An underrated yet enticing blueliner goes to the St. Louis Blues in this Team-by-Team NHL Mock Draft

5th Overall: Montreal Canadiens - Cayden Lindstrom, C/Medicine Hat Tigers

Cayden Lindstrom, in many ways, can be like former first-overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky, so could you imagine these two playing together on the same top-six one of these days? While I’m unsure Lindstrom makes it past the Blue Jackets in real life, the Canadiens will have picked up yet another big-time player if they have a chance to get Lindstrom. 

6th Overall: Utah Hockey Club - Zeev Buium, D/Denver

This is an important draft for the Utah Hockey Club as it gives their front office a chance to make a first impression on their new fan base. And by drafting a dynamic player who is somewhat local, Zeev Buium may be the best bet here, even if players like Ivan Demidov and Artyom Levshunov are still on the board. 

7th Overall: Ottawa Senators - Konsta Helenius, C/Jukurit

Yes, Ivan Demidov is still on the board, but the simulation rolled with Konsta Helenius, which would be a stretch in real life. That said, I also wouldn’t see it as a massive reach, considering the way Helenius played last year in Liiga. 

8th Overall: Seattle Kraken - Ivan Demidov, RW/SKA St. Petersburg

Could you see a player like Ivan Demidov falling to the Seattle Kraken? I honestly can’t, but I could see a brewing dynamic duo between him and Shane Wright if he did, and they would be a pair of fun young talents to watch a year or two from today if Demidov landed in the Kraken’s system.