Final Mock Draft of the Year - Part 1

[KH1]

My jaw would drop if the Ranger$ passed on both Olesz and Tukonen. But hey, anything could happen!

 

[BrettNYR]

We will not on pass Olesz, there is NO WAY!

 

[Dr.Sens(e)]

Great job Brock. FYI though - Korpikoski is ranked 33rd by Mckeens, not outside the top 40.

 

[Draft Guru]

From what I've been hearing from a close observer, Travis Zajac is absolutely brutal. Extremely overrated by Central Scouting. From what he says, I'd be surprised if he was taken in the 1st round. Heck, I wouldn't take him in the top 2 rounds.

 

[Brock]

From what I've been hearing from a close observer, Travis Zajac is absolutely brutal. Extremely overrated by Central Scouting. From what he says, I'd be surprised if he was taken in the 1st round. Heck, I wouldn't take him in the top 2 rounds.

Well I can't say I've seen him play Brandon, but every scouting company's list I've seen has him inside their first round. So it wouldnt just be CSB overrating him, it would be every amateur scout.

THN has him at 24th
Mckeens has him at 28th
CSB has him 15th NA

So those two companies actually are higher on Zajac then CSB is.

 

[Draft Guru]

Well I can't say I've seen him play Brandon, but every scouting company's list I've seen has him inside their first round. So it wouldnt just be CSB overrating him, it would be every amateur scout.

THN has him at 24th
Mckeens has him at 28th
CSB has him 15th NA

So those two companies actually are higher on Zajac then CSB is.

Yea, I'm not criticizing you at all, just sharing what I heard from a guy whose son has played against Zajac. He may be a bit biased, but it's not like he was saying "My son is so much better," he was saying "Zajac is simply brutal." Says he played against inferior competition all year in the BCHL and also said something like he played in a tournament representing the BCHL against a junior team from Manitoba and Zajac was overmatched and played like garbage, didn't do anything at all.

I'd be a little weary about a guy from the BCHL personally. Obviously Ivan Huml has turned out all right, but this guy says Zajac wouldn't have done much in the WHL, says he's 6-2 but isn't physical at all and plays small.

Just thought I'd share. I guess only time will tell.

 

[hossua34]

As a Blue Jackets fan from day 1, (ok day two, I missed the opening game in 2000) I don't think there is any way in a bagillion years the CBJ would take a goaltender first this year, and I'll be horrified if they do.

So many people underestimate Pascal Leclaire simply due to his statistics. This guy does NOT play on a great Syracuse Crunch team, especially defensively. He's always peppered with shots, and its not unusual for him to make 40 or more stops, 95% or more of the saves, and still lose a game. I believe there was one game in which he preserved a shutout for Syracuse stopping like 50 shots, while his own team got around 20. They won 1-0 (more specific info on this game welcomed). In his two NHL games so far, Leclaire has looked astounding and made a number of impressive saves...

I think the Jackets trade down and go with Tuukonen, Schremp or Thelen.