Pacific Division team draft needs

The 2018 NHL Draft provides an opportunity for teams to shore up positions of need with an injection of young talent.
The first round of the draft at American Airlines Center in Dallas is June 22 (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS). Rounds 2-7 are June 23 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, TVAS).
Here are what Pacific Division teams could be looking to do when they arrive in Dallas (teams listed in alphabetical order):

RELATED: [Complete 2018 NHL Draft Coverage]

ANAHEIM DUCKS

Top priority: Young skilled forwards
The situation:The Ducks were outscored 16-4 in a four-game sweep by the San Jose Sharks in the Western Conference First Round. But there is reason to be excited with forwards Sam Steel (2016 NHL Draft, No. 30), Troy Terry (2015, No. 148), Max Jones (2016, No. 24), Kevin Roy (2012, No. 97) and Maxime Comtois (2017, No. 50) in the pipeline. The Ducks have seven picks, including four in the opening three rounds, and need to target players with speed, intelligence and high compete. They have a sizeable window to load up at forward because center Ryan Getzlaf and right wing Corey Perry are signed through 2020-21, and center Ryan Kesler through 2021-22, so expect the them to stock up on mobile forwards and defensemen. Also look for the Ducks at some point to also select a goalie, a position of weakness in the pool of prospects. Starter John Gibson is backed up by Reto Berra, 31, and Ryan Miller, 37.
Possible fits:Vitali Kravtsov, RW, Chelyabinsk (RUS); Grigori Denisenko, LW, Yaroslavl 2 (RUS); Ryan McLeod, C, Mississauga (OHL)

ARIZONA COYOTES

Top priority: Top-four defenseman
The situation:The Coyotes have seven picks, five in the first three rounds, and three in the third round. Arizona has failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs the past six seasons and finished no higher than 10th in the Western Conference the past four. This season, the Coyotes were 30th in the NHL in goals scored (206) and 29th in shots per game (29.9) despite possessing young, dynamic offensive talent including Clayton Keller, Christian Fischer, Christian Dvorak and Brendan Perlini. Arizona traded forward Max Domi to the Montreal Canadiens for versatile forward Alex Galchenyuk on June 15. The prospect pool includes forwards Dylan Strome (2015, No. 3), Nick Merkley (2015, No. 30) and Lawson Crouse (trade with Florida), who formed one of the best lines for Tucson of the American Hockey League, but more depth on defense is needed. Pierre-Olivier Joseph (2017, No. 23), the top defenseman prospect in the system, had 46 points (13 goals, 33 assists) in 63 games for Charlottetown of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Possible fits:Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL); Adam Boqvist, D, Brynas Jr. (SWE), Quintin Hughes, D, Michigan (Big Ten)

CALGARY FLAMES

Top priority:Center depth
The situation:After failing to make the playoffs for the second time in three seasons, the Flames fired coach Glen Gulutzan on April 17 and replaced him with Bill Peters six days later. Peters has worked well with young players in the past and will have plenty to work with in Calgary. The Flames have done a good job of building a strong foundation of prospects, and that's good since they have four picks in the 2018 draft and none in the first three rounds. They have promising goalies Tyler Parsons (2016, No. 54) and Jon Gillies (2012, No. 75), and defensemen Juuso Valimaki (2017, No. 16), Adam Fox (2016, No. 66), Rasmus Andersson (2015, No. 53) and Oliver Kylington (2015, No. 60). Center Dillon Dube (2016, No. 56) was captain for gold medal-winning Canada at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship and had five points (three goals, two assists) in seven games. Dube had 84 points (38 goals, 46 assists) in 53 games for Kelowna (WHL) before signing an entry-level contract with the Flames on March 24.
Possible fits:Aidan Dudas, C, Owen Sound (OHL); Jake Wise, C, USA U-18 (USHL); Luke Henman, C, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

EDMONTON OILERS

Top priority:Top-four defenseman
The situation: After advancing to the 2017 Western Conference Second Round, Edmonton failed to qualify for the playoffs this season, finishing 12th in the conference with 78 points. The Oilers need to continue restocking their prospect pool at every position, particularly on defense, since transitioning the puck to centers Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl should be high on the list. Right wing Jesse Puljujarvi (2016, No. 4), who had 20 points (12 goals. eight assists) in 65 games, will be counted on to provide more on offense. Forward Kailer Yamamoto (2017, No. 22), who had three assists and 23 shots on goal in nine games before being returned to Spokane of the Western Hockey League, might earn an extended stay. The Oilers have six picks in the draft, including No. 10 in the first round. Look for them to take the best available in each round.
Possible fits: Adam Boqvist, Brynas Jr. (SWE); Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL); Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

LOS ANGELES KINGS

Top priority:Top-six defenseman
The situation:The Kings qualified for the playoffs after missing out in 2016-17 but were swept in four games by the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round. Coach John Stevens did a fine job in helping spark the turnaround but more support in the pipeline is needed. The Kings have seven picks, including No. 20 in the first round, and will be looking for speed and support from the back end. They received nice contributions from rookie forwards Adrian Kempe (37 points; 16 goals, 21 assists) and Alex Iafallo (25 points; nine goals, 16 assists), and rookie defenseman Kurtis MacDermid (77 hits, 27 blocked shots). Among those top prospects sure to get a look during development camp are forwards Gabriel Vilardi (2017, No. 11), Jaret Anderson-Dolan (2017, No. 41) and Michael Amadio (2014, No. 90), and defenseman Kale Clague (2016, No. 51).
Possible fits:Rasmus Sandin, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL); K'Andre Miller, D, USA U-18 (USHL); Mattias Samuelsson, D, USA U-18 (USHL)

SAN JOSE SHARKS

Top priority:Offensive defenseman
The situation: The Sharks were eliminated in six games by the Golden Knights in the second round and, despite giving Vegas its toughest test in the opening three rounds of the playoffs, lacked the depth and speed possessed by their opponent. They have six picks in the draft, including No. 21 in the first round. The Sharks traded forward prospect Daniel O'Regan (2012, No. 138), and conditional first- and fourth-round picks in the 2019 NHL Draft, to the Buffalo Sabres for forward Evander Kane on Feb. 26. The trade worked well for the Sharks after Kane had 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 17 regular-season games and five points (four goals, one assist) in nine playoff games. San Jose signed Kane to a seven-year contract on May 24. Expect the Sharks to target a puck mover on defense if one is available in the first round.
Possible fits:Ty Smith, D, Spokane (WHL); K'Andre Miller, D, USA U-18 (USHL); Calen Addison, D, Lethbridge (WHL)

VANCOUVER CANUCKS

Top priority:Top-two defenseman
The situation:The Canucks have six selections in the draft, including the No. 7 pick in the first round. It's understandable if the Canucks would consider trading down to gain a few more assets, but they should be able to get an offensive defenseman they need with that early choice. Right wing Brock Boeser, who finished second among NHL rookies with 29 goals despite missing the final 16 games of the regular season because of a back injury, is the future up front following the retirement of Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin at the end of the season. Vancouver has excellent prospects waiting their turn in center Elias Pettersson (2017, No. 5), who signed an entry-level contract on May 25, and goaltender Thatcher Demko (2014, No. 36). However, defenseman Olli Juolevi (2016, No. 5) will have a microdiscectomy procedure for a disk in his lower back and may not be ready for training camp in September. Expect the Canucks to draft a defenseman with their first pick and then bolster their pipeline up front with their remaining choices.
Possible fits:Noah Dobson, D, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL); Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL); Quintin Hughes, D, Michigan (Big 10)

VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS

Top priority: Depth at all positions
The situation:How do the Golden Knights improve upon a Stanley Cup Final appearance in their inaugural season? Vegas has seven picks in the draft, but none in the first round, one in the second and none in the third. The Golden Knights have a bevy of solid prospects looking to make their mark at development camp, including centers Cody Glass (2017, No. 6) and Nick Suzuki (2017, No. 13), and defensemen Nicolas Hague (2017, No. 34), the Canadian Hockey League Defenseman of the Year, and Erik Brannstrom (2017, No. 15), who paired with Rasmus Dahlin for silver medal-winning Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, and goalie Maksim Zhukov (2017, No. 96). Vegas had an exhilarating first season, but needs to continue bolstering the back end with players having the smarts to transition quickly. The Golden Knights might also consider selecting a goaltender with one of their two choices in the fourth round.
Possible fits:Sean Durzi, D, Owen Sound (OHL); Jonathan Tychonick, D, Penticton (BCHL); Jonatan Berggren, RW, Skelleftea Jr. (SWE)