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NHL mock draft: Final projections for every first-round pick

By Derek Grochowski

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 5: Rasmus Dahlin #8 of Sweden in play against Canada during the Gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship at KeyBank Center on January 5, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. Canada beat Sweden 3-1. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 5: Rasmus Dahlin #8 of Sweden in play against Canada during the Gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship at KeyBank Center on January 5, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. Canada beat Sweden 3-1. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ON – SEPT 30: Robert Thomas #27 of the London Knights takes a faceoff against Barrett Hayton #27 of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in an OHL game on Sept 30, 2016 at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario, Canada. The Greyhounds defeated the Knights 3-2 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
LONDON, ON – SEPT 30: Robert Thomas #27 of the London Knights takes a faceoff against Barrett Hayton #27 of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in an OHL game on Sept 30, 2016 at Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario, Canada. The Greyhounds defeated the Knights 3-2 in an overtime shoot-out. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

13. Dallas Stars – C Barrett Hayton

It does not take long to look down the Dallas Stars’ roster and see where they need help the most. They are thin at center, and in a division filled with great ones, they need to improve. Hayton does not have all of the flash and skill of some of the forwards before him in the draft but he is one of the best. He is responsible in all three zones of the ice and always makes the right play. Out of all of the centers in the first round he is the best two-way player. This will go a long way in giving the Stars a balanced attack and push them to the next level.

Barrett Hayton can best be described as a talented two-way center who can create all kinds of problems for other defenses. Hayton can beat defenders with speed, skill or passing. He is very strong on his skates and difficult to knock off the puck. In the offensive zone he is dominant below the circles. He can set up there and drive an entire offense. More than that he is excellent in his own zone, a great back checker and extremely smart.

As he continues to develop he will get even better. He saw limited ice time on the Sault Sainte Marie Greyhounds. They were a highly talented team with a lot of good centers. As those forwards move out of junior hockey Hayton will see an increased role. It is a great opportunity for him to show that he should have been drafted much higher than what he was. The Dallas Stars are getting an excellent prospect with their pick. He can slot in behind Jamie Benn and push for the second line center position or be eased into the lineup as a third liner no problem.

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