2017 NHL Draft: Janik Beichler’s full first-round mock

1. player. 85. The Devils answer the question “Nico or Nolan” with their first-overall selection. His injury history may be worrying, but Patrick has proven he deserves to be No. 1. A potential top-line center with unparalleled hockey IQ. Full profile: <a href=. Center. Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL. Nolan Patrick

player. 68. The Flyers pushed for the playoffs until the final game and needed just eight more points to reach that goal. Yet, they get to pick second overall and are happy to add an extremely talented center to their organisation. Hischier could well be the best player of this class a few years from now. Full profile: <a href=. Center. Halifax Mooseheads, QMJHL. Nico Hischier. 2

119. The Stars weren’t really close to the playoffs, but they sure didn’t plan with a top-three pick either. Now they get to pick from a long list of talented players and opt for the top American prospect in Casey Mittelstadt. Mittelstadt’s talent level really isn’t much lower than Hischier’s or Patrick’s. Full profile: <a href=. Center. Green Bay Gamblers, USHL. Casey Mittelstadt. 3. player

4. player. 103. The 2013-14 Central Division champions had one of the worst NHL seasons of all time. One final loss put them at fourth overall in the draft, but they can be happy with the player they are getting. Miro Heiskanen has No. 1 potential and might be the most NHL-ready player in this class. Full profile: <a href=. Defense. HIFK, Liiga. Miro Heiskanen

The Canucks would have liked a top-three pick this year, but there is no need to be sad about the lottery. Gabriel Vilardi is an excellent center prospect who can be a dynamic offensive player. Bo Horvat and Vilardi will be a solid foundation for the post-Sedin era. Full profile: <a href=. Center. Windsor Spitfires, OHL. Gabriel Vilardi. 5. player. 104

The Coyotes seem set at center with 2015 pick Dylan Strome and 2016 selection Clayton Keller. Now it’s time for a defenseman with Norris Trophy potential. Cale Makar is one of the most dynamic offensive players in this draft. Full profile: <a href=. Defense. Brooks Bandits, AJHL. Cale Makar. 7. player. 121

After selecting Alexander Nylander last year, the Sabres pick up another dangerous scorer. Owen Tippett might be the best pure shooter in this draft, and the Sabres are happy to get him at eight. Full profile: <a href=. Right Wing. Mississauga Steelheads, OHL. Owen Tippett. 8. player. 12

10. player. 87. We are now entering the “Liljegren could be the next Chychrun” range and Liljegren is definitely an option for Florida. But the Panthers also realise they can’t pass up on Eeli Tolvanen. An outstanding shooter who creates danger in the offensive zone every time he steps on the ice. Coming from the USHL, he could join Florida’s AHL affiliate next season. Full profile: <a href=. Right Wing. Sioux City Musketeers, USHL. Eeli Tolvanen

HV71, SHL. Lias Andersson. 11. player. 67. The Kings wanted to make the playoffs and they will do everything in their power to get back there immediately. With Lias Andersson they add a pro-ready forward who played an important role in HV71’s SHL championship this year.. Center

Love him or hate him, but Michael Rasmussen has undeniably promising tools that make him a potential first-line center, which is especially intriguing with his 6-foot-5 frame. The Hurricanes are desperate for a game-changing center, and Rasmussen could be a steal if he falls into their lap. Full profile: <a href=. Center. Tri-City Americans, WHL. Michael Rasmussen. 12. player. 109

player. 30. Will Liljegren be a major steal or was everyone else right in passing up on him? Fact is, the Swede’s stock has fallen considerably since being viewed as the only player who could challenge Patrick for No. 1 at the start of the season. The Jets could be the big winners in this story. Full profile: <a href=. Defense. Rogle, SHL. Timothy Liljegren. 13

player. 23. Erik Brannstrom is one of the youngest players of the 2017 class, yet he spent half the season with HV71 in the top-tier SHL. Some may consider this pick a reach, but it could pay off for the Lightning soon enough.. Defense. HV71, SHL. Erik Brannstrom. 14

Center. HC Kometa Brno, Czech Extraliga. Martin Necas. 15. player. 106. Martin Necas could easily be a top-10 pick thanks to his excellent skating and puck skills. The only reason he didn’t make it is that there’s a lot to like about the players picked before him as well. The Islanders will be extremely happy snagging Necas at 15.

Kristian Vesalainen. 16. player. 112. Vesalainen was outstanding at the U18 worlds, recording six goals and 13 points in seven games. Yet, against top competition, he still struggled when he didn’t have the time and space he seems to need to be successful. Are the Flames landing a steal here or are they getting a bottom-six winger?. Left Wing. Frolunda HC, SHL

Center. Owen Sound Attack, OHL. Nick Suzuki. 18. player. 70. A 45-goal scorer that drops to 18th overall? The Bruins will be very happy here. Suzuki is an extremely smart offensive player that has been rising up the rankings and could easily crack the top 15 as well.

120. The Sharks need prospects to replace veterans Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Joe Pavelski in the foreseeable future, and they take a gamble in making Kostin a part of that plan. The Russian winger missed almost his entire draft year due to injury, has some question marks about his hockey sense and you never know how willing he is to leave the KHL. But, Kostin has the skill set of a top-five pick.. Right Wing. Dynamo Moskva, KHL. Klim Kostin. 19. player

20. player. 152. A 6-foot-6, 214-pound defenseman who can skate and contribute offensively? The Canadiens will be all over him. Hague needs to work on his foot speed to succeed defensively, but he has top-four potential without a doubt.. Defense. Mississauga Steelheads, OHL. Nicolas Hague

Spokane Chiefs, WHL. Kailer Yamamoto. 22. player. 121. Yamamoto could be the shortest NHL first-round pick of all time, but the Coyotes just don’t care. With GM John Chayka as the decision-maker, what matters is the numbers and talent. And Yamamoto, a 99-point scorer this season, makes a case for himself in both regards. Makar is a bit of a gamble at seventh, and Yamamoto is one at 22nd — but if they work out, it will be huge for the ‘Yotes.. Right Wing

Victoriaville Tigres, QMJHL. Maxime Comtois. 23. player. 94. Comtois looked like a promising scorer last season but fell nine points short of his 2015-16 point total this year. At this point, he looks like a bottom-nine guy who might just be a third-line grinder who can contribute on the PK. The Blackhawks get someone who’s almost a lock to make the NHL in one role or another.. Left Wing

Thomas has the talent to be a top-20 pick in this draft, so the Preds are happy to get him at 24. A center who can fill just about any role, including both special teams. He has top-six potential but might have better chances of being a third-round player who can contribute in multiple ways.. Center. London Knights, OHL. Robert Thomas. 24. player. 151

Defense. Kelowna Rockets, WHL. Callan Foote. 25. player. 91. Scouts’ opinions differ greatly on this prospect. The son of NHL legend Adam Foote may be profiting from his name, putting him in the mid-first conversation. Looked at objectively, though, he is just a big D-man that has been racking up points thanks to a strong forward group in Kelowna that probably did a lot of the offensive work for him.

99. Vaakanainen and Heiskanen seemed to be at roughly the same level to start the year. Today, Heiskanen is a potential top-three pick and Vaakanainen could fall out of the first round. He is a great skater who can defend against speedy, skilled players, but has some issues in the defensive zone and has little to no offensive upside. Full profile: <a href=. Defense. JYP, Liiga. Urho Vaakanainen. 26. player

Edmonton selected four defensemen in the late rounds of the 2016 draft, so it might be time to get another first-round D-man into the organisation. But when the opportunity isn’t there, the Oilers go with who they believe to be the best player available at 27 — and that’s Bowers, a two-way center with a very high floor.. Center. Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL. Shane Bowers. 27. player. 148

Left Wing. Guelph Storm, OHL. Issac Ratcliffe. 28. player. 95. The Rangers get a big power winger at 28th overall. Ratcliffe needs to work on his foot speed but has excellent puck skills and a wicked release. Scouts’ opinions vary on this one, as he is ranked anywhere between 13th and 30th.

A promising two-way defenseman who can play in all situations but needs some time to develop. Jokiharju had some question marks at the start of the year that he is erasing one by one. A few more years and teams might wish they had picked him much earlier than 29th.. Defense. Portland Winterhawks, WHL. Henri Jokiharju. 29. player. 105

Max Gildon. 30. player. 92. The Penguins get a promising American defenseman who had a slow start into the year but was able to prove he can be a first-round pick. Gildon was arguably Team USA’s best player at the U18 worlds where they won the gold medal. He is not ranked in the first round by any of the major scouting services (yet), but don’t be surprised if he gets scooped up at 30.. Defense. US U-18, NTDP

99. With the final pick of the first round, the St. Louis Blues select another European prospect in Jesper Boqvist. The Swede can play all three forward positions and has produced in Sweden’s top-two men’s tiers in his draft year. A speedy skater who can shoot the puck but also has good playmaking ability.. Center. Brynas IF, SHL. Jesper Boqvist. 31. player