We're moving into the late stages of the Stanley Cup playoffs, with one of the final four teams already decided. More and more NHL front offices are moving into off season mode, and the first order of business for many will be the draft at the end of June. That means prospect ranking and mock drafts galore.
Today, we've got another mock draft coming from The Athletic, as Corey Pronman makes selections for the entire first round. The St. Louis Blues have three picks--the most of any team team this year--and Pronman's selections end up a little different from his colleague Scott Wheeler's picks from last week.
First up, with the 11th-overall pick, Pronman has the Blues selecting Oscar Hemming, a massive (6-foot-4, nearly 200 pound) left winger; he played for Boston College last season, registering a goal and eight points in 19 games. Wheeler had the Blues taking Ethan Belchetz, so early signs are that the Blues could be prioritizing size with their first pick of the draft.
With the Detroit Red Wings' selection at number 15, Pronman has the Blues taking the same player Wheeler did: Finnish center Oliver Suvanto. He may not be the best skater, but Suvanto looks like a rock solid middle-six center--one of the most valuable positions in hockey.
The last pick the Blues have is, at the moment, projected to be number 31--but we won't know for sure until the Colorado Avalanche either win the Cup or are eliminated. Pronman has the Blues taking another large left winger in Marcus Nordmark, from Sweden. Nordmark has a ton of raw talent: great hands, offensive flash, and solid skating, but inconsinstincies hold him back.
Pronman and Wheeler often have different opinions on prospects, but they seem relatively aligned on one thing the Blues could be looking to add: size. We'll have to wait and see how things play out on draft day.
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