NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- It’s that time of year. All the players have been picked and now we’re going to issue our way-too-early look at how the teams did.

Believe me, I know that grading drafts as they happen is foolhardy. So much is going to happen to change the fortunes of these teams and players because that’s how development works. We’ll be able to better judge this years down the line. But let’s take a look at every class with the best information we have right now and evaluate how teams did.

Again, we’ll revisit these a few years down the line and see what was right, but here’s how I think each team did with the picks they made on Days 1 and 2 at the 2023 NHL Draft.

NHL DRAFT GRADES

Anaheim Ducks

Letter Grade: A-

First rounders: Leo Carlsson, C

Day 2 picks: Nico Myatovic, LW; Carey Terrance, C; Damian Clara, G; Coulson Pitre, RW; Yegor Sidorov, RW; Konnor Smith, D; Rodwin Dionicio; Vojtech Port, D.

Analysis: The Ducks pulled a bit of a surprise going with Leo Carlsson at the top, but I think he’s a good organizational fit as a top-tier center or wing who can play with a highly-skilled group of young players the Ducks have put together. Anaheim picked up six FloHockey Top 100 players in this draft and I think all of Myatovic, Terrance, Clara, Pitre and Sidorov have big-time potential. Rodwin Dionicio was in our intriguing late-rounders and sleepers piece and he’s a lot of fun to watch. There’s some refining to do there, though. All-in-all, the Ducks did their own thing and I think landed another class that pushes their rebuild forward significantly.

Arizona Coyotes

Letter Grade: B+

First rounders: Dmitri Simashev, D; Daniil But, RW

Day 2 Picks: Michael Hrabal, G; Jonathan Castagna, C; Noel Nordh, LW; Tanner Ludtke, C; Vadim Moroz, RW; Terell Goldsmith, D; Melker Thelin, G; Justin Kipkie, D; Samu Bau, C; Carsen Musser, G.

Analysis: Arizona was one of the most shocking teams at the draft and I can’t wait to see how this class pans out. They had seven picks in the top 88 and they continually took swing after swing with one common denominator. They didn’t pick a single player south of 6-foot. Drafting two Russians with two top 12 picks is risky for a lot of reasons, but maybe more so when you’re in the midst of a rebuild that has been going on for some time. If both Simashev and But hit their full potential, they will be stars, but there’s still a big if. Then I think the Coyotes got the best goalie in the draft in Michael Hrabal who is 6-foot-7 and incredibly athletic. I do wonder if sometimes size was too big a motivator and if some of these players will ultimately pan out, but Arizona walked out with a class of 12 players, all with some potential to reach for. They ain’t scared, them Coyotes, I’ll tell ya that much. I think you have to reward the swings they took because the reward is so high if it all hits.

Boston Bruins

Letter Grade: C-

First rounders: None

Day 2 picks: Christopher Pelosi, C; Beckett Hendrickson, C; Ryan Walsh, C; Casper Nassen, RW; Kristian Kostadinski, D.

Analysis: The Bruins have been in this draft limbo for a little while. They never have high picks and so they’re forced into taking some chances. They took three mid-tier American players in Pelosi, Hendrickson and Walsh, each of whom showed some flashes of NHL capabilities this year but maybe not consistently. Walsh was one of the top scorers in the USHL this year, too. Then they got a couple of massive European players in Casper Nassen (6-4) and Kristian Kostadinski (6-5). We’ll see where this ultimately goes, but I don’t think the Bruins could make much of a dent in their system based on having picks between 92 and 220.

Buffalo Sabres

Letter Grade: B+

First rounders: Zach Benson, LW

Day 2 picks: Anton Walberg, C; Maxim Strbak, D; Gavin McCarthy, D; Ethan Miedema, LW; Scott Ratzlaff, G; Sean Keohane, D; Norwin Panocha, D.

Analysis: For the last few years, I’ve really liked what Buffalo has done at the draft and this year was no different. They picked up four players off of FloHockey’s Top 100 with Zach Benson being a top-10 projected pick for me. They didn’t care about size, but valued his high compete and skill. The Sabres are well positioned to better support a player like Benson. Meanwhile, I think Anton Wahlberg is going to look like a real value pick in the second round. I’ve seen his progression and the skill he brings with a big frame is super enticing. Maxim Strbak is a two-way guy who played some of his best hockey on the biggest stages last year and they nabbed a local product in Gavin McCarthy who would have gone higher had he not suffered an injury mid year. Lastly, I think the Scott Ratzlaff pick could look good down the line. He’s not a big guy, but he can absolutely play and I think is one of the most athletic goalies in this class. In the end, the Sabres built more depth to one of the best prospect systems in the NHL. 

Our 2023 #NHLDraft class is official!

Welcome to Buffalo!#LetsGoBuffalo | @SenecaBuffalo pic.twitter.com/6byq3zUoh5

— Buffalo Sabres (@BuffaloSabres) June 29, 2023

Calgary Flames

Letter Grade: B

First rounders: Samuel Honzek, LW

Day 2 picks: Etienne Morin, D; Aydar Suniev, LW; Jaden Lipinski, C; Yegor Yegorov, G; Axel Hurtig.

Analysis: Each of the first four picks for the Flames are FloHockey Top 100 players and I think Honzek has big-time upside and is only just scratching the surface. Meanwhile, the Flames grabbed an offensive defenseman in Etienne Morin who can really move pucks, took another bet on a big-bodied scorer in Aydar Suniev and nabbed a project in massive center Jaden Lipinski, who was our No. 100 ranked player. Given where the Flames were slotted, I think they did pretty well. This is a team that is retooling on the fly and there’s more work for them to do, but this is a nice class for Craig Conroy to begin his GM career with.

Carolina Hurricanes

Letter Grade: B

First rounders: Bradly Nadeau, LW

Day 2 picks: Felix Unger Sorum, RW; Jayden Perron, RW; Alexander Rykov; Stanislav Yarovoi, RW; Charles-Alexis Legault, D; Ruslan Khazheyev, G; Timur Mukhanov, LW; Michael Emerson, Yegor Velmakin, G.

Analysis: The Carolina Hurricanes never seem to care much about size and that is reflected in this draft. But I like that Carolina always bets on skill. Bradly Nadeau is a high-end scorer and one of the best shooters in the draft. Felix Unger Sorum plays on both sides of the puck and has some jam to him. Jayden Perron was one of the top scorers in the USHL and Alexander Rykov is an intriguing player who had limited action this year. I also liked the bet on a bigger player in Charles-Alexis Legault who was a defensive stalwart for Quinnipiac in their national championship run. One of my favorite picks for them was Michael Emerson, who was selected 190th, but I listed at No. 91 on my Top 100. He can score and I think his development really took off last year. In the end, I think the Hurricanes got an above-average class by focusing more on skill, but also getting some high-compete guys like Unger Sorum and Legault to maximize the versatility of the class. I am a little surprised they didn’t draft more defensemen, however.

Chicago Blackhawks

Letter Grade: A+

First rounders: Connor Bedard, C; Oliver Moore, C

Day 2 picks: Adam Gajan, G; Roman Kantserov, RW; Martin Misiak, RW; Nick Lardis, LW; Jiri Felcman, C; Alex Pharand, C; Marcel Marcel, LW; Milton Osxarson, C; Janne Peltonen, D.

Analysis: I don’t know if the Blackhawks could have drawn this up much better. They got the best player in the draft at No. 1 in Connor Bedard and they got the best skater in the draft in Oliver Moore. Both are centers who will provide a lot of value. Meanwhile, they got one of the top goalies of the draft in Adam Gajan, bet big on big-time skill in a small package with Roma Kantserov. They also got some good value in Martin Misiak who was a beast in the USHL playoffs and Nick Lardis who is a high-end skater and shooter. In all, the Blackhawks took six players off of FloHockey’s Top 100 and made some upside bets on guys like Felcman, Marcel and Peltonen who could have some nice development arcs ahead of them. This was a home run draft for Chicago and now their rebuild has a little rocket fuel.

Colorado Avalanche

Letter Grade: B

First rounders: Calum Ritchie, C; Mikhail Gulyayev, D

Day 2 picks: Nikita Ishimnikov, D; Jeremy Hanzel, D; Maros Jedlicka, C.

Analysis: The Avs made the most of their two first-round picks in getting the underrated Calum Ritchie who played through injury this year, but has size and scoring ability. Then they got one of the most electric defensemen in the draft in Mikhail Gulyayev. Those two essentially carry the grade here. They both come with risk, but they have skill. Having only three picks on Day 2 wasn’t going to move the needle much more after a strong first night in Nashville.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Letter Grade: A

First rounders: Adam Fantilli, C

Day 2 picks: Gavin Brindley, C; William Whitelaw, RW; Andrew Strathmann, D; Luca Pinelli, C; Melvin Strahl, G; Oiva Keskinen, C; Tyler Peddle, LW.

Analysis: The Blue Jackets got what they’ve always wanted and needed in a true No. 1 center in Adam Fantilli. I think he could be a franchise-altering player for them. That’s going to carry the grade, but I liked what they did the whole way. Gavin Brindley is Fantilli’s linemate and a high-motor player who is undersized, but will make it on his work ethic. William Whitelaw and Andrew Strathmann were key players on a USHL championship team and Luca Pinelli is a fun player who makes a lot of plays and also has a high motor. In the end, the Jackets landed five players off of FloHockey’s Top 100. They also traded into the last pick to get Tyler Peddle who had a tougher second half, but had plenty of interest earlier in the season to be a fairly high pick. 

Dallas Stars

Letter Grade: C+

First rounders: None.

Day 2 picks: Tristan Bertucci, D; Brad Gardiner, C; Aram Minnetian, D; Arno Tiefensee, G; Angus Macdonell, C; Sebastian Bradshaw, LW.

Analysis: The Stars lacked draft capital to deepen a system that already has a lot of good young players in it. Tristan Bertucci has some real offensive value, as does Aram Minnetian and Brad Gardiner looks like the kind of guy who belongs with the Stars in terms of style of play. I like Angus Macdonell’s jam in his game, too. There aren’t any guys you project into major impact players, but both Bertucci and Minnetian were FloHockey Top 100 players.

Detroit Red Wings

Letter Grade: B+

First rounders: Nate Danielson, C; Axel Sandin Pellikka, D

Day 2 picks: Trey Augustine, G; Andrew Gibson, D; Brady Cleveland, D; Noah Dower Nilsson, LW; Larry Keenan, D; Jack Phelan, D; Kevin Bicker, LW, Rudy Guimond, G; Emmitt Finnie, C.

Analysis: The Red Wings seemed to go safe here, especially early. They’ve got a lot of players that may not get you super excited, but I think a lot of them will play in the league. Nate Danielson is a safe pick who doesn’t have many or any elite traits but does a lot of little things well. Sandin Pellikka is more exciting in the range they got him because he’s got such tremendous puck-moving ability. Trey Augustine is great to add depth behind Sebastian Cossa. Andrew Gibson and Brady Cleveland can really defend and Noah Dower Nilsson seems to only be scratching the surface of his full potential. Detroit is deeper, they have more options in their system, but I don’t think they really went for game-breakers here and I wonder if they’ll look back on that with some regret. Still, it’s an above-average class.

Our 2023 #NHLDraft Class! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/sUT1mye3NN

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 29, 2023

Edmonton Oilers

Letter Grade: C-

First rounders: None.

Day 2 picks: Beau Akey, D; Nathaniel Day, G; Matt Copponi, C.

Analysis: With only three picks in the draft, the Oilers couldn’t significantly improve their status in the prospect pool. They did make some moves and that allowed them to address needs at the NHL level, but this probably wasn’t the most fun year for their scouts. That said, Beau Akey was a FloHockey Top 100 player and one of the better skaters among defensemen in the draft. He has some learning to do, but I like him. The pick of Matt Copponi was a pretty strong one, too, as I thought teams could chase him as a free agent if he didn’t go. Copponi was a key player in one of Merrimack’s all-time best seasons last year. Still, lack of volume and having later picks didn’t allow the Oilers to have as strong a day.

Florida Panthers

Letter Grade: C

First rounders: None.

Day 2 picks: Gracyn Sawchyn, C; Albert Wikman, D; Olof Glifford, G; Luke Coughlin, D; Stepan Zvyagin.

Analysis: The Panthers didn’t have a ton of picks to work with, but I really like their first pick in Gracyn Sawchyn. His hands are among the best in the draft and that’s going to give him a chance because creative players can make an awful lot of plays. There’s a lot of room for growth in his game. Picks in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh help bring some depth, but that’s about it here. Big goalie Olof Glifford is a player I’m interested to see develop because he has a lot of tools and the size NHL teams covet.

Los Angeles Kings

Letter Grade: C+

First rounders: None.

Day 2 picks: Jakub Dvorak, D; Koehn Ziemmer, RW; Hampton Slukynsky, G; Matthew Mania, D; Ryan Conmy, RW.

Analysis: The Kings got one of the biggest defensemen in the draft in Dvorak and also picked up three FloHockey Top 100 picks overall – Dvorak, Ziemmer and Matthew Mania. Ziemmer and Mania have some legit offensive upside and could be intriguing down the line. Meanwhile, Hampton Slukynsky was a top goalie in the Minnesota high school ranks and Ryan Conmy is a heart-and-soul player out of the USHL. It’s not an exciting class, but based on where the Kings were with their picks, they got some value.

Minnesota Wild

Letter Grade: B

First rounders: Charlie Stramel, C

Day 2 picks: Rasmus Kumpulainen, C; Riley Heidt, C; Aaron Pionk, D; Kalem Parker, D; James Clark, LW.

Analysis: The Wild got to pick up a home-state kid with Charlie Stramel who has a mountain of upside and plays an NHL-style game. He has more to put together, but there are some special qualities in his athletic toolkit. Meanwhile, the Wild got two strong pickups in the second round as both Kumpulainen and Heidt have some higher-end traits. Heidt is one of the better passers in the draft and I had a first-round grade on him. I really like Aaron Pionk, too, who had a tremendous season in Waterloo as a true two-way defenseman with some size. Jimmy Clark was also a standout in the USHL with Green Bay this year. Overall, they bet on upside, which comes with some risk, but I think most of these picks were good bets.

Put a bow on the 2023 #NHLDraft 👏#mnwild pic.twitter.com/TSNFFHYdqP

— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) June 29, 2023

Montreal Canadiens

Letter Grade: B-

First rounders: David Reinbacher, D

Day 2 picks: Jacob Fowler, G; Florian Zhekaj, LW; Bogdan Konyushkov, D; Quentin Miller, G; Sam Harris, LW; Yevgeni Volokhin, G; Filip Eriksson, C; Luke Mittelstadt, D. 

Analysis: I’m intrigued by what the Montreal Canadiens did, but I’m also going to be eager to see how this all goes. I think they left value on the board by taking Reinbacher over some of the forwards, but I get their desire to get a right-shot defenseman. Jacob Fowler is a goalie with all the tools, but has some work to do to get stronger. Beyond that, the Habs got some good volume and depth added to their class. Their last pick, Luke Mittelstadt, really came on last season and made an impact for Minnesota and probably would have been a guy NHL teams were chasing as a free agent if he didn’t get picked. With a first, third, four fourths, two fifths, a sixth and a seventh, the Habs weren’t going to get a ton of high-end prospects, but they did address some needs and volume helps improve the odds of landing more players from the class. 

Nashville Predators

Letter Grade: B+

First rounders: Matthew Wood, LW; Tanner Molendyk, D

Day 2 picks: Felix Nilsson, C; Kalan Lind, LW; Jesse Kiiskinen, RW; Dylan Mackinnon, D; Joe Willis, C; Juha Jatkola, G; Sutter Muzatti, C; Austin Roest, C; Aidan Fink, RW.

Analysis: The Predators had a very good hometown draft. They got a big scoring winger in Wood, they got a mobile, aggressive defender with elite skating in Molendyk. Meanwhile, Felix Nilsson has good two-way capabilities and played at a high level this year before being derailed by injury. Meanwhile, Kalan Lind is one of the draft’s most physical players. Juha Jatkola got 40 appearances in Finland’s top pro league and showed well. One of my favorite picks for them was David Poile’s last as an NHL GM. Aidan Fink was one of the most productive players in this draft class after dominating the AJHL. He could prove to be a fun trivia question, but also a good player later on down the line after he gets a few years in at Penn State.

New Jersey Devils

Letter Grade: C-

First rounders: None.

Day 2 picks: Lenni Hameenaho, RW; Cam Squires, RW; Chase Cheslock, D; Cole Brown, LW; Daniil Karpovich, D.

Analysis: You may sense a theme for some of these teams, but the ones with few early picks have a harder time making a significant impact. I am intrigued by Lenni Hameenaho, who I ranked 56th in the top 100. He played all year in Finland’s top rpo league and was among the best U19 players in the league. Beyond that, the Devils had picks in the fourth, fifth and sixth round to close out their draft and it’s hard to build a lot from there without getting very lucky.

New York Islanders

Letter Grade: C

First rounders: None

Day 2 picks: Danny Nelson, C; Jesse Nurmi, LW; Justin Gill, C; Zachary Schulz, D; Dennis Good Bogg, D.

Analysis: The Islanders didn’t have much in terms of quality and quantity of picks, but I think the Danny Nelson pickup at No. 49 was good value. I had him just outside the first round and there’s a lot of upside as he has size, skating ability and he flashes skill. He’s headed on the same path Anders Lee did on his way to becoming Islanders captain. Meanwhile, the Isles got some skill in Jesse Nurmi and stout, but low-upside defenders in Zachary Schulz and Dennis Good Bogg.

New York Rangers

Letter Grade: B-

First rounders: Gabe Perreault, LW

Day 2 picks: Drew Fortescue, D; Rasmus Larsson, D; Dylan Roobroeck, C; Ty Henricks, LW.

Analysis: The Rangers got great value in one of the most intelligent skill players in the draft in Gabe Perreault. But they didn’t have a ton of picks after that and I don’t know that any of the guys they picked up are going to be major difference makers, but each has something they can bring to the table. This grade is largely carried by Perreault, who I ranked 11th in the FloHockey Top 100 and the Rangers got him at 23rd. I’m intrigued by both defensemen they picked up as Drew Fortescue has a lot of athletic traits I like, while Rasmus Larsson has the size. 

Ottawa Senators

Letter Grade: D

First rounders: None.

Day 2 picks: Hoyt Stanley, D; Matthew Andonovski, D; Owen Beckner, C; Vladimir Nikitin, G; Nicholas Vantassell, RW.

Analysis: Not a whole lot the Sens could do here that would have moved this grade way up. They had low picks with their first coming in at 108, so they made bets on size. I don’t know if they made their system a whole lot better beyond bringing in some bodies, but I think it made sense for them to go for a type of player and now they can let them develop. The Sens have done plenty of good at the draft in recent years, but this one was always going to be hard to make an impact with.

Philadelphia Flyers

Letter Grade: A

First rounders: Matvei Michkov, RW, Oliver Bonk, D

Day 2 picks: Carson Bjarnason, G; Egor Zavragin, G; Denver Barkey, C; Cole Knuble, C; Alex Ciernik, LW; Carter Sotheran, D; Ryan Macpherson, C; Matteo Mann, D.

Analysis: Landing a player of Matvei Michkov’s talent could be a difference-making moment for this franchise. He is an exceptional offensive talent and even though the risk exists, the reward is gigantic. Meanwhile, the Flyers nabbed a quality two-way defender in Oliver Bonk who projects favorably into the NHL and one of the top goaltenders in the draft with Carson Bjarnason who has plenty of development time left. I also liked bets on guys like Denver Barkey and Cole Knuble who aren’t big guys, but compete and have skill. Carter Sotheran and Matteo Mann are big defenseman with a lot of development time ahead of them, while Alex Ciernik was a FloHockey Top 100 prospect. The Flyers put a lot of work in and got some significant pieces in a good variety of positions to keep filling out what will be a rebuilding situation in Philly.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Letter Grade: C+

First rounders: Brayden Yager, C

Day 2 picks: Emil Pieniniemi, D; Mikhail Ilyin, RW; Cooper Foster, C; Emil Jarventie, LW; Kalle Kangas, D.

Analysis: The Penguins simply have a lot of needs in their system. They did well to start addressing the dearth of top-end forward prospects by selecting Brayden Yager who brings a ton of skill to the table. Beyond that, the Pens didn’t have a ton of picks to do much damage, but I think Emil Pieniniemi and Emil Jarventie are two guys who showed well in live viewings, while Kalle Kangas was a player worth a late-round swing as a towering defenseman with good-enough mobility. The Penguins have a lot to work on in their system, but Yager could be a significant needle mover for them and carries the grade to slightly above average.

San Jose Sharks

Letter Grade: A

First rounders: Will Smith, C; Quentin Musty, LW

Day 2 picks: Kasper Halttunen, RW; Brandon Svoboda, C; Luca Cagnoni, D; Axel Landen, D; Eric Pohlkamp, D; David Klee, C; Yegor Rimashevskiy, RW.

Analysis: The Sharks did most of their damage in the first round with Will Smith and Quentin Musty. Those were two very strong picks with Smith being their potential No. 1 center down the line. But the Sharks got bigger, too. Both Kasper Halttunen and Brandon Svoboda are big bodies who play heavy games. Halttunen has more offense, while Svoboda is a more stout defender. I also think Eric Pohlkamp could be an interesting selection.

Seattle Kraken

Letter Grade: B+

First rounders: Eduard Sale, LW

Day 2 picks: Carson Rehkopf, LW; Oscar Fisker Molgaard, C; Lukas Dragicevic, D; Caden Price, D; Andrei Loshko, C; Kaden Hammell, D; Visa Vedenpaa, G; Zeb Forsfjall, C; Zaccharaya Wisdom, RW.

Analysis: The Kraken got a very nice skill upgrade in this draft starting with Eduard Sale, whose stock fell but has clear NHL abilities. Meanwhile, Carson Rehkopf can really do a lot with the puck, Oscar Fisker Molgaard is a solid two-way player with energy and then Lukas Dragicevic was the most productive defenseman among NHL Draft eligibles in the CHL. I also liked one of their later picks Zeb Forsfjall who is an energetic player. For a system that doesn’t have a lot just because they haven’t been around for a while, I think Seattle did exceptionally well given their position in the draft. The only reason this is closer to the B range is because there’s a lot of risk with these guys as each has a flaw or two that gives you pause about their projection, but the upside is notable.

St. Louis Blues

Letter Grade: A-

First rounders: Dalibor Dvorsky, C; Otto Stenberg, C/W; Theo Lindstein, D

Day 2 picks: Quinton Burns, D; Juraj Pekarcik, LW; Jakub Stancl, C; Paul Fischer, D; Matthew Mayich, D; Nikita Susuyev, RW.

Analysis: I think the Blues made a significant dent in their prospect system. Dvorsky has top-six center potential, Stenberg could be a top-six winger if he hits and Lindstein is a mature defender who is easy to like in his own zone. But beyond the first round, the Blues made some significant adds. Quinton Burns is one of the most physical defensemen in the draft. Pekarcik was a late-riser this year who has size and upside, while Paul Fischer is a stout defender who won U18 gold with Team USA. The Blues added depth, they added high end and they added variety.

Our 2023 #NHLDraft class 🤩

RECAP: https://t.co/2Twd7V5bkh pic.twitter.com/eLEZBUh9Ne

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) June 29, 2023

Tampa Bay Lightning

Letter Grade: C+

First rounders: None.

Day 2 picks: Ethan Gauthier, RW; Jayson Shaugabay, RW; Warren Clark, D; Jack Harvey, C; Ethan Hay, C.

Analysis: The Lightning didn’t have many picks, but I liked the offensive swings they took with the picks they had. Ethan Gauthier was my No. 31 player and Shaugabay was No. 98 on the FloHockey Top 100. All of these players have average size, but there’s some skill there. The Lightning are going to experience some longer-term pain as far as their prospect system is considered, but considering the few picks they had, I thought they did well enough.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Letter Grade: D-

First rounders: Easton Cowan, RW

Day 2 picks: Hudson Malinoski, C; Noah Chadwick, D.

Analysis: The Leafs barely had any picks and seemingly went off the board in the first round for Easton Cowan. I like the player and I loved his performance in the OHL playoffs. There’s a lot of opportunity there for him to grow, but I had a hard time placing him in a clear NHL role, especially for a first rounder. Meanwhile, the Leafs didn’t have high enough picks to meaningfully alter their system in this particular draft. 

🔹 Our 2023 Draft Class 🔹 pic.twitter.com/y3gXBU3Nrg

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) June 29, 2023

Vancouver Canucks

Letter Grade: B-

First rounders: Tom Willander, D

Day 2 picks: Hunter Brzustewicz, D; Sawyer Mynio, D; Ty Mueller, C; Vilmer Alriksson, LW; Matthew Perkins, C; Aiden Celebrini, D.

Analysis: The Canucks clearly wanted to address their defense and added one of the draft’s best pure defenders in Tom Willander. Meanwhile, they added another tremendous skater among defensemen with Hunter Brustewicz and a longer term project latter in Aiden Celbrini. Ty Mueller was a bit of a surprise pick, but he had a strong college season at UNO. The Canucks didn’t have a ton of high value picks, but I think they addressed organizational needs adequately without significantly adding to the overall upside of their somewhat shallow prospect system.

Vegas Golden Knights

Letter Grade: B

First rounders: David Edstrom, C

Day 2 picks: Mathieu Cataford, C; Arttu Karki, D; Tuomas Uronen, RW.

Analysis: All of Vegas’s first four picks were FloHockey Top 100 ranked players. But I really like the value they picked up in the first round with David Edstrom who should be a good stylistic fit for their franchise. He has the size they covet, but he can skate and has skill. Meanwhile, they got a bunch of other players with good compete that can play aggressive hockey. Cataford at 77th overall in particular looked like a tremendous value addition for the team as he had a very strong season with Halifax. Meanwhile, Karki gives them another big defenseman with a bit of puck-moving value. 

Washington Capitals

Letter Grade: B+

First rounders: Ryan Leonard, RW

Day 2 picks: Andrew Cristall, LW; Patrick Thomas, C; Cameron Allen, D; Brett Hyland, C; Antoine Keller, G.

Analysis: The Caps made a significant add to their prospect pool by having the good fortune of Ryan Leonard slipping to them. He fits their identity and he can score. Meanwhile, I had a first-round grade on Andrew Cristall who brings the offense and I’m a believer in Cameron Allen’s ability to bounce back from a sub-par draft season. The Caps had plenty of needs in a shallow prospect system, but getting two of the premier offensive talents in this draft later than expected is a big win for them.

Winnipeg Jets

Letter Grade: B

First rounders: Colby Barlow, LW

Day 2 picks: Zach Nehring, RW; Jacob Julien, C; Thomas Milic, G; Connor Levis, RW.

Analysis: The Jets didn’t have a ton of picks, which didn’t allow them to make a significant impact on their prospect system, but I think the add of Colby Barlow could be a hand-to-glove situation for them. He’s going to be a long-term asset with scoring potential and if he becomes a top-six scorer for them, they’ll be thrilled with this draft. Zach Nehring is a project pick that I think makes a ton of sense as he’s big and athletic. Meanwhile, nabbing Thomas Milic, the undersized goaltender from Seattle who won the WHL and World Junior titles this season as a starting goalie was a good gamble as late as they got him. Also, Connor Levis had a really strong WHL season and looked good late in the year, so that could be a nice late value add as well.