Swiss team Bern looked to Austria for their pick in the third round, tapping Michael Raffl, 25, with the 59th pick overall. Raffl moves fast and a lot as a left winger and he is expected to play a defensive role for the Bears, He could be their fourth-line winger this season with Derek Dorsett and any one of four centers vying for playing time.
American Ben Smith, is a little like Raffl, but bigger and a little slower. He becomes the second right wing named Smith on the Edinburgh roster, Reilly being the other. Ben’s prospects of playing on the Caps’ fourth line right away are excellent. He might even find himself on the third line if Edinburgh doesn’t acquire a free agent or shift a center or left wing into that spot.
Swiss forward Kevin Fiala probably would have preferred to be picked two spots earlier, but he’s no doubt thrilled to join the St. Petersburg organization. The 18-year-old is a small, quick forward who was selected 11th overall by Nashville in the NHL draft in June. Fiala joins fellow forwards Jakub Vrana and Alexander Wennberg as prospects in the Red Stars system who are waiting for their attributes. The team also has big defensemen Jamie Oleksiak and Oscar Klefbom listed as prospects. Both defensemen saw NHL action last season, but not enough to gain WSH attributes. Vrana was picked two picks after Fiala was. The Czech center is a bit bigger than Fiala and also considered an offense-first guy. Some predict he will play like Ales Hemsky.
Alex Tuch is a forward like Fiala, but he’s not at all like Fiala. Tuch was born in Central New York and is already 6-3, 213, at age 18. He will hurt people who get in his way and he was able to score more than a point per game with the U.S. National Development team. Milan already has a promising right wing prospect on Joel Armia, but Tuch is much more physical and may be more productive.
Bratislava went with a Finn, Erik Haula, who has a year of NHL play under his belt. Haula is projected to be a heady defensive center who can also play left wing. At his best, Haula will be a third-liner.
