The Journey looks ahead to the 2017 NHL Draft to see which top prospects are the best fit for lottery teams.

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Philadelphia Flyers – 2^nd Overall Pick – Nico Hischier – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

Despite having the third-worst odds among lottery teams, Philadelphia jumped up to the second overall pick in this year’s draft in a stroke of luck that should help the Flyers quasi-rebuild go quicker than anticipated. 

Given that they are stocked on the back end for some time with a blueline core of Shayne Gostisbehere, Ivan Provorov, Philippe Myers and Travis Sanheim (among others), it seems like a perfect time to select a forward. Philadelphia would likely be happy with either Nolan Patrick or Hischier but in my opinion the Swiss-born dynamo, who finished fifth in QMJHL scoring despite playing just 57 games, could be lethal alongside some of the top end talent that the Flyers possess. Depth hurt Philly this season outside of their typical top performers, and any players they can add to top nine that can be point producers will certainly help their chances of getting back to the playoffs. Hischier has elite level ability, and if he can learn to harness that on a more consistent basis, he's a potential top line option who can play either wing or center and be an integral part of a team’s offense at both even strength and on the power play.

Colorado Avalanche – 4^th Overall Pick – Miro Heiskanen – HIFK (Liiga)

No team had worse luck in the 2017 Draft Lottery then the Colorado Avalanche. After finishing the 2016-17 season 21 points worse than any other team in the league and winning a staggeringly-low 22 of their 82 games, the Avs were jumped by three teams behind them in the lottery and dropped to the fourth overall pick. It’s incredibly rare that despite having the highest chance of picking first, a team falls to their worst possible scenario of selecting at four but it’s been that kind of year for Colorado.

Despite needing help everywhere up and down their lineup, grabbing the draft’s top blueliner in Miro Heiskanen would be a best-case scenario. Obviously, that would in turn mean that New Jersey, Philadelphia and Dallas in front of them would have to select forwards and that none of the three teams trade down with a team looking to upgrade their defense. Heiskanen had a dynamite U-18's, and seems to have taken over the mantle of the most-prized blue liner. He’s a smooth-skating, two-way presence that has minute-munching top-four option written all over him. Well-rounded both offensively and defensively, Heiskanen can be an all-situations defenseman in the future for whatever team drafts him.

Arizona Coyotes – 7^th Overall Pick – Michael Rasmussen – Tri-City (WHL)

The Coyotes have done a great job of drafting high ceiling talent and rebuilding their team from within over the last few seasons. Players like Max Domi, Clayton Keller, Dylan Strome and Christian Dvorak will make up the team’s forward core for years to come. 

However, something they are lacking after moving Martin Hanzal to Minnesota at the 2017 NHL Trade Deadline is size down the middle. Rasmussen, a 6'6 monster who actually projects out as a more offensive version of the aforementioned Hanzal, certainly fits that bill. The Tri-City center scored 32 times in 50 games for the Americans, emerging as one of the team’s offensive leaders in his draft year. There may be some differing opinions on where Rasmussen is selected as he could be off the board as high as the 4-5 range, or as low as 15, but he certainly has some elite attributes that have shown promise as he continues to develop. The big pivot has a terrific shot, and doesn't mind going to the net where he scores on a ton of rebounds, tip-ins and shots in close. Unfortunately, a wrist injury shut him down in February, so he was not able to finish out his breakout season. Arizona is high on talent and Rasmussen would be no exception, filling a role in the organization that the team currently lacks.

Detroit Red Wings – 9^th Overall Pick – Elias Pettersson – Timra (Allsvenskan)

It's rare to say that Detroit needs an injection of talent, but after the departure of Pavel Datsyuk, and with an aging core, it's the reality in Motown. Luckily after missing the playoffs for the first time since 1990, the Red Wings should be able to find a player in the top ten that can fill a necessary hole in their prospect group, and eventually their roster.

Pettersson seems to fit the bill as the type of player that the team is looking for. The wiry pivot is extremely creative and agile with the puck on his stick, creating high-danger scoring chances for his linemates routinely both on the rush and in the offensive zone. He never appears to be exerting that much energy because of his smooth skating stride and patience with the puck, relying on his extremely high hockey IQ to play a solid 200-foot game. His main knock against him at this point is his weight, as Pettersson will not be tipping the scales at the pre-draft combine in Buffalo, but the Swede does have the frame to put on muscle over time. Detroit would be getting an effective offensive player who in time can help to replace some of the scoring that has left their lineup over the past few seasons, a notion that would be hard to pass up at ninth overall.

Los Angeles Kings – 11^th Overall Pick – Cody Glass – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

A major overhaul of the Kings has taken place this summer with the firings of head coach Daryl Sutter and general manager Dean Lombardi. For the last few seasons, Los Angeles has been trying to prolong their window of winning by trading away picks and prospects and signing veteran players to fill holes in their lineup. Picking 11^th overall will be the highest selection the Kings have had since 2009.

With a team that has fallen behind in terms of talent, Glass would be a good fit if he makes it to Los Angeles on draft day. The Winnipeg native has flown up draft boards this season following a 94-point breakout campaign in Portland, firmly putting himself on the radar of teams picking in the top ten. I could see Detroit and Los Angeles taking a long look at the offensively dynamic pivot if he slides a bit, and would not expect him to get past Carolina at 12. Glass is good on the puck and away from it, and is a smart, talented prospect that should easily find a spot in a NHL lineup. His playmaking ability will make him an asset both at even strength and on the power play, and his ability to create for his teammates makes his line dangerous whenever he is on the ice.

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