5 years have come and gone for the reason that 2018 NHL Draft, and fairly a bit has been realized relating to the highest of this specific class. Only some gamers chosen have developed into stars, however that is to not say there wasn’t worthwhile expertise worthy of top-10 alternatives.
The 2018 draft has produced 5 All-Stars with probably extra within the years to come back. Andrei Svechnikov, Brady Tkachuk and Rasmus Dahlin are three of the largest prospects. Dahlin was initially chosen with the No. 1 choose by the Buffalo Sabres, whereas Svechnikov was picked second by the Carolina Hurricanes.
There have been a number of picks within the high 10, together with Filip Zadina and Vitali Kravtsov, which have but to develop into big-time producers on the NHL degree.
With 5 years of information to sift by means of, we’ve got redrafted the highest 10 picks of the 2018 NHL Draft with groups in the very same order. Right here is the way it got here out:
1. Buffalo Sabres | Andrei Svechnikov | RW
Bengel: There are just a few gamers that warrant consideration for the highest choose on this redraft. Whereas Rasmus Dahlin has been super the previous two seasons, Andrei Svechnikov makes a ton of sense for the Sabres on this spot. Svechnikov has been a 20-goal scorer in 4 of his 5 NHL seasons, together with registering a career-high 69 factors (30 objectives and 39 assists) in 2021-22. Buffalo might undoubtedly use extra scoring depth.
Nivison: There may be most likely a good case to be made that Rasmus Dahlin ought to stay the No. 1 total choose on this draft, even if he was a late bloomer. Nonetheless, Andrei Svechnikov has been a constant offensive menace all through his profession. Buffalo does have former No. 1 total choose Owen Energy on the blue line now, and Svechnikov would slot in very properly alongside the likes of Tage Thompson or Dylan Cozens. That will give the Sabres a reasonably formidable top-six.
2. Carolina Hurricanes | Brady Tkachuk | LW
Bengel: With Svechnikov off the board, the Hurricanes elect to fill their void on the wing with Brady Tkachuk. Tkachuk has developed into one of many league’s extra gifted younger purpose scorers. Over the previous two seasons, the 23-year-old has racked up a minimum of 30 objectives in every of the previous two seasons with a career-best 35 objectives through the 2022-23 marketing campaign. There’s few gamers as gifted within the open ice as Tkachuk.
Nivison: The Hurricanes have appeared like a Stanley Cup contender for a number of years now, however maybe the largest flaw of their sport is the dearth of a dependable finisher on offense. Tkachuk has posted back-to-back 30-goal seasons and appears poised to do much more harm in 2023-24. Tkachuk is knocking on the door of superstardom, and he could be a fair higher match for the Canes than Svechnikov. Moreover, it is not arduous to think about Tkachuk thriving in Rod Brind’Amour’s system constructed on relentless offensive stress.
3. Montreal Canadiens | Quinn Hughes | D
Bengel: One factor the 2018 Draft did boast was some terrific defensemen. With the highest forwards in Svechnikov and Tkachuk off the board, the Canadiens must shift their concentrate on their blue line, particularly contemplating they lack a high pairing defenseman on their present roster. Quinn Hughes is a terrific playmaker who’s among the many high younger defensemen within the sport. Hughes has tallied back-to-back 60-point seasons and would look nice on the Montreal blue line.
Nivison: Quinn Hughes is among the extra underrated defensemen within the NHL, maybe as a result of he performs on a crew that has been aggressively mediocre for the whole thing of his profession. Over the past three seasons, Hughes has totaled 185 factors in 210 video games, which is fourth within the league over that span. Final season, Hughes had a plus-20 purpose differential at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick. The Canadiens’ rebuild could be in a significantly better spot if that they had taken Hughes at No. 4 total.
4. Ottawa Senators | Rasmus Dahlin | D
Bengel: It is actually a matter of desire between Hughes and Rasmus Dahlin. For a crew that has missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs every of the final six seasons, the Senators need to seize the most effective participant on the board, and that is Rasmus Dahlin. Grabbing one other blue-liner would give the Senators a high 4 of Thomas Chabot, Jakub Chychrun, Jake Sanderson and Dahlin. Dahlin has actually taken an enormous step over the previous two seasons with 126 factors throughout that stretch.
Nivison: What a worth the Senators get right here by touchdown Rasmus Dahlin at No. 4 total. It took just a few seasons for Dahlin to get his footing on the NHL degree, probably as a result of the Sabres have been a multitude for a lot of the final decade. Having mentioned that, Dahlin has come on robust within the final two years. In 2022-23, Dahlin completed eighth in Norris Trophy voting with 73 factors in 78 video games whereas posting glowing five-on-five impacts. It is a nice comfort prize for Ottawa with Tkachuk going two spots increased on this redraft.
5. Arizona Coyotes | Jesperi Kotkaniemi | C
Bengel: The fifth choose is the place this redraft begins to get dicey. The star energy has been taken, and now it comes all the way down to positions of want for groups. Clearly, Jesperi Kotkaniemi hasn’t lived as much as the billing of a 3rd total choose simply but, however the expertise is certainly there. It additionally would not damage that Kotkaniemi continues to be simply 23 years outdated regardless of getting into his sixth skilled season. Kotkaniemi has actually thrived throughout his final two seasons in Carolina, together with a career-high 43 factors in 2022-23. The Coyotes actually might use some scoring behind Clayton Keller.
Nivison: Jesperi Kotkaniemi isn’t probably the most flashy participant on this draft class, however he has developed into a robust two-way middle-six ahead. Going again to 2020-21, his last season with the Canadiens, Kotkaniemi has produced some strong five-on-five impacts. Final yr, the Hurricanes managed 58.5% of the anticipated objectives when Kotkaniemi was on the ice in these conditions, according to Natural Stat Trick. The Coyotes might use that form of stability of their lineup.
6. Detroit Purple Wings | Evan Bouchard | D
Bengel: Moritz Seider was an amazing blue-liner the Purple Wings secured on the high of the draft just a few seasons in the past. Nonetheless, Detroit might undoubtedly use one other top-four defenseman within the fold. Bouchard is an amazing asset to a crew’s power-play unit and possesses a spectacular shot from the purpose. Bouchard has tallied back-to-back 40-point seasons since touchdown in Edmonton, and he would provide an offensive presence from the blue line for the Purple Wings.
Nivison: Moritz Seider, the 2022 Calder Trophy winner, has already confirmed to be a precious piece of the Purple Wings’ blue line. That mentioned, an NHL team can by no means have too many expert puck-moving defensemen. That’s what Evan Bouchard would deliver. Courting again to the beginning of the 2021-22 season, Bouchard has tallied 83 factors in 163 video games whereas working his method up the depth chart in Edmonton. He and Seider could be a stout one-two punch on the again finish.
7. Vancouver Canucks | Ok’Andre Miller | D
Bengel: With Quinn Hughes going to the Canadiens on this redraft, the Canucks would have an enormous void to fill on the blue line. Whereas it is not fairly as thrilling as Hughes or Rasmus Dahlin, Ok’Andre Miller could be a strong addition for Vancouver. Miller has improved in every of his three seasons with the Rangers and is coming off of a 43-point marketing campaign in 2022-23. The 23-year-old is super defensively and isn’t out of the play. Including a blue-liner like Miller is a should for the Canucks.
Nivison: Ok’Andre Miller has steadily progressed in every of his first three NHL seasons, and he’s now an excellent top-four NHL defenseman. Miller and defensive associate Jacob Trouba didn’t have a wonderful season with the New York Rangers in 2022-23, however Miller continues to be solely 23, and he has proven the flexibility to play at a excessive degree for lengthy stretches. The Canucks won’t be thrilled to lose Quinn Hughes in favor of taking Miller, however their defensive group would not be in a a lot worse place with this choose.
8. Chicago Blackhawks | Rasmus Sandin | D
Bengel: When the 2018 draft initially occurred, the Blackhawks took defenseman Adam Boqvist in an effort to beef up their blue line. Boqvist’s tenure in Chicago was short-lived as he was traded to the Blue Jackets as part of the Seth Jones deal in 2021. On this spot, it is sensible for the Blackhawks to seize one other defenseman within the type of Rasmus Sandin. The 23-year-old completed the 2022-23 marketing campaign robust with 15 factors (three objectives and 12 assists) within the last 19 video games with the Capitals, so the Blackhawks go for the potential right here.
Nivison: Let’s simply say that the Maple Leafs’ determination to jettison Rasmus Sandin to the Washington Capitals this previous season was an attention-grabbing one. In his final two seasons with Toronto, Sandin performed in 103 video games and posted a 57.9% anticipated objectives share and a 58.6% precise objectives share at five-on-five, per Natural Stat Trick. Sandin did battle adjusting to his new crew down the stretch final yr, however he was nonetheless producing on the stat sheet. The Blackhawks could be thrilled to have a defenseman the caliber of Sandin on their roster today
9. New York Rangers | Joel Farabee | LW
Bengel: The Rangers grabbed Russian ahead Vitaly Kravtsov within the 2018 NHL Draft. Whereas Kratsov would not make sense this time round, the Rangers will proceed with the custom of grabbing a ahead within the redraft. Joel Farabee has been one of many constructing blocks for the Flyers over the previous couple of seasons. Farabee has made his dwelling across the web since getting into the league, and he is contemporary off of a career-best 39 factors (15 objectives and 24 assists) in 2022-23.
Nivison: Dependable goal-scoring was arduous to come back by on this draft class, and Joel Farabee brings that to the desk. For the reason that 2020-21 season, Farabee has notched 52 objectives in 200 video games. Farabee could not essentially be a star, however he has developed into a pleasant middle-six ahead on the NHL degree at simply 23 years outdated. Maybe he would have the ability to take his sport to a different degree with extra talent round him in The Massive Apple.
10. Edmonton Oilers | Noah Dobson | D
Bengel: Rounding out the highest 10 are the Oilers, who might go in just a few completely different instructions with this choice. 2018 choose Evan Bouchard is off the board, however one other defenseman makes a ton of sense for them right here. Noah Dobson has actually made large strides over the previous two seasons with 49- and 51-point campaigns. Dobson possesses one of many higher photographs round as he actually excels capturing the puck from the purpose. The 23-year-old actually might thrive on Edmonton’s power-play unit very like Bouchard has.
Nivison: Noah Dobson has quietly develop into a steady two-way defenseman on the NHL degree. Ryan Pulock and Adam Pelech get many of the shine on the New York Islanders’ blue line, however Dobson can be a particularly precious piece of that roster. Within the final two seasons, Dobson has totaled 100 factors in 158 video games performed. He has additionally posted a plus-121 five-on-five purpose differential, per Pure Stat Trick. With the Oilers dropping Evan Bouchard on this redraft, Dobson could be a perfect match.
