• PROSPECT-UPDATE ARCHIVE
The trade winds are blowing in the National Hockey League, and draft picks are flying off the shelves.
Two 2018 draft picks were on the move on Thursday. Boston picked up Florida's third-round pick, and the Rangers took over New Jersey's second-rounder. Given the depth of this draft, any pick in the first three rounds has more value than normal, and teams' desire to get these selections is obvious. It's almost fair to say that many of the players who will go in June's second round would have been first-round material in 2017. Good players will be available for at least the first 75 picks.
So buckle up for the next few days, and expect to see a teams surrender picks that they probably shouldn't surrender -- at least not this year. For now, enjoy this brief list of Thursday's top performances that happens to include one of the 2018 superstars:
MICHAEL LITTLE -- Little had the best game of his OHL career on Thursday, scoring two goals and an assist in Mississauga's 7-4 win at Barrie. The game's No. 2 star tallied its first goal at 4:56 of the opening period. Little then scored 34 seconds into the middle period to make it 3-0 and had the primary assist on a power-play goal at 7:28 of the second, giving the Steelheads a 4-1 lead. Little, a 6-foot-0 left wing is not normally a big scorer with only 11 goals and 21 points in 54 games this season, but he now has goals in back-to-back contests and the two goals and three points were both career-highs.
COLIN SCHMIDT -- The Minnesota high school hockey tournament got under way this week with sectional play, and Schmidt helped Plymouth Wayzata get off to a great start. The hulking center headed for the University of Minnesota had a goal and two assists on Thursday, leading the Trojans to a 5-3 win over Blake. His goal came on a power play to open the scoring with five seconds left in the first peri9od. He had the lone assist on a goal to make it 2-0 at 8:49 of the second and picked up another assist on the 3-0 goal six minutes later at 14:45. Schmidt is a finalist for the state's coveted Mr. Hockey award, which will be announced on March 11. He has 12 goals and 39 points in 25 games, including his current five-game scoring streak. This was his eighth three-point performance of the season. (Note: Fifth appearance on this list in 2017-18)
ANDREI SVECHNIKOV -- Thursday was just another day at the office for the player expected to be taken at No. 2 overall. The Russian sensation had a goal and two assists to provide most of Barrie's offense in a 7-4 loss to Mississauga. He helped Barrie get on the board at 2:42 of the second period with a power-play assist that cut the lead to 3-1. Later in the second, he had the primary assist on a goal at 12:47 that made it a 5-2 game. He closed his night with a power-play goal at 10:18 of the third, pulling the Colts within a goal at 5-4. The goal was Svechnikov's 31st of the season, tying him for 11th in the OHL. His 52 points in 34 games rank second among rookies. Most impressive, he is currently on a 13-game scoring streak that has seen him score a total of 15 goals and 26 points. (Note: 18th appearance on this list in 2017-18)