Despite criticism last year, general managers decided to hold this year's draft virtually again – cost savings and less stress before free agency are the main arguments for it.
However, details have been refined – especially the first round on Friday, which was incredibly cumbersome last year, is expected to be sped up this year. Rounds two to seven on Saturday historically always proceed faster anyway.
The Favorite
Canadian winger Gavin McKenna entered the season as the No. 1 favorite and was expected to confirm that role.
However, that's not a certainty – the late 2007-born player decided before the season to swap the WHL for US College (new rules made it possible), where he naturally couldn't dominate quite as much.
Additionally, there was an off-ice altercation. On the other hand, he had a strong U20 World Championship and still recorded 51 points in 35 games for Penn State.
Some teams might also rank his Swedish counterpart Ivar Stenberg (also a late 2007-born player and winger) ahead of him, but what the Toronto Maple Leafs plan to do with their first pick will be decisive.
Father and Son United?
Since the draft lottery, where their usual bad luck resulted in the third instead of the first pick, the Vancouver Canucks have set the personnel course for the future: Manny Malhotra, most recently with the farm team in Abbotsford, is the new head coach.
NHL head coaches actually have nothing to do with the draft, but Friday could become interesting: Son Caleb Malhotra is considered the best center in the draft. Does his family connection speak for or against the 18-year-old?
Of course, it's not about doing his father a favor, but conversely, it's not pleasant for anyone if he has to coach his son. Caleb, who is also taking the college route starting next season, is at least another year away from that.
The Canucks are very thin at the center position – besides the recently struggling Elias Pettersson and Marco Rossi – so Malhotra will certainly be a topic of discussion.
The Swede Viggo Björck would be a second smaller player down the middle alongside Rossi, but he has proven in the SHL and at the World Championships that he can already hold his own against men.
Top 10 Dominated by Defenders
Other candidates who qualify for the top 10 are mostly defenders.
Chase Reid with arguably the greatest offensive potential, plus Keaton Verhoeff, Daxon Rudolph, Carson Carels, and Latvian Alberts Smits, who, at the World Championships, reminded many of Moritz Seider, not least against Austria.
Centers and defenders who can log long minutes on the ice and perform in both directions are always the most sought-after players, for whom NHL teams sometimes draft based on need rather than ranking.
The New Sedins?
Of course, a completely overblown comparison, but still interesting: The twin brothers Liam (the scorer) and Markus Ruck (the playmaking center) would ideally like to continue playing side-by-side in Medicine Hat, as they have until now.
Liam is considered a late first-round candidate, Markus more of a second-round candidate. Will a team with multiple picks in this region (Vancouver?) grant them this wish?
The Year of Czech Goalies?
Tobias Trejbal, Filip Ruzicka, Jan Larys, Marek Sklenicka, Tobias Tvrznik, Michal Orsulak, Ondrej Stebetak, and David Vermirosky – eight goaltenders who have several things in common: all Czechs, ideal size, and in their first draft-eligible year.
They all have good chances of being drafted this year – a unique outlier for Czech goaltenders. And is our neighbor following in the footsteps of the Russians, who have turned a former weakness into a strength?
The Draft from the Perspective of Austria, Germany, and Switzerland
For the German-speaking countries, it's unlikely to be an exciting draft: Winger Lars Steiner (SUI), playing in the QMJHL, could be drafted starting in the second round, provided teams aren't deterred by the prospect of the puck artist returning to the 'Fränkli-paradise' (Swiss National League).
For the rest of the Swiss, Germans, and Austrians, things aren't looking particularly good. But as always, it only takes one team to take an interest in tall defenders like Tobias Krämer (GER, Mannheim) and Darian Rolsing (GER, WHL) or a potential scorer like Leon Kolarik (AUT, OHL).
Kolarik was at least able to flash his talent at the A-level World Championship, while Krämer and Rolsing, on the other hand, were part of a German U18 team dominated by prospects like Max Calce, Nikita Bloch, or Jonas Schwarz, who will only be draft-eligible in 2027.
The "Smaller" Nations
From the "smaller" hockey nations, the Norwegian Niklas Aaram-Olsen stands out – the center single-handedly relegated Germany to the second division at the U18 World Championship. Even more exotic, but perhaps even higher in club rankings: Lithuanian winger Simas Ignatavicius, who plays in Switzerland.
Despite two A-level World Championship appearances, only an outside chance: Hungarian center Doman Kristof Szongoth.
Found Luck on the Third Try?
Players drafted on their second or third attempt are rare, but by no means drastic exceptions.
Will Czech Tomas Galvas succeed as well? The defender excelled at the U20 World Championship, also made it into the A-level World Championship squad, and has been playing and producing for Liberec in the Extraliga for two years.
Why has no team taken an interest in the brilliant skater so far? At 1.78 meters and 76 kilograms, Galvas is anything but a physically imposing defender, but his skating and hockey IQ compensate for that, at least in Europe.
If he doesn't find a taker this year either, the 20-year-old could even hope for next year – prospects playing in Europe can go through up to four drafts before becoming free agents.
