SenShot 2014 NHL Mock Draft

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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

We start the final 1/3 of our NHL Mock draft with team who had high hopes and expectations after strong regular seasons, but for one reason or another fizzled in the playoffs.

Here are selections 21 through 25:

#21 – St. Louis Blues

Mar 25, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; St. Louis Blues center

David Backes

(42) looks on from the bench with right wing

T.J. Oshie

(74) and head coach Ken Hitchcock against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Air Canada Centre. The Blues beat the Maple Leafs 5-3. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Blues had a disappointing end to the season and bowed out in the first round of the playoffs, leaving more questions than answers. At this point in the draft, the Blues will not get immediate help and the player could be two or three years away.

Their biggest weakness is up the middle, an issue that was highlighted in the first round loss to the Blackhawks, and there isn’t much in the system to help in that area.

The player that best fits the Blues’ system at this point would be Swedish forward Adrian Kempe. Not huge by NHL standards, but at 6’2″, Kempe has the potential to grow into a solid power forward once he gets some more weight on his frame.

He has an NHL shot and is a relentless forechecker.

#22 – Pittsburgh Penguins

Mar 30, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center

Sidney Crosby

(87) celebrates with the Pens bench after scoring a goal against the Chicago Blackhawks during the third period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Penguins also had an early departure from the post-season, and the high expectations cost both GM Ray Shero and eventually coach Dan Bylsma their jobs. With former Hurricanes’ GM Jim Rutherford now steering the ship, the Penguins need a new direction.

Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin will, until further notice, continue to be the blocks around which the team is built, but they need more production from the foot soldiers and more insulation around them. They are stocked to the roof with defensive prospects and although they could go with goaltending at this point, the Penguins will add to the bounty and draft another forward.

The Penguins should select Czech forward David Pastrnak. He brings the combination of forecheck ability with one of the best sets of hands in the draft.

#23 – Colorado Avalanche

Mar 12, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Colorado Avalanche head coach

Patrick Roy

looks on from behind the bench against the Chicago Blackhawks in the first period at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Avalanche have stockpiled a team full of youthful enthusiasm and with Patrick Roy behind the bench they made a shocking run to first place in the Central Division. A speed bump in game 7 against the Wild saw them bow out in an upset, but this team is still on the rise.

The Avs are very shallow on the wings, which is good because at this point the best player available might just be the former teammate of Nathan MacKinnon, russian import forward Ivan Barbashev. He has great puck possession skills and good offensive instincts. The one drawback might be his lack of consistent effort, but there is no doubting his ability.

#24 – Anaheim Ducks

May 16, 2014; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing

Teemu Selanne

(8) is greeted by goalie

Jonas Hiller

(1) and defenseman

Francois Beauchemin

(23) after game seven of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The Ducks picked earlier at #10, with the Ottawa Senators pick and take to the podium for the second time. After drafting a Swedish forward at #10, this time they can go a little off the board.

Finnish defenseman Julius Honka is a creative offensive blueliner who played this past season for the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL. He is small but he is quick and agile. A project that is a couple of years away, he could eventually join a blue line that includes young studs Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm.

#25 – Boston Bruins

May 3, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins left wing

Milan Lucic

(17) is congratulated by the Boston bench after scoring an empty net goal during the third period against the Montreal Canadiens in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

It was a bitterly disappointing end to the season for the President’s Trophy winners. A second round exit wasn’t acceptable, and there could be salary cap mandated changes on the horizon.

With a stable of solid goaltenders, defensemen and centres, the Bruins will need help on the wing.

The most talented player left on the board is Windsor Spitfires winger Josh HoSang. He has great puck skills and led the Spitfires in scoring. He is a high risk/high reward player who is still developing an all-around game. He improved greatly from his rookie OHL season to his sophomore, nearly doubling all his offensive numbers.

Jun 30, 2013; Newark, NJ, USA; Number one overall draft pick Nathan MacKinnon (middle) , number two overall pick

Aleksander Barkov

(right) and number three overall pick Jonathan Drouin (left) pose for photos during the 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

We are nearing the end of our NHL Mock Draft, with the final 5 picks yet to come. These include the NHL final four from this season as well as the final pick of the round, that was awarded to the New Jersey Devils after an appeal to their losing outright their first round pick in the Ilya Kovalchuk cap circumvention saga.