By Will-He-M1st Overall - Edmonton Oilers - C Tyler Seguin, Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
WHY: Not much has changed in the last few days. The Oilers still lack an elite Center and Seguin is an elite prospect. He has the highest potential of anyone in this draft. The Oilers do have some depth at Center with 2 guys who may eventually become top line players(Cogliano and Gagner) but both have seen their development stall for various reasons.
2nd Overall - Boston Bruins (from Toronto) - D Erik Gudbranson, Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
WHY: This might seem completely stupid on paper but hear me out. The Bruins just grabbed Nathan Horton, a 25 year old 6'4" winger which now gives the B's 5 wingers capable of being Top 6 players. They don't need Taylor Hall and to be quite honest, I'll be just as shocked as anyone if they pass on him. However, they did deal the 15th pick, which at the moment takes them out of the running on any of the top defensemen available. Gudbranson is your prototypical Bruins defenceman. He's big, he's mean and he's a physical nightmare for opposing forwards. He's the perfect replacement for Chara who is UFA after 2010-11.
3rd Overall - Florida Panthers - LW Taylor Hall, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
WHY: Do I really have to explain? I will anyway. The Panthers just dealt Horton away and grabbed Dennis Weidman in the deal. They don't need defense and Hall could definitely turn this franchise around. If Florida does happen to get Hall, fans will need to expect an adjustment period because Peter DeBoer employs a defensive oriented style of hockey which is a complete 180 from the Spitfires all out offensive attack.
4th Overall - Columbus Blue Jackets - D Cam Fowler, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
WHY: Like the Oilers situation with Seguin, not much has changed for the Jackets, which is why I definitely see them shopping the 4th for a 10-15 pick and more. If they keep this pick, the most logical choice is Fowler, who gives them a huge boost on the blueline.
5th Overall - New York Islanders - RW Brett Connolly, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
WHY: Connolly's stock has taken hit because he was injured for much of last year but his skillset is very good and I see the Isles grabbing him at 5 with no hesitation. Like I said in my first Mock, Connolly offers the Isles something they lack and that's a gritty power winger who they can slot next to Tavares.
6th Overall - Tampa Bay Lightning - D Mark Pysyk, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
WHY: Pysyk has seen his stock sky rocket through the year. He was originally a mid to late round pick to start the year but has jumped all they way up to the Top 5 on some draft boards. Scouts liken him to a Duncan Keith type of defender, meaning he offers good offense, solid defense and is a great leader. He was the lone bright spot on an absolutely terrible Oil Kings team.
7th Overall - Carolina Hurricanes - D Brandon Gormley, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
WHY: So yeah, the Canes prospect pool blows. They honestly can't go wrong here, they need EVERYTHING except a goalie. The only way they can screw this up is if they dealt the pick or reached for someone ranked in the late 20's. By grabbing Gormley, the Canes get some much needed depth on the blueline.
8th Overall - Atlanta Thrashers - C Alexander Burmistrov, Barrie Colts (OHL)
WHY: Burmistrov has seen his stock go up recently and he is arguably the most complete European-borned skater in this draft. He's a little small at 5'11" and only 156 lbs but his skill level is off the charts. He's so good that he could make the jump to the NHL immediately and go between Byfuglien and Kane and never have to worry.
9th Overall - Minnesota Wild - D Derek Forbort, USA U-18
WHY: Forbort's stock has skyrocketed since the combine, jumping all the way to the Top 10 in the CSS Rankings. He's a big, physical stay at home defenceman with a nice offensive touch. The Wild probably shouldn't take a defenceman here since they lack offense but as the old adage goes "you build from the D out".
10th Overall - New York Rangers - RW Nino Niederreiter, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
WHY: I have Nino dropping a few spots from my original Mock but not because he isn't talented. He has some awesome instincts and great speed for a winger his size(6'2", 201 lbs). Nino fits the Rangers mold for a winger in that he isn't afraid to get gritty in the corners and he has a nose for the net.
11th Overall - Dallas Stars - C/W Mikael Granlund, HIFK Helsinki (SM-Liiga)
WHY: Granlund's size already has scouts weary on him but theirs a good chance he may have to shift to the wing which could really hurt his stock tomorrow night. He's definitely the most talented European player in the draft and is a much safer pick then one of the talented Russians. He offers the Stars some solid insurance in the event Brad Richards walks after next year.
12th Overall - Anaheim Ducks - C Ryan Johansen, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
WHY: Johansen makes perfect sense for the Ducks. He offers them another big Western boy from the WHL who is a right handed Center that offers solid playmaking ability. Adding Johansen would give the Ducks the ability to spread their scoring over 2 lines who are both filled with big players.
13th Overall - Phoenix Coyotes (from Calgary) - G Calvin Pickard, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
WHY: I have the Yotes switching up here, electing to take the best goalie in the Draft now. Pickard and Campbell have flip-flopped as the best goalie all year but Pickard's performance on a very bad Seattle team has scouts drooling over how great he'd be with a good to really good team.
14th Overall - St. Louis Blues - RW Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
WHY: Central Scouting is a lot higher on Etem then I am. They see him as a potential Top 7 pick where as I see him as a mid-1st rounder. He's got the size and skill but he plays smaller then his 6'0" frame. He's got all the tools but he'll need to make some real adjustments on his skating before he does anything.
15th Overall - Florida Panthers (from Boston) - C Nick Bjugstad, Blaine HS (MN)
WHY: The Panthers are openly trying to move this pick so I doubt Bjugstad goes to Florida. However, if they can't find a pakcage they like, the Panthers should grab Bjugstad. He's a big, mobile Center who has the skills and just needs to fill out his frame. If they end up getting Hall 3rd, adding Bjugstad a his future Centerman would make this draft an absolute steal for the Penthers.
16th Overall - Ottawa Senators - LW Vladimir Tarasenko, Novosibirsk (KHL)
WHY: At this point, Tarasenko is the best talent available. He comes with red flags because of his KHL contract however, I believe the Sens will utilize Alex Kovalev to persuade the talented Russian prospect to jump over.
17th Overall - Colorado Avalanche - RW Stanislav Galiev, Saint John Huskies (QMJHL)
WHY: Galiev is a weird prospect to judge. He gets a lesser rap then his fellow Russians because he's already over here however the fear that he'll jump to the KHL will always remain tagged to his name. He's a skilled playmaker playing in an offensive league. He had a slow start to 09-10 but picked it up as the season wore on. Going 17th might be a bit of a stretch but he is that talented.
18th Overall - Nashville Predators - C Tyler Pitlick, Minnesota State (NCAA)
WHY: The Preds need offensive talent, especially of the cheap variety. Pitlick has NHL size and skills but playing in the NCAA may have him taking longer to get to the NHL then normal. The rumors haven't died down yet that have him going to the WHL right after the Draft.
19th Overall - Los Angeles Kings - LW Austin Watson, Peterborough Petes (OHL)
WHY: The Kings essentially have everything in their system except big skilled wingers. They have quality defencemen, centers and goalies but lack the gritty wingers. Watson gives them options. He has the ceiling of a 1st/2nd line power forward with an abosolute bottom of a 3rd line power grinder in the mold of Kris Draper.
20th Overall - Pittsburgh Penguins - LW Quintin Howden, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
WHY: I think the Pens will forego drafting the talented Russian who has some real issues. Especially if Howden falls to 20. Howden is the exact type of winger the Pens have been looking for to put alongside Sid. He's pretty much a young Bill Guerin with more speed and better hands.
21st Overall - Detroit Red Wings - LW John McFarland, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
WHY: At this point McFarland is the best player left. He has everything to be an awesome 1st line player at the NHL level but lacks focus and consistency. If their was an organization who could get him to focus and play consistent hockey, the Red Wings are that organization.
22nd Overall - Phoenix Coyotes - D Jon Merrill, USA U-18
WHY: The Yotes have no need to draft Campbell after taking Pickard 13th, so they'll focus their attention on getting a solid defender in the form of Jon Merrill. Merrill's stock has fluctuated all throughout the latter half of the 1st round and could go as high as 15th or as low as 30th. He didn't help his cause with a lackluster season but all signs point to it being a fluke.
23rd Overall - Buffalo Sabres - D Dylan McIlrath, USA U-18
WHY: After taking Tyler Myers last year, the Sabres should look to grab a future defensive partner in McIlrath. McIlrath is the most feared physical defender in the WHL and has an awesome combination of checking, fighting and defensive ability. He's a less polished Gudbranson and has some puck moving concerns but at this point, he's an awesome pick.
24th Overall - Chicago Blackhawks (from New Jersey via Atlanta) - C Tyler Toffoli, Ottawa 67's (OHL)
WHY: I doubt the Hawks take a chance on Kabanov and I think they'll go a safer route and take Toffoli. Toffoli gives them a good center option for the future and player they can let simmer in the OHL while they sort out their Cap issues.
25th Overall - Vancouver Canucks - RW Petr Straka, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
WHY: Straka gives the Nucks some nice depth on the wings. He's a good offensive talent with awesome speed and great vision. It'll be hard to pass up a D-man as talented as Petrovic but Straka has forced himself into the Nucks plans.
26th Overall - Washington Capitals - C/RW Evgeny Kuznetsov, Chelyabinsk (KHL)
WHY: I can't think of a reason why the Caps would pass on Kuznetsov. He has a lot of issues to work out, namely his KHL contract and his temper. However, getting the chance to play alongside the best player in the game is enough to straighten out any angry player.
27th Overall - Montreal Canadiens - RW Kevin Hayes, Nobles & Greenbough HS (MA)
WHY: I really want the Habs to draft Tinordi here but his stock has fallen to the point where he'll probably be a mid-2nd round pick. Instead, I see the Habs grabbing Massachussetts native. Hayes is a 6'2" power forward who possesses strong skating ability and a very hard and accurate wrist shot. He'd fit in well in the Habs organization and would join Benoit Pouliot and Max Pacioretty has the teams strong wing core.
28th Overall - San Jose Sharks - C Brock Nelson, Warrod HS (MN)
WHY: I think the Sharks are going to start looking at the possibility of life after Joe Thornton, especially if they fail to meet expectations next year. Grabbing Brock Nelson here would be a good way to start that. In a lot of ways, Nelson is similar to Thornton in that he is a strong Center with good size, good hands and plays with a bit of an edge. He's a few years from reaching the NHL so even if the Sharks keep Big Joe, he won't hinder Nelson's development.
29th Overall - Anehim Ducks (from Philadelphia) - D Alexander Petrovic, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
WHY: With Scott Niedermayer retiring, the Ducks are going to need to look at grabbing more depth on the blueline. Petrovic has the potential to be a nice replacement to Nieds and would give the Ducks a solid future D-pair to go along with Luca Sbisa.
30th Overall - Chicago Blackhawks - C/RW Charlie Coyle, South Shore Kings (EJHL)
WHY: Much like Toffoli, Coyle is most definitely a few years from being an NHL regular. He's got good size and strength and has gotten the attention of the US hockey program.
Publicity stunt for a newly born franchise in a non-traditional hockey market, you say? No argument there.
Anyway, these days she dabbles in pop culture outlets from time to time, and is also involved in youth hockey programs for girls via the creatively named Manon Rheaume Foundation.
