Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
I'm not very good at calling these things, but I took a hard look at each team's draft position, long and short term needs, drafting style, and quality of the draft to come up with this list. I believe there will be at least two trades made involving teams moving up to pick defensemen. The second one is more unlikely, but IMO possible. I should preface this mock by saying that I feel this will be a banner year for U.S. prospects, especially from the USNTDP. Grip it and rip it!
1. Pittsburgh (Erik Johnson) Pittsburgh trades "x" with St. Louis (likely a player/prospect/or pick and the 2nd) to get their stud d-man.
2. St. Louis (Jordan Staal) In Blues circles it's no secret the team loves Staal. I think either he or Backstrom is the guy here. A stud center who projects well.
3. Chicago (Phil Kessel) This could be where Toews/Backstrom goes, but I go with the flashy Kessel who in some ways could remind the Hawks faithful of a young JR.
4. Washington (Nicklas Backstrom) The smooth Swedish pivot will be called upon to set up Ovechkin for years.
5. Boston (Kyle Okposo) In the first "shocker" of the draft, Boston goes for the exceptionally well rounded Okposo.
6. Columbus (Jonathan Toews) Toews falls a bit, but ends up setting the Jackets up with two stud centers for the future (he and Brule).
7. NYI (Peter Mueller) The Isles go for the BPA in Mueller. A crafty pivot with size, deceptive speed, and good leadership qualities.
8. Phoenix (Derrick Brassard) Phoenix goes with the dynamic Brassard who the Yotes hope can anchor a scoring line for the years to come.
9. Minnesota (Mike Forney) I'm going with a bit of a shocker here. Forney is unknown to many outside the scouting community, but is a hometown player blessed with excellent size and skill and will be heading to top notch school this fall (ND).
10. Florida (Chris Stewart) Frankly, I think the temptation to take Anthony's brother will be too much. Chris is a great player in his own right and brings size along with a good work ethic.
11. NJ (Bob Sanguinetti) Here's my other trade. Sanguinetti is a NJ native who is a tremendous offensive presence from the blueline. Rafalski's replacement in a few years.
12. Atlanta (Jiri Tlusty) The Thrashers look to add the well-rounded Tlusty to an already impressive group of forwards.
13. Toronto (Bryan Little) The Leafs look to address a thin prospect group at forward by adding the dynamic Little.
14. Vancouver (Michael Frolik) Frolik's stock has dropped in the last year or so, but he's talented enough for the Canucks to snatch him up.
15. Tampa Bay (Jonathan Bernier) I struggled this one, especially with the BPA angle so prevelant, but because of the lack of quality goaltending prospects in the system, I went with who I believe is the top keeper in the draft.
16. Montreal (Nigel Williams) Montreal goes with the well regarded Williams, who while still has a lot of maturing to do, has tremendous upside on the blueline.
17. Minnesota (David Fischer) Minnesota goes for another hometowner, this time a defenseman who will ply his trade at Michigan next season.
18. Colorado (James Sheppard) I acknowledge that Sheppard is unlikely to drop this far, but if he does Colorado will snatch him up to fill a scoring line role in the future.
19. Anaheim (Ty Wishart) IMO Anaheim has one of the best talent pools in the league, but could use another defenseman to anchor the blueline. They go for the very steady Wishart who would be a nice compliment for a player like Smid.
20. San Jose (Michael Grabner) Another team that looks good overall, but will go with the German speaking, but not German Grabner. Nice skill level and upside.
21. NYR (Brian Strait) Another team with a good mix of quality prospects, the Rangers address a long term need with Brian Strait, a very steady defensman with the USNTDP.
22. Philadelphia (Nick Foligno) I'm going with a hunch here. The team goes with another skilled pest in the Bobby Clarke image, I'm envisioning a Foligno/Downie tandem in the future....YIKES!
23. Washington (Riku Helenius) Washington addresses their need for a top goaltending prospect by going with the impressive Helenius.
24. Buffalo (Mark Mitera) Buffalo's lack of blueline depth in the playoffs and in the organization impels the team to take the steady Mitera.
25. LA (Chris Summers) No doubt New Jersey sweetened the pot for the Kings to fall this low in the draft, but LA still gets a quality prospect in the fleet footed Chris Summers.
26. Calgary (Ryan White) I keep hoping Darryl Sutter has a change of philosophy when it comes to drafting, but alas he doesn't, so he goes with the solid but unspectacular White.
27. St. Louis (Ondrej Fiala) The Blues go for the skilled and hard working Czech native.
28. Dallas (Ivan Vishnevsky) No Finns this time! The Stars look for Zubov's replacement and find their man in Vishnevsky.
29. Ottawa (Joey Ryan) The Sens look to compliment the offensive Brian Lee with the more physical Joey Ryan. He skates well enough to fit in with the Sens team philosophy and brings toughness.
30. Detroit (Codey Burki) Detroit seems to find the diamonds in the rough, so they go with ther mercurial but very talented Burki.
1. Pittsburgh (Erik Johnson) Pittsburgh trades "x" with St. Louis (likely a player/prospect/or pick and the 2nd) to get their stud d-man.
2. St. Louis (Jordan Staal) In Blues circles it's no secret the team loves Staal. I think either he or Backstrom is the guy here. A stud center who projects well.
3. Chicago (Phil Kessel) This could be where Toews/Backstrom goes, but I go with the flashy Kessel who in some ways could remind the Hawks faithful of a young JR.
4. Washington (Nicklas Backstrom) The smooth Swedish pivot will be called upon to set up Ovechkin for years.
5. Boston (Kyle Okposo) In the first "shocker" of the draft, Boston goes for the exceptionally well rounded Okposo.
6. Columbus (Jonathan Toews) Toews falls a bit, but ends up setting the Jackets up with two stud centers for the future (he and Brule).
7. NYI (Peter Mueller) The Isles go for the BPA in Mueller. A crafty pivot with size, deceptive speed, and good leadership qualities.
8. Phoenix (Derrick Brassard) Phoenix goes with the dynamic Brassard who the Yotes hope can anchor a scoring line for the years to come.
9. Minnesota (Mike Forney) I'm going with a bit of a shocker here. Forney is unknown to many outside the scouting community, but is a hometown player blessed with excellent size and skill and will be heading to top notch school this fall (ND).
10. Florida (Chris Stewart) Frankly, I think the temptation to take Anthony's brother will be too much. Chris is a great player in his own right and brings size along with a good work ethic.
11. NJ (Bob Sanguinetti) Here's my other trade. Sanguinetti is a NJ native who is a tremendous offensive presence from the blueline. Rafalski's replacement in a few years.
12. Atlanta (Jiri Tlusty) The Thrashers look to add the well-rounded Tlusty to an already impressive group of forwards.
13. Toronto (Bryan Little) The Leafs look to address a thin prospect group at forward by adding the dynamic Little.
14. Vancouver (Michael Frolik) Frolik's stock has dropped in the last year or so, but he's talented enough for the Canucks to snatch him up.
15. Tampa Bay (Jonathan Bernier) I struggled this one, especially with the BPA angle so prevelant, but because of the lack of quality goaltending prospects in the system, I went with who I believe is the top keeper in the draft.
16. Montreal (Nigel Williams) Montreal goes with the well regarded Williams, who while still has a lot of maturing to do, has tremendous upside on the blueline.
17. Minnesota (David Fischer) Minnesota goes for another hometowner, this time a defenseman who will ply his trade at Michigan next season.
18. Colorado (James Sheppard) I acknowledge that Sheppard is unlikely to drop this far, but if he does Colorado will snatch him up to fill a scoring line role in the future.
19. Anaheim (Ty Wishart) IMO Anaheim has one of the best talent pools in the league, but could use another defenseman to anchor the blueline. They go for the very steady Wishart who would be a nice compliment for a player like Smid.
20. San Jose (Michael Grabner) Another team that looks good overall, but will go with the German speaking, but not German Grabner. Nice skill level and upside.
21. NYR (Brian Strait) Another team with a good mix of quality prospects, the Rangers address a long term need with Brian Strait, a very steady defensman with the USNTDP.
22. Philadelphia (Nick Foligno) I'm going with a hunch here. The team goes with another skilled pest in the Bobby Clarke image, I'm envisioning a Foligno/Downie tandem in the future....YIKES!
23. Washington (Riku Helenius) Washington addresses their need for a top goaltending prospect by going with the impressive Helenius.
24. Buffalo (Mark Mitera) Buffalo's lack of blueline depth in the playoffs and in the organization impels the team to take the steady Mitera.
25. LA (Chris Summers) No doubt New Jersey sweetened the pot for the Kings to fall this low in the draft, but LA still gets a quality prospect in the fleet footed Chris Summers.
26. Calgary (Ryan White) I keep hoping Darryl Sutter has a change of philosophy when it comes to drafting, but alas he doesn't, so he goes with the solid but unspectacular White.
27. St. Louis (Ondrej Fiala) The Blues go for the skilled and hard working Czech native.
28. Dallas (Ivan Vishnevsky) No Finns this time! The Stars look for Zubov's replacement and find their man in Vishnevsky.
29. Ottawa (Joey Ryan) The Sens look to compliment the offensive Brian Lee with the more physical Joey Ryan. He skates well enough to fit in with the Sens team philosophy and brings toughness.
30. Detroit (Codey Burki) Detroit seems to find the diamonds in the rough, so they go with ther mercurial but very talented Burki.
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