Since we’re about 1 and a half weeks away from witnessing the day the NHL sees it’s future superstars in one combusted city(Montreal), I’m saving time and doing my Mock Draft now including with the trades I think will happen on the big day. I will be live at the Draft since I live in Hab Town so I hope I can do some up to date hits during the evening of June 26th. May I say what a pleasant idea it was to make the Draft on Prime Time television. Splendid. Here we go!
1. New York Islanders select John Tavares
The Islanders already have Josh Bailey and Kyle Okposo, so why not add another young offensive talent in John Tavares, who is destined to become Captain of this team very quickly. Tavares has great skill and has progressed in defensive ability. Think of another Mike Bossy.
2. Tampa Bay Lightning select Victor Hedman
The Lightning get what they needed badly in Hedman, who will make na impact right away with the Bolts. He has very smooth puck-handling skills and isn’t afraid to get into the dirty zones and play physical. He is the best player in this Draft without question. Think of another Chris Pronger.
3. Colorado Avalanche select Matt Duchene
Duchene is a very talented player who the Avs are lucky to get. He’s smart on the ice with good puck handling skills, a rocket of a shot, and a great first pass. He may eventually become better than Tavares. Think of another Jason Spezza.
4. Atlanta Thrashers select Evander Kane
The Thrash of Atlanta get what they want in a franchise centreman who will be dishing out passes to Ilya Kovalchuk and Angelo Esposito in the near future. He’s a big body who plays with a mean streak and will do anything to win. Think of another Stephen Weiss.
TRADE: Ottawa Senators send Dany Heatley and Alexandre Picard to Los Angeles Kings for Jack Johnson, Alexander Frolov, 5th overall pick in the 09 draft, 96th overall pick in the 09 draft
5. Ottawa Senators select Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi
With Alfredsson gone in 4 years and Heatley now gone after the trade to the Kings, the Sens need to find their next true franchise winger and they’ve got it in superstar Svensson-Paajarvi, who is a pure goal-scoring machine and a defensive helper. Think of another, yup, Daniel Alfredsson.
TRADE: Phoenix Coyotes send 6th overall pick in 09 draft to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 7th overall pick in the 09 draft, 68th overall pick in the 09 Draft
6. Toronto Maple Leafs select Bryaden Schenn
With that Burkie gets another set of twins even though their play is very different. Brayden is a big puck moving type of player who knows where his teamamtes are at all the times. Schenn will provide a centreman for the Leafs(gasp) of the future. Think of another Mike Richards.
7. Phoenix Coyotes select Jared Cowen
Even though there are still offensive talents lef the Yotes need a franchise defenseman and get wizard Cowen, who is a big body that ins’t afraid to put on the mean stuff and forecheck hard. He also has a big shot that leaves goalies flabbergasted. Think of another Robyn Regehr.
TRADE: Dallas Stars send Matt Niskanen, Mike Ribeiro, Jere Lehtinen, 8th overall pick in the 09 Draft to the Anaheim Ducks for Chris Pronger
8. Anaheim Ducks select Jordan Schroeder
After the big trade, the Ducks opt to buld their offense even more by going for another small offensive wizard in Schroeder. He excelled with the Gophers and with Team USA in the World Juniors. He can score goals quickly and will excell in the Ducks’ system. Think of another Zach Parise.
9. Ottawa Senators select Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Another pick, another Swedish talent. Ottawa starts modeling Detroit’s system and selects a defenseman that will make up another great defensive duo. Larsson has a great 1st pass and hard shot to the net, and is very reponsible in his own zone. Think of another Niklas Kronwall.
10. Edmonton Oilers select Dmitry Kulikov
The Oilers get a Russian defenseman, but don’t get fooled, this Russian has already played in Canada and knows the the game very well. He reads the play greatly and forechecks hard. Kuls adds to the Oilers’ great defensive system. Think of another Sergei Zubov.
11. Nashville Predators select Zack Kassian
The next Milan Lucic is a stable power forward who pressures the opponent so he can get the puck himself. He has although more offensive talent than Lucic, something the Preds desperately need to get back into the playoffs. Think of another Milan Lucic.
12. Minnesota Wild select Jacob Josefson
The Swedish centre has a great passing ability and has knack of getting in front of the goalie. The Wild need offense, Josefson is offense. Pretty good fit, eh? Think of another Brad Richards.
13. Buffalo Sabres select Ryan Ellis
Ellis improved his stock greatly at the Juniors. While undersized, he has ag reat shot and a very good Power Play QB. If the Sabres don’t get him, than Darcy Regier needs to have his brain re-examined. Think of another Mike Green.
14. Florida Panthers select Simon Despres
With Bouwmeester leaving July 1st, the Panethers draft another franchise defenseman in Despres, who is a fluid and mobile puck mover who will push the Panthers on top of the game. Think of another Brian Rafalski.
15. Anaheim Ducks select John Moore
After trading Pronger to the Stars and drafting a winger, the Ducks now take a reliable D-Man who is great defensively and a big body. He is a bit of a project but it’s worth the risk. Think of another Duncan Keith.
16. Columbus Blue Jackets select David Rundblad
The 3rd Swedish defenseman choseen in the Draft, while Rundblad may not be as gifted offensively as the first two, he a fluid and reliable defensive defenseman, something the Jackets lacked this year. Think of another Jonathan Ericsson.
TRADE : St.Louis Blues send 17th overall pick in the 09 draft to the Vancouver Canucks for the 22nd overall pick in the 09 draft and Shane O’Brien
17. Vancouver Canucks select Nazem Kadri
Kadri falls down in the Draft because of his on and off season however he is still very gifted offensively and passes very well. Think of another Patrice Bergeron.
18. Montreal Canadiens select Chris Kreider
Kreider is probably the best puck-handler in the Draft and has strong shot and reliable defensively. The Canadiens need an exciting forward for the team and their fans and boom comes Kreider. Think of another Travis Zajac.
19. New York Rangers select Peter Holland
A camper in front of the net, Holland has a strong shot and can bury the stinky goals anytime you want. Think of another Tomas Holmstrom.
20. Calgary Flames select Olivier Roy
Kiprusoff is getting worn down and the Flames have no true goaltending prospect, so they take Roy(no relation to Saint Patrick), who has great reflexes and is a true leader in goal. Think of another Marc-Andre Fleury.
21. Philadelphia Flyers select Carter Ashton
The Lethbridge product is a big power forward who can do the rough stuff and score down low. The Flyers get a top line 1st line winger. Think of another Mike Knuble.
22. St.Louis Blues select Scott Glennie
The Brandon native is a character 3rd line player who has a strong shot nad very responsible defensively. Think of another Jeff Carter.
23. New Jersey Devils select Kyle Palmieri
“Palmy” is a physical players despite his size and a good two-way player, which helps the Devils improve of the offensive side. Think of another Chris Drury.
TRADE: Washington Capitals send 24th overall pick in 09 Draft to the New York Islanders for the 26th overall pick in the 09 Draft and Quintin Laing
24. New York Islanders select Calvin DeHaan
A great body and a strong shot make up for a great draft by the Isles. Think of another Brent Seabrook.
25. Boston Bruins select Stefan Elliott
The Bruins took huge steps this year and take another one by adding a a puck moving defenseman in Elliott. Think of another Brad Stuart.
26. Washington Capitals select Nick Leddy
The Capitals need to add to the Mike Green defense by adding Leddy who is a bone-crunching hitter and a strong shooter. Think of another Pavel Kubina.
27. Carolina Hurricanes select Dylan Olsen
Olsen is another Zdeno Chara who is very good in his won zone and is a ocmpliment to his teammates. Also a very great leader. Think of another Willie Mitchell.
28. Chicago Blackhawks select Louis Leblanc
Leblanc is a gifted play maker who is NHL ready. The Hawks add to their stellar team in offense. Think of another Patrick Marleau.
29. Detroit Red Wings select Tim Erixon
The Swedish keep coming in Hockeytown with Erixon who is a very mobile D-Man and sees the ice very well. Think of another Tomas Kaberle.
30. Pittsburgh Penguins select Gabriel Lemieux
The defending Cup Champs go over the board a select the product for Shawinigan, who will give them great defensive coverage in the near future.
So there’s the mock draft. Feel free to ramble about, because no way in hells this will be the exact draft.