Drafting teenagers is basically legal gambling. You’re looking at a 17-year-old kid from Moose Jaw or Malmö and trying to guess if his knees will hold up and if his brain can process the game at 40 miles per hour. Honestly, looking back at the 2018 NHL draft, it’s a masterclass in how much we don't know.
It was held at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Expectations were sky-high. Some teams walked away with franchise cornerstones that changed their entire trajectory, while others are still staring at the draft board wondering how they missed so badly.
The Rasmus Dahlin Hype and the Reality of Being Number One
Everyone knew Rasmus Dahlin was going first. It wasn't even a conversation. The Buffalo Sabres called his name, and for a good reason—he was the "generational" defensive prospect. But being a top pick in the 2018 NHL draft came with a mountain of pressure that most people sort of overlook.
Dahlin had to learn how to be a professional on a team that was, frankly, struggling to find an identity. He’s a puck-moving wizard. His vision is elite. Yet, if you look at his early years, there were growing pains. He had to bulk up. He had to learn how to defend against guys like Nathan MacKinnon who will turn you inside out if you give them an inch. Now? He’s the captain in Buffalo. He’s putting up massive minutes. He’s exactly what they hoped for, even if the road was a little bumpier than the scouts predicted back in Dallas.
The Andrei Svechnikov Impact
Then you have Andrei Svechnikov going second to the Carolina Hurricanes. Total powerhouse. He brought a blend of Russian skill and North American grit that basically jump-started the "Bunch of Jerks" era in Raleigh. He was the first player to pull off the "Michigan" goal in a real NHL game. That matters. It changed how kids play the game.
When the Scouting Reports Get It Wrong
The middle of the first round is where things get weird. You've got guys like Barrett Hayton going 5th to Arizona. People were shocked. It was a reach then, and looking at how his career has fluctuated compared to the guys taken right after him, it’s a tough pill for Coyotes (now Utah) fans to swallow.
Contrast that with Quinn Hughes going 7th to the Vancouver Canucks.
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How did six teams pass on a guy who skates like he’s hovering an inch above the ice? It’s wild. Hughes has since won a Norris Trophy. He’s the engine of that Canucks team. If you re-did the 2018 NHL draft today, Hughes is arguably fighting for that number one spot. Teams were worried about his size. They thought he might get bullied in the corners. Instead, he just skates away from the bullies before they can even get a hit in.
The Steals That Make General Managers Look Like Geniuses
The real drama of the 2018 NHL draft isn't at the top. It’s in the later rounds. This is where scouts earn their paychecks.
Take a look at the Ottawa Senators. They grabbed Brady Tkachuk at 4th overall, which was a home run, but then they grabbed a kid named Drake Batherson in the 4th round (121st overall). That is insane value. Finding a top-six forward that late is like finding a hundred-dollar bill in a pair of old jeans.
And we have to talk about the goaltenders.
Goalies are voodoo. Nobody knows which ones will be good. The 2018 class gave us some absolute studs who weren't highly touted.
- Akira Schmid (5th round)
- Justus Annunen (3rd round)
- Logan Thompson (Undrafted in 2018, but part of that cohort's timeline)
Philipp Kurashev went in the 4th round to Chicago. He’s become a legitimate NHLer. Most 4th rounders never even smell the big leagues.
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The Defensemen Who Defined an Era
This draft was incredibly deep on the blue line. It wasn't just Dahlin and Hughes.
Adam Boqvist (8th), Evan Bouchard (10th), Noah Dobson (12th), and K’Andre Miller (22nd) all came out of this first round.
Bouchard is a fascinating case. For years, Edmonton Oilers fans were frustrated. They thought he was too slow or too soft defensively. Then, suddenly, his "Bouch-bomb" shot became the most lethal weapon on the best power play in league history. He’s a point-per-game defenseman now. It took patience. That’s the thing about the 2018 NHL draft—defensive prospects usually take five years to actually "arrive." If you traded them in year three, you probably regret it now.
Missing the Mark: The "What Ifs"
Every draft has them. The guys who dominate junior hockey but can’t make the jump.
Filip Zadina told the teams that passed on him that he would "fill their nets with pucks." He was taken 6th by Detroit. It didn't happen. He struggled to find his scoring touch, dealt with injuries, and eventually cleared waivers. It’s not that he’s a bad player; it’s just that the NHL is incredibly hard. The gap between a star 18-year-old and a mediocre 22-year-old pro is a canyon.
Then there’s the Jesperi Kotkaniemi situation. Montreal took him 3rd overall. He was the youngest player in the league at one point. Then came the offer sheet from Carolina. A massive $6.1 million contract for one year just to spite the Canadiens. It was one of the most chaotic moments in recent NHL history, and it all stems back to that draft day in Dallas.
How to Evaluate the 2018 Class Today
If you’re looking at your team’s roster and seeing guys from this draft, you have to judge them on a curve. We are now several years removed. These players are entering their "prime" years (ages 24-27).
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The Elite Tier:
Quinn Hughes, Rasmus Dahlin, Andrei Svechnikov, Brady Tkachuk, Evan Bouchard, Noah Dobson. These guys are the faces of their franchises.
The Solid Contributors:
Joel Farabee, Rasmus Sandin, Sean Durzi (a 2nd round gem), and Yegor Sharangovich (5th round).
The Disappointments:
This is subjective, but players like Vitali Kravtsov (9th) or Oliver Wahlstrom (11th) haven't lived up to the "sniper" billing they had on draft day.
Actionable Takeaways for Hockey Fans
If you want to understand why your team is built the way it is, you have to look at their 2018 haul. Here is what you should do next:
- Check the "Games Played" stat: Look up your team's 2018 picks on HockeyDB. If a player has over 200 games played, that pick was a success, regardless of where they were taken.
- Look at the Trade Tree: Many 2018 picks were traded for playoff rentals. For example, the Rangers used some of their 2018 capital to rebuild their current core. Did your team keep their talent or flip it for a "win now" move that failed?
- Watch the RFA Market: Many of these players are on their second or third "real" contracts. This is the year where cap hits from the 2018 class are either helping teams win or putting them in "cap hell."
The 2018 NHL draft wasn't just a day in June; it was the foundation for the current power balance in the league. Whether it's Quinn Hughes leading the charge from the back end or late-round finds filling out the bottom six, the ripples from Dallas are still being felt every time the puck drops.