1) Gabriel Landeskog: Most complete player in the draft. Ready to step on to an NHL roster and make a difference. Imagine a goal scoring Peter Forsberg who fights.
2) Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: Great player with hands and vision of a seasoned NHLer. Needs to bulk up but will be a difference maker when he gets to the show.
3) Sean Couturier: He dropped on a lot of lists because of a sub-par second half, but his talent didn’t go anywhere. This kid can score and he’s big.
4) Jonathan Huberdeau: He has all the tools and is a game breaker. He could be a star given a season or two to mature.
5)Ryan Murphy: Murphy has shown me enough to deserve a spot in the top 5. He can control a game from the back end and is a bona fide power play quarterback.
6) Dougie Hamilton: Is a force on the blueline and has honed his two-way game. He is calm, moves the puck well and is mobile for someone his size.
7) Ryan Strome: Similar to Matt Duchene and could be as good as him too. Uses his speed effectively, and can score from everywhere on the rink.
8) Adam Larsson: Most over-rated player in the draft. He will be a bust mark my words. But he is in everyone’s top 10 so I guess I should put him there too. I guess.
9) Mika Zibanejad: Offensively talented and physical too. Zibanejad is a force and some team will be lucky to get him on draft day.
10) Nathan Beaulieu: A safe solid pick who will be a reliable defenseman for years to come. He can chip in some offense but is not a defensive liability either.
11) Joel Armia: A big forward with some polish, Armia can score and has hands but the consistent effort needs improvement. Could add some grit.
12) Sven Baertschi: Great playmaking forward. Baertschi’s vision is second to none and he makes things happen. Could be the next Nicklas Backstrom.
13) Duncan Siemens: Solid defenseman with a bit of both worlds to his game. He plays on his team’s 1st unit power play and penalty kill.
14) Mark McNeill: One of my favourite players in the draft. Hard working two way player with a nose for the net. He has all the potential to be a star.
15) Zack Phillips: Phillips won the Memorial Cup with Saint Johns this year, and put up great numbers, but you often wonder if that’s a result of his quality linemates.
16) Vladislav Namestnikov: Nephew of former Red Wing great Slava Kozlov, Namestnikov has a quick shot and a goal scorer’s knack for the net.
17) Ty Rattie: Good player on a good team. Small but skilled, Rattie uses his creativity to make offense, and has great hands.
18) Miikka Salomaki: Two way forward with a complete game. Salomaki is a bit of a risk-reward pick but he has potential.
19) Rocco Grimaldi: Could be the smallest player ever to be drafted in the first round. Doesn’t matter though, he creates chances from nothing.
20) Jonas Brodin: He will never be mistaken for an offensive defenseman but reliable guy who you can put out on thi ce in crucial situations.
21) Jamie Oleksiak: An absolute monster at 6’7 240lbs, Oleksiak is a force. He is atypical of big men, as he moves well and makes a good first pass.
22) Brandon Saad: Speedy two way forward. Saad translates into a checking line forward at the NHL level, however he has shown some pop in junior.
23) Markus Granlund: Granlund’s hockey sense and skill are so high he deserves a spot in the top 30. He needs to bulk up and get faster to improve.
24) Boone Jenner: One of the hardest workers in the draft, Jenner can score, and play defense. Needs to work on focus but overall he is a solid pick.
25) Joe Morrow: Mobile, puck moving defenseman with offensive potential. If he can stay healthy.
26) Mark Scheifele: Power forward who does his best work in the corners, Scheifele needs to score more to show he can be a make the big time.
27) Tomas Jurco: Legendary hands. Say whatever you want about the kid, but those hands. Oh my those hands.
28) David Musil: He has been dropping for quite some while but I don’t buy it. He isn’t flashy, but he is quietly solid and plays an effective two way game.
29) Matt Puempel: Puempel is a pure scorer with gifted offensive abilities. His consistency has come into question and will be a factor in draft position.
30) Max Friberg: Friberg is another guy off the board, but hey, the Red Wings make a living drafting guys like him. Speedy forward with some offense.
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