2013 NHL Mock Draft Sneak Preview

Published: 28^th Sep 11 2:07 pm

by Chris Ransom
New England Patriots and Dallas Stars Featured Columnist

6 Rants

It is way too early for a 2013 NHL Mock Draft. I’m just trying to look at some of the early prospects who may be drafted in a few years from now. The draft order was determined at random.

1. Detroit Red Wings Nathan MacKinnon C Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL Everyone is saying that MacKinnon is the next Sidney Crosby. MacKinnon played for the same AAA Bantam team as Crosby in Cole Harbour. He also played for the same high school as Crosby at Shattuck Saint. Mary’s. Just like Crosby, Nathan MacKnnon went #1 overall in the QMJHL Entry Draft. Two years after Crosby went #1 overall in the 2003 QMJHL Entry Draft he went #1 overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. There is a good chance MacKinnon could follow suit going #1 overall in 2013.

The Baie-Comeau Drakkar selected MacKinnon #1 overall. The Halifax Moosheads dealt their 2012, 2013, and 2014 first round picks to Baie-Comeau Drakkar in exchange for Nathan MacKinnon one month after MacKinnon got drafted.

MacKinnon will play with Brent Andrews and Martin Frk on that first line in Halifax this season.

MacKinnon had 110 and 145 points in his 2 seasons at Cole Harbour. At Shattuck St. Mary’s High School he had 101 points on their Bantam team while posting 93 points on their under 16 team.

Last season in 40 games MacKinnon posted 45 goals and 48 assists in 40 games which is really impressive.

There is no reason for Nathan MacKinnon not to go #1 overall in 2013 unless he fails to live up to expectations over the next two seasons in Halifax. I really cannot see that happening with the talent around him.

MacKinnon’s points totals may not match Crosby, but MacKinnon has faced tougher competition at the junior level while posting impressive numbers.

MacKinnon is the clear cut #1 overall pick at this point. MacKinnon will be a franchise player in the NHL if he continues to produce out of this world numbers in the QMJHL. I really believe that if nothing bad happens to MacKinnon he will jump straight to the NHL.

Through 6 games with the Halifax Mooseheads in 2011 Nate MacKinnon leads the Mooseheads with 10 points racking up 2 goals and 8 assists in those 6 games.

Even if the Red Wings do end up getting a center in 2012 they have to get MacKinnon in 2013 if they end up with the top pick. Nate MacKinnon is just that good.

2012 First Round Pick Nikolas Kerdiles C US Under 18 Team

2. Calgary Flames Alex Forsberg C Prince George Cougars WHL Forsberg went #1 overall to the Prince George Cougars in the 2010 WHL Entry Draft. Alex Forsberg only appeared in 5 games and had a +1 in goals for when on the ice.

Forsberg will likely be on the 2nd line worst case scenario for the Prince George Cougars. Right now it looks like Alex Forsberg has not done much. He will get much more ice time for Prince George in 2011 and will be on the front 6.

I have Calgary getting right winger Martin Frk 6th overall in my 2012 NHL Mock Draft. Pairing Frk, Bartschi, and Forsberg up would give Calgary a future tandem of line 1 prospects for when Jarome Iginla retires.

2012 First Round Pick Martin Frk RW Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL

3. Anaheim Ducks Seth Jones D US Under 18 USHL Seth Jones has the defensive skill set of a #1 defender on line 1. Anaheim already has Fowler. Combining Fowler and Jones on line 1 would give the Ducks a defense that could dominate for the next 2 decades.

Seth Jones is the son of former NBA baller Popeye Jones. Even if the Ducks decide to take Jordan Schmaltz in 2012, Seth Jones would be a major upgrade over Schmaltz in 2013. Schmaltz could develop for a while until he becomes a suitable line 2 defender.

2012 First Round Pick Jordan Schmaltz D Sioux City Musketeers USHL

4. Winnipeg Jets Max Domi C Kingston Frontenacs OHL Max Domi was drafted 8th overall by Kingston in the 2011 OHL Entry Draft. Max Domi is the son of Ty Domi.

Max Domi would be the best available player with this pick and WInnipeg would be able to bring Domi up right away while giving Marcantuoni another year of development in the OHL.

Domi would compete with Mark Scheifele for the right to be the Winnipeg Jets line 2 center once 2013 rolls around.

2012 First Round Pick Matia Marcantuoni C Kitchener Rangers OHL

5. Phoenix Coyotes Philippe Venne LW Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL Venne went in the 2nd round of the 2011 QMJHL Draft. Drummondville has their potential replacement to Sean Couturier with Philippe Venne. If he posts Couturier like numbers than Venne will be a top 5 pick in 2013.

2012 First Round Pick Mikhail Grigorenko RW Quebec Remparts QMJHL

6. Carolina Hurricanes Madison Bowey D Kelowna Rockets WHL Bowey got 1 assist in 3 games last year seeing limited action as a rookie. This season Bowey gets to be the #5 defender on the depth chart anchoning the Rockets 3rd line.

Madison Bowey would likely return to the OHL if the Hurricanes drafted him with this selection

2012 First Round Pick Derrick Pouliot D Portland Winterhawks WHL

7. Ottawa Senators Curtis Lazar C Edmonton Oil Kings WHL Curtis Lazar went 2nd overall in the 2010 WHL Entry Draft behind Alex Forsberg. Lazar had 1 point in 6 games. Lazar will play line 2 at center. Michael St. Croix the teams line 1 center was a 2nd round prospect who got drafted in the 4th round.

2012 First Round Pick Nick Ebert D Windsor Spitfires OHL

8. Toronto Maple Leafs Cole Murphy LW Cape Brenton Eagles QMJHL Murphy was drafted in the 4th round of the 2011 QMJHL Draft. Murphy was a major sleeper who has the upside and potential to develop into a top 10 pick in a few years with the proper development.

2012 First Round Pick Alex Galchenyuk C Sarnia Sting OHL

9. St. Louis Blues Darnell Nurse D Sault. Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL Darnell Nurse went 3rd overall in the 2011 OHL Entry Draft. The Blues have the luxury of taking the best available player with this pick.

2012 First Round Pick Jacob Trouba D US Under 18 USHL

10. San Jose Sharks Nicholas Baptise RW Sudbury Wolves OHL Baptise went 6th overall in the 2011 OHL Entry Draft. The Sharks have the luxury off adding youth at the wing by taking the best player available.

2012 First Round Pick Henrik Samuelsson RW US Under 18 USHL

11. Nashville Predators Viktor Crus-Rydberg C Tyingsryds AIF Allsvenskan Nashville has a habit of scouting prospects in Sweden and then taking those prospects and developing those players into starters on their roster.

2012 First Round Pick Petteri Lindbohm D Blues Espoo SM Liiga

12. Boston Bruins Josh Morrissey D Prince Albert Raiders WHL Boston has the luxury of taking the best player available if they end up picking this high in 2013. Josh Morrissey would be the best player available to take at #12 overall.

Josh Morrissey saw limited action as a rookie. He played 5 games, posted no points, his line allowed 3 goals while failing to score any, and Morrisey took 4 penalty minutes in 5 games.

Josh Morrissey went 6th overall in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. Antoine Corbin and Harrison Ruopp will play the first line for Prince Albert this season with Morrissey playing the 2nd line this upcoming season. Morrissey should get more ice time on line 2 so we will have a better read on Morrissey after this year.

2012 First Round Pick Eric Locke LW Barrie Colts OHL

13. New Jersey Devils Eric Viekrant G US Under 18 USHL Viekrant is the most promising US Under 18 goalie prospect in the country despite his age. Viekrant should be the first goalie selected in 2013.

2012 First Round Pick Olli Maata D London Knights OHL

14. Washington Capitals Valery Nichuskin RW Traktor MHL Its not like Washington doesn’t need a a line 1 right winger upgrade. Alexander Semin is more suited as a line 2 left winger. Semin plays line 1 right wing because he is the best winger Washington has besides Ovechkin.

2012 First Round Picks Zemgus Girgensons C Dubuque Fighting Saints USHL and Michael Mathenson D Dubuque Fighting Saints

15. Columbus Blue Jackets Ville Husso G IFK SM Liiga The Blue Jackets may take a goalie here if Steve Mason fails to develop into a playoff caliber goalie. Mason would remain with the Blue Jackets until Husso was ready to make the jump to the NHL.

2012 First Round Pick Griffin Reinhart D Edmonton Oil Kings WHL

16. Pittsburgh Penguins Jonathan Drouin C Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL Jonathan Drouin was the clear cut #2 overall prospect in the 2011 QMJHL Entry draft. Drouin was the 2nd pick in the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft. The Penguins will need a center for the future in a few years. Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal both have expiring contracts in 2013 while Malkin’s deal is up in 2014. The Penguins have to get a center with their 1st round pick in 2012 or 2013.

2012 First Round Pick Charles Simard Hudon LW Chicoutimi Sagueneens QMJHL

17. New York Islanders Kevin Ekman-Larsson D Leksand Allvenskan Kevin Ekman-Larsson is the little brother of Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

2012 First Round Pick Slater Koekkoek D Peterborough Petes OHL

18. Dallas Stars Morgan Klimchuk C Regina Pats WHL Morgan Klimchuk was drafted 5th overall in the 2010 WHL Entry Draft. The Stars need a center for their first line. The Stars cannot pass on Klimchuk if he becomes available.

2012 First Round Pick Filip Forsberg LW Leksands Allsvenskan

19. Buffalo Sabres Connor Rankin C Tri City Americans WHL Connor Rankin scored a hat trick against the Memorial Cup favorite Portland Winterhawks. You have to be impressed with Rankin’s ability to get a hat trick the other night.

2012 First Round Pick Brendan Gaunce C Belleville Bulls OHL

20. Colorado Avalanche Sergei Kupcov LW Traktor MHL The Avalanche could use a left winger for the future on the back 6. Kupcov and Nichuskin compliment each other so well for Traktor.

2012 First Round Pick No first round Pick

21. Chicago Blackhawks Sean Monahan C Ottawa 67′s OHL Monahan has recorded 5 points in 2 games with the Ottawa 67′s this season. Monahan should be a first round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. If he keeps performing this well he could sneak up NHL draft boards like Tri City center Connor Rankin.

2012 First Round Pick Gianluca Curcuruto D Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds OHL

22. Philadelphia Flyers Alexandre Belanger G Rouyn-Noranda Huskies QMJHL Belanger has the ability to be a late first round pick if everything works out properly. Belanger was a rookie drafted in the late part of round 1 of the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft. Some fans and scouts think Belanger is so good that he should have been a top 5 pick in the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft. Belanger will be a star in the QMJHL and his skill set should translate to the NHL.

2012 First Round Pick Alex Gudbranson D Kingston Frontenacs OHL

23. Montreal Canadians Jordan Subban D Belleville Bulls OHL Jordan Subban is the brother of Malcolm Subban. Many Canadians fans like both Subban brothers. These same Canadians fans like Jordan better than Malcolm Subban. Subban should go higher than this. For now I will put Jordan Subban at #23 overall.

2012 First Round Pick Morgan Reilly D Moose Jaw Warriors WHL

24. Minnesota Wild Jesse Lees D Kelowna Rockets WHL Lees will play with Madison Bowey as a complimentary defender on the Rockets first line within a year from now. Lees could play on the Wild’s 2nd line for defense down the road in Minnesota.

2012 First Round Pick Ryan Murray D Everett Silvertips WHL

25. Florida Panthers William Carrier C Cape Brenton Eagles QMJHL William Carrier will be the playmaker center who gets the puck to sniper left winger Cole Murphy. In a year from now you will hear about the Carrier to Murphy combo.

2012 First Round Pick Nail Yakupov RW Sarnia Sting OHL

26. Los Angeles Kings Jordan Maletta C Windsor Spitfires OHL Jordan Maletta is a playmaker, sniper, and two way forward. Maletta can play center, left wing, or right wing as a forward. Maletta was the Spitfires 2011 first round pick in the 2011 OHL Entry Draft. Maletta has good size weighing in at 6 foot 3 200 pounds.

2012 First Round Pick Scott Laughton C Oshawa Generals OHL

27. New York Rangers Ryan Pulock D Brandon Wheat Kings WHL If the New York Rangers pick this high it means they reached the 2013 Eastern Conference Finals making huge strides with Brad Richards and Marion Gaborik. Pulock led all 16 year old defenseman with 42 points last season.

2012 First Round Pick Cody Ceci D Ottawa 67′s OHL

28. Vancouver Canucks Eric Roy D Brandon Wheat Kings WHL If Vancouver gets this far it means that the Canucks will have made their 3rd straight Western Conference Finals appearance.

Eric Roy is the defensive defenseman of the Wheat Kings while his teammate Ryan Pulock is the offensive defenseman.

2012 First Round Pick Sebastian Collberg RW Frolunda HC Elitserien

29. Edmonton Oilers Micael Lyle C Acadie Bathurst Titan QMJHL If the Oilers pick this high in 2013 it means they reached the Stanley Cup.

Micael Lyle was a 4th round pick in the 2011 QMJHL Entry Draft. Lyle has the potential to sneak into round 1 of the 2013 NHL Draft when the time arrives.

2012 First Round Pick Matthew Dumba D Red Deer Rebels WHL

30. Tampa Bay Lightning Craig Leverton C Lethbridge Hurricanes WHL If the Lightning pick 30th it means they won the 2013 Stanley Cup. I could see the Lightning winning it in 2013. There is going to be too much pressure on them to win it in 2012 so I think the Lightning have better odds of taking home the cup in 2013.

2012 First Round Pick Malcolm Subban G Belleville Bulls OHL

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