Thursday, June 19, 2008

Matching Up Mock Drafts Thus Far

We're now only waiting for TSN's mock draft to hit the airwaves tonight, but we now have Sportsnet's mock draft and a new contender from Sports Illustrated. It should prove to be an interesting match-up when it comes down to the first round of the Draft. So, we'll have a quick look at how it's shaping up before we see what TSN is thinking.

PickTeamOpiatedSherpaESPNForecasterSports IllustratedSportsnetResult
1stTAMSteven StamkosSteven StamkosSteven StamkosSteven StamkosSteven Stamkos
2ndLOSNikita FilatovDrew DoughtyDrew DoughtyNikita FilatovDrew Doughty
3rdATLZach BogosianZach BogosianZach BogosianDrew DoughtyZach Bogosian
4thSTLTyler MyersNikita FilatovNikita FilatovZach BogosianNikita Filatov
5thNYIDrew DoughtyAlex PietrangeloAlex PietrangeloLuke SchennAlex Pietrangelo
6thCBJLuke SchennLuke SchennLuke SchennAlex PietrangeloLuke Schenn
7thTORColin WilsonCody HodgsonColin WilsonMikkel BoedkerMikkel Boedker
8thPHOKyle BeachTyler MyersMikkel BoedkerTyler MyersTyler Myers
9thNASAlex PietrangeloColin WilsonCody HodgsonColin WilsonCody Hodgson
10thVANZach BoychukKyle BeachKyle BeachCody HodgsonZach Boychuk
11thCHIThomas McCollumMikkel BoedkerTyler MyersErik KarlssonKyle Beach
12thANAMikkel BoedkerMichael Del ZottoJoe ColborneColton TeubertColin Wilson
13thBUFJosh BaileyJosh BaileyColton TeubertMattias TedenbyLuca Sbisa
14thCARColby RobakColton TeubertZach BoychukJosh BaileyJosh Bailey
15thNASCody HodgsonZach BoychukJosh BaileyChet PickardMichael Del Zotto
16thBOSKiril PetrovKiril PetrovLuca SbisaKyle BeachJoe Colborne
17thCALColton TeubertJordan EberleMattias TedenbyZach BoychukColton Teubert
18thOTTLuca SbisaThomas McCollumTyler CumaLuca SbisaMattias Tedenby
19thCBJJamie ArnielColby RobakZac DulpeMichael Del ZottoThomas McCollum
20thNYRMattias TedenbyMattias TedenbyColby RobakJohn CarlsonJered Staal
21stNJDJered StaalJoe ColborneJohn CarlsonJake AllenJacob Markstrom
22ndEDMJoe ColborneJacob MarkstromJordan EberleJoe ColborneDaultan Leveille
23rdWASChet PickardEvgeny GrachevAnton GustafssonTyler CumaKiril Petrov
24thMINGreg NemiszHarri SateriJake GardinerGreg NemiszAaron Ness
25thMTLMichael Del ZottoCorey TrivinoNicolas DeschampsAaron NessNicolas Deschamps
26thBUFJohn CarlsonLuca SbisaMichael Del ZottoJake GardinerTyler Cuma
27thPHIJacob MarkstromGreg NemiszErik KarlssonJacob MarkstromJohn Carlson
28thLOSTyler CumaViktor TikhonovYann SauveColby RobakBrandonBurlon
29thATLAnton GustafssonJared StaalJiri NiemiNicolas DeschampsChet Pickard
30thDETZac DulpeChet PickardKirill PetrovThomas McCollumAnton Gustafsson*

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that it will be Steven Stamkos going number one and there is much doubt that the Lightning will see a good enough package from another team to move the pick that would give them the franchise player. The real questions start at the number two spot through the tenth spot.

There are some reasonable majorities when it comes to the selections in the mock drafts. Drew Doughty outdoes Nikita Filatov for the second pick, while Zach Bogosian is almost a unanimous third pick. Filatov is a popular fourth pick, while Alex Pietrangelo owns the fifth. Luke Schenn looks to be headed to Columbus and then the seventh pick is all over the map. The hulking defenseman, Tyler Myers, could be desert-bound in the eighth pick. The ninth pick is just as cloudy as the seventh, as is the tenth.

There is an asterisk beside Detroit's pick by the Sportsnet writer, Jim Kelley. He has seemingly confused Detroit's latter-round picks being gems as their first round pick. In that place, I made a guess for him, as he mentioned a European player, putting Anton Gustafsson in that place.

Another interesting story is whether or not the last Staal brother will be a first rounder or not. Jared Staal is not ranked to be a first rounder by the scouting services, but he does rank on a few mock drafts as a first rounder. The last name will have to be worth something to a team that wouldn't want to gamble on him being in the second round.

Goaltending in the first round is also a big question mark. Since none of the touted prospects are goalkeepers, they will be an even bigger wild card than other seasons. The highest ranked goaltender in these mock drafts is Thomas McCollum, ranked 11th by the Sherpa, picked by Chicago. The next highest ranked keeper on the lists is Chet Pickard, heading to Nashville in 15th by SI.com.

No matter which way you cut it, a small competition (although not endorsed by the other outlets) is very interesting. It sure helps the dog days of summer in the NHL go by a little faster.

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