Anthony Beauvillier

Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

67GP 42G 52A 94Pts +16(+/-)

Drafted #28 overall, New York Islanders

A smart, speedy winger coming out of the QMJHL, Beauvillier has all the tools necessary to become a very skilled winger in the NHL. At 5 foot 10 and just 170 pounds, he’s small in stature, but he excels at rushing the puck up. When he gets his feet moving, and he has the puck on his stick, Beauvillier has the ability to weave his way through defenders. If there’s open space for him to carry the puck through, Beauvillier will find it, and when he does gain possession in the offensive zone, he is equally lethal a passer as he is a shooter. Beauvillier’s feet are always moving, and when his team doesn’t have possession, he does whatever he can to make his opponents lose possession. What’s unique about Beauviller is his ability to adapt to almost any situation. He’s insanely versatile, and plays well no matter who he plays with. The Islanders were wise to snag him with the 28th overall pick.

Mathew Barzal

Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

44GP 12G 45A 57Pts +13(+/-)

Drafted #16 overall, New York Islanders

The New York Islanders had an excellent draft, and selecting Matthew Barzal at 16 overall was an absolute steal. Due to a kneecap injury that sidelined him for a large portion of the season, Barzal, a guy who was projected to be a top ten pick at the start of the season, didn’t hear his name called until the latter half of the draft. What’s most impressive about Barzal is how refined his skating is. He has an explosive stride, perfect balance, and can stop on a dime. One scout asserted that Barzal is the best east-west skater he’s ever seen in the WHL. In addition to being a good skater, Barzal has top-notch hockey smarts. When he has the puck on his stick, he rarely makes a bad pass, and he has fantastic awareness of where his teammates are on the ice. Barzal can run the power play, and is a lethal weapon when he has possession in the offensive zone. One aspect of his game he has been criticized for is his tendency to pass the puck too much. There are times when he passes when he really should shoot, and his shot itself is actually pretty weak.

Jake DeBrusk

Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

72GP 42G 39A 81Pts -9(+/-)

Drafted #14 overall, Boston Bruins

When the Boston Bruins went off the board to select DeBrusk, many fans were left shaking their heads, but this pick is justifiable. Projected to be selected in the late first round, DeBrusk was an underrated prospect, and upper management in Boston made a statement about how underrated DeBrusk is by selecting him with the 14th overall pick. Now, I am by no means saying that this was a smart pick. Better players were available, and Boston went way off the board. At the same time, DeBrusk brings tons of excitement and energy to the ice. He’s the type of player who tends to make his linemates better, and players love having him as a teammate. On top of all of this, DeBrusk is an absolute workhorse, and seems to be giving it his all every single night he plays. He’s a high tempo player with some consistency issues, and he could benefit from gaining some size, but this kid can score. All in all, there’s a lot DeBrusk can bring to this Boston team.

Brock Boeser

Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)

57GP 35G 33A 68Pts -1(+/-)

Drafted #23 overall, Vancouver Canucks

Brock Boeser is a natural goal scorer. When he has the puck on his stick, he is excellent at maintaining possession, and keeping the puck away from defenders. Boeser has a deadly shot, and excels at getting into scoring position, and releasing the puck quickly. He’s the kind of guy that can rush the puck up himself, and generate scoring chances with highlight-reel plays. He isn’t huge, but he uses the size he does have to muscle his way through defenders, and get himself into scoring position. When the puck isn’t on his stick, he isn’t as impressive, especially defensively, but his defensive game can certainly be refined. Boeser has the potential to become a sniper in the NHL, and the Canucks happily selected him with the 23rd overall pick.

Jakub Zboril

Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

44GP 13G 20A 33Pts +2(+/-)

Drafted #13 overall, Boston Bruins

What’s most impressive about Jakub Zobril is how refined his game is in all areas. Defensively, he isn’t afraid to use his size, and he does a good job at closing the gap on incoming forwards. Offensively, he has a powerful, accurate shot, and he’s a fantastic skater. Additionally, he can quarterback the power-play, utilizing his quick feet to fly through the neutral zone. Scouts have trouble finding holes in his game, and many believe that he could be the steal of this draft. Last year was his first season playing major junior hockey in Canada, so he spent a lot of the season adjusting to the league. Because of this, his numbers from last season are lower than what he’s really capable of, and it’s likely that he’ll put up far more impressive numbers next season. As a two-way defender, Zboril may take a few years to develop, but he certainly has all the tools necessary to develop into a Norris Trophy winning defenseman. Though they may not be happy with their other two first round choices, Boston fans should be happy to add Zboril to their prospect pool.