2011 NHL Mock Draft

The top ten will be pretty in-depth but it'll speed up after!

1. Edmonton Oilers
Player: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Position: Center
Team: Red Deer of the WHL
Best Attribute: Play making ability.
Size: 6'0, 165lb
Speed, skill, vision and defensive responsibility. Some people have even said he has the best vision of any player since Wayne Gretzky. I also think that he could complete Taylor Hall on a future first line. Nugent-Hopkins also has a knack for slipping checks which will help him based on his size. I think that Nugent-Hopkins is the best player in this draft and think that it would be great for the Oilers to draft him. Besides the Oilers lack at center.

2. Colorado Avalanche
Player:Adam Larsson
Position: Defense
Team: Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Elite League
Best Attribute: Two way ability
Size: 6'3, 212lb
Larsson handle the puck with calmness beyond his years, he also makes a great first pass. Near the end of the year he didn't impress many people though, and if the Avalanche didn't need a defenseman, I would have slotted him later on in the draft. He chips in offensively and is good in his own end, however his offence dropped off this year with him only getting 9 points in 37 games. Also Larsson was below average in just about every test he did at the scouting combine.

3. Florida Panthers
Player: Gabriel Landeskog
Position: Left Wing
Team: Kitchener Rangers of the OHL
Best Attribute: The ability to step up in any way needed
Size: 6'0, 205lb
The Florida Panthers need a forward that can score and be a leader. They got plenty of defensive prospects but now I think that they are going to go with a left winger named Gabriel Landeskog. Landeskog scores, plays defense and will even drop the gloves from time to time. He's a great skater and will do anything for his team and do anything to win. Some compare him to Mike Richards of the Philadelphia Flyers.

4. New Jersey Devils
Player: Dougie Hamilton
Position: Defense
Team: Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL
Best Attribute: Size and mobility
Size: 6'4, 195lb
The Devils once were known for having solid D'men but not so much any more. With guys like Zach Parise, (if he stays in New Jersey) Ilya Kovalchuk and Travis Zajac up front, they'd be better off drafting a defenseman. Dougie Hamilton is big and is a mobile puck mover. He got 58 points in 67 games in the OHL which is great for a defenseman he plays with a good amount of physicality but his defense is a work in progress.

5. New York Islanders
Player: Nathan Beaulieu
Position: Defense
Team: Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL
Best Attribute: The ability to jump up in the rush.
Size: 6'3, 191lb
Great offensive defenseman with that can quarterback the power play and jump up in the rush. The Islanders are set upfront with John Tavares, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner. But other than Marc Streit, (whose always hurt) they don't really have any good defensmen. Beaulieu is a pretty solid all round defensman that only has to make minor tweaks to perfect his game.

6. Ottawa Senators
Player: Sean Couturier
Position: Center
Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL
Best Attribute: Extremely smart
Size: 6'4, 197lb
Couturier is a very good power forward/two way forward. Couturier is a great skater who knows how to use his size. Scouts were expecting more out of him and so was I. at the half way point Couturier was in between #1 and #4 in most people books but has fallen to the 5-10 range. Couturier needs to work on his first step, he's fast once he gets going but he doesn't have great acceleration. Ottawa is still in need of a solid forward after the Dany Heatley trade.

7. Winnipeg
Player: Jonathan Huberdeau
Position: Center
Team: Saint John Sea dogs of the QMJHL
Best Attribute: Play making Ability
Size: 6'1, 173lb
While many people think that Huberdeau should go in the top 3 or 5, I'm not sold on how good Huberdeau is, and I think that this would be a good pick for Winnipeg. Huberdeau is a great play maker who isn't afraid of the gritty part of the game. Winnipeg already has Dustin Byfuglien, Tobias Enstrom and some other very good defensive prospects so I think they would like Huberdeau. Also if Huberdeau is still available at 7, I don't think they'll be skipping out on him. Ottawa has expressed interest in him so he might be snagged by them instead.

8. Columbus Blue Jackets
Player: Ryan Strome
Position: Center
Team: Niagara Ice Dogs of the OHL
Best Attribute: Dynamic offensive ability
Size: 5'11, 162lb
Strome is a dynamic offensive producer in Niagara. Definitely more of a play maker with 33 goals and 73 assists this year. Strome is a human highlight reel. Strome is quite a small player and uses his dangling ability and skating ability to slip check from the bigger guys. Strome has a problem of being a little inconsistent defensively and can sometimes seem a little uninvolved in his own end. Other than that there is no other glaring weaknesses in Stromes game. He could have a bright future on Rick Nash's line.

9. Boston Bruins
Player: Mika Zibanejad
Position: Center
Team: Djurgårdens IF of the Swedish Elite League
Best Attribute: Slick hands, ability to shut down and be a thorn in the side of star players
Size: 6'2, 191lb
Zibanejad has had comparisons to Bobby Holik, but ZibanejadZibanejad needs to work on his first step and sometimes he gets too emotional during the game and loses his temper at the wrong time. Bruins already have a solid defense don't be surprised to see them picking Zibanejad.


10. Minnesota Wild
Player: Sven Bartschi
Position: Left Wing
Team: Portland Winterhawks of the WHL
Best Attribute:  Quick release shot
Size: 5'10, 185lb
Bartschi is an all round offensive talent, slick hands, quick shot, strong passes, he is knocked for his defensive play. He does struggle in his own end. Bartschi does play with a mean streak that would surprise many people but it is reinforced by his penalty minute totals, 74 in 66 games. This is a surprise for many people because usually small European imports are kind of shy and don't really like the physical play. I think that Sven Bartschi would make a great line mate for the captain of Minnesota Mikko Koivu.


11. Colorado Avalanche
Player: Ryan Murphy
Position: Defense
Team: Kitchener Rangers of the OHL
Best Attribute: The ability to run the power play
Size: 5'10, 160lb
After getting Larsson to play a two way game, I think that the Avalanche would be pleased to get a Mike Green like defenseman, they just need to work on Murphy's defense.


12. Carolina Hurricanes
Player: Jamieson Oleksiak
Position: Defense
Team: Northeastern University
Best Attribute: Good shutdown defenseman
Size: 6'7, 244lb
For a team that has Eric Staal, Jeff Skinner, Zach Boychuck, Zac Dalpe and Brendan Sutter, I think it's time they drafted a defenseman. Oleksiak will take a while too develop but is the biggest player in this draft, I think he will fit nicely in Carolina.


13. Calgary Flames
Player: Mark McNeil
Position: Center
Team: Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL
Best Attribute: Just as good in his own end as he is in the offensive end
Size: 6'2, 210lb
McNeil has a better pass than shot, and he can play equally well in either end of the ice. Calgary has needed a center for a while. He will take a couple years to develop but he will be a great two way center some day. McNeil already has NHL size.


14. Dallas Stars
Player: Duncan Siemens
Position: Defense
Team: Saskatoon Blades of the WHL
Best Attribute: Shutdown ability
Size: 6'3, 192lb
Siemens would be a good pick for Dallas because he would inject some size and toughness into a otherwise small defensive corps. While his production obviously won't be as high in the NHL as it was in the WHL he does chip in offensively. Dallas may draft a forward if Brad Richards decides to leave Dallas.


15. New York Rangers
Player: Tomas Jurco
Position: Right Wing
Team: Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL
Best Attribute: Sick hands
Size: 6'2, 193lb
Jurco is incredibly gifted offensively and can hold his own in the defensive end. New York is always looking for star power and Jurco could be a star someday. No guarantees of course, but he does have all the tools.


16. Buffalo Sabres
Player: Boone Jenner
Position: Center
Team: Oshawa Generals of the OHL
Best Attribute: Play making  ability
Size: 6'1, 193lb
Jenner will need to work on his foot speed, but he does collect many assists, and will chip in the odd goal. Buffalo only really has Tomas Vanek getting points and there is no one on the Buffalo roster to pass Vanek the puck. After a couple of years of development Jenner could be that player.


17. Montreal Canadiens
Player: Jonas Brodin
Position: Defense
Team: Färjestad of the Swedish Elite League
Best Attribute: Puck mover
Size: 6'1, 168lb
Brodin has outstanding speed and moves the puck very quickly with his speed and fantastic passes. Brodin does need to bulk up but with Habs blue liners getting old in a couple of years you might see Brodin with the big club.


18. Chicago Blackhawks
Player. Oscar Klefbom
Position: Defense
Team: Färjestad of the Swedish Elite League
Best Attribute: Strong two way game
Size: 6'3, 194lb
Klefbom has shot up the rankings with his great two way defense. Hawks lack depth everywhere, but they do not have many defensive prospects compared to forwards so I think that Klefbom would be a good pick for them.


19. Edmonton Oilers
Player: Joseph Morrow
Position: Defense
Team: Portland Winterhawks of the WHL
Best Attribute: Puck mover
Size: 6'0, 197lb
Oilers have huge holes at center and defense. One day I think Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will help fulfill the hole at center. Also I think that Morrow will help fill the defensive hole in a couple of years. Morrow needs to improve in his own end, but in general is a solid all round defenseman.


20. Phoenix Coyotes
Player: Joel Armia
Position: Right Wing
Team: Assat of the SM-liiga
Best Attribute: Great shot
Size: 6'2, 185lb
Armia is big for his size and he uses his size to his advantage creating space for himself. Phoenix already has Keith Yandle, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on defense so I think this year they will want to draft a forward.

21. Ottawa Senators
Player: David Musil
Position: Defense
Team: Vancouver Giants of the WHL
Best Attribute: First pass
Size: 6'4, 195lb
Musil skates pretty well for a big guy like him. He also has good vision and makes a great first pass. He uses his size well too.Ottawa has got some good up and coming defensemen like Karlsson and Cowen, and I think that there is a chance that you can add Musil to that.

22. Anaheim Ducks
Player: Connor Murphy
Position: Defense
Team: USA U-18
Best Attribute: Strong skater
Size: 6'3, 185lb
The Ducks have solid forwards and forward prospects but need to keep adding to their defensive prospects. Murphy has good pucks skills and can carry the puck well. Murphy has good gap control too. I think that in 3-5 years you just might see Murphy in the NHL, possibly for the Anaheim Ducks.

23. Pittsburgh Penguins
Player: Matt Puempel
Position: Left Wing
Team: Peterborough Petes of the OHL
Best Attribute: Quick release and accurate shot
Size: 6'0, 190lb
Puempel has an uncanny ability to be at the right place at the right time to score a big goal. One of the huge upsides to Puempel is that he is a strong skater and has fantastic offensive instincts. The Penguins need wingers and he will be a good scoring winger someday I think. Puempel does battle inconsistency though.

24. Detroit Red Wings
Player: Brandon Saad
Position: Left Wing
Team: Saginaw Spirit of the OHL
Best Attribute: Two way ability
Size: 6'2, 211lb
Saad is a strong skater that knows how to play at both ends of the rink. He does have offensive ability, but I see him as a second or third liner in the NHL. Saad is a North American Version of Johan Franzen, probably not quite as offensively gifted. I think he could play a Johan Franzen like role on the Wings someday.

25. Toronto Maple Leafs
Player: Mark Scheifele
Position: Center
Team: Barrie Colts of the OHL
Best Attribute: Extremely smart and outstanding vision
Size: 6'3, 180lb
Scheifele is still very lanky and will need to fill out his frame but someday I think he could be a very big NHL center. The Maple Leafs need center men and Scheifele I think will be good for them. He is very offensively gifted, but right now is susceptible to be pushed off the puck. However I think that he would be a very good pick for the Leafs.

26. Washington Capitals
Player: Ryan Sproul
Position: Defense
Team: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL
Best Attribute: Puck moving
Size: 6'4, 193lb
Sproul is a two way defenseman that chips in offensively with his speed and hands. He is big but doesn't use his size as much as he could. The Caps are loaded offensively so I think that they would want to draft a defenseman and Sproul would not be a bad choice.

27. Tampa Bay Lightning
Player: Rocco Grimaldi
Position: Any Forward Position
Team: USA U-18
Best Attribute: Insane offensive skills
Size: 5'6, 160lb
Grimaldi is a top ten talent but because he is 5'6 he falls down the rankings.Grimaldi would fit right into the Lightning's offensive style. Compared to Theoren Fleury with his skills and grittiness. Other than his size there are no major weaknesses in Grimaldi's game.

28. San Jose Sharks
Player: Scott Mayfield
Position: Defense
Team: Youngstown Phantoms of the USHLBest Attribute: Strong Skater
Size: 6'4, 200lb
Mayfield has a strong transition game and a booming shot. The Sharks are running low on good defensemen so it's about time that they started drafting some with their high picks. I think that Mayfield will be a good fit with the Sharks.

29. Vancouver Canucks
Player: Rickard Rakell
Position: Right Wing
Team: Plymouth Whalers of the OHL
Best Attribute: Speed
Size: 6'1, 193lb
Rakell is a good passer that uses his body well and creates lots of energy. Rakell loves to score, and he can hold his own in his own end. I think that he would fit in well in Vancouver. Rakell got 43 points in 49 games this year, he had 19 goals and 24 assists.

30. Toronto Maple Leafs
Player: Tyler Biggs
Position: Right Wing
Team: US National Development Team of the USHL
Best Attribute: Ability to use his size well
Size: 6'2, 202lb
Tyler Biggs is the prototypical power forward. He bangs, he crashes, he plays good defense. Brian Burke likes those types of players so don't be surprised if Biggs gets drafted by the Leafs. Biggs and Brandon Saad both dropped like a rock in the draft rankings. At the halfway mark both of them were in the top ten in many people's eyes, unfortunately for them, they didn't perform.