Chicago Sun Times

● By Ben Pope

Accuracy: 12.98%39th Place
The NHL Draft is back in-person this year — and the chaos is back, too. For the first time in recent memory, the No. 1 pick — held by the hosting Canadiens — seems undecided. The top tier of the draft class is weaker than normal, but the class overall is deeper than normal, increasing the likelihood of surprise selections. And teams have expressed a willingness to consider trading picks for established players. Those factors could combine to create a whirlwind of news during the first round Thursday, which is followed by Rounds 2-7 on Friday. They also might open a window for the Blackhawks, who lack a first-round pick, to join the fun.

Top Players Not Included

These players appear in the top 32 of our

Consensus Big Board

, but do not show up in this mock.