Early Mock Draft

reinjosh writes "So as the end of the NHL season comes near, speculation will begin to ramp up on the draft and everything that follows for teams that miss the playoffs. As one team will go down in history as the winner of the 2009 Stanley Cup, other teams look to the future and hope that they can pick that one player who may lead. I will try and go through, team by team, and pick players that they might pick depending on their positioning, team needs and prospect depth. Some picks may be the same as the ISS top 30 while others might surprise you, but i will try and put forth an unbiased top 30. For arguments sake, I will have the draft order be the same as the standings and assume that the last team overall wins the lottery.

1st Overall Pick - The New York Islanders
And the first overall pick is John Tavares. This one is the obvious one and has been expected for a very long time. I fully expect John Tavares to go number one overall, but i could very well see Garth Snow pulling a fast one and drafting Victor Hedman number one or trading the first overall pick and drafting a dman later in the top 10. With all of their top 5 prospects being forwards (including Josh Bailey) and a young core of forwards that includes Kyle Okposo, Trent Hunter, Blake Comeau, Jeff Tambellini, Sean Begenheim, and Frans Nielsen as well as a decent (at least for now) goaltender signed to a mega contract, I would not be surprised to see Garth Snow drafting a number 1 defenceman to build his defence around.

2nd Overall Pick - The Colorado Avalanche - Victor Hedman

With a lack of overall depth in their prospect system and no clear goalie prospect that could fall into the top ten (something they clearly need), Colorado will pick the best player possibly available in the draft to help solidify them for the future. With Scott Hannan and John-Michael Liles being the only two blue liners that can be considered top 4 dman (well Foote too but after next year he will probably retire) and only one good defence propsect in Shattenkirk, Hedman should be able to jump in right away and provide a good solid all around game with top 4 potential and provide a good shot from the point. I could see the pick being packaged to a team like Nashville in return for a goalie and seeing as Nashvile has this trend of trading their goaltenders and the Avalanche need one badly, I could see the Avs trading it though this is very unlikely.

3rd Overall Pick - The Tampa Bay Lightning – Dmitri Kulikov
Alot of people are going to disagree with me here and say that this is far to high for Kulikov to be drafted but I disagree. Kulikov is a very capable defensemen whom has a very deadly set of offensive skills and that is exactly what Tampa Bay needs. With Kari Ramo and Dutin Tokarski in net, and Steven Stamkos, Vincent Lecavlier, Dana Tyrell, Steve Downie, Valcav Prospal, Ryan Malone, Martin St. Louis, Evgeny Artyukhin on forward those two positions are very solid for the next couple of years and can be added to with smart drafting later in the draft. The place they lack the most is in the backend and and they only have Meszaros and Ranger signed past this season with many UFA's and RFA's. Kulikov provides the offensive quarterback they lack on the backend and brings a decent defensive game with his offense. While this seems unlikely, I can almost guarentee that the Lightning will draft a defenseman with their first rounder and Kulikov provides a very skilled option to whoever takes him. I could also see them drafting Cowan if they feel they would like to make a safer pick.

4th Overall Pick - The Atlantic Thrashers - Evander Kane

With a good top 4 defense of Ron Hainsey, Zach Bogosian, Tobias Enstrom and Garnett Exelby, I think Atlanta will want to add a quality socring forward to help solidify their forwards and make Kovalchuk happy. Kane provides serious scoring and grit, and while he may not be the biggest player on the ice, he is not afraid to throw around his weight and play physically. While playing on the Canadian World Junoir Team, he proved that he can play almost anywhere and adapt to a number of different situations. Should be a perfect fit for a weak Atlanta team.

5th Overall Pick - The Phoenix Coyotes - Jared Cowan

The Phoenix Coyotes are incredibly stacked on the front with top end talent and are set for years to come before they need to restocking that particular cupboard. While they have a decent defense, they need that top 4 defense prospect to replace the big presence in Jovanoski, whether he gets traded, gets hurt, loses his edge or just leaves at the end of his contract. Jared Cowan provides that and brings to the table a very solid all around d-man. While he may never be known as the defenseman that can always score, he brings and average amount of offense to the table and could develop into a top two defenseman who spends time on the second powerplay unit (maybe even the first).

6th Overall Pick - The Los Angeles Kings – Matt Duchene

The Los Angeles Kings are fully stocked in the prospect cupboard and are even threatening to overflow it (if that is even possible). With so many top talents just graduating or still in the prospect pool, they are the envy of the NHL and should be a serious threat to win a good number of games next year and get back in the playoffs. With the best prospects being at defence and goalie, look for Los Angeles to take the best forward possible. In Duchene they get a serious scoring threat, and a player that is rated second behind John Tavares in North American skaters. Los Angeles snaps him up as he falls this far.

7th Overall Pick - The Ottawa Senators - Brayden Schenn

With the Senators getting Pascal Leclaire in a deadline trade, and having a decent core of defense men with Kuba, Phillips, Smith, Volchenkov, Picard and Campoli as well as two good prospects in Lee and Karlssonm look for the Senators to draft a player that can score as well as lead to help facilitate scoring in the future behind the big 3. They get this and more in Brayden Schenn. While getting a good center to play behind Spezza, they also get aplayer who can take over as leader if Alfreddson gets hurt, retires or leaves. He also is responsible on defense and could be the next Mike Richards. Great for their team.

8th Overall Pick - Dallas Stars - Nazem Kadri

With a decent d-corps and some good d prospects, Dallas will look for that forward who can play, hit and score and take over for Modano when he retires. Kadri provides this perfectly. He is big and can skate and can score as well as be the player that can lead ad be counted on.

9th Overall Pick - The Toronto Maple Leafs - Magnus Svensson-Paarjavi

The leafs are lacking all over and will pick the best player left in the draft with their first rounder. With Magnus Svensson-Paarjavi left, he will most certainly be picked by Burke (Burke does not have a type of player and will not be biased against Europeans no matter what anyone of you says). He provides scoring and hands that are unbelievable. He is a great all around player and can skate very well. He can freeze opponents on the ice with ease and just has huge potential in the offensive department.

10th Overall Pick - The St. Louis Blues - Jordan Schroeder

With an incredible depth at center and a good amount of talent and depth at defense and in net, look for St. Louis to pick the best possible winger on draft day when it comes to their turn. He is very agile, and very speedy and has an amazing ability to thread passes through defenders and find teammates in great scoring position. Very quick on the perimiter and constatly suprisises opponents. A playmaker that has top lin potential. Helped create the top line of the World Juniors last year with James Van Riemsdyk and James Sheppard (i think but i could be wrong about sheppard).

11th Overall Pick - The Minnesota Wild - Scott Glennie

With Backstrom signed to a long term deal, and the defense being so deep that last seasons breakout star for the Wild, Brent Burns, is sometimes playing forward, the net and backend seem to be set for a very long time. A team that does so well defensively but oftentimes struggles to score will most definetely choose a strong forward to add to their offensive arsenal. Glennie has what it takes to score and may have been fighting for the WHL scoring crown if he hadnt broken his left elbow. Should help to soften the blow of losing Gaborik (which is an almost certainty).

12th Overall Pick - Nashvlle Predators - Zach Kassian

With a defensive corps that is envied by many teams and many defensive prospects still coming up and a incredibly astute knack for picking amazing goalie prospects (Mason, Ellis, Rinne, and Vokoun in the expansion draft from montreal, as well as Pickard coming up), Nashville will likely pick a center or a forward to help strenghten their foward prospect pool.
Can play a physical game while being responsible at both ends of the ice. Great size and should be able to throw his weight around when he needs to. Can provide decent offense and should be able to be counted on to be a future top 6 forward.

13th Overall Pick - Buffalo Sabres - Ryan Ellis

With a bevy of young prospects who are NHL ready and a very deep front end, Buffalo will likely choose a defensenman though they could pick a forward just as easily. Likely, Darcy Regeir will likely take the best player available. Ryan Ellis provides huge offensive punch and is undeniably one of the better offensive defensemen in the draft. While he may be small, that shouldn't scare away Regeir as he has shown no fear in drafting small players.

14th Overall Pick - Edmonton Oilers - Peter Holland

With a very deep defensive corps and many solid or depth defensive prospects in their system and a good amount of centers ready to come up or still developing, Edmonton will look towards adding some scoring punch and depth to the left and right wing where they are weak at the moment. Good scoring ability, size, offensive skill, and experience playing against some of the worlds best (the Russian-Canadian tourney, Under 17 tournament) help to make Holland a great prospect with top 6 potential.

15th Overall Pick - Anaheim Ducks - Simon Despres

With only Ryan Whitney and Chris Pronger signed for next season and only Whitney signed long term, the Ducks will need to restock their defense if they have a hope of competing. Great size and good passing skills make him a great solid pickup for the ducks.

16th Overall Pick - Florida Panthers - John Moore

While Panthers GM Martin seems to have built up his defense to handle the potential and likely loss of Jay Bouwmeester, only 3 defense are signed past the end of this season and thie top defense prospects were both lost to Tampa Bay in trades and through waivers (Welch and Murphy). Moore could help to provide a good addition to the cupboad and may fit nicely with Keaton Ellerby in the future. It is also likely that the Panthers pick a forward like Jacob Josefson, as they also dont have many good prospects with the exception of Matthias.

17th Overall Pick - Montreal Canadiens - Carter Ashton

Great size at 6-4 and can score as he has 24 goals in 56 games playing for Lethbridge in the WHL. Should provide good size and skill to a team that lacks size. Good leadership and a great all around player.

18th Overall Pick - Columbus Blue Jackets - Calvin De Haan

Columbus has good prospects and depth all around and will likely pick the best possible player they see. With a very good core of Voracek, Brassard, Filatov, Russel and Mason surrounded by a very underrated defense and good forwards corps, look for Columbus to pick a player that is good all around and can adapt to any situation he plays in. Calvin has a great passing ability and really stepped it up when Tavares left the Generals. He always played well before and now plays even better. Showed he can play by himself as a leader, or with another leader in the spotlight. Probably one of the most underrated players in the draft.

19th Overall Pick - New York Rangers - Jacob Josefson

With a fairly deep blueline prospect pool that includes Michael De Zotto and Bobby Sanguenettti, look for New York to add to their forward prospects, particularily at center. Josefson provides good offense and size and has proven he can play with the big boys in the Sweding Elite League.

20th Overall Pick - Vancouver Canucks - Oliver Ekman-Larson

With a decent top 5 that include the top rated prospect in all of hockey (according to the Hockey News), Vancouver will draft a defenseman as they only have 1 defensemen that could make the jump next year and only 4 signed past this season. Ekman-Larson would be a great pickup for them as many scouts believe he could crack the top ten (though the ISS does not agree).

21st Overall Pick - Pittsburgh Penguins - Stefan Elliot

With a great core of forwards and a good goalie, the penguins look to be set in those positions for a while. With only 4 defenseman signed past this season and only one long term, Pittsburgh will be looking to stregthen at that postion. Elliot provides a great offensive gain and could replace Gonchar when he leaves, as well as provide solid defensive play.

22nd Overall Pick - Carolina Hurricanes - Chris Kreider

Carolina is very deep in the defensive section of their prospects and on the big team. While they do have Brandon Sutter and Zach Boychuck at forward they need more to help replace and add more offense in the future. Chris Kreider has good size and could be a good second line center behind Staal.

23rd Overall Pick - Chicago Blackhawks - Drew Shore

With an incredibly talented group of forwards and defense on the actual team and some good solid prospects coming up, Chicago wil grab the best possible player at the draft regardless of position. Shore provides good size and grit and skill and has played on the US team against some very good players giving him experience.

24th Overall Pick - Phoenix Coyotes (via the Calgary Flames) - Louis Leblance

A quality player that played in the Ivan Hlinka tourney for Canada. Will play college hockey next year for Harvard, giving him some more time to develop. Good long term project for the Coyotes.

25th Overall Pick - Philadelphia Flyers - Jordan Caron

While Philadelphia may have Briere, Richards and Giroux, they have no other center in their system. Playing in the QMJHL, Caron has averaged a point a game and could prove to be a steal this late in the first round. May take 2 or 3 years to develop.

26th Overall Pick - Washinton Capitals - Dylan Olsen

Behind Karl Alzner, the Capitals don't reall have any solid defense that can score. Olsen provides both and while he may not be a top defensive scorer, he can chip in where its needed and be a solid second powerplay unit contributor.

27th Overall Pick - New Jersey Devils - Marcus Johansson

Could prove to be a solid second line player who can score 20 or 25 goals. Played in the World Juniors for sweden and scored twice in 6 games so he proved he can keep up with some very good players.

28th Overall Pick - Boston Bruins - Jeremy Morin

Good offensive player who will need a season or two to develop which could allow him to get a spot on the Bruins.

29th Overall - Detroit Red Wings - David Savard

Good sized two way defender who has good on ice vision. Could provide the defensive defenseman the Detroit Red Wings need.

30th Overall - New York Islanders (via Ottawa from Tampa for San Jose) - Nick Leddy

Very solid all around defenseman who is consistent in his own end. He has good on ice vision and is very good at getting the play started in his own end. Has been consistently improving and getting better. Would help to build up the New York Islanders defence.

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