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2018 NHL mock draft: Eastern Conference teams

By Jeff Langridge

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 4: Rasmus Dahlin
BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 4: Rasmus Dahlin /
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ST CATHARINES, ON – NOVEMBER 24: Akil Thomas #44 of the Niagara IceDogs skates during an OHL game against the Ottawa 67’s at the Meridian Centre on November 24, 2017 in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
ST CATHARINES, ON – NOVEMBER 24: Akil Thomas #44 of the Niagara IceDogs skates during an OHL game against the Ottawa 67’s at the Meridian Centre on November 24, 2017 in St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

19. Philadelpia Flyers – Akil Thomas

Thomas is one of those players who can be described as a Jack of all trades, master of none. He’s good at pretty much everything, but his overall game could use some improvement. This is a player that might be a project. It might take him a bit longer to reach his potential, but when he does, he will make an effective NHLer. The good news is that he already has a pretty solid 200-foot game.

Watching him in the second round of the OHL playoffs, there was definitely something there. He was always on the brink of making a good play but that also led to mistakes. Their opponents, the Hamilton Bulldogs, were excellent at capitalizing on those kind of mistakes. The IceDogs would end up being eliminated in five games.

All that being said, he did still have 22 goals and 81 points in 68 regular season games. He followed that up with five goals and 11 points in 10 playoff games. Like Noel, he just needs more time to develop. He can afford to spend another two seasons in the OHL and then however long he needs in the AHL.

Already having Jesperi Kotkaniemi in this mock, it might be considered a stretch for the Flyers to take two centers. However, they are a team that has the time to let Thomas to develop with the depth they have brought in. Besides, it’s never a bad thing to have a lot of center depth.

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