2008 NHL Mock Draft

Well ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of year again. In exactly two days, the 2008 NHL Draft will commence, and we will see 30 NHL prospects being drafted onto their first professional teams. This draft is widely regarded as a very deep one, especially on the defensive side. Aside from the sure fire first overall pick, there is great debate of the picks that come after. Throughout this mock draft, I will give reasoning and rationale for each draft pick corresponding to the needs of the team for the first round. For the second round, I will simply list the picks, due to not having as much knowledge as I do for the higher heralded prospects. Without further ado: my 2008 NHL Mock Draft.

1. Tampa Bay- Steven Stamkos (C)

No surprise here. Drawing comparisons to Steve Yzerman, he’ll step right onto the Bolts’ 2nd line center position. Does everything at top speed and can play defense well. Has franchise potential and as a result is an insurance policy in case Vinny decides to leave the Bay.

2. LA- Drew Doughty (D)

It will be a tough decision between Doughty and Bogosian for the pick, but LA has shown interest in Doughty in the past, and in my opinion would be the perfect defensive partner for Jack Johnson. Has Scott Niedermayer like potential.

3. Atlanta- Zach Bogosian (D)

Atlanta goes for the BPA with their pick. Has a nasty streak to his game, with some offense to go along with it. His great performance at the combine shows that he has a desire to play the game, and will only work to better his game. Could perhaps become the best defenseman taken in the draft.

4. St. Louis- Nikita Filatov (LW/C)

What transfer agreement? JD will comparatively speaking go off the board with this pick. Filatov has expressed his open desire to play in Canada next year, heading to the Junior League there to round out his game. Filatov is too dynamic of a talent for St. Louis to pass up, adding even more to the offensive juggernaut that St. Louis is slowly building.

5. NY Islanders- Colin Wilson (C)

Relatively speaking, another off the board pick. However, the Islanders need help in every position but goalie, and Garth Snow has openly expressed his praise for the BU product. Another prospect whose good combine helped their draft stock. Will be formidable with Kyle Okposo on a line in a couple of years time.

6. Columbus- Luke Schenn (D)

Columbus has a recent history of taking quick and dynamic forwards with their first round picks. This year, however, will be different. It’s time that Columbus picks a defensive cornerstone to anchor their defense. Schenn is a good start.

7. Toronto- Mikkel Boedker (W)

The most surprising pick in this mock. Toronto sees something in this guy that will make them snag him at 7th overall. He would certainly help give a Toronto offense that will be in need of an identity after Sundin retires. Toronto is more in need of a forward prospect, and they go with the next best available winger in the draft.

8. Phoenix- Alex Pietrangelo (D)

An obvious BPA scenario here. Phoenix is shocked that Pietrangelo is still available at their pick, causing Don Maloney to rush to the podium to make this pick. Phoenix’s draft starts off with a bang, and in a big way. A tall, puck moving defenseman, Phoenix possibly drafts Ed Jovanowski’s successor on Phoenix’s back line.

9. Nashville- Kyle Beach (C)

With two first rounders within 6 spots of each other, Nashville rolls the dice with this pick. With the defensive pipeline full, Nashville will most likely take two forwards in the first round. Kyle Beach has very high potential, but his past concussions and alleged attitude issues make him the biggest question mark in the first round.

10. Vancouver- Cody Hodgson (C)

Vancouver needs offensive help, badly. With no noteworthy O prospects besides Grabner, the Canucks need another sure-fire top 6 forward in the system. A second line center for sure, he has the potential to be more if he can play the body well at the NHL level.

11. Chicago-Tyler Myers (D)

With a very strong farm system, the Hawks can afford to take a risk with this selection. Has Chara like potential, but the bust factor is also very high. Skill level is described as very raw, and will need several years before he can be considered for the big club. Could turn into the defensive steal of the draft if he turns into the late bloomer most scouts are dreaming of.

12. Anaheim- Josh Bailey (C)

Disappointed that Kyle Beach is taken, Burke opts for the safe pick. Bailey is a very quick and slick playmaker that will be a good second line center in this league one day. Complements Getzlaf’s power game very well. I can see a line of Perry, Bailey, and Bobby Ryan tearing up the Pacific division in a few years.
13. Buffalo- Colby Robak (D)

In lieu of the departure of Cambell, the Sabres will need a replacement on the back end that has the capability of playing big minutes. Although I believe Buffalo needs a forward prospect, they always have a way of puzzling me with their picks. Robak can one day turn into a solid defenseman in the league that will be able to QB the power play.

14. Carolina- Zach Boychuk (C)

If not for a bare prospects cupboard, Carolina would have liked to trade up and grab this guy. They find themselves very fortunate to see Boychuk fall into their laps. Though smallish in size, he fits Carolina’s style of hard forechecking offense very well.

15. Nashville- Mattias Tedenby (W)

Taking Kyle Beach at 9th overall, the Preds select the polar opposite in Tedenby. A small, skilled forward with top 6 potential, he reminds many of Saku Koivu back in the day. Watch out for this guy. He could very well turn into the second coming of Martin St. Louis that has similar success in the NHL.

16. Boston- Zac Dalpe (C)

Boston takes a flyer on this late riser. He would fit nicely on a line with Bergeron or Savard, adding to the recent signing of Blake Wheeler. His hard work ethic, defensive prowess, and good attitude fit right into what Claude Julien wants in a player and in the system that he employs in Boston.

17. Calgary- Jordan Eberle (C)

Calgary goes a bit off the board with this pick. The intrigue of a player that topped 90 points in a defensive WHL intrigues Calgary into using their first rounder on him. I expect him to be a very solid sniper that can regularly score 25 goals per year, in turn would help provide secondary scoring to a lineup that needs it.

18. Ottawa- Colten Teubert (D)

This guy can hit, period. He plays defense very well, and will make forwards think twice about their actions when he is on the ice. Questions about his hockey sense and offensive upside cause him to drop. Komisarek vs. Teubert can very well headline a slugfest every time Ottawa faces Montreal in the very near future.

19. Columbus- Michael Del Zotto (D)

Columbus goes BPA with their second first rounder, and is very happy to see Del Zotto still on the board. As an offensive defenseman, he complements the earlier picking of Schenn very well. A big kid at 6’ and 200 pounds, he projects to fill out very nicely, and will end up being a very effective NHL’er in the mold of Sandis Ozolinsh.

20. NY Rangers- John Carlson (D)

As a Ranger fan, I am very happy with this pick. Molding his game after Scott Stevens, he has a knack for getting his shot to the net and has the ability to throw a nasty hit and play a responsible defensive game. At 6’2” and 212 pounds right now, he will be a monster when he is ready to turn pro.

21. New Jersey- Anton Gustafsson (C)

The Devils need a center, and they will go with a Lou Lamoriello special, and draft Sweden’s answer to John Madden. Gustaffson has the ability to play a great two way game, though his ceiling is limited compared to the other first round forward prospects.

22. Edmonton- Greg Nemisz (C)

With the BPA’s remaining on the defensive end of the board, Edmonton goes for a team need with this pick. He is a power forward that is described as a poor man’s Rick Nash. He needs work on skating, but he can turn into a nice pick if he can put it all together.

23. Washington- Joe Colborne (C/W)

With a good prospect pool, Washington can afford to gamble with this pick. Nylander and Fedorov are not getting any younger, so Washington will be in need of another center in the near future. Colborne is a project, but can be this year’s bonafide sleeper in the draft if he improves his physical play, and proves that he can carry his skill set to the next level.

24. Minnesota- Luca Sbisa (D)

I’d be shocked to see Sbisa fall this low, but based on the needs of previous teams, he can fall like a rock on the 20th of June. Minnesota pounces on the opportunity to draft him, and get a future middle pair defenseman at the worst. Although he exhibit above average poise, he needs to prove that he can keep his cool under pressure at the NHL level.

25. Montreal- Nicholas Deschamps (C)

Montreal goes ahead and picks the local kid born in Quebec. Very calm and quick with the puck, he reminds many of another French Canadian in Boston named Bergeron. Will end up being a fan favorite in Montreal.

26. Buffalo- Danny Kristo (RW)

Buffalo loves drafting American kids, and the pattern continues with the 1st rounder Buffalo acquired in the Campbell trade. Quick with the puck, although not very physical, is a winger version of Tim Connolly, minus the injury problems (or I hope so for Buffalo’s sake).

27. Philadelphia- Thomas McCollum (G)

Philly has no glaring needs, so they draft an insurance policy for Martin Biron and Antero Nittymaki. With good positioning and a quick butterfly, he has number one potential for sure, it’s only a matter of when he’ll get his shot with the big club.

28. LA- Jake Gardiner (D)

Recently converting from forward to defense, his versatility will attract LA for their 2nd first rounder of the day. Although I will not surprised to see LA trade up with this pick along with one of their second rounders, Gardiner will be a solid mid level defenseman or a great energy guy if LA chooses to convert him back to forward.

29. Atlanta- Maxime Sauve (C)

Atlanta drafts a guy that can help jumpstart their offense. A very quick and dynamic player, he can be a nice addition to Atlanta’s forward prospects cupboard.

30. Detroit- Erik Karlsson (D)

The Wings have a good history of drafting Scandanavians, and they will opt for another Swedish national with the closing pick in Day 1. He is very quick, and has a good shot that shows shades of a young Sergei Zubov. Could very well end up as Lidstrom’s successor as a point man on the Detroit power play. He will, however, need to hit the gym in order to not get pushed around in the NHL.

31. Florida- Chet Pickard (G)

32. LA- Kirill Petrov (LW)

33. St. Louis- Tyler Cuma (D)

34. St. Louis- Matt Calvert (LW)

35. Phoenix- Jared Staal (W)

36. NY Islanders- Jyri Niemi (D)

37. Columbus- Cody Goloubef (D)

38. Phoenix- Yann Sauve (D)

39. Phoenix-Tyler Ennis (C/LW)

40. Florida- Aaron Ness (D)

41. Vancouver- Shawn Lalonde (D)

42. Ottawa- Luke Adam (C)

43. Anaheim- Cory Fienhage (D)

44. Buffalo- Jamie Arniel (C)

45. Carolina- Brandon Burlon (D)

46. Nashville- Jacob Markstrom (G)

47. Boston- Adam Comrie (D)

48. LA- Justin Schultz (D)

49. Phoenix- James Livingston (RW)

50. Colorado- Kruise Reddick (C)

51. NY Rangers- Danick Paquette (W)

52. New Jersey- Harri Sateri (G)

53. NY Islanders- Eric O’Dell (C/RW)

54. Washington- AJ Jenks (LW)

55. Minnesota- Justin Jokinen (RW)

56. Montreal-David Carle (D)

57. Washington-Victor Tikhanov (W)

58. Washington-Michael Stone (D)

59. Dallas- Mikhail Stefanovich (C)

60. Toronto-Evgeny Gratchev (C)