NHL Mock Draft: March Madness 2nd Round

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The 1st round of The Next Ones NHL Mock Draft March Madness Edition is already in the books. After a plethora of picks changing hands leading up to and on the NHL trade deadline, here’s one scenario of how the draft may play out:

Round 2 – The Picks

Picks are listed in order as per standings on 2016-03-10 via Pro Sports Transactions.

Libor Hajek of the Saskatoon Blades
Libor Hajek (Steve Hiscock/Saskatoon Blades)

 

  1.  Toronto Maple Leafs: Libor Hajek, D, Saskatoon (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Rock solid, smooth, poised blueliner, effortlessly fends off attackers

 

  1. Edmonton Oilers/Boston Bruins: Tyler Benson, LW, Vancouver (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Has been highly touted since he was a 14-year-old. His game was really seeming to come together after some difficulties with injuries. He had 17 points in his last 13 games to close out 2015, but again finds himself in the infirmary. When healthy, he’s tough on the puck and hard to handle.

Bruins received 2015-17 second round pick (Oilers option) from Oilers on 2015-04-24 as compensation for president of hockey operations / GM Peter Chiarelli

 

  1. Winnipeg Jets: Carl Grundstrom, LW, MODO (SHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Physical, fast scoring forward

 

  1.  Calgary Flames:  Taylor Raddysh, RW, Erie (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Size, shot, and smarts. Power forward especially effective on PP. 

 

  1. Arizona Coyotes:  Kale Clague, D, Brandon (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Don’t let the stat line fool you when it comes to this smart, smooth skating two-way defender. He is positionally sound with tremendous offensive upside.

 

  1. Buffalo Sabres: Logan Stanley, D, Windsor, OHL

Prospect Profiler Notes: Intriguing 6’7″ dman has tremendous wingspan, skates well for size, with decent shot

 

  1. Vancouver Canucks: Brett Howden, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Quinton’s brother also possesses nice size; complete game; has pro feel about him

 

  1. Columbus Blue Jackets/Vancouver Canucks: Chad Krys, D, USA U-18 (USHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Undersized, puck-moving, two-way defender makes up for size concerns with his high hockey IQ and the way he processes the game.

Blue Jackets sent 2016-18 second round pick (Blue Jackets option) to Canucks on 2015-10-21 as compensation for head coach John Tortorella

 

  1. Montreal Canadiens: Markus Niemelainen, D, Saginaw (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Big Finnish intelligent defender is very mobile. 

 

  1. New Jersey Devils: Sam Steel, C, Regina (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: One of the best names of this draft class, the slick centreman possesses patience and poise with the puck.

 

  1. Ottawa Senators: Carter Hart, G, Everett (WHL)

 

  1. Carolina Hurricanes: Jordan Kyrou, C/RW, Sarnia (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Energetic forward possesses really good puck poise and puck protection skills

 

  1. Montreal Canadiens: Will Bitten, C, Flint (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Quick, skilled forward, effective along the boards, does not back down

Sabres Traded Matt Moulson, Cody McCormick to Wild for Torrey Mitchell, 2014 second round pick (#39-Vitek Vanecek), 2016 second round pick on 2014-03-05. Canadiens traded Josh Gorges to Sabres 2016 second round pick on 2014-07-01.

 

  1. Philadelphia Flyers:  Adam Mascherin, LW, Kitchener (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Built like a tank, the creative winger has a deceptive shot and sees the ice well

 

  1. Colorado Avalanche: Frederic Allard, D, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Amongst the top scoring dmen in the Q, Allard has been flying under the radar

Sharks Traded Brad Stuart to Avalanche for 2016 second round pick, 2017 sixth round pick on 2014-07-01. Avalanche traded 2015 second round pick (#31-Jeremy Roy) to Sharks for 2015 second round pick (#39-A.J. Greer), and 2016 second round pick 2017 sixth round pick on 2015-06-27.

 

  1. Detroit Red Wings: David Bernhardt, D, Djurgårdens IF J20 (SuperElit)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Project, big, mobile defenseman is top scoring blueliner in Sweden’s J20 SuperElit

Bruins traded traded Johnny Boychuk to Islanders for 2015 second round pick (#37-Brandon Carlo) • 2015 conditional third round pick (if Islanders trade Boychuk to another Eastern Conference team during 2014-15 season) (not exercised),  2016 second round pick on 2014-10-04

 

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Boris Katchouk, LW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Tenacious, consistent, reliable forward with good speed can pinch in offensively

Leafs Traded Daniel Winnik to Penguins for Zach Sill, 2015 fourth round pick (#107-Christian Wolanin), 2016 second round pick on 2015-02-25 (conditional if Penguins qualify for 2016 playoffs)

 

  1. San Jose Sharks: Simon Stransky, LW, Prince Albert (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Offensive awareness, crafty playmaker, makes teammates better 

 

  1. Nashville Predators: Lucas Johansen, D, Kelowna (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Ryan’s bro is a precision passing, puck-moving D, who is smart in his own zone

 

  1. Calgary Flames: Jonathan Dahlen, C, Timra IK (Allsvenskan)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Ulf’s son is a creative forward with deft hands, agile skating; high compete level

Flames traded Jiri Hudler to Panthers for 2016 second round pick and 2018 fourth round pick on 2016-02-27

 

  1. Boston Bruins: Sean Day, D, Mississauga (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Former exceptional status OHL talent has superior skating ability

 

  1. Pittsburgh Penguins: Luke Green, D, Saint John (QMJHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Sublime skating, offensive creativity, driven to improve 2-way game

Canucks traded Kevin Bieksa to Ducks for 2016 second round pick on 2015-06-30. Penguins traded Brandon Sutter, 2016 third round pick (more favorable of Canucks, Islanders picks) to Canucks for Nick Bonino, Alex Clendening, and 2016 second round pick on 2015-07-28.

 

  1. Tampa Bay Lightning: Adam Fox, D, US NTDP U18

Prospect Profiler Notes: Confident, poised right handed PMD; 3rd in team scoring on U.S. National U18 Team

Lightning traded Brett Connolly to Bruins for 2015 second round pick (#44-Matt Spencer) and 2016 second round pick on 2015-03-01

 

  1. Tampa Bay Lightning: Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack (BCHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Mobile defenseman finds his stock rising, possessing tremendous upside

 

  1. Carolina Hurricanes: Trent Frederic, C, US NTDP U18

Prospect Profiler Notes: Athletic power forward

Hurricanes traded Eric Staal to Rangers for Aleksi Saarela, 2016 second round pick, 2017 second round pick on 2016-02-28

 

  1. Los Angeles Kings: Noah Gregor, C, Moose Jaw (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Intelligent 200-foot player and plays a very up-tempo game

 

  1. St. Louis Blues:  Joey Anderson, RW, US NTDP U18

Prospect Profiler Notes: Outstanding work ethic; skilled forward plays hard and does all the small things

 

  1. Calgary Flames: Cam Dineen, D, North Bay (OHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Outstanding skill, good skater, processes game at extraordinary speed

Flames traded Kris Russell to Stars for Jyrki Jokipakka, Brett Pollock, 2016 conditional round pick (first round if Stars reach 2016 Western Conference Finals and Russell plays at least half the games in rounds 1 and 2, or else second round) on 2016-02-29

 

  1. Philadelphia Flyers: Ty Ronning, RW, Vancouver (WHL)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Agile, crafty, competitive forward will shoot from anywhere; son of Cliff

Flyers traded Kimmo Timonen to Blackhawks for 2015 second round pick (#61-Jeremy Bracco to Leafs in another deal) and 2016 conditional round pick (second round if Blackhawks advance to 2015 Stanley Cup Finals and Timonen plays in at least 50% of the games, third round if Blackhawks advance to third round of 2015 playoffs and Timonen plays in at least 50% of the games, else fourth round) on 2015-02-27

 

  1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Jacob Moverare, D, HV71 J20 (SuperElit)

Prospect Profiler Notes: Intriguing combination of size, skill and mobility

Leafs traded Daniel Winnik and 2016 fifth round pick to Capitals for Brooks Laich, Connor Carrick and 2016 second round pick  on 2016-02-28

 

Back to 1st Round Picks

*2nd Round Traded Draft Pick Notes via ProSportsTransactions

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Email: CRalph@TheHockeyWriters.com

Twitter: @ChrisRalphTHW