21. New York Rangers= Issac Ratcliffe (Left Wing) Guelph Storm (OHL)

The Rangers might be looking to replace Oscar Lindberg after he was taken by Vegas in the expansion draft (and traded Derek Stepan to Arizona today).  Ratcliffe played 67 games this season in which he scored 28 goals and registered 26 assists for 54 points. He was -2 and served 65 penalty minutes. His pro comparison is Arizona’s Lawson Crouse. In his draft year, Crouse played in 56 games in which he scored 29 goals and registered 22 assists for 51 points. He was +10 and served 70 penalty minutes. Crouse’s AB score in his rookie year was a -5.26.

22. Edmonton Oilers = Erik Brannstrom (Defenseman) HV71 (Sweden)

Brannstrom played in 35 games this season in which he scored 1 goal and registered 5 assists for 6 points. He was +10 and served 2 penalty minutes all season. His pro comparison was Ex-NHLer Tim Erixon. In his draft year Erixon played 45 games in which he scored 2 goals and registered 5 assists for 7 points. He was +5 and served 12 penalty minutes. Erixon’s AB score is unknown.

23. Arizona Coyotes= Nicolas Hague (Defenseman) Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)

John Chayka of Arizona will cap off a banner week by picking a solid defenseman. Hague played 65 games in which he scored 18 goals and registered 28 assists for 46 points. He was +22 and served 107 penalty minutes this season. His pro comparison was the Islanders’ defenseman Calvin De Haan. In his draft year De Hann played in 68 games in which he scored 10 goals and registered 38 assists for 48 points. He was +5 and served 14 penalty minutes this season. De Haan’s AB score is a +1.38.

24. Winnipeg Jets= Urho Vaakanainen (Defenseman) Jyvaskala (Finland)

Vaakanainen played 44 games this season in which he scored 2 goals and registered 5 assists for 7 points. He was -2 and served 29 penalty minutes the whole season. His pro comparison was Winnipeg’s own Ben Chariot. Chariot in his draft year played 41 games in which he scored 4 goals and registered 9 assists for 13 points. He was +6 but served 106 penalty minutes the whole season. Chariot’s AB score was a -4.66.

25. Montreal Canadiens= Jason Robertson (LW) Kingston (OHL)

Robertson had a great season in the OHL this year. He played 68 games in which he scored 42 goals and registered 39 assists in 81 games. He was +3 and served 29 penalty minutes this season. His pro comparison was Carolina’s Jeff Skinner. In his draft year Skinner played 64 games in which he scored 50 goals and registered 40 assists in 90 games. Skinner was +7 and served 72 penalty minutes. Skinner won the Calder trophy in his rookie year and his AB score closest to his rookie year was a +2.85.

26. Chicago Blackhawks= Shane Bowers (Center) Waterloo (USHL)

Bowers played 60 games in the USHL this season in which he scored 22 goals and registered 29 assists for 51 points. He was +14 and served 20 penalty minutes all season. Bowers’ NHL comparison is Florida’s Aleksander Barkov. In his draft year, Barkov played 53 games in which he scored 21 goals and registered 27 assists for 48 points. He was +18 and served 8 penalty minutes all season. Barkov’s AB score was a +5.43.

27. St Louis Blues= Kailer Yamamoto (RW) Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Yamamoto is possibly the biggest sleeper in this draft. He played 65 games this season in which he scored 42 games and registered 57 assists for 99 points. He was +14 and served 46 penalty minutes all season. His pro comparison is Dallas’ Tyler Seguin. In his draft year Seguin played 63 games in which he scored 48 goals and registered 58 assists for 106 points. He was +17 and he served 54 penalty minutes all season. Seguin’s AB score was +5.60.  If Yamamoto is a fraction of what Seguin is, it would be quite a coup for the Blues.

28. Ottawa Senators= Pierre-Olivier Joseph (Defenseman) Charlottetown (QMJHL)

Ottawa just lost Marc Methot to Vegas in the expansion draft and might be looking to replace him. Joseph played 62 games this year in which he scored 6 goals and registered 33 assists for 39 points. He was +14 and served 54 penalty minutes. His pro comparison is Carolina’s Hayden Fleury. In his draft year, Fleury played 70 games in which he scored 8 goals and registered 38 assists for 46 points. He was +15 and served 46 penalty minutes. Fleury’s AB is unknown.

29. Dallas Stars= Robert Thomas (Center) London (OHL)

Everyone knows that at least one London Knight has to be picked in the first round every year, right? This year it’s Robert Thomas. Thomas played 66 games this season in which he scored 16 goals and registered 50 assists for 66 points. He was +39 and served 26 penalty minutes. His NHL comparison was Buffalo’s Ryan O’Reilly (without the giveaway/takeaway margin). In 68 games, O’Reilly scored 16 goals and registered 50 assists for 66 points. He was +1 and served 26 penalty minutes. This is the most identical stat line out of any of the picks this draft. O’Reilly’s AB score is a +6.21. As usual, another fine product coming out of London.

30. Nashville Predators= Kole Lind (Right wing) Kelowna (WHL)

Nashville just lost James Neal due to the expansion draft and might be looking to replace him. Lind is another steal at 30. He played 70 games this season in which he scored 30 goals and registered 57 assists for 87 points. He was +36 and served 79 penalty minutes. His closest pro comparison was San Jose’s Timo Meier. In his draft year, Meier played 61 games in which he scored 44 goals and registered 46 assists for 90 points. He was +20 and served 59 penalty minutes. Meier’s AB score was a +0.86.

31. Pittsburgh Penguins= Maxime Comtois (LW) Victoriaville (QMJHL)

The two time- defending Stanley Cup champions will close out the first round by choosing Comtois. He played 64 games this year in the QMJHL in which he scored 22 goals and registered 29 assists for 51 points. He was -7 and served 88 penalty minutes all season. His pro comparison was Chicago’s Brandon Saad (who is the NHL’s new posterboy for journeymen).  In his draft year Saad played in 59 games in which he scored 27 goals and registered 28 assists for 55 points. He was +8 and served 47 penalty minutes. Saad’s AB score is a +6.50.