Cristobal Huet
Guest
Here is HF's go kim johnsson 514 with his version of the draft.
(the letters are werid here, but better in the link)
1chicagoBLACKHAWKSpatKANE
RW, London, OHL
The most people seem to believe that Kane is the best player in the
draft, and the potential of he plus Johnathan Toews in a few years might not even be fair.
2philadelphiaFLYERSkyleTURRIS
C, Burnaby, BCHL --> Wisconsin (NCAA)
Turris has had interviews with the Flyers more than any other draft prospect, and while not a complete shock when talking about the Flyers, they've tipped their hand for once.
3phoenixCOYOTESjakubVORACEK
RW, Halifax, QMJHL
The Coyotes go to the Q for one of the more creative players in the draft, and should fit well down the line with touted centers such as Peter Mueller and Martin Hanzal
4los angelesKINGSkarlALZNER
D, Calgary, WHL
I'd look for the Kings to trade down here, but I think this is Dean Lombardi's target. With established and improving forwards, Deano looks to build out from the net after drafting Johnathan Bernier last year. The prospect of a pair featuring JMFJ and K-TBA-A is very intriguing.
5washingtonCAPITALSjamesVAN RIEMSDYK
LW, USNTDP --> New Hampshire (NCAA)
JVR is #2 on a lot of draft boards (including mine), it may be bewildering to some. Hopefully for the Capitals, JVR can team up with Eric Fehr for a nice 2nd line in a few years.
6edmontonOILERSsamGAGNER
C, London, OHL
A guy who will look to shed the moniker of being Pat Kane's teammate should have the opportunity next season to grow into his own game. Big things shouldn't be expected for a right away.
7columbusBLUE JACKETSkeatonELLERBY
D, Kamloops, WHL
A lot of people, including me, have Ellerby as the 2nd best defenseman in the draft. I think if the Kings move down, the Jackets could move up, in a trade reminiscent of a draft day trade with Carolina a few years ago - a team looking to move up in a draft held in its own building.
8bostonBRUINSangeloESPOSITO
C, Quebec, QMJHL
The year after playing with Alex Radulov didn't work out as well. The Bruins showed last year they are willing to work with prospects who were not as advertised the previous year, and they seem to really be thrilled with Esposito.
9st. louisBLUESloganCOUTURE
C, Ottawa, OHL
I think the Blues may add yet another center to their lineup with Oshie and Berglund, with the possibility of moving one to the wing.
10floridaPANTHERSalexeiCHERAPANOV
RW, Omsk, Russia
The highly touted Russian sniper finally comes off the board, with various questions surrounding development and viability, the Panthers seem like a team always willing to take a chance.
11carolinaHURRICANESnickPETRECKI
D, USNTDP --> Boston College
After a trying Cup defense, and a depleted pipeline, the Canes may try to restock by trying to replace the traded Jack Johnson. For a team that will still be built to contend next year, the team may allow time for Petrecki to attend college.
12montrealCANADIENSryanMCDONAGH
D, Minnesota (HS) --> Wisconsin (NCAA)
Les Habitants could look to continue a trend of taking American defensemen who are going to college. With solid defensemen around, they should fit well with emerging blue chip goalie Carey Price.
13torontoMAPLE LEAFSlarsELLER
LW, Frolunda Sweden
The Maple Leafs only other color is white. We can't read white.
Lars Eller seems to be all over everyone's board. Recently, I've seen him as high as 9, he seems to be going in the mid-teens, and the Leafs could use someone with such natural abilities. His Danish heritage is of no concern because just like Slovenian-born-and-raised Anze Kopitar, he played in Sweden
14coloradoAVALANCHEkevinSHATTENKIRK
D, USNTDP --> Boston U (NCAA)
The Avalanche haven't had the best of luck drafting defensemen. With this pick, if they choose, they can let him play in college for 4 years and be a patient as they want to be.
15edmontonOILERSzachHAMILL
C, Everett, WHL
He may be another center, but you can't have enough centers, and if you can move a center to a wing they become a very versatile player. Personally, I think they're moving the pick.
16anaheimDUCKSbillSWEATT
LW, Colorado College (NCAA)
It's almost not even fair that the defending Cup Champs get to pick in the middle of the first round. They got this pick in a rather curious trade with the Lightning. Still, not to say that the Ducks don't need prospects in their system, but they can afford to take a chance here with an up tempo player and season his game in college.
17new yorkRANGERSmikaelBACKLUND
C, Vasteras, Sweden
Backlund had a roller coaster year, where at any point some publications had him high and then completely off the radar. That tell me that someone will take a chance on him, and Glen Sather is always a willing player. The Rangers are also not afraid to draft overseas.
18calgaryFLAMESbrandonSutter
C, Red Deer, WHL
It's not a reach, and the parallels are too obvious. There isn't much more to say.
19minnesotaWILDjimO'BRIEN
C, Minnesota (NCAA)
The Wild are being totally lame and dumping their green color scheme for yet *another* red one. So I need to get my quota in of my favorite color because the way Dallas runs their team, they don't have 1st round picks too often (including next season).
O'Brien I think is a real sleeper, and he plays on one of the deepest teams in the history of college hockey. He'll get more ice time next year, and is a pick where you're really taking a chance looking for improvement and hopefully his game isn't completely exposed.
20pittsburghPENGUINSoscarMOLLER
RW, Chilliwack, WHL
The Penguins can pick whoever they want and if it doesn't work out, no one will really blame them, looking at their recent history. They're not used to drafting this late, and unselfishly, it's nice to see that they're this low because this means they're good again, and more importantly, they're still Pittsburgh.
Moller is a rare Swede who made the jump to play in the CHL, which I feel says something about his desire to play in the NHL. He's taken extra steps and what he thinks is necessary to get to the highest level, and they're guys I'm always looking for.
21phoenixCOYOTESalexPLANTE
D, Calgary, WHL
This time a defenseman is looking to shed the label of being someone's teammate. Here's a player a lot of people feel is overrated. I don't know much about Don Maloney and what he likes to do in drafts, but it wouldn't be the Coyotes unless they took someone where patience is the hallmark of the pick.
22montrealCANADIENSmaximMAYOROV
LW, Leninogrosk, Russia
The Habs are always willing to draft out of Russia. They're deep in prospect that they can take a chance on Russian picks, who are always have more questions than answers anymore.
23nashvillePREDATORSdanaTYRELL
C, Prince George, WHL
Nothing needs to be said about the background of the draft pick before it is made. The Preds like to look to western Canada in recent years. The Predators look to re-solidify their prospect depth, and they can start down the middle where they could really use some help. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Predators trade down here.
24st. louisBLUEStommyCROSS
D, Massachusetts (HS) --> Boston College (NCAA)
The Blues could have a real sleeper pick here. The Blues, already in the process of solidifying down the middle, still also need help on defense. They could also trade the pick to make a big move.
25vancouverCANUCKSbrettMACLEAN
LW, Oshawa, OHL
MacLean has gotten a lot of exposure playing with Super-prospect John Tavares in Oshawa. MacLean has had plenty of practice production offense and should continue before being ready to contribute to the Canucks.
26st. louisBLUESmaxPACIORETTY
LW, Sioux City, USHL --> Michigan
I think this pick could also be traded, and I think the player may make people wish they had more of a look at him. He will get plenty of ice time with a new crop of young players as Michigan still has some other good players left over from the JMFJ era. I look for him to blossom like Mike Cammalleri once did for the Wolverines.
27detroitRED WINGSjoakimANDERSSON
C, Frolunda Sweden
The Red Wings love Sweden, they get plenty of looks and are rarely wrong. Andersson seems like a good fit here. I just wish they had a 2nd real color.
28washingtonCAPITALSthomasHICKEY
D, Seattle, WHL
Here's a case of where player fills a need. Hickey seems like a safe pick, so let's hope for the Caps sake that he is. He will be an important prospect.
29ottawaSENATORScoltonGILLES
C, Saskatoon, WHL
This may have raised some eyes. Just because you may drop doesn't not make you a good prospect. People like me will be looking for more from Gilles next year and he looks to bounce back and possibly give the Senators a much needed steal.
30edmontonOILERScolbyCOHEN
D, Lincoln, USHL -->Boston U
Cohen might be a bit of a wild card. He left the USNTDP in the middle of the season because he felt that it held back his game. He's also reppin' Philly, so I gotta get his name out there.
(the letters are werid here, but better in the link)
1chicagoBLACKHAWKSpatKANE
RW, London, OHL
The most people seem to believe that Kane is the best player in the
draft, and the potential of he plus Johnathan Toews in a few years might not even be fair.
2philadelphiaFLYERSkyleTURRIS
C, Burnaby, BCHL --> Wisconsin (NCAA)
Turris has had interviews with the Flyers more than any other draft prospect, and while not a complete shock when talking about the Flyers, they've tipped their hand for once.
3phoenixCOYOTESjakubVORACEK
RW, Halifax, QMJHL
The Coyotes go to the Q for one of the more creative players in the draft, and should fit well down the line with touted centers such as Peter Mueller and Martin Hanzal
4los angelesKINGSkarlALZNER
D, Calgary, WHL
I'd look for the Kings to trade down here, but I think this is Dean Lombardi's target. With established and improving forwards, Deano looks to build out from the net after drafting Johnathan Bernier last year. The prospect of a pair featuring JMFJ and K-TBA-A is very intriguing.
5washingtonCAPITALSjamesVAN RIEMSDYK
LW, USNTDP --> New Hampshire (NCAA)
JVR is #2 on a lot of draft boards (including mine), it may be bewildering to some. Hopefully for the Capitals, JVR can team up with Eric Fehr for a nice 2nd line in a few years.
6edmontonOILERSsamGAGNER
C, London, OHL
A guy who will look to shed the moniker of being Pat Kane's teammate should have the opportunity next season to grow into his own game. Big things shouldn't be expected for a right away.
7columbusBLUE JACKETSkeatonELLERBY
D, Kamloops, WHL
A lot of people, including me, have Ellerby as the 2nd best defenseman in the draft. I think if the Kings move down, the Jackets could move up, in a trade reminiscent of a draft day trade with Carolina a few years ago - a team looking to move up in a draft held in its own building.
8bostonBRUINSangeloESPOSITO
C, Quebec, QMJHL
The year after playing with Alex Radulov didn't work out as well. The Bruins showed last year they are willing to work with prospects who were not as advertised the previous year, and they seem to really be thrilled with Esposito.
9st. louisBLUESloganCOUTURE
C, Ottawa, OHL
I think the Blues may add yet another center to their lineup with Oshie and Berglund, with the possibility of moving one to the wing.
10floridaPANTHERSalexeiCHERAPANOV
RW, Omsk, Russia
The highly touted Russian sniper finally comes off the board, with various questions surrounding development and viability, the Panthers seem like a team always willing to take a chance.
11carolinaHURRICANESnickPETRECKI
D, USNTDP --> Boston College
After a trying Cup defense, and a depleted pipeline, the Canes may try to restock by trying to replace the traded Jack Johnson. For a team that will still be built to contend next year, the team may allow time for Petrecki to attend college.
12montrealCANADIENSryanMCDONAGH
D, Minnesota (HS) --> Wisconsin (NCAA)
Les Habitants could look to continue a trend of taking American defensemen who are going to college. With solid defensemen around, they should fit well with emerging blue chip goalie Carey Price.
13torontoMAPLE LEAFSlarsELLER
LW, Frolunda Sweden
The Maple Leafs only other color is white. We can't read white.
Lars Eller seems to be all over everyone's board. Recently, I've seen him as high as 9, he seems to be going in the mid-teens, and the Leafs could use someone with such natural abilities. His Danish heritage is of no concern because just like Slovenian-born-and-raised Anze Kopitar, he played in Sweden
14coloradoAVALANCHEkevinSHATTENKIRK
D, USNTDP --> Boston U (NCAA)
The Avalanche haven't had the best of luck drafting defensemen. With this pick, if they choose, they can let him play in college for 4 years and be a patient as they want to be.
15edmontonOILERSzachHAMILL
C, Everett, WHL
He may be another center, but you can't have enough centers, and if you can move a center to a wing they become a very versatile player. Personally, I think they're moving the pick.
16anaheimDUCKSbillSWEATT
LW, Colorado College (NCAA)
It's almost not even fair that the defending Cup Champs get to pick in the middle of the first round. They got this pick in a rather curious trade with the Lightning. Still, not to say that the Ducks don't need prospects in their system, but they can afford to take a chance here with an up tempo player and season his game in college.
17new yorkRANGERSmikaelBACKLUND
C, Vasteras, Sweden
Backlund had a roller coaster year, where at any point some publications had him high and then completely off the radar. That tell me that someone will take a chance on him, and Glen Sather is always a willing player. The Rangers are also not afraid to draft overseas.
18calgaryFLAMESbrandonSutter
C, Red Deer, WHL
It's not a reach, and the parallels are too obvious. There isn't much more to say.
19minnesotaWILDjimO'BRIEN
C, Minnesota (NCAA)
The Wild are being totally lame and dumping their green color scheme for yet *another* red one. So I need to get my quota in of my favorite color because the way Dallas runs their team, they don't have 1st round picks too often (including next season).
O'Brien I think is a real sleeper, and he plays on one of the deepest teams in the history of college hockey. He'll get more ice time next year, and is a pick where you're really taking a chance looking for improvement and hopefully his game isn't completely exposed.
20pittsburghPENGUINSoscarMOLLER
RW, Chilliwack, WHL
The Penguins can pick whoever they want and if it doesn't work out, no one will really blame them, looking at their recent history. They're not used to drafting this late, and unselfishly, it's nice to see that they're this low because this means they're good again, and more importantly, they're still Pittsburgh.
Moller is a rare Swede who made the jump to play in the CHL, which I feel says something about his desire to play in the NHL. He's taken extra steps and what he thinks is necessary to get to the highest level, and they're guys I'm always looking for.
21phoenixCOYOTESalexPLANTE
D, Calgary, WHL
This time a defenseman is looking to shed the label of being someone's teammate. Here's a player a lot of people feel is overrated. I don't know much about Don Maloney and what he likes to do in drafts, but it wouldn't be the Coyotes unless they took someone where patience is the hallmark of the pick.
22montrealCANADIENSmaximMAYOROV
LW, Leninogrosk, Russia
The Habs are always willing to draft out of Russia. They're deep in prospect that they can take a chance on Russian picks, who are always have more questions than answers anymore.
23nashvillePREDATORSdanaTYRELL
C, Prince George, WHL
Nothing needs to be said about the background of the draft pick before it is made. The Preds like to look to western Canada in recent years. The Predators look to re-solidify their prospect depth, and they can start down the middle where they could really use some help. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Predators trade down here.
24st. louisBLUEStommyCROSS
D, Massachusetts (HS) --> Boston College (NCAA)
The Blues could have a real sleeper pick here. The Blues, already in the process of solidifying down the middle, still also need help on defense. They could also trade the pick to make a big move.
25vancouverCANUCKSbrettMACLEAN
LW, Oshawa, OHL
MacLean has gotten a lot of exposure playing with Super-prospect John Tavares in Oshawa. MacLean has had plenty of practice production offense and should continue before being ready to contribute to the Canucks.
26st. louisBLUESmaxPACIORETTY
LW, Sioux City, USHL --> Michigan
I think this pick could also be traded, and I think the player may make people wish they had more of a look at him. He will get plenty of ice time with a new crop of young players as Michigan still has some other good players left over from the JMFJ era. I look for him to blossom like Mike Cammalleri once did for the Wolverines.
27detroitRED WINGSjoakimANDERSSON
C, Frolunda Sweden
The Red Wings love Sweden, they get plenty of looks and are rarely wrong. Andersson seems like a good fit here. I just wish they had a 2nd real color.
28washingtonCAPITALSthomasHICKEY
D, Seattle, WHL
Here's a case of where player fills a need. Hickey seems like a safe pick, so let's hope for the Caps sake that he is. He will be an important prospect.
29ottawaSENATORScoltonGILLES
C, Saskatoon, WHL
This may have raised some eyes. Just because you may drop doesn't not make you a good prospect. People like me will be looking for more from Gilles next year and he looks to bounce back and possibly give the Senators a much needed steal.
30edmontonOILERScolbyCOHEN
D, Lincoln, USHL -->Boston U
Cohen might be a bit of a wild card. He left the USNTDP in the middle of the season because he felt that it held back his game. He's also reppin' Philly, so I gotta get his name out there.
