Fansided

Each team’s biggest need heading into the 2018 NHL draft

By Griffin Youngs

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: (L-R) NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vancouver Canucks President Hockey Operations, Trevor Linden answer questions during a press conference at Rogers Arena February 28, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Vancouver Canucks will host the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena, the National Hockey League, Canucks and City of Vancouver announced today. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: (L-R) NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Vancouver Canucks President Hockey Operations, Trevor Linden answer questions during a press conference at Rogers Arena February 28, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The Vancouver Canucks will host the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena, the National Hockey League, Canucks and City of Vancouver announced today. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 16: Joel Farabee #28 of the USA Nationals skates to the bench after a goal against the Russian Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 16, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. USA defeated Russia 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Joel Farabee
PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 16: Joel Farabee #28 of the USA Nationals skates to the bench after a goal against the Russian Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 16, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. USA defeated Russia 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Joel Farabee /

Central Division

Chicago Blackhawks – Left wing

The Blackhawks witnessed the inevitable decline that all great teams face at some point in the last season, and they have to find a way to build the one ice product back to what it once was. That all starts with a solid draft.

Even with being atop the league for so long, the Blackhawks don’t have a whole lot of needs that they can’t fill from the farm system. Defense was a major problem last season, but they’ve got Dennis Gilbert, Gustav Forsling and Henri Jokiharju rising through the ranks and closer to being ready for the NHL. The right wing is perhaps the weakest in the prospect pool, but they don’t really need anybody there with Patrick Kane and Alex Debrincat leading the charge for the foreseeable future. The left wing is weak on the roster and in prospect depth. The last two left wingers to make the Blackhawks in this decade were Teuvo Teravainen and Ryan Hartman, who have since been traded.

The Blackhawks haven’t had a top 10 pick since they drafted Patrick Kane with the first overall pick in 2007, and now the Blackhawks will pick eighth overall in this year’s draft. Zadina won’t make it anywhere close to them at that spot, but Joel Farabee will still be available. Farabee is projected to go around 10th overall and has been outstanding for US National Development program with 76 points in 62 games last season.

Colorado Avalanche – Right wing

It was an incredible bounce-back season for the Colorado Avalanche just a year removed from finishing with one of the worst records in the history of the NHL, and they made the playoffs on the back of Hart candidate Nathan MacKinnon. But the time for admiring their work is over, and it’s time to keep building up the youngest team in the NHL with more young talent in the draft once again.

Being the youngest team in the league, Colorado doesn’t have many needs in this years draft, but they do still have a need on the right wing more than anything else. They’ve got most other positions taken care of, but right wing is practically bare on both fronts. On the roster right now, the right wing depth consists of Mikko Rantanen, Sven Andrighetto, Blake Comeau and Gabriel Borque, which is good enough on the top end but that bottom six is just not good enough. The real problem there is that the Avalanche doesn’t have any viable options in the system to make any replacements to strengthen that depth on the wing.

Colorado will select 16th overall in this year’s draft, giving them options on every position they could need. If the Avalanche do decide to go with right wing, Vitali Kravtsov is likely their best option. Kravtsov is projected to get taken around the 15-20th overall after a season in the KHL and in international play for Russia. His ceiling is through the roof with raw talent, and Colorado would be a great fit for his skills.

Dallas Stars – Center

Dallas had an unfortunate season after falling apart down the stretch to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. They’ve got all the pieces to be playoff contenders but just haven’t been able to finish the season off, and they can keep building those pieces with another good draft.

Dallas’s center depth is almost completely bare after heavy draft focus on defense and the wing over the last few years. They’ve filled the prospect pool with every other position, but there is nobody in the system that can be worth calling up outside of Jason Dickinson whose been unable to find his game at the NHL level. With Jason Spezza’s contract up soon, there won’t be anybody to replace him when he leaves.

Dallas won the third overall pick in the last draft but they weren’t as fortunate this time, and now  they own the 13th overall pick the in this years draft. Their pick comes right after the rush for defense, and there should plenty of talented centers still available at 13th like Joe Veleno, Barret Hayton, and Rasmus Kupari.

Minnesota Wild – Left wing

This is a pivotal offseason for the Minnesota Wild in determining whether they need to tear it all down or stand pat after another disappointing season, and a successful start begins with having good draft.

Minnesota’s drafts over the last few years have mirrored the team in their mediocrity. They’ve picked a few solid players that’ll turn into consistent NHL players, but they haven’t found that one guy that can start to turn this franchise around and take that next step. Currently, there isn’t any left wingers in the system with the late season callup of Jordan Greenway, making their needs pretty easy to figure out. Greenway is the only left winger drafted by the wild since 2013, and there is quite literally nobody left to choose from.

The Wild will pick 24th overall in this years draft, but I don’t think they should be satisfied with that. They need a player that can turn this franchise around from medicority, and unless you’re really lucky you can’t find that player at 24th overall. If they do plan on retooling this team, they should start at the draft and find a way to trade up and grab a player like Joel Farabee at left wing.

Nashville Predators – Center

It was the first year with real expectations on this years Presidents’ Trophy winners, but unfortunately they just fell short in the second round against Winnipeg. Nashville is going nowhere anytime soon, and they can bolster their future with another good draft.

Nashville in all honesty doesn’t need a whole lot in the years draft. They are entering year two of their revamped core which will be going nowhere anytime soon, and they’ve found some great talent in recent years. However, they have gone pretty light on drafting centers and even though their center core is locked up for a few years, they need somebody developing in the background to replace them when the times comes.

Nashville does not have a first round pick in this years draft, and don’t pick until 89th overall in the third round. Odds are Nashville doesn’t feel any incentive to trade up, and they’ll stay there. When you get past the second round, a lot of drafting comes down how good you’re scouting is to know how good a player is, but sometimes you’re just hoping you get lucky. Players like Blade Jenkins, Jake Wise, and Nathan Dunkley will likely be available and have the potential to be steals, especially Jake Wise whose draft value was hurt by injuries last season.

St. Louis Blues – Defense

St. Louis was disappointed once again after missing the playoffs on the final day of the season after a great start to the season, and now they’ve got to figure out where things went wrong. They’ve got the talent to be playoff contenders, but they need to keep building through the draft to fill the holes.

St. Louis has actually had some incredible drafts over the last few years with finding Robert Thomas, Klim Kostin, Tage Thompson. Only issue is that all of their great finds have been centers, and they’re starting to lack everywhere else, especially on defense. They do have some defensemen in the system, but they’re all left handed and don’t have great upside.

St.Louis traded their first round pick to Philadelphia last draft, but they traded Paul Stastny to Winnipeg to acquire the 29th overall pick at the trade deadline. Despite being a late first round pick, they’ve still got plenty of options to work with. Ryan Merkley is projected to go around that time in the draft, and is already being talked about as the biggest steal in the draft with his offensive prowess.

Winnipeg Jets – Right wing

The Jets finally broke through last year, and made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals after years of futility. The road was long, but they did in the purest way possible, through the draft, and it’s time for them to keep it up.

Winnipeg is the poster child around the league for building a Stanley Cup contender through the draft. Almost all of their top tier players came from the draft, and it all began to pay off last season. Even with their mass of young talent, they’ve already called up most of the talent on the wings for the main roster and should some time to reload on the wing in the system should they need them. Both wings are weak but the left wing still has Brendan Lemieux, while the right has no options.

Winnipeg does not have a first round pick in this years draft after trading it for Paul Stastny, and their first pick will come at 60th overall in the second round. If they stay at 60th, right winger Nando Eggenberger could fall right into their hands who would fit excellently in the Jets system with his balanced play style.

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