Faceoff-Factor 2009 Mock Draft - Part 1 of 3
Jesse Marshall | NHL Entry Draft
Jun 24, 12:55 PM | Hype this story!
The level of competition at FF this year is high. Mike Farkas came out on top last year, I’m trying to go with my head instead of my heart, and Kirshner is trying to break in and show us all up. Here it is, our first round of our three round mock draft. Feel free to post your own mock draft in the comments section, or to agree/disagree with any of us.
With the 1st overall selection in the 2009 NHL Entry draft, the New York Islanders select:
Alex Kirshner: John Tavares – C – London (OHL)
Mike Farkas: Victor Hedman – D – Modo (Swe)
Jesse Marshall: John Tavares – C – London (OHL)
With the 2nd overall selection, the Tampa Bay Lighting select:
AK: Victor Hedman – D – Modo (Swe)
MF: John Tavares – C – London (OHL)
JM: Victor Hedman – D – Modo (Swe)
With the 3rd overall selection, the Colorado Avalanche select:
AK: Matt Duchene – C – Brampton (OHL)
MF: Matt Duchene – C – Brampton (OHL)
JM: Matt Duchene – C – Brampton (OHL)
With the 4th overall selection, the Atlanta Thrashers select:
AK: Brayden Schenn – C – Brandon (WHL)
MF: Evander Kane – C – Vancouver (WHL)
JM: Evander Kane – C – Vancouver (WHL)
With the 5th overall selection, the Los Angeles Kings select:
AK: Evander Kane – C – Vancouver (WHL)
MF: Brayden Schenn – C – Brandon (WHL)
JM: Brayden Schenn – C – Brandon (WHL)
With the 6th overall selection, the Phoenix Coyotes select:
AK: Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi – LW – Timra (Swe)
MF: Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi – LW – Timra (Swe)
JM: Magnus Svensson-Pääjärvi – LW – Timra (Swe)
With the 7th overall selection, the Toronto Maple Leafs select:
AK: Jordan Schroeder – C – U. of Minn. (NCAA)
MF: Jared Cowen – D – Spokane (WHL)
JM: Jared Cowen – D – Spokane (WHL)
With the 8th overall selection, the Dallas Stars select:
AK: Jared Cowen – D – Spokane (WHL)
MF: Dmitry Kulikov – D – Drummondville (QMJHL)
JM: Jordan Schroeder – C – U. of Minn. (NCAA)
With the 9th overall selection, the Ottawa Senators select:
AK: Oliver Ekman-Larsson – D – Leksand (Swe)
MF: Oliver Ekman-Larsson – D – Leksand (Swe)
JM: Oliver Ekman-Larsson – D – Leksand (Swe)
With the 10th overall selection, the Edmonton Oilers select:
AK: Dmitry Kulikov – D – Drummondville (QMJHL)
MF: Scott Glennie – RW – Brandon (WHL)
JM: Scott Glennie – RW – Brandon (WHL)
With the 11th overall selection, the Nashville Predators select:
AK: Zack Kassian – RW – Peterborough (OHL)
MF: Jacob Josefson – C – Djurgarden (Swe)
JM: Dmitry Kulikov – D – Drummondville (QMJHL)
With the 12th overall selection, the Minnesota Wild select:
AK: Nazem Kadri – C – London (OHL)
MF: Jordan Schroeder – C – U. of Minn. (NCAA)
JM: Nazem Kadri – C – London (OHL)
With the 13th overall selection, the Buffalo Sabres select:
AK: John Moore – D – Chicago (USHL)
MF: Carter Ashton – RW – Lethbridge (WHL)
JM: Ryan Ellis – D – Windsor (OHL)
With the 14th overall selection, the Florida Panthers select:
AK: Ryan Ellis – D – Windsor (OHL)
MF: Nazem Kadri – C – London (OHL)
JM: Jacob Josefson – C – Djurgarden (Swe)
With the 15th overall selection, the Anaheim Ducks select:
AK: Scott Glennie – RW – Brandon (WHL)
MF: Zack Kassian – RW – Peterborough (OHL)
JM: Zack Kassian – RW – Peterborough (OHL)
With the 16th overall selection, the Columbus Blue Jackets select:
AK: Carter Ashton – RW – Lethbridge (WHL)
MF: Ryan Ellis – D – Windsor (OHL)
JM: John Moore – D – Chicago (USHL)
With the 17th overall selection, the St. Louis Blues select:
AK: Simon Despres – D – Saint John (QMJHL)
MF: Chris Kreider – C – Phillips Academy (Mass)
JM: David Rundblad – D – Skelleftea (Swe)
With the 18th overall selection, the Montreal Canadiens select:
AK: Jacob Josefson – C – Djurgarden (Swe)
MF: Louis Leblanc – C – Omaha (USHL)
JM: Simon Despres – D – Saint John (QMJHL)
With the 19th overall selection, the New York Rangers select:
AK: Chris Kreider – C – Phillips Academy (Mass)
MF: Kyle Palmieri – F – USA-U18
JM: Peter Holland – C – Guelph (OHL)
With the 20th overall selection, the Calgary Flames select:
AK: Louis Leblanc – C – Omaha (USHL)
MF: Peter Holland – C – Guelph (OHL)
JM: Carter Ashton – RW – Lethbridge (WHL)
With the 21st overall selection, the Philadelphia Flyers select:
AK: David Rundblad – D – Skelleftea (Swe)
MF: John Moore – D – Chicago (USHL)
JM: Louis Leblanc – C – Omaha (USHL)
With the 22nd overall selection, the Vancouver Canucks select:
AK: Stefan Elliott – D – Saskatoon (WHL)
MF: David Rundblad – D – Skelleftea (Swe)
JM: Stefan Elliott – D –Saskatoon (WHL)
With the 23rd overall selection, the New Jersey Devils select:
AK: Ryan O’Reilly – C – Erie (OHL)
MF: Calvin de Haan – D – Oshawa (OHL)
JM: Calvin de Haan – D – Oshawa (OHL)
With the 24th overall selection, the Washington Capitals select:
AK: Landon Ferraro – C – Red Deer (WHL)
MF: Landon Ferraro – C – Red Deer (WHL)
JM: Landon Ferraro – C – Red Deer (WHL)
With the 25th overall selection, the Boston Bruins select:
AK: Kyle Palmieri – F – USA-U18
MF: Tim Erixon – D – Skelleftea (Swe)
JM: Chris Kreider – C – Phillips Academy (Mass)
With the 26th overall selection, the New York Islanders select:
AK: Peter Holland – C – Guelph (OHL)
MF: Simon Despres – D – Saint John (QMJHL)
JM: Kyle Palmieri – F – USA-U18
With the 27th overall selection, the Carolina Hurricanes select:
AK: Jordan Caron – RW – Rimouski (QMJHL)
MF: Zack Budish – RW – Team South West (Minn)
JM: Jordan Caron – RW – Rimouski (QMJHL)
With the 28th overall selection, the Chicago Blackhawks select:
AK: Zack Budish – RW – Team South West (Minn)
MF: Drew Shore – C- USA-U18
JM: Drew Shore – C – USA-U18
With the 29th overall selection, the Detroit Red Wings select:
AK: Tim Erixon – D – Skelleftea (Swe)
MF: Charles-Olivier Roussel – D – Shawnigan (QMJHL)
JM: Joonas Nattinen – C – Espoo (Fin)
With the 30th overall selection, the Pittsburgh Penguins select:
AK: Carl Klingberg – LW – Frolunda Jr. (Swe)
MF: Carl Klingberg – LW – Frolunda Jr. (Swe)
JM: Ethan Werek – C – Kingston (OHL)
Tomorrow we feature both the 2nd round of the mock draft, in addition to my official Penguins “wish-list” for Friday’s #30 overall selection!
For information on any of these players, please visit our official draft ranking.
Comments
Ray aka WildcatRay
Jun 24, 01:22 PM
I think a table would have been better at showing each one’s draft choices. This format has me looking up and down way too much.
Nathan
Jun 24, 02:33 PM
I couldn’t find Carl Klingberg and Ethan Werek in your previews, do you have paragraphs on them?
Alex Kirshner
Jun 24, 02:45 PM
Nathan-
I believe I was the only one of the three of us who had Klingberg ranked in our top 30. When we averaged the grades, he fell off the list altogether.
He’s an energetic player with good size, hands, and a goal scorer’s touch. If he doesn’t develop into a top six forward, he should at least be a valuable third liner in the NHL, assuming he comes over from Sweden.
Jesse Marshall
Jun 24, 02:46 PM
Nathan –
Klingberg is a big, fast prospect from Sweden. Think Tyler Kennedy with a much bigger body. He has decent hands, but his big upside is his size and skating. For how big he is, he exhibits no trouble in getting to loose pucks quickly and he has a nice first step.
Werek is a teammate of another Penguins prospect in Nathan Moon. He’s a center, but can play wing. He’s a big kid, good skater, really responsible defensively. He isn’t afraid to get to the dirty areas of the ice and can score goals in from in close rebounds and on sharp wristers outside. I’d say his board work is above average and his hockey IQ is really good. He’s torn it up the past two seasons playing in the OPJHL and the OHL.
Nathan
Jun 24, 03:12 PM
Thankyou guys so much! You’re awesome!
TIM
Jun 24, 03:52 PM
Good stuff guys. I have heard all kinds of mixed things on Klingberg. It is hard to form an opinion when I haven’t seen him play. I could see Boston taking Kreider being a local boy and all if he it still available. If I can add my wish list for the Pens first round in no order
Despres, Ferraro, Keider, Erixon, Budish, Mornin
Jesse Marshall
Jun 24, 03:59 PM
@Tim,
The more I think of it, the more I think we might see Zach Budish put on a Pens sweater come Friday. I dunno what it is. He mentioned the Penguins interview twice and we are purportedly interested in him, but take that at face value because the Penguins are pretty mum about this stuff.
@Nathan –
No problem, man. Thanks for the inquiry.
TIM
Jun 24, 04:16 PM
Jesse he seems like a good fit for both teams, but as you well know the draft is so unpredictable who knows what could happen? Any chance Despres could fall to the Pens? I have liked what I saw of him and have heard of him.
TIM
Jun 24, 04:21 PM
I also want to say I think Hedman is the player we will be talking about for years to come. I guess I hope he doesn’t end up on a team like Tampa, with all their issues.
bag o' pucks
Jun 24, 04:38 PM
I’m pretty excited for this draft, they’re usually quite fun to watch with all the host club’s fans hooting and hollering. Last year, not so much, because the Pens didn’t pick until 120. But I enjoy them. I’m doubting Budish will be on the board at 30, but what the hey. I trust the Pens will make a good choice.
Moq
Jun 24, 05:29 PM
Well, I don’t follow youth hockey religiously unless one of my countrymen have a chance to be drafted high – like Boedker and Eller from previous years – so I embrace every scrap of draft enlightenment thrown in my general direction.
If I were to hope anything, it would be drafting an above average goalscorer. Werek and Morin (HF mock draft) seem to offer that. In that sense is Klingenberg a lot different than Tangradi or Caputi? (Not that I think he would be a poor choice.) And are there other sniper types available in the first round or later?
Alex Kirshner
Jun 24, 06:33 PM
Tom-
Doherty would be a nice prospect to add to our system, but he’s one of those “tweeners” that makes it almost impossible for the Pens get him without moving around their picks.
They could never take him in the first, but he’ll likely be gone by the time the Pens pick again.
TIM
Jun 24, 06:52 PM
I fear what Tom will do if the Pens don’t take Kozun he has been singing his praises for awhile now. Has me pretty fired about about selecting the kid.
Alex Kirshner
Jun 24, 07:00 PM
Kozun is not even remotely on Shero’s radar for the first two rounds, I’d have to think.
TIM
Jun 24, 07:10 PM
Indeed it does, and it seems like he has a lot of heart. I see what you are saying the Pens are able to pick two solid guys with the last pick of the second and first pick of the third.
Jesse Marshall
Jun 24, 10:20 PM
@Tom,
I’ve watched a lot of Doherty over the year and I wouldn’t go anywhere near him.
He lacks the smarts to make the right play and is downright lost in his own end sometime. His hockey IQ is extremely low and he doesn’t use his size half as much as he should. I think his offensive capabilites are overrated and, while he’s a good skater for his size, his mental deficiencies and constant blunders are too much of a regularity for me.
bag o' pucks
Jun 24, 10:54 PM
I’d be fairly shocked if the Pens are considering Doherty or Kozun at 61 & 63. They’re aren’t bad prospects, but if they can be had later in the draft, great. If they’re off the board by then, so be it.
Alex Kirshner
Jun 25, 12:00 AM
Numbers in the WHL do not necessarily translate to the NHL, nor do they always improve a player’s draft stock.
If they did, Casey Pierro-Zabotel would be regarded as a blue chip prospect and fast tracking to Pittsburgh right now rather than getting set for a year with Wilkes Barre.
henkegbgskea
Jun 25, 11:22 AM
hi!
my take one first round picks are:
Defenceman S Ellliot or forwards Z Budish,E Werek or
swediah forwardprospect Kalle Klingberg.
Since i am from sweden i am hoping pens pick some swedish guys this year.
There are some really good swedish prospects like:
Forwards: J Josefsson, K Klingberg , J Silfverberg
from my home town M Lindstrom, M Lundberg,
Defenceman from my hometown D Rundblad, T Erixon.
I havent listed V Hedman or M Paajarvi Svensson since i believe those two will be gone before pens picks in the first round.
No, I'm Steve!
Jun 25, 01:21 PM
I agree with the idea that the Pens need to target skill (ie, the ability to put the puck in the net) with their high pick(s). I see a dearth of true goalscorers in the system and while size & strength are great, you have to have the hands & smarts to make it happen. Not to mention that they already have a small group of guys that fit the “power forward” mold — Caputi, Tangradi, CPZ — but may not be true NHL offensive talents, although could still be quite valuable and effective.
The suggestion of Kozun falls in line with what I’m looking for (not with the 1st pick though), as would Landon Ferraro. But, I doubt he makes it past Calgary with the Sutter/Red Deer connection and if he does, you have to wonder why. But there’s another name I haven’t heard here that will likely be there at 30 and is generally regarded as a true offensive talent — Toni Rajala from Finland.
He’s been on the scouting radar for years, as it’s pretty rare to see high-end skill prospects coming from Finland, a country known more for producing solid, feisty two-way players. Almost every opinion seems to agree that he’s got the top-end ability, but the big question is his small size (some say 5-8, some 5-10) and whether he could succeed in the NHL.
Another guy along the same lines (without the size question as he’s listed @ 6-1, 180) is Richard Panik from Slovakia. Some rankings have him around the same area as Rajala in the 30-40 range, but again, few if any question his skill. With Panik it’s a matter of his “compete level” and consistency. He had a poor showing at the WJC, but he was young for the tourney. He also missed out on a chance to redeem himself at the U-18 tourney because of injury. The THN draft preview had an NHL scout’s quote to the effect of, “he could be one of those guys that in a few years you ask ‘how did we pass on him?’”.
In conclusion, I want the Pens to go for goal-scoring skill, even if it is a risk. While the system is bursting with talent, they have such a young core at the NHL level that they can probably afford a high risk/high reward pick or two.
Jesse Marshall
Jun 25, 01:35 PM
HENKE!
It must be exciting for you this year with all the Swedes!
Can you tell me what you think of David Rundblad???
No, I'm Steve!
Jun 25, 02:26 PM
Ha, I meant to say that the Pens’ system ISN’T bursting with talent. Oops…
One other thing. Two recent high picks that were drafted for skill despite size questions — Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski — show that sometimes good hockey players are just good hockey players, regardless of size. As great as big guys or “high-character” players are to have, sometimes there is no substitute for skill.
henkegbgskea
Jun 26, 03:31 AM
HI jESSE !
Well i have seen Rundblaad play for my howntown heroes Skelleftea AIK in the swedish elitserie ;=)
I think he is a very promising quarterback to begin with.He has very good passingskills, cool with the puck .
He sees the ice very well .
hes downside is ha has to work with his defensive play and be more physical.
He developed quite nicely in the end of last season, it will be exciting to see if he can take another step this year.
Commenting is closed for this article.