ADAM KIMELMAN'S MOCK DRAFT PART I

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Order Team Player
1 WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Seth Jones, D, Portland (WHL)
SKINNY:
Top player available would give Caps the franchise's best blueliner since Rod Langway
2 COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
Nathan MacKinnon, C, Halifax (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Gifted offensive talent ready to bring his dazzling skill set to an NHL top line
3 Buffalo SABRES
Aleksander Barkov, C, Tappara (FIN)
SKINNY:
Big, strong and already excelling against older competition in the top Finnish league
4 CALGARY FLAMES
Jonathan Drouin, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Overshadowed a bit by MacKinnon, but the quick, skilled forward is close to NHL-ready
5 FLORIDA PANTHERS
Rasmus Ristolainen, D, TPS (FIN)
SKINNY:
Big blueliner has high-end offensive skills and a nasty mean streak
6 NEW YORK ISLANDERS
Hunter Shinkaruk, C/LW, Medicine Hat (WHL)
SKINNY:
Skilled forward has spent last two seasons dominating WHL defenses
7 EDMONTON OILERS
Ryan Pulock, D, Brandon (WHL)
SKINNY:
Offensively talented blueliner also highly regarded for his smart play
8 WINNIPEG JETS
Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Chelmet (RUS-2)
SKINNY:
Giant Russian forward has a great nose for the net, and is gaining experience in KHL
9 COLORADO AVALANCHE
Sean Monahan, C, Ottawa (OHL)
SKINNY:
Physical playmaker also can score; top 15 in OHL scoring despite having little help
10 Columbus Blue Jackets (from LAK)
Elias Lindholm, C, Brynas (SWE)
SKINNY:
Playmaker with great skating ability and vision already excelling in Swedish Elite League
11 Philadelphia Flyers
Darnell Nurse, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
SKINNY:
Big, smart, steady blueliner can talk to uncle, Donovan McNabb about life in Philadelphia
12 DETROIT RED WINGS
Joshua Morrissey, D, Prince Albert (WHL)
SKINNY:
Skilled, smart defenseman eventually will make a solid piece in new-look Red Wings back end
13 DALLAS STARS
Anthony Mantha, LW, Val-d'Or (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Stars like big, skilled forwards, and the 6-foot-4, 190-pound Mantha fits that bill
14 TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
Frederik Gauthier, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Big and skilled offensively, but two best gifts might be his skating and defensive awareness
15 CAROLINA HURRICANES
Andre Burakovsky, LW, Malmo (SWE-2)
SKINNY:
Playmaker with good speed and vision could find himself on a line with a Staal relatively soon
16 MINNESOTA WILD
Valentin Zykov, LW, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Thickly-built forward (6-foot, 210) strong on his skates, and has skills and high compete level
17 Columbus Blue Jackets (from NYR)
Mirco Mueller, D, Everett (WHL)
SKINNY:
Smart puck-mover played alongside Jackets prospect Ryan Murray early in the season
18 Phoenix Coyotes
Adam Erne, LW, Quebec (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Strong skater, can finish or set up teammates, and is a willing and able backchecker
19 San Jose Sharks
Max Domi, C/LW, London (OHL)
SKINNY:
Talented playmaker isn't the biggest player on the ice, but never backs down from physical play
20 St. Louis Blues
Ian McCoshen, D, Waterloo (USHL)
SKINNY:
Two-way defenseman can skate well, and at 6-2.25, 207, physical play won't be a problem
21 Nashville Predators
Ryan Hartman, RW, Plymouth (OHL)
SKINNY:
Versatile offensive talent can play center/wing, excels at speed on forecheck and loves physical play
22 Ottawa Senators
Robert Hagg, D, Modo Jr. (SWE-JR)
SKINNY:
Two-way defenseman made a name for himself with an outstanding showing at the World Juniors
23 Toronto Maple Leafs
Shea Theodore, D, Seattle (WHL)
SKINNY:
Offensively gifted and a strong skater, and scouts really like his leadership abilities
24 BOSTON BRUINS
Morgan Klimchuk, LW, Regina (WHL)
SKINNY:
Heady player that doesn't do anything excellent, but does everything very well
25 Pittsburgh Penguins
J.T. Compher, LW, USA U-18 (USHL)
SKINNY:
There's a lot to like with this smooth-skating blueliner who does everything well
26 VANCOUVER CANUCKS
Nikita Zadorov, D, London (OHL)
SKINNY:
Big and physical with developing offensive game would be good fit on an aging Vancouver blue line
27 New Jersey Devils
Jason Dickinson, C, Guelph (OHL)
SKINNY:
Willing and able to get to the net offensively, and also is a skilled penalty killer
28 Montreal Canadiens
Bo Horvat, C, London (OHL)
SKINNY:
Gritty power forward skates hard, is aggressive offensively and wins battles at the net for loose pucks
29 Anaheim Ducks
Kerby Rychel, C/LW, Windsor (OHL)
SKINNY:
Supplies a good mix of skill and nastiness, and is a playmaker that's also good in the faceoff circle
30 Chicago Blackhawks
Zachary Fucale, G, Halifax (QMJHL)
SKINNY:
Best goalie available fills a need in the prospect pipeline