2013 NHL Entry Draft: Top Fifteen Picks Mock Draft

By Rob Kirk on Saturday, June 22nd 2013
2013 NHL Entry Draft: Top Fifteen Picks Mock Draft

After the Stanley Cup is awarded there isn’t much time before the NHL Entry Draft is upon us. Saturday June 30 in Newark the next crop of hopefuls enters a realigned and re-energized National Hockey League.

There is nobody in the draft class that sticks out as the next Wayne Gretzky or Sidney Crosby, but the class of 2013 is projected by most experts to be one of the deepest in recent memory. The depth of talent is such that it makes predicting the succession of players extremely difficult.

With all of the information, video footage and player profiles coupled with draft order and team needs it is easier to narrow down the top players available. Given recent history in all major sports though, accurately picking each draft is an impossibility.

The Colorado Avalanche, owners of the first pick, have come out and stated that they may not choose the consensus top player, Seth Jones with their pick. Whether the Avs trade the pick or choose someone else remains to be seen, but the Denver native Jones will certainly be a top three pick.

I would certainly plan on seeing some trades on or before the draft. Teams will be looking to shed some contract cash and some pending free agents will have their negotiating rights traded as well. Additionally, with teams able to use the amnesty clause to cancel an unfavorable contract, there will be some new faces seeing free agency this summer.

Here is how I see the top fifteen washing out. Again, I expect that my mock draft next week might look a bit different, but here goes.

1. Colorado Avalanche-Seth Jones, D-Portland(WHL)

2. Florida Panthers-Jonathan Drouin, LW-Halifax(QMJHL)

3. Tama Bay Lightning-Nathan McKinnon, C-Halifax(QMJHL)

4. Nashville Predators-Darnell Nurse, D-Sault St. Marie(OHL)

5. Carolina Hurricanes-Aleksander Barkov, C-Tappara(FIN)

6. Calgary Flames-Sean Monahan, C-Ottawa(OHL)

7. Edmonton Oilers-Nikita Zadorov, D-London(OHL)

8. Buffalo Sabres-Elias Lindholm, C-Brynas(SWE)

9. New Jersey Devils-Samuel Morin, D-Rimouski(QMJHL)

10. Dallas Stars-Max Domi, C/LW-London(OHL)

11. Philadelphia Flyers-Rasmus Ristolainen, D-TPS(FIN)

12. Phoenix Coyotes-Valeri Nichushkin, LW-Chelyabinsk(RUS)

13. Winnipeg Jets-Alexander Wennberg, C-Djugardens IF(SWE)

14. Columbus Blue Jackets-Anthony Mantha, LW-Val d’Or(QMJHL)

15. New York Islanders-Bo Horvat, C-London(OHL)

 

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