2011 NHL Entry Draft: Adam Larsson, Sean Couturier and the Top 30 Prospects

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BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 03: Artemi Panarin #27 and Artyom Voronin #15 of Russia skate against Adam Larsson #5 and Max Friberg #14 of Sweden during the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship Semi Final game between Sweden and Russia on January 3, 2011 in Buffalo

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With many NHL teams well out of playoff position, it's up to the NHL entry draft to provide a glimmer of hope to ailing fans.

The 2011 draft has good depth at all positions aside from goaltender, of which one or fewer may be selected in the first round.

The draft is also unique in the fact that there are four top players—Adam Larsson, Sean Couturier, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Gabriel Landeskog—who have a high chance of being selected first overall.

30. Left Wing Shane Prince

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Shane Prince #14 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/G

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Ottawa 67's

GP: 54

G: 25

A: 57

PIM: 16

29. Defenseman Joe Morrow

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Joe Morrow #27 of Team Cherry skates with the puck in a game against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Pho

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: WHL

Team: Portland Winterhawks

GP: 51

G: 9

A: 34

PIM: 60

28. Center Zach Phillips

League: QMJHL

Team: Saint John Sea Dogs

GP: 59

G: 35

A: 52

PIM: 14

27. Center Lucas Lessio

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Scott Harrington #6 of Team Cherry holds Lucas Lessio #38 of Team Orr in check in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Ph

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Oshawa Generals

GP: 57

G: 23

A: 24

PIM: 58

26. Right Wing Nicklas Jensen

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Nicklas Jensen #17 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Oshawa Generals

GP: 52

G: 26

A: 26

PIM: 36

25. Defenseman Jamie Oleksiak

League: H-East

Team: Northeastern University

GP: 32

G: 3

A: 9

PIM: 49

24. Goaltender John Gibson

TORONTO - AUGUST 17: John Gibson poses for a portrait during the 2010 NHL Research, development and orientation camp at the Mastercard Centre for Hockey Excellence August 17, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)

Graig Abel/Getty Images

League: USHL

Team: U.S. National Development Team

GP: 12

W: 6

GAA: 2.36

SV%: 0.927

23. Center Boone Jenner

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Boone Jenner #12 of Team Orr skates against Team Cherry in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/G

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Oshawa Generals

GP: 54

G: 20

A: 36

PIM: 47

22. Right Wing Rickard Rakell

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Stuart Percy #5 of Team Orr flips a puck away from the oncoming Rickard Rakell #25 of Team Cherry in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated T

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Plymouth Whalers

GP: 49

G: 19

A: 24

PIM: 12

21. Center Mark McNeill

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Mark McNeill #10 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/G

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: WHL

Team: Prince Albert Raiders

GP: 62

G: 25

A: 39

PIM: 49

20. Center Mark Scheifele

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Mark Scheifele #19 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Barrie Colts

GP: 58

G: 16

A: 47

PIM: 35

19. Defenseman David Musil

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: David Musil #6 of Team Orr skates against Team Cherry in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Get

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: WHL

Team: Vancouver Giants

GP: 53

G: 5

A: 19

PIM: 64

18. Left Wing Matt Puempel

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Matt Puempel #18 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/G

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Peterborough Petes

GP: 55

G: 34

A: 35

PIM: 49

17. Center Victor Rask

League: SWE-1

Team: Leksand

GP: 37

G: 5

A: 6

PIM: 8

16. Right Wing Joel Armia

BUFFALO, NY - DECEMBER 31: Forward Joel Armia #20 of Finland during the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship game between Slovakia and Finland on December 31, 2010 at HSBC Arena in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

League: SM-liiga

Team: Assat Pori

GP: 47

G: 18

A: 10

PIM: 24

15. Left Wing Sven Bartschi

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Myles Bell #4 of Team Cherry holds Sven Bartschi #25 of Team Orr in check in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo b

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: WHL

Team: Portland Winterhawks

GP: 58

G: 30

A: 46

PIM: 66

14. Right Wing Ty Rattie

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Ty Rattie #8 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: WHL

Team: Portland Winterhawks

GP: 61

G: 46

A: 73

PIM: 51

13. Defenseman Jonas Brodin

League: SEL

Team: Farjestads BK Karlstad

GP: 40

G: 0

A: 3

PIM: 12

12. Defenseman Nathan Beaulieu

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Nathan Beaulieu #28 of Team Orr skates against Team Cherry in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Anderse

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: QMJHL

Team: Saint John Sea Dogs

GP: 57

G: 12

A: 28

PIM: 46

11. Center Jonathan Huberdeau

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Tobias Rieder #9 of Team Cherry tries to stop Jonathan Huberdeau #11 of Team Orr from getting a pass away in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr de

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: QMJHL

Team: Saint John Sea Dogs

GP: 59

G: 36

A: 55

PIM: 76

10. Center Ryan Strome

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Ryan Strome #16 of Team Cherry skates against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Ge

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Niaga IceDogs

GP: 56

G: 28

A: 64

PIM: 74

9. Defenseman Duncan Siemens

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Duncan Siemens #5 of Team Cherry fights against David Musil #6 of Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: WHL

Team: Saskatoon Blades

GP: 63

G: 5

A: 32

PIM: 102

8. Left Wing Brandon Saad

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Brandon Saad #22 of Team Orr skates against Team Cherry in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Andersen/G

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Saginaw Spirit

GP: 52

G: 26

A: 23

PIM: 38

7. Right Wing Tyler Biggs

League: USHL

Team: U.S. National Development Team

GP: 14

G: 5

A: 2

PIM: 35

6. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Dougie Hamilton #27 of Team Orr skates against Team Cherry in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Anderse

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

League: OHL

Team: Niaga IceDogs

GP: 58

G: 11

A: 39

PIM: 69

5. Defenseman Ryan Murphy

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Ryan Murphy #24 of Team Cherry skates away from the check of Boone Jenner #12 of Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Che

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

Ryan Murphy may not be the first defenseman selected in 2011, but his offensive skill level is unmatched. While there may be size concerns for the 5'10", 160-pound Murphy, the offensive-minded defenseman will go as early as top five in the draft due to his poise with the puck and his potential as an elite power-play quarterback.

League: OHL

Team: Kitchener Rangers

GP: 59

G: 25

A: 52

PIM: 34

4. Center Sean Couturier

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Sean Couturier #7 of Team Cherry skates with the puck against Team Orr in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by C

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

Once you reach the top four picks in 2011, it's basically anyone's guess as to who could go first overall. The 6'4" Couturier looks to translate into a two-way center in the NHL, very much in the mold of Jordan Staal.

League: QMJHL

Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs

GP: 51

G: 34

A: 54

PIM: 29

3. Left Wing Gabriel Landeskog

LAKE PLACID, NY - AUGUST 05: Gabriel Landeskog #12 of Team Sweden skates against Team Finland at the USA Hockey National Evaluation Camp on August 5, 2010 in Lake Placid, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Landeskog is a rare example of a Swedish player playing and succeeding in the CHL. Putting together an impressive offensive season with the Rangers, Landeskog is also a player who's very responsible defensively and gets involved physically. He may be a candidate to make the jump to the NHL in 2012.

League: OHL

Team: Kitchener Rangers

GP: 45

G: 33

A: 29

PIM: 55

2. Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

TORONTO, CAN - JANUARY 19: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins #9 of Team Orr skates against Team Cherry in the 2011 Home Hardware Top Prospects game on January 19, 2011 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Canada. Team Orr defeated Team Cherry 7-1. (Photo by Claus Ande

Claus Andersen/Getty Images

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins likely possesses the most offensive upside of any player in the 2011 draft. The play-making center has 87 points this season with the Rebels, and he will likely be the first choice of an NHL club looking for a center.

League: WHL

Team: Red Deer Rebels

GP: 62

G: 20

A: 67

PIM: 43

1. Defenseman Adam Larsson

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Playing his third season in the Swedish Elite League, Adam Larsson appears to be the top choice in 2011, and he will be a mainstay on the blue line of whichever team drafts him.

League: SEL

Team: Skelleftea HC

GP: 35

G: 1

A: 8

PIM: 41

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