1. Erik Johnson VS. 2. Jordan Staal
Erik has always produced and has a really high ceiling.
3. Jonathan Toews VS. 4. Nicklas Backstrom Backstrom seems like a dynamo player with skills...he has done well vs men's too, that's why I give him the slight edge.
5. Phil Kessel VS. 6. Derrick Brassard
Higher ceiling + better overall talent + even more faster then Derrick.
7. Kyle Okposo VS. 8. Peter Mueller
Plays with smarts, good playmaking skills...has done well with a poor offensive team. Is a much safer pick, good size too.
9. James Sheppard VS. 10. Michael Frolik
Even if Micheal Frolik's upside is higher...Sheppard's a safe pick imo. I'd say he'll become a top 2 lines center...with tremendous playmaking skills. Downside: Third line center. I've watched him play so much and he's the real deal imo.
11. Jonathan Bernier VS. 12. Bryan Little
I"m gonna tell you something, the team the drafted Bernier so early will regret it. I"m no scout...but I dont really like Bernier. On the other hand, even if Little is small he'll do fine in the new nhl. If he'd have tremendous skating, he'd be a top 5 pick.
13. Jiri Tlusty VS. 14. Michael Grabner
Hard to really tell since both Grabner and Tlusty have really high ceilings. I'll take Tlusty...I've seen Grabner twice (same for Jiri) and to be honest I've been way more impressed by Grabner. He's fast and can shoot the puck...if he continues to developp...he's going to be something special. I like Jiri's two way game though.
15. Riku Helenius VS. 16. Ty Wishart
This time I'll take the guy with the higher upside. Wishart is smart but yeah he's still raw. He does mistakes but the tools are there. I think, Helenius is a better goalie then Bernier...
17. Trevor Lewis VS. 18. Chris Stewart
Chris does everything well. He can even fight....he's big and strong on the puck. I say, he'd be a top 15 pick in any draft year.
19. Mark Mitera VS. 20. David Fischer
I've seen Mitera only once...but not Fisher so I'm saying this based on what I read.
Better upside...Fisher is good in all aspects of the game while Mitera lacks of some offensive skills (but he's still raw). He's young and has already some NCAA experience under his belt.
21. Bob Sanguinetti VS. 22. Claude Giroux
I dunno why Bob went so late. I like his game beleive it or not. Defensively he is no Scott Stevens but offensively I've been so much impressed. You can't teach offence but defence can be improved. He's only 18 and he'll work on his play, in his own end...for atleast 2 years. I like Giroux...and he'll do fine...good speed and skills. He'll atleast become a pp specialist in the new NHL.
23. Semen Varlamov VS. 24. Dennis Persson
I've seen him once only...looked good and poised. Good upside...
25. Patrik Berglund VS. 26. Leland Irving
When I watched Everett...I really liked this guy. Good atlethic goalie and really underrated too. I like him better then Patrick.
27. Ivan Vishnevsky VS. 28. Nick Foligno
I like Ivan alot, I wanted the habs to pick him. Offensively, I'd say he'll become as good as Markov but like Sanguinetti, he needs to work on his defence.
29. Chris Summers VS. 30. Matt Corrent
I wont judge on this one cause I haven't seen Chris play...but I've seen Corrente..twice and if he can put it together...the devils will look good.