This is an interesting year as the first pick is more likely to be traded than usual. Probably from first pick Oilers, to the second pick Blue Jackets. However I think of the order of people picked will stay the same regardless. In the first 15-20 picks, most of the players picked will be the best player available or close to it if a different player can help their organizational need. In the last 15-20 picks teams will go a little more off the board to get a strong player that fits the description of what their team need. Last year I basically just did a top 30 and barely factored in team need. This year I have studied the top 60 and top 100 rankings, and what different teams need. I will go off the board a little bit more too this year.
1. Edmonton Oilers
Player: Nail Yakupov (RW)
Team: Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Stats: 42-31-38-69, +15, 30 PIM
Hometown: Nizhnekamsk, Russia
Size: 5'11, 189lb
Yakupov is a dynamic scorer with ridiculous speed. He used to just be a pure goal scorer but this year he really worked on his passing. It showed. In 7 World Junior contests he didn't have any goals. But he did have a whopping 9 assists. So he's got a well rounded offensive game. The Oiler's don't need another forward but they can't pass up his skill if they decide to keep the pick. I think that Yakupov could be a 40 goal scorer in the league someday.
2. Colombus Blue Jackets
Player: Ryan Murray (D)
Team: Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Stats: 46-9-22-31, Even, 31 PIM
Hometown: White City, Saskatchewan
Size: 6'0, 205lb
Ryan Murray is a solid two-way defense man, but his main skill is taking care of his own end. He skates smoothly but isn't flashy. The Blue Jackets need a player like him to stabilize a stop and go defense corps. He may not be as much of a home run as other players in this draft. But scouts call him the most ready, and most surefire pro.
3. Montreal Canadiens
Player: Mikhail Grigorenko (C)
Team: Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
Stats: 59-40-45-85, +35, 12 PIM
Hometown: Khabarovski, Russia
Size: 6'3, 200lb
Grigorenko is just the player that the Montreal Canadiens have been waiting for and needing for the last 5 years. A big and amazingly talented centre. The only concern about this player is if he is going to go back to Russia. However he does seem very committed to the NHL. He is becoming more defensively aware which boosts his stock even more.
4. New York Islanders
Player: Griffin Reinhart (D)
Team: Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Stats: 58-12-24-36, +23, 38 PIM
Hometown: West Vancouver B.C.
Size: 6'4, 207lb
The Islanders have a couple of blue chip defensive prospects but most are offensive. Reinhart can stabilize that. He plays a fantastic defensive game, but can be effective when he jumps into the rush. He skates well. However most scouts think that he needs to be more physical.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs
Player: Alex Galchenyuk (C)
Team: Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Stats: 2-0-0, -4, 0 PIM
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Size: 6'1, 198lb
With several great defensive prospects, and Nazem Kadri not performing, the Toronto Maple Leafs want a forward that can create offense. That is what Galchenyuk can do best. He is a dynamic playmaker, great skater and has sick hands. He can pass but he can also score. He plays well in his own end too. If he hadn't been sidelined all year, he could be going 1 and 2 with Yakupov.
6. Anaheim Ducks
Player: Mathew Dumba (D)
Team: Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Stats: 69-20-37-57, -6, 67 PIM
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta
Size: 6'0, 183lb
Dumba is one of the best offensive defensemen in the draft and one of the best open ice hitters in the draft. He's a perfect fit in Anaheim because they need more offense and better defensemen. He's great offensively and he's a defenseman. He does need to learn how to play better 'D' because he sometimes makes silly mistakes.
7. Minnesota Wild
Player: Filip Forsberg (RW)
Team: Leksands (SWE)
Stats: 43-8-9-17, +1, 33 PIM
Hometown: Ostervala, Sweden
Size: 6'2, 181
The Wild have an emerging crop of puck-moving defenseman, and could use a big hitting defenseman. But their need for scoring is greater. Forsberg is responsible in both ends of the ice and can score goals. Based on his defensive prowess he is probably the the safest forward pick, and the most likely to be a consistent NHLer. However he doesn't have as much of an upside in his offensive game.
8. Carolina Hurricanes
Player: Jacob Trouba
Team: USNTDP
Stats: 22-4-14-18, +8, 35 PIM
Hometown: Rochester Minnesota
Size: 6'2, 196lb
The Canes have had some disappointing forward prospects such as Zach Boychuck, Zac Dalpe and Drayson Bowman. They could use a forward, but their need for a defensive prospect is greater. Jacob Trouba is perfect because of his defensive ability, and ability to make big hits. Also he does chip in offensively occasionally too. The Cane's have 2 picks in the second round and I think that they will address their offense there.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning
Player: Radek Faksa (C)
Team: Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Stats: 62-29-38-67, +19, 47 PIM
Hometown: Opava, Czech Republic
Size: 6'3, 203lb
Faksa has size, skill, and is a great skater. He moves effortlessly for such a big guy. Tampa Bay Lightning will soon need a supporting cast of forwards as many of there top forwards are aging. Faksa has great poise with the puck. If the Lightning didn't get the 19th overall pick via trade, I would have had them picking Malcolm Subban because their organizational need for a goaltender is so great.
11. Washington Capitals (from Colorado)
Player: Morgan Rielly (D)
Team: Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Stats: 18-3-15-18 +6, 2 PIM
Hometown: West Vancouver B.C.
Size: 6'0, 190lb
The Capitals already have several great forward prospects, and several good current forwards. They needed a defenseman and Morgan Rielly is the perfect fit. He shouldn't have slid this far down but because he missed most of the year with an ACL injury scouts don't like how little of him they've seen. He's a superior skater. A fantastic offensive defenseman. His playmaking is off the charts and he doesn't have any glaring defensive problems.
12. Buffalo Sabres
Player: Teuvo Teravainen (LW)
Team: Jokerit (FIN)
Stats: Fin Jr.: 11-12-8,N/A, 4 PIM. Fin.:40-11-7-18, -5, 6 PIM
Hometown: Helsinki, Finland
Size: 5'11, 165lb
Even though he is diminutive, his skill offensively is ridiculous, he is a very shifty player. He started off the year playing in the Finish Junior league, but he dominated too much and they had to move him up to the top league (SM-Liiga). Buffalo has been lacking offense for some time now and that is his speciality. His speed is at an NHL level, but definitely not the reason he's getting drafted.
13. Dallas Stars
Player: Cody Ceci (D)
Team: Ottawa 67's (OHL)
Stats: 64-17-43, +21, 16 PIM
Hometown: Orleans, Ontario
Size: 6'2, 207lb
The Stars basically need everything except for goaltending so I think that they will just pick the best player available and at this point in the draft I think that it will be Ceci. He doesn't look natural offensively. In fact he looks kind of clunky. However he seems to somehow rack up the points. Part of the reason is his booming shot from the point that has helped him get 17 goals this year. He takes a couple too many risks, and is a little bit inconsistent defensively. But with an NHL coach, he will learn defense.
14. Calgary Flames
Player: Derrick Pouliot (D)
Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Stats: 72-11-48-59, +15, 79 PIM
Hometown: Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Size: 5-11, 186lb
The Calgary Flames are looking for a defenseman that can play at both ends of the ice, and hit. Derrick Pouliot is mainly known as an offensive defenseman. However there is a 'darkside' to his game not too many people notice (79 Penalty Minutes). His entire game is solid, and this year he's been mixing it up a bit. Throwing in some hits and even sometimes fighting. According to one scout. He doesn't fight often, but when he does he rarely loses.
15. Ottawa Senators
Player: Sebastian Collberg (RW)
Team: Frolunda (SWE)
Stats: Sweden Junior League: 21-9-8-17, +2, 18 PIM, Swedish Elite League: 41-0-0-0, -8, 2 PIM
Hometown: Mariestad, Sweden
Size: 5'11, 174lb
Although his stats in the Swedish Elite League make it look like he can't play offense, that is not the case. The reason is: He is playing against men. Frolunda doesn't like to play their young guns. He didn't see much ice time playing in the big league. Although he is small, he skates well, is very shifty, and has a quick release with the ability to get some heat on his shot too. Ottawa needs secondary scoring too back up Jason Spezza. Collberg fits the bill.
16. Washington Capitals
Player: Brendan Gaunce (C)
Team: Belleville Bulls (OHL)
Stats: 68-28-40-68, +4, 68 PIM
Hometown: Markham, Ontario
Size: 6'2, 215lb
At this point in the draft the Capitals are just going to draft the best player available and that is Gaunce. He's a big strong player that is very strong on his skates. He handles the puck well and scores often. Gaunce is exactly what many teams want: A big physically dominant, skilled centre. For this reason, I won't be surprised if he ends up going higher in the draft.
17. San Jose Sharks
Player: Zemgus Girgensons (C)
Team: Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Stats: 49-24-31-55, +17, 69 PIM
Hometown: Riga, Latvia
Size: 6'1, 201lb
He has some skill, but his major upside is his work ethic and strength. Although you might not be getting a star offensive player, you almost guaranteed a 3rd-2nd line player at least. He can kill penalties and take faceoffs well. The Sharks have major holes in forward prospects, especially after trading Charlie Coyle. Girgensons is a grinder with upside offensively.
18. Chicago Blackhawks
Player: Slater Koekkoek (D)
Team: Peterborough Petes (OHL)
Stats: 26-5-13, -7, 17 PIM
Hometown: Mountains, Ontario
Size: 6'2, 184lb
Although the Hawks have Keith, Seabrook, and Hjalmarsson locked up, besides that they have no one good and young signed for the next 2-3 years on the back end. Koekoek is a two-way defenseman that can do anything that you need. He can move the puck, play defensively, chip in offensively. He also has great size. Many people have him ranked in the late first to early second. But in reality he is a top 15 talent. The only reason he isn't going earlier is because he only played 26 games. But I believe the Blackhawks are willing to take a chance.
19. Tampa Bay Lightning (from Detroit)
Player: Malcolm Subban (G)
Team: Belleville Bulls (OHL)
Stats: 39 GP, 25 W, 2.50 GAA, 9.23 SP, 3 SO
Hometown: Rexdale, Ontario
Size: 6'1, 188lb
This pick is based on organizational need. The Bolts have a gaping hole in net. Subban and Andrei Vasilevski are both in my mind equal goaltenders in this year's draft. The reason Subban is going ahead of Vasilevski is because Vasilevski is being heavely targeted by the KHL. What makes Subban great is his athleticism, but he has got to learn to use it a bit more.
20. Philadelphia Flyers
Player: Matthew Finn (D)
Team: Guelph Storm (OHL)
Stats: 61-10-37-47, -13, 58 PIM
Hometown: Etobicoke, Ontario
Size: 6'0, 195lb
With Pronger and Timonen both at the end of their careers, the Flyers will need to address their defense. Finn is an all around package, but not too outstanding in any category. He plays physical. Chips in offensively and runs the powerplay and he is defensively aware. Although he looks like he's a big minus, it's mostly just because he plays on a bad team. Sometimes he rushes a bit too much, but he will learn to settle down a bit more in the NHL.
21. Buffalo Sabres (from Nashville)
Player: Andreas Athanasiou (C)
Team: London Knights (OHL)
Stats: 63-22-15-37, +22, 22 PIM
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Size: 6'0, 179lb
He underperformed majorly this year. He is a top 10, possibly even top 5 talent, but now some people have him as low as the 3rd round. He has tantalizing speed, skill and creativity but doesn't go to the net and the dirty areas. I think that although he is a risk, he can help the Sabres re-build their forwards. He could end up being the steal of the draft, or the dud of the draft.
22. Pittsburgh Penguins
Player: Pontus Aberg (LW)
Team: Djurgarden (SWE)
Stats: Sweden Junior league: 6-4-2-6, N/A, N/A, Swedish Elite League: 47-8-7-15, -3, 6 PIM
Hometown: Stockholm, Sweden
Size: 5'11, 194lb
He started off the year on fire in the Swedish Elite League put then petered out, which is normal for young players. He is both the best player available and the team need of Pittsburgh. That need is skilled wingers. Aberg is a sniper with good skating ability. It has been hard for scouts to get a read on him because playing with men he hasn't had as much ice time, and he wasn't able to play in his own age group because he missed the World Juniors with a knee injury.
23. Florida Panthers
Player: Olli Maata (D)
Team: London Knights (OHL)
Stats: 58-5-27-32, +25, 25 PIM
Hometown: Jyvaskyla, Finland
Size: 6'2, 202lb
The Florida Panthers have a host of forward prospects and want to add another defensive top end prospect and Olli Maata fits in perfectly. Less of an offensive player than most of the defensemen in this draft, Maata is probably one of the best defensive defensemen. Although offense is not his game he still has the ability to play it well, and almost always gets the puck out of his own end effectively.
24. Boston Bruins
Player: Brady Skjei (D)
Team: USNTDP
Stats: 24-3-9-12, +5, 12 PIM
Hometown: Lakeville, Minnesota
Size: 6'3 203lb
Skjei is said to be the best skater out of all the defensemen in this year's draft. Combine that with his massive size, and decent offensive ability, you get a good player. He plays well in his own end, but doesn't play physically enough for someone so big. The Bruins don't have many glaring team needs, but I'm sure that they would be happy to draft Skjei.
25. St. Louis Blues
Player: Tomas Hyka (RW)
Team: Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
Stats: 50-20-44-64, +14, 30 PIM
Hometown: Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic
Size: 5'11, 160lb
Though undersized, Hyka is enormously talented. Although he is a risky pick I think that he will be a risk reward pick. He is extremely fast, but plays hard and physical for such a small guy. His slight build is probably the main reason he is projected to go late first round or second round.
26: Vancouver Canucks
Player: Tomas Hertl (C)
Team: Slavia (CZE)
Stats: 38-12-13-25, +9, 22 PIM
Hometown: Praha, Czech Republic
Size: 6'2, 198lb
The only glaring hole the Canucks have is a sparse amount of good prospects, so they will probably just be taking the best player available. Hertl, is a skilled player that can put points up, and has in the hardest league of Czech Republic. The World Juniors was really his coming out party, where he and Petr Mrazek led the Czech to beating way more teams than expected.
27. Phoenix Coyotes
Player: Tanner Pearson (LW)
Team: Barrie Colts (OHL)
Stats: 60-37-54-91, +21, 37 PIM
Hometown: Kitchener, Ontario
Size: 6'0, 198lb
This pick is very simple to explain. The Coyotes desperately need scoring. Scoring is what Tanner Pearson does best.
28. New York Rangers
Player: Colton Sissons (RW)
Team: Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
Stats: 58-26-15-41, -13, 62 PIM
Hometown: Vancouver B.C.
Size: 6'1, 189lb
Sissons is a solid winger that plays with a lot of character. His main ability is his shot. He's a pure sniper. Most of the Ranger's wingers are either grinder's or fighter's, Gaborik is really the only one that can score. Sissons might be able to help them create a nice 1,2 punch.
29. New Jersey Devils
Player: Andrei Vasilevski (G)
Team: Ufa Tolpar (RUSJR)
Stats: 27 GP, Wins N/A, 2.23 GAA, 9.31 SP, SO N/A
Hometown: Tyumen, Russia
Size: 6'3, 204lb
The Devils need to find someone to fill in for Brodeur when he finally retires and there's no better option than Vasilevski. He's big, he's athletic, he battles for every shot.
30. Los Angeles Kings
Player: Hampus Lindholm (D)
Team: Rogle (SWE)
Stats: Sweden Junior League: 28-5-12-17, N/A, 16 PIM, Swedish Elite League: 20-1-3-4, N/A, 12 PIM
Hometown: Helsingborg, Sweden
Size: 6'3, 196lb
Lindholm is a solid two way defender, that can jump up and create offense. He has great size but needs to learn how to use it to his advantage more often. L.A. could use a defenseman because many of their veterans are free-agents, that may or may not get signed.
The New Jersey Devils have to forfeit a first round pick in either this year's draft or next years. They most likely will this year based on how low of a pick it is. However I do not think that the Kings would draft Vasilevski because of both Quick and Bernier, so that doesn't make a difference.
Drafts are impossible to predict, but it is fun, and hopefully I got a few more than just #1 right.
