One of the more anticipated drafts in recent memory kicked off last night with Justin Bieber announcing what most of the hockey world already knew and had seen coming for months. The Toronto Maple Leafs drafted Gavin McKenna from Penn State to start the night off in (for some reason) controversial fashion. Why was it controversial? Who actually cares! Let’s talk hockey, you guys.

Draft Summary- Round 1

1. Toronto Maple Leafs- Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State

Gavin McKenna has been the consensus #1 overall pick for some time now, and for good reason. He is a kid who will immediately make an impact at the NHL level, especially playing alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. McKenna will play significant minutes in Power Play and revitalize a group that needs some offensive firepower. Can McKenna handle the bright lights and expectations of being a 1st overall pick in the toughest market in the NHL? I’m sure Captain Matthews will be able to provide some support and help temper some of the exceedingly high expectations ahead of what is likely to be a transformative season for the Leafs.

2. San Jose Sharks- Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frolunda HC (SHL)

Stenberg led Sweden’s team to a Gold Medal at last year’s World Juniors while posting historic numbers for his SHL team, Frolunda HC. His playmaking ability is good enough to dispel any worries about his 5’11” frame, and with Eklund now gone, he is going to plug right in and play alongside phenom Macklin Celebrini. Who even knows how much those two will be able to accomplish together in the coming years?

3. Vancouver Canucks- Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)

Another one that doesn’t come as much of a surprise, considering former NHLer and Caleb’s father, Manny Malhotra, is the Head Coach of the Canucks. Caleb had a magnificent season in the OHL with the Bulldogs, tallying 84 points in 67 games while also racking up 51 PIM. He is currently on track to become a very talented 2-way forward in the NHL, with his father as his head coach. If anyone reading this has ever been coached by their father, I am sure you can understand why this could be a good thing for his development. Manny will undoubtedly know exactly what buttons to push to get the most out of his son.

4. Buffalo Sabers- Daxon Rudolph, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

The first defenseman to come off the board goes to Buffalo, where he is sure to find early success with a franchise on the upswing. Perhaps a reach on Buffalo’s end, Daxon’s offensive prowess is already at an NHL level, while the Sabers feel they can hone his defensive skill set to make him a top-pairing defenseman in the near future. The 6’3″ RHD prospect was over a PPG player last season in the WHL, scoring 28 goals in the regular season. In the playoffs, he was even better, with 27 points in 19 games.

5. New York Rangers- Alberts Smits, D, Munchen (EHC)

The LHD prospect picked up by the Rangers is another two-way threat. Smits is a big dude, standing at 6’3″ and projects to potentially be a top defenseman in the league. As with most oversized defensemen, they take quite some time to develop, and the results vary widely. Smits was loaned to Munchen and had a productive playoff stint, tallying 6 points in 11 games. His speed and puck-carrying ability could make him a very valuable player for the Rangers in a few seasons.

6. Calgary Flames- Carson Carels, D, Prince George (WHL)

The 6’2″ bruiser looks to be another physical puck carrier who could be NHL-ready in 2-3 years. His skating ability and physical presence make him one of the top defensive prospects to come out of the draft. Perhaps even more touted than his play on the ice is his leadership ability. He was selected for World Juniors as a 17-year-old and plays with poise, tightening up when the lights get bright. Calgary reportedly had its eyes on him for quite some time before the draft, and he instantly will become its #1 prospect.

7. Seattle Kraken- Chase Reid, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Keeping with the trend of defensemen going in the top-10, a pick that was very nearly traded to Dallas ends up staying with Seattle, and turns into drafting 6’3″ RHD prospect Chase Reid. In my opinion, the most “sure thing” in the draft as far as defensemen go, Chase Reid exhibits elite playmaking ability and incredible stamina. His tendency to carry the puck across the blue line, create offensive opportunities, and play heavy minutes bodes very well for his future as an NHL player. He is already a PPG player in the OHL and should get a shot at cracking the NHL roster during training camp.

8. Winnipeg Jets- Viggo Bjorck, C, Djurgarden (SHL)

Another Swedish forward comes off the board in round 1, and this time it is tenacious undersized center iceman Viggo Bjorck. His player comp is most notably Logan Stankoven. Bjorck is a 5’9″ high-energy forechecker who elevates every line that he is on. Don’t look for him to score 40 goals in a season, but do look for him to seek out board battles and fight for every inch of the ice.

9. San Jose Sharks- Keaton Verhoeff, D, Univ. of North Dakota (NCAA)

The Sharks’ 2nd pick in the 1st round goes to the towering and strong RHD from Alberta. Keaton’s strength translates into a powerful slap shot and excellent play along the boards. A rare oversized defenseman that could see NHL action within a year of being drafted, Keaton has obvious upside and a high ceiling. Playing alongside Kiefer Sherwood could potentially be bruising and amusing should he crack the NHL roster next season.

10. Nashville Predators- Wyatt Cullen, LW, USNTDP (USA)

The son of former Nashville Predator Matt Cullen has some of the best playmaking ability in this year’s draft class. While his combine results may not have given much credence to his skating ability, some NHL-level coaching could propel him to top-6 status in the NHL in the coming seasons. He’s not a shining superstar, but he makes his teammates better and improves the lines he plays on through top-end playmaking ability and vision.

11. St. Louis Blues- Tynan Lawrence, C, Boston University (NCAA)

The 17-year-old from Boston College boasts incredible skating ability and speed, often leading to him receiving the puck deep in his own end and creating dangerous offensive chances. His two-way ability is another thing to watch out for; his strength comes not just from his skating but also from his play along the boards and backchecking. While not the most productive player statistically, the raw talent is there, and he can opt to play another year in Boston to fine-tune some of the rougher edges of his play.

12. New Jersey Devils- Alexander Command, C, Orebro Jr. (Sweden-JUNIOR)

Another relentless skater with a motor that seemingly never runs out, with offensive production to back it up. Sweden continues to be well-represented in this year’s draft with another 200′ forward. While not projected to be a top-line scorer, he looks to be perfect for filling a 2nd or 3rd line center role that can kill penalties and burn valuable minutes on defensive zone faceoffs. Given the other talent on the board, he’s a strong addition to New Jersey, even if he doesn’t develop into a high-motor 20-goal scorer in the league.

13. New York Islanders- Malte Gustafsson, D, HV71 (SHL)

A high-energy play-killing defender, Malte set himself apart by playing heavy minutes in the SHL, cementing himself as a draft-ready player and ultimately becoming one of the highest-rated defensive prospects heading into the draft. Already a stout defensive team, Malte will have some extra time before the organization needs him at the big-league level, giving the large defender plenty of time to develop his near-NHL-ready defensive skill set.

14. Columbus Blue Jackets- Oscar Hemming, LW, Boston College (NCAA)

Yet another draft selection coming out of Boston College, Finnish winger and younger brother of Dallas Stars #1 Prospect Emil Hemming, is on a similar trajectory as his older brother, instantly becoming a top prospect for the Blue Jackets. The 6’4″ winger is touted for his hammering slap shot and clever passing, looking like someone who could be a great complementary power winger for the 2nd or 3rd line on a future NHL club.

15. Anaheim Ducks- Nikita Klepov, RW, Saginaw (OHL)

17 years old and 364 days old at the time of his drafting, Nikita became the OHL’s first rookie scoring champion in over 50 years, notching 97 points in 67 games. While possessing elite offensive and finishing skills, his off-the-puck skills need some work. He has a bottomless tank of energy and creates a great deal of offense, and has a very high ceiling even for a mid-1st round pick.

16. St. Louis Blues- Maddox Dagenais, C, Quebec (QMJHL)

Another mid-round power forward selection, Maddox Dagenais, had an incredible second half of the season, making him a PPG player and seeing his draft stock rise substantially. He is not projected to be a high-volume scorer, but looks to be a versatile power forward with middle-6 potential in the league. Even if he doesn’t make it that far, his physical presence on the ice will be noticed on the bottom-6 in the NHL.

17. Utah Mammoth- Ethan Belchetz, LW, Windsor (OHL)

One of the premier power forwards in the draft, Ethan Belchetz, fell to 17th despite being ranked in many prospect rankings as a top-10 prospect in the NHL Draft, making this one of the bigger steals of the night. He is not only huge, measuring in at a towering 6’5″, 230 lbs, but he also possesses great playmaking skills while providing a very long reach. He can disrupt play with his stick, taking up half of the ice with his size, and also cycle and make great plays on the offensive end. A rare tree with great playmaking skill, this has the potential to be the steal of the 1st round.

18. Washington Capitals- Oliver Suvanto, C, Tappara (Finland)

The oversized Finnish forward may not be a dynamic playmaker, but he is incredibly difficult to get off his feet. With the ability to skate through checks and park himself in front of the net and create chaos, he could become a very valuable piece in the future, similar to a player like Joel Eriksson Ek in Minnesota. While not the highest ceiling, possessing the ability to create luck at the netfront is a key part of today’s game, and raises his floor substantially.

19. Los Angeles Kings- Elton Hermansson, RW, Modo (Sweden)

The Kings elect to gamble somewhat on a 17-year-old Swede with elite raw offensive talent. Elton has incredible upside as a potential 30-goal, 80-point player over the course of his career. As with most exceptional but very young players, we won’t know for a couple of years whether his game will translate to the NHL level. He is exhilarating to watch carry the puck and possesses elite skating ability. This is some of the top-end talent that LA needs in their farm system.

20. Buffalo Sabres- Ilia Morozov, Miami OH (NCAA)

Ilia Morozov is probably the premier defensive forward of the draft. Morozov is a big guy who knocks puck carriers off balance and runs them over when given the chance. He has a high motor that translates into lots of disruption in the neutral and defensive zones. While he is not a shiny new toy that has the potential to score 30+ goals a year, he is a stalwart defensive forward that fits well into the Buffalo Sabres’ system.

21. San Jose Sharks- Ryan Lin, D, Vancouver (WHL)

With their third pick in the 1st round, the Sharks select puck-moving defenseman Ryan Lin. Lin is a bit undersized for the position, but he plays with great intelligence and positions himself well enough to mostly offset the size difference. The Sharks traded up from the 27th spot with the Flyers to come up and grab Lin before it was too late. Ryan Lin is going to play for the University of Denver under hockey megamind David Carle, likely raising his ceiling higher than his projected peak. Overall, an excellent first round for San Jose, which is shaping up to be a thorn in the Western Conference’s side for the majority of the 2030s.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins- Liam Ruck, RW, Medicine Hat (WHL)

The Penguins went on to draft the first Ruck brother at 22nd overall. A facilitator with an elite hockey IQ, the Penguins bet on him despite his minor concerns with his skating and finishing ability. Spoiler alert, they drafted his brother, too, later on. Liam has a ways to go before being NHL-ready, but when he is, he will be a solid offensive contributor who elevates his linemates (aka his brother).

23. Detroit Red Wings- JP Hurlbert, LW, Kamloops (WHL)

I (a Texas native from Dallas-Fort Worth) am particularly proud to say that JP Hurlbert from Allen, Texas, was a first-round draft pick in the NHL, the first Texas native to be drafted in Round 1 since Seth Jones. Hurlbert has a big offensive upside, with playmaking and sniping ability. He scored 42 goals in 68 games, looking like he could be NHL-ready before quite a few of those drafted before him. I will be rooting for you, JP! Sorry you went to the Red Wings! /s

24. Vancouver Canucks- Adam Novotny, LW, Peterborough (OHL)

The Czech two-way forward was widely projected as a mid-round pick, making this a win for Vancouver. He is a well-rounded forward who can shoot the puck and backcheck, making him a perfect middle-6 forward in the future. His skating ability makes him elusive with the puck and tenacious when trying to take it from others. Overall, a very solid pick and somewhat of a steal from Vancouver.

25. Ottawa Senators- Jonas Lagerberg Hoen, RW, Leksand JR (Sweden Junior)

Somewhat of a head-scratcher, Jonas Lagerberg Hoen still exhibits high-level scoring ability with one of the sickest shots in the draft. What makes this one such a reach is the fact that he missed almost all of last season with a knee injury. Ottawa elected to gamble on the significant upside of having one of the most lethal shots in the draft, hoping to turn him into a top-line scorer and power-play producer.

26. Montreal Canadiens- Gleb Pugachyov, RW, Nizhny Novgorod Jr. (Russia Junior)

The Canadiens move up a couple of spots to grab the large Russian winger; they have gotten themselves the epitome of a big, angry Russian bruiser on the wing. Gleb is known for delivering violent, crushing hits. The exact player that you are looking for, if you’re a team like Montreal that already possesses a skilled roster and needs a playoff demon to scare away careless forwards and set the tone.

27. Philadelphia Flyers- Maksim Sokolovskii, D, London (OHL)

The new-age aspiring Broad City Bullies decide to trade down and go with the 6’7″ defensive monster Maksim Solovskii. I can already see him munching penalty minutes and fitting very well into the Flyers’ system in the future.

28. Anaheim Ducks- Marcus Nordmark, LW, Djurgarden Jr. (Sweden Junior)

The Ducks decide to take a gamble on the stereotypical “high skill, low coachability” archetype with Marcus Nordmark. Nordmark has top-end scoring ability and accumulates points regularly, but questions about his skating and effort have seeped in and tanked his draft stock a bit. The skill is there, but the Ducks are hoping to get the maturity up to the skill level.

29. Vegas Golden Knights- Juho Piiparinen, D, Tappara (Finland)

ESPN’s Rachel Kyshak calls him “the best Finnish defensive prospect since Miro Heiskanen.” Very elite company. If he pans out, he will anchor the top D pairing in Vegas for years to come. He is an RHD with elite puck-moving skills and physical play. RHD prospects like this don’t grow on trees, and the Golden Knights got a good one here. Whether used as a trade piece or kept in Vegas’ system, he looks to be a prospect that will blossom into a very good NHL defender.

30. Calgary Flames- Jack Hextall, C, Youngstown (USHL)

Emerging as the only USHL prospect drafted in round 1, Jack Hextall winds up being a very safe pick for a team that needs center ice men like him in their prospect pool. With such a shallow pool of talent at the NHL level, I don’t see why he wouldn’t see NHL ice within the next two seasons and get to show off his ability as a two-way forward in Calgary.

31. Nashville Predators- Tommy Bleyl, D, Moncton (QMJHL)

While not exactly the most highly touted defensive prospect, his elite-level skating and puck skills make him one of the better offensive defensemen in this year’s draft class. He has great speed and stick-handling, creating plays off the rush and exploding across the blue line to generate offense with his skill.

32. Ottawa Senators- Jaxon Cover, RW, London (OHL)

Absolutely the best story in the draft, Jaxon Cover was a roller hockey player in the Cayman Islands until he was 13 years old. At 13, he laced up ice skates for the first time after moving to Canada to play ice hockey, and 5 years later, he is an NHL 1st-round pick. Cover is a very high-skill player who is obviously still very raw, but could develop into an exciting player. His skill when it comes to stick-handling and filthy dangles will put butts in seats and subsequently get them standing up. He will take a few years to develop into an NHL-ready forward fully, but many eyes will be watching this amazing story as it hopefully comes to a head with an NHL debut in the next year or two.