kevin Cheveldayoff obviously trusts his Western scout and despite Musil’s low totals this past season, he’ll play an important role on what will be a stacked team next season with Red Deer hosting the 2016 Memorial Cup. Musil was a first-rounder in the WHL’s bantam draft and still has good upside. He comes from a great hockey family with his father Frank and brother David, plus his uncle Bobby Holik, so Winnipeg will be enticed by those bloodlines.
48) Ottawa Senators — Dennis Yan (LW, QMJHL’s Shawinigan Cataractes)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1.5/189 pounds
Playoff Stats: 7 GP-7 G-1 A-8 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 59 GP-33 G-31 A-64 PTS
Central Scouting: 30 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 99
TSN Bob McKenzie: 38
TSN Craig Button: 58
Sportsnet: HM
ANALYSIS: The Senators go with their best player available here, taking a guy who scored a goal a game in the playoffs. Yann is a bit of a sniper and pretty dynamic offensively, somewhat similar to a young Martin Havlat. Despite growing up in the United States, Yann has Russian roots, so perhaps credit that for his creativity. He could be another good value pick in this spot.
49) Dallas Stars (from Detroit) — Rasmus Andersson (D, OHL’s Barrie Colts)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0/212 pounds
Playoff Stats: 9 GP-1 G-3 A-4 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 67 GP-12 G-52 A-64 PTS
Central Scouting: 93 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 50
TSN Bob McKenzie: 59
TSN Craig Button: 31
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: After gambling on Kylington at 12th overall, the Stars come back with another Swedish defenceman, but a safer pick at this point in the draft. Andersson enjoyed a productive first season in North America and is trending toward being an NHL player even if he ends up on a bottom pairing. Some question his upside, but he’s a solid player at both ends of the ice.
50) Minnesota Wild — Christian Fischer (RW, USHL, USNTDP)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1/212 pounds
Playoff Stats: NA
Regular Season Stats: 66 GP-31 G-33 A-64 PTS
Central Scouting: 37 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 53
TSN Bob McKenzie: 45
TSN Craig Button: 42
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: Chuck Fletcher might have Fischer as the best player available here, and it certainly helps that he’s teammates with Colin White, who the Wild picked in the first round of this mock draft. That familiarity is always helpful for prospects climbing the ranks. Fischer is an up-and-down winger that plays a simple but effective game and will likely top out as a good third liner.
51) Buffalo Sabres (from N.Y. Islanders) — Mackenzie Blackwood (G, OHL’s Barrie Colts)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4/215 pounds
Playoff Stats: 9 GP-.922 Save %-2.88 GAA
Regular Season Stats: 51 GP-.906 Save %-3.09 GAA
Central Scouting: 1 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 59
TSN Bob McKenzie: 35
TSN Craig Button: 62
Sportsnet: HM
ANALYSIS: The Sabres are going to take a goalie at some point and Blackwood might be their guy, especially after his impressive showing at the combine where he outperformed most of the skaters in several categories. Big goalies are all the rage and Blackwood definitely has size working in his favour. It wouldn’t be overly surprising to see the Sabres take Blackwood with the first pick of the second round, but they might also hold off in hopes that he’ll still be available here.
52) Calgary Flames (from Washington) — Parker Wotherspoon (D, WHL’s Tri-City Americans)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0.5/165 pounds
Playoff Stats: 4 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 72 GP-9 G-33 A-42 PTS
Central Scouting: 43 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 52
TSN Bob McKenzie: HM
TSN Craig Button: 59
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: The Flames keep the family together, selecting the younger brother of Tyler Wotherspoon, who suited up for a few playoff games this spring and has made positive strides in Calgary’s organization. Parker isn’t as big, but plays much the same game with a calm, cool and collected approach from the back end.
53) Calgary Flames (from Vancouver) — Sebastian Aho (LW/RW, Finland, Karpat)
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11.25/172 pounds
Playoff Stats: 10 GP-1 G-2 A-3 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 27 GP-4 G-7 A-11 PTS
Central Scouting: 18 EU
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: NA
TSN Bob McKenzie: HM
TSN Craig Button: 50
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: With back-to-back picks, Calgary takes a bit of a risk here, liking the upside to this Finn and hoping for another Markus Granlund. Aho is already playing pro back home, but he’s probably a couple years away from crossing the pond. Consider him a project, much like Granlund was as the 45th overall pick in 2011.
54) Chicago Blackhawks (compensatory) — Graham Knott (LW, OHL’s Niagara Ice Dogs)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3.25/190 pounds
Playoff Stats: 11 GP-2 G-2 A-4 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 59 GP-25 G-18 A-43 PTS
Central Scouting: 57 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 79
TSN Bob McKenzie: 49
TSN Craig Button: NA
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: Stan Bowman uses the pick Chicago received for not signing Kevin Hayes on another big-bodied winger in the mould of Bryan Bickell. Knott has a good frame to grow into and he already uses his size quite effectively in going to the net with or without the puck.
55) Nashville Predators — Caleb Jones (D, USHL, USNTDP)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0.5/194 pounds
Playoff Stats: NA
Regular Season Stats: 65 GP-6 G-18 A-24 PTS
Central Scouting: 115 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: NA
TSN Bob McKenzie: NA
TSN Craig Button: 81
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: Will David Poile select Seth Jones’ little brother? It’ll be awfully tempting, and although this could be seen as a reach based on Caleb’s ranking, he realistically won’t last much longer with those bloodlines. Caleb is to Seth what Jordan Subban is to P.K. Caleb doesn’t have the size and isn’t as dynamic, but he’s following in Seth’s footsteps by joining the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks for next season. NHL teams will like that decision and look forward to seeing Caleb develop at the major-junior level. I fully expect him to go in the latter half of the second round.
56) St. Louis Blues — Thomas Novak (C, USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0.75/179 pounds
Playoff Stats: NA
Regular Season Stats: 46 GP-14 G-34 A-48 PTS
Central Scouting: 28 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 37
TSN Bob McKenzie: 57
TSN Craig Button: 29
Sportsnet: HM
ANALYSIS: Doug Armstrong and the Blues always get these sneaky good forward picks and Novak could be another. He’s a highly skilled playmaker who can drive the offence and generate something from nothing with his vision and puckhandling ability. Novak could be a steal at this spot.
57) Edmonton Oilers (from Montreal) — Erik Cernak (D, Slovakia, Kosice)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3/203 pounds
Playoff Stats: 7 GP-0 G-1 A-1 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 43 GP-5 G-8 A-13 PTS
Central Scouting: 16 EU
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 90
TSN Bob McKenzie: 41
TSN Craig Button: NA
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: The Oilers have a very difficult decision on their hands here. On one hand, you’ve got Travis Dermott, who was McDavid’s teammate in Erie and childhood friend. On the other hand, you’ve got Cernak, another big Slovak from the same hometown as Martin Marincin and Martin Gernat. Dermott is smaller but more offensive. Cernak has good size, but is a defence-first, hard-to-play-against guy almost like David Musil. If both are available at this spot, flip a coin, but I felt Cernak’s skill-set was more of a need. It also wouldn’t surprise me one bit if Cernak was subsequently selected by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the CHL import draft on June 30. Getting Pilon and Cernak (or Dermott) in the second round would bode well for the Oilers going forward.
58) Columbus Blue Jackets (from Anaheim) — Roope Hintz (C/LW, Finland, Ilves)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2.3/190 pounds
Playoff Stats: 6 GP-1 G-1 A-2 PTS (junior)
Regular Season Stats: 42 GP-5 G-12 A-17 PTS (pro)
Central Scouting: 14 EU
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 71
TSN Bob McKenzie: 58
TSN Craig Button: 76
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: Kekalainen grabs another Finn in Hintz, a big kid who skates well and thinks the game at a high level. His offensive upside might be a bit limited, but he could very well become a Fredrik Modin type, which isn’t a bad thing.
59) Arizona Coyotes (from N.Y. Rangers) — Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson (C/RW, USHL’s Omaha Lancers)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-0.75/190 pounds
Playoff Stats: NA
Regular Season Stats: 50 GP-15 G-38 A-53 PTS
Central Scouting: 31 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: 29
Future Considerations: 69
TSN Bob McKenzie: 52
TSN Craig Button: 64
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: The Coyotes seem to select one or two players from tier-two junior leagues every year, so they have likely seen plenty of Forsbacka Karlsson this season. He’s got an enticing skill-set with lots of offensive potential, but he’s still far from a sure thing and thus the reason he’s not getting any first-round attention.
60) New York Rangers (from Tampa Bay) — Alexander Dergachyov (RW, Russia, St. Petersburg)
Height/Weight: 6-foot-4.3/226 pounds
Playoff Stats: 19 GP-11 G-7 A-18 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 45 GP-10 G-29 A-39 PTS
Central Scouting: 17 EU
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: 78
TSN Bob McKenzie: 54
TSN Craig Button: 97
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: Glen Sather and Jeff Gorton have a long wait to make their first pick, but they go for the home run with this big Russian who scored more goals in the playoffs than he did in the regular season. The Rangers aren’t afraid of Russians, selecting Pavel Buchnevich in the third round in 2013 and world-junior goaltender Igor Shesterkin in the fourth round in 2014. Both those prospects are looking like potential steals and the Rangers hope to have another in Dergachyov, whose game resembles Nik Antropov to some degree.
61) Philadelphia Flyers (from Chicago) — Jesse Gabrielle (LW, WHL’s Regina Pats)
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11.8/200 pounds
Playoff Stats: 9 GP-1 G-3 A-4 PTS
Regular Season Stats: 66 GP-23 G-21 A-44 PTS
Central Scouting: 73 N.A.
ISS Hockey: NA
McKeen’s Hockey: NA
Future Considerations: NA
TSN Bob McKenzie: NA
TSN Craig Button: NA
Sportsnet: NA
ANALYSIS: The Flyers march to the beat of their own drum at the NHL draft and this pick comes completely out of left field. Gabrielle proved to be a powerhouse at the combine, breaking the bench-press record and leading other tests as well. He was traded to Regina partway through the season (for Morgan Klimchuk), but got his start in Brandon where Hextall has WHL roots. Gabrielle’s now learning the ropes under John Paddock in Regina, a respected coach in NHL circles. This off-the-board pick would be reminiscent of 2013 when Philadelphia took another flyer on a strong kid out of the WHL by selecting Tyrell Goulbourne in the third round. The league didn’t have a nameplate prepared for Goulbourne and might not have Gabrielle handy this time around either.
Recapping the Second Round
31) Buffalo — Brock Boeser
32) Arizona — Thomas Chabot
33) Edmonton — Ryan Pilon
34) Columbus — Jacob Larsson
35) Carolina — Filip Chlapik
36) New Jersey — Jack Roslovic
37) Boston — Jordan Greenway
38) Columbus — Gabriel Carlsson
39) San Jose — Noah Juulsen
40) Colorado — Jonas Sigenthaler
41) New Jersey — Denis Malgin
42) Ottawa — Zach Senyshyn
43) Los Angeles — Mitch Vande Sompel
44) Tampa Bay — Nikita Korostelev
45) Calgary — Ryan Gropp
46) Pittsburgh — Anthony Beauvillier
47) Winnipeg — Adam Musil
48) Ottawa — Dennis Yan
49) Dallas — Rasmus Andersson
50) Minnesota — Christian Fischer
51) Buffalo — Mackenzie Blackwood
52) Calgary — Parker Wotherspoon
53) Calgary — Sebastian Aho (Finland)
54) Chicago — Graham Knott
55) Nashville — Caleb Jones
56) St. Louis — Thomas Novak
57) Edmonton — Erik Cernak
58) Columbus — Roope Hintz
59) Arizona — Jakob Forsbacka Karlsson
60) N.Y. Rangers — Alexander Dergachyov
61) Philadelphia — Jesse Gabrielle
• 2015 NHL Mock Draft: Round 1
• 2015 NHL Mock Draft: Round 3
Larry Fisher is a sports reporter for The Daily Courier in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Follow him on Twitter: @LarryFisher_KDC.