In order to conduct the 2007 NHL Mock Draft, TSN first put together a panel of hockey experts to make the selections. Except where otherwise noted, the selections were made based on which players were projected as being good fits for the clubs making the pick. The order of selection was determined by a random draw of one through five, with the order being applied to each block of five picks.
16. THOMAS HICKEY
D, Seattle (WHL)
TSN Rank: #13
HT: 5.11 WT: 186
68 GP, 9 G, 41 A, 50 Pts |
- MacLean Says:
This pick is a real challenge. There are two defencemen and it's a tough decision. I'll go with the offensive guy, Hickey, who made tremendous strides this season. He's a great first-passer, very skilled, smooth and composed. He's great for the new NHL game.
- Dreger Adds: That's a solid longshot!
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17. COLTON GILLIES
C, Saskatoon (WHL)
TSN Rank: #18
HT: 6.04 WT: 194
65 GP, 13 G, 17 A, 30 Pts |
- McGuire Says:
We go to the heartland of Canada to take a power forward who can skate - Colton Gillies of the Saskatoon Blades.
- MacLean Adds: He'll battle Blair Betts for a spot on the third line!
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18. OSCAR MOLLER
C, Chiliiwack (WHL)
TSN Rank: #29
HT: 5.11 WT: 179
68 GP, 32 G, 37 A, 69 Pts |
- Dreger Says:
Well, the Rangers just robbed me blind. Clearly, I'd have interest in Gillies. True to that theme, I will stay in the west and take Moller, a pure and simple scorer. He plays hungry for the puck, hungry for the net.
- Cuthbert Adds: He might have been available in the second round!
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19. BILL SWEATT
LW, Colorado C. (WCHA)
TSN Rank: #22
HT: 6.00 WT: 180
30 GP, 9 G, 17 A, 26 Pts |
- Duthie Says:
The Wild apologizes as the scouting staff pauses to confer after our player was just taken. The Wild war room opts, instead, for a fine young player, Bill Sweatt of Colorado College. He's got a little grit!
- McGuire Adds: He's a perfect player for Jacques Lemaire. He'll be really good in Minnesota. He's the best skater in the draft. He was the fastest guy at the world juniors.
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20. BRETT MacLEAN
LW, Oshawa (OHL)
TSN Rank: 20
HT: 6.01 WT: 196
68 GP, 47 G, 53 A, 100 Pts |
- Cuthbert Says:
The Penguins are delighted to pick Brett MacLean from the Oshawa Generals, maybe to play with Sid the Kid one day. He can certainly play at a first line level. He's one of the best finishers in the draft. As much as phenom John Tavares helped him in Oshawa, MacLean helped Tavares.
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21. NICK PETRECKI
D, Omaha (USHL)
TSN Rank: #14
HT: 6.03 WT: 213
54 GP, 11 G, 14 A, 25 Pts |
- MacLean Says:
This is another challenging pick because Phoenix needs gritty players in their youth movement as well as young defencemen. There is desperation on the back end and this kid is a comer. Petrecki has big upside. He's as tough as they come, a good stay-at-home defenceman and the best bodychecker in the draft.
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22. ZACH HAMILL
C, Everett (WHL)
TSN Rank: #16
HT: 5.11 WT: 180
69 GP, 32 G, 61 A, 93 Pts |
- McGuire Says:
If San Jose still had this pick, they would take defenceman Jonathan Blum. Montreal takes Hamill. On an offensively challenged team, I want a guy that's good in traffic, goes hard to the net and has great upside.
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23. DAVID PERRON
LW, Lewiston (QMJHL)
TSN Rank: #17
HT: 6.00 WT: 180
70 GP, 39 G, 44 A, 83 Pts |
- Dreger Says:
After a trying year, the Flyers opted to trade this pick for players who could help right away - Scott Hartnell and Kimmo Timonen. Going for the best available player for Nashville, that is clearly Perron, a skilled young forward.
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24. JONATHAN BLUM
D, Vancouver (WHL)
TSN Rank: #27
HT: 6.00 WT: 160
72 GP, 80 G, 43 A, 51 Pts |
- Duthie Says:
The Blues thank the Thrashers for their deadline day enthusiasm and prepare for their second of three first rounders. St. Louis will likely package two of the picks to move up, but here, they would take a defenceman. Blum does not have a lot of size, but he's got a lot of skill.
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25. MAXIM MAYOROV
LW, Leninogorsk (RUS 2)
TSN Rank: #25
HT: 6.02 WT: 187
28 GP, 6 G, 4 A, 10 Pts |
- Cuthbert Says:
The Canucks expected to go after grit, a third or fourth liner to match up against the Ducks. Instead, I will be the first one to say, ‘I can't believe this guy is still available!’ Mayorov is the choice, though I was also looking at Joakim Andersson of Sweden.
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26. LOGAN MacMILLAN
C, Halifax (QMJHL)
TSN Rank: #23
HT: 6.01 WT: 172
68 GP, 20 G, 35 A, 55 Pts |
- MacLean Says:
He is rated higher than this on my list. He had a great second half in the Quebec League with Halifax. His father, Bob, also played for the Blues. And since I have PEI connections, we are thrilled to take MacMillan. He is going to go higher in the draft than this. Probably in the 15-20 range.
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27. TOMMY CROSS
D, Westminster (High-CT)
TSN Rank: #26
HT: 6.03 WT: 195
25 GP, 8 G, 12 A, 20 Pts |
- McGuire Says:
Because the Red Wings have Chelios, Lidstrom and Schnieder, they look down the road and know they need to find some young defencemen. This young man from Boston College will really help Detroit. My source at Boston College says he's one of the best they've had there in a long time.
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28. MAX PACIORETTY
LW, Sioux City (USHL)
TSN Rank: #24
HT: 6.02 WT: 203
60 GP, 21 G, 42 A, 63 Pts |
- Dreger Says:
George McPhee's draft philosophy is to swing for the fence. Well, this kid represents taking a big swing. Pacioretty has the potential to be a good power forward in the NHL. He's big and rugged. Most teams have him in the top 20.
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29. BRENDAN SMITH
D, St. Michael's (OPJHL)
TSN Rank: #28
HT: 6.01 WT: 170
39 GP, 12 G, 24 A, 36 Pts |
- Duthie Says:
I can make one guarantee. If somehow, a Bure/Ovechkin/Selanne combination walks out of a forest in Europe, the Senators will not take him in the draft. They want a North American and they want a defenceman. I'll call on Brendan Smith of the St. Michael's Buzzers.
- McGuire Adds: This kid is really good, James, he's really mobile. He's as talented as all get out.
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30. ALEX PLANTE
D, Calgary (WHL)
TSN Rank: #32
HT: 6.04 WT: 225
58 GP, 8 G, 30 A, 38 Pts |
- Cuthbert Says:
This pick was written in ink before the draft started. In fact, I almost took him for the Oilers at 15. Plante has been groomed to play in the NHL. His Dad, Cam, was a 100-point defenceman for Brandon in the 1980s. - MacLean Says: Great pick. I've talked to a lot of teams that have him as high as 15. Lots of people like this guy.
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