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

By Janik Beichler

Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Michael McCleod greets NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being selected as the number twelve overall draft pick by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Michael McCleod greets NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being selected as the number twelve overall draft pick by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 24, 2016; Buffalo, NY, USA; Michael McCleod greets NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being selected as the number twelve overall draft pick by the New Jersey Devils in the first round of the 2016 NHL Draft at the First Niagra Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports /

The New Jersey Devils won the draft lottery, meaning they will get the first pick of the 2017 NHL draft. Here’s how it could shake out.

The 2017 NHL draft lottery was a national holiday in Canucks Nation. Simply said, it was the only thing Vancouver Canucks fans could get excited about following a terrible 2016-17 season.

Then came the New Jersey Devils. And the Philadelphia Flyers. And the Dallas Stars.

The Colorado Avalanche and the Vancouver Canucks, the two worst teams of the season, will pick fourth and fifth overall, respectively. This is the product of a lottery system that was designed to give fewer first-overall picks to the Edmonton Oilers.

The Oilers, by the way, have a 2-1 lead in Round 2 of the playoffs against the Anaheim Ducks and are competing for the Stanley Cup. So there’s that.

But enough lottery talk.

With no surefire superstar available, making the right pick will be more important than ever.

Is Nolan Patrick really injury prone or was his long injury series a result of bad luck? Can Nico Hischier take his No. 1 spot? Or will Miro Heiskanen make a surprise appearance in the top two and spoil the party?

Will we see another Jakob Chychrun scenario with Timothy Liljegren dropping down the board? Is there anyone who can sneak into the first round despite being missing from most people’s radars?

Here are some answers.

*Draft order via Draftsite.com

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