Nearly seven years have passed since the 2018 NHL Draft, held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. Of the 31 first-round picks, all but three have reached the NHL, with many playing over 100 games. Some have blossomed into stars, while others have struggled to meet expectations.
With the benefit of hindsight, we’re taking a look at the top 10 picks from 2018 and seeing where some players might have ended up if the scouts had done their jobs, picking up where we left off after picks 1-5 with picks 6-10
6. Detroit Red Wings
Original Pick: Filip Zadina
Redraft: Evan Bouchard
Initially picked 10th, Bouchard has grown into an offensive powerhouse on Edmonton’s blue line. Known for his booming slap shot and overall pretty elite offensive abilities (for a defenceman), he’d help to solidify Detroit’s blue line with Moritz Seider coming in a year after which would be one of the better defensive pairings in the league.
7. Vancouver Canucks
Original Pick: Quinn Hughes
Redraft: K’Andre Miller
Originally a second-round pick in 2018, Miller’s defensive reliability and size make him an appealing choice for Vancouver with Hughes off the board. The 6’5 defender has the potential to be one of the best blue liners in the league with his size and offensive upside, with 118 points across 343 games with the Rangers.
8. Chicago Blackhawks
Original Pick: Adam Boqvist
Redraft: Yegor Sharangovich
Originally a fifth-round selection, Sharangovich has emerged as a skilled and versatile forward, proving to be a steal in hindsight. Chicago moves on from Boqvist, who is a serviceable defenseman but does not provide the same value as Sharangovich.
9. New York Rangers
Original Pick: Vitali Kravtsov
Redraft: Joel Farabee
A strong two-way winger, Farabee has shown flashes of scoring ability and would be a solid addition to the Rangers’ roster. Traded to the Flames midway through the 2024-25 season, the 24-year-old figures to be a centrepiece of Calgaries rebuild. Kravtsov never established himself in the NHL and currently plays in the KHL, so it’s an easy choice for the Rangers to move off him.
10. Edmonton Oilers
Original Pick: Evan Bouchard
Redraft: Philipp Kurashev
Initially a fourth-round selection, Kurashev has steadily improved and is proving to be a valuable contributor in Chicago. With Bouchard off the board, the Oilers pivot and add to their forward depth to support McDavid and Draisaitl. Anyone fortunate enough to play with McDavid is going to have inflated numbers, but Kurashev is a solid forward with playmaking upside.