First Round NHL Mock Draft - Picks + Explanations
Posted 9:38 AM ET | Comments 13
1. Colorado - Nathan Mackinnon
A big showing in the memorial cup + the hiring of Patrick Roy makes Nathan Mackinnon too much to pass up. COL's prospect pool is stronger on D than up front and Mackinnon, Duchene, Landeskog are the avs answer to RNH Hall Eberle
2. Florida - Seth Jones
Panthers go for BPA - Seth Jones and Gudbranson will be a ridiculous #1 and #1A for florida similar to Keith and Seabrooke who Tallon had in Chicago
3. Tampa Bay - Jonathan Droiun
St. Louis' career is winding down and Drouin possesses a lot of the same upside, should fit like a glove alongside Steven Stamkos.
4. Nashville - Barkov
Nashville happy nothing crazy happened and Barkov is still on the board, could step in to the NHL next year, Quickly rebuilding the prospect pool with high end talent in Forsberg and Barkov
5. Carolina - Nichushkin
Rutherford isn't afraid to make a big move, Jordan Staal at last years, draft, Semin at UFA, now Carolina grabs Nichuskin to add to their size and skill upfront, Carolina hopes he can step into the lineup sooner than later
6. Calgary - Elias Lindholm
Debating between Lindholm and Monahan, Feaster takes the swede to finally start the rebuild in calgary
7. Edmonton - Darnell Nurse
They wanted to trade down, not enough trading partners, MacTavish isn't playing around and goes for a safe pick in Nurse
8. Buffalo - Rasmus Ristolainen
Buffalo could go a lot of directions with this pick BPA are Monahan and Ristolainen, Given they have Hodgson, Grigorenko, and Girgensons Buff shores up the D with the finn with hopes to grab a PW Forward later in the round
9. New Jersey - Sean Monahan
NJs Prospect pool is oozing with Defensive prospects, they're happy to be able to add a quality F prospect in Monahan
10. Dallas - Hunter Shinkaruk
Depth with D prospects, Dallas goes for the top offensive player available
11. Philadelphia - Nikita Zadarov
Philly can go a number of directions with this pick, they like Zadarov's upside and lock down the monster on the backend
12. Phoenix- Bo Horvat
Phoenix goes for a solid 2-way player and leader. They win the Bo Horvat sweepstakes
13. Winnipeg - Anthony Mantha
First semi-reach of the draft, Winnipeg wants a scoring fwd, they take Mantha who is similar to the mold of Evander Kane (althuogh with less upside), a big Winnipeg team get's even bigger
14. Columbus - Fredrick Gauthier
Questions about his offensive upside are there but with Gauthier and Boone Jenner up the middle Columbus will be a tough team to play against in the future
15. NY Islanders - Max Domi
Islanders seriously consider Pulock but don't want to pass on adding another quality scorer to their attack
16. Buffalo - Valentin Zykov
Buffalo gets a big offensive fwd who plays a physical game
17. Detroit - Alexander Wennberg
Detroit adds a skilled swede
18. Ottawa - Ryan Pulock
Outstanding prospect depth get's even better
19. Columbus - Adam Erne
Columbus continues to get bigger with another skilled big man from the Q
20. San Jose - Andre Burakowsky
High end potential, San Jose needs to start re-stocking the cupboards with offensive talent
21. Toronto - Curtis Lazar
Toronto get's a solid 2-way center with offensive upside
22. Calgary - Zach Fucale
Impressed by his rock solid play in the memorial cup, Calgary takes Zach Fucale with Kipper's retirement in the near future
23. Washington - Robert Hagg
Big 2-way defenseman
24. Vancouver - Kerby Rychel
Vancouver adds Size, Grit, and Scoring
25. Montreal - Jacob De La Rose
MTL liked Erne, Mantha and Rychel, with the following off the board they take a reach for De la Rose, MTL loves his upside and considers him a safe late 1st round pick
26. Anaheim - Josh Morrissey
27. Columbus - Ryan Hartman
Columbus makes a first round statement with Erne, Gauthier and Hartman
28. Dallas - JT Compher
Dallas sweeps up JT Compher, top USHL player in the draft
29. Calgary - Samuel Morin
CGY Adds what they think is another building block in massive Dman Morin
30. Chicago - Shea Theodore
Hoped Zach Fucale might be available, Chicago adds a dynamic offensive dman something missing in their prospect pool
A big showing in the memorial cup + the hiring of Patrick Roy makes Nathan Mackinnon too much to pass up. COL's prospect pool is stronger on D than up front and Mackinnon, Duchene, Landeskog are the avs answer to RNH Hall Eberle
2. Florida - Seth Jones
Panthers go for BPA - Seth Jones and Gudbranson will be a ridiculous #1 and #1A for florida similar to Keith and Seabrooke who Tallon had in Chicago
3. Tampa Bay - Jonathan Droiun
St. Louis' career is winding down and Drouin possesses a lot of the same upside, should fit like a glove alongside Steven Stamkos.
4. Nashville - Barkov
Nashville happy nothing crazy happened and Barkov is still on the board, could step in to the NHL next year, Quickly rebuilding the prospect pool with high end talent in Forsberg and Barkov
5. Carolina - Nichushkin
Rutherford isn't afraid to make a big move, Jordan Staal at last years, draft, Semin at UFA, now Carolina grabs Nichuskin to add to their size and skill upfront, Carolina hopes he can step into the lineup sooner than later
6. Calgary - Elias Lindholm
Debating between Lindholm and Monahan, Feaster takes the swede to finally start the rebuild in calgary
7. Edmonton - Darnell Nurse
They wanted to trade down, not enough trading partners, MacTavish isn't playing around and goes for a safe pick in Nurse
8. Buffalo - Rasmus Ristolainen
Buffalo could go a lot of directions with this pick BPA are Monahan and Ristolainen, Given they have Hodgson, Grigorenko, and Girgensons Buff shores up the D with the finn with hopes to grab a PW Forward later in the round
9. New Jersey - Sean Monahan
NJs Prospect pool is oozing with Defensive prospects, they're happy to be able to add a quality F prospect in Monahan
10. Dallas - Hunter Shinkaruk
Depth with D prospects, Dallas goes for the top offensive player available
11. Philadelphia - Nikita Zadarov
Philly can go a number of directions with this pick, they like Zadarov's upside and lock down the monster on the backend
12. Phoenix- Bo Horvat
Phoenix goes for a solid 2-way player and leader. They win the Bo Horvat sweepstakes
13. Winnipeg - Anthony Mantha
First semi-reach of the draft, Winnipeg wants a scoring fwd, they take Mantha who is similar to the mold of Evander Kane (althuogh with less upside), a big Winnipeg team get's even bigger
14. Columbus - Fredrick Gauthier
Questions about his offensive upside are there but with Gauthier and Boone Jenner up the middle Columbus will be a tough team to play against in the future
15. NY Islanders - Max Domi
Islanders seriously consider Pulock but don't want to pass on adding another quality scorer to their attack
16. Buffalo - Valentin Zykov
Buffalo gets a big offensive fwd who plays a physical game
17. Detroit - Alexander Wennberg
Detroit adds a skilled swede
18. Ottawa - Ryan Pulock
Outstanding prospect depth get's even better
19. Columbus - Adam Erne
Columbus continues to get bigger with another skilled big man from the Q
20. San Jose - Andre Burakowsky
High end potential, San Jose needs to start re-stocking the cupboards with offensive talent
21. Toronto - Curtis Lazar
Toronto get's a solid 2-way center with offensive upside
22. Calgary - Zach Fucale
Impressed by his rock solid play in the memorial cup, Calgary takes Zach Fucale with Kipper's retirement in the near future
23. Washington - Robert Hagg
Big 2-way defenseman
24. Vancouver - Kerby Rychel
Vancouver adds Size, Grit, and Scoring
25. Montreal - Jacob De La Rose
MTL liked Erne, Mantha and Rychel, with the following off the board they take a reach for De la Rose, MTL loves his upside and considers him a safe late 1st round pick
26. Anaheim - Josh Morrissey
27. Columbus - Ryan Hartman
Columbus makes a first round statement with Erne, Gauthier and Hartman
28. Dallas - JT Compher
Dallas sweeps up JT Compher, top USHL player in the draft
29. Calgary - Samuel Morin
CGY Adds what they think is another building block in massive Dman Morin
30. Chicago - Shea Theodore
Hoped Zach Fucale might be available, Chicago adds a dynamic offensive dman something missing in their prospect pool
the last thing edmonton needs is more defence, they are so backed up, no chance they take him, monahan is around they are taking him, he is most nhl ready
good blog. Only thing is that Edmonton wouldnt take a defense. There defense prospect pool is good, forwards is thin. If Monahans still available they take him. Or they can do what I said in my blog (http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=183597)
http://my.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?user_id=183597
Nice mock draft. I think that Oilers would take monahan if he was still availiable, then Devils would take shinkaruk to add some scoring skill to their prospect pool.
Calgary takes Monohan 6th
No goalie in 1st round we have Brossoit
monohan, Hartman, Modin for cgy
In terms of the Devils they already have Reid Boucher and Matteau at LW, that was the mindset behind taking Monahan over shinkaruk but I could easily see Dallas and them swapping those picks
matteau looks like he projects has a third line banger. Boucher is far from a sure thing, despite his dominance in Sarnia this past year. Also, doesnt shinkarek play both wings? Doesnt matter i guess as monahan will be gone by then anyhow
I see the habs selecting bigger bodies with skill and grit
Habs would take Morin before De La Rose.
Oodles of noodles
Calgary has a really good goalie list. Berra was solid in the world championship. Ramo is a awesome goalie. Gillies cleaned house in his rookie collage year. Brossoit is solid. Jon Ortio coming over from Finland played well for Finland in world championship. Last thing they do is waste a pic on a goalie.