Beaner
06-18-2006, 01:33 PM
from, http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=7065&hubname=
Last Updated: June 16
So who will go first? Johnson? Staal? Kessel? Different teams have different needs and viewpoints on prospects.
With that in mind, the following is TSN.ca's mock first round for non-playoff teams at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. As with every other year, it's pretty much a crap shoot.
Any three or four players have a shot at being taken by a given team, and this mock draft is, at best, a guess at the general area where a player may go. Hey, your guess is as good as ours.
The draft order for the 16 teams that made the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs is based on the playoff results, and will be determined at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final.
Note: Mock trades are not projected in this scenario.
Check back for updates as the draft approaches. You can watch the event live on TSN, Saturday June 24 at 6pm et/3pm pt.
The First 14 Picks
Selection Number Team Player
1 St. Louis Blues Erik Johnson
Note: The Blues traded Chris Pronger last summer, but will get a great future blueliner in Johnson.
2 Pittsburgh Penguins Jordan Staal
Note: The thought of Crosby, Malkin and Staal down the middle is too enticing to pass up.
3 Chicago Blackhawks Phil Kessel
Note: The Hawks need a player who can help sell tickets, and Kessel could provide some excitement.
4 Washington Capitals Nicklas Backstrom
Note: Backstrom, a centre, could one day form a lethal line with Alexander Ovechkin.
5 Boston Bruins Jonathan Toews
Note: The Bruins need a bit of everything, and the North Dakota forward is a very good start.
6 Columbus Blue Jackets Jiri Tlusty
Note: With Nash and Zherdev already up, the Jackets could use someone to develop slowly.
7 NY Islanders Derick Brassard
Note: Brassard brings a good skill set that would suit first-year GM Neil Smith well.
8 Phoenix Coyotes Bryan Little
Note: Don't let his 5'10 frame fool you, he's a terrific scorer and playmaker.
9 Minnesota Wild Kyle Okposo
Note: The Shattuck St. Marys grad would be a perfect fit in the state of hockey-mad Minnesota.
10 Florida Panthers Michael Frolik
Note: At 10th overall, he could be the steal of the draft with his speed, hockey sense and skill.
11 Los Angeles Kings Bob Sanguinetti
Note: Sanguinetti would compliment a pretty young Kings team, especially on the blueline.
12 Atlanta Thrashers Peter Mueller
Note: With or without Marc Savard, Atlanta needs to develop a skilled centre.
13 Toronto Maple Leafs James Sheppard
Note: Sheppard will bring size and a solid two-way game for the Maple Leafs.
14 Vancouver Canucks Artem Anisimov
Note: An early pick, but the Canucks may have the patience to develop him into a future cornerstone.
Find it a bit a of a stretch that Mueller would drop that far in the draft considering he has been considered a top 5 pick all year.
Last Updated: June 16
So who will go first? Johnson? Staal? Kessel? Different teams have different needs and viewpoints on prospects.
With that in mind, the following is TSN.ca's mock first round for non-playoff teams at the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. As with every other year, it's pretty much a crap shoot.
Any three or four players have a shot at being taken by a given team, and this mock draft is, at best, a guess at the general area where a player may go. Hey, your guess is as good as ours.
The draft order for the 16 teams that made the 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs is based on the playoff results, and will be determined at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Final.
Note: Mock trades are not projected in this scenario.
Check back for updates as the draft approaches. You can watch the event live on TSN, Saturday June 24 at 6pm et/3pm pt.
The First 14 Picks
Selection Number Team Player
1 St. Louis Blues Erik Johnson
Note: The Blues traded Chris Pronger last summer, but will get a great future blueliner in Johnson.
2 Pittsburgh Penguins Jordan Staal
Note: The thought of Crosby, Malkin and Staal down the middle is too enticing to pass up.
3 Chicago Blackhawks Phil Kessel
Note: The Hawks need a player who can help sell tickets, and Kessel could provide some excitement.
4 Washington Capitals Nicklas Backstrom
Note: Backstrom, a centre, could one day form a lethal line with Alexander Ovechkin.
5 Boston Bruins Jonathan Toews
Note: The Bruins need a bit of everything, and the North Dakota forward is a very good start.
6 Columbus Blue Jackets Jiri Tlusty
Note: With Nash and Zherdev already up, the Jackets could use someone to develop slowly.
7 NY Islanders Derick Brassard
Note: Brassard brings a good skill set that would suit first-year GM Neil Smith well.
8 Phoenix Coyotes Bryan Little
Note: Don't let his 5'10 frame fool you, he's a terrific scorer and playmaker.
9 Minnesota Wild Kyle Okposo
Note: The Shattuck St. Marys grad would be a perfect fit in the state of hockey-mad Minnesota.
10 Florida Panthers Michael Frolik
Note: At 10th overall, he could be the steal of the draft with his speed, hockey sense and skill.
11 Los Angeles Kings Bob Sanguinetti
Note: Sanguinetti would compliment a pretty young Kings team, especially on the blueline.
12 Atlanta Thrashers Peter Mueller
Note: With or without Marc Savard, Atlanta needs to develop a skilled centre.
13 Toronto Maple Leafs James Sheppard
Note: Sheppard will bring size and a solid two-way game for the Maple Leafs.
14 Vancouver Canucks Artem Anisimov
Note: An early pick, but the Canucks may have the patience to develop him into a future cornerstone.
Find it a bit a of a stretch that Mueller would drop that far in the draft considering he has been considered a top 5 pick all year.