with picks 1-31. There’s potential to strike gold in all seven rounds of the draft, but the first round always brings a wave of hyped prospects that have a chance to become the league’s next superstars … or the next disappointing busts. More New York Rangers Jersey on NHL Draft Last year, there was plenty of talk about it being a down year in terms of talent in the draft cla s. Time will tell if that’s true, but this year will bring a bunch of exciting, sought-after prospects — including Rasmus Dahlin, a potential franchise-changing defenseman who will almost certainly go with the first overall pick. And while Dahlin — considered by many to be a generational prize — stands on the top tier alone, there are a number of other very promising youngsters available behind him. These guys could be major contributors for years to come, so let’s get to know some of the players who are expected to go early in Friday’s first round. Rasmus Dahlin, D Dahlin is the consensus top pick and if he doesn’t go to the at No. 1, it’s because something absolutely wild went down on draft night. The 18-year-old, 6-foot-2 Swede is a two-way defenseman with an absolutely sick set of skills that eventually may make him one of the league’s most dangerous blue liners. He’s a very good defender and has elite skating ability coupled with good vision, but his most impre sive skill might lie in his hands and stick work. Here’s a deeper look at Dahlin’s strengths, courtesy of TSN’s Craig Button. Rasmus Dahlin and the four things that separates him from the Alexis Lafreniere Jersey rest… (Craig Button on TSN) Robert Sderlind (@HockeyWebCast) He’s got all the makings of a franchise-caliber defenseman, and Buffalo is (probably) going to be lucky to have him. Andrei Svechnikov, RW The Ru sian winger is the top forward of the cla s and is expected to be selected with the No. 2 pick behind Dahlin. Svechnikov scored 40 goals and 72 points in 44 games for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League this season, earning him OHL Rookie of the Year honors. He’s a dangerously skilled offensive threat, but he also plays a strong two-way game and — at 6-foot-2 — is a big body who can bring physicality and drive the net. He’s a pretty well-rounded player. : I mean, would it be horrible if the snagged Andrei Svechnikov? Kris Baker (@SabresProspects) Svechnikov’s older brother, Evgeny, was drafted by the in the first round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. Filip Zadina, LW The Czech winger is a dynamic offensive force with a deadly scoring touch. He’s got great puck control and a phenomenal release on his shot. But he’s also a two-way player with a high hockey IQ both on and off the puck. Zadina scored 44 goals and 82 points in 57 games with the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season. He also impre sed at the World Junior Championships against the world’s best U-20 talent, scoring seven goals in eight games for the Czech Republic. Dahlin and Svechnikov are expected to be the two „sure things” in this year’s cla s, Jimmy Vesey Jersey but Zadina is also considered to be an all-around stud that could have an immediate impact in the NHL. Brady Tkachuk, C/LW Tkachuk is one of the more popular prospects in this cla s, thanks in part to his skill and in part to his genes. He’s the son of Keith Tkachuk and the younger brother of forward . The 18-year-old brings a valuable combination of size and skill, and he has an extremely high motor. He’s relentle s on the puck — a strong forechecker who has great ability to pre sure the puck and force turnovers. He’s not afraid to get physical and establish his presence down low in the offensive zone, and he’s got good vision and finishing ability. Mittelstadt finds Brady Tkachuk and its a tie game, 3-3 Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) Tkachuk had eight goals and 31 points in 40 games for Boston University last season. He also impre sed for Team USA at World Juniors, notching three goals and nine points in seven tournament games for the U-20 squad. Oliver Wahlstrom, C/RW The Swedish-American forward is a highly-skilled, explosive, dangerous playmaker that can set up teammates about as well as he can finish himself. He’s an excellent skater and puck protector. He’s not recognized as the best defensive forward, but he’ll have time to work on that aspect of his game at the college level he’ll suit up for Boston College as a freshman next season. You may remember Wahlstrom as the nine-year-old who did this during the ‚ mini one-on-one competition. Wahlstrom spent Artemi Panarin Jersey last season with the United States’ national development squad, scoring 48 goals and 94 points in 62 games. Quinn Hughes, D Although a bit undersized at 5-foot-10, Hughes is a complete package on the blue line. He carries a high hockey IQ and strong defensive skill set that allows him to close gaps and limit opportunities for opponents, but he’s also very impre sive in being a facilitator offensively. He’s got good speed, handles and puck-moving ability to help push play up ice, making him an exciting two-way threat. The 18-year-old American played 37 games with the Michigan Wolverines last season, recording five goals and 24 a sists as the youngest player in college hockey. Evan Bouchard, D The Canadian defenseman is considered to be a very good all-around defenseman with excellent hockey IQ and situational awarene s. He’s a strong skater and dynamic two-way player that is almost as good at shutting down opportunities in his own end as he is at creating them at the other end. He’s got a admirable offensive skill set, one which shines on the rush. His poise and vision is extremely impre sive, and he’s got a pretty good shot as well. Bouchard captained the OHL’s London Knights last year and led the team with 87 points — including 25 goals. Not bad for a defenseman. Noah Dobson, D The Canadian defenseman is a strong two-way player that projects to be a reliable and productive presence on the blue line. He’s smart and has good defensive awarene s, always seeming to be in the right position and is effective at utilizing his stick to limit opportunities. He’s got good size and reach at 6-foot-3 and can play in all situations. He’s got a big shot and can be a force on the power play. Dobson had 17 goals and 69 points in 67 QMJHL games last season. Joe Veleno, C The Canadian center is a great skater with high-end skill, but he’s also not afraid to show some grit and make plays in the busy areas. He’s got good finishing ability but specializes in setting up his teammates. He’s a smart, talented playmaker who is strong in all three zones and is viewed as a leader that makes the guys around him better. Basically, he’s an all-around contributor. Veleno scored 22 goals and 79 points in 64 games in the QMJHL last season. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C The 17-year-old Finnish center has size at 6-foot-2, but Chris Nilan Jersey he’s a very skilled and lethal forward with the puck on his stick. He’s got great hands and an ability to stickhandle himself into space, then finish with a nasty shot. He’s also a smart and responsible player who sees the ice very well and can set up teammates and hold his own defensively. He’s got a long, active stick that is effective at disrupting opponents’ po se sion. Kotkaniemi had 10 goals and 29 points in 57 Liiga games this year.

TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa played host to the NHL’s All-Star Game and its accompanying festivities over the weekend. Despite the gimmicky nature of All-Star Games and the absence of meaningful competition, it’s one of my favorite hockey events each year because it provides a rare chance for the league’s athletes to loosen up and unapologetically showcase personality. I took the trip down to Tampa to get a feel for this year’s event in a city that has seemed to really embrace the sport over the years. Here are eight things to know from the weekend. Ahoy, mateys! I didn’t know much about Tampa’s annual Gasparilla festival heading into the weekend, nor did I know that it was going to coincide with the All-Star festivities on Saturday. So, with that in mind, you can imagine my surprise when I arrived in Tampa on Saturday morning and promptly saw a young woman puking in the street while dre sed as a pirate. To be fair, with Logan Tyler Jersey Florida’s reputation, there remains the po sibility she wasn’t even attending the festival. Ultimately, the most challenging skills competition event on Saturday was attempting to avoid the hoards of pirates that were drunkenly stumbling around the fan festival outside of the arena. However, some of the players in town seemed to get in the spirit of things — namely one . You’re the real treasure & . NHL (@NHL) This is a real quote by Erik Karl son on being a pirate: „It’s always been something that I wanted to do. Unfortunately my wife always dre ses me as a woman during the Halloween. So this was my big chance.” Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) Plenty of hometown love Not only did the host the weekend’s festivities, but they also had the most representatives at the game with four players: , , and (who replaced the injured ). Florida often gets looked down on by other (and colder) hockey markets, but the hometown fans showed up and they were loud for their guys. The crowds in attendance at the skills competition and the All-Star Game showed Tampa’s representatives plenty of love, as did the All-Star pro shop, which was absolutely packed with special merch for the Lightning stars. Lightning fans showed up for the home team. Pete Blackburn The new Save Streak competition was great The skills competition introduced a new event this year with Save Streak, which is e sentially a competition that challenges goalies to see how many breakaway saves they can make in a row. The skills comp has had breakaway events before, but they were aimed at rewarding shooters so the goalies didn’t exactly try. It was good for some displays of creative skill, but it was super gimmicky and always felt kind of cheap. Shooters participating in Save Streak are still encouraged to show off their creativity and 1-on-1 skills (and, for the most part, they did) but the event rewarding the goaltenders gives the guys between the pipes an incentive to give their best as well. It was the most game-like event that the skills showcase has had in a long time. For fans, it’s pretty exciting no matter what — you either get to see a nifty goal or watch Payton Mangrum Jersey the goalie build his streak. You can never really trust the NHL to do things that make sense, but Save Streak was a surprising treat this year. Hopefully it sticks around for a while. Kid Rock pulled off a major heist Kid Rock performs during the 2018 NHL All Star Game at Amalie Arena. USATSI Plenty of people , so I was intrigued to see what kind of show he put on Sunday. Obviously, musical performances at sporting events (aside from the Super Bowl) shouldn’t be held to the same standard as legitimate concerts, but sometimes it can be an unexpected treat. However, to say Kid Rock’s showing was underwhelming would be an insult to word ‚underwhelming.’ After a pretty ma sive stage — complete with a video and light fixture that was lowered from the ceiling of Amalie Arena — was rolled out for the performance, Kid Rock played two songs: „American Rock n Roll” and „Bawitdaba.” If Josh Norwood Jersey it wasn’t clear that he was lip syncing the first song, he left no doubt when he didn’t even bother to pretend to sing most of the second. Instead, he jumped around a little bit and flipped the microphone around in his hand while his voice recording played. Then he left and wasn’t seen again for the rest of the night. It certainly seemed like he had no real interest in being there and wanted to be on his way as quickly as po sible. He barely acknowledged the crowd and didn’t say a single word about the NHL, and I wonder how much of it had to do with the backlash that came in the lead-up to the event. But the crowd in attendance seemed pretty indifferent about the whole thing. In any case, Kid Rock collected his paycheck and went on his merry way. Sometimes you just have to respect the hustle of a man who finds a way to cash in on doing the bare minimum. : This year’s feel-good story It was pretty much a forgone conclusion that Brian Boyle was going to be one of the biggest darlings of All-Star weekend. After being diagnosed with leukemia in the preseason, the 33-year-old veteran . It was Boyle’s first All-Star selection and — to make things just a little bit sweeter — he returned to Tampa Bay, where he played for two-plus seasons. Boyle got a ton of love from just about everyone and received the loudest applause of any non-Lightning player all weekend. It was cool to see Tampa welcome Boyle back like he was one of their own, and it was even cooler to see him soak it all in. A standing ovation for s return to Amalie Arena! New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) : The weekend’s big winner Brock Boeser lit the NHL on fire with his scoring touch in the first half of the season, which is why he was selected to the All-Star game as a 20-year-old rookie. If he wasn’t a household name before the weekend, he should be now; he may have had the single best weekend out of any player out there on the ice. On Saturday night, Boeser won the Accuracy Shooting title after hitting all five of his targets in 11.136 seconds. Not only did he put his marksmanship on display, but his velocity also claimed the spotlight when he literally cracked one of the digital targets with his heavy shot. This kid can straight up SHOOT. is leaving with the Accuracy Shooting title. NHL (@NHL) Then, on Sunday, Boeser scored twice and helped the Pacific Division win the 3-on-3 tournament. He was named All-Star MVP and, as a result, won a free car courtesy of Honda. In addition to the wheels, he scored himself quite a payday thanks to his stellar weekend. For being All-Star MVP, Brock Boeser gets a $212,500 entry-level bonus. Thats in addition to $100,000 for being part of the winning team and $25,000 for winning the shooting accuracy. Thats a good weekend Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) And just in case you needed to feel a little more jealous, his hair looks like this. LADIES & GENTLEMEN YOUR MVP, ! NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) : Proud NHL villain There were two types of Greg Emerson Jersey people at the ASG over the weekend: People from Boston, and people who despise Brad Marchand. The winger was by far the most-booed player at the event and he loved every second of it. Though extremely talented and skilled, Marchand has a reputation for being a pest and, occasionally, playing dirty — in fact, just prior to the All-Star break — so it’s no secret that a majority of the hockey world doesn’t particularly care for him. But there may not be a player in the league more willing to embrace the villain role than Marchand, and that was on full display over the weekend. Just look at the damn smirk and wave when he was introduced on Saturday. Boo birds out for Marchand in Tampa Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) He took some time to appreciate the local art scene. Feitelberg (@FeitsBarstool) He blew ki ses. fan favorite Brad Marchand NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) He provided le sons in acting. Marchand has gone full heel today. Draws penalty and has some superb acting afterwards Colin Beswick (@CBeswick) It was clear that the hate wasn’t slowing him down. Marchand scores and waves to the crowd Marina Molnar (@mkmolnar) . waving to his fans. NHL GIFs (@NHLGIFs) Even the fans that were reigning boos down on Marchand have to admit that he’s a tremendous heel for the league and his involvement over the weekend created for great theater. The hate seemed to fuel him and, in turn, he fueled the hate. It’s a wonderful symbiotic relationship for the NHL. The ladies get some love The NHL invited some of the stars from the United States women’s national team to lead demonstrations during the skills competition on Saturday, and it was nice to see them get a chance to participate in the weekend’s events before heading to South Korea. It’d be cool to see some big names from the women’s division actually get invited to participate in the skills comp (like, for real) next year, po sibly as part of a relay Keldric Preston Jersey event — much like the NBA used to do with WNBA stars. The only downside to the ladies’ involvement this year was they provided a reminder that, hey, this All-Star event is only happening because the NHL refused to allow players to go to the Olympics. Dammit.

The shocked the hockey world during the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers by knocking out the . But they ran into a goalkeeper even hotter than on their way to a 2-1 lo s in Game 1 of the 2020 Stanley Cup Ryan Lindgren Jersey Playoffs against the . Now it’s on two Game 2 on Friday in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, where the NHL’s Eastern Conference bubble is being held. The puck drops at 3 p.m. ET and Flyers goalie will be looking to continue his dominance having stopped 84 of the 87 shots he’s seen in the NHL bubble. Hart stopped 27 of 28 Canadiens attempts on Wednesday and Philadelphia got goals from and on its way to a victory. The Flyers are -145 favorites, with the Canadiens listed as +125 underdogs and the total at five goals in the latest Flyers vs. Canadiens odds from William Hill. Before making any Canadiens vs. Flyers picks, . This model simulates every NHL game 10,000 times, taking into account factors like current form, individual matchups, Stephane Matteau Jersey injuries and short- and long-term trends when making . The model seeks the best values on the money line, puck line and total. Now, the model has set its sights on . You can . Here are the and trends for Canadiens vs. Flyers: Flyers vs. Canadiens money line: Philadelphia -145, Montreal +125 Flyers vs. Canadiens puck line: Philadelphia -1.5 Flyers vs. Canadiens over-under: 5 goals PHI: The Flyers are 13-1 in their last 14 games. MON: The Canadiens are 5-2 in their last seven games against divisional opponents. Why you should back the Flyers The Flyers went a perfect 3-0 during the round-robin portion of the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Qualifiers to earn the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. They outscored opponents 11-3 during those three games. That Vince Pedrie Jersey ‚s largely been a function of great goaltending and high-value chance creating as the Flyers lost the even-strength Corsi battle in two of those three games. The same rang true for their Game 1 win over the Canadiens, as Montreal dominated the Corsi battle at even strength with 62 shots attempted to Philadelphia’s 48. has five points so far in the NHL bubble and having the second-liner continue to produce will be key with Philadelphia spending a lot of time in the defensive zone. Why you should back the Canadiens Montreal similarly spent the first three games of the Pittsburgh series backed up in its own defensive zone, but broke through in James Patrick Jersey Game 4 with a lot more puck po se sion and better chance creation. The Canadiens had positive Corsi (53.9 percent) and Fenwick (55.0 percent) numbers at even strength in that win and also created seven high-danger chances while the Penguins managed just three. And even though they dropped Game 1 to the Flyers, the Canadiens continued their solid puck po se sion and chance creation by winning even strength Corsi (55.5 percent) and Fenwick (56.6 Will Cuylle Jersey percent). They also created 13 high-danger scoring chances to just eight for the Flyers and if they can get more net-front presence to rattle Hart’s cage it’d go a long way towards helping them even the series up. How to make Flyers vs. Canadiens picks SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, as the simulation suggests Carey Price cools off and has a save percentage under 90 percent, and it also says one side of the money line has all the value. . So who wins Canadiens vs. Flyers? And which side of the money line has all the value? , all from the advanced model that has simulated this matchup 10,000 times, and find out.