5. Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert, WHL)
Purely in terms of hockey sense and talent upside, Daxon Rudolph is one of the most impressive and intriguing prospects in this draft class. Rudolph brings high-end vision and hockey instincts on both sides of the ice and tremendous playmaking ability with the puck on his stick.
Away from the puck, it feels like Rudolph always knows where to be. He consistently is in the right spot to make a play on the puck.
Many in the media have considered Rudolph to be a potential top 10 pick on the blue line on defense this upcoming weekend in the lottery in the first round.
4. Keaton Verhoeff (North Dakota, NCAA)
This past year, Keaton Verhoeff was able to make the leap from the WHL to the NCAA thanks to a new rule allowing CHL players in college hockey. The level of competition was very beneficial for Verhoeff, who got to prove his skill set against top-flight opponents in the NCAA this past season on the blue line on defense.
His combination of size, skating ability, and poise with the puck on his stick gives him real top-pairing upside in the NHL.
Both from a production and a physicality perspective, Verhoeff's game translated seamlessly to the collegiate level. He didn't have to make the jump from the WHL to the NCAA this past season, but he proved that his skill set will translate well to the NHL.
3. Alberts Smits (EHC Munchen, DEL)
The 6-foot-3 and 205-pound Latvian defenseman Alberts Smits passes the eye test right away on the ice. He plays with a certain level of energy and aggression that makes him stand out right away when he gets off the bench on the blue line.
Smits looked the part as a major contributor for Latvia's World Junior Championship team this past year. He plays with a high level of effort and clear confidence that makes him a potential immediate impact player on defense in Year 1 in the NHL.
It's not too often that you find a defender who's 18 years old who has the size and compete-level necessary to be a regular top-four defenseman in a roster lineup during their rookie campaign. We also shouldn't discount his skating ability, which is really important given how large his frame is.
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