Ranking the top defensemen at the NHL Draft (20-16)
Goaltenders: 10-6 | 5-1 | Defensemen: 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1 |
Forwards: 20-16 | 15-11 | 10-6 | 5-1 |
20. Vladislav Gavrikov, Yaroslavl (KHL)
The 19-year-old is a stay-at-home rearguard who has size and mobility at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds.
He won't wow anyone with his offensive prowess, but he can kill penalties and impact a game with his physical style of play.
Gavrikov's skating isn't on par with many of his contemporaries and he lacks positional awareness at times, but the left-shooting blue-liner could carve out a serviceable NHL career if he continues to develop on the defensive end.
19. Vince Dunn, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Dunn posted 56 points in 68 games for the IceDogs in 2014-15, good for sixth in the league among defensemen.
His ability to move the puck in transition and kick-start his team's offensive attack could make him an intriguing sleeper pick for a team in need. His strengths are passing and skating.
Dunn looks to follow in the footsteps of offensively inclined former IceDogs defensemen Dougie Hamilton and Alex Pietrangelo.
18. Gabriel Carlsson, Linkoping, Jr. (Sweden)
The Swedish national's 6-foot-4, 183-pound frame makes him well suited for a transition to the NHL.
He's a reliable shut-down defenseman who uses his strength and size to neutralize opposing forwards.
Carlsson isn't generating much buzz ahead of the draft because he isn't flashy, but he is a solid two-way player whose safe approach could make him an effective top-four blue-liner at the NHL level.
His absence from the World Junior Hockey Championship and limited experience in Sweden's top league could further explain his diminished draft stock.
17. Travis Dermott, Erie Otters (OHL)
Dermott is another steady rearguard who doesn't possess elite offensive skills but plays his position well.
The 18-year-old is a calm, steadying influence. He possesses a high hockey IQ and has continually shown the ability to make the right play under pressure.
Dermott plays a controlled game and minimizes mistakes. What he lacks in height (5-foot-11), he makes up in weight (197 pounds).
During Erie's OHL playoff run in May, Neate Sager of Yahoo Sports wrote that Dermott could be a sneaky addition at the draft:
While Connor McDavid has the most buzz on the Otters as the playoffs unfold and the NHL draft draws nearer, the phenom's former minor hockey and lacrosse pal is turning heads with his qualities as a puck-moving defenceman. During these playoffs, Dermott is showing on a nightly basis that he has the speed, touch and defensive savvy to become a potential NHL draft steal.
16. Ryan Pilon, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Pilon makes smart decisions with the puck and has earned praise from scouts for his vision.
He moved up from 31st on NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking to 24th on the final edition.
The nephew of former defenseman Rich Pilon had a productive final year with the Wheat Kings, notching 52 points in 68 games.
Pilon isn't an overly active defenseman, but he's an ideal complementary player to a more dominant blue-liner, as he demonstrated playing alongside former Brandon partner Ivan Provorov.
"He's a good, smart, two-way defenseman, so it's kind of easy for us (as partners) because we know what to expect from each other and we support each other," Provorov told NHL.com last month.
Pilon isn't projected to be the second defenseman off the board like his former junior teammate, but he could be a solid addition for a team looking to balance a top-four pairing.