• 2010 NHL Mock Draft

By SHANE MALLOY
sportsnet.ca

The future of the National Hockey League will take the stage in Los Angeles on June 25 as the 2010 Entry Draft takes place. (Rounds 2 through 7 will take place on June 26.)

In case you need reminding, the Edmonton Oilers have the top pick and the Boston Bruins pick second (from the Maple Leafs as part of the Phil Kessel trade). In advance of the big night, sportsnet.ca provides our predictions on how the first round is shaping up.

Taylor Hall, left wing (Windsor / OHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-0/185
Shoots: Left
DOB: Nov. 14, 1991
Hometown: Kingston, ON

Taylor Hall has world-class skating ability and the scoring touch to be a top-line player in the NHL. That’s obvious. What is not obvious is how quickly Hall will adapt his overall game to a more physical and defensively skilled NHL. Some reasons for optimism are that Hall has shown greater moxie and willingness to pay a physical price in all areas. The other positive reason is Hall’s improved vision and playmaking ability that creates time and space on the ice. He has the potential to become dangerous scoring winger in the mold of Phil Kessel, with perhaps a greater upside.

Tyler Seguin, centre, (Plymouth / OHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-1/180
Shoots: Right
DOB: Jan. 31, 1992
Hometown: Brampton, ON

The savvy and poised playmaker can process information at an NHL level with the puck skills to match. Not to be overlooked is Seguin's goal scoring -- he posted 21 clutch goals in the regular season. He does not have the speed of Hall, but Seguin has the acceleration to create separation. His commitment to learning to play a 200-foot game will allow Seguin to become a consistent contributor quickly in the NHL. It hard to find faults in his play, but he will need time to develop physically. He may have the skill to handle the NHL game, but playing against men is vastly more challenging. His attention to detail on the ice and maturity off the ice is impressive considering his age.

Erik Gudbranson, defence, (Kingston/OHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-4/195
Shoots: Right
DOB: Jan. 7, 1992
Hometown: Orleans, ON

Perhaps the most well-rounded defenceman in this draft class with his skill set, physical stature and intangibles. His hockey sense is excellent and Gudbranson can process information under pressure with poise. He displays good puck skills and makes a crisp accurate first pass out of the defensive zone. For his size, Gudbranson has the agility and two-step quickness to match up against the quickest of forwards. A defensive stalwart, he has consistent habits in maintaining body position and active stick and gap control that make him tough to beat one-on one. His work ethic and nasty streak make Gudbranson unpleasant to play against. He has the potential to be a No. 1 defenceman.

Cam Fowler, defence, (Windsor/OHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-1.5/190
Shoots: Left
DOB: Dec. 5, 1991
Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI

The American-born defenceman is a smooth-skating puck mover with the hockey sense to project into a first-pairing defenceman in the NHL. He is skilled at making a first pass under duress and finding the correct choice. His puck skills for a defenceman are at an elite level and he displays the poise and skill to create time and space. The defensive part of his game has evolved to the point where he can shut down top offensive players. He has improved when it comes to gap control, angling forwards and maintaining body position. His ability to produce offence will make him a fan favourite, but his ability control the play will make Fowler a potential NHL all-star.

Brandon Gormley, defence, (Moncton/QMJHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-2/190
Shoots: Left
DOB: Feb. 18 1992
Hometown: Murray River, PEI

A thinking man’s defenceman who can adjust to whatever style is needed, whether on offence or defence. His mobility is a big asset as he can create time for himself defensively and set up opportunities offensively. He can make pinpoint passes even with defenders pressing down on him and has an accurate shot from the point. He’s a true puck-possession defender who uses his puck skills, angles and stick to keep defenders from the prime scoring areas. Do not be fooled and think he doesn’t have toughness because he will battle hard for loose pucks. A potential top pairing two-way defenceman that can play a high-tempo game in the NHL.

Nino Niederreiter, right wing, (Portland/WHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-2/200;
Shoots: Left
DOB: Sept. 8 1992;
Hometown: Chur, SWI

This past season Niederreiter proved he is a clutch goal scorer who can carry a team. His ability to find or create seams in the defence and shoot the puck quickly are Niederreiter’s greatest assets. He is a good skater, but once he improves his two-step quickness he will be a menace below the circles. Niederreiter thinks the game quickly, presents his stick well and puts himself in good body position. His puck protection is very good for a young player and he hustles and battles for loose pucks. A perfect complement to a playmaking centre and should develop into a top two-line goal scorer.

Brett Connolly, centre, (Prince George/WHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-2/181
Shoots: Right
DOB: May 2, 1992
Hometown: Prince George, B.C.

If not for a hip injury that forced him to miss the majority of the season, Connolly would have been a top-five pick. He has the puck skills and hockey sense to develop into a No. 1 centre. His ability to make pinpoint passes in traffic is impressive and he rarely gets rattled under pressure. Connolly is equally dangerous when he shoots the puck because of his accuracy and quick release. It is unclear whether his recent hip injury will affect his skating stride, but when healthy he is a quick elusive skater.

Ryan Johansen, centre, (Portland/WHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-3/195;
Shoots: Right
DOB: July 31, 1992;
Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C.

No player has risen faster up the draft list than Johansen and deservedly so, considering how dominating he was as a rookie in the WHL. He is still a lanky kid that will need to fill out, but once he does a skilled 6-foot 3 centreman like him is hard to find. He can control the speed and tempo of the game with his poise and stickhandling ability. Johansen is a deceptive skater who can change his speed and separate with his long stride. He is also improving his play without the puck and should be able to match up against opponents' top centres in the future. His hockey sense and passing are at an elite level and he should project into a top line centre.

Jeff Skinner, centre, (Kitchener/OHL)
Ht/Wt: 5-10/187
Shoots: Left
DOB: May 16, 1992
Hometown: Markham, ON

Simply put, Skinner is a goal-scoring machine and is the best clutch goal scorer in this draft class. When a player scores 50 goals and 25 of them are first goals, insurance goals or game winners, that is the definition of clutch. It is unfortunate he is not 6 feet tall and 200 pounds because he would be drafted in the top three. To his credit Skinner does not play down to his size and shows allot of moxie in his game. His skating is above average, but his agility and two-step quickness is good enough to create separation. Overall he is a strong two-way player with hockey sense who finds a way to be productive.

Jack Campbell, goal, (US NDTP)
Ht/Wt: 6-3/185
DOB: Jan. 9, 1992
Hometown: Port Huron, MI

This goaltender does one thing and that is win championships, rare for someone of his age. A lanky athletic netminder who possesses the ability to make tough saves look easy even when the play breaks down in front of him. He is tough to beat down low as he covers post to post exceptionally well. Campbell shows consistency in his angles and does not loose the net while remaining aggressive. His rebound control and recovery after making the first save is very good for a young netminder. Perhaps Campbell's strongest traits are his ability to track the puck in traffic and his poise. He has the potential to become an elite NHL goalie.

Derek Forbort; defence, (US NTDP)
Ht/Wt: 6-4.5/200
Shoots: Left
DOB: March 4, 1992
Hometown: Duluth, MN

The strapping defenceman is an intriguing package with the tools to be a premier blue-liner in the NHL. Forbort has impressive size and he will be a monster to play against once he fills out. He has good mobility and should be able to shut down quick NHL forwards once his two-step quickness and agility improves. He displays good hockey sense under pressure, with or without the puck. His puck skills are solid and he makes a good first pass and does not fumble the puck. I would not project him as a big point producer in the NHL, but he will add offence. Defensively Forbort can be a two-way defenceman as he shows consistent body position, gap control and has a wide wingspan.

Nick Bjugstad, centre, (U.S. HS - Blaine, MN)
Ht/Wt: 6-4/190
Shoots: Right
DOB: July 17, 1992
Hometown: Blaine, MN

A potential power centre that utterly dominated the high school ranks in Minnesota and is in need of a greater challenge. The frightening thought for opponents is once he physically matures and plays at 220 pounds, coupled with his skill set, he could be hard to stop. He skates well for a big rangy player, but he must improve his two-step quickness and agility. He displays good puck skills and makes smart decisions with the puck despite the lack of talent at the high-school level. The tools are evident, but how quickly Bjugstad develops at the University of Minnesota is a big question.

Mark Pysyk, defence, (Edmonton/WHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-1/185
Shoots: Right
DOB: Jan. 11, 1992
Hometown: Sherwood Park, AB

A smooth-skating, puck-moving defenceman who shows the means to slow the play down and control the developing play. He has a puck possession style and the hockey sense to process information at the NHL level. His puck skills and passing ability are excellent and he can make a pinpoint first pass and hit a forward in traffic at full speed. Not the biggest defender and is not overtly physical, but he competes hard in the defensive zone. He has the potential to be a first pairing defenceman and be a quarterback on the power play.

Mikael Granlund, centre, (HIFK/FIN)
Ht/Wt: 5-10/180
Shoots: Left
DOB: Feb. 26, 1992
Hometown: Oulu, Finland

An impressive skill set with a mature game from playing in the Finnish elite league makes Granlund an intriguing prospect. A water-bug type player who can stickhandle the puck through traffic and create scoring opportunities out of nothing. An excellent skater who can dance on the ice with the agility and quickness to make defenders look silly. For an 18-year-old he plays a responsible defensive game and that should help him progress quickly. He is small by NHL standards, but Granlund can compete against men in a gritty Finnish league so that says something.

Jonathan Merrill, defence, (US NTDP)
Ht/Wt: 6-3.5/198;
Shoots: Left
DOB: Feb. 3, 1992;
Hometown: Bighton, MI

All the physical tools are in place for Merrill; he has the size and the skating ability to become a solid NHL defenceman. He gives you the impression that there is some untapped skill that has not yet blossomed. What sets him apart from other defencemen is his skating, which should allow him to create more time and space for himself. Merrill shows enough hockey sense to play in the NHL, but sometimes does not have enough urgency in his decision-making. He can make a hard outlet pass to the forwards and his puck skills are good. Overall he is a promising package that with time and development could play in the top four and contain fast NHL forwards.

Alexander Burmistrov, centre, (Barrie/OHL)
Ht/Wt: 5-11/165
Shoots: Left
DOB: Oct. 21, 1991
Hometown: Kazan, RUS

No one can deny this playmaker's skill, as this Russian has the potential to be top two-line NHL forward. His vision and hockey sense are at an elite level and he has the ability to process information quickly. A darting skater who uses his agility and quickness to create time and space for himself. He has a tendency to pass first and shoot second, but when Burmistrov does shoot it is quick and accurate. It is hard not like his competiveness and willingness to play responsible defence. Once this skinny kid matures physically he could be a dynamic offensive player. The lure of money in the KHL remains for the NHL team that drafts him.

Beau Bennett, right wing, (Penticton/BCHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-1/175
Shoots: Right
DOB: Nov. 27, 1991
Hometown: Gardena, CA

The one name which has received little publicity coming into the draft because of playing in the BCHL. Even playing at the junior A level against lesser skilled -- but older and tougher -- players he managed to dominate every time he touched the ice. His passing ability is uncanny and his vision on the ice rivals many of the top forwards on this list. A dangerous shooter who has a quick release and rarely misses the net. He is a quick agile skater, but needs to add significant power to his stride as he matures. Patience will be needed, however, as Bennett needs to add 25 pounds to his frame and three or four seasons to fully mature.

Dylan McIlrath, defence, (Moose Jaw/WHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-4/212;
Shoots: Left
DOB: April 20, 1992;
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba

This defenceman is one tough hombre who can scare opponents with his crushing bodychecks and unpredictable nature. If you do not keep your head with this player you better make sure you have disability or life insurance. Considering his size, McIlrath skates well enough to handle most quick forwards, but he will need to continue to improve. He is solid defensively and has improved his angles, especially against speedy forwards. His gap control and locking on to players and not giving them time and space are among his better traits. He is expected to develop into a shutdown, tough defenceman and a great partner for an offensive-minded player.

Austin Watson, right wing, (Peterborough/OHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-3/185
Shoots: Right
DOB: Jan. 13, 1992
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI

It is hard not to like Watson's work ethic and willingness to play a 200-foot game while paying the price to win. Those words sometimes make one think he is not highly skilled, but that is not the case with Watson. He has shown that, given the opportunity, has good hockey sense, vision and overall puck skills. He is a good skater and has the quickness to get separation from defenders down low and his skating will improve once he gains power and strength. Because of his combination of size, skill and skating ability Watson could project into a top six forward in the NHL.

Vladimir Tarasenko, right wing, (Novosibirsk/RUS)
Ht/Wt: 5-11/200
Shoots: Left
DOB: Dec. 13, 1991
Hometown: Novosibirsk, RUS

A skilled goal-scoring winger who is perhaps in the same league as Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin. His ability to process information and make the right decision under duress is already at a pro level. He has the puck skills to create offence and the time and space to make magic happen. But his calling is scoring goals and Tarasenko can produce clutch goals regularly, which is a major selling point. He is a good skater with the quickness and lateral movement to avoid defenders. His low centre of gravity allows him to take the hits if needed. Depending on whether Tarasenko would stay in the NHL or return to the KHL will determine if he drops in the first round.

Kirill Kabanov, left wing, (Moncton/QMJHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-3/180
Shoots: Right
DOB: July 16, 1992
Hometown: Moscow, RUS

Is one of the most talented forwards in this class and if not for an unfortunate wrist injury he would be a top 10 pick. There has been much speculation about his off-ice situation, which is not nearly as negative as one might believe. Kabonov's puck skills are excellent as he can create quality plays with his stickhandling and passing ability. He can protect the puck down low with his frame and spin off players to create offensive opportunities. His two-step quickness, agility and speed are impressive and once he adds power he could be dangerous in a high tempo game. A quick accurate release on his wrist shot makes him a threat if given time and space. Like all prospects his defensive game needs refining and development. His combination of size and skating make him a rare package and once Kabanov matures physically his potential will be worth the wait.

Calvin Pickard, goalie, (Seattle/WHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-0.5/200
DOB: April 15, 1992;
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba

A competitive netminder who despises losing and considering the team in front of him, it was a challenging year in that respect. He is a patient goaltender who plays aggressively and forces the shooter to make the first move. Pickard is a strong goalie who moves post to post quickly and his back remains straight when he drops to his knees. His overall crease mechanics are solid and Pickard showed improvement in maintaining his angles, and he recovers even when things break down in front of him. He tracks the puck well through traffic and remains poised even when his crease is being crashed. He projects to be a No. 1 goalie in the future with five years in development, so patience is needed.

Riley Sheahan, centre, (Notre Dame/NCAA)
Ht/Wt: 6-2/202;
Shoots: Left
DOB: Dec. 7, 1991;
Hometown: St. Catharines, ON

Some nagging injuries lessened Sheahan's effectiveness this season, but it was clear all the tools were there for him to develop into an NHL player. The injury, coupled with the fact Notre Dame does not exactly incorporate a run-and-gun style, reduced his offensive output. He has very good hockey sense and sees the developing play quickly, and has fine playmaking skills. Not the quickest of skaters, but he hustles and keeps his feet moving which makes up for it. Considering his age, Sheahan plays a responsible defensive game and has a high level of competitiveness and a strong work ethic. Has the potential to develop into a two-way centre and the kind of player teams want in the postseason.

Jarred Tinordi, defence, (US NDTP)
Ht/Wt: 6-5.5/205
Shoots: Left
DOB: Feb. 20, 1992
Hometown: Millersville, MD

It's not difficult to figure out what type of defenseman Tinordi is, and if you don't then you will painfully know quickly enough. Big and hard-nosed, he has the potential to be a shutdown defenceman in the NHL. For his size he skates quite well and as he improves Tinordi should not have any issues at the pro level. He does have the hockey sense to handle a high-tempo game, but his puck skills do not match his smarts. He competes every shift and shows the work ethic to improve and could make the jump to the NHL faster than most of his peers.

Alex Petrovic, defence, (Red Deer/WHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-4/193;
Shoots: Right
DOB: March 3, 1992;
Hometown: Edmonton, AB

A competitive defenceman who possesses the size and willingness to pay the price. He has the hockey sense to play at the pro level and at times shows flashes of puck skills and passing ability. His skating ability is above average and will improve with more core strength and power. The key to his game will be to continue to improve the nuances of the defensive game, such as gap control, body position, taking good angles and having an active stick. What will set him apart is his combative nature and potential to be a shutdown defenceman.

Evgeny Kuznetsov, centre, (Chelyabinsk/KHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-0/175;
Shoots: Right
DOB: May 19, 1992;
Hometown: Chelyabinsk, RUS

Like his Russian-born counterparts on this list, the doubt whether Kuznetsov will sign and stay in the NHL drops him down. If there was a transfer agreement in place, Kuznetsov would be a top 10 pick without question. What is not in question is his hockey sense and ability to create scoring opportunities out of thin air. He has a knack for finding seams in the defence and scoring goals in the blink of an eye. His three-step quickness allows him to dart in and out of areas and jump on loose pucks. Once he gets stronger his skating will go to another level. You have to appreciate his competitiveness, especially against men, and he might be a better on the wing if he comes to the NHL.

Jaden Schwartz, centre, (Tri-City/USHL)
Ht/Wt: 5-10/180;
Shoots: Left
DOB: June 25, 1992;
Hometown: Wilcox, SK

Despite his size, he is fierce with a highly competitive nature and the skills to match, which makes Schwartz an intriguing prospect. He completely dominated the USHL offensively because of his elite hockey sense and ability to read the play before everyone else. His puck skills are excellent and Schwartz can stickhandle in traffic with poise. He can make pinpoint passes over or around sticks and displays superior vision. Although he tends to pass first, Schwartz is a dangerous shooter since he gets the puck on net accurately and quickly. Because he has a high level of intelligence and a strong work ethic, his defensive game should improve rapidly. He will attend Colorado College next season, so he will be well coached and given the time to mature physically. Schwartz could be an offensive force in time and will be well worth the wait.

Tyler Pitlick, centre, (Minnesota St./NCAA)
Ht/Wt: 6-2/195;
Shoots: Right
DOB: November 1st 1991
Hometown: Centerville, MN

A fast-skating, goal-scoring centre who can create offence as Pitlick thinks the game at a high level. He has the size to be effective in the middle or the wing and is versatile enough to play either position. Possesses good stickhandling ability with the poise to make time and space for himself and his linemates. As for his play without the puck, he shows the willingness and work ethic to learn and that's what matters. His development will improve at an accelerated rate now that he has decided to play for Medicine Hat in the WHL under Willie Desjardins.

Emerson Etem, centre/right wing, (Medicine Hat/WHL)
Ht/Wt: 6-0/190;
Shoots: Left
DOB: June 16, 1992;
Hometown: Long Beach, CA

The first thing you notice when Etem hits the ice is his quickness, which leads to scoring opportunities. He shows enough hockey sense to handle a high-tempo game and has the scoring ability to be dangerous in all situations. Etem does not show the vision or the passing skills to be an NHL centre, so he might be more effective on the wing. He hustles and is strong on the puck and once Etem improves his overall game he should project into a scoring winger at the NHL level. A gifted athlete who already is an impressive physical package, he should be a holy terror once he physically matures. His willingness to learn and sacrifice to make his game better is a characteristic NHL organizations value.

Brock Nelson, centre, (Warroad/USHS)
Ht/Wt: 6-3/205
Shoots: Left
DOB: Oct. 15, 1991
Hometown: Warroad, MN

It is hard not to be impressed by Brock Nelson's statistics, but as all scouts know numbers can be deceiving. Not to take anything away from his skills and hockey sense, but his competition was weak compared with his peers. To his credit he uses his linemates well and works hard in all situations to play a 200-foot game. Finding a skilled centre with that type of size is rare, so the league Nelson plays in should not affect his future. Overall he is an intriguing package and how quickly he adjusts to the University of North Dakota will answer a lot of long-term questions.

The Next Best 30

The following prospects are not on this top 30; however they all have a chance of being selected in the later part of the first round. They are listed in a random order.

John McFarland
Matt McKenzie
Quinton Howden
Tyler Toffoli
Stanislav Galiev
Teemu Pulkinen
Stephen Johns
Devante Smith-Pelley
Troy Rutkowski
Brad Ross
Charles Coyle