The NHL Draft is coming up this Saturday in Montreal with many questions to be asked. Who will go number one? Who will make a trade to move up? Will there be any blockbusters? but nothing is more fun then making your own Mock Draft of what could happen this week. We take a look at who will go where based on the current draft order.
New York Islanders (1st Overall Pick)
John Tavares (London Knights, OHL) Forward
The best pure goal scorer in the draft the Islanders have the man everyone has been watching for the last four years. The Islanders do need defense but how can you pass up on a scorer who will fill your seats and sell jerseys.
Tampa Bay Lightning (2nd Overall Pick)
Victor Hedman (Modo, Sweden) Defensemen
One year after taken Stamkos first overall the Lightning return to the draft and take a defensemen to build around for the future. Plenty of rumours have the Lightning trading this pick away but if not look for Hedman to anchor the D for years to come.
Colorado Avalance (3rd Overall Pick)
Matt Duchene (Brampton Battalion, OHL) Forward
The scouts have him as the best all around player in the NHL draft, the Avs are looking for a replacement for the soon to be retired Sakic and Duchene has all the tools to oblige.
Atlants Thrashers (4th Overall Pick)
Evander Kane (Vancouver Giants, WHL) Forward
Kane came on strong after a great World Junior Championship and with the Thrashers drafting Bogosian last season, they are looking for some scoring up front. Kane will bring that along with an edge.
Los Angeles Kings (5th Overall Pick)
Braydon Schenn (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL) Forward
Schenn looks to follow his brother Luke to the NHL. Schenn has the perfect combination of skill and grit and would be a great addition to the Kings young forward units.
Phoenix Coyotes (6th Overall Pick)
Dmitry Kulikov (Drummondville Voltigeurs, QMJHL) Defensemen
The Coyotes need an offensive defensemen and one of the best in the draft is Kulikov. He won a tonne of awards last season in the QMJHL and can control the pace of the game like a veteran.
Toronto Maple Leafs (7th Overall Pick)
Jared Cowan (Spokane Chiefs, WHL) Defensemen
The Leafs add another big shut down defensemen in Cowan to go along with last years pick Schenn. Cowan is big, mean and mobile and exactly what the Leafs need as they continue their rebuilding plan.
Dallas Stars (8th Overall Pick)
Ryan Ellis (Windsor Spitfires, OHL) Defensemen
Ellis is a tremendous power play point man with great vision and calm in the back end. The Stars are looking for Zubov's potential replacement and have found it in Ellis.
Ottawa Senators (9th Overall Pick)
Nazem Kadri (London Knights, OHL) Forward
The Sens may be looking for a replacement for Heatley after the trade request and wouldn't go wrong with Kadri who is a slick forward with many offensive skills.
Edmonton Oilers (10th Overall Pick)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Leksand, Sweden) Defensemen
Ekman-Larsson has great vision as an offensive defensemen something the Oilers are lacking especially on the powerplay.
Nashville Predators (11th Overall Pick)
Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson (Timra, Sweden) Forward
Paajarvi-Svensson is a dangler and the best player available in this spot for the Predators who would instantly add a scorer up front. Paajarvi-Svensson outshone Hedman at this past World Junior Championships.
Minnesota Wild (12th Overall Pick)
Zack Kassian (Peterborough Petes OHL) Forward
Kassian may be the meanest player in this draft with a good set of hands and would be a definite fan favorite in Minnesota, many scouts compare him to Milan Lucic.
Buffalo Sabres (13th Overall Pick)
John Moore (Chicago, USHL) Defensemen
The Sabres will select a defensemen again this year and the best puck moving defensive in the draft at this point is Moore. Moore will go well with last seasons pick Tyler Myers.
Florida Panthers (14th Overall Pick)
David Rundblad (Skelleftea, Sweden) Defensemen
The Panthers look to lose Jay Bouwmeester this off season and Rundblad is a big Swede who can quarterback the powerplay.
Anaheim Ducks (15th Overall Pick)
Jacob Josefson (Djurgardens, Sweden) Forward
Josefson may just be the best two way forward in the entire draft and the Ducks will look to replace some of the depth trading away this past season.
Columbus Blue Jackets (16th Overall Pick)
Nick Leddy (Eden Prairie, Minnesota H.S.) Defensemen
The Jackets have a wealth of young forward talent so will be looking for a defensemen in this position. Leddy is a puck moving defensemen and this years Mr. Hockey Award winner.
St. Louis Blues (17th Overall Pick)
Scott Glennie (Brandon Wheat Kings, WHL) Forward
Glennie is a high skilled offensive forward, who can score and playmake. The Blues will be happy to get Glennie with this pick and add another piece to their roster.
Montreal Canadiens (18th Overall Pick)
Jordan Schroeder (Minnesota, NCAA) Forward
The Habs will look to replace a mass exodus of players this off season by adding Schroeder a gifted player who's speed sends opposing defense into a panic.
New York Rangers (19th Overall Pick)
Peter Holland (Guelph Storm, OHL) Forward
The Rangers are looking to move either Drury or Gomez and Holland is a gifted player who can fill the void at center.
Calgary Flames (20th Overall Pick)
Chris Kreider (Andover, Mass. H.S.) Forward
Kreider will bring size and skill to the Flames with the potential to becoming a first line player for years to come.
Philadelphia Flyers (21st Overall Pick)
Stefan Elliott (Saskatoon Blades, WHL) Defensemen
Elliott is a mobile puck moving defensemen just what the Flyers are looking for in this draft. Elliott is a smart player in all three zones.
Vancouver Canucks (22nd Overall Pick)
Landon Ferraro (Red Deer Rebels, WHL) Forward
Ferraro is a pure goal scorer who can fill the net and just like his NHL dad Ray is a hard nosed player with great leadership skills.
New Jersey Devils (23rd Overall Pick)
Louis Leblanc (Omaha, USHL) Forward
Leblanc is a great two way player, just the type of player that the Devils GM is always looking to draft for the Devils.
Washington Capitals (24th Overall Pick)
Jeremy Morin (National Program, USA) Forward
Morin is a great goal scorer second to only Tavares in this draft. The Capitals would like nothing better up front to take some pressure off of Ovechkin.
Boston Bruins (25th Overall Pick)
Ryan O'Reilly (Erie Otters, OHL) Forward
O'Reilly has worked his way up the draft rankings with his hard work and determination something the Bruins tend to covet.
New York Islanders (26th Overall Pick)
Kyle Palmieri (National Program, USA) Forward
The Islanders get another pick in round one from Ottawa via San Jose and why not give Tavares a gifted offensive forward in Palmieri who's hockey sense would mesh well with JT.
Carolina Hurricanes (27th Overall Pick)
Carter Ashton (Lethbridge Hurricanes, WHL) Forward
Ashton goes from one Hurricane to another as this big aggressive winger with a scoring touch looks to make his mark in the league as a power forward. NHL dad is Brent.
Chicago Blackhawks (28th Overall Pick)
Dylan Olsen (Camrose, AJHL) Defensemen
Olsen had a breakout year in the AJHL for the Kodiaks, he is a good skater and aware in both ends.
Detroit Red Wings (29th Overall Pick)
Edward Pasquale (Saginaw Spirit, OHL) Goaltender
Pasquale is the best goaltender in the draft and one of the few spots in which the Red Wings lack depth.
Pittsburgh Penguins (30th Overall Pick)
Jordan Caron (Rimouski Oceanic, QMJHL) Forward
Caron was one of the most dangerous offensive threats in the QMJHL and would be an ideal player on the wing of either Crosby or Malkin.
The NHL draft is an exciting time for many NHL fans lets hope this one is full of surprises.
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