The NHL Draft is coming up at the end of the month, and SenShot will be doing a mock draft leading up to the June 30th draft. Our network, Fansided, has already started the process with each team’s site making the pick on their behalf. You can follow along with them, and I will link to their picks, but I may or may not go along with their picks. It’s just for fun, and throwing ideas against the wall. Up first is the team that won the draft lottery to move up one spot from #2 to #1.
#1 – COLORADO AVALANCHE
May 28 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach Patrick Roy speaks at a press conference held at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
TEAM STRENGTHS: Youthful, growing offense, legendary Patrick Roy as new head coach.
TEAM WEAKNESSES: Team defense, organizational depth, goaltending
HOCKEY’S FUTURE ORGANIZATIONAL PROSPECT RANK: 29th of 30 teams
UNDER CONSIDERATION: Nathan MacKinnon, Seth Jones, Jonathan Drouin
FANSIDED MOCK DRAFT PICK: Mile High Sticking selected Seth Jones
SENSHOT’S CHOICE: Seth Jones from the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL. While the prospect of adding to the burgeoning offense with the dynamic MacKinnon or the slick Drouin is enticing, the Avalanche need top end help on the blue line. The fact that Jones grew up in the Denver area is a bonus as it will be a nice marketing tool. While Roy might have some input and lean toward two players that he coached against all season in the Moosheads duo, Jones is the right fit. There was some discussion that Colorado would entertain offers to trade the pick, and they do need help everywhere, but Jones is a solid building block on the blue line to add to the likes of Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene and Ryan O’Reilly up front.