The most stunning pick of the draft

[Oilers Chick]

In last year's draft the Coyotes used their 5th overall pick to take Blake Wheeler, much to the surprise/shock of many draft followers.

So who is it going to be this year and where will he go?

Click to read more...

 

[Don'tcry4mejanhrdina]

In last year's draft the Coyotes used their 5th overall pick to take Blake Wheeler, much to the surprise/shock of many draft followers.

So who is it going to be this year and where will he go?

I don't know.

 

[Dave is a killer]

In last year's draft the Coyotes used their 5th overall pick to take Blake Wheeler, much to the surprise/shock of many draft followers.

So who is it going to be this year and where will he go?

I believe we'll find out when we hear the HS'ers name

 

[Took a pill in Sbisa]

Obviously there's no way of telling, thus being stunning
How could it be stunning if we could predict it??

 

[Slangston]

Everyone's favorite hockey club the Toronto Maple Leafs will hold the first pick of the draft. They intend on selecting Sidney Crosby, but Crosby lets it be known publicly that he has no intention of EVER playing for the Maple Leafs. In a shocker the Leafs select him anyways, and Crosby being the great sport that he is, walks up to the podium and has his photograph taken with Leafs brass. He refuses to put on the Leaf sweater/hat. Because so, he is greeted to a chorus of boos from Leaf fans attending the draft held in the Corel centre.

Crosby is later dealt to the New York Rangers in exchange for Eric Lindros and two second round picks.

So the surprise pick of the draft is Crosby to Toronto...Even though he hates the city the fans and the hockey club.

 

[Lowetide]

As an Oiler fan I understand the question perfectly. Identify the guy who no one thinks will go in the first round and name him. I call this skill a Niinimaki.

I don't know that he'll go in the first round, but a player who is going to surprise imo is Mason Raymond. I don't see him on several of the mocks at HF (hats off, btw, read them all) but there is a bit of a buzz about this player.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

As an Oiler fan I understand the question perfectly. Identify the guy who no one thinks will go in the first round and name him. I call this skill a Niinimaki.

I don't know that he'll go in the first round, but a player who is going to surprise imo is Mason Raymond. I don't see him on several of the mocks at HF (hats off, btw, read them all) but there is a bit of a buzz about this player.

He's an '85 right? It seems as though a guy who has been passed over in a draft previously doesn't have that shine or luster.

Whats the buzz on this guy?

 

[Lowetide]

He's an '85 right? It seems as though a guy who has been passed over in a draft previously doesn't have that shine or luster.

Whats the buzz on this guy?

Very fast, lots of skill.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

In last year's draft the Coyotes used their 5th overall pick to take Blake Wheeler, much to the surprise/shock of many draft followers.

So who is it going to be this year and where will he go?

Good question. I don't think there will be a player selection so off the wall like Wheeler's last year, but a guy like Lavallee could be picked higher than expected (2nd round perhaps). For the first round, I'm having trouble coming up with a true shocker, although guys like Marc Staal and Brian Lee might surprise. On the flipside, I wouldn't be surprised if Brule slipped a bit.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

If we're going HS shocker, I'm going to say Matt Niskanen.

For that matter,

OHL shocker: Radek Smolenak.
WHL shocker: Brodie Dupont.
Q shocker: Slava Trukhno.
USNTDP: Justin Mercier.
Euro: Petr Kalus.
(The cat was let out of the bag with him going third overall in the import draft.)

 

[Lowetide]

Syvret may also surprise. He's eligible right?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

If we're going HS shocker, I'm going to say Matt Niskanen.

For that matter,

OHL shocker: Radek Smolenak.
WHL shocker: Brodie Dupont.
Q shocker: Slava Trukhno.
USNTDP: Justin Mercier.
Euro: Petr Kalus.
(The cat was let out of the bag with him going third overall in the import draft.)

Good call on Niskanen. I was thinking of him as well. He could go in the 2nd round for sure. He's got a great shot of being on the U.S. WJC team as well.

 

[CH Wizard]

Martin Hanzal.

Some ranked him in their top 10 and others project him to go late first/start of the second round.

 

[Oilers Chick]

I'm glad SOME of you understood the question.

To those that did....who do you all see as falling say, out of the first or second round into a latter round? (a la Wes O'Neill in last summer's draft)

Niskanen is an interesting pick. I've heard/read many good things about him. Anyone seen him play, is he as good as some of the scouting reports say he is?

 

[Anthony Mauro]

I'm glad SOME of you understood the question.

To those that did....who do you all see as falling say, out of the first or second round into a latter round? (a la Wes O'Neill in last summer's draft)

I could see Latendresse take a dive. A guy who I would personally stay far away from is Mikko Lehtonen. Chris Durand is another name to throw out there for dropping stock.

This draft is going to be one of the most entertaining in awhile. You have a Superstar Crosby, great top 5 after that, then some 7-20 picks who could be interchangeable, there's mystery guys like Kindl, Anikeenko, Vojta who I have no idea how high GM's think of them. I see them in mocks anywhere from 20-60. Heart and soul, passionate players that may be taken earlier than talent level would suggest in McQuaid, Dupont, Abdelkader, Beaulieu, Fraser, Downie, Gragnani, Roy.

Ahh, make it happen NHL.

 

[rtafts]

Brian Lee

 

[hfboardsuser]

I'm going to tap Mikko Lehtonen. Some team is going to go wayyyyyy off the board (15-17) for this guy.

 

[Divine Wind]

Good call on Niskanen. I was thinking of him as well. He could go in the 2nd round for sure. He's got a great shot of being on the U.S. WJC team as well.

Agreed. I picked him for my 2nd round selection in a mock draft on the Oiler's board. He also Captained his foot ball team, sounds like an all around great athelete.

 

[Legionnaire]

Agree with the Niskanen pick as well. I think he could end up a mid first rounder. He is a year older than most draftees, but that may be exactly what is attractive about him. He may not have the "hockey maturity" but it is a factor in other areas.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Agree with the Niskanen pick as well. I think he could end up a mid first rounder. He is a year older than most draftees, but that may be exactly what is attractive about him. He may not have the "hockey maturity" but it is a factor in other areas.

Yeah, he might be a guy who sneaks into the first round. He's got tremendous skill.

 

[HFNHL Canadiens]

I think Justin Abdelkader or Andrew Cogliano could be giant shockers

 

[Slats432]

Someone will pick Vladimir Mihalik early and again try to replicate Zdeno Chara.

(Well, it is only an out there prediction.)

 

[Form and Substance]

#2.Devereaux Heshmatpour

and so ends the premium placed on size

 

[An Ape called Yoko]

Kirill Starkov will be a first rounder...

 

[ZombieMatt]

I could see Latendresse take a dive. A guy who I would personally stay far away from is Mikko Lehtonen. Chris Durand is another name to throw out there for dropping stock.

Guillame Latendresse is my "x factor" for the draft. He's the one guy that I think people are going to be shocked where he goes. I think he could break into the top five if the right team has a pick in the area, or plummet to the end of the first round. I've said all along, it depends on when people saw him, and if they believe the good gamesof Latendresse are representative of his NHL potential.