RT's 2010 NHL Mock Draft (Round #1)

Pick Team Choice Comment
1 Edmonton Taylor Hall Edmonton is bit weak down the   centre at present, but have some prospects at centre which relieves the   temptation to select Sequin (C) over Hall (LW).  Three out of four major rankings have Hall   and the No. 1 prospect.  Also, former   Edmonton coach Pat Quinn implied that Hall was the player Edmonton planned to   pick.
2 Boston Tyler Sequin The consensus No. 2 pick.  Sequin has been compared to Joe Sakic.  Boston needs a winger more than a   centre.  The possibility of Edmonton and   Boston swapping picks is still out there.
3 Florida Cam Fowler Florida has depth at D and would   prefer a centre, but with the next three top prospects defensemen it would be   hard to draft purely for need with such a high pick.  Look for Florida to potentially trade this   pick; perhaps to Ottawa for Spezza.
4 Columbus Erik Gubranson Like Florida, Columbus has depth   on D and would prefer to draft a winger.  However, Gudbranson is too good a prospect to let go.  This pick has already been  rumoured to go   to Ottawa for Spezza.
5 NY Islanders Ryan Johansen With depth at D and few good   prospects at centre, the Islanders will take Johansen, the best centre   available.
6 Tampa Bay Brett Connolly Tampa has right wingers and   goalies in the system.  They need a   left winger or a centre.  They will   take Connolly or Niederreiter
7 Carolina Brandon Gormley Carolina could use a good   defensive  prospect and will be happy to get Gormley with the No. 7 pick.
8 Altanta Nino Niederreiter Atlanta is in no desperate need   of any particular player and take the best prospect available, right-winger Niederreiter.
9 Minnesota Mikael Granlund Minnesota has lots of D in the   pipe-line, but lack a good centre or right-wing prospect.  They'll take Granlund (C) over Forbet (D).
10 NY Rangers Derek Forbet The Rangers have a few good   defensive prospects, but as they say, you can never have enough depth on   defence.
11 Dallas Austin Watson No, Dallas will not take Watson   because his fist name is Austin.  They   could really use a left-wing prospect.
12 Anaheim Vladimir Tarasenko The Ducks could use a winger and   will take Vladimir Tarasenko (RW) who they hope will be a steal at No. 12.
13 Phoenix Alexander Burmistrov Drafting a centre will give the   Coyotes some insurance in case Kyle Turris (3rd overall in 2007) doesn't pan   out.
14 St. Louis Nick Bjugstad With a couple of good goaltender   prospects and a top defensive prospect in Alex Pietrangelo, the Blues will   take centre Bjugstad.
15 Florida Evgeny Kuznetsov If the Panthers take a top   defensive prospect at No. 3 look for them to draft for need (at centre) with   the No. 15 pick acquired from Boston.
16 Ottawa Emerson Etem With depth at D and great   prospect in goal (Robin Lehner), the Senators will not take the best player   available (as they have claimed they will do) and instead draft the best   forward available, Emerson Etem (RW).
17 Colorado Jack Campbell With several of their top   prospects as defensemen, Colorado will take their goaltender of the future,   Jack Campbell.
18 Nashville Mark Pysyk Nashville would prefer to take a   winger, esp. a right-winger, but will not pass up on defenseman Mark Pysyk.
19 Los Angeles Tyler Pitlick LA would prefer a winger, but   will take the best player available, centre Tyler Pitlick.  That is unless they decide to go with left-winger John McFarland.
20 Pittsburgh Quinton Howden Pittsburgh has three top centres   on the roster today, but lack good centre prospects for the future.  As such, they'll take the best one   available.
21 Detroit Riley Sheahan Like Pittsburgh, Detroit will   take the best centre available.
22 Phoenix Jonathon Merrill If Phoenix takes a centre with   their first pick, they simply take the best player available with their   second first rounder, Jonathon Merrill (D).
23 Buffalo Dylan McIlrath With no glaring needs, Buffalo   will be happy to take a quality defenseman.
24 Chicago Calvin Pickard The 'Hawks had to give up   Byfuglien to dump salary, but this pick (acquired in the trade) will help   them stay a contender in the future.  Unsure about their goaltending, Chicago will take Calvin Pickard.
25 Vancouver John McFarland Where did all the defenseman   go?  Earlier teams deep at the backend   were passing over or reluctantly taking defencemen.  Now, the Canucks who need to stock up on   defensive prospects are looking a bunch of forwards.  Look for Vancouver to trade up a few spots   to get a defenseman.  If they do not,   they will take left-winger John McFarland.
26 Washington Jaden Schwartz Looking for help at centre,   Washington will happily take a centre at No. 26.
27 Montreal Brock Nelson Montreal was probably expecting   to draft a bit earlier this year.  They'll take Broack Nelson (C) with the No. 27 pick.
28 San Jose Stanislav Galiev In need of a winger, the Sharks   will take Galiev (RW) over other centres available.
29 Philadelphia Tyler Toffoli Like Montreal the Flyers might   be wishing they had a better pick.  No   worries, Philadelphia will be very happy with Tyler Toffoli (C).
30 Chicago Charlie Coyle After taking a goaltender with   the No. 24 pick, the 'Hawks will follow up by adding some depth at centre.
Pick	Team	Choice	Comment
1	Edmonton	Taylor Hall	Edmonton is bit weak down the centre at present, but have some prospects at centre which relieves the temptation to select Sequin (C) over Hall (LW). Three out of four major rankings have Hall and the No. 1 prospect. Also, former Edmonton coach Pat Quinn implied that Hall was the player Edmonton planned to pick.
2	Boston	Tyler Sequin	The consensus No. 2 pick. Sequin has been compared to Joe Sakic. Boston needs a winger more than a centre. The possibility of Edmonton and Boston swapping picks is still out there.
3	Florida	Cam Fowler	Florida has depth at D and would prefer a centre, but with the next three top prospects defensemen it would be hard to draft purely for need with such a high pick. Look for Florida to potentially trade this pick; perhaps to Ottawa for Spezza.
4	Columbus	Erik Gubranson	Like Florida, Columbus has depth on D and would prefer to draft a winger. However, Gudbranson is too good a prospect to let go. This pick has already been rumoured to go to Ottawa for Spezza.
5	NY Islanders	Ryan Johansen	With depth at D and few good prospects at centre, the Islanders will take Johansen, the best centre available.
6	Tampa Bay	Brett Connolly	Tampa has right wingers and goalies in the system. They need a left winger or a centre. They will take Connolly or Niederreiter
7	Carolina	Brandon Gormley	Carolina could use a good defensive prospect and will be happy to get Gormley with the No. 7 pick.
8	Altanta	Nino Niederreiter	Atlanta is in no desperate need of any particular player and take the best prospect available, right-winger Niederreiter.
9	Minnesota	Mikael Granlund	Minnesota has lots of D in the pipe-line, but lack a good centre or right-wing prospect. They'll take Granlund (C) over Forbet (D).
10	NY Rangers	Derek Forbet	The Rangers have a few good defensive prospects, but as they say, you can never have enough depth on defence.
11	Dallas	Austin Watson	No, Dallas will not take Watson because his fist name is Austin. They could really use a left-wing prospect.
12	Anaheim	Vladimir Tarasenko	The Ducks could use a winger and will take Vladimir Tarasenko (RW) who they hope will be a steal at No. 12.
13	Phoenix	Alexander Burmistrov	Drafting a centre will give the Coyotes some insurance in case Kyle Turris (3rd overall in 2007) doesn't pan out.
14	St. Louis	Nick Bjugstad	With a couple of good goaltender prospects and a top defensive prospect in Alex Pietrangelo, the Blues will take centre Bjugstad.
15	Florida	Evgeny Kuznetsov	If the Panthers take a top defensive prospect at No. 3 look for them to draft for need (at centre) with the No. 15 pick acquired from Boston.
16	Ottawa	Emerson Etem	With depth at D and great prospect in goal (Robin Lehner), the Senators will not take the best player available (as they have claimed they will do) and instead draft the best forward available, Emerson Etem (RW).
17	Colorado	Jack Campbell	With several of their top prospects as defensemen, Colorado will take their goaltender of the future, Jack Campbell.
18	Nashville	Mark Pysyk	Nashville would prefer to take a winger, esp. a right-winger, but will not pass up on defenseman Mark Pysyk.
19	Los Angeles	Tyler Pitlick	LA would prefer a winger, but will take the best player available, centre Tyler Pitlick. That is unless they decide to go with left-winger John McFarland.
20	Pittsburgh	Quinton Howden	Pittsburgh has three top centres on the roster today, but lack good centre prospects for the future. As such, they'll take the best one available.
21	Detroit	Riley Sheahan	Like Pittsburgh, Detroit will take the best centre available.
22	Phoenix	Jonathon Merrill	If Phoenix takes a centre with their first pick, they simply take the best player available with their second first rounder, Jonathon Merrill (D).
23	Buffalo	Dylan McIlrath	With no glaring needs, Buffalo will be happy to take a quality defenseman.
24	Chicago	Calvin Pickard	The 'Hawks had to give up Byfuglien to dump salary, but this pick (acquired in the trade) will help them stay a contender in the future. Unsure about their goaltending, Chicago will take Calvin Pickard.
25	Vancouver	John McFarland	Where did all the defenseman go? Earlier teams deep at the backend were passing over or reluctantly taking defencemen. Now, the Canucks who need to stock up on defensive prospects are looking a bunch of forwards. Look for Vancouver to trade up a few spots to get a defenseman. If they do not, they will take left-winger John McFarland.
26	Washington	Jaden Schwartz	Looking for help at centre, Washington will happily take a centre at No. 26.
27	Montreal	Brock Nelson	Montreal was probably expecting to draft a bit earlier this year. They'll take Broack Nelson (C) with the No. 27 pick.
28	San Jose	Stanislav Galiev	In need of a winger, the Sharks will take Galiev (RW) over other centres available.
29	Philadelphia	Tyler Toffoli	Like Montreal the Flyers might be wishing they had a better pick. No worries, Philadelphia will be very happy with Tyler Toffoli (C).
30	Chicago	Charlie Coyle	After taking a goaltender with the No. 24 pick, the 'Hawks will follow up by adding some depth at centre.