Brandon center Nolan Patrick will be the first choice by the New Jersey Devils, according to Kimelman and Morreale. Lepage believes the Devils will select Halifax center Nico Hischier.
RELATED: [Kimelman Mock Draft | Lepage Mock Draft | Morreale Mock Draft]
Patrick (6-foot-2, 198 pounds), No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, was limited to 33 games because of injuries but averaged 1.39 points per game, 10th-best in the Western Hockey League. He was voted the best professional prospect in the Canadian Hockey League.
Hischier (6-1, 178) who is from Switzerland, led Quebec Major Junior Hockey League rookies with 86 points (38 goals, 48 assists) in 57 games. He was named the top rookie in the CHL.
"They are both great players," Devils general manager Ray Shero said. "Patrick went through injury this year but everybody knows he's a heck of a player and he's going to be very good. Hischier is a Swiss center with good size and talent. For us, these are two centers, two real good players. We're going to get one heck of a player, and at this point that's what this franchise needs."
Each of the draft experts see the rest of the top five differently. Lepage and Kimelman believe the Dallas Stars will select Windsor center Gabriel Vilardi at No. 3, and Morreale thinks they will select defenseman Cale Makar of Brooks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. All three writers agree the Colorado Avalanche will select HIFK defenseman Miro Heiskanen at No. 4. Kimelman and Lepage think the Vancouver Canucks will select Eden Prairie (Minnesota) center Casey Mittelstadt at No. 5, but Morreale thinks they'll choose Portland center Cody Glass.
Glass will be the first selection of the expansion Vegas Golden Knights, according to Kimelman and Lepage. Morreale predicts it will be Vilardi.