5 intriguing prospects to look out for on Day 2 of the draft

There is room for only 31 on Day 1, but Day 2 of the NHL draft is a totally different animal.

In rapid fashion, 186 players will be selected over the final six rounds Saturday.

Here are five names to watch.

SERRON NOEL, forward

Pre-draft projection: Rounds 1-2. He was listed 10th on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of North American skaters, while HockeyProspect.com put him 21st among draft-eligible players.

The backstory: Noel is the son of Dean Noel, a former CFL running back. He calls Canada's capital home, and grew up in the Ottawa Senators' minor hockey system. Describing him as a Day 1 "faller" might be a stretch, but he's the type of player who will be labeled a steal once the madness wraps up in Dallas.

The draft info: Noel is raw - and that's a compliment. He is a tremendous skater for his size (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) and has improved all aspects of his game by leaps and bounds over the past couple of seasons. The right winger racked up 28 goals and 25 assists in 62 games with the Oshawa Generals last season and is due to wreak havoc on the OHL in 2018-19. A feather in Noel's cap: six points in five games at the highly competitive world U18 tournament in April.

BODE WILDE, defenseman

Pre-draft projection: Rounds 1-2. He was listed 17th on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of North American skaters, while HockeyProspect.com had him 31st among draft-eligible players.

The backstory: Wilde's been a highly touted blue-liner since his early teens. The dual citizen was born in Montreal but grew up and still lives in the Detroit area. He is a product of the USNTDP and, in many scouts' opinion, a first-round talent. A son to skiers, Wilde is named after Olympic skier Bode Miller.

The draft info: Wilde checks off many boxes. He has a pro body (6-foot-4 and 198 pounds at 18), is a great skater, and brings game-breaking abilities. However, he lags behind his peers in the cost-benefit department. Oftentimes, Wilde chooses the riskier option, rushing the puck or forcing a pass instead of playing it safe. His 2018-19 whereabouts are in limbo, as news leaked last week that the right-hander will not attend the University of Michigan this fall. The Saginaw Spirit own his OHL rights.

JAKUB SKAREK, goalie

(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

Pre-draft projection: Rounds 2-3. He was listed second on NHL Central Scouting's ranking of European goalies, while HockeyProspect.com had him 53rd among draft-eligible players.

The backstory: Skarek has honed his skills exclusively in the Czech youth, junior, and pro systems, climbing the ranks without a hitch. Though this year's crop of goalies is considered so-so, there are some intriguing netminders, including Skarek. Upper-echelon goalie prospects tend to go off the board in bundles on Day 2 - once one team pulls the trigger, the floodgates open.

The draft info: Skarek's name may ring a bell due to his poor showing at the 2018 world juniors. The big-bodied, athletic Czech allowed 14 goals on 92 shots for a team headlined by Filip Zadina and Martin Necas. Back home, Skarek posted a .913 save percentage in 21 games in the top domestic league before his club, HC Dukla Jihlava, was relegated. Next season, the 18-year-old is Finland-bound, as Liiga's Lahden Pelicans inked him to a deal in May.

BLADE JENKINS, forward

Pre-draft projection: Rounds 3-5. He was listed 26th on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of North American skaters, while HockeyProspect.com had him 164th among draft-eligible players.

The backstory: Jenkins is a true Michigan boy. He was born in Jackson, played his minor hockey in Detroit, spent a season with the USNTDP in Ann Arbor, and now skates in Saginaw for the OHL's Spirit. His dad is ex-ECHLer Todd Jenkins. Bonus: his fantastic name sounds like something straight out of a fictional hockey book.

The draft info: One of the youngest prospects in the entire 2018 class, Jenkins doesn't turn 18 until August. The right-handed center posted solid numbers for an OHL rookie this past season, contributing 20 goals and 24 assists in 68 games. He is lauded by scouts for his superior hockey sense. At 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds, size is not an issue.

LIAM KIRK, forward

Pre-draft projection: Rounds 6-7. He was listed 65th on NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of European skaters, while HockeyProspect.com had him 113th among all draft-eligible players.

The backstory: Kirk is a world champion, although he earned his gold medal in a group most hockey fans ignore. The 6-foot-2, 161-pounder helped Great Britain win the Division I tournament in April. And he might make history in Dallas - if selected, he'd become the first NHL draft pick born and trained in England. In other words, he's the quintessential sentimental choice as Day 2 winds down.

The draft info: Kirk, 18, is a speedy left-handed forward who recorded nine goals and seven assists in 52 pro games this past season as a member of the Elite Ice Hockey League's Sheffield Steelers. Next season, in an attempt to further his development, Kirk plans to dress for whichever junior club selects him in next week's 2018 CHL Import Draft.