The 51st edition of the NHL Entry Draft will be held Saturday June 30 in Newark, New Jersey. This year’s crop of talent doesn’t appear to have the marquee talent that we have seen in recent years. The consensus top pick was thought to be defenseman Seth Jones of the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks.
The Colorado Avalanche, owners of the top overall pick, have distanced themselves from the Denver prospect for whatever reason. The Avalanche have a talented young roster that Jones could seamlessly join, but the Avs and rookie head coach Patrick Roy apparently are looking at other options.
The 2013 rookie class might very well turn out to be the deepest of any draft in the past ten years. There is high quality talent that extends through two full rounds of players. All seven rounds will take place on Saturday, and almost every roster will improve to some degree.
We won’t know how these guys will really pan out or develop until they have spent a couple years in the big show. That said, I will give you five players that are guaranteed to be high-end stars that will produce at the NHL level. Don’t expect Wayne Gretzky’s records to fall, but here are players that you’ll be hearing from in the 2013-14 season.
1. Seth Jones, D, Portland (WHL) 6’4 205
Sure he’s an easy mark, but Jones has the can’t miss “it” factor when he laces up the skates. His uncanny vision on the ice has almost everyone scratching his or her heads why Colorado could possibly pass him up. A strong skater and great puck handler, Jones is called the “One Man Rush” because of his ability to push the puck up the ice quickly. He has a big shot and will be a quarterback on the power play, lead the penalty kill and has the leadership qualities that could see him wearing a captain’s “C” at some point during his career.
2. Sean Monahan, C, Ottawa (OHL) 6’2 190
Monahan has fallen off in some other mock drafts because he isn’t the best skater available. Monahan has shown that he is one of the best offensive talents in the 2013 class. On a bad Ottawa 67’s team, Monahan was often times a one man show at both ends of the ice. He is a sound two-way player that could develop into an elite sniper if his skating improves. Think of a larger version of Phil Kessel that isn't afraid to deliver or take a hit.
3. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Halifax (QMJHL) 6’0 185
The perennial choice as the top pick by Colorado, MacKinnon might be the best of the group. An amazing skater and stickhandler, MacKinnon combines explosive speed with deceptive power and strength. His elite skating makes him a handful both on and off the puck. He has a sniper’s accuracy with his shot and silky smooth hands that can make the impossible pass. He has all the qualities that any GM is looking for to transition smoothly to the next level. His skills and talents are advanced with no ceiling in sight. Bet on MacKinnon to be elite in the NHL.
4. Jonathan Drouin, LW, Halifax (QMJHL) 5’11 185
It is natural to compare the up and comers to the players that we have seen before. Drouin conjures up a hybrid of Martin St. Louis and Patrick Kane. If he turns into a half of those two, that’s a pretty solid NHL career. Drouin combines goal scoring and playmaking to be a dynamic offensive threat. The leading scorer in the QMJHL, Drouin has the best hands in the 2013 draft. He is a solid skater and possesses elite puck handling skills that help him escape tight checking situations. Drouin isn’t the most physical player in the world, but is expected to grow another inch and should fill out his frame more as he matures.
5. Aleksander Barkov, C, Tappara (FIN) 6’2 210
Joining the Finnish elite league at age 17 seems par for the course for one of the biggest talents to come from the Suomi. He is a dominant two-way center with elite puck handling skills and incredible vision on the ice. Barkov regularly logged 20 minutes of ice time against grown men and should adapt well to the NHL game immediately. His skating is listed as slightly below average, with comparisons to John Tavares in that department. If Barkov evolves into a player at Tavares’ level, consider that a jackpot for one lucky NHL team.