2013 NHL Mock Draft

For the third straight year, I've decided to put a mock draft on my blog. I look forward to the NHL draft all year and can't wait to see what unfolds over the next few days.

This is just for fun and I'm not running with any inside info here. It's just based on what I know about each player and team tendencies. And even though there will most assuredly be a few pick trades - including possibly the first overall - I'm not going to try to predict those. This is a mock draft, not a top-30 ranking.

I only had four guys right in their actual slot last year: Galchenyuk at 3, Reinhart at 4, Dumba at 7 and Vasilevski at 19. But I got 24 of the 30 players right.

1. Colorado Avalanche - Nathan MacKinnon, C
Sakic says they want a forward. Maybe he's bluffing, maybe he isn't, but let's take him at his word. Barring a trade down with Florida or Tampa, they add a budding superstar to an insanely talented group down the middle.

2. Florida Panthers - Seth Jones, D
Florida really wants MacKinnon and could move up. But they could certainly stand to add a stud to the blueline. If they stay at 2, Jones is the BPA and will bring his tantalizing array of talents to South Beach to join Gudbranson, Kulikov, Petrovic and Matheson in the system.

3. Tampa Bay Lightning - Valeri Nichushkin, RW
I think this is the most intriguing pick in the draft. I honestly believe there's an equal chance of them taking Drouin, Barkov or Nichushkin (maybe even Lindholm), assuming MacKinnon and Jones are the first two picks. Looking at the last two drafts since Al Murray took over their amateur scouting, they've gone heavy on Russians and OHL players. They've also taken mostly bigger guys, and Nichushkin (6'3", 196) fits the bill, as opposed to Drouin (5'10", 186). It's a gutsy pick, but one that could pay off in spades.

4. Nashville Predators - Jonathan Drouin, LW
Drouin is interesting in that he could, conceivably, go anywhere from 1-5 in the draft. The most common guess is that he goes third, but apparently Patrick Roy is super-high on him, and at the other end, Nichushkin and Sasha Barkov are so good that JD could drop. With the fourth pick, the offence-starved Preds jump at the chance to scoop him up. Put him beside Filip Forsberg in a couple years and watch the sparks fly.

5. Carolina Hurricanes - Aleksander Barkov, C
Although the Canes are rumoured to be looking for a D with this pick, either by using it or trading it, they'd be downright crazy to pass up Barkov. The Finnish blue chipper has huge offensive upside, is one of the best all-around players in the draft, a great skater and isn't afraid to use his 6'2", 205 frame to his advantage.

*6. Calgary Flames - Elias Lindholm, C
The Flames have holes everywhere, both on their roster and in the system, so it's strictly BPA here. Luckily for them, they have two tremendous centres to choose from as a cornerstone of their rebuild (the other being Sean Monahan). Lindholm is coming off an excellent season with Brynas (SEL) and some believe he could be the next Peter Forsberg. A terrific all-around scoop for Calgary.

7. Edmonton Oilers - Darnell Nurse, D
The Oilers have a choice here between Monahan and Nurse (with Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov also possibilities). They're actually deeper defensively on the roster and in the system than many realize, but I still wouldn't call it an area of strength. Many want them to take a centre, but between RNH and Gagner (who I think will get signed) plus the likes of Lander, Pitlick and Martindale in the system, I think they're OK there. Nurse gives them size (which he uses very well), excellent skating for a big man, strong offensive potential and and the ability to eat up minutes.

8. Buffalo Sabres - Sean Monahan, C
The Sabres did take Grigorenko and Girgensons last year, but Monahan is too good to pass on. He's not going to win any scoring titles, but he brings an extremely balanced game with good skating, excellent hockey sense and a defensive conscience. He's competitive and not far away from the NHL. He can also play the wing, which could be very useful to Buffalo down the road.

9. New Jersey Devils - Hunter Shinkaruk, C/LW
The Devils' farm system is hurting everywhere and Shinkaruk fills a big void with his scoring prowess and drive to succeed. The Medicine Hat Tigers' captain plays bigger than his 5'10, 181 frame and can be electrifying when he gets going. He brings a complete offensive package to a Devils club that has seen its once-strong forward group begin to crumble. New Jersey is tempted to grab blue chip goalie Zach Fucale here, but taking a goalie this high doesn't often work out.

10. Dallas Stars - Nikita Zadorov, D
Although they have a few strong prospects, the Stars' farm system needs some work everywhere. A tough choice with the likes of Zadorov, Ristolainen, Max Domi, Bo Horvat, Ryan Pulock and Alexander Wennberg available. One of several big defencemen in the first round, Zadorov skates very well and plays a physical game. The 6'4", 200-pound London rearguard uses his reach effectively and has a promising offensive arsenal, including a booming shot.

11. Philadelphia Flyers - Rasmus Ristolainen, D
12. Phoenix Coyotes - Max Domi, C
13. Winnipeg Jets - Anthony Mantha, LW
14. Columbus Blue Jackets - Bo Horvat, C
15. New York Islanders - Zach Fucale, G
16. Buffalo Sabres - Ryan Pulock, D
17. Ottawa Senators - Samuel Morin, D
18. Detroit Red Wings - Mirco Mueller, D
19. Columbus Blue Jackets - Valentin Zykov, LW
20. San Jose Sharks - Alexander Wennberg, C
21. Toronto Maple Leafs - Curtis Lazar, C
*22. Calgary Flames - Josh Morrissey, D
23. Washington Capitals - Andre Burakovsky, LW
24. Vancouver Canucks - Adam Erne, LW
25. Montreal Canadiens - Frederik Gauthier, C
26. Anaheim Ducks - Ryan Hartman, RW
27. Columbus Blue Jackets - Nic Petan, C
*28. Calgary Flames - Kerby Rychel, LW
29. Dallas Stars - Morgan Klimchuk, LW
30. Chicago Blackhawks - Robert Hagg, D

Honourable mention:
Shea Theodore, D; Jason Dickinson, C; J.T. Compher, LW, Madison Bowey, D; Emile Poirier, LW; Jacob De la Rose, C.

*I accept no responsibility if Jay Feaster uses any of his picks to go off the board and take a HUGE SLEEPER PICK from Liechtenstein

A tough anniversary

Today marks two years since my uncle, George, was killed in a motorcycle accident.

George and I always had a special bond. He was a brother to me and he was the one person who always had my back no matter what. He was a hell of a guy: funny, caring, smart, athletic. He always seemed to do the right thing, and in a lot of ways he was my hero.

George had an uncanny ability to connect with people and make them feel valued. He meant the world to a lot of people in Canada and Australia, where he was a teacher for about 15 years. I was overwhelmed when I realized how many co-workers and students were mourning his loss. He left a void that will never be filled.

Although he was 46 when he died, George was a big kid at heart. He was so full of life. That made it even harder to accept he was gone.

It's almost as hard to believe that it's been two years since our lives were turned upside down.