Seattle Kraken: Top-5 players for the second overall pick
William Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (Sweden)
Of all the prospects in this draft class, William Eklund has the highest offensive ceiling. Last season, the 18-year-old put up 25 points in 43 games for Djurgarden in the Swedish Elite League. He’s fast and elusive on his feet. At 5-10 (ish), he’ll need to be. Eklund can score, but he also does the little things to make himself and his teammates successful.
Rankings
- NHL Central Scouting – 1st European skater
- Craig Button, TSN – 6th
- Scott Wheeler, The Athletic – 5th
- Corey Pronman, The Athletic – 3rd
- Dobber Prospects – 2nd
- Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News – 4th
- Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet – 7th
Simon Edvinsson, D, Frolunda (Sweden)
It’s a mixed bag on Simon Edvinsson. Some scouts love him, while others think he’s just outside the top-10 talents. At 6-4, 200-pounds, Edvinsson has great NHL size and the offensive skills to match. He’s still very raw and, for a big man, has a surprisingly weak shot from the point.
Rankings
- NHL Central Scouting – 2nd European skater
- Craig Button, TSN – 3rd
- Scott Wheeler, The Athletic – 11th
- Corey Pronman, The Athletic – 12th
- Dobber Prospects – 8th
- Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News – 2nd
- Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet – 4th
Dylan Guenther, RW, Edmonton (WHL)
The offensive skillset is there. Dylan Guenther can handle the puck, lead the rush, and is big enough to crash the net at 6-2, 175-pounds (he’ll fill out). He impressed last season with the Edmonton Oil Kings posting 24 points in 12 games. While not an overwhelming offensive talent, he’s a potential first-line talent with good defensive abilities.
Rankings
- NHL Central Scouting – 5th North American skater
- Craig Button, TSN – 5th
- Scott Wheeler, The Athletic – 6th
- Corey Pronman, The Athletic – 2nd
- Dobber Prospects – 10th
- Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News – 3rd
- Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet – 5th
Luke Hughes, D, United States National Development Program
Luke Hughes is the younger brother of Jack (New Jersey) and Quinn (Vancouver) but is bigger than both. He’s electric on the ice with deft puck handling and smooth moves on his skates. There are still parts of his game that need refinement. A year of college would help. High upside.
Rankings
- NHL Central Scouting – 4th North American skater
- Craig Button, TSN – 4th
- Scott Wheeler, The Athletic – 7th
- Corey Pronman, The Athletic – 4th
- Dobber Prospects – 6th
- Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News – 6th
- Sam Cosentino, Sportsnet – 8th