Christopher Ralph is a sportswriter with a focus on hockey prospects, the entry draft, as well as occasional Flames coverage here at THW.

NHL GMs and their respective scouting teams made a mockery of the most brilliantly done mock drafts – my Three Round Mega Mock Draft included. I did manage to tie Bob McKenzie of TSN in correctly naming 25 out of the 30 prospects taken in the first round.

The Ducks look to be the big winners on Day 1, committing grand theft larceny in nabbing Cam Fowler in the 12^th slot – I had him ranked 3^rd overall. He will make the retirement of Scott Niedermayer an easier pill to swallow. Picking up my 7^th ranked prospect, Emerson Etem, at 29^th was shear brilliance, with a splash of luck, bringing the Californian kid home.

Emerson Etem {Photo: Chris Ralph}

The following are 10 players are key players to watch on Day 2 of the draft. Some should be snatched up early, while it will be curious to see where some will land. The first five were the leftovers from my Top 30 and you can click on name to view detailed Full Potential Prospect Profile:

1. John MacFarland – Plays well in International play, but underwhelming OHL season. He was, however, a monster at the Scouting Combine.

2. Kirill Kabanov – Who wants to play Russian Roulette?

3. Tyler Toffoli – With his NHL ready elite shot, how long will it take announcers to coin the phrase “Holy Toffoli goes top shelf!”

4. Jordan Weal – Will the Blackhawks (See Paint It Blackhawks for a great review of Chicago’s Day 1 with a look ahead to Day 2 by Co-conspirator Jim Neveau) use one of five second round draft picks to nab the Patrick Kane, albeit somewhat slower, clone?

5. Tyler Pitlick – The top two-way forward remaining. I will already proclaim him a second round steal.

6. Calvin Pikard – Who thought Chet’s brother would be picked after Mark Visentin, who was perhaps the biggest surprise pick of the first round, by the Coyotes.

7. Jon Merrill – I had him ranked 31^st in my Top 100 Prospect Rankings, but other scouting services had him much higher – ISS had him at 11^th.

8. Justin Faulk – Some might think he’s undersized as a blueliner, but he has been described as a “pitbull on ice.” He has perhaps the best slapshot in the draft.

9. Johan Larsson – He had an unbelievable WJC-U18s; 2-way smooth talented center.

10. Teemu Pulkinnen – Injury-riddled season was somewhat redeemed by outstanding WJC-U18s in which he was the top scorer. Will the Wild be able to snag him to match him up with partner-in-crime, Mikael Granlund, who he excels playing with.

Follow along with the draft today by referring to my Top 100 Prospect Rankings.

As a bonus, here are some of my personal favourite dark horse prospects, who might just be available beyond the first round:

- Mackenzie, Matt – D

Tyler Toffoli {Photo Copyright: www.DustinHall.ca}

- Kuehnhackl, Tom – F

- Gauthier-Leduc, Jerome – D

- Silas, Stephen, D

- Rutkowski, Troy – D

- Macek, Brooks, C

- Bunz, Tyler, G

- Bournival, Michael, F

- Thomas, Christian – F

- Ohman, Victor – F

Who and when (will they move up, that is) will the Calgary Flames and Toronto Maple Leafs finally select in the 2010 Entry Draft?

*For all the latest prospect and draft news and Day 2 coverage,  follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

Tyler Seguin {Photo: Robin Kasem - Flickr}

Today’s article embarks on my final mock draft of the season – 3 Rounds with 10 bonus picks!

Here are my previously complete mock drafts:

• Olympic Edition
• Playoffs Edition

Take a look back at my previous mock and see if you can discover any trends over the season.

Notes: (Please read to get the most enjoyment from this mock draft.)

*The table is “sortable” – that is, if you click on any of the headings it will sort that particular column.

*For detailed prospect profiles (Top 30), check out the Home Page for my monster 2010 Entry Draft Preview. Click on players name to go to prospect profile article.

*Just under the title, you can click “Show” and change the quantity you show on one page or you can simply click on bottom right hand corner of table to scroll through the mock draft.

*Use the “Search” field to find your team’s picks (use city name).

*The THW column refers to where I ranked the player in my Top 100 Prospect Rankings for 2010 NHL Entry Draft. (In the Top 100 Prospect Rankings article, you can view more details about the prospect including: height, weight, TSN ranking and THN ranking.)

*There are differences between my own personal rankings and where the prospect landed in the mock draft. For instance, Goalie Jack Campbell jumped up 6 slots to go 6th overall to the goalie-craving Lightning, whereas undersized offensive spark-plug fell 7 slots down to 33rd overall to the Panthers where new GM Tallon hopes to have found another Patrick Kane.

*For details on the full draft selection order and trade information with respect to draft positions, see NHL.com

*For all the latest prospect and draft news follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

This document is the intellectual property of Christopher Ralph and cannot be used or duplicated in anyway without expressed written consent. Any use of this document without the expressed written consent of Christopher Ralph will result in public exposure and legal prosecution.

Christopher Ralph is a hockey writer with a focus on prospects and the entry draft, as well as the Leafs’ correspondent here at THW.

Last Update: June 24th, 2010

This marks the second year my annual monster draft preview has been hosted here at The Hockey Writers (THW). For last year’s detailed draft preview click here – 2009 NHL Entry Draft Preview.

*Also note, “We’re pleased to announce that The Hockey Writers will be hosting a webcast covering the entire First Round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, being held in Los Angeles on June 25th. We’ll be webcasting live from the Rbar, in the shadow of Nationwide Arena, from the beautiful Arena District in downtown Columbus, Ohio.”

*Check out and bookmark this link for more information on the Live Draft Coverage!

• THW’s Live Draft Webcast – June 25th, 2010

There are some changes in store for this years preview. I have recently just returned from a month long amazing European Vacation. And “no” to NHL scouts and GMs I did not uncover any hidden hockey gem prospects while touring Southern Germany, Vienna, Transylvania and Bucharest. Obviously, this has cut into my preparation time, but there is still plenty of information to be had and yet to be revealed.

The profiles are even more jam-packed with information this year with additional categories.

Notes Up Front: (*Denotes New Feature)

• My draft rankings at this point are based on my opinion of the BPA (Best Player Available). This is not an attempt at predicting who I think will be drafted at a certain position. I will be posting a 2 (possibly 3) round mock draft in the near future.
• Check back to this article often. A series of prospect profiles will be released daily, leading up to the June 25^th and 26^th NHL entry draft, in the order I have them ranked. The rankings will be updated below simultaneously as the prospect profiles are released, with links to the respective profile. I will be releasing detailed profiles on the Top 30 players for the draft.
• *Note: Hall & Seguin profiles were completed earlier in the year while the remainder were mostly completed recently. While much has happened with respect to Hall and Seguin, my feelings and scouting profiles on them remain the same.
• Stay tuned, as well, as I post overall rankings for the Top 100 draft-eligible prospects, with a brief description for those prospects for which I did not have the opportunity to complete a detailed profile. I also plan an article highlighting some key sleepers, who might prove to be the diamonds in the rough in this year’s draft.
• I am not a big fan of drafting a goalie in the first round unless the talent and potential are simply undeniable. In 2008, for instance, given the astronomical odds of actually being a NHL GM, I would have considered selecting Jacob Markstrom and Chet Pitkard in the first round. Last year, I would not have selected a netminder at all in the first round. Stay tuned to see what I think of this year goaltending crop.
• “One-Timer” heading is meant to be a quick and concise synopsis of each prospect.
• *Scout’s Honor highlights what the hockey scouting world (and occasionally coaches) have to say about the prospect.
  

  Jeff Skinner - Underrated Sniper Prospect {Photo Credit: http://www.dustinhall.ca}

• “NHL Player Comparisons” are simply to give the reader a feel for the player’s style and ultimately likely equal the player’s ceiling potential being reached. It is often an exercise in futility, but does offer up some value. If I add the suffix “-lite” or “Jr.” after a NHL player comparison, it simply refers to the fact the prospect likely has no chance to reach that high a potential, but rather resembles or plays a style reminiscent of the respective NHLer.
• “Scouting Combine Performance”: included where available to give the reader some insight on the prospects fitness levels. This is definitely not a sole basis for drafting a prospect, but might be a deciding factor when considering too closely rated players. It is also a good resource when a prospect is coming back from an injury as a guidance to what his health level is.
• “Risk/Reward Analysis”: Both “Risk” and “Reward” rated out of “5”. For the risk rating, the higher the rating out of five, the higher the risk of the prospect not turning out as projected. For the reward rating, also out of five, the higher the rating, the higher the potential the prospect has. For the latter, of course, the prospect has to still reach that potential.
• “Fantasy Hockey Potential”: Offensive and defensive ratings out of 10 are given for forwards and defenseman based on perceived potential in each area. Offensive potential is obviously the key factor in most fantasy hockey leagues, but defensive potential should prove useful for those armchair hockey simulator GMs.
• Legend:

ETA = Estimated Time of Arrival to NHL

ISS = International Scouting Services (These are taken from their May Top 30 rankings or THN’s quoted ISS ranking, where available.)

CSB = Central Scouting Bureau (NA = North America , E = Europe, G = Goalie)

TSN = Bob McKenzie’s mid-season rankings

THN = The Hockey News Draft Rankings

The Hockey Spy’s 2010 NHL Entry Draft Rankings:

Round 1:

{Click on Prospect’s Name for link to “Full Potential” Profile}

1. Taylor Hall

2. Tyler Seguin

3. Cam Fowler

4. Nino Niederreiter

5. Erik Gudbranson

6. Brandon Gormley

7. Emerson Etem

8. Brett Connolly

9. Jeffrey Skinner

10. Ryan Johansen

11. Mikael Granlund

12. Jack Campbell

13. Alex Burmistrov

14. Austin Watson

15. Quinton Howden

16. Dylan McIlrath

17. Mark Pysyk

18. Derek Forbort

19. John McFarland

20. Vladimir Tarasenko

21. Jaden Schwartz

22. Evgeny Kuznetsov

23. Kirill Kabanov

24. Tyler Toffoli

25. Nick Bjugstad

26. Jordan Weal

27. Jarred Tinordi

28. Beau Bennett

29. Riley Sheahan

30. Tyler Pitlick

*View: Top 100 Prospect Rankings: In sortable table format.

Updated 2010 Entry Draft Order of Selection: NHL.com

2010 Mock Draft(s)

• The Hockey Spy’s 3 Round (Plus 10 bonus picks) Monster Mock Draft
• The Hockey Spy’s Mock Draft (Playoff Edition)

{Note: There are differences between the mock drafts and the above rankings.}

*Photo Credits:

• Jeff Skinner by Dustin Hall @ http://www.dustinhall.ca/
• Taylor Hall by Leon T Switzer/TotalPhoto

*For all the latest prospect and draft news follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

This document is the intellectual property of Christopher Ralph and cannot be used or duplicated in anyway without expressed written consent. Any use of this document without the expressed written consent of Christopher Ralph will result in public exposure and legal prosecution.

This article goes along with the Home Page taking an in depth view of Hockey’s Version of Christmas, appropriately on the 25th, of June that is, on this Friday.

• The Hockey’s Spy’s 2010 NHL Entry Draft Monster Preview

*This draft preview has been featured on such web sites as Yahoo Sports via Puck Daddy.

Notes:

Emerson Etem {Photo: Chris Ralph}

*The table is “sortable” – that is, if you click on any of the headings it will sort them.

*For detailed prospect profiles of the top 30 click on the link above for the Draft Preview or check out my archives.

*Just under the title, you can click “Show” and change the quantity you show on one page or you can simply click on bottom right hand corner of table to scroll through the rankings.

*This is not a mock draft. These rankings are the exclusive opinions of the author only and not predicting where prospects will get picked on draft day, but more of a product of how I project the player will turn out based on his potential.

*TSN’s Final Rankings & The Hockey News (Top 60 only) are included as well for comparison.

*You’ll note I am much higher on WHL prospects Emerson Etem and Nino “El Nino” Niederreiter than other rankings.

*Stay tuned as I post my final version of my mock draft.

*For all the latest prospect and draft news follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

This document is the intellectual property of Christopher Ralph and cannot be used or duplicated in anyway without expressed written consent. Any use of this document without the expressed written consent of Christopher Ralph will result in public exposure and legal prosecution.

{A special thanks to THW’s Buffalo Sabres Correspondent, Angela Stefano, who provided exceptional assistance in preparing this prospect profile.}

“Full Potential” Prospect Profile:

Please “Click Here” for “Notes Up Front” and the “Legend” for various topics covered below in my “Live Updated” NHL 2010 Draft Preview article.

Tyler Pitlick (Click on name for up- to- date stats)

Tyler Pitlick in the mold of Ryan Callahan (Photo: THW)

Place of birth: Centerville, MN, USA
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 194

Shoots: R

Position: C
2009-10 Team: Minnesota State University – Mankato (WCHA)

NHL Status: Draft Eligible 2010

Date of birth: November 1, 1991

One-Timer:

Tyler Pitlick first picked up a hockey stick at the age of three because “a Pitlick family tradition is to play hockey every winter across the street from his grandmother’s house” says NHL.com.

In his 20 years of life, he’s moved far past pick-up games.

Pitlick served as Centennial High School’s hockey team captain during his senior year. He led both his team and the Northwest Suburban Conference in scoring that season (31-33-64 in 25 games) and was a finalist for the 2009 Mr. Hockey Award, which is given annually to the most outstanding senior hockey player in Minnesota.

Pitlick is poised to go in the mid to late first round of the draft and is favoured due to his size and strength, two-way play and skating ability.

Indications suggest he could be moving to the WHL and playing in Medicine Hat which would give him more games and more experience at a high level compared with staying at the NCAA level. He might just be poised to breakout more offensively as well.

I consider Pitlick one of the safest picks in this draft and one of the closest to be NHL ready, although will definitely benefit from at least one WHL season.

Scout’s Honor:

“Dominates faceoffs and in freshman year, is an excellent young prospect, a really good young skater and his ability to dominate a game at his level is truly impressive.”

-E.J. McGuire, Director of NHL Central Scouting

“Pitlick is excellent on the wing, where he can use his speed and size on the outside to drive to the net and use his heavy snap shot. He also possesses the ability to play center, and a year of college hockey has improved his defensive game tremendously. Despite being one of the youngest players in college hockey…he doesn’t back down from anyone physically, and has the strength to dish out his own punishment.”

-Western College Hockey Blog

A big hard-nosed centerman who can play with finesse and power. It’s that combination of skill and brawn that makes Pitlick such an intriguing prospect. … His hands are quick and smart and he moves the puck quickly with good accuracy. He plays smart all over and shoots the puck very well, with his feet moving.”
– International Scouting Services 2010 NHL Draft Guide

“Accelerates briskly out of cross-overs and blows by defenders. Has an NHL caliber shot right now. Flashed the ability to power through defenders to get to net. High energy level every shift. Can gain separation in corners with sharp twists and can turn on a dime. Patient playmaker. Long-limbed with farmboy like strength. Aggressive and finishes checks.”
– Red Line Report 2010 Draft Guide

“With little to no support on the roster, he was often forced to create and finish his own opportunities. He has a shoot first, ask questions later philosophy. At 6’2″ and 195 pounds, he still needs to fill out but has a good foundation from which to work with. Pitlick has a sizzling shot and he can pick corners, despite the fact that he scored only 11 goals this season.”
– McKeen’s 2010 NHL Draft Guide

Current Season:

2009-10:  As a freshman at Minnesota State, Pitlick played in 38 games, garnering 11-8-19 totals and 27 penalty minutes, and leading all freshman scorers at MSU. While Pitlick is listed as a center, he predominantly played on wing. He was a finalist for Minnesota’s 2009 Mr. Hockey Award, which goes to the outstanding senior high school hockey player in the state.

Bio/Interview(s)/Link(s):

• NHL Draft Prospect Card

Scouting Combine Performance:

He placed 4^th in the Anaerobic Fitness: Fatigue Index test and the Hand-Eye test

International Tournaments: n/a

ETA = 2 years

Risk-Reward Analysis: Risk = 0.5/5   Reward = 4.25/5

NHL Potential: 2^nd line two-way forward

Strengths:

*See “One Timer” section above*

• · Skating ability
• · Strength
• · Defensive play
• · Plays with an edge
• · Faceoffs
• · “Grinder”
• · Likes to deliver hits
• · Very good shot and release
• · Competitive drive

Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:

• Shot release/ability to one-time the puck
• Play-making ability
• Finishing quality chances

Fantasy Hockey Potential: Offensive = 8/10   Defensive = 8/10

NHL Player(s) Comparison: Pitlick says he tries to mimic the style of Colorado Avalanche center Peter Mueller. Others liken him to a “bigger Ryan Callahan.”

Video(s): NHL.com Highlights

Interesting Notes: Pitlick is the nephew of former NHL player Lance Pitlick, who played 393 career games with the Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers.

Other Rankings:

CSB: 18

ISS: 20

TSN: 25 (Bob McKenzie’s Final Rankings)

McKeens: 35

THN: 21

THW:  30 (June  ’10) {Christopher Ralph }

*For all the latest prospect and draft news follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

This document is the intellectual property of Christopher Ralph and cannot be used or duplicated in any way without expressed written consent. Any use of this document without the expressed written consent of Christopher Ralph will result in public exposure and legal prosecution.

Reference:
“Tyler has great offensive instincts. And along with that, one of the quickest releases I have coached in 20 years,” says Minnesota State head coach Troy Jutting. “He’s an extremely competitive kid who wants to be on the ice in critical situations.

“Tyler has worked hard to develop his game in the defensive end and this is an area he has improved greatly upon throughout the course of the season. He will continue to improve as his body matures.

“Coming from a hockey family, Tyler understands what it takes both on and off the ice in order to be a successful player.”

“Full Potential” Prospect Profile:

Please “Click Here” for “Notes Up Front” and the “Legend” for various topics covered below in my “Live Updated” NHL 2010 Draft Preview article.

Riley Sheahan (Click on name for up- to- date stats)

Sheahan in the mold of Ryan Kesler? {Photo: Brian Poulsen - Flickr}

Date of birth: December 07, 1991
Place of birth: St. Catharines, Ont., Canada
Ht: 6-1.5 Wt: 202
Shoots: L

Position – C
2009-10 Team: Notre Dame (NCAA)

NHL Status: Draft Eligible 2010

One-Timer:

Riley is a playmaking pivot with a great frame who can anchor possibly any of a team’s four lines given his two-way ability. He has the potential to play in all situations at any point in a game.

His offensive output has left hockey scouts and experts alike somewhat puzzled trying to predict how his offensive game will develop and what he is capable of producing at the next level. It should be noted he was one of the youngest players in the NCAA. He also tied teammate Kyle Palmieri, who was a first rounder last year, for the team rookie scoring league.

His defensive ability is not questioned. He already plays a great defensively mature game – a rarity for a player of his age.

Sheahan’s point totals might also be a victim of the defensive first style that Notre Dame implements. One has to wonder if he might just end up in the OHL next season with the Erie Otters, who hold his rights. The development of his offensive game would likely be a major benefactor.

He was actually the fifth ranked NA skater according to Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings, but dipped to 22 in the final rankings. Whether his stock has dropped enough to take him out of the first round altogether remains to be seen.

Sheahan still has to develop his game and improve decision making on and off the ice. Here’s a quick review of an incident from earlier this year which I’m sure Sheahan was grilled on during team interviews at the NHL Scouting Combine.

NHL prospects Palmieri, Sheahan arrested in Indiana (TSN)

Two NHL prospects, both freshmen at Notre Dame, were arrested on Sunday in South Bend, Indiana, a local newspaper reported.

Sheahan, 18, is charged with public intoxication and minor alcohol consumption, while 19-year-old Palmieri is charged with two counts of resisting arrest and minor alcohol consumption.

According to a police report, an officer saw Palmieri, Sheahan and a third person standing in the back of a pickup truck at approximately 2:30am et on Sunday. When approached by an officer, Palmieri tried to run away, which led to a struggle, the paper reported.  Then Palmieri allegedly reached for the officer’s Taser.

Scout’s Honor:

“He’s so mature for a kid his age — I’m overwhelmed with that. He’s equally good in all three zones and goes to the front of the net. He’s very conscious in the defensive zone and down behind the net in the defensive corner — he makes certain his team isn’t outnumbered. In the neutral zone, he makes all kinds of things happen but will get back and turn a transition if needed.”
- Jack Barzee, NHL Central Scouting

“Sheahan has great instincts, which allowed him to survive and his playmaking skills and ability to make others around him better is what warranted his ice time.”

- McKeen’s 2010 Draft Guide

“Has a great combination of size, puck skills, and hockey sense. Strong two-way center plays a very mature, advanced game and is defensively sound. … Excellent anticipation and has an innate sense for reading the play and understanding game situations. Uses size to protect the puck with leverage and carry defenders to net. Deftly gives/receives passes. Soft hands with excellent vision and imaginative playmaking touch.”
- Red Link Report 2010 Draft Guide

“A gifted playmaker, Sheahan is a decent skater that possesses excellent vision on the ice. … Has good puckhandling skills, carries the puck with speed and uses his size effectively. He skates well through checks and
shields the puck well.”
- International Scouting Services

“He has probably dropped because of his lack of production, but he’s learning to play away from the puck.”
- A scout in The Hockey News Draft Preview 2010

Current Season:

2009-10: Registered 17 points (6  goals, 11 assists) in 37 games in freshman season with Notre Dame (CCHA).  He tied Kyle Palmieri (the 26th overall pick by Anaheim in the 2009 entry draft) for the team’s rookie lead in points with 17 in 37 games. In 2008-09 recorded 73 points (27 goals, 46 assists) in 40 games with St. Catharines of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.

Bio/Interview(s):

• · Fear The Fin interviews Sheahan

Scouting Combine Performance (After Day 1): Sheahan came into the interview room wearing Brandon Gormley’s #27 over top of his #141 to try and have a little fun with the media. He mentioned having spoken with the OIlers and said he would be honoured to be part of the organization.

• 9^th in Anaerobic Fitness: Mean Power Output (watts/kg)
• 6^th in Musculoskeletal: Standing Long Jump (in)
• 4^th in Musculoskeletal: Bench Press (# of 150 lb reps)
• 4^th in Musculoskeletal: Bench Press (lb/lb body weight)
• ·Tied for 10^th in Musculoskeletal: Push-Ups (max #)

International Tournaments: n/a

ETA = 4 yrs

Risk-Reward Analysis: Risk = 2/5   Reward = 4/5

NHL Potential: 2^nd line Two-way Center

Strengths:

• Puck protection
• Playmaking
• Good size
• Great instincts
• Good vision
• Strong on his skates
• Outstanding defensive acumen
• Work Ethic
• Versatile (even filled in on defense for Notre Dame due to injuries

Flaws/Aspects He Needs To Work On:

• Continue to train to increase strength and mass and thus be able to add physical element to his game and be more of a threat in front of the net.
• Skating – a good skater for his size; simply needs to work on foot speed.
• Finishing skills
• Questionable offensive upside
• Decision making on and off the ice

Fantasy Hockey Potential: Offensive = 7.75/10   Defensive = 8.5/10

NHL Player(s) Comparison:

• I’ve read the comparisons with Rick Nash, but honestly don’t see it.
• A left shooting Ryan Kesler.

Video(s):

• At the scouting combine
• From 2007, home-made video displaying Sheahan’s puck-handling:

Interesting Notes:

• Following the 2008-09 season, Sheahan was awarded an Ontario Hockey Association (OHA) Junior B Top Prospects Award and received the honour this past summer at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto
• Sheahan has an athletic family background. His mom, Peg, won a Canadian Junior Softball Championship and was an Ontario Women’s University Basketball All-Star for Brock University alongside his aunt Patti. His uncle, Rocky DiPietro, played in the Canadian Football League for Hamilton and was inducted into the CFL Hall of Fame in 1997. And his second cousin, Brock Sheahan, graduated from Notre Dame University in 2008 and is now a defenseman in the ECHL for Cincinnati.

Other Rankings:

CSB: 22-NA

ISS: 22

TSN: 21 {Bob MacKenzie – June}

McKeens: 26

THN: 19

THW:  30 (June  ’10) {Christopher Ralph }

*For all the latest prospect and draft news follow me on Twitter: The Hockey Spy

This document is the intellectual property of Christopher Ralph and cannot be used or duplicated in any way without expressed written consent. Any use of this document without the expressed written consent of Christopher Ralph will result in public exposure and legal prosecution.