Hello all welcome back to sportsbeat draft review with me Stan savern tonight we will be covering the 1st round of the SHL draft in which 16 players got to hear there name called and had the opportunity to stroll on up and receive a jersey from there new team. Now without further adu we head down to center stage where Winnipeg is on the clock. Rumor has it they are looking at 2 defenceman in this draft 2 supremely capable corner stone type players and now we go to the commisnor.

With the first pick in this years draft Winnipeg selects

Defense - Magnus Liljeström

No suprise there Winnipeg needed defence and Magnus is a knock out pick at number one clearly one of the top 2 players in this draft and possibly more upside than any player as well. It started with his dominance in the world under 18 tournament last season scouts raved about his ability to control the game while under constant pressure from other teams top lines his skating is second to none always a threat to turn from behind his own net and start the attack from the back end while also throwing bruising checks. His positioning is also sound and he should really grow into a power play quarterback that really goes hog wild on the point Winnipeg has to be happy with this selection.

Coming in at number two tampa bay is at the podium and they have made there selection.

Amabacas Cuddles from carolina!
Cuddles is the only player in this draft in the same realm as Magnus Liljeström, Cuddles is a born leader and great teammate while still growing into his frame he looks like someone who will be among the talks as top defencemen in the league for the long haul a tireless worker who never gives up on a play. Having been apart of carolinas organization cuddles should be prepared for the bigs having playing for a factory known for high draft picks in recent years it's my opinion cuddles will be the best player taken here today it's not a long shot to nail this guy on as a future hall of famer.

Coming in at number 3

Buffalo selects
Steve Harrington left winger from germany.
A natural playmaker with exceptional hockey sense a real coaches guy while he may not finish at the rate you would like at this stage of development it's a role he certainly could grow into however from inside the circles he has great insticts and makes beautiful short crisp high danger passes with regulatory and his always a threat when out there if hes paired with a dangerous shooter they could play sweet music togther this is a great pick for buffalo they really did there homework here. Congratulations to Harrington on the selection

Next up number 4 texas selects center Edward Williams.
Edward is a good puckhandling center with ability to get himself into great scoring position either on his own or finding dead spots in the d to get open his ceiling is very high a potential goal scoring champion who should make others around him better it is going to take a few years for him to reach the show but definatly a good player to get into the system and grow safe reliable player who wont make many mistakes to kill his team.

At number 5 a crowd favorite
Los Angeles selects

JIMMY WAGNER, Winger CAROLINA
Wagner is without a doubt the fastest player in this draft
A complete swiss army knife who can play in all situations and with ability to stretch defences and give coaches nightmares an absolute pest to play against if his hands catch up to his feet lookout he will be a perineal all star. I love this pick for many reasons Wagner is a true team guy that can slot anywhere truly captain material wherever there may be a deficiency in his game you can always count on him to improve it great pick here.

At number 6 our next pick is
Ethan Duncan! Going to west kendall. Duncan is a strong defensive center who if he gains some scoring touch could truly play a massive role for championship contenders hes built out of a john madden type of build and can really shut down opponents top playmakers. Great pick here very low risk no matter what you know your getting a future 2nd yo third line center who's not going to hurt you in your own end and who will show up to work every day with his lunch pail.

Next on the clock is buffalo and they select
Jaska Seppälä!
Heres a guy who can really fill the net he has a rifle of a shot and ability to get open with the right teammates your going to have to keep an eye out when this guys on the ice. Also reliable defensivly but not much of a hitter plus player on the power play but needs a top 6 role to really excell.

At number 8 with the next selection Toronto picks


Jack Kanoff defenseman out of canada
Jack is a solid two way defensemen who projects at the shl level as more of a stay at home type with good decision making out of his own zone he makes crisp passes too his forewards and can get the offense started from the back end. At 6'2 220 hes already shl size and may grow some more tough to make a super accurate projection but jack has high upside.

At number nine calgary is on the clock and selects

Bradley Barkov defensemen

Barkov is a real game changer on the blueline amazing passer quick wrist shot great vision cam handle the puck and makes everyone around him better. He has some deficiencys in his own end but with time will grow out of that hes a true power play quarterback as well and has insticts to join the rush that really help his forewards find an extra attacker. Slam dunk pick for Calgary here this organization always seems to find the next wave of players to fill out there roster getting barkov at nine in my mind is a steal great work as always by the dragons.

Next up at number 10

Defenseman, Jukka Timonen

The finnish flash from Newfoundland

Jukka is a extremly solid defender who excels in penalty killing and on the power play he has great awareness of situations and really has no weakness in his game. His coaches love him and teammates rave about him hes a great locker room guy and always puts the team before himself solid pick at number ten. His ceiling is high as long as he develops as planned you have a number one defenseman is Jukka.

At number 11 chicago selects

RYUUJI MINAMINO
Power forward wing from Japan

Ryuuji is a bit of a project player as most power forewards are you never know how well that game will translate to the shl but it's worth the risk because such players are so enticing every GM out there loves that huge net front presence that can play an offensive game. Hes a plus passer at this point and that is huge for developing power forewards because that plays at the next level it's going to take sometime probably a few years In the minors but it will be interesting to see how his career tracks.

At number 12 is tampa bay and they select

Valentín Kalashnikov

A true stay at home bruising dman who's soke concern is knocking opponents through the glass. Tough as nails too tampa is clearly addressing there defensive depth in this draft and so far they have done a fine job between cuddles and this guy they could have there future number one pairing 12 picks into this draft solid plan from managment in tampa.

At number 13 new Orleans

Erben Kasius!

Erben is an offensive defencemen who doesnt lack to much in his own end but is a definatly a step down from the top dmen taken today, not to say hes not a good player because he is but some of the earlier players taken were of supremely high caliber in the end though it's a draft everythings a crap shoot some scouts say Erben will be the best player taken going to see how it plays out.

14.at number 14 Winnipeg selects

Center - Reid Sutherland

Reid is a pass first puckhandling center who has good offensive upside and projects as a 2nd line center in the shl. He played great in the under 18 tournaments for usa and is somewhat of a cult hero among his teammates. Known for insane shootout moves he will need to play a bit more under control at the next level.

At number 15 San Francisco selects

SVEN SVENSON left wing

Sven is a pure sniper who can finish from any angle not much of a passer but hey when you can bury the biscuit like he can who needs to pass? Hopefully in San Francisco he gets top 6 minutes and finds himself in a role to put home chances like hes had so far in his career truly phenomenal finisher potentially the best in the draft only time will tell but San fran cant be upset about sven falling to 15.

The last selection here today in the first round is

WILLIAM HARTMANN going to edmonton

Will is a project type player hes good defensivly as a counter attacker and passes well above average but his game will be tough to duplicate at the next level regardless he can slot into a third line role and still give valuable minutes to his team the book isnt completly out on will so in time we will see how he plays compared to his contemporaries.

That does it for the first round I'm stan savern and thanks for joining us here today

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