| No. |
TEAM |
PLAYER |
COMMENTS |
|
1. |
CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS |
Patrick
Kane, RW
(London, OHL) |
A
competitive player, the Hawks appear to be set on selecting
Kane first-overall. Kane's a gifted goal-scorer with an
excellent release.
ISS Rank: 1 | ISS comparison: Pavel Datsyuk |
|
2. |
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS |
Kyle Turris, C
(Burnaby, BCHL) |
Turris
plans to spend next season in College, but when he suits up
for the Flyers, he'll be one of the best players on the ice.
ISS Rank: 3 | ISS comparison: Steve Yzerman |
|
3. |
PHOENIX COYOTES |
James van
Riemsdyk, LW (US U-18, USDP) |
A great
pick up for the Coyotes, van Riemsdyk has a great shot and
uses his body well. He's only started to scratch the surface
of his potential
ISS Rank: 2 | ISS comparison: Rick Nash |
|
4. |
LOS ANGELES KINGS |
Jakub Voracek, RW
(Halifax, QMJHL) |
Voracek
could very well jump into the Top3, but for our mock draft,
he's going fourth and the Kings should be loving it.
ISS Rank: 5 | ISS comparison: Ales Hemsky |
|
5. |
WASHINGTON CAPITALS |
Alexei
Cherepanov, RW (Omsk, Russia) |
The
Capitals could use a defenseman or a center, but
Cherepanov's just too good to pass up. This kid is an
offensive weapon and fits well in Washington.
ISS Rank: 4 | ISS comparison: Alex Kovalev |
|
6. |
EDMONTON OILERS |
Karl Alzner, D
(Calgary, WHL) |
The Oilers
need a top defensive prospect and Alzner's the best in this
year's draft. He's an excellent mobile rearguard, and a
great leader.
ISS Rank: 6 | ISS comparison: F. Beauchemin |
|
7. |
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS |
Sam Gagner,
C
(London, OHL) |
The
Jackets' future captain, Gagner's arguable the smartest
player in the 2007 draft. An excellent playmaker to feed the
puck to sniper Rick Nash.
ISS Rank: 7 | ISS comparison: Marc Savard |
|
8. |
BOSTON BRUINS |
Keaton Ellerby, D
(Kamloops, WHL) |
Ellerby is
a very solid two-way defenseman who is very mobile and has
great size. The Bruins could use such a talent and shouldn't
pass on him.
ISS Rank: 9 | ISS comparison: Jay Bouwmeester |
|
9. |
ST. LOUIS BLUES |
Logan
Couture, C
(Ottawa, OHL) |
The Blues
want a reliable hockey player and Couture is just that. He's
a great two-way player and can put up very solid offensive
numbers.
ISS Rank: 13 | ISS comparison: Rod Brind'Amour |
|
10. |
FLORIDA PANTHERS |
Maxim Mayorov, RW
(Leningrad, Russia) |
Mayorov
skates very well and is an excellent puck-handler. The
Panthers will look for a dynamic player and they'll find him
in Mayorov.
ISS Rank: 8 | ISS comparison: Nikita Alexeev |
|
11. |
CAROLINA HURRICANES |
Zach Hamill,
C
(Everett, WHL) |
A great
stickhandler, Hamill has tremendous offensive talent and
isn't afraid to go to the net. A future top-six forward in
the NHL.
ISS Rank: 16 | ISS comparison: Ray Whitney |
|
12. |
MONTREAL CANADIENS |
Angelo Esposito, C
(Quebec, QMJHL) |
The Habs
won't be able to pass on this hometown product. 'Espo' has
excellent speed, is dangerous in the offensive zone and can
help on D.
ISS Rank: 11 | ISS comparison: Pierre Turgeon |
|
13. |
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS |
Lars Eller,
LW
(Frolunda, SWE Jr) |
Eller is a
highly skilled player with great speed and good vision. His
believed to be very mature for his age and that might be a
good thing for the Leafs.
ISS Rank: 18 | ISS comparison: Michael
Nylander |
|
14. |
COLORADO AVALANCHE |
Ryan McDonagh, D
(Cretin-Derham, High-MN) |
Believed by some to be the
best defenseman of this year's draft, the Avs need a
rearguard and they may have found him in McDonagh.
ISS Rank: 19 | ISS comparison: Dan Boyle |
|
15. |
EDMONTON OILERS |
Kevin
Shattenkirk, D
(US U-18, USDP) |
Shattenkirk
could go higher, but if he's available here, the Oilers will
grab him. He's a gifted player who has all the tools of
being a true NHLer.
ISS Rank: 27 | ISS comparison: John-Michael
Liles |
|
16. |
ANAHEIM DUCKS |
Nick Petrecki, D
(Omaha, USHL) |
Petrecki is big and strong
with a big shot. He's very tough to beat 1-on-1 and plays an
intimidating game. Translation: He's a Brian Burke player.
ISS Rank: 14 | ISS comparison: Ed Jovanovski |
|
17. |
NEW YORK RANGERS |
Colton
Gillies, C
(Saskatoon, WHL) |
After
drafted a defenseman in the first round the last 2 seasons,
the Rangers will want a forward and Gillies gives them the
whole package.
ISS Rank: 12 | ISS comparison: Erik Cole |
|
18. |
CALGARY FLAMES |
Mikael Backlund, C
(Vasteras, Sweden) |
Backlund struggled at the start of the season and then went
down with a knee injury last year. But, he's still a very
gifted player who can score goals.
ISS Rank: 10 | ISS comparison: Mike Sillinger |
|
19. |
MINNESOTA WILD |
Thomas
Hickey, D
(Seattle, WHL) |
He isn't
huge, but Hickey can move the puck and create scoring
chances. He's a future powerplay QB and the Wild need a
good, young defenseman.
ISS Rank: 17 | ISS comparison: Brian Rafalski |
|
20. |
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS |
Brandon Sutter, C
(Red Deer, WHL) |
When you have such good, young
talent, does it matter who you pick? In any event, the Pens
could use a two-way forward and Sutter's just that.
ISS Rank: 30 | ISS comparison: Rob Niedermayer |
|
21. |
PHOENIX COYOTES |
Alex Plante,
D
(Calgary, WHL) |
He could go
higher, but if he's available, the Coyotes shouldn't pass on
him. Plante has great size, plays physically and good hockey
knowledge.
ISS Rank: 28 | ISS comparison: Kyle McLaren |
|
22. |
MONTREAL CANADIENS |
Brett McLean, LW
(Oshawa, OHL) |
McLean played with young
phenom John Tavares, and despite what some scouts may think,
he played a big role in Oshawa. A pure sniper.
ISS Rank: 21 | ISS comparison: Jeff O'Neill |
|
23. |
NASHVILLE
PREDATORS |
Michal
Repik, RW
(Vancouver, WHL) |
A very gifted
offensive player, Repik is a top-end scorer who can pot in a
goal when needed. He's a very good skater with great vision.
ISS Rank: 26 | ISS comparison: Henrik
Zetterberg |
|
24. |
ST. LOUIS BLUES |
John Blum, D
(Vancouver, WHL) |
Blum has great vision and can
quarterback a powerplay. He plays a very professional game
and doesn't crack under pressure.
ISS Rank: 20 | ISS comparison: Brent Seabrook |
|
25. |
VANCOUVER CANUCKS |
David
Perron, RW
(Lewiston, QMJHL) |
If he's
still available, picking Perron is a no-brainer for the
Canucks. He has the potential of being a first-line winger.
He's quick and has a great shot.
ISS Rank: 15 | ISS comparison: Ales Hemsky |
|
26. |
ST. LOUIS BLUES |
Logan MacMillan, C
(Halifax, QMJHL) |
A strong, two-way center,
MacMillan has excellent hockey sense. He's a solid playmaker
and could go higher in the draft.
ISS Rank: 24 | ISS comparison: Rod Brind'Amour |
|
27. |
DETROIT RED WINGS |
Oscar
Moller, RW
(Chilliwack, WHL) |
This was a
tough pick, as the Wings need a defenseman... but, if
Moller's still available at this point, they may have no
choice but to take him.
ISS Rank: 25 | ISS comparison: Daniel
Alfredsson |
|
28. |
WASHINGTON CAPITALS |
Bill Sweatt, LW
(Colorado, WCHA) |
Arguably the best skater in
the draft, the Capitals could use Sweatt's two-way
abilities. He has good speed and is a hard forechecker.
ISS Rank: 32 | ISS comparison: Mike Fisher |
|
29. |
OTTAWA SENATORS |
Tommy
Cross, D
(Westminster, USHSE) |
Cross is a
big, stay-at-home defenseman with NHL-ready size. He's a
powerful skater and clears the zone quite well.
ISS Rank: 29 | ISS comparison: Adam Foote |
|
30. |
EDMONTON OILERS |
Joakim Andersson, C
(Frolunda, Sweden) |
A potential first-round sleeper pick, Andersson is a strong
power-forward who can play both ends of the ice. He isn't
afraid to drive to the net.
ISS Rank: 36 | ISS comparison: Shane Doan |
