WESTERN CONFERENCE SCOUT'S MOCK DRAFT

RELATED ITEMS: East Scout | Holland | Kimelman | Roarke | EMAIL: Your thoughts?



1 John Tavares, C, London Knights (OHL)
SKINNY: No surprise here. Best player available.

2 Victor Hedman, D, Modo Hockey (Sweden)
SKINNY: Tampa has its share of game-breaking forwards. Now they get one on D.

3 Jared Cowen, D, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
SKINNY: Like Tampa, the Avs take a huge step forward in their organizational defensive depth.

4 Matt Duchene, C, Brampton (OHL)
SKINNY: A high-caliber center to one day skate with Ilya Kovalchuk..

5 Evander Kane, C, Vancouver (WHL)
SKINNY: A player with 30-plus goal potential doesn't often fall so low.

6 Jordan Schroeder, C, Minnesota (WCHA)
SKINNY: Smallish, skilled forward fits well with the rest of the talented Kings.

7 Brayden Schenn, C, Brandon (WHL)
SKINNY: Mike Richards-like forward completes the brother act in TO.

8 Nazem Kadri, C, London (OHL)
SKINNY: Ottawa goes to its backyard to replenish its top-six forward depth.

9 Jeremy Morin, LW, USNTDP
SKINNY: Dallas-type forward that plays hard and can finish.

10 Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, F, Timra (Sweden)
SKINNY: Size, skill, and, most importantly, speed are the big-ticket items in Edmonton.

11 Ryan Ellis, D, Windsor (OHL)
SKINNY: Cannon from the blue line; scored a hat trick in a recent playoff game.

12 Scott Glennie, RW, Brandon (WHL)
SKINNY: As of today, not as good as linemate Schenn; but one day could be better.

13 Dmitry Kulikov, D, Drummondville (QMJHL)
SKINNY: If he was a North American, he'd be a top-five pick.

14 Nick Leddy, D, Eden Prairie (Minn.) H.S.
SKINNY: He can fly, and Nashville will be able to let him mature at college.

15 Carter Ashton, RW, Lethbridge (WHL)
SKINNY: A Ryan Getzlaf-type player who may not be as talented, but works as hard.

16  Stefan Elliot, D, Saskatoon (WHL)
SKINNY: Puck-moving defender nice fit for Florida's future plans.

17 Zack Kassian, RW, Peterborough (OHL)
SKINNY: Too big and too strong for juniors; will be good in the NHL in any role.

18 Marcus Johansson, C, Farjestad (Sweden)
SKINNY: A solid top-six forward.

19 Landon Ferraro, C, Red Deer (WHL)
SKINNY: Another smallish skill guy who can put the puck in the net.

20 Simon Despres, D, Saint John (QMJHL)
SKINNY:  A puck-moving defenseman in the mold of Kris Letang.

21 Jacob Josefson, C, Djurgarden (Sweden)
SKINNY: Fits with the "new Red Wings" and their burgeoning Swedish connection.

22 David Rundblad, D, Skelleftea (Sweden)
SKINNY: Good at the World Juniors; could go higher if team willing to ignore risky play.

23 Ryan O'Reilly, C, Erie (OHL)
SKINNY: Two-way, gritty centerman makes the Hurricanes' future look even brighter.

24 Brayden McNabb, D, Kootenay (WHL)
SKINNY: Big and mean; opposing players don't want to play against him.

25 Chris Kreider, C, Philips Andover Academy (Mass.)
SKINNY: More speed for Chicago.

26 Drew Shore, C, USNTDP
SKINNY: Devils go to the U.S. Under-18 team and pluck a natural leader and top-six scoring threat.

27 John Moore, D, Chicago (USHL)
SKINNY: Moore falls due to lack of competition; Washington finds a steal.

28 Charles-Olivier Roussel, D, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
SKINNY: Puck-moving defender plays Detroit's puck-possession game.

29 Joonas Nattinen, C, Espoo Blues Jr. (Finland Jr.)
SKINNY: Two-way center has the Finnish work ethic.

30
N.Y. Islanders (from SJS/OTT)
 Peter Holland, C, Guelph (OHL)
SKINNY: Big pivot hasn't tapped his potential just yet; could be far better than people think.