| Pick |
Team |
Player |
|
| 1 |
 |
Alexander Ovechkin, C Dynamo
Moscow (RUS) |
There wasn't much question
who would go first, Ovechkin is unanimously seen as the #1 prospect in this
year's draft. The big Russian forward has superstar written all over him, and
to top it all off, he's reportedly a nice guy too. |
| 2 |
 |
Evgeni Malkin, LW
Magnitogorsk (RUS) |
With Ovechkin gone, this is a
no-brainer. The Penguins are in search of another franchise player, and the
dynamic Malkin looks to be the one. |
| 3 |
 |
Cam Barker, D Medicine Hat
(WHL) |
The Blackhawks need a true
number one defenseman and Chicago assistant General Manager Dale Tallon is high
on Barker, because of his character and the style of game that he plays |
| 4 |
 |
Andrew Ladd, LW Calgary
(WHL) |
This pick seems the most
likely to be the traded come draft day, with the Blue Jackets already with a
nice core of young players. Ladd, who has risen dramatically this year in
rankings, adds to that core. |
| 5 |
 |
Lauri Tukonen, RW Espoo
(FIN) |
All this talk of taking Al
Montoya is just that, with David LeNeveu in the system Phoenix is better served
by taking the promising Finn |
| 6 |
 |
Rostislav Olesz, C Vitkovice
(CZE) |
There has been plenty of
speculation over who the Rangers might take here, Olesz is one of them. The
Czech pivot's offensive statistics don't tell the full story of a player who
could be around for years to come |
| 7 |
 |
Alexander Radulov, RW Tver
(BLR) |
Jacques Martin has had
success working with talented, determined European forwards like Alfredsson and
Hossa, even turning Bonk and Chara into stars. Radulov is said to be a good
character kid and probably the best potential superstar forward left at this
position |
| 8 |
 |
A.J. Thelen, D Michigan State
(CCHA) |
An aging defensive corps and
the need for a future power play QB leads the Canes to Thelen. The talented
blueliner impressed as a rookie and is another player with future star
potential |
| 9 |
 |
Ladislav Smid, D Liberec
(CZE) |
Smid is primarily a
playmaking blueliner and the Ducks will be hoping that he will be able to
provide some offense in the future for an organization that is particularly
weak in that area |
| 10 |
 |
Drew Stafford, RW North
Dakota (WCHA) |
What the Thrashers really
need are centermen and blueliners, but with Stafford they get a potential two
way forward who can complement the offense of Heatley and Kovalchuk, maybe a
future replacement for the likes of McEachern |
| 11 |
 |
Al Montoya, G Michigan (CCHA)
|
The Kings have big weaknesses
everywhere and will take the best player available. Having failed to develop #3
overall pick Jamie Storr to his potential, Montoya may be a risk but will
maintain some trade value. Former Clarkson player GM Dave Taylor has seen
scouts to Red Berenson's team for years |
| 12 |
 |
Andrej Meszaros, D Trencin
(SVK) |
The Wild got a chance to
scout the Trencin team a little extra when Gaborik was playing there during his
holdout and knows exactly what they're getting. A young two-way defenseman who,
like Gaborik, played in a league of older men, Meszaros appears highly
coachable and should be able to contribute quickly for the Wild |
| 13 |
 |
Marek Schwarz, G Trinec (CZE)
|
For the Sabres, it's a simple
case of taking the best player available, and Schwarz looks to continue
something of a tradition in Buffalo. With Miller struggling in the AHL after
his all-star appearance and questions over Biron's future with the club,
Schwarz looks to be a viable future option. |
| 14 |
 |
Alexandre Picard, LW Lewiston
(QMJHL) |
GM Kevin Lowe is looking for
a higher probability in his drafting this year after making some unexpected
moves in recent years. Picard looks to be the kind of player that Lowe will be
looking at if he lasts to the 14th pick |
| 15 |
 |
Robbie Schremp, C London
(OHL) |
With the current shortage of
NHL calibre centers, Schremp has the skills and confidence to be a major factor
in the future with the Predators. His downside is that he is not a team player
at this stage of his career. It's a case of boom or bust with the controversial
pivot |
| 16 |
 |
Boris Valabik, D Kitchener
(OHL) |
What better way to replace
former Islander Zdeno Chara than to draft the one player that everyone is
comparing to him. While Valabik may never add the offensive side that Chara
has, he remains a punishing defender when he's on his game |
| 17 |
 |
Wojtek Wolski, LW Brampton
(OHL) |
The prospect pool for St
Louis has dried up in recent years, with several promising youngster either
failing to make an impact or being sent off in trades. Wolski has impressed
many who have seen him and has NHL potential particularly as a scorer |
| 18 |
 |
Kyle Chipchura, C Prince
Albert (WHL) |
There's questions as to
whether Chipchura can add the offense to the rest of his game, but with his
hard-nosed style of play he is sure to be a crowd favorite and will be the kind
of player you want on your team |
| 19 |
 |
Lauri Korpikoski, LW Turku
(FIN) |
What's another Finn to the
Flames? Korpikoski surprised many with his rise up the ranks this past year,
but his offensive abilities will be well appreciated by Calgary if he can prove
that it wasn't a fluke |
| 20 |
 |
Mike Green, D Saskatoon (WHL)
|
Dallas' depth on the blueline
is pretty thin these days, with Vagner, their 2002 1st round pick , re-entering
the draft. Green, who has played the last three seasons with Saskatoon, is an
excellent skater, has decent size for his age, is physical and has some
offensive potential |
| 21 |
 |
Travis Zajac, C Salmon Arm
(BCHL) |
Zajac took the road less
traveled and is coming to the draft via Junior A. The gifted offensive pivot
put up big numbers last year against lesser opposition and questions remain as
to how he will do next year at the University of North Dakota |
| 22 |
 |
Wes O'Neill, D Notre Dame
(CCHA) |
New Jersey has made a habit
of solid late first round draft picks and Notre Dame blueliner Wes O'Neill
appears to be yet another. The 6'4" 225lb O'Neill is a solid player in his own
zone and has some offensive ability that may enable him to develop into a solid
two way player |
| 23 |
 |
Enver Lisin, RW Krystall
Saratov (RUS) |
The Senators too have done
well with their drafting and the strong skating and scoring ability that Lisin
has shown would be attractive to most teams in the NHL. In Lisin, Ottawa gets a
potential top line winger at the 23rd pick |
| 24 |
|
Lukas Kaspar, RW Litvinov
(CZE) |
With the better defensive
prospects now off the table, it became a matter of Best Player Available. While
Kaspar could well remain a one dimensional player, there are some signs he
could improve his defensive awareness and his frame suggests he could add
additional muscle |
| 25 |
|
David Boland, C London (OHL)
|
Continuing on their theme of
drafting players who are likely to make it to the NHL, the Oilers overlook his
current size and take the high-scoring Bolland. The London centerman shot to
prominence this year with 37 goals and 67 points in just 65 games |
| 26 |
 |
Roman Voloschenko, LW Krylja
Sovetov (RUS) |
There's a distinct
possibility that Voloschenko won't be on the table when it comes to the 26th
pick, but here the Canucks have the opportunity to take a raw prospect who has
some very positive upside |
| 27 |
|
Jeff Schultz, D Calgary (WHL)
|
Washington still needs to
address their defense, and Schultz, at 6'6" has the possibility of becoming a
monster. He's light (215 lbs), but putting on muscle and he improved a lot from
his first to second seasons with the Hitmen |
| 28 |
 |
Bruce Graham, C Moncton
(QMJHL) |
Another sizable prospect at
6'6" and 220 lbs, the Sharks will be hoping they can get the most out of the
rangy Graham. Doesn't use his size as much as many would hope, but at 18 he has
plenty of time to change that |
| 29 |
|
Juraj Gracik, RW Topolkany
(SVK) |
Gracik is a sniper, plain and
simple, with under-rated speed, excellent size, and great puck-handling skills.
He plays a very good two-way game, but his primary strength is his shot. The
Caps are low on pure scorers and had a lot of luck with another Slovakian
sniper, Peter Bondra |
| 30 |
 |
Johannes Salmonsson, LW
Djurgardens (SWE) |
It's probably unlikely that
Salmonsson will last to the 30th pick on draft day, but the Stanley Cup
champions will gladly avail themselves of the player widely thought to be the
best Swede in this year's draft |
|
