NHL Draft to have Greyhounds flavour

The top two picks are about as close to a lock as you can get but after that, not everything is a sure thing as the National Hockey League Entry Draft kicks off tonight in Dallas.

When the annual event begins, Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin is expected to have his name called by the Buffalo Sabres with the top pick while the Carolina Hurricanes are expected to select Russian Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts second.

After that, the rest of the top ten could change depending on who the Montreal Canadiens select with the third pick. The Ottawa Senators and Arizona Coyotes round out the top five picks.

Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman told NHL.com that it’s hard to predict how the picks will shake down.

“Once you get to the third spot, it’s hard to predict 3-7 what’s going to happen,” Bowman said. “We’ve had discussions about potentially moving up but a lot of teams in the 3-7 ranges…they’re unsure they want to move down because they may get someone they value highly at their spot.”

Soo Greyhounds forward Barrett Hayton has drawn major interest heading into the draft. Some scouts feel the 18-year-old could find himself selected in the top 10. 

Some have linked the Peterborough product to the Blackhawks at 8 and the Edmonton Oilers at 10. 

Regardless, the expectation is that Hayton won’t be on the board long.

Hayton is coming off a sophomore season that saw him scored 21 goals and 60 points in 63 regular season games before adding eight goals and 21 points in 24 playoff games. 

NHL Central Scouting has called Hayton “a player you want on the ice when you need that important goal or someone to set up a scoring chance.”

Rookie defenceman Rasmus Sandin is also expected to go early in the draft.

The smooth-skating blueliner joined the Greyhounds in October and proceeded to score 12 goals and 45 points in 51 regular season games. In 24 playoff games, the Uppsala, Sweden product had a goal and 13 points.

NHL Central Scouting called Sandin’s game “tailored for the modern-day NHL puck-moving, puck-possession defenceman.”

Sandin’s expected draft position is late in the opening round or early in round two.