1) St. Louis: ERIK JOHNSON- This one is almost a given. He is a franchise defenseman who will pay off big time in the long run. Replacement for Chris Pronger.
2) Pittsburgh: JORDAN STAAL- Pittsburgh will immediately create the best depth at centre in the NHL for years to come with this pick. A very safe, reliable pick, Staal is a very hard-working gifted skater who is a smart two-way player. Also, look possibly for Pittsburgh to trade down for the best winger in the draft, Kyle Okposo.
3) Chicago: PHIL KESSEL- The most dynamic player in the draft will be a gift at #3. Great skater, great shot, but needs to work on strength.
4) Washington: JONATHAN TOEWS- The Caps would have loved for Staal to fall to them, but Washington will take this young Trevor Linden to centre Ovechkin for years to come.
5) Boston: NICKLAS BACKSTROM- The B's would be ecstatic to draft this stud. One of the best Swedish prospects since the Sedins, this Peter Forsberg/Mats Sundin mix will be Boston's new franchise centreman.
6) Columbus: KYLE OKPOSO- Columbus drafts the smooth skating Okposo, filling out their first two lines as possibly the best lines in the NHL in the near future.
7) NYI: DERRICK BRASSARD- Finally, New York is pleased to take a future franchise centreman. With the highest point total of anyone in any league of the draft, Brassard is sure to not dissapoint.
8) Phoenix: PETER MUELLER- This kid is a very safe pick. He is extremely sppedy and has good hockey smarts. He doesn't shy from hitting, and is excellent defensively.
9) Minnesota: NIGEL WILLIAMS- The Wild take Williams in high hopes. Very physical and a great skater, but very unpredictable for the future. Could end up a top-pairing defenseman, could end up a #5.
10) Florida: BOBBY SAGUINETTI- With the forwards in the Panthers' system already very sturdy, they look to improve on D, drafting a very offensive defenseman in Saguinetti. Think Sergei Gonchar with this guy. Very good hands and fast.
11) Los Angeles: MICHAL FROLIK- The first boom-or-bust pick of this draft, Frolik was once regarded as the #2 in this draft. He is arguably the second most dynamic player in the draft behind Kessel, and could pan out to be a #1 centre.
12) Atlanta: BRYAN LITTLE- A very safe pick at this point in the draft. Little is very smart with the puck and is extremely reliable defensively. He shows great patience with the puck, yet sees the ice great,
13) Toronto: JAMES SHEPPARD- Simply the best player available. Sheppard has the potential to be a dominating power forward in the new NHL.
14) Vancouver: JIRI TLUSTY- A very quick, smart player who also has the potential to be a #1 centre in the NHL. Probably the best trait about this kid is that he is one of the best two-way players in the draft.
15) Tampa Bay: PATRICK BERGLUND
16) Montreal: YURI ALEXANDROV
17) Minnesota (for Edmonton): CHRIS STEWART
18) Colorado: MIKE FORNEY
19) San Jose: TY WISHART
20) NYR: ALEXANDER VASYUNOV
21) Philadelphia: LELAND IRVING
22) Washington (for Nashville): CORY EMMERTON
23) Buffalo: CHRIS SUMMERS
24) New Jersey: JONATHAN BERNIER
25) Calgary: NICK FOLIGNO
26) St. Louis (for Carolina): CAL CLUTTERBACK
27) Dallas: BEN SHUTRON
28) Ottawa: CARL SNEEP
29) Detroit: ONDEJ FIALA
30) Anaheim (yeah, they'll win it): DAVID FISCHER
2) Pittsburgh: JORDAN STAAL- Pittsburgh will immediately create the best depth at centre in the NHL for years to come with this pick. A very safe, reliable pick, Staal is a very hard-working gifted skater who is a smart two-way player. Also, look possibly for Pittsburgh to trade down for the best winger in the draft, Kyle Okposo.
3) Chicago: PHIL KESSEL- The most dynamic player in the draft will be a gift at #3. Great skater, great shot, but needs to work on strength.
4) Washington: JONATHAN TOEWS- The Caps would have loved for Staal to fall to them, but Washington will take this young Trevor Linden to centre Ovechkin for years to come.
5) Boston: NICKLAS BACKSTROM- The B's would be ecstatic to draft this stud. One of the best Swedish prospects since the Sedins, this Peter Forsberg/Mats Sundin mix will be Boston's new franchise centreman.
6) Columbus: KYLE OKPOSO- Columbus drafts the smooth skating Okposo, filling out their first two lines as possibly the best lines in the NHL in the near future.
7) NYI: DERRICK BRASSARD- Finally, New York is pleased to take a future franchise centreman. With the highest point total of anyone in any league of the draft, Brassard is sure to not dissapoint.
8) Phoenix: PETER MUELLER- This kid is a very safe pick. He is extremely sppedy and has good hockey smarts. He doesn't shy from hitting, and is excellent defensively.
9) Minnesota: NIGEL WILLIAMS- The Wild take Williams in high hopes. Very physical and a great skater, but very unpredictable for the future. Could end up a top-pairing defenseman, could end up a #5.
10) Florida: BOBBY SAGUINETTI- With the forwards in the Panthers' system already very sturdy, they look to improve on D, drafting a very offensive defenseman in Saguinetti. Think Sergei Gonchar with this guy. Very good hands and fast.
11) Los Angeles: MICHAL FROLIK- The first boom-or-bust pick of this draft, Frolik was once regarded as the #2 in this draft. He is arguably the second most dynamic player in the draft behind Kessel, and could pan out to be a #1 centre.
12) Atlanta: BRYAN LITTLE- A very safe pick at this point in the draft. Little is very smart with the puck and is extremely reliable defensively. He shows great patience with the puck, yet sees the ice great,
13) Toronto: JAMES SHEPPARD- Simply the best player available. Sheppard has the potential to be a dominating power forward in the new NHL.
14) Vancouver: JIRI TLUSTY- A very quick, smart player who also has the potential to be a #1 centre in the NHL. Probably the best trait about this kid is that he is one of the best two-way players in the draft.
15) Tampa Bay: PATRICK BERGLUND
16) Montreal: YURI ALEXANDROV
17) Minnesota (for Edmonton): CHRIS STEWART
18) Colorado: MIKE FORNEY
19) San Jose: TY WISHART
20) NYR: ALEXANDER VASYUNOV
21) Philadelphia: LELAND IRVING
22) Washington (for Nashville): CORY EMMERTON
23) Buffalo: CHRIS SUMMERS
24) New Jersey: JONATHAN BERNIER
25) Calgary: NICK FOLIGNO
26) St. Louis (for Carolina): CAL CLUTTERBACK
27) Dallas: BEN SHUTRON
28) Ottawa: CARL SNEEP
29) Detroit: ONDEJ FIALA
30) Anaheim (yeah, they'll win it): DAVID FISCHER