A few years ago, we decided to test out a new idea: In place of our typical predictive mock, let’s build a mock where we are the general managers for each team and have to make the decisions ourselves based on our own lists and weighing our given team’s needs.Today, for a fourth year in a row, it’s back by popular demand. Our editor randomized the order, and Max Bultman joined so that prospect writers Corey Pronman and Scott Wheeler couldn’t anticipate where the other was going to go based on their knowledge of each other’s lists.After the draw, Pronman selected first, Bultman second and Wheeler third.Here’s how they drafted the first round from the helm of their draft tables.Note: This mock exercise was completed before the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference final. The St. Louis Blues, who hold Colorado’s first-round pick, will select 29th. The Calgary Flames, who hold Vegas’ first-round pick, will select either 30th or 31st, depending on the result of the Stanley Cup Final.1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Chase Reid, RHD, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)Reid is, by the slimmest of margins, the best player on my board. The Maple Leafs are in a tough situation, though. They’re in win-now mode despite being a bottom-five possession team this season, so they have a lot of work to do to get back to contending. I think Gavin McKenna, Ivar Stenberg and potentially Alberts Smits could provide more immediate help. I don’t think any of them make an impact in the NHL next season, though. I’m not even sure it’s a smart bet to count on anyone in this draft truly moving the needle by two years out. Reid has the best chance of anyone in this draft to become an impact player at a premium position, even if that’s no sure thing. In the draft, you have to take the long view, not knee-jerk to fill short-term roster holes, and I would bet on the 6-foot-3, highly skilled and mobile two-way defenseman who has at least a chance to become a No. 1 D.People will argue don’t go against the grain here, it will get you fired, but odds are in Toronto, you’re getting fired quickly anyway, so may as well do what you think is best for the franchise. — Pronman2. San Jose Sharks: Carson Carels, LHD, Prince George (WHL)The surprise with the No. 1 pick here puts San Jose in an interesting spot. The Sharks have the opportunity to take McKenna (or Stenberg) and add an exciting young forward prospect to an already talented pool up front. But does adding to what’s already an organizational strength really move the needle more than a do-it-all defenseman?Reid was probably the ideal candidate, but Carels is a smooth skater, tough to play against, and probably hasn’t gotten enough credit for his offense in the WHL this season. I don’t think he’s that different from Jake Sanderson in his draft year. That’s a highly compelling profile that would really round out the Sharks’ build. As tempting as McKenna is on talent, taking the all-situations D at this spot makes San Jose a better team for the long-term. — Bultman3. Vancouver Canucks: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)The Wheeler-led Canucks no longer feel like they lost the lottery as we get our No. 1-ranked player at No. 3 here. This organization is starving for a star, and McKenna remains the brightest star in this class. We’re not going to pontificate about position or beat him up for his imperfections; this is the draft’s biggest talent. — Wheeler4. Chicago Blackhawks: Alberts Smits, LHD, München (DEL)Smits is my No. 2-ranked player, but he fits here not only on talent but also seamlessly into Chicago’s depth chart, which has a lot of good young defensemen but could use a premier name on the left side. Smits projects as a heavy-minutes, two-way defender who can play on both special teams. I would be tempted to take Stenberg here for Chicago, who need more high-end skill to surround Connor Bedard with. Between Bedard, Stenberg, Frank Nazar and Roman Kantserov, it would be a very small top six, though. Given I think the two players are rather close on pure ability, my lean is to take Smits for all the above reasons. — Pronman5. New York Rangers: Ivar Stenberg, LW, Frölunda (SHL)There could be some temptation for the Rangers to chase a center here, which is a major need in their system. But they need top talent, period, and Stenberg is the top talent available. He had a monster year for a draft-eligible in the SHL, similar to what the Sedins produced at the same age. Stenberg may be on the smaller side, but he’s highly skilled, intelligent and competitive, and that has top-line winger written all over it. — Bultman6. Calgary Flames: Caleb Malhotra, C, Brantford (OHL)The Flames jump on the No. 1 center in the draft, a player they can build around and their potential No. 1 center of the future. Malhotra and Cole Reschny give Calgary two legit two-way prospects down the middle. — Wheeler7. Seattle Kraken: Keaton Verhoeff, RHD, North Dakota (NCAA)I’m ecstatic for our organization to get Verhoeff here. A 6-foot-4, right-shot defenseman who can skate and pass pucks up the ice and projects as a big-minutes NHL D on both special teams is exactly what the Kraken pipeline needs, and he was the best player available on our board, too. — Pronman8. Winnipeg Jets: Viggo Björck, C, Djurgården (SHL)Björck may be on the smaller side for a center, but we’ve seen Logan Stankoven and Zach Benson be major difference-makers in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and Björck has the tools to do the same. He’s a high-motor, high-skill pivot who can play hard minutes, and because of his pro experience, may be able to get to Winnipeg fairly quickly, too. — Bultman