| 1 |
EDM |
TAYLOR HALL |
LW |
WINDSOR (OHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He's a pure scorer, he's got speed, he has unbelievable dynamic ability with the puck, 45 goals, 38 goals, 40 goals, that's his three years of junior. He has won back-to-back Memorial Cups and MVPs there too. He's a franchise-builder -- the kind of guy who can get a new building built in Edmonton, and he'll make everyone there better. He'll make Steve Tambellini and Tom Renney better management people. - Pierre McGuire |
| 2 |
BOS |
TYLER SEGUIN |
C |
PLYMOUTH (OHL) |
| TSN Analysis: If there was ever a case to move back, the bruins have such depth at centre -- this would be it, yet he is too good a player to pass up. He is big and strong, and as he matures, he's a force to reckon with and a hard guy to handle. He may Boston's No. 1 centre within two years. If I had the no. 1 selection instead of Pierre, I would have selected Seguin first.- Craig Button |
| 3 |
FLA |
ERIK GUDBRANSON |
D |
KINGSTON (OHL) |
| TSN Analysis: Size is a huge factor here. He's 6'4, 225-230 pounds. He can pulverize you into the boards, he can shoot the puck through the wall and play big minutes. He's a winner, has leadership dynamic written all over him. He's a big-time force and don't take penalties. He'll be a a major player to help a rebuilding franchise. - Pierre McGuire |
| 4 |
CLB |
BRETT CONNOLLY |
RW |
PRINCE GEORGE (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: This may raise eyebrows. I'm basing it on him being healthy. It will come down to the medical staff being comfortable with his hip injury. He had 30 goals in the WHL as a 16-year-old. We may be talking about him with Hall and Seguin in the top 3 if he was totally healthy and played a complete year this season. - Craig Button |
| 5 |
NYI |
BRANDON GORMLEY |
D |
MONCTON (QMJHL) |
| TSN Analysis: The most consistent player in this draft, he was ripped off and should have been on Team canada at the World Juniors this past year. - Pierre McGuire |
| 6 |
TAM |
RYAN JOHANSEN |
C |
PORTLAND (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: I think he's a terrific young plyayer, a guy who can play everywhere on the rink. He really blossomed under Mike Johnson, former assistant with Marc Crawford in the NHL. This guy can do it all, he's a complete player like Yzerman was. - Craig Button |
| 7 |
CAR |
CAM FOWLER |
D |
WINDSOR (OHL) |
| TSN Analysis: A winner. Helped USA to the world junor gold medal. He really gets it. He may be the best pure skater of all the defencemen in this draft. He breaks down your neutral zone coverage with his skating and his passing. He's the real deal. - Pierre McGuire |
| 8 |
ATL |
JACK CAMPBELL |
G |
USNDTP (USHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He's the type of player when the save save needs to be made, he's there. Remember the world junior game - he made the key save in the gold medal game right befor the US went down and scored. He's a difference maker in the net. - Craig Button |
| 9 |
MIN |
NINO NIEDERREITER |
LW |
PORTLAND (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: What a world junior he had. He will be the earliest Swiss-born player ever chosen. He's physical and great at the point of attack. He has a strong release on his shot and strong in the slot. He won't be intimidated and he wants to make a difference in games. He took over that world junior game against Russia. He will be an amazing force for the Wild. - Pierre McGuire |
| 10 |
NYR |
ALEX BURMISTROV |
C |
BARRIE (OHL) |
| TSN Analysis: A gifted forward. He has a dynamic quality to his skill level. he went tothe ohl finals. he's great fit there. The Rangers struggle with scoring, and he would be a great help. The Rangers aren't afraid to draft Russians. - Craig Button |
| 11 |
DAL |
MIKAEL GRANLUND |
LW |
HIFK HELSINKI (SM-liga) |
| TSN Analysis: Dallas had a lot of success with Finnish players. He's not overly large, but he wants the puck, he competes like all get-out, he'll block pucks and do whatever it takes to win. - Pierre McGuire |
| 12 |
ANA |
JEFFREY SKINNER |
C |
KITCHENER (OHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He had 20 goals in the playoffs, 50 in the regular season. He has been compared to Mike Richards. He finds a way to get it done at the most important times. - Craig Button |
| 13 |
PHX |
DEREK FORBORT |
D |
USNTDP (USHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He's got size, he's got range and just gets the game. He knows not to push the puck throught the middle, he knows how to separate. He pushes people wide and will be a tremdous NHL player not too far down the road. - Pierre McGuire |
| 14 |
STL |
DYLAN McILRATH |
D |
MOOSE JAW (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: Reminds me of Darien Hatcher and Ulf Samuelsson. He makes a difference to winning and understands how and when to impact the game. He will round out their blue line. - Craig Button |
| 15 |
FLA |
JONATHAN MERRILL |
D |
USNTDP (USHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He just understands good decision-making. He knows how to play with his body and is a similar player to Forbort. - Pierre McGuire |
| 16 |
OTT |
JADEN SCHWARTZ |
C |
TRI-CITY (USHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He's a real competitor. As a 17 year old, he lead the USHL in scoring and that's a hard league to play in. He excelled in it. The Senators could use his skill and competitiveness. - Craig Button |
| 17 |
COL |
EMERSON ETEM |
C |
MEDICINE HAT (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He is speed personified, and he can electrify a crowd. He will be very popular since he's from California. He can go to the outside and break down defenses. He has to work on his hockey sense, but his work habits can never be questioned. - Pierre McGuire |
| 18 |
NSH |
JARRED TINORDI |
D |
USNDTP (USHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He plays the game hard, he plays it well, he's a great thinkger. His dad was a good player. The Predators develop defensemen as well as anyone in the league, and it's a good place for him. They just got rid of Kimmo Timmonen and Dan Hamhuis and you have to think about replacing them. - Craig Button |
| 19 |
LOS |
NICK BJUGSTAD |
C |
BLAINE (MS-HS) |
| TSN Analysis: Some may ask 'what kind of player is he, he played high chool hockey?' He will play at the University of Minnesota and they don't have a pedigree for developing NHL players, but he's a great package at 6'5. He's got an amazing skill set. - Pierre McGuire |
| 20 |
PIT |
AUSTIN WATSON |
RW |
PETERBOROUGH (OHL) |
| TSN Analysis: You ask, how could the rich get richer? I think the Penguins could do it by taking Watson. He's a complete player. He can play the boards and score goals. He'll be key with Malkin, Staal and Crosby. - Craig Button |
| 21 |
DET |
VLADIMIR TARASENKO |
RW |
NOVOSIBIRSK (KHL) |
| TSN Analysis: Everything is predicated by skill and speed in Detroit, and this guy would fit in. You're getting a guy who plays in Russia, and he'll fit in in terms of his development process in Detroit, who aren't intimidated by drafting Russians. - Pierre McGuire |
| 22 |
PHX |
QUINTON HOWDEN |
LW |
MOOSE JAW (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He's a good fit here because they aren't deep at centre. He gives them a complete game. It will be a few years before he's able to play, but he's a very strong prospect. - Craig Button |
| 23 |
BUF |
MARK PYSYK |
D |
EDMONTON (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He's got size, he's safe, and he's really a no-maintenance player. He can compliment Tyler Myers well. He does nothing fancy, but he's a safe and smart pick. - Pierre McGuire |
| 24 |
CHI |
RILEY SHEAHAN |
C |
NOTRE DAME (CCHA) |
| TSN Analysis: He's a great fit for the Blackhawks. With Kane and Toews, you don't have to rush this young kid along. He's smart, he knows how to play. He has good hands and good mind. - Craig Button |
| 25 |
VAN |
TYLER PITLICK |
C |
MINNESOTA ST. (WCHA) |
| TSN Analysis: He plays university hockey but has the potential to play for the Medicine Hat Tigers. Everyone knows his uncle is Lance Pitlick, and if he has the same character as his uncle, he'll be amazing, because he has even better skill than Lance. - Pierre McGuire |
| 26 |
WSH |
OSCAR LINDBERG |
C |
SKELLEFTEA (SWE JR) |
| TSN Analysis: I'll swing for the fences with one. He's off the draft board a bit. He's a great two way player. He reminds me of Dan Cleary in his skating style. He's like Marcus Johansson as well. - Craig Button |
| 27 |
MTL |
EVGENY KUZNETSOV |
LW |
CHELYABINSK (KHL) |
| TSN Analysis: Pierre Gautier isn't afraid to take Russians if you look at his history. This is a talented player who can produce offense and has balanced speed. - Pierre McGuire |
| 28 |
SAN |
JOHN McFARLAND |
C |
SUDBURY (OHL) |
| TSN Analysis: There were expectations that he should have scored more. I see him as a player like Brooks Laich: hard, rugged and can play with skilled players and give them room. I like him a lot. - Craig Button |
| 29 |
ANA |
ALEXANDER PETROVIC |
D |
RED DEER (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: He gets it. He makes god decisions and knows how to play defensively. He has battled back after getting beat up by Dylan McIlrath this year, which hurt his confidence a bit. - Pierre McGuire |
| 30 |
CHI |
JORDAN WEAL |
C |
REGINA (WHL) |
| TSN Analysis: They aren't afraid to take smaller players who are competitive and skilled. He played with Jordan Eberle and had a great role model. - Craig Button |
