The 2018 NHL Draft featured high-end talent at all three positions, headlined by Minnesota Wild defenseman Quinn Hughes. Owen Cameron takes a look at what changes would be made if general managers across the league had a second chance to make their picks.
The 2018 NHL Draft was one of the weaker overall classes in recent memory, but there are a few players that have developed into franchise talents.
That high-end skill is especially true for the top defensemen in this class, featuring three perennial Norris Trophy candidates. However, the depth drops off quickly with this group, giving intriguing potential for a re-draft.
Considering the talent, organizational fit, and positional need for each franchise, this exercise aims to explore what each team selecting in the top-10 of the 2018 draft would do if given a second chance.
1. Buffalo Sabres: Quinn Hughes, Defenseman
Original Pick: Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman
Rasmus Dahlin has been phenomenal for the Buffalo Sabres, but Quinn Hughes is a whole different animal. Hughes transformed the Minnesota Wild's defensive core in his short time with the team last season, and it's hard to argue that the Sabres wouldn’t be a better team if they had him instead.
The way Hughes controls the blueline is unlike any player in the league. He's a generational player who has proven his dominance in the NHL and now on the world stage, leading Team USA in points at the Olympics en route to a gold medal.
2. Carolina Hurricanes: Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman
Original Pick: Andrei Svechnikov, Right Wing
The fall stops pretty early for Dahlin as the Carolina Hurricanes get the Swedish defenseman in this exercise. His game has grown so much since the start of his career, and there's still time for him to end up as the No. 1 player in this class.
He can do a little bit of everything and can be a team’s engine in all three zones. The thought of having Dahlin and Jaccob Slavin on the same blueline sounds like the foundation of a top defensive core in the league.
3. Montreal Canadiens: Brady Tkachuk, Left Wing
Original Pick: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Center
In hindsight, maybe Brady Tkachuk isn’t the best fit in a Canadian market. But looking at the player he became, this fit with the Montreal Canadiens is very strong. He brings a crash-and-bang style of play that the Habs were missing this past season when they lost to the Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final.
Tkachuk has already proven he can be a dominant offensive player, like in the 2022-23 season when he finished with 35 goals and 83 points. Although if he were to land with the Canadiens, Tkachuk would bring all of the intangible, pesky aspects to his game that make him effective without having to be relied on as an offensive leader.
4. Ottawa Senators: Evan Bouchard, Defenseman
Original Pick: Brady Tkachuk, Left Wing
The Ottawa Senators were looking for elite production from the blueline at this stage in their development, and landing Evan Bouchard would give them exactly that. Bouchard is a huge reason for the Edmonton Oilers' success on the power play over the last few years, and bringing that to Ottawa would take the team to a whole new level.
Not many defensemen in the league can put up his massive offensive numbers, which makes him incredibly valuable in a re-draft.
That scoring also goes beyond the regular season, with Bouchard recording 79 points in 65 playoff games over the last four years. His talent would help move the needle for the Sens and allow them to build a one of the best defensive cores in the Atlantic Division.
5. Arizona Coyotes: K’Andre Miller, Defenseman
Original Pick: Barrett Hayton, Center
K'Andre Miller was a really solid player with the New York Rangers, but when he went to Carolina, he flipped a switch and now looks like a real problem for the rest of the league. The now Utah Mammoth haven’t had a true No.1 defenseman in quite some time, making this a home-run pick.
At 6-foot-5, Miller uses his range well when defending in transition and he's become a great all-around player. He took his game to the next level in the playoffs this year, where he had nine points in 19 games and often looked like the best player on the Hurricanes.
With the Mammoth already on the rise, this pick may have accelerated their competitive timeline.
6. Detroit Red Wings: Noah Dobson, Defenseman
Original Pick: Filip Zadina, Left Wing
This run of defensemen continues with Noah Dobson getting selected by the Detroit Red Wings, who have tried everything in their rebuild and haven’t found something that sticks. But looking at how Carolina’s roster was built this past season, you can never have too many defenseman.
Dobson can create a lot of offense, but in Montreal he’s proven that he can play a more supportive role. He had 47 points last year, and under a Detroit roster that has a ton of offensive talent, there would be real potential for him to maintain his 70-point form that he showcased in the 2023-2024 season with the New York Islanders.
7. Vancouver Canucks: Andrei Svechnikov, Right Wing
Original Pick: Quinn Hughes, Defenseman
The Vancouver Canucks miss out on an a high-end defenseman, but they get the former second-overall pick with Andrei Svechnikov. His offensive firepower would complement Elias Pettersson very well, and it would allow the team to build a more supportive defensive core and lean into their forwards.
He’s a proven sniper with six seasons at 20-plus goals, with last season being his career high at 31. Svechnikov brings some size as well, and when you mix in his creativity in tight spaces, he becomes very hard to defend.
8. Chicago Blackhawks: Kirill Marchenko, Right Wing
Original Pick: Adam Boqvist, Defenseman
It took a couple of years for his game to adjust to the NHL, but Kirill Marchenko has become an elite offensive producer. There are some weaknesses in his game, but he brings a level of firepower that’s hard to pass up here.
He’s had four 20-goal seasons and put up 74 points just two years ago. At six-foot-three, Marchenko brings a blend of size and skill any team would want. With the Chicago Blackhawks landing him, they get an elite offensive talent to help their rebuild and be part of a potential Stanley Cup contender down the line.
9. New York Rangers: Yegor Sharangovich, Center
Original Pick: Vitali Kravtsov, Right Wing
The Rangers add some stability with Yegor Sharangovich, who has been a really solid middle-six player throughout his career. He plays a solid two-way game, and he’s already had a 30-goal season.
The Rangers have always rotated their forwards up and down the lineup, and have struggled to find mainstays despite providing every opportunity to secure a role. Sharangovich solves that with a dependable style of play, great scoring depth, and the ability to make an impact on the power play.
10. Edmonton Oilers: Barrett Hayton, Center
Original Pick: Evan Bouchard, Defenseman
Barrett Hayton hasn’t reached the potential that teams saw in him when he was the captain of the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL, but he’s still become a solid player who has room to grow.
Hayton defends well and was one of the most snake-bitten players in the NHL last season, finishing with just 10 goals despite having an individual expected goals-for of 20.9 according to NaturalStatTrick.
The Oilers don’t get a future superstar, but they get a player that has the IQ and tools to slot in as a productive third-line center, with the potential to become even more.
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