Well its almost the end of April and I have yet to make an updated mock draft list. I will be releasing a different mock draft for remaining two months. In doing so, it will be pretty apparent who has had a good end to the playoffs, the U-18's as well as the NHL draft combine. It will also change with the NHL playoffs finishing off and changing the draft order in the later rounds. If you missed last months draft rankings you can find them here. I hope this gives a sneak peak at who the BPA available is around your teams selection but still put an emphasis on either short term or long term need. Teams that are closer to winning the cup often tend to focus on the short term need (especially if they feel someone can jump right into the NHL the following year).
1. Edmonton Oilers: Ryan Nugget-Hopkins
- A player that fills a huge need down the middle. RNH will look stunning setting up Hall every single night. He battles and never gives up on a play. From everything that I've read his hockey sense is something that you just can't pass on. Edmonton loves trading chances and it shows with the number of one goal games that they have had this year. Edmonton has also really turned to the WHL over the past couple of years and had a great chance seeing him play in their own back yard. BPA.
2. Colorado Avalanche: Adam Larsson
- I hear alot of people suggesting that Landeskog should be added because of his tenacity and grit but you just can't pass on Adam Larsson. Sure, he might only turn out to be a number 2 or 3 defenceman but with Erik Johnson already on the backend the leauges worst defence becomes a whole lot better. The had the worst GA's with 288 but had more goals then teams like Nasvhille, Los Angeles, and Montreal this year. Potential franchise defenceman with little downside. BPA.
3. Florida: Gabriel Landeskog
- Although the Panthers would have been happy adding a big, NHL ready center in Sean Couturier they simply won't pass on Landeskog. This was a team lacking leadership, grit and effort some nights. Landeskog will be the future captain of the panthers and add starpower that Florida has never seen before. It will be interesting to see what Ottawa offers to try and grab Lando. BPA.
4. New Jersey Devils: Sean Couturier
- I just have a hard time seeing a team passing on Sean Couturier. The devils are a team that will be looking towards the playoffs next year and he is easily the most NHL ready player left. The devils could go for a player like Ryan Murphy or Dougie Hamilton at this spot but will have a hard time passing on Sean Couturier. Players like Couturier don't grow on trees. BPA.
5. NY Islanders: Jonathan Huberdeau
- With Tavares up front, I could see them drafting the most skilled forward available. Huberdeau usually plays on the wing and could be a dynamic duo for a very long time. He is simply just too good to pass on and the Islanders have the time to let him develop physically. Sure, they need defence but are excited to see Huberdeau drop to them. BPA.
6. Ottawa: Ryan Strome
- Ottawa looks to compliment Jason Spezza by grabbing an amazing number two center in Ryan Strome. He is in Ottawa's back yard and put up the most points of any OHL draft eligible forward. Ottawa is already set with Runbland, Karlsson and Cowen on the backend. Strome is the best forward available at this point. I don't think he will be as successful as teammate Dougie Hamilton but Ottawa has no need for more defence.
7. Atlanta: Dougie Hamilton
- The Thrashers would love to add offence but they can't pass up a big time defenceman in Dougie Hamilton. Hamilton can do it all. He plays an upwards of 40+ minutes. He plays the penalty kill and is pretty much a one man defence. He can produce in all situations and will Bogosian possibly being moved I could see him begin a replacement for Bogo.
8. Columbus: Ryan Murphy
- Columbus adds a powerplay quarterback and will help their transition game. He has had a great U-18 thus far and has the speed to really change the backend of a team. He is easily the BPA at this point and could turn out to be an absolute steal. He dropped a bit due to his size... even though he isn't actually that small. BPA.
9. Boston: Duncan Siemens
- The big bad bruins have a replacement for Zdeno Chara and can help solidfy their defence in front of Tim Thomas. After adding Seguin last year they could be looking for a long term stud on defence. Chara is already 33 and Kaberle is 32. They are also going to need a strong defence when Thomas is on the out. I love this nasty side and think he has burin marked all over him. BPA.
10. Minnesota: Joel Armia
- The wild love their finnish players. He will look great with Granlund and Koivu and is also an impact winger with size. I think that Armia is the type of player to get exposed because he lacks footspeed but if he plays the wild's system he will become a very valuable peice going forward. I don't think he's the BPA but he is a very interesting player. He has sick hands and the size to go with it but I doubt his hockey sense and heart. I'm not saying he doesn't have it, but its not a strong point of his either.
11. Colorado: Mika Zibanejad
- The avs continuing to add some swedish flavour to their team and finally have someone who can replace Stewart. Although he is listed as a center he could be used as a winger at the next level. He hits, scores and will add some much needed energy to their offence. He could turn out to be the next Marian Hossa or just a solid checking third line center. I love that he likes to hit and is GREEEEAT defensively. He has the offence but it will be interesting to see if it translates over. BPA.
12. Carolina: Sven Bartschi
- The canes have used their first pick on CHL players each of the past 8 years. This year will be no different as they take yet another high scoring playoff preformed that was overlooked because of his size. He is arguably the best winger available and has that bite to his game that will make him successful at the NHL level. He can really finish plays and somehow flew under the radar despite putting up 85 points in 66 WHL games this year.
13. Calgary: Mark McNeill
- Calgary is still looking for a center that could play with Jarome Iginla. Once again the flames are able to snag an Edmonton native and address their biggest need. The flames don't have time to wait for their prospects to develop and are already loaded on defence. McNeill could be rushed right into the NHL with his size.
14. Dallas Stars: Nathan Beaulieu
-The stars have been drafting one of two things over the past few years- goal scorers and players that fill an organizational need. Since they already have a plethora of goal scoring wingers in the system, I would suggest that need is once again the main focus. Sure, they could pick Scheifele here if Richards bolt but if he doesn't their most immediate need is another offensive defenceman. The addition of Alex Goligoski the Dallas Stars were able to help their transition game but Goligoski was overused and player a ton of icetime. Beaulieu should take some pressure off Goligoski and help solidify the stars defence.
15. NY Rangers: Matthew Puempel
- The rangers could use some more goal scoring up front and Puempel provides that for them. He could turn out to be the best pure goal scorer in the draft and has a work ethic and attitude that makes everyone around him that much better. He put up great numbers on a Pete's team that looked like it wasn't even going to make the playoffs. His injury could cause some question marks but given that it was his first surgery, I don't see it hurting his draft stock that much.
16. Buffalo Sabres: Tyler Biggs
- The Sabres get bigger up front and add some grit to their game in Tyler Biggs. They are lucky that Biggs falls to them as he could even go inside the top 10 if a team likes him enough. Even though Buffalo is loaded up front the only other player I could see them trying to take on defence would be Jonas Brodin. But Biggs is just too much to pass on.
17. Montreal Canadiens: Mark Scheifele
- Montreal is lucky to grab Scheifele. Bigg centers don't grow on trees and he is certaintly capable of being that. He plays the game like a big guy but still needs to bulk up. He played on a very weak Barrie team but was still able to put up a whole lot of points. His U-18 tournament should also see his stock rise. I would be surprised to see him even go ahead of both Biggs and McNeill on draft day. A small Montreal Canadiens team welcomes his size.
18. Chicago Blackhawks: Alexander Khokhlachev
- The Hawks continue to add some scoring up front. Koko has been great in both the playoffs and the regular season with the Windsor Spitfires. Although a lot of players like Namestnikov more (and their is merit to that), I think they could use a finisher like Khokhlachev more.
19. Edmonton Oilers: Jonas Brodin
Edmonton already has a bunch of tough defenceman on the blueline of the future but lacks a powerplay quarterback. He still has decent size and can see the ice very well. I feel like they could address the size issue with Oleksiak at this point but Tuebert/Peckham/Marincin already bring a lot of size. The oilers could use someone that can help breakout the offence but isn't a smurf. Also his swedish background could help bring in more swedish flavour to the city.
20. Phoenix Coyotes: Nicklas Jensen
- The yotes need offence and haven't strayed away from the danes before. I think Jensen is a steal here and with his combination of size and speed he will be a gamer for the Coyotes. With goals hard to come by for Phoenix his 29 regular seasons and 7 playoff games will be helpful. If Khokhlachev is not taken by the Hawks a couple picks earlier I could see them grabbing him instead.
21. Ottawa Senators: Dmitri Jaskin
Jaskin will look great on Ottawa's future top line with Jason Spezza one day. If he wasn't injured earlier he could have had a chance to break into the top 10 this year. I think he is certainly a book bust prospect with a lot of upside. Ottawa clearly looks to add offence on draft day and with Strome they are set down the middle. They might also look at Saad with this pick but given how fans already think Spezza is lazy... they would probably rip Saad apart for playing like a kitten.
22. Anahiem Ducks: Scott Mayfield
- Although most have Oleksiak much higher then Mayfield, I like Mayfields toughness and ability to stand up for teammates. I think that Anaheim has a lot of puck movement on the back end but could definitely use a project like Mayfield in the system.
23. TampaBay Lightning: Joe Morrow
Tampa is set up front but still needs to build the backend. Morrow will help their transition game and getting the puck on the sticks of the forwards. He has shown that he can do the job on a great portland team so their should be no reason he can't do the same on a great Tampa team.
24. Toronto: Zack Phillips
- Burke trys to grab the center of the future late in the draft. Obviously he would prefer a bigger center like McNeill or Schiefele but both will be long gone before the leafs pick. He is also set on the backend and will probably overlook a guy like Scott Mayfield even though he is totally his type of player. I think they will look for centers and big wingers.
25. Detriot: Vladislav Namestnikov
- Detroit with another steal. They get the hardworking russian that will be given plenty of time to develop.
26. San Jose: Jamieson Oleksiak
- A team in need of more defence can't help but overlook Oleksiak's size even though he remains to be a big project. I think he would be very handy going up against Kopitar, Penner, Simmonds, etc. all the time.
27. Pittsburgh: Brandan Saad
-Big winger might look a whole lot better playing alongside Crosby or Malkin. I think he could go much higer in the draft (10-15) but still question his work ethic and skating.
28. Toronto: Boone Jenner
-Burke continues to add to his group of forwards and could have a future assistant captain on his hands. He is definitely a Burke type player and will add some size and grit to the top 6 forward group in Toronto.
29. Washington: Tomas Jurco
- Washington has never shyed away from talented players and it seems to have worked well thus far. I think that Jurco still needs a lot of time to develop but he will be worth the wait once he is able to play a larger role on his team.
30. Vancouver: Stefan Noesen
- Finall the canucks grab the big, gritty, goal scoring winger with the last pick of the draft. I really like Noesen's game and he could work into their bottom 6 alongside Cody Hogson down the road.
Obviously this is going to be a VERY wide open draft and wouldn't be surprised if some of these players drop into the second round. Just outside the first round are notable players in Rocco Grimaldi, David Musil, Daniel Catenacci, Jonathan Miller, and Ty Rattie.
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