1. Colorado-Nathan MacKinnon, Halifax Mooseheads
So, Joe Sakic wasn't sending any smoke signals when he said he was going to take a forward. MacKinnon was the best of the bunch, and though the Avs need lots of help on the wing, MacKinnon did play a little on the wing, which will greatly help the Avs this year.
My pick: MacKinnon
2. Florida-Aleksander Barkov, Tappara (Fin.)
The Panthers took who they thought was the best player available in Barkov. While Seth Jones was available, the Panthers felt comfortable enough with Dmitry Kulikov and Erik Gudbranson being their top defensemen to pick a likely second center behind Jonathan Huberdeau. A shoulder injury is a concern, but his talent level is high, and will fortify the Panthers down the middle.
My pick: Seth Jones, Portland Winterhawks
3. Tampa Bay-Jonathan Drouin, Halifax Mooseheads
In light of the fact that Seth Jones was still on the board, the Lightning went with Drouin, who was the more dynamic player on the Mooseheads last year. Some fans were calling for Steve Yzerman's head, but this was the right pick, as the Lightning had almost non-existent secondary scoring. Drouin is expected to team with Steven Stamkos to provide a formidable one-two offensive punch, but in the immediate future, Drouin will have a chance to learn from Martin St. Louis on what it takes to stay in the NHL.
My pick: Drouin
4. Nashville-Seth Jones, Portland Winterhawks
Nashville needs scoring, but how do you pass up on a potential franchise defenseman here? The Preds know a thing or two about franchise defensemen, and Jones will be learning from one of the premier players on the blue line in Shea Weber. An already strong defensive team just got better, and Jones won't have the pressure to succeed right away, with both Weber and goaltender Pekka Rinne at the top of their respective games.
My pick: Aleksander Barkov, Tappara (Fin.)
5. Carolina-Elias Lindholm, Brynas (Swe.)
The Hurricanes were dreadful on defense, but they also didn't have much in the way of secondary scoring. Lindholm will address the latter, and at the very least, start out as a third line center behind the Staals (that is, if they aren't on the same line).
My pick: Darnell Nurse, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
6. Calgary-Sean Monahan, Ottawa 67's
The Flames desperately needed a center and a new face of the franchise. Monahan was very good on a bad 67's team and with his willingness to play through injury, it is possible the Flames have not only gotten their center of the future, but also the newest face of the franchise for years to come.
My pick: Monahan
7. Edmonton-Darnell Nurse, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
The Oilers desperately needed a top talent defenseman, and Nurse fits the description to a tee. I had the Oilers taking a defenseman, but thought Nurse would be off the board to Carolina, as they too, have had problems on the blue line. The Oilers were happy that the top-ranked defenseman not named Seth Jones fell to them here, as Nurse provides physicality and some offense.
My pick: Rasmus Ristolainen, TPS Turku (Fin.)
8. Buffalo-Rasmus Ristolainen, TPS Turku (Fin.)
Ristolainen wouldn't fall very far from where I had him. Ristolainen provides the Sabres yet another physical defenseman who has the size and is great in his own end. Obviously, this is a message being sent to Tyler Myers to pick up his game or else move. But, that's not the only message being sent to Myers...
My pick: Valeri Nichushkin, Traktor Chelyabinsk
9. Vancouver (from New Jersey)-Bo Horvat, London Knights
Vancouver got this pick in a deal that sent Cory Schneider to New Jersey. For a guy that played pretty well the last two years, the Canucks didn't get more out of the Devils here. However, the Canucks would turn that pick into Bo Horvat, who played well with the London Knights and was clutch in the OHL playoffs. Should be able to slide into the third center role with the Canucks this season if needed.
My pick: Max Domi, London Knights
10. Dallas-Valeri Nichushkin, Traktor Chelyabinsk
Dallas needed offense from their blue line, but Nichushkin falling to this spot was too good for them to pass up. The best winger not named Jonathan Drouin will likely have the same questions that are asked of anyone from the KHL (see: Kuznetsov, Evgeny), but the Stars get another player that can score and take some of the pressure off of Jamie Benn and Loui Eriksson in due time.
My pick: Ryan Pulock, Brandon Wheat Kings
11. Philadelphia-Samuel Morin, Rimouski Oceanic
The Flyers need defensemen. No one in their pipeline is top of the line, and the ones that are in the NHL are not quite young anymore, and with Chris Pronger likely to retire, and both Kimmo Timonen and newly acquired Mark Streit on the wrong side of 35, the Flyers need young, top-end talent here. Morin is seen as more ready to contribute now than the player I had here in Nikita Zadorov. Morin can also fight when needed, and given that the Flyers are more offensively oriented on the blue line, this is a welcome addition.
My pick: Nikita Zadorov, London Knights
12. Phoenix-Max Domi, London Knights
The Coyotes needed scoring, and get it with Domi. He scores more than his father Tie, but he also has the same work ethic. He's not big, but his hockey sense will help him out in the long run.
My pick: Anthony Mantha, Val D'Or Foreurs
13. Winnipeg-Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders
A bit of a surprise here, as Morrissey was expected to be picked at the end of the first round. Morrisey does provide offense and is unafraid to mix it up, despite being small by NHL standards. Likely to replace either Ron Hainsey, Mark Stuart, or both in the future.
My pick: Elias Lindholm, Brynas (Swe.)
14. Columbus-Alexander Wennberg, Djurgarden (Swe.)
The Blue Jackets needed forwards, and Wennberg was the first picked by the team. General Manager Jarmo Kekalainen's European connections helped in the selection of Wennberg, as he saw a lot of him while running a team in Europe, and given his track record (he was responsible for TJ Oshie being picked in the first round in 2005), it's hard to doubt his abilities as a GM here.
My pick: Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers
15. NY Islanders-Ryan Pulock, Brandon Wheat Kings
Another defenseman drafted by the Islanders, Pulock does not have the upside that last year's first round pick Griffin Reinhart does, but Pulock does have a hard shot that will work well to jump start an offense that is already pretty good.
My pick: Frederik Gauthier, Rimouski Oceanic
16. Buffalo (from Minnesota)-Nikita Zadorov, London Knights
Part two of the message being sent to Tyler Myers, Zadorov is considered more of a long term project. He has the size, but is also quite raw, but the potential is high and he may very well surpass fellow first rounder Rasmus Ristolainen.
My pick: Robert Hagg, Modo (Swe.)
17. Ottawa-Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings
The Sens needed scoring, and with Lazar, they get that and more, as he is future captain material. He is unafraid to stand up for teammates and has an upside of second line center, which isn't so bad with a team that has Jason Spezza and Kyle Turris there.
My pick: Alexander Wennberg, Djurgarden (Swe.)
18. San Jose (from Detroit)-Mirco Mueller, Everett Silvertips
The Sharks aren't getting any younger on the blue line, and the dearth of prospects there meant the Sharks needed someone new. They traded up to pick up Mueller, who shined on a Silvertips team that didn't have Ryan Murray for much of the season due to injury.
My pick: Mueller
19. Columbus (from NY Rangers)-Kerby Rychel, Windsor Spitfires
The Blue Jackets needed someone that can bring toughness and scoring, and Rychel fills both needs. While he won't likely score 40 goals like he has in the last two years at Windsor, he will at worst, be a tough player that opposing teams hate to face and 30 goals a year is realistic for his NHL prospects.
My pick: Rychel
20. Detroit (from San Jose)-Anthony Mantha, Val D'Or Foreurs
The Red Wings have been pushed around a lot lately, and with their best offensive stars on the wrong side of 30, the need for a power forward was inevitable. Enter Mantha, who was one of only three players in the Canadian Hockey League to score 50 goals this season. He will need to get to the rough areas more often to succeed as a scorer in the NHL, and given his size, it should be no problem if he wants it.
My pick: Shea Theodore, Seattle Thunderbirds
21. Toronto-Frederik Gauthier, Rimouski Oceanic
Center has been a sore spot for the Maple Leafs, and while Nazem Kadri has been good, the pipeline there is still woefully thin. Gauthier doesn't figure to help right away, as the Leafs would later acquire Dave Bolland from Chicago, but when Gauthier does arrive, he will bring size and some offense.
My pick: Bo Horvat, London Knights
22. Calgary (from St. Louis)-Emile Poirier, Gatineau Olympiques
While Poirier put up great numbers on a decent Gatineau team, most did not project him to be a first round pick. Given that the Flames needed defensemen and goaltenders, Poirier's selection makes even less sense, but like Mark Jankowski last year, Poirier is a gamble that could pay off in the long run.
My pick: Zachary Fucale, Halifax Mooseheads
23. Washington-Andre Burakovsky, Malmo (Swe.)
Surprise pick, as Burakovsky didn't put up good numbers, but he also didn't play much, either. His upside is undeniable, and the Caps are willing to gamble on what may ultimately be a top end talent, something the Caps desperately need in their pipeline.
My pick: Valentin Zykov, Baie-Comeau Drakkar
24. Vancouver-Hunter Shinkaruk, Medicine Hat Tigers
The free-faller of the prospects this year, Shinkaruk can play both center and wing, and is a prolific goal scorer. Injuries this past season cost him a little bit of time, but still, he managed to score 37 goals this season. The Canucks needed top-end talent, and Shinkaruk is exactly what they asked for here.
My pick: Adam Erne, Quebec Remparts
25. Montreal-Michael McCarron, US U-18 Team
The Canadiens needed size, and that's what they get with McCarron. They won't rush him to the big show, as he is likely headed to college (Western Michigan) or the OHL (London). An obvious project, the Canadiens will welcome his size up front when he's ready to join.
My pick: Samuel Morin, Rimouski Oceanic
26. Anaheim-Shea Theodore, Seattle Thunderbirds
The Ducks needed secondary scoring up front, but believe that the likes of Peter Holland and Emerson Etem will fulfill expectations in time. For this pick, the Ducks add youth to the blue line and Theodore was a pretty good player on a Thunderbirds team that was simply horrible on defense. His own play does bear watching, but the upside is similar to Cam Fowler, who the Ducks took in 2010.
My pick: Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings
27. Columbus (from Los Angeles)-Marko Dano, Bratislava (Slovakia)
The Blue Jackets had three first round picks to play with, and the third pick was made on a project with huge potential in Dano. He isn't expected to come to the NHL in a few years, and with picks such as Rychel and possibly Wennberg having a chance to conrtibute sooner, the Blue Jackets can afford to wait on Dano's scoring talents to arrive.
My pick: Ian McCoshen, Waterloo Black Hawks
28. Calgary (from Pittsburgh)-Morgan Klimchuk, Regina Pats
Good player on an bad Pats team, Klimchuk got to show the world what he could do in international competition. Similar in size to Sven Baertschi, Klimchuk is also tough, and that will work well for a Flames team that needs it.
My pick: Klimchuk
29. Dallas (from Boston)-Jason Dickinson, Guelph Storm
Dickinson had an up and down year offensively, yet the Stars saw enough of him in the post-OHL playoffs to draft him here. Consistency is a must for Dickinson to make it with the Stars.
My pick: Ryan Hartman, Plymouth Whalers
30. Chicago-Ryan Hartman, Plymouth Whalers
With Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik both being sent out soon after this pick, Hartman will fill a void left by both players in due time. The Blackhawks pick well when it comes to depth players (see: Saad, Brandon), and Hartman will be a fan favorite once he joins the Blackhawks.
My pick: Josh Morrissey, Prince Albert Raiders
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