Why don't we try it addressing team needs, rather than just BPA rules? We already know draft position of spots 1-4.
1) Chicago Blackhawks- Patrick Kane, RW
- The Hawks already have Toews as a top shelf centreman in their system, but they lack true top end wingers. Jack Skille is good, but the jury seems to still be out as to his potential as a truly potent offensive force.
2) Philadelphia Flyers - Jakub Voracek, C
- Philly can use all the help they can get. The obvious choice is Voracek, as he is an established young talent with incredible upside. They have the likes of Steve Downie and Claude Giroux, but these guys aren't likely to turn into franchise players.
3) Phoenix Coyotes - James Van Riemsdyk, LW
- As Phoenix tries once more to rebuild, Van Riemsdyk would be a good place to start. After his showing at the U-20, Phoenix will definately be taking him as their top wing prospect is Blake Wheeler who isn't projecting as a first liner.
4) Los Angeles Kings - Alexei Cherepanov, RW
- The Kings are very deep in prospects, so they can take a BPA approach - and Cherepanov would certainly be that. His purely offensive talent will do well, especially when you consider the other young wingers they have (O'Sullivan, Frolov, Tukonen).
5) Washington Capitals - Karl Alzner, D
- Washington has good depth up front, but they could use a top-shelf defensive prospect. Their existing D corps is young as it is, but they could use someone with the potential that Alzner has in their system, and could a bruising duo if paired with Sasha Pokuluk.
6) Edmonton Oilers - Kyle Turris, C
- While the Oilers are already deep at centre, they won't be able to turn down the likes of Turris dropping to #6. While Schremp and Cogliano are already in development, they won't let someone with his talent go by.
7) Columbus Blue Jackets - Keaton Ellerby, D
- The Jackets, already stocked with young, talented forwards such as Nash, Zherdev, Brassard, and Picard, and with Rostislav Klesla not becoming the force they thought he would be, the Jackets will go for a solid d-man like Ellerby.
8) Boston Bruins - Sam Gagner, RW
- The Bruins have virtually no depth on the wings in terms of youth, and Gagner will be a good way to address that need. He could one day be a potent force on the wing of a guy like Patrice Bergeron, and could potentially be captain material one day... which would bring the leadership a lot of people feel has been lacking in Beantown.
9) St. Louis Blues - Angelo Esposito, C
- I don't think the Blues are going to be able to go past the potential upside that Esposito can bring. He's been dynamic and amazing at times, though his second year wasn't nearly as prolific as his first. Could he just be feeling the pressure of expectation? Possibly - but a strong development system could cure him of that.
10) Florida Panthers - Nick Petrecki, D
- While the Panthers are stacked in prospects up front with guys like Frolik, Stewart, and McArdle if he ever gets his game back, they lack bruising defenceman. Petrecki can be a physical force on the blue line, and could compliment the likes of Van Ryn and Bouwmeester once he makes the jump.
11) Carolina Hurricanes - Maxim Mayorov, RW
- The 'Canes are packed with defensive prospects, and boasting the likes of Eric Staal as their premier centreman for many years, they'll take a chance on the sometimes amazing, but sometimes complacent Mayorov.
12) Montreal Canadiens - Zach Hamil, C
- The Habs are going to need to find someone to take over for Koivu once his game goes downhill, and while they have top shelf wingers in the likes of Kostitsyn and Perezhogin, Hamill could be a great addition in the long term. While Higgins already projects to be a top 2 centreman, Hamil could solidify that for many years to come.
13) Toronto Maple Leafs - Logan Couture, C
- While the Leafs need wingers, Couture has played all 3 positions over his time, although he is a natural centre. However, with Steen playing more and more time on the wing, the Leafs will take the plunge with this guy and hope he can find the form down the road that lead some people to project him early on as a 1st overall.
14) Colorado Avalanche - Colton Gillies, C
- The Av's cupboard is bare in terms of prospects. I believe the Av's are in a BPA position with so few solid prospects in their system, so they will take whomever they feel is the safest bet to project at the NHL level. Gillies will be their man, and brings the tutelage of his uncle, Clark Gillies.