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.
1. KYLE TURRIS
C, Burnaby (BCHL)
TSN Rank: #3
HT: 6.00 WT: 165
53 GP, 66 G, 55 A, 121 Pts |
- Doug MacLean Says:
This was a tough decision, but Turris is too good to pass up for the Blackhawks. He's got a good frame, good speed, and everything else you want. This guy is a Kariya/Yzerman/Sakic type with tremendous upside.
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2. PATRICK KANE
RW, London (OHL)
TSN Rank: #1
HT: 5.10 WT: 162
58 GP, 62 G, 83 A, 145 Pts |
- Pierre McGuire Says:
He's going to fit in nicely with the Flyers' group of young forwards, including Jeff Carter, Mike Richards and Claude Giroux. Kane is ready to make the jump from junior to the NHL right away, and that will help the Flyers when they go free agent shopping. The future is extremely bright.
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3. JAMES VAN RIEMSDYK
LW, US U-18 (USDP)
TSN Rank: #2
HT: 6.03 WT: 191
42 GP, 33 G, 30 A, 63 Pts |
- Darren Dreger Says:
The Coyotes need everything, including scoring and size. Van Riemsdyk provides both. He might be a late bloomer, but Phoenix is not going anywhere in a hurry. They can wait for him to develop.
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4. ALEXEI CHEREPANOV
RW, Omsk (RUS)
TSN Rank: #5
HT: 6.00 WT: 183
46 GP, 18 G, 11 A, 29 Pts |
- James Duthie Says:
I'm picking based on what I think the Kings will do, and I think they want a defenceman, but no-one really fits this high. The Kings would probably like to trade down, but since I can't for this exercise, I'll just take the best player available. That's Cherepanov. Like all teams, the Kings are concerned about the lack of a transfer agreement, but I don't believe that would stop them from choosing Cherepanov.
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5. SAM GAGNER
C, London (OHL)
TSN Rank: #7
HT: 5.11 WT: 190
53 GP, 35 G, 83 A, 118 Pts |
- Chris Cuthbert Says:
George McPhee is happy! They would like a defenceman but none are rated highly enough. However, the best fit to play with Alexander Ovechkin is Gagner at centre. Yes, the Capitals have Nicklas Backstrom coming, but teams need more than one good centre and Gagner can provide some non-import leadership. By the way, if this were next year and I were picking for Washington, I'd get that defenceman by selecting Drew Doughty of the Guelph Storm. EDITOR'S NOTE In the interests of full disclosure, Chris is a part-owner of the Storm.
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6. JAKUB VORACEK
C, Halifax (QMJHL)
TSN Rank: #6
HT: 6.01 WT: 188
59 GP, 23 G, 63 A, 86 Pts |
- MacLean Says:
The Oilers need young defencemen, but there is a forward in Halifax who has good character, a great attitude, drives to the net hard and is just too good to pass up for Edmonton. Voracek will be a good player.
- Dreger Adds:
Five teams I talked to had Voracek in the top three!
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7. KARL ALZNER
D, Calgary (WHL)
TSN Rank: #4
HT: 6.02 WT: 210
63 GP, 8 G, 39 A, 47 Pts |
- McGuire Says:
At his size, he's still very mobile and Alzner will provide a steady backbone and a North American presence to the Columbus blueline.
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8. KEATON ELLERBY
D, Kamloops (WHL)
TSN Rank: #10
HT: 6.03 WT: 182
69 GP, 2 G, 23 A, 25 Pts |
- Dreger Says:
I would take Brandon Sutter, but I have to go with what I know in this mock draft. Actually, I think Boston would like to trade up, maybe with the Kings at number four, but with no trade here the Bruins will take Ellerby. He's got size and strength - a good two-way defenceman.
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9. BRANDON SUTTER
C, Red Deer (WHL)
TSN Rank: #9
HT: 6.03 WT: 174
71 GP, 20 G, 37 A, 57 Pts |
- Duthie Says:
Again, I am picking based on what I think the team will do. I think the Blues want a skilled forward, so Sutter is the pick.
- Cuthbert Adds:
I've talked to a lot of people about Sutter and few had him as high as he went here. But there is a lack of big strong wingers in this draft like the ones Anaheim used to win the Cup.
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10. LOGAN COUTURE
C, Ottawa (OHL)
TSN Rank: #19
HT: 6.01 WT: 188
54 GP, 26 G, 52 A, 78 Pts |
- Cuthbert Says:
The Panthers are looking for a top six forward. Although there are some higher-rated European players available, I will take a sure bet from Ottawa in Couture. Couture is a character guy whose stock seems to be mysteriously dropping, maybe because he played a lot last year when he shouldn't have been playing because he had mono. He's a can't-miss kid.
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11. RYAN McDONAGH
D, Cretin-Derham (High-MN)
TSN Rank: #11
HT: 6.01 WT: 200
23 GP, 10 G, 23 A, 33 Pts |
- MacLean Says:
This team lost Jack Johnson last year in the trade (with Los Angeles) and has some good young forwards in the system, so the Hurricanes need a defenceman. This is the sleeper pick of the draft - McDonagh. I saw him play three times and he took some major strides this season. He's a good puck-moving defenceman.
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12. ANGELO ESPOSITO
C, Quebec (QMJHL)
TSN Rank: #8
HT: 6.01 WT: 180
60 GP, 27 G, 52 A, 79 Pts |
- McGuire Says:
Montreal is upset about McDonagh coming off the board. That being said, Montreal is dying for a local person to stimulate the fans and the team. The Canadiens are not going to miss this time like they did by passing on Denis Savard years ago. Esposito has some maturing to do, but the Habs think he can do it. Cuthbert scooped me on Couture, and MacLean took McDonagh, so Esposito is next.
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13. MIKAEL BACKLUND
C, Vasteras (SWE 2)
TSN Rank: #15
HT: 6.00 WT: 194
41 GP, 20 G, 26 A, 46 Pts |
- Dreger Says:
The Leafs will show interest in moving up, but don't have a lot to offer in a trade. The Toronto scouts may want Kevin Shattenkirk, but I think GM John Ferguson Jr. is going to play the veto card and add depth up front with Backlund. He's a bit of a gamble because of a bad knee, but he's got moxie.
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14. KEVIN SHATTENKIRK
D, US U-18 (USDP)
TSN Rank: #12
HT: 5.11 WT: 193
48 GP, 12 G, 22 A, 34 Pts |
- Duthie Says:
The Avs are upset with the Leafs as Backlund would have been a strong pick here. Instead, the Avs go with a guy whose stock is rising in Shattenkirk.
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15. LARS ELLER
LW, Frolunda (SWE Jr)
TSN Rank: #21
HT: 6.00 WT: 198
39 GP, 18 G, 37 A, 55 Pts |
- Cuthbert Says:
The Oilers are weeping. They dodged a bullet with Toronto passing on him, but then Duthie scooped up Shattenkirk. The Oilers, who may deal this pick, will instead look for a skilled forward. The pick is Lars Eller - the Danish Forsberg.
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