Hockey’s Future 2010 Staff Mock Draft

By HF Staff

No.

Team

Player

Position

Reasoning

1

Edmonton Oilers

Taylor Hall, Windsor, OHL

LW

Hall is the only player in CHL history to win consecutive Memorial Cups. He also has all of the tools to be marquee NHL sniper the Oilers have lacked for a decade.

2

Boston Bruins

Tyler Seguin, Plymouth, OHL

C

The OHL Player of the Year and a talented goal-scorer in his own right. Despite the Bruins being flush at center, none of their prospects bring the pedigree Seguin does.

3

Florida Panthers

Cam Fowler, Windsor, OHL

D

The third best player in the draft and the antithesis of former Panther Jay Bouwmeester. Fowler is a puck-moving defenseman renowned for his leadership and winning attitude.

4


Columbus Blue Jackets

Brandon Gormley, Moncton, QMJHL

D

A solid two-way blueliner who projects as a top-pairing NHL defenseman and a perfect compliment to 2009 first round pick John Moore.

5

New York Islanders

Erik Gudbranson, Kingston, OHL

D

The Isles do not have a great deal of size or muscle on their blueline and the 6’3 Gudbranson brings just that. He is also a solid puck-mover with good offensive instincts.

6

Tampa Bay Lightning

Brett Connolly, Prince George, WHL

RW

Coming off a season that was lost to hip injuries, Connolly brings a blend of goal-scoring and two-way ability that could one day compliment Lightning star Steven Stamkos.

7

Carolina Hurricanes

Nino Niederreiter, Portland, WHL

LW

One of the youngest players available in the 2010 draft, Niederreiter has the skating, strength, and 6’3 frame to nicely compliment the Canes current group of young centers.

8

Atlanta Thrashers


Vladimir Tarasenko, Novasibirsk, KHL

C

A KHL forward who has made an impact as a teenager, Tarasenko would bring some goal-scoring ability and star power to an organization that needs both.

9

Minnesota Wild

Mikael Granlund, Helinski, FNL

LW

More than anything, the Wild need more players who can score goals. Granlund, a slick two-way forward with soft hands, should more than fill that need.

10

New York Rangers

Jeff Skinner, Kitchener, OHL

RW

Skinner is considered one of the top pure goal-scorers available in the draft and for a team that has at times struggled to score goals, he seems like a natural fit.

11

Dallas Stars

Derek Forbort, NTDP, USHL

D

A 6’4 two-way blueliner who is expected to attend the University of North Dakota in the fall, Forbort should help replenish a defensive pool that has grown increasingly shallow.

12


Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Johansen, Portland, WHL

C

A prototypical scoring line center, Johansen has good playmaking abilities and excellent on-ice vision. He is also very effective in one-on-one situations.

13

Phoenix Coyotes

Alexander Burmistrov, Barrie, OHL

C

The Coyotes lack skilled forwards in their system and there are not many players in the 2010 draft class that possess the flashy playmaking ability of Burmistrov.

14

St. Louis Blues

Jon Merrill, NTDP, USHL

D

Although the Blues are heavily stocked at defense, they do not have a physical, shutdown defenseman in their system. Merrill, a 6’3 two-way defenseman can more than fill that void.

15

Boston Bruins

Mark Pysyk, Edmonton, WHL

D

A big weakness for the Bruins is a lack of quality defensive prospects. Pysyk, is a defenseman who while more than competent at both ends of the ice is even better known for his character and toughness.

16

Ottawa Senators

Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat, WHL

C

Although the Senators are flush at center none of their current prospects possess the goal-scoring acumen of Emerson Etem. The center is also renowned for his mental makeup.

17

Colorado Avalanche

Jack Campbell, NTDP, USHL

G

Although flush with talented young forwards and defensemen, the Avs lack a blue-chip goaltending prospect. Campbell, who will play for the OHL‘s Windsor Spitfires next season, fits that mold.

18

Nashville Predators

Austin Watson, Peterborough, OHL

RW

For a team that lacks star power and an abundance of goal-scoring forwards, the mixture of skating and goal-scoring ability that Watson brings would be welcome.

19

Los Angeles Kings

Beau Bennett, Penticton, BCHL

C

The Kings are flush with young talent so they can afford to make a reach at 19th and pick the California native and BCHL standout. Bennett is scheduled to attend Denver Unversity.

20

Pittsburgh Penguins


Brock Nelson, Warroad, Minnesota HS

C

The Penguins lack a pure-finisher among their forward prospects. Nelson, a strong two-way forward who is scheduled to attend to University of North Dakota, could fill that void.

21

Detroit Red Wings

Dylan McIlrath, Moose Jaw, WHL

D

The Red Wings only real need in their prospect pool is for a big-bodied shutdown defenseman. McIlrath would bring that and more as the 6’4 212 pound prospect projects as a physical top-four defenseman.

22

Phoenix Coyotes

John McFarland, Sudbury, OHL

C

Although his effort has been occasionally called into question, there is no questioning the skating and goal-scoring ability McFarland brings to any team who drafts him.

23


Buffalo Sabres

Quinton Howden, Moose Jaw, WHL

LW

The 6’2 Howden would infuse the Sabres system with a blend of size, defensive acumen, and goal-scoring ability that they sorely lack.

24

Atlanta Thrashers (from New Jersey)


Nick Bjugstad, Blaine, Minnesota HS

C

For a Thrashers team that is rebuilding, Bjugstad brings a welcome blend of size, skill, and character. He is committed to the University of Minnesota for 2009-10.

25

Vancouver Cancucks

Jarred Tinordi, NTDP, USHL

D

A physical defenseman who stands at 6’6, Jarred Tinordi will could bring a lot of size and physicality to the Canucks blueline, something they have lacked in the past.

26

Washington Capitals

Tyler Pitlick, Minnesota State U – Mankato, NCAA

C

The Caps are fairly set at every position so they will likely take the best player available. Pitlick, a collegiate level goal-scoring center, should be nice compliment to their current group.

27

Montreal Canadiens

Alexander Petrovic, Red Deer, WHL

D

Petrovic is a big and physical defenseman who plays an unspectacular but solid shutdown role for the Red Deer Rebels. He should be a nice compliment to Montreal‘s current group of defensemen.

28

San Jose Sharks

Riley Sheahan, Notre Dame, NCAA

C

Sheahan is a solid all-around player and athlete. He is defensively conscientious and has shown a willingness to go to the front of the net.

29

Anaheim Ducks

Charlie Coyle, South Shore, EJHL

RW

Committed to Boston University for 2010-11, Coyle brings a diverse game and can fill any role asked of him. Committed to Boston University next season, Coyle is said to possess a lot of untapped offensive ability.

30

Chicago Blackhawks

Calvin Pickard, Seattle, WHL

G

The Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks goaltending situation is very much in a state of flux. While Pickard would not make an immediate impact, he would go a long way in securing the team’s future in net.