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Mock Entry Draft #2: Top 31 |
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I'll post my final draft rankings after the NHL Combine, but here's how I currently see things going at the NHL Entry Draft in June:
1. Edmonton Oilers - Nail Yakupov, RW
The Oilers will do the right thing by taking the right wing. Yakupov is so head-and-shoulders better than the rest of this draft class, it's ridiculous. Future 40g man has elite speed and Hall-like passion. Will fit in very well in Edmonton.
2. Columbus Blue Jackets - Alex Galchenyuk, C
Draft surprise #1 is when the Jackets take the Russian. Well, he's actually American, but that's beside the point. He's perhaps the only player in the draft class with skill level on par with Yakupov. Plus, he's a big center, and the Jackets need one of those more than they need more D.
3. Montreal Canadiens - Griffin Reinhart, D
Draft surprise #2 is when the Canadiens take the draft class's biggest riser, Reinhart. Why take Reinhart over someone like Ryan Murray, who is perhaps a safer bet? Reinhart is the defenseman in the draft class that has the most potential to become a Shea Weber. Huge physically. Has offensive skills. Great attitude. Solid defensively.
4. New York Islanders - Ryan Murray, D
Murray drops down to 4th because while he's a quality prospect and someone immediately ready for the NHL, he doesn't have the high-end potential required to become a #1 defenseman. Murray is good at a little bit of everything, and he'll be a great #2 defenseman for the Islanders for the next 15 seasons.
5. Toronto Maple Leafs - Filip Forsberg, F
Toronto has a tough choice here. They don't really need more D, so taking one of those isn't top priority. What they want is a big center, and one is available at #5 (Grigorenko)...but my guess is that GM Burke plays it safe and goes with Forsberg. He's big, offensively gifted, and can skate. He also has played all three forward positions, so he'll be able to work into the Leafs roster a number of ways. One of the youngest prospects available in the draft, this choice could look brilliant in a few years.
6. Anaheim Ducks - Morgan Rielly, D
Top puck-rushing defenseman available in the draft. I've heard Rielly's stride compared to Paul Coffey's. Best offensive defenseman available and a quality pick for the Ducks in the 6th spot.
7. Minnesota Wild - Olli Maatta, D
Draft surprise #3 is just how far Maatta's stock has risen in the OHL playoffs. Lead the champion London Knights in playoff scoring. Big body - Quality NHL potential as a player who can play both offensive and defensive minutes.
8. Carolina Hurricanes - Jacob Trouba, D
Big and mean. The Hurricanes would love to add a big, mean, physical guy to control the D. Trouba is a steal at #8.
9. Winnipeg Jets - Radek Faksa, C
Draft surprise #4. Jets, you have to know, will be taking a center. But they aren't taking the higher-rated, still available Grigorenko. Instead, they take Faksa, a tall center who can skate and put up some reasonable offensive numbers this season. Might turn into a hell of a player in a few years; might be Nazem Kadri 2.0.
10. Tampa Bay Lightning - Cody Ceci, D
Tampa has been scouting D pretty intensely this Spring. At the #10 spot, the can choose between Ceci and Dumba. My guess is, they go Ceci, who has size that is more fitting for the NHL game.
11. Washington Capitals (from Colorado) - Mikhail Grigorenko, C
Draft surprise #5 is the Capitals adding another Russian forward. Grigorenko, when you think about it, is an amazing fit for the Caps. Has huge talent, but a questionable attitude and work ethic.
12. Buffalo Sabres - Brendan Gaunce, C
Teuvo Teravainen and Matt Dumba are better prospects than Gaunce, but Gaunce is a huge center who could become the 3rd line center guy every winning team has to have.
13. Dallas Stars - Teuvo Teravainen, RW
Teravainen is being rated higher by all the scouting services, but he's Smurf-like size is going to scare everyone off. Size is making a huge difference in the playoffs this season, and teams will take players who better fit the design of the currently winning teams. The Stars have quality D prospects and younger players more than they have quality forward prospects, so Teravainen gets the nod.
14. Calgary Flames - Matt Dumba, D
Finally, Dumba is taken. What took him so long were questions about his lack of size compared to the position he plays. This might just work out Dumba, who plays with enormous passion and heart. Flames can offer Dumba a few years to develop, and will provide a clear role for him as he develops.
15. Ottawa Senators - Sebastian Collberg, RW
Let the search for a replacement for Daniel Alfredsson begin.
16. Florida Panthers - Hampus Lindholm, D
17. San Jose Sharks - Malcolm Subban, G
18. Chicago Blackhawks - Derrick Pouliot, D
19. Tampa Bay Lightning (from Detroit) - Andrei Vasilevski, G
20. Boston Bruins - Thomas Wilson, RW
21. Pittsburgh Penguins - Colton Sissons, C
22. Vancouver Canucks - Slater Koekkoek, D
23. Washington Capitals - Matthew Finn, D
24. Philadelphia Flyers - Stefan Matteau, LW
25. Buffalo Sabres (from Nashville) - Zemgus Girgensons, C
26. St. Louis Blues - Brady Skjei, D
27. Phoenix Coyotes - Henrik Samuelsson, C
Note at 28: New Jersey Devils - Likely to lose pick to league as punishment for Kovalchuk signing.
28. New York Rangers - Martin Frk, RW
29. Los Angeles Kings - Pontus Aberg, LW
Second Round
30. Columbus Blue Jackets - Oscar Dansk, G
Jackets get a future starter in Dansk.
31. Edmonton Oilers - Ludwig Bystrom, D
Oilers try to pull another Klefbomb out of the hat. Bystrom is more of an offensive weapon than Klefbom, but isn't nearly the same guy defensively. Decent skater, decent size.
Edmonton Oilers Blogger • 
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