Draft experts predict how lottery teams could pick

Monday, 04.29.2013 / 10:30 AM / 2013 NHL Draft

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Draft experts predict how lottery teams could pick
NHL.com's experts take a stab at predicting the first 14 picks of the 2013 NHL Draft.

The Colorado Avalanche won the 2013 Scotiabank NHL Draft Lottery on Monday, earning the right to make the first pick.

Who will that player be? Hockey fans won't know for sure until the draft starts June 30 at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J.

However, NHL.com's draft experts couldn't wait that long, and have weighed in with how they believe the first 14 picks of this year's draft could go.

NHL.COM 2013 MINI MOCK DRAFTS

Much like in their previous mock draft, NHL.com's trio is unanimous in its belief that Portland Winterhawks defenseman Seth Jones will be the player taken when the Avalanche step to the podium. It would be a fitting choice; Jones started his hockey career playing on rinks in the Denver suburbs and grew up an Avalanche fan.

NHL.com's experts also envision the Florida Panthers selecting center Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey league with the No. 2 pick.

After that, however, the Lottery-themed mock drafts take a few different turns. Two of the experts see MacKinnon's teammate, left wing Jonathan Drouin, going to the Tampa Bay Lightning with the third pick, while a third sees Finnish center Aleksander Barkov being the Lightning's choice.

So which expert has it right? Check out all three mock drafts and weigh in with your opinion.

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