The Mighty Duck Man
R-E-L-A-X
1.Pittsburgh Penguins-C Sidney Crosby
Why? If you don't know why, either catch up or go back under that rock you've been living under for the past couple of years.
2.Anaheim Ducks-D Jack Johnson
Why? With Getzlaf, Lupul, Perry, Chistov, Kunitz, etc., the Ducks are fairly set at forward, and truly lack a #1 defenseman, making Johnson the perfect fit.
3.Carolina Hurricanes-LW Benoit Pouliot
Why? With Andrew Ladd and Erik Cole, they have two power forwards, and could really use a skill winger to side with Ladd and Eric Staal. They need defense, but Johnson's gone, so they take the best forward out there. Do not rule out a trade-down to get Eric Staal's younger brother Marc, though.
4.Minnesota Wild-RW Bobby Ryan
Why? With Brent Burns on defense, they really do lack a power forward, and Bobby Ryan fits the mold here. A case could also be made that he's the best player available, so they'd take him anyway if they drafted that way.
5.Montreal Canadiens-C Gilbert Brule
Why? The Canadiens have drafted a couple wingers in the past, and although they took Chipchura last year, they could use a true first line centerman, and Brule is the perfect fit. Don't rule out this pick being traded either, whether it's for current talent or a shot at the aforementioned Marc Staal.
6.Columbus Blue Jackets-C Anze Kopitar
Why? If there's one thing Columbus truly lacks, it's a bonafide first line center to go in between Nash and Zherdev, and Kopitar is a perfect fit. His future is kind-of murky, and Kopitar's a weird fit in Columbus as the Jackets usually have their picks in the line-up immediately, but he's definetely their best choice here. But, they're another team that could potentially trade down, and again it could be in an attempt to get Marc Staal.
7.Chicago Blackhawks-RW Jack Skille
Why? The Blackhawks are somewhat set at goalie, and they're even more set on defense. Tuomo Ruutu is physical, and I see them taking the physical Jack Skille to go along with him.
8.Atlanta Thrashers-C Alex Bourret
Why? They could use a Marc Staal on defense, and could also trade up for one of Brule, Kopitar, or Pouliot(can play center IIRC), but, they do lack a center, so I see them taking the skilled Bourret to solidify that position for the future.
9.Ottawa Senators-G Carey Price
Why? Ray Emery is a solid prospect, but they're pretty much set everywhere else. Emery might turn into an impact goaltender, but Price is a very good goaltender to go along with him.
10.Vancouver Canucks-D Marc Staal
Why? The Canucks don't have alot of great defense prospects, and haven't taken a defenseman in the first round since Bryan Allen in 1998, so Staal makes alot of sense. Could be another candidate to trade up, especially if it lands them Vancouver boy Gilbert Brule.
11.Los Angeles Kings-RW Martin Hanzal
Why? They're set on defense somewhat, and probably won't take Tukka Rask now, although I could see them trade down for him. Anyway, even though they've taken 4 forwards in the first round in the last two years, I see them taking the skilled Hanzal to go with Brown, Tambellini, Boyle, and Tukonen.
12.San Jose Sharks-C Marek Zagrapkan
Why? Zagrapkan could end up being a very skilled player, possibly one of the better talents in the entire draft, but he could also end up busting. The Sharks, though, have taken gambles before, as seen in the past few drafts, and I see them rolling the dice on Zagrapkan.
13.Buffalo Sabres-D Luc Bourdon
Why? Buffalo has gone forward in the draft lately, and could really use a physical defenseman, and Bourdon is a good fit for them.
14.Washington Capitals-D Ryan Parent
Why? They could use a center for Ovechkin, but I see them instead shoring up the defense with the very solid Parent.
15.New York Islanders-D Brian Lee
Why? Lee did well this year, making the US WJC team over top American Jack Johnson, and the Islanders are a perfect fit, with an apparent need for defense.
16.New York Rangers-RW Niklas Bergfors
Why? They could really use some good scoring prospects, and I see them going with the solid, but somewhat undersize Bergfors.
17.Phoenix Coyotes-RW Guillame Latendresse
Why? I remember the time it was debatable who would go second to Crosby, Brule or Latendresse, and I'm sure Gretzky remembers too. He's still doing decently, and by some people is going around or in the top 10, so I don't see them letting him slide any further.
18.Nashville Predators-C Ryan O'Marra
Why? He's a very solid prospect, and many may wonder why I have him slip this far, and it's mainly because of his biggest strength. Other teams decide to take a gamble with their picks, as many of them wouldn't have had that high of pick anyway, and decide they can take a chance. But I see Nashville take the solid prospect to go along with guys like Radulov, Upshall, and Shishkanov.
19.Detroit Red Wings-LW Kenndal McArdle
Why? With Bredan Shannahan likely leaving in the near future, I see them drafting a decent replacement for him in McArdle. Many of their prospects and young guns at forward aren't all that physical, so McArdle is also a very good fit.
20.Philadelphia Flyers-RW Devin Setoguchi
Why? The Flyers have many good prospects in the organization, so I see them taking a gamble on Setoguchi, hoping he can rid his inconsistancy issues.
21.Toronto Maple Leafs-G Tukka Rask
Why? Eddie the Eagle could soon be retiring, and Tellqvist hasn't done a whole lot to make him seem like a suitable replacement. Rask was once thought to be ahead of Carey Price, so I see the Leafs taking the other top goalie.
22.Boston Bruins-D Jakub Kindl
Why? They could use some defense, especially if Gonchar bolts, so I see them picking up Kindl.
23.New Jersey Devils-C Andrew Cogliano
Why? There may be some uncertainty on defense, but Lou Lams is probably confident he can bring the UFAs back, so I see them taking the solid center.
24.St.Louis Blues-D Matt Lashoff
Why? They traded Shawn Belle for goaltending help, and have a good forward core, so I see them taking the defenseman Lashoff.
25.Edmonton Oilers-D Brendan Mikkelsson
Why? They could really use some defense, even with Woywitka and Bergeron, so I see them going with Mikkelsson.
26.Calgary Flames-C Chris Durand
Why? They could use some center depth, and the playmaker Durand is a great fit. Being a WHLer doesn't hurt.
27.Colorado Avalanche-D Scott Jackson
Why? With the Morris and Skoula trades, and the possibility of losing Adam Foote, on top of not having alot of defensive prospects, they really could use a defenseman, and Jackson is a perfect fit.
28.Dallas Stars-D Ryan Stoa
Why? They are another team that could really use a defenseman, so I see them going with the very solid Stoa, who could be a steal for them at this point.
29.Florida Panthers-D Risto Korhonen
Why? They have drafted a few forwards lately, and could really use a defenseman to go along with J-Bo, so I see them taking the best available in Korhonen.
30.Tampa Bay Lightning-G Ondrej Pavelec
Why? There is some major uncertainty with Khabbibulin, so I see them going with the wildcard in Pavelec, who could potentially be a huge steal at this point for them.
Well, thar she be. Flame away!
Why? If you don't know why, either catch up or go back under that rock you've been living under for the past couple of years.
2.Anaheim Ducks-D Jack Johnson
Why? With Getzlaf, Lupul, Perry, Chistov, Kunitz, etc., the Ducks are fairly set at forward, and truly lack a #1 defenseman, making Johnson the perfect fit.
3.Carolina Hurricanes-LW Benoit Pouliot
Why? With Andrew Ladd and Erik Cole, they have two power forwards, and could really use a skill winger to side with Ladd and Eric Staal. They need defense, but Johnson's gone, so they take the best forward out there. Do not rule out a trade-down to get Eric Staal's younger brother Marc, though.
4.Minnesota Wild-RW Bobby Ryan
Why? With Brent Burns on defense, they really do lack a power forward, and Bobby Ryan fits the mold here. A case could also be made that he's the best player available, so they'd take him anyway if they drafted that way.
5.Montreal Canadiens-C Gilbert Brule
Why? The Canadiens have drafted a couple wingers in the past, and although they took Chipchura last year, they could use a true first line centerman, and Brule is the perfect fit. Don't rule out this pick being traded either, whether it's for current talent or a shot at the aforementioned Marc Staal.
6.Columbus Blue Jackets-C Anze Kopitar
Why? If there's one thing Columbus truly lacks, it's a bonafide first line center to go in between Nash and Zherdev, and Kopitar is a perfect fit. His future is kind-of murky, and Kopitar's a weird fit in Columbus as the Jackets usually have their picks in the line-up immediately, but he's definetely their best choice here. But, they're another team that could potentially trade down, and again it could be in an attempt to get Marc Staal.
7.Chicago Blackhawks-RW Jack Skille
Why? The Blackhawks are somewhat set at goalie, and they're even more set on defense. Tuomo Ruutu is physical, and I see them taking the physical Jack Skille to go along with him.
8.Atlanta Thrashers-C Alex Bourret
Why? They could use a Marc Staal on defense, and could also trade up for one of Brule, Kopitar, or Pouliot(can play center IIRC), but, they do lack a center, so I see them taking the skilled Bourret to solidify that position for the future.
9.Ottawa Senators-G Carey Price
Why? Ray Emery is a solid prospect, but they're pretty much set everywhere else. Emery might turn into an impact goaltender, but Price is a very good goaltender to go along with him.
10.Vancouver Canucks-D Marc Staal
Why? The Canucks don't have alot of great defense prospects, and haven't taken a defenseman in the first round since Bryan Allen in 1998, so Staal makes alot of sense. Could be another candidate to trade up, especially if it lands them Vancouver boy Gilbert Brule.
11.Los Angeles Kings-RW Martin Hanzal
Why? They're set on defense somewhat, and probably won't take Tukka Rask now, although I could see them trade down for him. Anyway, even though they've taken 4 forwards in the first round in the last two years, I see them taking the skilled Hanzal to go with Brown, Tambellini, Boyle, and Tukonen.
12.San Jose Sharks-C Marek Zagrapkan
Why? Zagrapkan could end up being a very skilled player, possibly one of the better talents in the entire draft, but he could also end up busting. The Sharks, though, have taken gambles before, as seen in the past few drafts, and I see them rolling the dice on Zagrapkan.
13.Buffalo Sabres-D Luc Bourdon
Why? Buffalo has gone forward in the draft lately, and could really use a physical defenseman, and Bourdon is a good fit for them.
14.Washington Capitals-D Ryan Parent
Why? They could use a center for Ovechkin, but I see them instead shoring up the defense with the very solid Parent.
15.New York Islanders-D Brian Lee
Why? Lee did well this year, making the US WJC team over top American Jack Johnson, and the Islanders are a perfect fit, with an apparent need for defense.
16.New York Rangers-RW Niklas Bergfors
Why? They could really use some good scoring prospects, and I see them going with the solid, but somewhat undersize Bergfors.
17.Phoenix Coyotes-RW Guillame Latendresse
Why? I remember the time it was debatable who would go second to Crosby, Brule or Latendresse, and I'm sure Gretzky remembers too. He's still doing decently, and by some people is going around or in the top 10, so I don't see them letting him slide any further.
18.Nashville Predators-C Ryan O'Marra
Why? He's a very solid prospect, and many may wonder why I have him slip this far, and it's mainly because of his biggest strength. Other teams decide to take a gamble with their picks, as many of them wouldn't have had that high of pick anyway, and decide they can take a chance. But I see Nashville take the solid prospect to go along with guys like Radulov, Upshall, and Shishkanov.
19.Detroit Red Wings-LW Kenndal McArdle
Why? With Bredan Shannahan likely leaving in the near future, I see them drafting a decent replacement for him in McArdle. Many of their prospects and young guns at forward aren't all that physical, so McArdle is also a very good fit.
20.Philadelphia Flyers-RW Devin Setoguchi
Why? The Flyers have many good prospects in the organization, so I see them taking a gamble on Setoguchi, hoping he can rid his inconsistancy issues.
21.Toronto Maple Leafs-G Tukka Rask
Why? Eddie the Eagle could soon be retiring, and Tellqvist hasn't done a whole lot to make him seem like a suitable replacement. Rask was once thought to be ahead of Carey Price, so I see the Leafs taking the other top goalie.
22.Boston Bruins-D Jakub Kindl
Why? They could use some defense, especially if Gonchar bolts, so I see them picking up Kindl.
23.New Jersey Devils-C Andrew Cogliano
Why? There may be some uncertainty on defense, but Lou Lams is probably confident he can bring the UFAs back, so I see them taking the solid center.
24.St.Louis Blues-D Matt Lashoff
Why? They traded Shawn Belle for goaltending help, and have a good forward core, so I see them taking the defenseman Lashoff.
25.Edmonton Oilers-D Brendan Mikkelsson
Why? They could really use some defense, even with Woywitka and Bergeron, so I see them going with Mikkelsson.
26.Calgary Flames-C Chris Durand
Why? They could use some center depth, and the playmaker Durand is a great fit. Being a WHLer doesn't hurt.
27.Colorado Avalanche-D Scott Jackson
Why? With the Morris and Skoula trades, and the possibility of losing Adam Foote, on top of not having alot of defensive prospects, they really could use a defenseman, and Jackson is a perfect fit.
28.Dallas Stars-D Ryan Stoa
Why? They are another team that could really use a defenseman, so I see them going with the very solid Stoa, who could be a steal for them at this point.
29.Florida Panthers-D Risto Korhonen
Why? They have drafted a few forwards lately, and could really use a defenseman to go along with J-Bo, so I see them taking the best available in Korhonen.
30.Tampa Bay Lightning-G Ondrej Pavelec
Why? There is some major uncertainty with Khabbibulin, so I see them going with the wildcard in Pavelec, who could potentially be a huge steal at this point for them.
Well, thar she be. Flame away!
