Carrick, 22, was a fourth round pick in 2012 and never made it to the NHL in 2016-17. The Canadian blueliner had 16 points (4G / 12A) in 57 games with Charlotte (AHL) and will have a tough time cracking a talented blueline in Carolina.
At 30-years-old Ryan came out of nowhere in 2016-17. After being in Europe for four years, Ryan signed with the Hurricanes in 2015-16 and posted 55 points (23G / 32A) in 70 AHL games. He enjoyed more AHL success early last year before being called up and registering 29 points (11G / 18A) in 67 NHL games. Ryan carries strong possession numbers and should be a quality depth centre for the Hurricanes in 2017-18.
Holzer has been a serviceable seventh defenseman for the Ducks for the last two seasons, posting a combined 10 points (2G / 8A) in a total of 61 games. Holzer won’t make any fantasy splash as he doesn’t see regular playing time on a talented Ducks’ blueline.
Hamonic’s name has been swirling on trade fronts for over a year, but the Islanders finally pulled the trigger on the draft floor on Saturday. Hamonic dealt with some injuries in 2016-17, but posted 14 points (3G / 11A) in the 49 games he was able to dress for. Hamonic has good size (6-foot-2/205lbs) and is a solid two-way defenseman who is both physical in his own end while possessing a big point shot at the other. The Flames are following the Predators’ model by stacking their blueline as Hamonic joins Mark Giordano, Dougie Hamilton and TJ Brodie as the Flames’ big-4.
Andreoff enjoyed moderate success in 2015-16, posting 10 points (8G / 2A) in 60 games with the Kings, but struggled to find regular playing time in 2016-17, failing to score a goal while posting two assists in 36 contests. Andreoff is a serviceable fourth-line centre as he won 59.4% of the 69 faceoffs he took a season ago.
Chiarot is a valuable third-pairing defensemen for the Jets, but has had difficult time staying healthy during his young NHL career. The 26-year-old tallied two goals and 10 assists (12 points) in 59 games while averaging 15:19 TOI/GM including 1:58 SH TOI/GM a season ago.
Eaves started the 2016-17 season in Dallas, where he tallied a career-high 21 goals and 37 points before being dealt to Anaheim at the deadline, where he added another 11 goals and three assists—32 goals and 19 assists (51 points) total. The 33-year-old winger is like whiskey as it appears he is getting better with age. Of course he has been aided by playing with players like Tyler Seguin, Jaime Benn and Ryan Getzlaff, but there’s no reason to not expect him to get back to 20-goals next year, especially given his knack for cashing in on the power-play—24 PPG in the last three seasons.
In 2016-17, Oshie set a new career-high with 33 goals despite missing 14 games with a pair of upper-body injuries. Oshie tied for the team-lead in goals and ranked fifth in points (56), making it the fifth straight (full 82 game) season that he has topped 50 points. The American-born winger will turn 31-years-old in December, so the Capitals have him locked up at $5.75M per season until he is 39, which is quite an investment.
Kostin entered the draft as NHL Central Scoutings top European skater and for good reason. Kostin has great size (6-foot-2/207 lbs.) and uses it effectively. Kostin plays a physical game, but doesn’t do it at the expense of any offence.
Like a lot of young Finnish defensemen, Jokiharju is a strong skater with high-end passing skills. Jokiharju finished second among Portland Winterhawks defensemen in points in 2016-17, posting nine goals and 39 assists (48 points) in 71 games.
Bowers won’t blow you away with his offensive numbers like others in this draft class, but plays an excellent two-way game. Bowers had 22 goals and 29 assists (51 points) in 60 games with the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) this season and looks like a low-risk draft pick.
Poehling is a rangey player, standing in at 6-foot-2, but needs to add bulk to that frame. Poehling posted seven goals and six assists (13 points) in 35 games in his first season with St. Cloud State.
