SenShot 2014 NHL Mock Draft Picks 6-10

June 22, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; General view of the stage and draft board order as commissioner Gary Bettman announces the third overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft at CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

With the top 5 names off the board – Aaron Ekblad, Sam Reinhart, Leon Draisaitl, Sam Bennett and Michael Dal Colle – in our first 5 selections, we turn to the next group of picks.

This quintet of selections will feature 3 Canadian based teams, which would have been 4 but the Ottawa Senators pick was traded to Anaheim in the Bobby Ryan deal.

6  Vancouver Canucks

Jan 18, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks head coach John Tortorella yells at the Calgary Flames bench after a fight broke out in the first 2 seconds of the first period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

The Canucks took a giant leap backwards last season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007-08.  The free-fall led to a housecleaning that included GM/President Mike Gillis and head coach John Tortorella.

Add to that the question that surrounds the goaltending, which went from one of the best duos in the league to one of the weakest, and it looks like the Canucks will be in tough to make it back to the playoffs this year.

The questions surounding Ryan Kesler and his future with the team might make the Canucks lean toward drafting a centre, they do have a trio of solid prospects there in Jordan Schroeder, Bo Horvat and Brendan Gaunce.

The Canucks need a prospect who can play the wing, and that player is William Nylander from Sodertalje, Rogle & Modo in the Swedish leagues.  Nylander will have mentors in his fellow countrymen Daneil and Henrik Sedin, and could be close to NHL ready after a stint in the top level in Sweden.  He is skilled athough a little undersized at 5’11”, 175 lbs.

7  Carolina Hurricanes

Dec 12, 2013; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Carolina Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller on his bench against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The Hurricanes missed the playoffs after sludging through a season where injuries and sub-standard play dictated another playoff whiff.

There is a changing of the guard in Raleigh, with Jim Rutherford first moving up and then out of the organization and new GM Ron Francis taking over.   He quickly relieved Kirk Muller of his coaching duties and has yet to name a replacement.

The Hurricanes weakness is up front, most notably on the wing.  Perhaps this is the point for a sleeper pick, and that would be Nick Ritchie from the Peterborough Petes of the OHL.

Ritchie is a tough, talented power forward who will give you 20-25 goals and can also drop the mitts when required.   Some question his potential to score at the NHL level, but 40 goals in 61 OHL games is nothing to sneeze at.

8   Toronto Maple Leafs

Mar 11, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner (51) is congratulated by the Toronto Maple Leafs bench after he scored a goal during the first period against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

The Maple Leafs’ late season collapse could haunt them for some time, as they failed miserably down the stretch.  That being said, Randy Carlyle actually earned a contract extension.

The Maple Leafs don’t have much in the goaltending closet, but this isn’t the spot to take a netminder.  Their weakness, according to hockeysfuture.com is scoring depth up front.

The Leafs need scoring punch to support Phil Kessel, and the should look to Finland for Kasperi Kapanen, son of former NHLer Sami Kapanen.

Kapanen isn’t big or physical, but his big strengths are hockey sense and vision, both of which the Maple Leafs are currently lacking.

9  Winnipeg Jets

Apr 11, 2014; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice on his bench against the Calgary Flames during the second period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports

The Jets missed the playoffs in their first season in the Western Conference, and given the depth in that conference it might be some time before they see the post-season.

Although the AHL St. John’s IceCaps made the AHL semi-finals, the depth of the Jets prospect crop is not there, and they need help almost everywhere in the system.

The Jets have a solid group of defensemen, with Jacob Trouba leading the way.  However, with the questions surrounding Dustin Byfuglien and what position he will be playing going forward (pun intended) there will be an area of need, and as the saying goes you can’t have too many defensemen.

The Jets would be wise to go with 6’4″, 210 lb blueliner Haydn Fleury from the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL. Fleury is towering, a good skater, solid puck mover and improving defensively.  The Jets could have a diamond in the rough as he simply keeps getting better every time out.

10  Anaheim Ducks

Jan 25, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Kyle Palmieri (21) goes by the bench after a goal in the third period of the Stadium Series hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings at Dodger Stadium. Ducks won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Ducks have 2 first round picks by virtue of the Bobby Ryan trade last summer.  This is the Ottawa pick so they moved into the top 10.

The Ducks had a disappointing playoff loss to the Kings in the second round, which marked the end of the career of the Finnish Flash, Teemu Selanne.

The Ducks have a chance to draft the player that could end up being the Danish Flash, Nikolaj Ehlers.  Ehlers could be the fastest player in the draft and has played with men for a season in the Swiss league before going to the Halifax Mooseheads.  He is a winger who played with Jonathan Drouin and he compiled 132 points in 79 games this season including the playoffs.