Toronto Maple Leafs: 2018 NHL Mock Draft – First Edition
By Austin Owens
5. 91. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Defence. Brynäs IF J20 (SuperElit). Adam Boqvist. player
Erik Karlsson left a lot to the imagination of Sens fans, when he fished the puck out of the net and tucked it away after his last home game of the season. If Ottawa does end up trading away their captain, they are in the position to get a defender who has been compared to Karlsson.
Boqvist is an extremely creative defender who has a great shot and instincts in every zone. He is on the smaller side, but is a dynamic piece who brings tons of talent to the table.
The Senators would have themselves a great building block as they try to retool and improve after a down year.
Pick Analysis. Defence. Evan Bouchard. Scouting Report. London Knights (OHL). 6. player. 72
It has been a meteoric rise up the draft rankings for Bouchard this season. Going from a late teen pick to a lottery lock over the past six months.
It culminates with the defender being picked just outside the top five by Detroit.
The Red Wings need a bit of everything in their system. With solid players up front in Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou, they can afford to build at the back with this pick.
Bouchard might spend another year in junior, but he is future captain material for the Red Wings with the potential to anchor a blueline in the NHL.