April Draft Rankings

(picture courtesy of bleacherreport.com)

I feel like sometimes media use "mock drafts" as ways of picking players based on organizational need rather than BPA. Rather than taking the time to come up with their own opinion on who is the best player overall, they take the easy way out. For this reason, I decided to release my own rankings in addition to the mock draft that I released yesterday. I hope you enjoy, although it might change quite a bit before the draft comes about. I'm not going to lie, I don't have all the information on these kids and in many cases have only seen some of them play a handful of times. As more organizations come out with their reports and the combine comes around I should have a better understanding on the things you don't see on the ice. Anyways, here are the rankings:

1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2. Adam Larsson
3. Gabriel Landeskog
4. Sean Couturier
5.Jonathan Huberdeau
6. Dougie Hamilton
7. Ryan Murphy
8. Ryan Strome
9. Mika Zibanejad
10. Duncan Siemens
11. Matt Puempel
12. Sven Baerstchi
13. Nathan Beaulieu
14. Tyler Biggs
15. Mark McNeill
16. Mark Scheifele
17. Joel Armia
18. Jonas Brodin
19. Alexandr Khoklachev
20. Stefan Nosen
21. Scott Mayfield
22. Jamie Oleksiak
23. Dmitri Jaskin
24. Vladislav Namestnikov
25. Zack Phillips
26. Joe Morrow
27. Nicklas Jensen
28. Brandon Saad
29. Tomas Jurco
30. David Musil

You can see the rankings on the right side of the homepage as well.

Thank You Dustin Penner

(picture courtesy of sports.yahoo.com)

Thank You Dustin Penner for getting us a mid first round pick. With Colten Teubert AND a first round pick, Steve Tambelleni is looking pretty smart. The Los Angeles Kings were eliminated last night by the San Jose Sharks and now the Edmonton Oilers have locked down the 19th overall draft pick in this years NHL entry draft. Thats not to say that they draft pick cannot get any better. If any or all of Montreal, Buffalo, or Chicago make it to their respective conference finals the pick will improve. If any of these teams advance to the next round but lose, then they pick will stay where it is now. Here is a great article explaining how the draft actually works. It basically states:

1. That all 14 teams that do not make the playoffs select based on standings.
2. The stanley cup winner picks 30th. The runner up picks 29th.
3. The conference finalists pick 27th and 28th.
4. The regular season division leaders hold the lowest positions.
5. The remaining teams pick based on regular season standings.

After reading redlines report that states that after 20 their is a drop off in the draft.

2011 Draft Prospect:: Marcel Noebels

Statistics (2010-2011): Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL): 66GP 28G 26A 54P -11

Although the 6'3" 200lbs powerforward Marcel Nobels was passed over in last years draft, I would say that he has a very good call of being drafted in the middle rounds of this years draft. Given that he was on a very weak Seattle team that didn't quite make it to the playoffs, Noebels had a very good year in the WHL. He was second on his team in goals with 28 and was third in team scoring. Given that he played less games and is younger the the two players ahead of him, thats pretty good. Good enough to be second in WHL rookie goal scoring and fifth in points. It's also worth mentioning that he is probably the best 5 on 5 producer on his team since only 7 of his goals were scored on the powerplay. By comparison, tema leading Burke Gallimore has 22 powerplay goals. His -11 is actually pretty good considering that the average rating for his team was around -18.

What I really like about Noebels is that he uses his size well and doesn't shy away from the physical play. I would be pretty happy with Noebels with Edmonton's or Calgary's third round pick in this years draft. For more great information on Marcel Nobels check out nhl.com from a little while back. He finished ranked 49th on CSS's final rankings.

2011 Draft Prospect: CSS Final Rankings

(picture courtesy of reddeerrebels.com)

For those of you who haven't seen the latest rankings that were released on April 11th you can find the rankings here. Also, if you don't know what CSS is or what they do, they are essentially an organization that the NHL uses to rank 2011 draft prospects. Every year they divide their list into European and North American skaters/goalies at the request of NHL teams. So if Adam Larsson is rated first overall in Europe, it doesn't really have any impact on Ryan Nugent-Hopkins going first in North America.

Sure, their rankings may not be the best come draft day, but right now they allow NHL teams to key on certain players that are just entering the playoffs. You often see players like Jeffrey Skinner sky-rocket up because of playoff performances. It is up to NHL teams to make their own decisions if they are looking at playoff performance. I am going to quickly break down some things that I really like about the rankings as well as dislikes.

1. Michel Briere Trophy? Mike Bossy Trophy? Pffft. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Adam Larsson are rated at the top players. Although I wouldn't be disappointed with Sean Couturier or Gabriel Landeskog with the Edmonton Oilers 1st overall pick, these two players have really seperated themselves from the rest of the pack. It is also worth noting that Jonathan Huberdeau could very well be in the mix with his outstanding numbers in the QMJHL. Having said this, I think having Sean Couturier ranked 6th behind Nathan Beaulieu is very unreasonable- at least according to this.

2. From Russia with no love. I'm not saying that Vladislav Namestnikov doesn't have a good chance to go ahead of Alexandr Khokhlachev but for him to be rated 11th while Koko is 29th is surprising to say the least. Namestnikov is a good player but I think he will be in the 20-40 range come June 24th. It should also be noted that Nikita Kucherov was the highest rated russian outside North America coming up at 17th in the European rankings.

3. Third times the charm? Benjamin Conz is still rated as the fourth best goaltender in Europe. He hasn't been drafted by now, is undersized and doesn't exactly have the greatest save percentage with a .905. I wouldn't be suprised to see Lars Volden and Frans Tuohimaa drafted while Conz is passed over again.

4. Gibson & Gibson. John Gibson and Christopher Gibson are the top two rated goaltenders this year. Not a particularly strong group of goaltenders this year but I think that if anyone is drafted early it is one of these two.

5. How Swede it is. I like that Jonas Brodin is still rated above Joel Armia, Oskar Klefbom and Jaskin. I think Brodin could be a top 15 pick in this years draft if a team likes him enough. Sure, he doesn't have the size that Armia has but he was very impressive in the SEL playoffs and has a mind for the game you can't teach. I'm also really interested in seeing who claims Max Friberg, Victor Berglind and Miika Salomaki go. A team might have a hidden gem in one of these three players. With Larsson and Landeskog in the top 5 as well, it should be a great day for Sweden.

6. Rewarding good players on great teams. It looks like a bunch of St.John seadogs are higher then they should be. Phillips, Beaulieu and Jurco are all in the top 20 in the North American Rankings. Ryan Tesnik is also rated 47th while Scott oke was rated 44th. It is also interested that on a stacked portland team that Baertschi was ranked 7th while Rattie was ranked 17th. I think both of these players are too high. Sure, they are great players but I would imagine that they both drop roughly 6-10 spots behind where they currently are due to their size.

7. No longer top ten. Brandon Saad was ranked 19th and David Musil at 38. If the Edmonton Oilers hold onto their 31st overall pick you would have to think that one of these guys would be an absolute steal. I could see either of these players selected in the top 15 of the draft if a team likes them enough. It should also be worth mentioning that they were both top 10 picks going into the year.

8. Whats the point? Apparently point totals don't matter much anymore. Stefan Noesen ranked at 35th in North American rankings is really low imo. He posted 34 goals, and 43 assists for 77 points in 68 games for Plymoth this year. Matt Puempel was also ranked 28th while posting 34 goals and 35 assists for 69 points in just 55 games this year.

2011 Draft Prospect: Nicklas Jensen

(picture courtesy of ontariohockeyleague.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Oshawa (OHL): 61GP 29G 29A 58P +14

The 6'3" power forward from Oshawa is the next great dane. He had an impressive regular season finishing 5th in OHL rookie scoring. Not only that, but he has had a great playoffs so far with four goals and two assists for six points in five games thus far. Although his numbers aren't earth shattering, he has a very late birthday on March 6th which makes scouts wonder if he is just starting to show his full potential. He had dominated with his U20 club and put up unreal numbers but hasn't been the offensive dynamo many were expecting. Jensen is a very strong and powerful skater for a bigger forward and has the hands to go with it. He is a great two way player and doesn't rely on the powerplay to produce.

Still, the left winger is projected to be a top 20 pick in this years upcoming draft but probably won't crack the top ten. His production could be lower because a player like Christian Thomas is given most of the quality icetime. On the other hand though, his secondary role in juniors worries me. I see him as a solid NHL player but still doubt his overall offensive ceiling. I think he has accomplished quite a lot already and give the kid props coming over to the CHL but isn't the ideal fit for the Oilers at this point. Having said that, this video makes me think whoever drafts him will be VERY happy.

2011 NHL Draft: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

(picture courtesy of thescoutingreport.org)

Statistics (2010-2011): Red Deer Rebels (WHL): 69GP 31G 75A 106P +30 51PIM

"RNH", "The Nuge", "Hopper"... whatever you want to call Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, this kid has a name worth remembering. The slick two-way playmaking centre could very well go first overall this spring. If you would have told me four months ago that Nugent-Hopkins was going first overall pick, I wouldn't have agreed. His 6'0" and 170lbs frame isn't deemed NHL ready by most standards and he went more then a month without scoring a goal.

Now don't get me wrong, I have always been a big fan of Hopkins. He has always had the potential to be first overall but hasn't made a solid case for himself since he was left off the WJC roster. But I didn't think he would respond the way he has since the World Junior Championships. Not to take anything away from Sean Couturier, Gabriel Landeskog or Adam Larsson, but Hopkins is easily the hottest player in the 2011 Draft right now. Even though he had an "okay" start to the season he wasn't scoring at the pace he is now. Prior to the WJC ending, the Red Deer Rebels forward was sitting at 37GP with 10 goals and 38 assists.



However since then he has posted 21 goals and 37 assists for 58 points in just 32 games. To put his 1.813 P/G into perspective, Sean Couturier finished with 1.655 P/G. Nugent-Hopkins entire season might not be better statisticsally, but his second half is significantly better then Couturiers. As far as his "two way" ability goes, the Red Deer Rebels have gone 24-8 since the WJC. Not too shabby for the kid. In addition he is already leading the WHL playoffs with 5 points in just two games against the Edmonton Oil Kings. Here is a video of his six point performance against Moose Jaw on February 4th:



Although he is lacking in size (height), he makes up for it in other ways. He has the speed to beat defenders one on one, the skill to take you out of your seat and the mentality that makes him hard to throw off his game. He is calm with the puck and can slow down the game or speed it up. He can beat defenders in so many ways. If you pressure him he can dish the pass off to his teammates in the slot, but if you give him space he can carry the puck into the slot himself and put it past the goaltender. He makes everyone around him better and can dominate games. He is a tenacious forechecker that always gets the puck on his stick with his superb backchecking abilities. He has an excellent wrister and the agility that makes him hard to hit.

An interesting article back on March 14th by Thepipelineshow said that "2 NHL GM's, who have a very good chance of ending up in the NHL draft lottery have said they would take the Red Deer Rebel first overall". In addition, "another high placed scout thought if RHN reached the 30 goal mark it would be enough to convince whoever has the first overall pick to take him". Well, he finished with 31 goals and here we sit.

As far as the Oilers are concerned, I think they will be very sorry if they pass on "Hopper" for Sean Couturier. He may not have the size that the Oiler are looking for, but he will easily become the best "small" forward that Edmonton has- even better then Jordan Eberle. I still salivate at the thought of Hopkins dishing the puck to Taylor Hall in slot. If he centers a line of Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle for the next 15 years, I would be one very happy fan. If Edmonton selects either Larsson or RNH we are going to get ourselves a number one center or a number one defenceman for years to come.

2011 Draft Prospect: Mark Scheifele

(picture courtesy of thehockeynews.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Barrie Colts (OHL): 66GP 22G 53A 75P -22 35PIM

The 6'3" 182lbs Centre from the Barrie Colts could very well find himself in an Edmonton Oilers uniform next year. Although he he is going to have to hit the gym hard, he has the frame that many NHL teams look for. Mark was planning on going to Cornell until the Colts really start showing faith in the kid. When the colts traded for him, they knew took a risk on him. Luckily for them, he was convinced that the OHL was the best route for his development.

It's hard to argue that he made the right choice as Scheifele finished second on his team in scoring despite playing against other teams top checkers in his rookie season. I like what this kid brings to the table, but his goal production worries me. Of his 22 goals, 13 of them were scored on the powerplay. Does someone that scores 9 even strength goals in the offensive OHL worth a first round pick? This remains to be seen. Another point that might keep him out is his plus minus. Mind you his -22 isn't nearly as bad as teammates Colin Behenna (-42), Steven Beyers (-50), and John Padulo (-49).

Still Scheifele finished fourth in rookie scoring (ahead of fellow 2011 draftees Nicklas Jensen, Rickard Rakell and one points behind Alexander Khokhlachev) despite being on the worst team in the leauge. I would welcome Sceifele with the 31st overall pick but would be hesistant selecting him with LA's pick unless they do some very serious damage in the playoffs.

Here are a couple interesting articles on Scheifele from the The Hockey News and NHL.com. I also put up a video of him at the top prospects game that shows off his skill for the big man.

2011 Draft Prospect: Mika Zibanejad

(picture courtesy of tumblr.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Djurgården (SEL): 26GP 5G 4A 9P

Zibanejad (pronounced either C-ban-jad or Zee-BAh-nee-Zhad depending on who you talk to) is a very interesting prospect. Although his mother is Finnish and his father is Iranian Mika was born in Huddinge, Sweden. The skilled swedish sniper has an increidble attention to detail and is a very hard worker. He has the skill to undress defenders but the two way game that should make him a regular in the NHL. He is already a center in the Swedish Elite Leauge that is dominating on the draw. He plays very well defensively and isn't afraid to make a hit or take a hit to make a play. Zibanejad is a good leader, possesses a strong shot and great speed to go with his all around game. Oh and he is also 6'2" 192lbs. Here is a video of him undressing potential 1st overall pick Adam Larsson:



Ideally I would love to see the Oilers pick up Mark McNeill or Mika Zibanejad with LA's pick on draft day. If either play lasts until the 15th pick or so then I would be all over that. I wouldn't be surprised if MZ jumps into the top ten on June 24th and would consider moving up to take this kid. For all the attention that Landeskog is getting, Zibanejad is the SEL's answer to Gabriel. In fact, Mika is also very fluent in english much like Landeskog. Although he does not sound like a canadian kid, he could be a very special player in the NHL for many years to come. His grit, leadership, faceoff ability and size are all things that the Edmonton Oilers are lacking. Here are a few clips of the kid:

2011 Draft Prospect: Duncan Siemens

(picture courtesy of sports.yahoo.com)

Statistics (2010-2011) Saskatoon Blades (WHL): 72GP 5G 38A 43P +40 121PIM

Currently ranked 10th by ISS, the Sherwood park native would be a pipe dream if he was somehow available with Los Angeles' first round pick in the 2011 draft. I highly doubt that Edmonton is able to move into the top 4-5 to select one of the big four but I do think they have a realistic chance to draft Siemens. The guy hits like a truck and knows how to play good way hockey. Despite being an incredible +40 on his team I still feel like he has a bit of room for improvement in his gap control and needs to focus on defence instead of the big hit sometimes. Having said that, I'm not sure that would make who he is. Siemens strives off playing physical and brings some of that nasty side teams like to see.

Perhaps the biggest thing with Duncan is that he is a relatively late birthday, so close that he would be a 2012 draft prospect if he was born 8 days later. This is surprising to say the least given how physically mature the kid already is. He has great footspeed for someone his size and reads the play well. He gets his stick in passing lanes and is a coaches dream for a shutdown pairing defenceman. He has a strong work ethic and is still able to help transition the puck. Still, he is going to have to work on his puck control skills and offensive game without taking away from his defensive work- this coming from a defenceman who finished with 43 points. He still has a good hard shot and could be a top pairing defenceman at best. He will however probably be more of a shutdown guy at the next level.

When Saskatoon ends up going to the memorial cup I wouldn't be surprised at all if we see Siemens stock rise to that of Luke Schenn of the Toronto Maple Leafs. I wouldn't be surprised if he is drafted a bit higher then Colten Teubert (drafted 13th overall in 2008) as well. If he is still available at 9 or 10 I would even consider moving our own 2nd round pick plus LA's first round pick to move up and snag him. Would a team like Minnesota or Columbus consider this deal? I guess it would depend on where LA ends up picking.

2011 Draft Prospect: Jamie Oleksiak

(picture courtesy of Jim Pierce on thehockeynews.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Northeastern University (NCAA) 37GP 4G 9A 13P 57PIM

At 6'7" and 240lbs its pretty easy to see why scouts are high on the Toronto born Defenceman. He definitely has the size to jump right into the NHL but is like 3-4 years away before his footspeed is ready. Don't get me wrong, for such a big skater he is pretty agile and can skate well. But he still has to work on his first step and shouldn't be rushed into the NHL. What makes Oleksiak more intruiging then most hockey monsters, is that he is generally considered an offensive defenceman. He can move the puck, take the body and widen the gap between him and defenders really well. He also has a tremendous work ethic and is very coachable- both traits should take him a long way. He has already surpassed his current coaches expectations and continues to be a riser thus far in the draft rankings.

Having said all that, anyone taking this kid in the top ten or top fifteen is going to have a project on their hands. I still think Oleksiak is lacking the hockey sense that is going to see him become a two way player at the NHL level. He has a limited skillset and projects to be a 3-4 defenceman at best- which worries me for someone projected in the first round. He needs to use his shot more, his acceleration as well as using his frame to his advantage. He can be beaten by smaller skilled players in the NCAA. He could be the next Zdeno Chara or the next Hall Gill. Either way, he is a very intriguing player that will be hard to ignore. It will also remain to be seen if the big man can play more then 40 games a year, something Oilers prospect Martin Marincin is learning the hard way this year in the WHL.

As Bob McKenzie has put it, "The fact that he plays hockey right now is a bonus". He has the size you can't teach and the footspeed that he can keep up with the play.

2011 Draft Prospect: David Musil

(picture courtesy of Gerry Kahrmann, theprovince.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Vancouver Giants (WHL): 59GP 5G 19A 24P +0 76PIM

Son of former NHLer Frank Musil, David Musil will never be an offensive force at the NHL level but he will get there one day. Still, he needs to work on quite a bit before he makes the jump. Musil needs a lot of work on accuracy, doesn't move the puck overly well and doesn't have the greatest plus/minus at first glance. He also needs to work on his footspeed and catching offensive speedsters off the rush. Having said that, he has the size at 6'3" and 200lbs with a nasty side that you can't teach. As far as his +0, it leads all Vancouver blueliners in that category. He is a defensive beast and takes care of his own end before expanding on the rest of the game. Musil possesses a cannon of a shot... whenever it hits the net lol. Oh, and I forgot to mention that this kid can play up to 30-40 minutes A NIGHT on the giants. Thats quite a bit to ask from a youngster.

I think Musil could be a very nasty and effective defender if placed in the right role. Although Musil was originally considered a top 10 pick, he has fallen a bit due to his lack of offensive production. I'm still not too concerned about his offence though. In his rookie season he posted 32 points and was +33. I would be interested to see how he would do on a better team. Right now Musil looks to be available around the 15-25 area of the draft. If Edmonton misses out on a guy like Mark McNeill, Musil would be a good consilation prize. Originally born in Calgary, David Musil moved to Edmonton when his father Frank joined the organization. Frank Musil finished the last three years of his 14 year long NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers. In addition, he is currently a European Scout for the organization. I wouldn't be surprised at all if his father weighs in and helps in the selection of his son late in the first round on June 24th.

2011 Draft Prospect: Tomas Jurco

Statistics (2010-2011): Saint. John Seadogs (QMJHL): 57GP 30G 24A 54P +45 17PIM

This is Tomas Jurco, the most talented slovakian since Marian Gaborik. As you can see above, the kid is a wizard with the puck. He can dangle in a phone booth and put on a one man clinic. But does that make him a first round pick? As scouts have seen with guys like Rob Schremp, skill can only get you so far.

Having said that, I think the situation with Jurco is much different. Sure, his statistics may not wow you playing on a stacked Saint John SeaDogs team, but he is the real deal. This year was his first season playing in overseas and still has to get used to the game.

As far as the Rob Schremp argument goes, I don't think you can compare the two. First, Jurco is a 30 goal scorer already and stands at an amazing +45. On the other hand Schremp scored 30 goals and sat at +17. It might not seem like a huge difference but 16 of those goals for Schremp were on the powerplay, while Jurco has scored 9 goals on the PP. From this, I think he is a much better two way player and can handle his fair share 5 on 5. Secondly, Tomas Jurco is 6'2". 193lbs and a right winger. Wingers typically don't have to be as great defensively as centers. Schremp on the other hand is lucky if he breaks the 6'0" mark and was 185lbs when he was drafted. I think Jurco's size and position will go a long way in making it in the NHL.

This is a guy that I would consider with LA's pick and would be absolutely estatic if he somehow fell to the Oilers second round pick.

2011 Draft Prospect: Tyler Biggs

(picture courtey of ushl.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): U.S. National Development Team (USHL): 17GP 7G 4A 11P

I think scouts should be talking more about Tyler Biggs. For all the talk that Brandon Saad gets in the OHL, you would think that Biggs would be ranked higher. Unlike Saad, Biggs does not play like a kitten. He uses his size well and throws his weight around. Lets get one thing straight with Biggs. This guy isn't named Biggs for a reason. Unlike his 5'8" father, Tyler Biggs is actually big. At 6'3" 208lbs, Biggs still has a lot of untapped potential. He compares himself to Ryan Getzlaf. Well, that is if Ryan Getzlaf was a right winger. He could also be compared to Calgary Flames' Jarome Iginla.

Unlike his Canadian father who played in the OHL before entering the NHL, Tyler opted to go to the USHL. But for right now, it will be interesting to see if Biggs will change his mind going forward. Already committed to Miami University, several NHL teams may want to see Biggs go the OHL/AHL route. Given that USHL forwards are hard to judge, he could be taken outside the top 10 of the draft. I mean just look at how uick Seth Ambroz had his stock draft. Having said that, he has all the tools to become a wrecking ball in the NHL and could be a steal come draft day.

P.S. It will be interesting to see if he ends up playing for team Canada or the United States in the future.

2011 NHL Entry Draft: March Mock Draft

(picture courtesy of www.icethetics.info)

Obviously teams are going to move up and down the rankings as the season and post-season carry on, but I decided to post a mock draft if the season were to end today. This is not my draft rankings but rather who I think teams will be targetting and a very general idea of where I expect players to go. I hope you enjoy this read in lieu of a prospect portfolio.



1. Edmonton Oilers- Adam Larsson
(Edmonton is clearly lacking on the backend and is sitting second worst in the leauge in goals against. Larsson is supposed to be the best defenceman in the past 20 years. They will be tempted to take a center but according to Tambo they will take need into consideration this year much more then years prior.)

2. Ottawa Senators- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
(Ottawa is already deep on defence and has size in Jason Spezza. They may be torn between RNH and Landeskog but IMO Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is much more dynamic and will help solidify their center position for years.)

3. Colorado Avalanche- Gabriel Landeskog
(Already deep at center and with the newly acquired Erik Johnson, Colorado is able to address the hole left by Chris Stewart. Although Landeskog probably wont be as successful in the NHL as Couturier he is a much better fit in Colorado.)

4. New York Islanders- Sean Couturier
(Long Island could use a defenceman or a winger, but can't pass over Couturier. He will being size and create a great 1-2 punch for the Islanders for many years to come. He will be able to concentrade on dominating defensively while Tavares can flourish offensively)

5. Florida Panthers- Ryan Strome
(The Panthers are set on defence for quite a while with Gudbrandon, Kulikov, Ellerby, etc. They jump at the chance to add an offensive weapon in Strome down the middle. Although they will try and target Couturiers size, I see them being able to build something around the dyanmic Strome)

6. New Jersey Devils- Ryan Murphy
(Much like Brian Rafalski, Ryan Murphy will bring some much needed offence to the Devils back end. He can move the puck and add a wow factor that is desperately needed in New Jersey.)

7. Atlanta Thrashers- Jonathan Huberdeau
(Atlanta needs help up front and is already set on the back end with Bogosian, Buff and Enstrom. Huberdeau, Burmistrov and Little up front give the team some variety and socring ability. Best forward available.)

8. Boston Bruins (From Toronto Maple Leafs)- Dougie Hamilton
(Chara isn't going to last forever and Boston could use a stud. Hamilton is a steal here and should be a great fit. He can do it all and has a hidden mean streak the the bruins should be able to bring out of him.)

9. St. Louis Blues- Mika Zibanejad
(St.Louis loves to draft the Swedes and they get a good one in Zibanejad. Obviously looking to bloster their forward lineup, Mika can use a year or two in sweden before coming over and making an impact. He will provide a much needed wow factor to an offensively struggling franchise.)

10. Columbus Blue Jackets- Duncan Siemens
(Columbus misses out on all the possible puck moving defencemen and potential number one centers but is happy for Siemens. He can still move the puck but really stands out as a guy that can help their blueline for years to come.)

11. Carolina Hurricanes- Jamie Oleksiak
(The biggest boom-bust project this far goes to a Carolina team that can afford to take a risk on Oleksiak. With Pitkanen and McBain on the back end he should have some time to develop before they bring this kid in.)

12. Minnesota Wild- Joel Armia
(Finish powerforward joins the likes of Granlund and should have instant chemistry on a team that needs offensive fowards)

13. Anaheim Ducks- Tyler Biggs
(Big hard hitting player is the style of player that Anaheim needs to continue to draft in order to be successful. Surprising that he is still on the board here and not taken by Carolina)

14. Ottawa Senators (From Nashville Predators)- Matt Puempel
(Puempel will look great beside Spezza or RNH at the NHL level. Kid is a goal scorer going to the team with the lowest amount of goals in the NHL.)

15. New York Rangers- Nathan Beaulieu
(Rangers could use a defenceman but already have a tough guy in McIlrath. They grab a guy that can help dictate the pace of the game and allow them to play to their strengths up front.)

16. Buffalo Sabres- Brandon Saad
(Buffalo adds some size that they need up front. Lots of raw potential in Saad that is too good to pass up.)

17. Edmonton Oilers (From Los Angeles Kings)- Mark McNeill
(Hometown boy that fills the size issue down the middle.)

18. Dallas Stars- Scott Mayfield
(Dallas needs help on the blueline IMO and Mayfield can play all situations and be an anchor on the team for many years to come.)

19. Calgary Flames- Ty Rattie
(Flames need a center or some kind of help up front. They always seem to look inside the WHL for scoring and should be able to get it out of the slick Portland wizard.)

20. Phoenix Coyotes- Alexandr Khoklachev
(Phoenix grabs a great goalscorer and isn't affraid to go russian to do so. They are already set on the back end with Yandle and OEL. Phoenix looks like bandits in a year)

21. Montreal Canadiens- Nicklas Jensen
(Montreal could use some size and skill up front. Although I wouldn't be surprised to see them draft a dman with all the UFA's they have on their blueline, Jensen is too good to pass up.)

22. Chicago Blackhawks- Sven Baertschi
(The rich get richer. Great complimentary player for the forwards already up front on the Hawks.)

23. Tampa Bay Lightning- Myles Bell
(Tampa could use another offensive minded dman with a glut of forwards already up front.)

24. Pittsburgh Penguins- Tomas Jurco
(slick dynamic winger that will compliment the Centers in Pittsburgh)

25. San Jose Sharks- David Musil
(Tough defence first kid that should help stabilize the San Jose blueline. They already have a plethora of forwards)

26. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Boston Bruins)- Zack Phillips
(Hard working two-way forward that would look playing behind Nazem Kadri)

27. Washington Capitals- Vladislav Namestnikov
(Washington picks up another fast russian forward to hopefully add some chemistry to their powerplay. Already set with Carlson and Alzner on the back end.)

28. Detroit Red Wings- Jonas Brodin
(The wings stay Swedish. It paid off in the past and will continue to pay off with the talented rearguard.)

29. Toronto Maple Leafs (From Philadelphia Flyers)- Stefan Noesen
(Noesen will add some size and goalscoring to a team that will need it.)

30. Vancouver Canucks- Dmitri Jaskin
(Skilled forward that should have the freedom to develop and hopefully turn out to be a steal.)

Hope You enjoyed!

2011 Draft Prospect: Mark McNeill

(picture courtesy of raiderhockey.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Prince Albert Raiders (WHL): 64GP 26G 42A 68P -11 48P

Edmonton meet Mark McNeill. Mark meet Edmonton. Oh wait, you have already meet? What's that? Your actually from Edmonton? Thats quite the conincidence. Did you happen to know that Edmonton is currently looking for a big, gritty, right handed center? Furthermore did you happen to know that YOU are in fact all of those things? I think I might be onto something.

I've been talking about this guy for a while now so it only makes sense to do a quick writeup on him. Anyways, at 6'2" and over 210lbs I wouldn't be surprised to see Mark McNeill in the NHL as early as next year. Not only has this kid taken his offseason workouts seriously, he is also the second leading point producer on a very weak Prince Albert team. Thats quite an accomplishment for the kid. Not only does he put up points, but he does all the little things well. He stands up for teammates, drops the gloves, and never gives up on a play. McNeill has a hard shot to go with his soft hands- something that when you add to his size will make him a surefire first round pick on draft day. He is quick for a bigger player but could still use some work on his agility to be successful at the NHL level.

I can see Edmonton fans chanting "McNeill" much like they chanted "Doan" in the past. Lets bring the hometown kid back to Edmonton. He would be a perfect fit for this team going forward. Perhaps the only problem that Edmonton would face is that both he and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins will have to fight over who gets to wear number nine if both are drafted by the Oil.

2011 Draft Prospect: Alexandr Khoklachev

(picture courtesy of sports.yahoo.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Windsor Spitfires (OHL): 62GP 34G 36A 70P +7 28PIM

Although this incredibly skilled Russian is no Alexandr Lotsagoalev, he is expected to be yet another first round selection this June. These crazy russians always seemed to be ranked just outside the top ten or outside the first round all together. But if last years draft taught us anything, it was that Taranseko and Kuznetsov would be drafted much higher if done again. I think the same is true for Khoklachev. Not only does he have a cool name but he is also one of the best goal scorers in the draft. He may not have the size at only 5'11" but he takes the puck hard to the net. Koko as he is often called, is an offensive dynamo on a Windors Spitfire team that is lacking the talent it had in the past.

The skilled Russian center can take over games. He has had four goal games in junior and currently sits 31st in OHL scoring. Thats quite an accomplishment since he is second in rookie scoring. He is a gamebreaker and I wouldn't be surprised if he surpasses former first rounder Alexander Burmistrov. Speaking of first rounders, the only players on his team that are outproducing him are former first rounders Ryan Ellis and Zach Kassian. That's pretty good company.

As far as the Oilers go, I don't see them making a move for the Russian. Although he could be a steal with LA's pick, they will probably be looking at addressing need through the draft. Having said that, never say never. Odds are slim though. The Oilers have not taken a Russian under Stu McGregor (from 2008-2010) and the last Russian they took was Alexander Bumagin in the 6th round of 2006. The only high end Russians Edmonton has drafted in the new millenium were Roman Tesliuk (44th overall in 2004) and Alexei Mikhnov (17th overall in 2000).

Still, Khoklachev himself came to the OHL to be "drafted high". Although this may bring up some character issues, its not like staying in the KHL was a great alternative. You can't blame the kid for wanting to be drafted high in order to see his dream come true- playing in the NHL.

2011 Draft Prospect: Scott Mayfield

(picture courtesy of letsgodu.blogspot.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Youngstown (USHL): 41GP 6G 6A 12P -7 125PIM

Usually when a player is unable to reach his previous years offensive output he is see's his stock plummet. That is certainly not the case with Youngstown defenceman Scott Mayfield. Even though he might not be racking up the points, he is still leading his blueline in points. He is mean, he's tough and sitting at almost 6'4" and 200lbs he's hard not to notice on the ice. It's not even his size that is noticeable but his poise with the puck that scouts seem to love. He can carry the puck and is a fluid skater that helps out a teams transition, something you can't say for most skaters of his size.

Mayfields style of game is best summarize in an interview he did with NHL.com. Scott Mayfield was describes as someone who "plays the body well and is physical but not in an overly rambunctious way.He can close off the forechecker up high and is controlled, poised and calm in his play. He plays like a seasoned veteran." He further described Mayfield as "a smooth, strong and effortless stride, his passes are crisp and he sees the ice very well. He has a very good wrist shot and controls the play from the point on the power play."

The article can be found here http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=539430

If I am the Edmonton Oilers are find myself already drafting a centerman with the lottery pick, you have got to be thinking that they would be looking at a defenceman with the first round pick they attained in the Dustin Penner deal. Mayfield has all the tools to become a top 4 defenceman at the NHL level and might even be able to sneak into a top pairing role if his development is played out right.

2011 Draft Prospect: Jonas Brodin

(picture courtesy of sverigesradio.se)

Statistics (2010-2011): Färjestad (SEL): 42GP 0G 4A 12PIM

First, no he is not a member of the Jonas brothers... that is unless he decides to switch his first and last name. If this is the case he would have to live with the initials BJ for the rest of his life... something the kids on the Oilers would surely make fun of. Anyways, assuming he doesn’t change his name, we are looking at another first round pick. If Brodin slips outside the first round come draft day, a team is going to have a steal on their hands. Brodin adds to a very strong draft year by the swedes in addition to other projected first rounders Adam Larsson, Gabriel Landeskog, Mika Zibanejad, and possibly Victor Rask, Oscar Klefbom and Rickard Rakell.

Although Brodin does not have the same size that Oscar Klefbom posseses, he still has the frame needed to be a capable NHL defender. He still needs to bulk up but will be worth the wait. From everything ive gathered, he has explosive speed, sees the ice well, and terrific vision. Not only is he great offensively and a potential puckmover at the NHL level, but he is great defensively. Does that mean he is weak on the puck and shys away from the physical side of things... WRONG. Perhaps his only weakness is that he does not have elite level offence- something most defencemen are lacking.

Whoever chooses him will get a guy who makes a great first pass but his style of play doesn’t involve him jumping into the rush too often- just yet. Right now he plays a simple and smart style of game but in the future he has all the tools to become more effective. You have to remember that he is still a rookie in a mens leauge. With the proper development he might feel more comfortable with an offensive role. Brodin was the youngest player to ever suit up for Färjestad in the SEL and hasn’t looked a step out of place thus far. His very late birthday could be a driving factor in his draft position come June 24th. He probably won’t be a top pairing dman, but he will be a very good number 3 or 4.

2011 Draft Prospect: Nathan Beaulieu

*image removed*


Statistics (2010-2011): Saint John Sea Dogs 59GP 12G 31A 43P +45 48PIM, 6'3" 191lbs

The Sain John Sea Dogs are this years version of Portland. Last year Portland boasted Ryan Johansen, Nino Niederreiter, Brad Ross, Taylor Aronson, and Troy Rutkowski. This year the Sea Dogs have the dynamic Jonathan Huberdeau, puck wizard Tomas Jurco, gritty Zack Phillips, and the ultra-skill Beaulieu. It remains to be seen if he is the driving force of the team or putting up a bunch of gravy points on such a good team.

Beaulieu is definitely a feel good story of the draft. Although he had to go through a lot to get to where he is today. Since Beaulieu played his minor hockey in NB, the Strathroy, Ontario native was drafted by his fathers team- the Sea Dogs. Although it seemed like things were finally looking up for Beaulieu, his father was removed from the organization on very negative terms. For most young kids this could have been a huge turning point in one's hockey career. Yet, Beaulieu kept up his development and proved that he could overcome any obstacle.

Beaulieu plays an up-tempo offensive game that opens up the play. He doesn't have the same attention to defence that a guy like Brandon Gormley has, but he can move the puck and skate it out of his own zone. He has a good hard shot and can see the ice well. He could be ranked as high as ten or barely inside the first round of this years NHL entry draft. It is pretty wide open but he should be a top 15 pick. I wouldn't be surprised if he is given a long look at NHL training camp and maybe even in the NHL next year. If the Sea Dogs win the memorial cup this year, he would have very little to prove in the QMJHL.

2011 Draft Prospect: Matt Puempel

(picture courtesy of ontariohockeyleauge.com)

Statistics (2010-2011): Peterborough Petes (OHL) 55GP 34G 35A 69P -33 49PIM, 6'0" 198lbs

I love this kid. Its just too bad that he recently suffered his first major injury of his career. Out with a hip injury for the rest of the year, Puempel shouldn't drop too far as the former CHL rookie of the year. Despite having a great rookie season, he has recently been overlooked (currently ranked 28th by ISS). Puempel is one of the best pure goal scorers on a very weak Petes team. He is arguably the best goal scorer in the CHL right now.

Sitting at 6'0 and 198lbs he doesn't have the hieght you might want but isn't small by any means. He has comitted himself to his off ice workouts and has the character the teammates and coaches love. He is the first guy on the ice and always keeps things upbeat. He has a very quick release and can always find the open space to contribute key goals at key times.

Although Edmonton is not in a huge need to have another left wing in the system, I might pass on him with LA's king to identify a bigger need but would be ESTATIC if he somehow fell to the oilers second rounder. That is if LA's pick is 14-20. After that you take Puempel because he is just too good to pass on. He could even be in the NHL next season.