1. Colorado Avalanche - Nathan Mackinnon (C - Halifax
Mooseheads - #22 - QMJHL - from CAN)
As a lifelong Avs fan I am absolutely thrilled to see them pick #1 for the first time in Avalanche history. There was a lot of speculation that the Avs would take Jones, but in recent weeks both Roy and Sakic clarified the Avs choice to take a forward and thus Mackinnon is the clear #1 favourite. Nathan is only 18 but is NHL-ready and really is the complete package of skill and hockey smarts. Mackinnon absolutely dominated the QMJHL this year, as his Mooseheads won the QMJHL championship and then followed that with a Memorial Cup win in which Mackinnon won MVP (7 goals and 6 assists in 4 games). Mackinnon scored 32 goals, 43 assists for 75 points in only 44 games, and then added 11 goals, 22 assists for 33 points in 17 QMJHL playoff games. Hard for the Avs to pass up on the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia native, and he will be in an Avs jersey come training camp. Mackinnon has a lot of comparisons to fellow Cole Harbour native Sidney Crosby.
NHL Comparison: Sidney Crosby/Ryan Getzlaf
2. Florida Panthers - Seth Jones (D - Portland Winterhawks -
#3 - WHL - from USA)
The Panthers "lose" out on Mackinnon, whom they really wanted, but they will settle for Seth Jones the best D in the draft by far. Jones is a phenomenal hockey player, he possesses great skills with or without the puck, a hard and accurate shot from the point and is a great skater. Jones was amazing for Team USA winning gold at the World Juniors, and his Portland Winterhawks won the WHL Championship and were runner-up at the Memorial Cup. Florida is in desperate need of a D who can provide offensive numbers, and Jones is that and more. Jones had 14 goals, 42 assists for 56 points in 61 WHL games, and then added 5 goals, 10 assists for 15 points in 21 playoff games.
NHL Comparison: Drew Doughty
3. Tampa Bay Lightning - Jonathan Drouin (LW - Halifax Moosehads
- #27 - QMJHL - from CAN)
Drouin may be the 3rd player taken in this year's draft, but his skill level and offensive potential might be the best in the draft. Drouin is a fantastic skater, and he has the best hands in the draft to go along with that. While his teammate Mackinnon is more of a pure goal scorer, Drouin is a play-maker who can also score but is a fantastic passer. Drouin was the CHL player of the year, totalling 41 goals, 64 assists for 105 points in only 49 games, and then adding 12 goals, 23 assists for 35 points in 17 playoff games. Drouin absolutely dominated junior hockey this year, and will step right into the Lightning's lineup right away. He will be a future LW of Steven Stamkos and Marty St. Louis, expect a lot of points from that tandem.
NHL Comparison: Claude Giroux
4. Nashville Predators - Aleksandr Barkov (C - Tappara Tampere
- #10 - SM-liiga- from FIN)
Barkov is an extremely talented Finnish prospect, one that was playing in the Finnish league with men at the age of 17 (he was 16 when he started last year for Tappara). Barkov had 21 goals, 27 assists for 48 points in 53 games for Tappara, and he looks ready to make the jump to the NHL very soon. Barkov has good size at 6'2 and has a great hockey sense, he is a center that will develop into a very reliable two-way guy for the Predators. While I don't know that much about Barkov, I think he is ready to make a splash in North America very soon and the Predators are lucky to get him at 4.
NHL Comparison: Mikko Koivu
5. Carolina Hurricanes - Darnell Nurse (D - Sault Ste. Marie
Greyhounds- #25 - OHL - from CAN)
Darnell Nurse's stock really started to rise in the last few months, as he was one of 4 prospects on Don Cherry's prospect show during the Stanley Cup Finals (With Mackinnon Drouin and Jones). The Hurricanes are desperately in need of some depth on the blueline, and Nurse is someone who can provide that and more. The 6'4 Hamilton, Ontario native had 2 successful years with the Greyhounds in the OHL, as he had 12 goals, 29 assists for 41 points in 68 games this season. Nurse is a very tall D at 6'4, and he has drawn many Chris Pronger comparisons for his toughness, the Hurricanes are definitely adding a solid prospect who may need a year or 2 to adjust to the NHL.
NHL Comparison: Chris Pronger
6. Calgary Flames - Sean Monahan (C - Ottawa 67s - #20 - OHL
- from CAN)
The Flames have a lot of problems with their current roster, whether that was the departure of Jarome Iginla during the year or the impending retirement of Miikka Kiprusoff this summer, but their biggest need is a top C. Monahan has some work to do before he is NHL-ready, but he is a great 2-way player. Monahan spent 3 years with Ottawa in the OHL, including back-to-back 78-point seasons (this year 31 goals, 47 assists in 58 games). While Monahan isn't the flashiest player on offense, he is a very strong worker and strives to be a strong defensive player, something that will certainly help him when he enters the NHL. The Flames have a solid pick here with Monahan.
NHL Comparison: Sean Couturier
7. Edmonton Oilers - Valeri Nichushkin (RW - HC Dynamo Moscow - #43 - KHL - from RUS)
Many people have the Oilers taking a D at 7 (either Nurse or Ristolainen), but I think the Oilers need to address their D problems with veteran, experienced D and not prospects. The Oilers will select a Russian F for the 2nd straight year, and they are getting a very talented offensive player in Nichushkin. Nichushkin has a lot of comparisons to fellow Russians Ovechkin and Malkin, as he has great size and skill and a lethal shot. Nichushkin is a very strong skater with explosive speed, however he lacks some defensive play and will learn as he gets older, but I believe he will jump right into the NHL next season as the Oilers add another top prospect on F. He had 4 goals and 2 assists in 18 games for Traktor Chelyabinsk this season. He is signed with Dynamo Moscow for next season, but if he makes the Oilers he will stay in the NHL.
NHL Comparison: Evgeni Malkin/Rick Nash
8. Buffalo Sabres - Hunter Shinkaruk (LW - Medicine Hat
Tigers - #9 - WHL - from CAN)
The Captain of the Medicine Hat Tigers is one of the most offensively gifted players in the draft, he is a pure goal scorer (100 goals in 193 career OHL games) who has a nose for the net. Shinkaruk is only 5'10 180, so he definitely will need to bulk up a fair amount before he jumps to the NHL, but with that being said the Sabres are getting a quality winger here. Shinkaruk has a great combination of speed, skilled hands and great vision, and he doesn't shy away from the dirty areas to score. He had 37 goals, 49 assists for 86 points in 64 games this season for Medicine Hat.
NHL Comparison: Jeff Skinner
9. New Jersey Devils - Elias Lindholm (C - Brynas IF - #28 -
SEL - from SWE)
Lindholm is one of the most talented Europeans in this year's draft, a very gifted passer and has great hands. He is a smart hockey player, and the Devils are searching for some new Centers so Lindholm definitely fills that void. Lindholm is a solid 2-way hockey player, and he fits right into the Devils style of hockey (as well as the Devils are full of Swedes on their roster to help him fit in). Lindholm had 11 goals, 19 assists for 30 points in 48 games for Brynas IF in the Swedish Elite League this season. It is unsure whether he will step right into the NHL or go back to the Swedish Elite League, but he is a solid prospect for the future.
NHL Comparison: Nicklas Backstrom
10. Dallas Stars - Frederik Gauthier (C - Rimouski Oceanic -
#23 - QMJHL - CAN)
The Stars have very little depth at Center behind Jamie Benn, and the pick here is between Gauthier and Horvat. The Stars will take Gauthier because of his size and two-way play, as Gauthier is 6'3 and is a very hard worker. While excelling defensively, Gauthier also has good offensive qualities and is a great passer with great vision. He had 22 goals, 38 assists for 60 points in 62 games in his first season in the QMJHL, and will likely benefit from atleast one more year in junior before making the jump to professional level.
NHL comparison: Anze Kopitar
