With so many draft picks, I saw myself taking numerous routes regarding the Montreal Canadiens in NHL Mock Draft 2.0 simulation from FC Hockey. Instead of going with whom I should draft based on rankings, I instead based the main theme around a few variables.

The first was that I went with players who fell to me based on overall upside. Even if I liked another player better, the high potential of my first three draft picks sealed the deal. I also noticed that a prospect’s overall size played another major role, so a lot of those drafted below boasted outstanding builds or at least the potential to put on between 15 and 20 pounds of muscle over the next few seasons to grow into their respective frames.

Round 1A: Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, RW/Mora IK

There is a lot to like about Michael Brandsegg-Nygard – he’s heading into his age-19 season, he’s already got good size, he’s a versatile player, and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard dominated while in J20 Nationell. This is a player who can spend another year in Europe, then head on over to Laval much in the way David Reinbacher did should the Canadiens draft Brandsegg-Nygard.

Round 1B: Terik Parascak, RW/Prince George

I’ll never know why FC Hockey’s rankings have Terik Parascak ranked so low in their simulations. I honestly could have waited until the second round to take him, but because I was “reaching” in the first round, I rolled with the highly productive WHL late in the first round, who had 105 points and 43 goals in the regular season.

Round 2: Yegor Surin, C/Lokomotiv-Yaroslavl

We know what Yegor Surin can do in the MHL – 52 points and 22 goals in 42 regular season contests and another 23 points and five goals in 19 postseason outings. Let’s hope we see more of him in the KHL to get a better sample size, but judging from his MHL numbers, getting Surin in the second round could be a steal.