2009 NHL Mock Draft

I wanted to kind of put up how I think the board will look like after the first round tomorrow night. Of course once teams start making trades and other things, the board will probably look completely different. But, as the order is set right now these are my picks. Each player has their name then (position, height, weight, team, and country they are from.)

1. John Tavares (C, 6'0", 183 lbs., London (OHL), Canada)
This is the pick that everyone seen coming. Islanders fan have been excited about this pick since the end of the season when they were chanting his name. He tallied 50 points in 24 games for the London Knights last season. Look for him to be on the NHL roster next year. Many debated that Tavares would not go first because of his lack of speed and his defensive skills. Which brings me to the number two pick...

2. Victor Hedman (D, 6'7", 229 lbs., Modo, Sweden)
Touted as the best european skater available in the draft. He is a big defensemen, but moves like a smaller guy. He is very mobile, and has excellent puck sense. He is fully capable of being a leader and playing 20 minutes right away. Hedman recorded 21 points in 43 games for his Swedish Elite League club and earned the Rookie of the Year honors in 2008-09.

3. Matt Duchene (C, 5'11", 200 lbs., Brampton (OHL), Canada)
Duchene is a pure offensive player who also is a great penalty killer. He has great speed, and has the ability to read the play. He put up 79 points in 59 games and was voted the Best Playmaker and Best Stickhandler in the OHL Eastern Conference Coaches Poll.

4. Evander Kane (C, 6'1", 176 lbs., Vancouver (WHL), Canada)
He has power forward qualities and he does not like being denied access to the net. Anytime he has the puck he is heading straight for the net. He will be a 200-pound forward in the NHL. He plays bigger than his size, and has surprised a lot of people with his strength going to the net. He tallied 96 point in 61 games with Vancouver of the WHL last year.

5. Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi (LW, 6'2", 200 lbs., Timra, Sweden)
Man do the Kings love their European players, thats why I chose to put Magnus here. He is a speed extraordinaire, ability to freeze defenders and make all his good moves work even more effectively. He is the stereotypical Euro coming to the NHL. He looks to be the only player besides Tavares that is NHL ready.

6. Brayden Schenn (F, 6'1", 198 lbs., Brandon (WHL), Canada)
He has learned a little about the NHL from his older brother Luke Schenn and he knows how to go to the net. He is a threat to score at all times on the ice and dishes the puck very effectively to his linemates in getting the amount of assists that he does. He has the power forward mindset. He put up 88 points in 70 games for Brandon (WHL) last season.

7. Jared Cowen (D, 6'5", 220 lbs., Spokane (WHL), Canada)
He has size and looks to be a big guy to put at the blue line. This is exactly what GM Brian Burke loves: size and toughness. It will take him a year or two in the minors to develop speed and get used to fast pace style of the NHL. When he gets there he will be a force to be reckond with. He posted 21 points in 48 games for Spokane (WHL) last season.

8. Zack Kassian (RW, 6'3", 210 lbs., Peterborough, Canada)
Kassian is one of the toughest guys in the OHL and probably the entire draft. He is at his best when he is playing physical and tough along the boards. He protects the puck very well and fights through checks. He has very good play-making and puck-handling abilities. This guy will be able to play the game while getting involved in the fisticuffs. He tallied 63 points in 61 games with Peterborough while racking up 136 PIM.

9. John Moore (D, 6'2", 189 lbs., Chicago Steel (USHL), USA)
Moore is a gifted skater with tremendous skill that allows him to create time and space with the puck and offensive opportunities. He passes the puck like a pro and has a big time shot as well. He has great leadership qualities and comes in knowing he has to get better everyday. He put up 39 points in 57 games for Chicago (USHL) last season.

10. Carter Ashton (RW, 6'3", 205 lbs., Lethbridge (WHL), Canada)
He knows the game and really is astute at the power-play and penalty kill, offensive and defensive parts of his game. He is the stereotypical power forward. He skates well and has a decent skill set. He recorded 50 points in 70 games for Lethbridge (WHL) last season.

11. Scott Glennie (LW, 6'2", 177 lbs., Brandon (WHL), Canada)
He is a tremendous skater, an excellent puck handler, and scores many different ways. Glennie has the power forward abilities and is compared to Jonathan Cheechoo and Jonathan Toews for the kind of offensive ability. He put up 70 points in 55 games last season for Brandon (WHL).

12. Jordan Schroeder (RW, 5'10", 175 lbs., U of MN, USA)
He has a phenomenal wrist shot and he can beat you by putting the puck in the net, going around a defender, or freezing the goaltender and passing it off to one of his wingers. He is hard to knock off the puck and has good speed. The only concern for Schroeder is his size, this is what causes him to drop to 12th in the draft. He tallied 40 points in 32 games with the Gophers last season and won the WCHA Rookie of the Year.

Thanks to the NHL for some of their scouting information.