The Mighty Duck Man
R-E-L-A-X
Well, it is a bit early and all, but I figure I'll try my hand at a mock draft. We may yet see version two of the spectacular, likely after all draft positions are finalized. As there is no cup champion yet, Detroit will remain with the 30th overall pick.
1. St. Louis - Jordan Staal: Yes, they could use a defenseman of Johnson's stature, but, they do have some decent, young defensemen(Jackman, Brewer), but they don't have a ton of scoring up front, and I don't think they'll pass up on Staal, especially considering how great his brothers have been, and that he could easily be just as good or better than either one.
2. Pittsburgh - Erik Johnson: The Pens are set at forward with Crosby and Malkin, but even with Ryan Whitney, they don't have a long-term solution on the blueline. They likely send St.Louis a draft pick just to make sure they don't take Johnson, and end up getting the guy they want more than anything in this draft.
3. Chicago - Phil Kessel: While there is some animosity between he and Blackhawks prospect Jack Skille, Chicago could really use a player of Kessel's stature, and don't dare let him out of the top 3.
4. Washington - Nicklas Backstrom: They already have the superstar in Ovechkin, but really need a center to complement his abilities. Kessel might've been a good fit, had he fallen, but they think Backstrom can be just as good, and get set to have their dynamic duo of Ovechkin and Backstrom.
5. Boston - Jonathan Toews: They are fairly set at forward with Bergeron and Boyes, but, with no top defensemen left, they decide to bolster their forward line-up by adding Toews, who can be a great passer for Bergeron and Boyes, and can be good in his own end as well.
6. Columbus - Peter Mueller: Although they have Gilbert Brule, the BJs would like another centerman to bolster their already powerful forward line-up, and Mueller seems to be the man to fit the bill. With a team full of snipers, Mueller could really be useful with on and/or both of Nash and Zherdev.
7. NY Islanders - Derrick Brassard: The Isles are loaded with probable second-line threats(although some could become 1st liners), so Brassard, who could really become a nice first-line threat for them, makes perfect sense. His passing could do well with Yashin and Satan next year, should he make the team.
8. Phoenix - Bryan Little: He isn't question free or anything, but, small as he is, he could be a very talented offensive threat for them, and should they all put it together, Little with Hanzal and Wheeler could be a great tandem.
9. Minnesota - Kyle Okposo: Many seem to feel that this pick is the worst kept secret going into the draft, and I'm going to jump on the bandwagon. He and Benoit Pouliot could make a great tandem, along with Marian Gaborik(if he's still around) in Minnesota's future.
10. Florida - Nigel Williams: While they could use another skill forward to match up with Olesz, they are in dire need of a defenseman to pair up with J-Bo. While Sanguinetti is an option, I see them taking the more physical Williams to go with the very skilled J-Bo.
11. Los Angeles - Michael Frolik: While the Kings could use a defenseman, I don't think they can pass on someone with Frolik's potential. Every year they seem to have a high-ranked Euro fall to them, and I don't think this year will be any different.
12. Anaheim(from Atlanta) - Bobby Sanguinetti: The Ducks need a defenseman fairly badly, and seeing Sanguinetti fall out of the top ten makes them trade up(19th overall, Chistov, and maybe a third rounder to Hotlanta). A teammate of top prospect Bobby Ryan's, Sanguinetti may be the offensive threat they need on the back-end, and a great partner for Ladislav Smid in the future.
13. Toronto - Jiri Tlusty: The Leafs have some great European forwards, and while they could use a banger, I think they draft another one knowing that Tlusty is the best player available and that's just what they need.
14. Vancouver - James Sheppard: The Canucks aren't very deep at the center position, so they could really use a guy with great abilities like James Sheppard. If the fact that they don't have alot of great future options at center doesn't force them to pick Sheppard, the fact that he's probably the BPA should.
15. Tampa Bay - Ty Wishart: With Pavel Kubina going, they badly need a defenseman, and with Sanguinetti and Williams gone, Wishart is the best available. He could learn alot from veterans Boyle and Sydor, as well.
16. Montreal - Chris Stewart
17. Minnesota(from Edmonton) - Michael Forney
18. Colorado - Ivan Vishnevsky
19. Atlanta(from Anaheim) - Brian Strait
20. San Jose - Ondrej Fiala
21. NY Rangers - Chris Summers
22. Philadelphia - Joey Ryan
23. Washington(from Nashville) - Jesse Joensuu
24. Buffalo - Alexander Vasyunov
25. New Jersey - Patrick Berglund
26. Calgary - Carl Sneep
27. St. Louis(from Carolina) - Dennis Persson
28. Dallas - Cory Emmerton
29. Ottawa - Jonathan Bernier
30. Detroit - Nick Foligno
1. St. Louis - Jordan Staal: Yes, they could use a defenseman of Johnson's stature, but, they do have some decent, young defensemen(Jackman, Brewer), but they don't have a ton of scoring up front, and I don't think they'll pass up on Staal, especially considering how great his brothers have been, and that he could easily be just as good or better than either one.
2. Pittsburgh - Erik Johnson: The Pens are set at forward with Crosby and Malkin, but even with Ryan Whitney, they don't have a long-term solution on the blueline. They likely send St.Louis a draft pick just to make sure they don't take Johnson, and end up getting the guy they want more than anything in this draft.
3. Chicago - Phil Kessel: While there is some animosity between he and Blackhawks prospect Jack Skille, Chicago could really use a player of Kessel's stature, and don't dare let him out of the top 3.
4. Washington - Nicklas Backstrom: They already have the superstar in Ovechkin, but really need a center to complement his abilities. Kessel might've been a good fit, had he fallen, but they think Backstrom can be just as good, and get set to have their dynamic duo of Ovechkin and Backstrom.
5. Boston - Jonathan Toews: They are fairly set at forward with Bergeron and Boyes, but, with no top defensemen left, they decide to bolster their forward line-up by adding Toews, who can be a great passer for Bergeron and Boyes, and can be good in his own end as well.
6. Columbus - Peter Mueller: Although they have Gilbert Brule, the BJs would like another centerman to bolster their already powerful forward line-up, and Mueller seems to be the man to fit the bill. With a team full of snipers, Mueller could really be useful with on and/or both of Nash and Zherdev.
7. NY Islanders - Derrick Brassard: The Isles are loaded with probable second-line threats(although some could become 1st liners), so Brassard, who could really become a nice first-line threat for them, makes perfect sense. His passing could do well with Yashin and Satan next year, should he make the team.
8. Phoenix - Bryan Little: He isn't question free or anything, but, small as he is, he could be a very talented offensive threat for them, and should they all put it together, Little with Hanzal and Wheeler could be a great tandem.
9. Minnesota - Kyle Okposo: Many seem to feel that this pick is the worst kept secret going into the draft, and I'm going to jump on the bandwagon. He and Benoit Pouliot could make a great tandem, along with Marian Gaborik(if he's still around) in Minnesota's future.
10. Florida - Nigel Williams: While they could use another skill forward to match up with Olesz, they are in dire need of a defenseman to pair up with J-Bo. While Sanguinetti is an option, I see them taking the more physical Williams to go with the very skilled J-Bo.
11. Los Angeles - Michael Frolik: While the Kings could use a defenseman, I don't think they can pass on someone with Frolik's potential. Every year they seem to have a high-ranked Euro fall to them, and I don't think this year will be any different.
12. Anaheim(from Atlanta) - Bobby Sanguinetti: The Ducks need a defenseman fairly badly, and seeing Sanguinetti fall out of the top ten makes them trade up(19th overall, Chistov, and maybe a third rounder to Hotlanta). A teammate of top prospect Bobby Ryan's, Sanguinetti may be the offensive threat they need on the back-end, and a great partner for Ladislav Smid in the future.
13. Toronto - Jiri Tlusty: The Leafs have some great European forwards, and while they could use a banger, I think they draft another one knowing that Tlusty is the best player available and that's just what they need.
14. Vancouver - James Sheppard: The Canucks aren't very deep at the center position, so they could really use a guy with great abilities like James Sheppard. If the fact that they don't have alot of great future options at center doesn't force them to pick Sheppard, the fact that he's probably the BPA should.
15. Tampa Bay - Ty Wishart: With Pavel Kubina going, they badly need a defenseman, and with Sanguinetti and Williams gone, Wishart is the best available. He could learn alot from veterans Boyle and Sydor, as well.
16. Montreal - Chris Stewart
17. Minnesota(from Edmonton) - Michael Forney
18. Colorado - Ivan Vishnevsky
19. Atlanta(from Anaheim) - Brian Strait
20. San Jose - Ondrej Fiala
21. NY Rangers - Chris Summers
22. Philadelphia - Joey Ryan
23. Washington(from Nashville) - Jesse Joensuu
24. Buffalo - Alexander Vasyunov
25. New Jersey - Patrick Berglund
26. Calgary - Carl Sneep
27. St. Louis(from Carolina) - Dennis Persson
28. Dallas - Cory Emmerton
29. Ottawa - Jonathan Bernier
30. Detroit - Nick Foligno
