Jun 18 Rick Springhetti's 2011 NHL Mock draft

In the Last of a series of articles in anticipation of the NHL Entry draft, Mckeen’s hockey scout and reporter Rick Springhetti comes up with his mock draft.

 

 

1-      Edmonton Oilers : Ryan-Nugent Hopkins

I don’t think there’s any doubt here, the Oilers will pick the most offensively talented forward at this year’s draft. With players such as Hall, Eberle and Paajarvi, he has a lot of talented youngsters to shine with.

 

2-      Colorado Avalanche: Gabriel Landeskog

The Avalanche have a lot of depth at the defence position and skilled forwards so they go with Landeskog, a bigger player who plays a power-forward game. His maturity at a young age will also be very valuable to the organization.

 

3-      Florida Panthers: Jonathan Huberdeau

The Florida Panthers like their forwards big and strong but they can’t pass over the talented Huberdeau who should one day be their leader offensively.

 

4-      New Jersey Devils: Adam Larsson

The New Jersey Devils are thrilled that Larsson is still available. Their defensemen are getting older and Larsson will address that issue not-withstanding that he’s the best player available but they’re scouting staff also tend to make unexpected choices at the draft table.

 

5-      New York Islanders: Dougie Hamilton

The Islanders have some talented youngsters in their line-up and use this opportunity to draft a defenseman who will one day not only be logging big minutes with them but can also become team captain one day.

 

6-      Ottawa Senators: Sean Couturier

The rebuilding of the Ottawa organization continues and Couturier will help. He can join the team sooner rather than later and with Spezza centering their top line, they can bring Couturier in slowly by having him as their 2nd line centre.

 

7-      Winnipeg ???: Ryan Strome

At this point, best player available is Strome and I don’t see why Winnipeg wouldn’t jump all over him. He can wind up being the first offensive star of the newest NHL’s newest team.

 

8-      Columbus Blue Jackets: Mika Zibanejad

Many are expecting Columbus to draft a puck-moving defenseman I’m not sure they will want to pass over Zibanejad, an aggressive centre who can do a lot of things on the ice.

 

9-      Boston Bruins: James Oleksiak

It would be easy to just say that the Bruins will draft Oleksiak because he’s a 6’7” defenseman but there are two things to consider: 1) Oleksiak needs a few more years to develop and the Bruins can afford to wait, and 2) the opportunity to draft a player of his size who can move like he does rarely happens.

 

10-  Minnesota Wild: Ryan Murphy

The Minnesota Wild have to find some players who can produce offence and Murphy can do so from the back-end. Let’s hope they will be patient with him as they have a habit of rushing their young players.

 

11-  Colorado Avalanche: Duncan Siemens

With their 2nd first round pick, the Avalanche will go with a raw defenseman who may one day be their shutdown guy.

 

12-  Carolina Hurricanes: Marc Scheifele

Carolina Hurricanes generally don’t draft defensemen in the first round and they like their skilled forward so Mark Scheifele is a logical choice here.

 

13-  Calgary Flames: Sven Baertschi

The Flames need to restock their pipeline of youngsters in their system as they don’t have much coming up. They go with Sven Baertschi hoping that he will be able to produce the kind of offence that will give their organization a shot in the arm.

 

14-  Dallas Stars: Nathan Beaulieu

The Dallas Stars are happy to draft Nathan Beaulieu here. A good two-way defenseman, he will be happy to log a lot of minutes one day for the Stars.

 

15-  New York Rangers: Matt Puempel

Always struggling to produce some offence and with a rather deep group of young defensemen in their organization, the Rangers are happy to see that Puempel is available, a player that if the reaches his full potential, will be able to score some goals in the NHL.

 

16-  Buffalo Sabres: Alexander Khokhlachev

With new ownership who promised that the Sabres will now be able to spend the money they need, I think the team will try to draft a player with home run potential and Khokhlachev is that player. He can create or finish plays and if he adapts to the NHL game, can be a steal for Buffalo.

 

17-  Montreal Canadiens: Boone Jenner

Those who follow me on twitter know that I’m a big Jenner fan but I also think the pick makes sense. He has leadership ability, can produce offence and play good defence. I can see them picking J.T. Miller but without a second round pick once again, Habs may go with a safer pick.

 

18-  Chicago Black Hawks: J.T. Miller

Chicago Black Hawks will pick the best player available and Miller plays an aggressive game, something the Black Hawks like in their forwards.

 

19-  Edmonton Oilers: Jonas Brodin

With their second first-round pick, the Oilers will be thrilled to get a defenseman like Brodin who has the potential to one day help their skilled forwards produce with his passing abilities.

 

20-  Phoenix Coyotes: Joel Armia

The Phoenix Coyotes pick the best player available here and Armia has the potential to be a dominant goal-scorer in the NHL. 

 

21-  Ottawa Senators: Brandon Saad

The Ottawa Senators draft a similar forward as their first pick: A player with good size, strong skating ability and can play a tenacious two-way game

 

22-  Anaheim Ducks:  Niklas Jensen

The Anaheim Ducks like to make sure they have a solid pipeline of bigger forwards and Jensen fits that bill. He will be a perfect 2nd line option somewhere down the line if he develops as expected.

 

23-  Pittsburgh Penguins: Zach Phillips

The Pittsburgh Penguins are happy to select a forward that is a great finisher to complete all the great centres they have.

 

24-  Detroit Red Wings: Vladislav Namestnikov

There is always an assumption that the Red Wings will jump after any Swedish player but what they usually try to find are talented players with the skills to play a puck-possession game. Vladislav Namestnikov is the best option for them.

 

25-  Toronto Maple Leafs: Stefan Noesen

Noesen seems to be the kind of the player that will fit-in very well with the kind of team that the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to be build; A two-way player that plays the body and works hard.

 

26-  Washington Capitals: Ty Rattie

Washington Capitals are happy to welcome Ty Rattie in their organisation. They are well-stacked everywhere but his offensive abilities will give him the edge.

 

27-  Tampa Bay Lightning: Joe Morrow

Joe Morrow is the kind of player that the Lighting are hoping to have more of in their system. A complete defenseman that can pass the puck well .

 

28-  San Jose Sharks: Oscar Klefbom

I’m tempted to chose Shane Prince knowing how much the Sharks love players from the Ottawa 67’s organisation but I think Oscar Klefbom’s skills and leadership will make him a sought-after choice for the Sharks.

 

29-  Vancouver Canucks: Thomas Jurco

Vancouver Canuks will be happy to get a player with his pure talent. He’s a few years away but a spot on the second line to start with will be perfect for him.

 

30-  Toronto Maple Leafs: Mark McNeil

A bigger centre with offensive ability, I feel that like Noesen, he will be a good fit for the Maple Leafs.

 

Rick Springhetti has been QJMHL scout for Mckeen’s hockey for the last 3 seasons and has also contributed scouting reports for prospects all over the world. For more information on Mckeen’s hockey visit http://mckeenshockey.rivals.com/. Rick can be reached at rick1042@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter : @rick1042

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