DALLAS — The 2018 NHL Draft is finally here, with its arrival marking the beginning of the offseason in earnest.
The hockey world has convened in Dallas waiting with a bated breath on the future of impending free agent John Tavares, but the latest trade rumor involving under-contract stars like Erik Karlsson, Phil Kessel and Artemi Panarin will be the talk Friday night in between each teams' first-round picks.
NHL DRAFT 2018: First-round results | Trade rumors | Top 100 big board
There was still plenty to talk about when it comes to the actual selections with a number of high-profile prospects up and down the draft board, from Rasmus Dahlin, widely considered the NHL's best defense prospect in a generation, to the polarizing Brady Tkachuk, whose draft stock is anything but consensus.
Sporting News is on the floor at American Airlines Center to hand out live grades and analysis for every selection made during the first round. Follow along below.
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NHL Draft picks, grades: Round 1
| 1. Buffalo Sabres — Rasmus Dahlin, D, Frolunda (SHL) No surprises here as the Sabres likely shorten the length of their ongoing rebuild by drafting the best defense prospect since Denis Potvin in 1973. Dahlin has all the traditional traits you want in a defender – size, speed, creativity, poise and off-the-charts IQ. What sets Dahlin apart from every other defense prospect is his competitiveness and hunger to be the best player every time he hits the ice. He’s NHL-ready as we speak and should be penciled in for at least 20 minutes a game when he suits up for the Sabres on Opening Night. Grade: A |
| 2. Carolina Hurricanes — Andrei Svechnikov, RW, Barrie (OHL) One of the most prolific goal scorers in recent CHL history combines power, speed and intimidation into one menacing package. Carolina hasn’t drafted an elite franchise-changing player since they took Eric Staal back in 2003, and it’s no coincidence that he was the top player on their lone Stanley Cup winner. Svechnikov is both physically mature and mentally sharp to immediately deal with the rigors of the NHL, and should be a candidate for the Calder Trophy. Grade: A |
| 3. Montreal Canadiens — Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C, Assat (SM-Liiga) Habs GM Marc Bergevin was smart to keep the pick, but went a little off the board taking a center. Kotkaniemi is a great playmaker whose stock rose with a dominant under-18 world championship, but his speed his average. One things for sure -- Kotkaniemi is both smart and mature enough to make the team out of camp. Still, Bergevin went for need and left better players on the board. Grade: B+ |
| 4. Ottawa Senators — Brady Tkachuk, RW, Boston U. (Hockey East) Shocked Pierre Dorion passed on Filip Zadina's goal scoring in favor of Tkachuk. Both play a complete 200-foot game, but Tkachuk's gritty and size may have tipped the scales in his favor. Zadina is the better overall player and scorer. Grade: B |
| 5. Arizona Coyotes — Barrett Hayton, C, Sault Ste Marie (OHL) The Coyotes have a solid core of established youth, and in Barrett Hayton they add a tough 200-foot center who can kill penalties and absolutely wire the puck. A little off the board but this kid is a beast. Wonder what this means for Dylan Strome? Grade: A- |
| 6. Detroit Red Wings — Filip Zadina, LW, Halifax (QMJHL) The Red Wings really needed a puck mover who can run their power play, but Filip Zadina is an elite forward they simply couldnt pass up. This kid fills the net and competes hard in all three zones. A real leader and sets a great example. Grade: A |
| 7. Vancouver Canucks — Quinn Hughes, LHD, Michigan (Big 10) Hughes is a phenomenal puck mover, and his mature play as a college freshman and at the men's world championship makes me think the Canucks fell in love with the idea that he could be feeding all their elite snipers on the power play. Grade: A |
| 8. Chicago Blackhawks — Adam Boqvist, RHD, Brynas J20 (Superelit) Phenomenal playmaker might gave challenged for first overall had it not been for Dahlin. Boqvist is a finesse defender, silky smooth enough to beat back pressure and keep the ice tilted. Grade: A |
| 9. New York Rangers — Vitali Kravtsov, RW, Chelyabinsk (KHL) Rangers made a bit of a shocking pick, but not if you watched this kid play. Kravtsov has elite, game breaking skills and was a teen possessed during the KHL playoffs. Might be a few years till he's in North America but it'll be worth it. Grade: A |
| 10. Edmonton Oilers — Evan Bouchard, RHD, London (OHL) The brutal Edmonton power play surely had a hand in Chiarelli grabbing London's blueline leader, who led the OHL in scoring and carried a gutted team to the playoffs. He's not the quickest skater but he addresses a major organizational hole. Grade: A |
| 11. New York Islanders — Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, U.S. U18 (NDTP) Home-run pick by Lou Lamoriello and staff, who got themselves a fantastic scorer with a great shot who makes a living crashing the crease. He'll go to Boston College next year but he's both physically and mentally ready for the NHL as we speak. Grade: A |
| 12. New York Islanders (via Flames) — Noah Dobson, RHD, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL) The Isles use the pick they got from Calgary in the Travis Hamonic deal to draft a defenseman with far greater upside. Dobson could have gone top-five and nobody would have complained — he is that good, and his Memorial Cup proved it. Grade: A |
| 13. Dallas Stars — Ty Dellandrea, C, Flint (OHL) Dallas went way off the board to take a gritty, two-way center who has all the intangibles and also can fill the net. Skating is deceptive and improved over season but remains slightly above average. Could be a future captain but the Stars left a lot of skill and speed on the table. Grade: B |
| 14. Philadelphia Flyers (via Blues) — Joel Farabee, LW, U.S. U18 (NDTP) Flyers GM Ron Hextall was playing with house money when you consider both his elite prospect pool and this being the first of two picks in the top 30. Farabee is a skilled 200-foot winger with great vision and is deadly in open ice. Grade: A |
| 15. Florida Panthers — Grigori Denisenko, LW, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL) You have to love the top-end skill they're assembling in Florida, and Denisenko is a premier goal scorer who can finish off the rush with the best of them. He might be in Russia for another year but he has star potential regardless. Grade: A |
| 16. Colorado Avalanche — Martin Kaut, RW, Pardubice (Extraliga) The Avalanche and GM Joe Sakic go against most rankings and get the perfect player to complement their skill up front. Kaut is a strong player in the possession game and has eyes in the back of his head. He really distinguished himself against adult competition and could challenge for a job out of camp. Grade: A- |
| 17. New Jersey Devils — Ty Smith, LHD, Spokane (WHL) Ray Shero desperately needed a puck mover to add to his fine collection of skilled forwards, and in Smith he gets a mobile playmaker who should make a lot of money on the power play while teamed with top rookie Will Butcher. Grade: A |
| 18. Columbus Blue Jackets — Liam Foudy, C, London (OHL) As good as they were last season, the Jackets looked like they were a step behind the quicker teams in the league, so it's no shock they swing for the fences and take a real speed demon like Foudy, who had a great combine and was London's most consistent forward in the 2nd half. Grade: B+ |
| 19. Philadelphia Flyers — Jay O’Brien, C, Thayer HS (Mass.) The second of Philly's two first-round picks is a roadrunner who loves to shoot the puck. O'Brien is a tough competitor who hates to lose, and he can stickhandle around just about anything. He was the top high school player in the U.S. and is bound for Providence College. Grade: A |
| 20. Los Angeles Kings — Rasmus Kupari, C, Karpat (SM-Liiga) You can say this is the second straight year where a top-ranked center in the preseason slipped to them in the middle if the first. Kupari is super gifted with the puck but leaves you wanting more. Think he'll marinate for a while until he's NHL ready. Grade: A- |
| 21. San Jose Sharks — Ryan Merkley, RHD, Guelph (OHL) Give the Sharks credit: they wasted no time at the podium picking this highly-talented offensive defenseman whose stock seemingly fell for questions about his character, work ethic and defensive play. A home run swing when you only needed a single or double. Grade: B+ |
| 22. New York Rangers (from Senators via Penguins) — K’Andre Miller, LHD, U.S. U18 (NTDP) The Rangers take a gamble on a talented defender who is more of a mobile two-way guy than a playmaker, which the organization desperately needs on the blueline. Miller is a smooth skater and covers a lot of ground but there were a dozen similar rearguards to be had in later rounds. Another risky Rangers pick. Grade: B |
| 23. Anaheim Ducks — Isac Lundestrom, C/W, Lulea (SHL) Lundestrom is a pain to play against, except he does it with skill and a nonstop motor. Getting younger and faster seems like the way the Ducks are heading towards, and their deep prospect pool just got better with one of the draft's most NHL-ready centers. Grade: A- |
| 24. Minnesota Wild — Filip Johansson, RHD, Leksands J20 (Superelit) This is a head scratcher because Johansson never distinguished himself in either his junior league or internationally. There's a lot to like about his game — smarts, mobility — but not enough to draft him ahead of dozens of equally mature defenders with better puck skills. Grade: B- |
| 25. St. Louis Blues (via Maple Leafs) — Dominik Bokk, RW, Vaxjo J20 (Superelit) Hand it to the Blues for only needing a 3rd rounder to move up four spots to grab a talented goal-scoring winger like Bokk, who has a lot of desirable attributes and is a puck magnet. They already have the playmakers in their system, so adding a high-end finisher makes a ton of sense. Grade: A |
| 26. Ottawa Senators (from Rangers via Bruins) — Jacob Bernard-Docker, RHD, Okotoks (AJHL) Nice addition by Dorion to add a complementary PP quarterback to pair with Thomas Chabot. Bernard-Docker is a fluid skater with a hard shot who is an instant breakout. He'll play his college hockey for North Dakota. Grade: A |
| 27. Chicago Blackhawks (via Predators) — Nicolas Beaudin, LHD, Drummondville (QMJHL) Hawks take another defenseman in the first round, but Beaudin is a smart puck mover who plays a concise, calculated pro-style game. I still think they need help up front but this clearly was a pick made due to Beaudin's realistic top-pairing upside. Grade: A- |
| 28. New York Rangers (via Lightning) — Nils Lundkvist, RHD, Lulea (SHL) Rangers finish up their first round by taking a talented playmaker with excellent speed and agility. Lundkvist's defense is suspect, but he held his own against older competition in the SHL. Still has room to grow and improve in decision making. Grade: B+ |
| 29. Toronto Maple Leafs (from Blues via Jets) — Rasmus Sandin, LHD, Sault Ste Marie (OHL) Tremendous pick by the Leafs because they grabbed a smart two-way defender that actually knows how to defend. Sandin's playmaking, vision and mobility were critical to the Greyhounds' success, and he was their best defenseman in the OHL playoffs. Grade: A |
| 30. Detroit Red Wings (via Golden Knights) — Joe Veleno, C, Drummondville (QMJHL) About time a team woke up and took the draft's fastest center, except Veleno is a premier playmaker who busts it from start to finish. Mark my words -- he will be one of the better NHL players to come out of this draft. Grade: A |
| 31. Washington Capitals — Alexander Alexeyev, LHD, Red Deer (WHL) You know you had a great night when 30 opposing teams and the arena jumbotron lauded and congratulated you like crazy, then you capped it off by drafting this three-zone Russian monster. Alexeyev has size, poise and maturity, but he also plays aggressive and uses his long stride to join the rush with the hammer cocked. Grade: A |