SenShot 2014 NHL Mock Draft Picks 1-5

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Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; A general view of the stage between picks during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Just because the Ottawa Senators do not have a first round pick this summer (at least not yet), doesn’t mean that the NHL draft isn’t happening. It also means that the competition will get better in the future, with 3 Atlantic Division rivals picking in the top 8, including 1 and 2.

So, with the mass number of mock drafts out there, I will add my own to the mix.

There will be quite a lot of moving and shaking, with it being a relatively weak draft and not much distinction or consensus about where certain players fall. This could also result in a considerable number of picks changing hands between now and June 27th.

So without further delay, here is my crack at the mock draft. When I do my mock drafts, I don’t try to predict what will happen, but state what I think should happen.

#1 – Florida Panthers

Apr 12, 2014; Sunrise, FL, USA; Florida Panthers center

Vincent Trocheck

(67) is congratulated after his goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the first period at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

The Panthers finished with the 29th best record, but won the draft lottery to put their fate in their own hands.

Florida has some flexibility with Roberto Luongo being the only player on the roster signed past the 2015-16 season, and even then only Brad Boyes, Aleksander Barkov and Brian Campbell are signed past this coming season. They are in the situation where they could add salary that other teams up against the cap need to dump, which also means there could be movement for this pick by adding more assets.

The Panthers need help everywhere, so they don’t need to draft by position, but according to hockeysfuture.com, one of the biggest weaknesses in their system is the lack of offensive talent on the blue line.

That makes the pick pretty simple, should they keep it.

Although I feel the Edmonton Oilers should do almost anything it takes to move up to the #1 spot (including perhaps a Nail Yakupov + the #3 pick deal), to get him, the Florida Panthers select defenseman Aaron Ekblad from the Barrie Colts of the OHL.

Ekblad was granted a special exemption to enter the OHL as a 15 year old, and has played 3 seasons of major junior already. He is big, skilled and has a bit of a mean streak in addition to posting almost a point per game this season. He is unflappable and was a key player on Canada’s U20 team as a 17 year old defenseman.

If there is any defenseman in recent memory ready to make the jump to the NHL as an 18 year old, it is Ekblad.

#2 Buffalo Sabres

Apr 13, 2014; Buffalo, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres center

Torrey Mitchell

(17) celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the New York Islanders at First Niagara Center. Islanders beat Buffalo 4 to 3 in a shootout. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

The Sabres finished dead last in the NHL, but fell to the #2 pick when the Panthers won the draft lottery.

Buffalo is pretty stacked in terms of top end prospect on the blue line, so they probably aren’t too concerned with Ekblad, far and away the top blueline prospect available, going ahead of their pick. That just means they will have the top choice among the forwards.

The Sabres likely won’t get a player who will make the jump to the NHL next year, so they will have to be willing to be patient.

The Sabres need a player who combines size and skill, and that player is German-born forward Leon Draisaitl of the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL.

Draisaitl is 6’1, 210 lbs and is versatile enough to play centre and wing. He is a dynamic skater who started really turning heads in the 2013 World Juniors where he was Germany’s best player as an underager.

#3 Edmonton Oilers

Apr 12, 2014; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers left wing

Ryan Smyth

(94) is acknowledged after his last game as an NHL player and Edmonton Oilers player after a game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Chris Austin-USA TODAY Sports

The Oilers, as I stated earlier, really need to do what it takes to try to pry the #1 pick from Florida to get Ekblad. Defense is their biggest need as they have been trying to get by with a patchwork blue line and that simply hasn’t been working. Justin Schultz is a start, Darnell Nurse is coming, but they need more blue chip defensemen in the system.

Antother option would be to trade down to get to an area that Haydn Fleury might be available (closer to 8-10), but picking him in this spot could not be justified. That being said, if they do elect to kepp the #3 pick, they will add yet another young forward to the bounty they possess and have to try to get that blueliner elsewhere through trade or free agency.

The Oilers should stay relatively close to home and go with Sam Reinhart, centre from the Kootenay Ice of the WHL.

Reinhart would add another smallish but skilled forward to the ranks that include Sam Gagner and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. To compete in the West, they are going to have to get much bigger up the midde.

#4 Calgary Flames

Apr 11, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Calgary Flames defenseman

Kris Russell

(4) celebrates his goal with teammates against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The Flames are another team in rebuild mode, and as such just need talent. After hitting a home run with Sean Monahan at #6 last season, the Flames move up a couple of spots.

The next couple of top ranked picks are a smooth center and a rugged winger. At this point in time, and with the purely skilled Johnny Gaudreau set to contribute next season, it might be the opportunity to nab the potential power forward.

He needs to add more size to his frame, but the Flames should go with winger/centre Sam Bennett from the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL.

Bennett had 91 points in just 57 games in Kingston. He also put up over 100 PIMs and could be a nice fit on a potential future top line with Monahan and Gaudreau.

#5 New York Islanders

Apr 10, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; The New York Islanders celebrate their victory over the Montreal Canadiensduring at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

The Islanders scouting staff benefit from the John Tavares injury, because it moved them up a couple of spots in the draft order. Stacked on the blue line in the near future, they don’t need to worry about drafting for position. They can take the next player available, and the fact that most of the top prospects at this point are forwards works to their advantage. Reinhart probably won’t fall to this spot to unite with his brother Griffin on the Islanders, but it would be a nice story.

They will have to select a player who can play both center and wing, Michael Dal Colle from the Oshawa Generals of the OHL.

Almost 40 goals and 94 points in 67 games and can handle himself physically, the Islanders could imagine Dal Colle riding shotgun with either Tavares or Ryan Strome in 3 or 4 years.

Feb 8, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman

Frank Corrado

(26) defends against Toronto Maple Leafs forward

Nazem Kadri

(43) at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto defeated Vancouver 3-1. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

That wraps up the first 5 picks in our NHL Mock draft.

Up ahead will be the next 5 picks, which includes three more Canadian teams (Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto) and also the #10 pick, that would belong to the Ottawa Senators but because of the Bobby Ryan trade, now belongs to the Anaheim Ducks.