Mock Draft: Selections 1-14 2010 NHL Entry Draft
Senior Editor Alexander Monaghan takes his first crack at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft as we now know the original order of picks 1-14 following tonight’s lottery.
As the draft selection begins to wind down, here is my initial look at which prospect each team would take barring any trades. Keep in mind this article is the first possible selections and will change as the playoffs begin to wind down. Keep an eye out for us taking an even deeper look into the 2010 NHL Draft as the draft day comes closer.
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Taylor Hall takes the number one selection after defeating Tyler Seguin in the playoffs. With Jordan Eberle already on board in Edmonton, the Oilers will reunite the tandem which almost singlehandedly won the gold medal in this year’s WJHC. |
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Cam Fowler will bring a franchise defenseman to Boston after Hall leaves the map. With Zdeno Chara now 33-years-old they need a blue liner to take over in a few years and can be patient with second Windsor Spitfire to go in the draft. |
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Erik Gudbranson will bring another solid young defenseman to the Panther blue line. Even though this team continues to struggle in the scoring department, they still need to build a team from the blue line out and will add to a solid core of Jason Garrison, Keith Ballard and Dmitry Kulikov. |
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Tyler Seguin looked like he could take the number one spot but falls in the Blue Jacket’s lap due to organizational needs. Although a natural center, he likely will flank Rick Nash on the opposite wing for years to come and solidify the top 6 forward corps of their struggling offense. |
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Nino Niederreiter would look great on a team with another great Swiss player in Mark Streit. The talented left wing could be the best offensive player to come out of Switzerland and would give the Islanders another identity. |
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Brandon Gormley makes the perfect compliment to Victor Hedman. With the Tampa Bay blue line looking increasingly porous, this mobile defenseman out of the QMJHL will fit in well with other alums of the Quebec league and solidify a young defensive core. |
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Mikael Granlund looks to be the top pick out of Finland this season so the Hurricanes should select him based on their recent success fitting into their system. The young left wing would fit in well with Tuomo Ruutu, Joni Pitkanen and Jussi Jokinen in their core. |
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Vladimir Tarasenko will be the first Russian selected in the draft. Which better team to mold a Russian superstar than the one which just traded away Ilya Kovalchuk. |
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Derek Forbort grew up in Duluth, Minnesota making him the logical pick of the Wild. Last year they took Nick Leddy, another local boy but traded him to Chicago in the deal which landed Cam Barker. Taking another local kid seems like their MO. |
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Alex Burmistrov fits the mold of the past Rangers selection as he certainly possesses the highest upside of the players left on board. With Artem Anisimov already playing a full season and Evgeny Grachev waiting in the wings, this playmaking center will fit right in when he comes to the Big Apple. |
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Ryan Johanson comes out of the WHL, where the Stars have found success drafting young forwards. With most of their blue line young, they search for more help in the scoring department. Johanson plays that role and can replace either Brad Richards of Mike Ribeiro down the road. |
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The Ducks alternate taking a forward and a defenseman every season, so this season they are due to draft a defenseman. At this point Mark Pysyk seems like the logical selection. He comes out of the WHL, where the team selected Ryan Getzlaf, Joffrey Lupul and Brendan Mikkelson from in the past. |
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Brett Connolly falls to the Coyotes after spending the majority of the season injured. The talented left wing fits the same profile of current captain Shane Doan so he should fit right under the veteran’s wing. He may be the steal of the draft at this point and makes the Olli Jokinen trade look that much better. |
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Jack Campbell will be the first goaltender selected in the draft and to no better team. Chris Mason and Ty Conklin will not stay for too much longer making the Blues need even that greater. Campbell will make a great addition other US born players like David Backes and TJ Oshie. |
Alexander Monaghan
NHLHS Senior Editor
amonaghan@nhlhotstove.com
@NHLHotStove
If Seguin ends up in Columbus, the Blue Jackets will find themselves a very lucky team.
I concur, although I must admit being less than impressed with Seguin. More of a Bailey higher end than say a Stamkos.
As a CBJ fan I hope this happens, but I think it much more likely we will end up with a defenseman either Fowler or Gudbranson.
You really think the Boston Bruins, the lowest scoring team in the league, will pass up a franchise-defining forward for a defenseman?
It sounds like you’re really underestimating Seguin. I personally feel like as though his ranking of #1 over Hall was accurate – he’s put up similar numbers as Hall with less help. It’s hard to argue that last point when the Spitfires sweep the Whalers in 4 games.
I probably am, but I liken Seguin to Josh Bailey and Taylor Hall to Dany Heatley… sue me I just am not that impressed with the kid.
If this pans out the way you describe it and Florida passes on Seguin, the 10 fans left will be rioting the BAC.
Well, since Peter Chiarelli went on record today saying he’ll take either Hall or Seguin, I mock your mock draft.
You must be pretty hard to impress, but the bruins have basically already said they are taking either hall or seguin depending on which one edmonton picks. Even if he falls to three Florida would have to be insane to draft a d-man with very limited offensive upside instead of a potential franchise center, you just don’t get many opportunities to grab one so if they get the chance they will probably take it.
But Canada didn’t win the WJHC this year. Also the OIL need a Center in the worst way. I do agree with the Niederritter pick by the isles though. they take either Nino or Fowler if he drops
Chiarelli did go on record TODAY saying he would take either, but a few weeks back he was quoted as saying its not even close…
I went off of that, figuring they would pass on him.
Which leaves you with Florida, who are in all types of shambles on their roster. Adding Seguin who I honestly do not see as an impact player would be less valuable than building a young core from the net out IMO.
So yes, I did drop the #1 rated player down to four…
Damn we’re really goin to miss Ilya Kovalchuk. Been one of my favorite players. Well I guess we’ll see if Tarasenko can step up to the role as the new Russian dude
Hall will be in a Bruins uniform next season without a doubt. The kid idolizes Bobby Orr and has expressed a strong desire to play for the Bruins. Edmonton has a more pressing need at center and even if they were leaning towards Hall i would not be surprised to see Charelli swing a deal to move up to the #1 pick. Hall is an absolute perfect fit for the Bruins, they cant afford to let him slip by.
The only way the Bruins draft Fowler is if they trade up to get him after drafting Hall or Seguin.
Mark Alt will go in 1st round after combine evaluation
There is no way that Boston pass on Seguin .
This is the stupidest mock draft I have seen yet. Just because you are not ‘impressed’ with Seguin doesn’t mean that every scout is not as well. Get a grip man, honestly, this is a joke. Thank god you are nowhere near a hockey team, you would do a hilariously horrible job.
Apparently common sense does not allow you to look at dates and realize this article is over 2 months old…