Who's the Keller of this draft?

[Overated Veteran]

You probably know what I mean. Last year, casuals hockey fans didnt know who he was. And now he's a calder favorite.

Is there someone in this draft who's got a similar pedigree? A d-men maybe?

1. NJD: Nico Hischier, C, Halifax
2. PHI: Nolan Patrick, C, Brandon
3. DAL: Miro Heiskanen, D, HIFK
4. COL: Cale Makar, D, Brooks
5. VAN: Elias Pettersson, C, Timra
6. VGK: Cody Glass, C, Portland
7. NYR: Lias Andersson, C, HV71
8. BUF: Casey Mittelstadt, C, Eden Prairie
9. DET: Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City
10. FLA: Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga
11. LAK: Gabriel Vilardi, C, Windsor
12. CAR: Martin Necas, C, Brno
13. VGK: Nick Suzuki, C, Owen Sound
14. TBL: Callan Foote, D, Kelowna
15. VGK: Erik Brannstrom, D, HV71
16. CGY: Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City
17. TOR: Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle
18. BOS: Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP
19. SJS: Joshua Norris, C, USA U-18
20. STL: Robert Thomas, C, London
21. NYR: Filip Chytil, C, Zlin
22. EDM: Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane
23. ARI: Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown
24. WPG: Kristian Vesalainen, LW/RW, Frolunda
25. MTL: Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State
26. DAL: Jake Oettinger, G, Boston University
27. PHI: Morgan Frost, C, Sault Ste. Marie
28. OTT: Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo
29. CHI: Henri Jokiharju, D, Portland
30. NSH: Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Sioux City
31. STL: Klim Kostin, C/LW, Dynamo Moscow

[CHunter]

Makar
Tippett
Yamamoto

[smitchely]

I still don't understand how Tolvanen dropped to 30th but seems like he has the upside to make some of those "safe" picks before him look pretty silly.

[Axeman33]

I still don't understand how Tolvanen dropped to 30th but seems like he has the upside to make some of those "safe" picks before him look pretty silly.

Safe to say that 29 other scouts/GMs may know something we don't.

[JagrBomb]

I still don't understand how Tolvanen dropped to 30th but seems like he has the upside to make some of those "safe" picks before him look pretty silly.

Yea but how long is it going to take for Tolvanen to crack Nashville's lineup? We all know how slow they like to bring along prospects, I mean look at Fiala, he was drafted 11th overall and 3 years later he's still being brought along slowly.

If we're actually looking for someone that is currently a good prospect, isn't overhyped, and who's value could rise through the roof dramatically in the short term I'd guess:

Necas
Suzuki

I'd also throw in Tippett (easy path to the NHL with great linemates) and Yamamoto (McDavid).

[SergeP]

Makar, Middelstadt and Petersen would be my picks

[Bass56]

I think Patrick will show everyone why he should have been 1st overall sooner than later.

Other than that, Yamamoto could be a "big" surprise if he lands in the top-six in 2-3 years like Johnson and Gaudreau did with their respective teams.

I like Suzuki as well here

[bergman]

I think Mittelstadt really flew under the radar having played high school hockey. His college season this year could be very revealing.

Last year in the prospects report, Keller was the guy who ranked at the top of many of the skill categories done toward the end. I drafted him based on that alone and was not disappointed. Mittelstadt wasn't quite as dominant in those categories this year, but he was near the top in several, and was lauded for his skill in almost every writeup - with many saying he could be the top fantasy asset. His commitment is questioned because of his inability to do a pull-up at the combine. That's a pretty trivial exercise for hockey, if you ask me, and apparently it was just that his trainer didn't believe pull-ups were important. In any case, he has a great opportunity to add strength in college this year. He could be a big riser just like Keller was.

[Jouko-Pouko]

It probably won't happen as quickly as it did for Keller but Suzuki would be my best guess to have a similar rise in ranks in a year or two.

[forsbergfan]

Mittelstadt. We might be calling him the best prospect in hockey in one year from now.

[rataylor22]

Tolvanen. That kid is a stud. Gonna make 29 GMs look silly

[Pit Bulls]

what rataylor said.....

[Belexus75]

Tolvanen and Lindgren. Both will have stocks raise by quite a bit by playing in Europe this year and both should play in NHL next year, yes even with Nashvile history of keeping prospects away, i just think he is that good.

[Weedeaters]

Mittelstadt and Yamamoto for me!

[havanablast21]

No one.