Looking at talent alone, Michkov should be higher up the board, perhaps even above Fantilli, yet his NHL future is years away. While his defence isn’t his strongest attribute, he is a capable defender, yet his offensive skills will make any defensive shortcoming an afterthought. With Michkov on the ice, his team is instantly more productive and competent offensively. He partners those talents with exceptional puck skills, and elite vision. He has an exceptional feel for open space, and has a lightning-fast release, combined with a powerful shot. Michkov’s offensive skill set is comparable to that of Bedard. Michkov is competing in the KHL, one of the toughest leagues in the world, and is constantly flashing his high-end abilities and promise. Michkov is one of the toughest players to place in this draft because there’s so many questions regarding his NHL future, almost all of which stem from elements outside of himself. His high-end talent may not compare to some of the other top tier players, but he is as close as one will get to any NHL ready player in the draft. He appears to be one of the safest prospects in the draft, who’s virtually guaranteed to have a long successful career. These skills, combined with exceptional puck handling, shooting, and physicality, make Carlsson a promising prospect from the jump. He bolsters elite intelligence and situational awareness across all phases of the game, and consistently stays involved on both offence and defense. This is largely due to the fact that Carlsson’s game day approach and comfort is similar to that of his peers. However, the pressure of playing in a competitive league hasn’t affected Carlsson, as he has consistently proved his worth against more experienced players. The Swedish forward prospect has spent the past two seasons in the NHL competing against grown men, while he was still a teenager. Despite this, Carlsson has cemented himself as the comfortable favorite to go third. Its not until the third pick that some questions can arise. The top two picks of the draft are virtually guaranteed at this point. In any other draft, Fantilli would see himself as a likely first overall pick, and while he is firmly stuck behind Bedard, the Anaheim Ducks must be thankful that such a great player remains available to them. He will likely find himself competing year in and year out with Bedard, and is a true first line Center. Fantilli promises to be one of the best consolation prizes you could ever win. We rarely see this talent in 21-year-old’s, let alone as a teenager. Few players combine his size, speed, ability, and IQ. He bolsters an ideal NHL frame and promises to be a top line starter at the NHL level. At 18-years-old, Fantilli is going against players two to three years older than himself, and yet still dominating every time he touches the ice. He has consistently shown elite skating, handling, and intelligence. What Fantilli has been able to accomplish in his freshman season at Michigan is nothing short of incredible. Often when there’s a generational prospect available, teams forget or overlook what the second-best player in the class brings to the table. But what are the options like for the teams who didn’t beat the Blackhawks in the lottery? Is all hope now lost for those missing out on the NHL’s new golden boy? The Blackhawks have an easy selection to make, positioned at the top of the draft, with the franchise changing Bedard who is slated to be the newest addition to Chicago’s team. Connor Bedard is regarded as one of the greatest prospects the game has seen, and his ability has him as close to a lock as one can get. Very few draft’s ever deliver a consensus on who the number one overall pick will be, like the upcoming NHL draft.
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