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1-Edmonton Oilers- Nail Yakupov, RW, Sarnia
Hands down, Yakupov is the most talented player in the draft. The consensus number one is too good to pass on.
2-Columbus Blue Jackets- Filip Forsberg, C/RW, Leksand
This pick here is based a lot on a feeling I have in my gut that Forsberg is the Jackets guy. I'm not sure he will score as much as some of the players that are in the draft, but his leadership qualities are diffidently tops.
3-Montreal Canadiens- Ryan Murray, D, Everett
The Canadiens have two young D that may be starting in Montreal. Murray would make three, but at the same time his calming influence and talent is too hard to pass up.
4-New York Islanders- Griffin Reinhart, D, Edmonton
Never afraid of going a little off the board, Snow takes a D that has the most upside in the draft. Reinhart is the total package and will solidify the Isles D for years to come.
5-Toronto Maple Leafs- Alex Galchenyuk, C, Sarnia
The Leafs don't have a true number one centre on their team and only one player with that potential on the Marlies (I'll give you a hint, it's not Kadri). Galchenyuk is the best player and fits the Leafs needs.
6-Anaheim Ducks- Morgan Rielly, D, Moose Jaw
To replace the potential loss of Schultz, the Ducks take a player that will be better in the long run. Rielly is the best skating, most skilled D in the draft.
7-Minnesota Wild- Mikhail Grigorenko, C/RW, Quebec
The Wild take don't pass on a player that is top three in talent, but slides because of the Russian factor. Grigorenko is an exciting player, who will add another bullet to the Wild's gun. He may also be NHL ready.
8-Carolina Hurricanes- Zemgus Girgensons, C, Dubuque
The first real shock of the draft happens with the number 8 pick. The Canes don't like drafting D and take the rugged, skilled forward in Girgensons. He reminds me a bit of Toews/Messier cross, and I have a feeling someone takes him top 10.
9-Winnipeg Jets- Mathew Dumba, D, Red Deer
My favourite player in this year's draft doesn't get past the Jets at 9. Dumba can change games with his skating, skill, physical play and leadership.
10-Tampa Bay Lightning- Teuvo Teravainen, LW, Jokerit
Stevie Y likes skill players and he doesn't pass on Teravainen who is one of the better skilled guys in the draft. Once he fills out he would look good on Stamkos' wing.
11-Washington Capitals (from Col) - Olli Maatta, D, London
Washington plays it safe with their first of two first round picks. Maatta is a very complete defencman and his ties to the Hunter's make him tough to pass on.
12-Buffalo Sabres- Radek Faksa, C, Kitchener
Buffalo needs some size up front and Faska gives them that. Faksa is another player that projects to be a safe bet to be a 2/3 line centre.
13-Dallas Stars- Thomas Wilson, RW, Plymouth
I've slotted Wilson in to the Stars pick for a few months now and that won't change. The Stars like to take big, raw, power forwards and that is Wilson.
14-Calgary Flames- Jacob Trouba, D, USA U-18
The Flames get a bit of a gift in Trouba at 14. He is a very complete defenceman who is a decent piece to reload around.
15-Ottawa Senators- Brendan Gaunce, C, Belleville
The Sens take a player with a fairly decent ceiling that also adds size down the middle. Sens took their future number one centre last year, this year they take their future 2/3 centre and add some grit.
16-Washington Capitals- Tomas Hyka, RW, Gatineau
Maybe the biggest shocker of the first round, the Caps take a chance on the high skilled Hyka. He has some similarities to Giroux, and when you have two picks you can take a gamble on that.
17-San Jose Sharks- Malcolm Subban, G, Belleville
While the Sharks are ok in goal right now, they take the best goalie in the draft to push Neimi.
18-Chicago Blackhawks- Cody Ceci, D, Ottawa
The Hawks get a gift at 18 in Ceci. Ceci is the best player on the board and projects to be a Seabrook type of player. With Seabrook to mentor him, he should become that type of player.
19-Tampa Bay Lightning (from Det)- Derrick Pouliot, D, Portland
Stevie Y took a high skilled forward at 10, now he adds a D to the mix. Pouliot is a bit undersized but his skating, skill, and physical play make up for that. I see him as a Kris Letang type.
20-Philadelphia Flyers- Matthew Finn, D, Guelph
One of the best D left, the Flyers add to a position that they need to add to. I'm not sure Finn is NHL ready, but he could push for a spot next year.
21-Buffalo Sabres (from Nash)- Colton Sissons, C/RW, Kelowna
The Sabre continue to look for size up front and add one of the most competitive players in the draft. While he may never be an all star, Sissons is the type of player that you win with.
22-Pittsburgh Penguins- Andrei Vasilevski, G, Ufa 2
With Fluery getting a little older, the Pens add a goalie with huge upside. Vasilevski could likely start in the A next year, back up the year after, and be starting by year three.
23-Florida Panthers- Nicolas Kerdiles, LW, USA U-18
Ti=his pick is also a bit of a gut pick. I just see Kerdiles as a Tallon type of player. He'll play a few years of college and be ready to slide right into the Panthers 2/3 line.
24-Boston Bruins- Dalton Thrower, D, Saskatoon
Neely heads back to his old stomping grounds and takes a nasty D, with a lot of upside. Thrower is a no nonsense D, with will take on all comers.
25-St. Louis Blues- Sebastian Collberg, RW, Frolunda
The Blues struggle to score at time and Collberg addresses that need. He is one of the best skaters in the draft and a big time game breaker.
26-Vancouver Canucks- Slater Koekkoek, D, Peterborough
Because of the injury and some late season risers, Koekkoek falls into Vancouver's lap. Since Gillis has been GM, good players just seem to find away to slide a few spots and end up in Vancouver.
27-Phoenix Coyotes- Hampus Lindholm, D, Rogle Jr.
The big, smooth skating D is too good to pass on with this pick. Lindholm is an outstanding skater, who projects to be a solid two-way player.
28-New York Rangers- Martin Frk, RW, Halifax
The Rangers take a player that Torts will love. Frk has a lot of skill and plays with a nasty edge. He fits that Callahan type mould
29-New Jersey Devils- Oscar Dansk, G, Brynas Jr.
With Marty getting up in age, the Devils go to Sweden to find the next great Devils goaltender.
30-Los Angeles Kings- Brady Skjei, D, USA U-18
The Stanley Cup champs moved Johnson last year so they have another skilled defenceman at 30 to replace that need. The Kings are pretty good on D right now, but Skjei should be ready to step in, in 2-3 years.
For a your one stop shopping to all mock drafts, check out
DC Sports
That's a wrap.
One more sleep until the fun begins.
Ian
Five Hole For Food
Five Hole For Food is coming to a town near you this summer. For those of you that don't know, the concept was brought forward by some friends in Vancouver, who decided they would travel the country setting up street hockey games. The price to play in the game is a can of food or donation to the local food bank.
To date Five Hole for Food has raised over 70,000 pounds of food for food banks and is continuing the fight against hunger all over North America!
2012 Tour Dates
St. John’s – July 3rd
Halifax – July 5th
Charlottetown – July 6th
Saint John – July 7th
Montreal – July 9th
Ottawa – July 10th
Toronto – July 12th
Winnipeg – July 14th
Regina – July 15th
Calgary – July 17th
Edmonton – July 18th
Victoria – July 20th
Vancouver – July 21st
So get out and support this great cause this summer. For more information on Five Hole For Food
CLICK HERE
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