Buzz Mock Draft
Here it is. My first round mock draft. Now – to avoid any questions, I made zero assumptions about trades. These picks are as they would be ceteris parabis.
Enjoy
1. Steven Stamkos, C – Sarnia (OHL) (Tampa Bay)
Not much needs to be said here. Stamkos is the best player in the draft and is said to make an immediate impact next season – and with the recent signing of V Prospal, it looks like he may have an experienced wing.
2. Drew Doughty, D – Guelph (OHL) (LA)
Doughty is arguably an NHL-ready d-man that can play next season. LA has a lot of talent up front, so either way, they’ll draft a D-man.
3. Zach Bogosian, D – Peterborough (OHL) (Atlanta)
It is almost a coin flip between Bogosian and Doughty in terms of talent. He’s a big, physical guy who can contribute at both ends of the rink. If there is any D-man who can make it before Doughty it’s Bogosian.
4. Alex Pietrangelo, D – Niagara (OHL) (St. Louis)
The Blues are going to take a strong look at a power forward like Kyle Beach or Colin Wilson, but it will be tough to pass on the best offensive D-man.
5. Nikita Filatov, RW – CSKA (Rus 2) (NYI)
Filatov is the second-best forward in the draft and with no worries about getting him to North America ASAP – the Isles are going to be quick to select him.
6. Luke Schenn, D – Kelowna (WHL) (Columbus)
If the Jackets are forced to make a selection for the no. 6 pick, they’ll take the shut-down D-man who partnered with the monster Tyler Myers. Schenn is another guy who can move out of the Juniors right away.
7. Kyle Beach, C – Everett (WHL) (Toronto)
If Kyle hadn’t fallen on concussion hardships in the past or had any worries regarding maturity, he’d be a top-5 in a heartbeat. The Leafs will love Beach’s gritty and talented nature.
8. Mikkel Boedker, LW – Kitchener (OHL) (Phoenix)
If Boedker were a bit taller, he’d be gone by now. But Phoenix is willing to take a chance on the second-highest scoring member of the elite Kitchener Rangers. The potential reward here is huge and smaller players are really thriving in the “new” NHL.
9. Tyler Myers, D – Kelowna (WHL) (Nashville)
Nashville is one of the 4 teams with 2 first round picks and they are going to be willing to take a chance on the Big Man. Myers stands 6-foot-7 and draws many comparisons to Boston’s Chara. He’s a high-risk, high-reward player.
10. Cody Hodgson, C – Brampton (OHL) (Vancouver)
Vancouver needs offense, desperately. Hodgson is seen as more of a set-up man than a pure goal scorer, but he will still fit into the system in Couver.
11. Colin Wilson, C – Boston U. (HE) (Chicago)
Wilson is one of the top-tier power forwards available and that can fit very nicely for Chicago who sits currently with smaller centers (Toews). Wilson is said to be the most physically ready player in the draft.
12. Colten Teubert, D – Regina (WHL) (Anaheim)
The Ducks like drafting rough-up-style players (Penner, Ryan) – and Teubert is a tough-as-nails guy who loves laying the big hit. He could be the next Pronger. Scary.
13. Josh Bailey, C – Windsor (OHL) (Buffalo)
Baily is touted as a good two-way player that the Sabers really need.
14. Zach Boychuk, C – Lethbridge (WHL) (Carolina)
Zach is another “little guy” (5-foot-9) who is can have an impact in the new NHL. He may be small, but he’s real scrappy and holds his own in the tough WHL.
15. Mattias Tedenby, LW – HV 71 (Swe.) (Nashville)
This guy can really fly and he’d be scary on the wing with Nashville. Again, Nashville had two picks so they can take the chance with one of the best players in the international junior championships.
16. Joe Colborne, C – Camrose (AJHL) (Boston)
Colborne was the AJHL player of the year and with the recent signing of Blake Wheeler, the Bruins are eager to select a center to play and develop with him. And boy, does he remind them of Thornton.
17. Maxime Sauve, C – Val D’Or Foreurs (QMJHL) (Calgary)
Calgary is another team that needs some offense and will be happy to select Sauve as the first player taken from the Quebec Junior League.
18. Luca Sbisa, D – Lethbridge (WHL) (Ottawa)
Ottawa is pretty much set at the forward position and could use some up-and-coming D-men. I wouldn’t be surprised if they trade up, but if they pick for no. 18 they’ll take the best D-man left on the board.
19. Michael Del Zotto, D (Columbus)
Again, it’d be a shock if they make the pick, but if the Jackets select a no. 19, look for Del Zotto’s name to be called. Del Zotto is the best offensive D-man left and would have gone much higher if there wasn’t so many elite D-men in this draft.
20. Jared Staal, RW – Sudbury (OHL) (NYR)
Staal should not have gone this high, but the Rangers had success with his older bro and Jared is said to be the bruiser of the quartet.
21. Chet Pickard, G – Tri-City (WHL) (NJ)
Pickard is tabbed as the “next Carey Price” and that suits New Jersey just fine. There’s no way Brodeur is going to last a whole lot longer and the Devils corps is hoping that Pickard will carry them into the future.
22. Greg Nemisz, C – Windsor (OHL) (Edmonton)
Nemisz is another power forward that could look very good centering big man D Penner.
23. Anton Gustafsson, C – Frolunda (Swe.) (Washington)
Not sure if you noticed Washington’s previous success with drafting a center out of the Swedish Elite League…
24. Erik Karlsson, D – Frolunda Jr. (Swe.) (Minnesota)
Karlsson is another puck-moving D-man that are proving to be very popular… who’d have guessed? The Wild are all too happy to make this selection to strengthen their D.
25. Mikhail Stefanovich, C (Montreal)
Once rated in the top-ten, Stafanovich fell into the laps of Montreal who will take the second-rated QMJHL player without complaint.
26. Jimmy Hayes, RW – NTDP (USA) (Buffalo)
Hayes is a BIG player who lost some credit due to a scoring draught. However the Sabers have two picks in the first and are willing to take a chance on the big guy who could add some muscle to their small set of forwards – headed up by Nathan Gerbe (5-foot-6).
27. Jordan Eberle, (Philadelphia)
Eberle is one of the smartest offensive players in the draft and is a STEAL at 27th. He’s another small one (5-foot-9) but the Flyers had some great success with another mini player. I forget his name… Danny sumthin…
28. John Carlson, D Indiana (USHL) (LA)
While LA gets a top D-man in Doughty, they are pretty strong up front and are willing to take the D-man who recently signed with the London Knights of the OHL. Not sure if you’ve guessed by the rest of the board, but the OHL is pretty talented…
29. Zac Dalpe, RW – Penticton (BCHL) (Atlanta)
Put up BIG points in the BCHL despite a shoulder injury, Atlanta opts for offense with their second draft pick in the first.
30. Viktor Tikhonov (Detroit)
Detroit has had a bit of success in the draft… and is going for another winner in Tikhonov. If you don’t know the name then shame on you! – Go and watch Miracle. Tikhonov, though playing in the Super League now, has played all over the globe, California, Finland, Sweden… he’ll be a steal at any spot.
Tags: NHL Entry Draft, NHL Mock Draft, Prospects
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June 20, 2008 at 12:24 am
The Dispatch had an interesting bit on how Schenn would be interested in playing for the CBJ.
June 21, 2008 at 9:26 am
I think I had a pretty good run! There were a lot of surprises, but I got a couple later picks on the head. I knew that Pickard would be the first goalie picked at least. I think the first surpirse was Nashville taking Colin Wilson at number 7. They must have liked him at the Combine. In many people’s eyes, they passed up two power forwards who were better than Wilson (Beach and Hodgson). To each his own.
June 21, 2008 at 12:34 pm
i knew filatov was going to goto the jackets, i was skeptical because they have been burned by a russian pick before. that umberger deal was great for them, finally nash has someone to play with.