It's been a couple weeks now since the draft in Los Angeles; and I don't know about you, but right when Brock Nelson was picked 30th overall, I was already thinking about next year. The 2011 NHL Entry Draft will take place in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul Minnesota. If you remeber how the record was broke for the amount of
Americans taken in the 1st round this year, I think we could see more. There are 3 americans players in my top 10 prospects for next year. Which must mean there are more to come 11 through 30. And just for fun I'll put who will pick each player.
The Hockey News originally had their 2011 NHL Draf Projected Top 10, in their Future Watch issue. I will be using the same players,but in my own order and own analysis with 5 players instead of 10. Without further adue here's my mock draft of the Top 5 propects.
HF Boards may not be an reliabe source at times, but loook what "scoutman1" has to say about Sean Couturier. It is really fascinating; and then when you realize it was posted in 2007 when Couturier was only 14, it is even more amazing. Couturier is a playmaking winger that plays centre at times. If "scoutman1" is correct in saying that he will be the next Jarmoir Jagr than the Dallas Stars fans should get really excited! I don't see the Stars getting back in the playoffs for a few years, and they are team in need of a rebuild. With Jack Campbell brewing in the minors, and Couturier possibly making the jump the following season, should make the Stars more competive down the road.
No.2 Adam Larsson D 6'2 201 Ibs Skelleftea (Swe)
Personnally after reading over what Adam Larsson has to offer on the ice. I believe he is Victor Hedman minus 5 inches. Best friends with prospects with older David Rundblad and Tim Erixon , the youngest is definatley the most dominant. Larsson is big defenseman with can bury you to the ground and slap bombs from the point past the goaltender. Larsson has matured beyond his years, playing as a underager in the WJC. Larsson's fast learning could see him playing to the style of Drew Doughty. The next team to receive Doughty no.2 will be the ,y favourite team the Calgary Flames. With Darryl Sutters' insanity kicking into full gear, expect Sutter to fired after the Flames miss the playoffs (or earlier if he trades for the Flames make anymore Jokinen-esque trades). They will go into a slight rebuild but no as much as their Albertan counter part has done. They have some great forward prospects like Greg Niemz, Mikael Backlund who should play the full season next year, Ryan Howse and Mitch Wahl the Flames can afford to take this can't miss defensive prospect to take over Dion Phaneufs' absence (also imagine the two best friends Erixon and Larsson on the same line).
Selected 1st overall in the Bantam draft, Hopkins has produced point-per-game numbers. Expect him to have a great sophmore season because if he is able to produce 65pts in 67 games at 155 Ibs; imagine what he would be at 180 or even 170. It may be because of his weight, but Hopkins is obviously a fast skater, but he can really put the puck in the net. Hopkins will be selected to your
Minnesota Wild. The Wild are a team in need of a makeover, and they don't have enough assests to get some quality prospects and players in return. So the Wild will take their first step into rebuilding their forwards, with Nugent-Hopkins and Mikael Granlund as your top center prospects would be something to get excited about. Hopefully the Wild can add a second pick in the 1st round, because their isn't much defenseman (yet) besides Larsson to pick from the Wild's posistion.
No.4
Rocco Grimaldi C 5'6 160 Ibs NTDP USHL
"One of the smallest elite players ever". Grimaldi is one diamond in ruff players that are really smaller than the players on the teams he plays against; but can still play physically. One of the most dynamic players because he can really score goals. People said the same thing about Patrick Kane about his size when he was drafted; and he later scored the Stanley Cup winning goal 3 years later. Grimaldi surely won't be 5'6 when he plays in the NHL, he is still only 17 years old. He is definatley a speedy forward that is everywhere on the ice, all the time. If their is one thing Glen Sather loves, is drafting Americans. Unless the
New York Rangers come in as the third party and sign Kovalchuck, the Rangers will finish in the bottom 10 and draft one of the 3 Amercian forwards ( Grimaldi, Seth Ambroz and Brandon Saad). I see Sather picking Grimaldi over the other American forwards because of how dynamic of a player he is.
No.5
Seth Ambroz 6'3 198 Ibs Omaha USHL
A big power forward, with great scoring ability that is dominating the USHL. Ambroz is prototypical power forward scroing 49pts in 56 games. The best part is he will drop the mits aswell putting up a 118 PIMs last season. Ambroz will be like the next Jarome Iginla, with the tenacious scoring ability, hitting and dropping the gloves. Ambroz will be selected by the one-hit wonder playoff team
Montreal Canadiens. Unfortunatley if Pierre Gauthier didn't trade Halak I wouldn't be saying this. Carey Price is a good goal, a very good goalie.
He just can't handle the pressure he is under in Montreal. Carey Price will get 20-25 wins, but the team was nothing without Halak. The Canadiens only got into the playoffs because the Leafs couldn't win in regulation. Ambroz will be a great addition because the Canadiens don't have a great scoring power forward.
