08-18-2020, 01:29 AM(This post was last modified: 08-20-2020, 12:41 PM by StamkosFan.)
Round 1, Pick 1: RW Zdenko Beranek - 242 TPE
The first overall pick in the S55 SMJHL Draft was also the first ever pick for the expansion Citadelles. They took highly touted prospect Zdenko Beranek. Through 39 games, Beranek has put up 15 points, 16 hits, and 34 shot blocks in about 14 minutes per game. Playing on an expansion team isn't easy, which shows with his -18 rating, but he's held his own so far in the league. His development is only going to get better and he will be a key piece for the Citadelles going forward.
Round 1, Pick 2: C Xavier Doom - 241 TPE
The second pick in the draft was another forward, this time a centreman in Xavier Doom. The scarecrows took their next franchise centre and they're really sheltering him in his first season. Averaging only 11 minutes a game, Doom has still put 13 points, 42 hits and 37 shot blocks. I think he's ready for more responsibility and should be seeing more ice time for St. Louis. I get bringing him on slowly, though, and it's certainly a pick that going to look good for a long time.
Round 1, Pick 3: LW Lucas Johansson - 235 TPE
The third overall pick is a third forward, with left winger Lucas Johansson going to the Timber. This season he's seeing the same plan as Doom, slow and steady. He's averaging 10 minutes a game, putting up 8 points, 6 hits, and 20 shot blocks. Stats wise, there's not much there, but he's almost assuredly looking at a bigger role in the seasons to come.
Round 1, Pick 4: D Vili Afalava - 210 TPE
With the 4th overall pick, the expansion Battleborn take the first defenseman and grab Vili Afalava. In his rookie season, Vili is absolutely not being eased into the role. He's averaging 22 minutes a game for Nevada, which is near the top in the whole SMJHL. In those minutes, he has 5 points, 85 hits, and 74 shot blocks. Nevada is certainly getting their money's worth right now. It's tough sledding being on the expansion Battleborn, but Vili is hanging in there and will be a stud on the blue line for a long time if he keeps this up.
Round 1, Pick 5: C Aleksander Kozlov - 276 TPE
At pick 5, we're back in our comfort zone of forwards, with centre Aleksander Kozlov going off the board. He's another franchise potential player who's being eased into the lineup by the Kraken. He's averaging just over 10 minutes a game and has put up 10 points, 25 hits, and 18 shot blocks. What is a pleasant surprise is his +8 rating, as we've seen the previous picks struggle in that category. Caroline is certainly happy with their pick as Kozlov is showing he was worth the top 5 pick.
Round 1, Pick 6: D Evangelos Giannopoulos - 245 TPE
With the 6th pick, we're back on defense with Evangelos Giannpoulos. Detroit is also playing their rookie defenseman a lot of minutes, giving him 19 per game. In that time, he's put up 9 points, 45 hits, and 51 shot blocks. Just like Vili, he's getting a lot of reps in the defensive zone, which can only help his development. I think Detroit found a top pair defenseman at number 6.
Round 1, Pick 7: C Rock Strongo - 261 TPE
At pick number 7, the Raptors took their future franchise centreman in Rock Strongo. Strongo has been great for the Raptors, getting settled in a 3rd line role and playing 15 minutes a game. He's put up 19 points, 12 hits, and 5 shot blocks, really excelling on the offensive side of the game. A great pick in the middle of the first round, Colorado found a gem in Rock.
Round 1, Pick 8: C Dee Centerman IV - 251 TPE
Pick 8 saw another centre going to Vancouver in Dee Centerman IV. Dee has been getting a big role in the Whalers line up, playing 17 minutes a game, but hasn't filled the score sheet as much as his peers. He's got just 7 points with 34 hits and 22 shot blocks. The lower point total could be because he's seeing the opposing teams top defenceman, but there's still lots of room for improvement. The work ethic is there, though, and in the seasons to come I think we'll see this as a solid pick for Vancouver.
Round 1, Pick 9: G Phillip Weaver - 246 TPE
At pick 9, we have the first and only goalie in the first round. Phillip Weaver was the lucky one to play goalie for the expansion Nevada Battleborn. Whoever was in this spot was going to have a rough go of it as expansion teams aren't expected to be that competitive. That shows in his 8-26-2 record, but he's putting up a respectable .901 save percentage. Every goalie has to start somewhere and Weaver doesn't look out of place in the SMJHL. He's going to be solid in goal for Nevada.
Round 1, Pick 10: C Vladmir Petrov - 256 TPE
Another centre finds his way into the first round, as Vladmir Petrov goes 10 to Anchorage. Petrov is having himself a solid season, with 13 points, 38 hits, and 10 shot blocks. He's also been given sheltered minutes for the Armada, but giving them solid production in that time. He's going to be manning the centre of the ice for Anchorage and they'll be happy for that.
Round 1, Pick 11: LW Yngve Simonsson - 255 TPE
With the 11th pick, Detroit took left winger Yngve Simonsson with their second first round pick. Simonsson has been good with his 14 minutes per game, potting 12 points to go along with 20 hits and 39 shot blocks. He's going to be a staple on the wing for the Falcons and they look solid with Giannapoulos and Simonsson coming out of the first round.
With the final pick in the first round, the Whalers took another forward, this time right winger KnockedOut ByOvechkin. He's easily the most protected player in the first round, playing just under 9 minutes a game. He's given them 6 points, 15 hits, and 40 shot blocks. Rookie or not, they'll hope for more production whenever they decide to give him more ice time.
Leafs4ever
