Metropolitan Division Draft Grades: Devils, Flyers can do no wrong
The 2017 NHL Draft has come and gone, and all 31 teams will exit Chicago with varying degrees of satisfaction regarding their respective hauls.
While we can't truly know how they all fared for a few years yet, we've assessed how each club made out at first glance.
Here's our take on the teams in the Metropolitan Division:
Carolina Hurricanes
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | F Martin Necas |
| 2 | 42 | F Eetu Luostarinen |
| 2 | 52 | D Luke Martin |
| 3 | 67 | F Morgan Geekie |
| 3 | 73 | F Stelio Mattheos |
| 4 | 104 | G Eetu Makiniemi |
| 6 | 166 | D Brendan De Jong |
| 7 | 197 | D Ville Rasanen |
Grade: B+
The Carolina Hurricanes were able to nab four picks in the first three rounds. Leading the pack is Martin Necas, who ranked fifth among all European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. He's a skilled Czech forward with leadership qualities - nothing not to like here.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Draft Picks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 45 | F Alexandre Texier |
| 3 | 86 | G Daniil Tarasov |
| 4 | 117 | F Emil Bemstrom |
| 5 | 148 | F Kale Howarth |
| 6 | 170 | F Jonathan Davidsson |
| 6 | 179 | F Carson Meyer |
| 7 | 210 | D Robbie Stucker |
Grade: C-
The Columbus Blue Jackets didn't make a selection in the first round after dealing their pick to the Vegas Golden Knights for expansion draft considerations.
They used their top two picks on forward Alexandre Texier and goaltender Daniil Tarasov. Given that Tarasov didn't play a single game this season, he looks to have been a huge risk for the club.
Luckily, with Artemi Panarin now in the picture, the team's prospect pool might not be the Blue Jackets' top priority for the time being.
New Jersey Devils
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | F Nico Hischier |
| 2 | 36 | F Jesper Boqvist |
| 3 | 63 | F Fabian Zetterlund |
| 3 | 81 | D Reilly Walsh |
| 4 | 98 | F Nikita Popugaev |
| 5 | 129 | G Gilles Senn |
| 5 | 143 | F Marian Studenic |
| 6 | 160 | F Aarne Talvitie |
| 7 | 191 | D Jocktan Chainey |
| 7 | 205 | D Yegor Zaitsev |
| 7 | 214 | D Matthew Hellickson |
Grade: A-
The New Jersey Devils got a bit of quality and a lot of quantity.
With the first overall selection, the team nabbed Nico Hischier from the Halifax Mooseheads. The super skilled forward should be able to step right into the NHL.
In all, the Devils made 11 selections in the two days, stocking their prospect pool as they look to rebound from a poor 2016-17 season.
New York Islanders
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 46 | D Robin Salo |
| 3 | 77 | D Benjamin Mirageas |
| 5 | 139 | D Sebastian Aho |
| 6 | 165 | F Arnaud Durandeau |
| 7 | 201 | F Logan Cockerill |
Grade: D
There's a reason why New York Islanders GM Garth Snow wanted two first-round picks for Travis Hamonic.
The club didn't have a selection until midway through the second round, which they used on defenseman Robin Salo. Early on, he looks to be a stretch of a pick after being ranked 20th by Central Scouting among European defenders.
New York Rangers
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | F Lias Andersson |
| 1 | 21 | F Filip Chytil |
| 4 | 123 | D Brandon Crawley |
| 5 | 145 | D Calle Sjalin |
| 6 | 157 | F Dominik Lakatos |
| 6 | 174 | F Morgan Barron |
| 7 | 207 | F Patrik Virta |
Grade: B+
Getting two selections in the first round is certainly a win for the Rangers.
Lias Andersson has great size and the tools to be very effective around the net, while Filip Chytil models his play after Auston Matthews, according to NHL Central Scouting.
Philadelphia Flyers
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | F Nolan Patrick |
| 1 | 27 | F Morgan Frost |
| 2 | 35 | F Isaac Ratcliffe |
| 3 | 80 | G Kirill Ustimenko |
| 4 | 106 | F Matthew Strome |
| 4 | 107 | F Maksim Sushko |
| 5 | 137 | F Noah Cates |
| 6 | 168 | F Olle Lycksell |
| 7 | 196 | D Wyatt Kalynuk |
Grade: A
Given that many mock drafts, and even NHL Central Scouting, had Nolan Patrick as the No. 1 player in the draft, the Philadelphia Flyers are certainly pleased with how things worked out Friday.
The club went a little bit off the board with its next pick, selecting Morgan Frost in the first round, but made up for that by trading up to grab Isaac Ratcliffe of the Guelph Storm.
In all, the Flyers got some great offensive options, and grabbed a solid goaltender in Kirill Ustimenko.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 51 | D Zachary Lauzon |
| 3 | 93 | D Clayton Phillips |
| 5 | 152 | F Jan Drozg |
| 5 | 155 | F Linus Olund |
| 6 | 186 | D Antti Palojarvi |
| 7 | 217 | D William Reilly |
Grade: D
The Pittsburgh Penguins elected to use their lone first-round pick to acquire tough customer Ryan Reaves from the St. Louis Blues on Friday night.
Zachary Lauzon, whom the club snagged with its first pick at No. 51, was ranked 143rd among NHL Central Scouting's top North American skaters, meaning he clearly did something to impress the Penguins brass.
Washington Capitals
Draft picks
| Round | Pick | Player |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 120 | D Tobias Geisser |
| 5 | 151 | D Sebastian Walfridsson |
| 6 | 182 | D Benton Maass |
| 7 | 213 | F Kristian Roykas Marthinsen |
Grade: D
There's a price to pay for winning the last two Presidents' Trophies.
The Washington Capitals didn't have a selection until late in the fourth round, largely due to the trade they made to acquire Kevin Shattenkirk, which included their first-round pick in this year's draft.
The Capitals had just four picks over two days - among the fewest in the league.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)