Last year I ran a series utilizing a random mock draft to go over 30 prospects I felt could be in the Top 30. It was a mix of where I could see teams picking, mixed with how I felt the prospects should be ranked. This year I've given my Top 55 and will be publishing an even longer list, as to how I would rank them if I were employed by an NHL Team.
But, with how successful the mock series was last season, and with how many of you have asked me to do it once more, I figured, "why not?"
So to recap, this is a mock to give you a bigger picture on 30 players who could be called on June 22. This is not how I would rank them, nor an exact science of what player your favorite team will take. It's a fun run down of 30 players, while attaching them to a team for the hell of it. This year we'll count backwards from 30, as I felt like many of you lost interest towards the end, so the hope is to keep you all engaged for all 30 blogs.
So let's set a picture. It's June 22nd, 29 other players have selected. Only a couple weeks prior, the Los Angeles Kings and Dustin Brown had hoisted Lord Stanley for all to see (my prediction). Scott Howson, still with the Jackets, steps up to use LA's pick, and take his second player of the night.
"With the thirtieth pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, the Columbus are proud to select, from the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League: Malcolm Subban."
The second of three Subban brothers (and a fourth- cousin, Marselis Subban), Malcolm is the only one to not play from the blueline. An athletic goalie, Malcolm is just starting to fill out his six-foot frame, as he's been a lanky type early in his career.
When you watch Subban, he really reminds you of a throwback goalie from the days when Quebec was a goaltending factory. He's quicker than your average butterfly goalie, and consistently gives you an effort on second and third chances, many times making the save that most could not.
He shows good technique, challenging shooters, but his quick feet allow him to back up quickly. That's without mentioning how quickly he can move post-to-post. He usually takes away the bottom half of the net well in the butterfly, and using his reflexes up top to further keep shooters guessing.
Unfortunately injuries nagged Subban all year long. He's a tremendous goalie, as seen by his .923% in his Draft Year, this year, but was limited to 39 games. He kept Belleville in most games, and stole just as many. He's not your typical netminder, and there are some question marks, but he's as good a netminder as you can get at this stage of his development.
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