Hockey's Future - The #1 Online Prospects Resource

No.

Team

Player

Reasoning

1

St. Louis

Erik Johnson, D
Ht: 6’4 Wt: 211
Birthdate: 03/21/88
Team: USNTDP

St. Louis finds some pretty massive feet to help fill the shoes left behind with the loss of Chris Pronger. The Blues begin their retooling with a solid two-way defenseman and consensus No. 1 pick.

2

Pittsburgh

Jordan Staal, C
Ht: 6'4 Wt: 215
Birthdate: 09/10/88
Team: OHL Peterborough

Although defense is a priority and a trade with the Blues to get a crack at Johnson can’t be ruled out, the Penguins would happily add Staal’s grit and two-way play to complement Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

3

Chicago

Jonathan Toews, C

Ht: 6'1 Wt: 195

Birthdate: 04/29/88

Team: NCAA University of North Dakota

Toews’ offensive upside will be key in leading this down-on-its-luck Original Six franchise back to the Promised Land. His two-way talent tips the scales in his favor over the more mercurial Kessel.

4

Washington

Phil Kessel, C

Ht: 6’0 Wt: 189
Birthdate: 10/02/87
Team: NCAA University of Minnesota

Kessel, whose name once shared a breath with that of Crosby as players for the future, falls to the Capitals – who couldn’t be happier. Kessel’s offensive gifts could mesh well with sniper Alexander Ovechkin for years to come.

5

Boston

Nicklas Backstrom, C

Ht: 6'0 Wt: 183
Birthdate: 11/23/87
Team: Swedish Elite League Brynas

Favorably compared to Peter Forsberg, Backstrom may be the most NHL-ready forward in the draft. He’ll also help shoulder some of the offensive load left behind in the wake of Joe Thornton’s trade.

6

Columbus

Derick Brassard, C
Ht: 6'0 Wt: 172
Birthdate: 09/22/87
Team: QMJHL Drummondville

Brassard has elite offensive skill and visions of him feeding Rick Nash like he did Guillaume Latendresse, and pairing with last year’s pick Gilbert Brule could be filling the dreams of the Blue Jackets’ brass.

7

New York Islanders

Peter Mueller, C
Ht: 6'2 Wt: 205
Birthdate: 04/14/88
Team: WHL Everett

The Islanders would be delighted if Mueller falls to them at No. 7. Mueller would give them the big, playmaking center they’ve craved since, well, when they traded for Alexei Yashin to fill that roll.

8

Phoenix

Michael Frolik, C
Ht: 6'1 Wt: 185
Birthdate: 02/17/88
Team: Czech Extra League Kladno

The Coyotes gamble a bit on a skilled forward who has underwhelmed as of late. However, should he reach his offensive upside – and with a tutor like Wayne Gretzky on hand, chances are good – then Frolik could be the steal of the draft.

9

Minnesota

Jiri Tlusty, C
Ht: 6'0 Wt: 196
Birthdate: 03/16/8

Team: Czech Extra League Kladno

Coming to a Jacques Lemaire-coached team, you better be willing to commit to defense and give 100 percent at all times. Tlusty is a hard-working forward with offensive upside who would look great paired up with Marion Gaborik.

10

Florida

Kyle Okposo, RW
Ht: 6'0 Wt: 195
Birthdate: 04/16/88
Team: USHL Des Moines

Mike Keenan gets a gritty winger who can eventually step into a power forward role. Okposo combines size, strength, stickhandling, and offensive awareness. Equally comfortable along the boards, in the corners, and in open ice.

11

Los Angeles

Bobby Sanguinetti, D

Ht: 6'1 Wt: 174
Birthdate: 02/29/88
Team: OHL Owen Sound

The Kings grab potentially the most explosive offensive defenseman in the draft. His knack for jumping into the play and quarterbacking the power play may make up for his underwhelming physical presence.

12

Atlanta

Bryan Little, C
Ht: 5’10 Wt: 190
Birthdate: 11/12/87
Team: OHL Barrie

A pass-first playmaker, Little meshes well with Ilya Kovalchuk’s shoot-first mentality. Although not the biggest kid in the draft, Little plays bigger than his stature.

13

Toronto

James Sheppard, C
Ht: 6'1 Wt: 204
Birthdate: 04/25/88
Team: QMJHL Cape Breton

The loss of Gary Roberts and his sandpaper-style game was noticeable last year for the Leafs. In Sheppard they find someone with a similar level of grit to his game.

14

Vancouver

Patrik Berglund,C
Ht: 6'4 Wt: 187
Birthdate: 06/02/88
Team: Swedish Elite League Vasteras

The Canucks may have a few salary cap casualties and Berglund helps make up for the loss. Offensively gifted, Berglund has a lot of room on his frame to bulk up and be an imposing physical presence alongside fellow Swedes the Sedin twins.

15

Tampa Bay

Jonathan Bernier, G
Ht: 5'11 Wt: 177
Birthdate: 08/07/88
Team: QMJHL Lewiston

The Bolts look to the goaltending hotbed of Quebec for the long-term answer to their challenges between the pipes. Calm and cool under pressure, with solid international experience, Bernier has come up big in big games.

16

Montreal

Ty Wishart, D
Ht: 6'4 Wt: 205
Birthdate: 05/19/88
Team: WHL Prince George

The Habs combine the best-player philosophy with need. In Wishart they get a hulking blueliner who plays a solid, positionally sound overall game and who offers a physical presence to help clear the crease.

17

Minnesota (from Edmonton)

Nigel Williams, D

Ht: 6’4 Wt: 226

Birthdate: 04/18/88

Team: USNTDP

Williams may not be the most NHL-ready rearguard in the draft, but he may have the most upside of anyone on the blue line. Having shored up the front line with their first pick, the Wild roll the dice a little on a prospect with huge potential.

18

Colorado

Chris Stewart, F

Ht: 6’1 Wt: 228

Birthdate: 10/30/87

Team: OHL Kingston

A less-than-impressive performance at the draft combine may drop the winger, but Colorado would love for this player to fall in their laps. Tough with touch, Stewart would help the team in its effort to deal with an aging forward unit.

19

Anaheim

Mark Mitera, D

Ht: 6’3 Wt: 202

Birthdate: 10/22/87

Team: NCAA University of Michigan

Anaheim is loaded up front and unlikely to take a goaltender in the first round. A defenseman fits the bill at this point. The robust Mitera can develop at his own pace in the NCAA, and the formerly “Mighty” Ducks won’t have to rush and sign him.

20

San Jose

Chris Summers, D

Ht: 6’1 Wt: 180

Birthdate: 02/05/88

Team: USNTDP

Defensemen with elite skating skills and elite speed will reign in the new NHL, and Summers is Paul Coffey-like in his skating. Summers also plays a physical game and enjoys making big hits. Summers does also has the puck skills to play forward, which he did at the U18 Word Championships.

21

New York Rangers

Michael Grabner, F

Ht: 6’ Wt: 170

Birthdate: 10/05/87

Team: WHL Spokane

This Austrian-born winger gets an opportunity to play with his idol Jaromir Jagr on his favorite team. His blazing speed makes him even more of an asset – and potentially more potent -- in the new NHL, with its focus on eliminating obstruction.

22

Philadelphia

Carl Sneep, D

Ht: 6’4 Wt: 210

Birthdate: 11/05/87

Team: USHL Lincoln

Blessed with a huge frame, but surprising mobile given his stature. Sneep brings a solid two-way understanding of the game and is very coachable. He possesses a big shot and is an accurate passer.

23

Washington (from Nashville)

Artem Anisimov, C

Ht: 6’3 Wt: 187

Birthdate: 05/24/88

Team: Russian Super League Lokomotiv

With a running mate for Ovechkin locked up with their first pick, the Capitals take a bit of a risk on a prospect with good upside. A big, skilled winger, who falls this low more due to politics than potential, Anisimov could be a steal at this point in the draft.

24

Buffalo

Riku Helenius, G

Ht: 6’3 Wt: 202

Birthdate: 03/01/88

Team: Finnish Elite League Ilves Tampere

Helenius opened a lot of eyes at the World Junior Championship, leading an average Finnish squad to a silver medal. A big, butterfly-style goaltender, Helenius has solid mobility in all directions, but remains a raw talent.

25

New Jersey

David Fischer, D

Ht: 6’3 Wt: 185

Birthdate: 02/19/88

Team: USHL Apple Valley

While Fischer is quite raw, his upside is tremendous. The University of Minnesota-bound defenseman brings size, skating, and two-way play to the table. He has the ability to thrive in a more wide-open NHL. Named Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey this year.

26

Calgary

Ryan White, C

Ht: 5’11 Wt: 200

Birthdate: 03/17/88

Team: WHL Calgary Hitmen

In the least surprising pick of the draft, Calgary hopes that the hometown boy will make good. White is the prototypical Sutter player who has some offensive gifts wrapped up in gritty, two-way packaging.

27

Ottawa

Alexander Vasyunov, F

Ht: 6’ Wt: 189

Birthdate: 04/22/88

Team: Russia 3^rd Division Lokomotiv

A forward with outstanding offensive skills, Vasyunov has one of the highest upsides in the draft. He averaged a goal a game in the Russian 3rd division. A natural left winger with outstanding skating ability, scoring instincts and wonderful hands.

28

Dallas

Leland Irving, G

Ht: 6’ Wt: 177

Birthdate: 04/11/88

Team: WHL Everett

After another collapse in the playoffs, it's clear to Dallas how important reliable goaltending is. Irving, a calm, consistent goaltender, had a .938 save percentage for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL Playoffs with three shutouts in 12 postseason games.

29

Detroit

Nick Foligno, F

Ht: 6’ Wt: 188

Birthdate: 10/31/87

Team: OHL Sudbury

Nick follows in his father’s considerable skates as a second-generation first-round pick for the Red Wings. Foligno combines a solid goal scoring touch with a hard-nosed attitude and willingness to go into the corners. Plus, pedigree does count for something.

30

St. Louis (from Carolina)

Cory Emmerton, C

Ht: 5’11 Wt: 177

Birthdate: 06/01/88

Team: OHL Kingston

St. Louis bookends the first round with an offensive prospect with elite playmaking skills. Emmerton broke out this season with a 90-point season and has a knack for making those around him better.