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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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PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 14: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #28 of the Finland Nationals follows the play against the Russian Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 14, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. Russia defeated Finland 4-0. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Jesperi Kotkaniemi
PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 14: Jesperi Kotkaniemi #28 of the Finland Nationals follows the play against the Russian Nationals during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament game at USA Hockey Arena on February 14, 2018 in Plymouth, Michigan. Russia defeated Finland 4-0. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)*** Local Caption *** Jesperi Kotkaniemi /

9. New York Rangers – C Jesperi Kotkaniemi

With the first of the Rangers’ three picks in the first round, they will address their forward group. There are plenty of quality defenseman throughout the first round. With their next pick not coming until No. 26, they need to get a forward. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has been a fast riser throughout the second half of the season and will be a top 10 pick in this year’s draft. The Rangers kicked off their rebuild this year by trading away players like J.T. Miller, Rick Nash and Ryan McDonagh. The most important part of building a franchise is having talented centers and defensemen. Kotkaniemi will be the future of the rebuild in the center position.

Kotkaniemi has built up a lot of buzz leading into the draft. He might even bump someone out of the top three. Kotkaniemi is the best center in this draft. That is what will raise him up in the draft. All of the teams in front of the Rangers could use a center. However, the wingers and defensemen ahead of Kotkaniemi make it hard to pass on them. The Rangers are in a great position at ninth overall. Kotkaniemi will give them a major cornerstone to build around. He has elite vision and creativity which makes him impossible to stop, and he processes the game so fast. He is just a teenager but he will gain more experience and skill as he grows.

As a teenager Kotkaniemi played in Finland’s professional league. Playing against grown men he picked up 29 points in 57 games. He was used in every situation for Assat. He killed penalties and was trusted by his coached late in the game during important situations. He has a real chance at becoming an elite player in this league. He is physically gifted and his ceiling has yet to be seen.

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