NHL Mock Draft: Matthews' moment almost here

We may be reading too far into this.

But, with Las Vegas expansion now officially on the horizon and executive teams now required to lay plans to protect the future, there's certainly more to ponder on the draft floor in Buffalo.

You'd think one of these considerations, and perhaps most pressing, would be team defenses. Because as per the rules that will govern the expansion draft, teams will have to protect eight skaters, not the maximum 10, in order to ensure more than three roster defenders.

For this reason, and the perpetual obligation to supplement this position, we expect a run on defenseman in the front half of the first round once the elite forwards come off the board.

Here's our final mock draft:

1. Maple Leafs - Auston Matthews, C, Zurich

A complete three-zone center and as NHL-ready a prospect that's arrived in recent years, Matthews is now charged with igniting Toronto's turnaround.

2. Jets - Patrik Laine, RW, Tappara

Winnipeg has plenty of quality prospects, though none with a toolbox like Laine. The anomalous Finn will soon have the MTS Centre reaching a whole 'nother decibel.

Related: Laine a rare breed of sniper

3. Blue Jackets - Jesse Puljujarvi, RW, Karpat

The next generation of power winger, Puljujarvi is an exceptional skater with a 6-foot-4 build that he can continue packing muscle onto.

4. Oilers - Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London

A polished, proficient, intelligent attacking-zone force made to complement a star, Tkachuk could be Connor McDavid's ideal wingman.

Related: Tkachuk lauds McDavid as NHL's next best, 'if he's not already'

5. Canucks - Mikhail Sergachev, D, Windsor

Considered by some as the blue-liner with the highest ceiling, Sergachev outshone first-round talents from all corners of the OHL in being named the league's most outstanding defenseman. It stays this way draft night.

6. Flames - Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW, Cape Breton

Dubois is highly capable in all offensive facets and will bring much needed size and strength to a young top six.

7. Coyotes - Olli Juolevi, D, London

Arizona has an exciting collection of forward prospects but aren't exactly brimming with talent at the back end. The steady Juolevi is as good as a lock to be a factor at the next level.

8. Sabres - Alex Nylander, LW, Mississauga

One of the highest-skilled forwards available for choosing, the Sabres keep adding pieces to their top six with lottery selections. The Nylander brothers, meanwhile, remain connected by highway.

9. Canadiens - Logan Brown, C, Windsor

A 6-foot-6 center, he wouldn't be considered the classic Canadien, but to go along with his size, Brown has top-end play-making capabilities, vision, and comparative speed.

10. Avalanche - Jakob Chychrun, D, Sarnia

It would not be surprising to see a team acquire this selection from the Avs, but it fits nonetheless. Chychrun has can't-miss, next-level talent, even if he didn't show it consistently throughout his draft season.

11. Devils - Clayton Keller, C, USA U-18

Keller was without question the most dominant point producer in USA Hockey's developmental program this season. He'll help to satiate an obvious need in Jersey.

12. Senators - Dante Fabbro, D, Penticton

With two defenders making almost $15 million, the Senators must continue funneling capable back line help into the system. They find one in Fabbro, who will make the jump from Junior A to the NCAA and Boston University next season.

13. Hurricanes - Tyson Jost, C, Penticton

Carolina has added some quality pieces up front under Ron Francis, but it has spent its lottery selection on defense. Jost could be that game-breaking talent the Hurricanes plainly lack.

14. Bruins - Jake Bean, D, Calgary

Bean can grow into the competent puck-moving, possession-driving blue-liner that the Bruins are largely without.

15. Wild - Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston University

The Wild defense ought to change over the course of the next 12 months. As such, adding a sure-skating transition defender in McAvoy - the youngest player in Division I this season - would be a quality investment.

16. Red Wings - Kieffer Bellows, LW, USA U-18

Yet another talented scorer will fall to the Red Wings in the mid-to-late first round. Bellows is an exuberant scorer with a little sandpaper to him as well.

17. Predators - Michael McLeod, C, Mississauga

McLeod isn't the most skilled prospect, but his size, motor, and defensive acumen will see him have a lasting impact at the next level. This would be a value pick for the Predators and one at an area of need.

18. Flyers - Max Jones, LW, London

Jones is a forceful, strong-skating, talented scorer, and a complete terror to line up against. Sounds like a Flyer, don't it?

19. Islanders - Luke Kunin, C, Wisconsin

Kunin won't "wow" with isolated individual skills, but all together, he was a dominant attacking force in his draft season.

20. Coyotes - German Rubstov, C, Russia U-18

Rubstov's the wild card in the draft, as information pertaining to the center is limited, in that Russia was disqualified from the U18 World Championship. Arizona may be that progressive organization who can tune out the noise and pluck a two-way center with lottery potential.

21. Hurricanes - Julien Gauthier, RW, Val d'Or

Gauthier's a tireless worker off the ice but may need some drilling on it. He hasn't quite figured out how to be a consistently dominant player despite having all the attributes. Still, Carolina nabs another very intriguing prospect with the selection of Gauthier here.

22. Jets - Rasmus Asplund, C, Farjestad

To pair with the second ranked European-bred Laine, the Jets will grab the fourth and two-way center Asplund. With two seasons of pro hockey already to his credit, he should be quite polished when he comes over down the road.

23. Panthers - Alex DeBrincat, RW, Erie

DeBrincat piled up 102 goals in two seasons with the Erie Otters. Florida's new-look, stat-minded brain-trust doesn't have to flip through too many spreadsheets to be sold on the young American forward.

24. Ducks - Vitali Abramov, RW, Gatineau

A highly successful debut season in North America, in which he led QMJHL rookies with 93 points, vaults Abramov into the first round.

25. Stars - Kale Clague, D, Brandon

With Alex Goligoski gone, and Jason Demers and Kris Russell to follow, Dallas is turning to its system to defend the zone next season. Replenish.

26. Capitals - Riley Tufte, LW, Blaine

A towering kid with the skill typically reserved for diminutive types, Tufte was named Minnesota's Mr. Hockey in his senior season, scoring 47 goals and 78 points in 25 games.

27. Lightning - Tyler Benson, LW, Vancouver

Benson was limited in his 30 games as a draft-eligible prospect, but with the potential to grow into a top-six NHL forward when healthy, Tampa might get value here.

28. Blues - Libor Hajek, D, Saskatoon

With a puck-moving defenseman believed to be on the move, the Blues add one of the draft's premier skaters. Hajek has a lot of areas to shore up but has the base most conducive to future success.

29. Bruins - Nathan Bastian, RW, Mississauga

Bastian makes it a trio of Mississauga Steelheads linemates chosen in the first round, joining Nylander and McLeod.

30. Ducks - Dennis Cholowski, D, Chilliwack

With its second pick in the opening round, Anaheim continues to recognize that defense is the greatest currency, selecting a bit of a project puck mover in Cholowski.