Re-Drafting the 2017 NHL Entry Draft
#1: New Jersey Devils – Cale Makar
Original Pick: Nico Hischier
This one is pretty obvious. A superstar defensemen in the league dropped to fourth overall in this years draft, the Devils and three other teams opted to not draft Makar in the top three. The 24-year-old would do wonders on the Devils blue-line already filled with great players such as Dougie Hamilton, and John Marino, Makar would add so much more offense to New Jersey that they may have been able to make the playoffs in years past.
Selecting Hischier first overall is understandable. At the time, scouts had him pegged at the top two-way center in the draft, and picking the Swiss player was certainly not a bad selection whatsoever with him being their captain, but seeing the superstar Makar has become, the Devils might want to go back on their selection.
#2: Philadelphia Flyers – Elias Pettersson
Original Pick: Nolan Patrick
This one hurts Flyers fans, you had the chance to select any top player in this years draft and they ended up selecting Nolan Patrick, who sadly did not pan out for Philly. With no fault of his own Patrick’s issues have come from injuries. I was a big fan of the pick for Philadelphia, but in hindsight, Elias Pettersson was the right choice who slipped to five.
Pettersson has developed into a top center in the league and if his was in a Flyers jersey, I don’t think Philly would be too upset. In 325 games thus far, the Swedish sensation has 323 points. This season Pettersson passed the 100 point mark for the first time in his career with his previous career high in points being 68.