1. Chicago Blackhawks — Patrick Kane, RW, London Knights (OHL)
Kane came into this season relatively low on most scouts' prospect charts, but with a 145-point regular season, he established himself as a legitimate first overall pick. Chicago has the opportunity to pick this slick right winger and combined with last year's first round pick Jonathan Toews, the Blackhawks should have a lethal one-two punch to build their team around.
2. Philadelphia Flyers — Kyle Turris, C, Burnaby Express (BCHL)
Despite Philadelphia's disastrous season, there is a silver lining. They get a chance to select the BCHL's MVP and second-leading scorer. With 121 points in 53 games, Turris has displayed an uncanny ability to find holes and make defensemen look silly. Although he needs to bulk up his skinny frame, a year or two at the University of Wisconsin will give him time to get stronger and he could prove to be the most dynamic player to emerge from this draft.
3. Phoenix Coyotes — James Vanriemsdyk, LW, USA NTDP (U18)
Vanriemsdyk rounds out the consensus top three players in this year's draft. The Coyotes need to improve all aspects of their club and in a couple years Vanriemsdyk could be an offensive cornerstone in the desert. The unassuming New Jersey native has the right attitude and work ethic to become a dominant pro. He led the U18 World Championship in scoring with 12 points in seven games. Like Turris, he needs some seasoning at the university level, but after some time at the University of New Hampshire, his size and strength will make him an intimidating NHL presence.
4. Los Angeles Kings — Alexei Cherepanov, RW, Avangard Omsk (Rus)
The Kings have a nice array of budding stars in defenseman Jack Johnson, goaltender Jonathan Bernier and centre Patrick O'Sullivan, so they likely won't be zeroing in on a specific position. Cherepanov is a risk and reward player. He showed his hockey brilliance at the World Junior Championship by collecting 8 points in six games and being voted the best forward in the tournament. He also had 29 points as a rookie playing for Omsk which was more than Alex Ovechkin, Ilya Kovalchuk, or Evgeni Malkin had in their first years in the league. Despite these performances, he has looked lackadaisical in other international events and scouts are yet to be sold on his consistency. But if he can perform at his highest potential in the NHL, he might be the star of the draft.
5. Washington Capitals — Jakub Voracek, RW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Voracek started the season with many expecting him to take a run at the first overall pick in the draft. Although his early transition from Europe will help his progress, his consistency has been questioned. His skating and ability to make plays at high speeds are not an issue, but he needs to learn to do this every game. He managed 86 points in 59 games and if selected by the Capitals, he will complement the young offensive duo of Ovechkin and highly-touted prospect Nicklas Backstrom.
6. Edmonton Oilers — Karl Alzner, D, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
The Oilers are cleary in need of defensemen and a lot of them. The Edmonton blueline is thin and Alzner is the best defenseman available in the draft. At 6-foot-2, 206 pounds, he backs away from nobody. He, and possibly Kane, are the most NHL-ready players in this draft. Playing in Calgary, he logged 30 minutes a night and showed an ability to contribute at both ends of the ice.
7. Columbus Blue Jackets — Sam Gagner, C, London Knights (OHL)
Sam Gagner, son of retired NHLer Dave Gagner, is a safe pick for the Blue Jackets. Columbus needs depth up the middle and this playmaking center is a perfect fit. He can play both ends of the ice and has an innate ability to see the ice and dish the puck to the open man. Playing alongside Patrick Kane, he had 35 goals and 83 assists in 53 games. He's not going to light the league on fire, but he's reliable, will put up points and won't be a liability defensively.
8. Boston Bruins — Angelo Esposito, C, Quebec Remparts, (QMJHL)
Esposito received a lot of negative reports after initially being a potential first overall pick. Despite the critics, he still has all the skill and tools to be an effective player in the NHL. Boston's future looks solid on defense and in goal, but they need to add to their forward prospects. Esposito is a bit of a gamble, but if he's paired with the right wingers, (like he was last year with Alexandre Radulov) he could be a steal with the eighth pick.
9. St. Louis Blues — Keaton Ellerby, D, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
After Erik Johnson, the Blues defense prospects are slim. Ellerby has the size, skill, and a powerful shot to be a productive NHL defenseman. The problem is his mental game. He's a good skater, but scouts are concerned he's not tough enough between the ears to carve an NHL career. If he manages to find consistency, the Blues will have a towering defenseman for years to come.
10. Florida Panthers — Nick Patrecki, D, Omaha Lancers (USHL)
Patrecki, at 6-foot-3, 213 pounds, is a large defenseman who was dominant in the USHL. He looked powerful playing for Omaha, but scouts are concerned about what he can do against better competition. He has the size and skill to be a potential star, but his full potential will be determined when he plays against stronger competition.
11. Carolina Panthers — Zach Hamill, C, Everett Silvertips (WHL)
In the defense minded WHL, Zach Hamill led the league in scoring with 93 points in 69 games. Scouts question his size and speed, but he has shown his hockey sense can overcome a lot of drawbacks. The WHL is the junior league closest to the NHL and Hamill was a success, so scouts might kick themselves for letting him fall so far.
12. Montreal Canadiens — Jonathon Blum, D, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Blum has displayed a knack for knowing when to jump into the rush, zip into an opening and complete and offensive play. He has good quickness and plays both ends of the ice efficiently. His small frame is the only thing that has NHL GMs nervous.
13. Toronto Maple Leafs — Maxim Mayorov, LW, Leninogorsk (Rus2)
The Maple Leafs need to take a gamble and take a player with the potential for offensive wizardry. Although Mayorov is strictly an offensive specialist, Toronto could use that pure scoring up front to help revive a consistently mediocre franchise.
14. Colorado Avalanche — Kevin Shattenkirk, D, USA NTDP (U18)
The Avalanche is need of defense. Colorado has become remarkably shallow on the back end and Shattenkirk would be a solid addition. Captaining the USA U18 team, he has the skating ability to make offensive rushes and still retreat to play defense. He's an aggressive leader that any team would want.
15. Edmonton Oilers — Ryan McDonagh, D, Cretin-Derham Hall (USHS)
The Oilers are going to continue to go after defensemen in this draft and Minnesota's Mr. Hockey (the top high school player in the state) is an exciting prospect. He'll need a couple years to blossom but when he does, he has the potential to be a solid two-way defenseman.
16. Anaheim Ducks — Logan Couture, C, Ottawa 67's (OHL)
The 2007 prospects were once led by Couture. But since being ranked first overall, he has fallen far on scouts charts. He missed a lot of games because of injuries and mononucleosis which hindered his rank. Some scouts don't think he will be a star, but he could be a safe pick who will become a serviceable NHL centre.
17. New York Rangers — Brandon Sutter, C, Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
Being the son of former NHLer Brent Sutter makes Brandon an attractive pick. Although he only garnered 57 points in 71 games, he has the classic Sutter work ethic which will likely land him an NHL career.
18. Calgary Flames — Oscar Moller, RW, Chilliwack Bruins (WHL)
The Flames still need more scoring from their forward lines and Moller is an exact fit in Calgary. Although he's a smaller player, his offensive skills, grit, and work ethic are exactly what the Flames look for.
19. Minnesota Wild — Colton Gillies, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Gillies, nephew of the great Clark Gillies, is a big, strong kid with really good speed for his size, but scouts question why he only had 13 goals this year. Minnesota needs some grit up front and Gillies should provide it.
20. Pittsburgh Penguins — Thomas Hickey, D, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
The Penguins, blessed with plenty of young offensive stars, should be looking for a defenseman to help fill out the team's weakest link. Hickey was under the radar for much of the season but has an edge to his game. At 5-foot-10, he's not big but the rest of his game makes up the difference.
21. Phoenix Coyotes — David Perron, RW, Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL)
Perron played high school hockey until last season, so he is relatively an unknown. He had 83 points in 70 games this year and has good skating and stickhandling abilities. If he can improve his strength, he could be a dangerous NHLer.
22. Montreal Canadiens — Mikael Backlund, C, Vasteras (Swe)
If the Canadiens are looking for a good skater with offensive touch, Backlund is a solid pick. He missed four months because of a knee injury, so he has slipped in the rankings, but he's still very smooth and very skilled. Could be a steal.
23. Nashville Predators — Bill Sweat, LW, Colorado College (WCHA)
Bill Sweat is fast. He doesn't have a great deal of scoring ability but with the Predators stocked with defensemen, a speedy forward is exactly what they are looking for in the quicker NHL.
24. St. Louis Blues — Joakim Andersson, C, Frolunda (Swe.Jr)
Andersson isn't going to come across the pond and set the NHL on fire, but what he will do is provide a team with good two-way abilities and a determined work ethic. He's not a good skater, but his hockey sense and effort can overcome his lack of speed.
25. Vancouver Canucks — Brett MacLean, LW, Oshawa Generals (OHL)
The Canucks need offense. They clearly lack depth when it comes to scoring and that was obvious in the playoffs. MacLean hasn't been given the respect because he played with OHL star John Tavares, but he still had 100 points in 68 games, including 47 goals.
26. St. Louis Blues — Max Pacioretty, LW, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Pacioretty racked up 55 points in 52 games in the USHL. The problem is he hasn't played at the higher levels. He's a big, strong kid who can fill the power forward role, but it has yet to be seen if he can put up the offensive numbers at higher levels.
27. Detroit Red Wings — Tommy Cross, D, Westminster (USHS)
Cross is very confident in his abilities and felt choosing to play high school hockey rather than play with the USA NTDP would not hinder his ability to make the NHL. If he had played at a higher level, he may have been projected closer to the top of the draft, but if Detroit gets him this late, he may be yet another Red Wings find.
28. Washington Capitals — Alex Plante, D, Calgary Hitmen, (WHL)
To balance a young group of talented forwards, the Capitals would do well to select the rugged Plante. At 6-foot-3, 225 pounds, he plays a physical game while still managing 38 points in 58 games. He likely won't be a top-two defenseman but will provide solid depth.
29. Ottawa Senators — Jim O'Brien, C, University of Minnesota (WCHA)
Although Ottawa has arguably the best line in hockey, their offensive depth was exposed in the playoffs. O'Brien is the type of player who could help fill the void. Because he played at the University of Minnesota, he got limited ice time and it was hard to get a good judgment. He has good skill, but is notably weak and will need to get stronger before he can take a crack at the NHL.
30. Edmonton Oilers — Dana Tyrell, C, Prince George Cougars (WHL)
The Oilers are always looking for hard-working, blue-collar players and Tyrell fits that mold. He's a competitive leader and someone every team would love to have. He doesn't have the skills to put up big numbers, but his work ethic is tops in the draft.
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