For this year’s mock draft, we have had to do things a bit differently as our previous network of NHL sites has been disbanded. We didn’t have the benefit of seeing knowledgeable people who cover the others teams making their club’s selection this year, so instead we have turned to our consensus rankings, an annual undertaking by our own Jared Book to compile rankings from trusted sources to get a broader idea of how the draft-eligible prospects stack up.
Jared Book
We had the four teams selecting ahead of the Montreal Canadiens take the top-ranked players in the consensus order, which would look like this:
- Connor Bedard – Chicago Blackhawks
- Adam Fantilli – Anaheim Ducks
- Leo Carlsson – Columbus Blue Jackets
- Matvei Michkov – San Jose Sharks
While we are hoping one of Carlsson and Michkov will be available to Montreal in the actual draft on Wednesday night, there will still be some very good players available if things do play out as above.
There’s Dalibor Dvorský, who would be a third consecutive Slovak taken by Montreal in the first round dating back to last summer. There are two right-shot defencemen in Axel Sandin-Pellikka and David Reinbacher a few spots lower in the consensus rankings. A group of U.S. National Team Development Program forwards are waiting in the same region: Oliver Moore held his own as the second-line pivot; Ryan Leonard played a power forward role on the team’s top line; Gabe Perreault set a program record for points on the opposite flank, and; both wingers were helped by the stick-handling and playmaking of centreman Will Smith. In the end, it was Zach Benson who was our pick at fifth overall.
Zach Benson – #5 Selection
Birthplace: Langley, British Columbia
Date of birth: May 12, 2005
Shoots: Left
Position: LW/C
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 159 lbs.
Team: Winnipeg ICE (WHL)
Matt Drake
There was some debate among the writers over whether to take Benson or Smith. Both are exceptional playmakers, and Smith is the better goal-scorer, but Benson is the more multidimensional, with better defensive skills that will help him carry that offensive play to the NHL more easily.
The difference between the two can also be seen in their playmaking strategies. Smith sets up his teammates by pulling the puck around defenders in the offensive zone, mermerizing them with his stick-handling, and then setting up one of his wingers or taking a shot on his own. Benson uses a more efficient approach, not relying on stringing a long sequence of dekes together to open space, but keeping his opponents guessing by positioning himself to keep all of his options open and faking moves to trick opponents into mistakes.
In that respect, Benson is a lot like Nick Suzuki in his cerebral approach to the game, and that could lead to not only a great partnership with the Canadiens’ top centreman, but his defensive abilities would be a benefit to the captain as well. Even if he doesn’t end up on the top line, he should be an effective 200-foot player, and that versatility carries a lot of value.
- Connor Bedard – Chicago Blackhawks
- Adam Fantilli – Anaheim Ducks
- Leo Carlsson – Columbus Blue Jackets
- Matvei Michkov – San Jose Sharks
- Zach Benson – Montreal Canadiens
- Will Smith – Arizona Coyos
- Ryan Leonard – Philadelphia Flyers
- Dalibor Dvorský – Washington Capitals
- Oliver Moore – Detroit Red Wings
- Axel Sandin-Pellikka – St. Louis Blues
- David Reinbacher – Vancouver Canucks
- Matthew Wood – Arizona Coyotes
- Colby Barlow – Buffalo Sabres
- Gabe Perreault – Pittsburgh Penguins
- Dmitri Simashev – Nashville Predators
- Nate Danielson – Calgary Flames
- Eduard Sale – Detroit Red Wings
- Samuel Honzek – Winnipeg Jets
- Brayden Yager – Chicago Blackhawks
- Tom Willander – Seattle Kraken
- Andrew Cristall – Minnesota Wild
- Quentin Musty – Philadelphia Flyers
- Calum Ritchie – New York Rangers
- Otto Stenberg – Nashvile Predators
- Gavin Brindley – St. Louis Blues
- Mikhail Gulyayev – San Jose Sharks
- Riley Heidt – Colorado Avalanche
- Daniil But – Toronto Maple Leafs
- Ethan Gauthier – St. Louis Blues
- Bradly Nadeau – Carolina Hurricanes
Gracyn Sawchyn – #31 Selection
Birthplace: Grande Prairie, Alberta
Date of birth: January 19, 2005
Shoots: Right
Position: Centre
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 165 lbs.
Team: Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Justin Blades
With a complete player in the system with the first pick, we added Gracyn Sawchyn with the penultimate pick of the opening round, a player with the potential to become a key pillar of the franchise as well.
What Benson does with positioning and a quick stick on defence, Sawchyn does with relentless energy, pestering his check until the puck is in his control. With possession, he likes to stick-handle through traffic, and is a strong transition player as a result.
He was great at getting the puck to the slot area in the offensive zone this season, but doesn’t have the finishing ability to make the most of the times he gets himself there, relying on teammates to complete his plays to register his points. As long as he has more of a finisher to play with, he will be on the ice for more goals for than against, and his defensive play will be a boon for any centreman he ends up on a line with.
The history of Eyes On The Prize’s NHL Mock Draft selections
2023 Gracyn Sawchyn (31st)
2023: Zach Benson (fifth)
2022: Jagger Firkus (26th)
2022: Shane Wright (first)
2021: Xavier Bourgault (31st)
2020: Mavrik Bourque (16th)
2019: Thomas Harley (15th)
2018: Filip Zadina (third)
2017: Urho Vaakanainen (25th)
2016: Tyson Jost (ninth)
2015: Thomas Chabot (26th)
2014: David Pastrnak (26th)
2013: Josh Morrissey (25th)
2012: Mikhail Grigorenko (third)
2011: Mark Scheifele (17th)
2010: Ryan Spooner (27th)
2009: Scott Glennie (18th)
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