2011 NHL Mock Draft: 25 Players Who Will Be Legit NHLers in Five Years
These guys have been hyped by scouts and fans alike.
They come from the QMJHL, OHL and WHL.
Some come from Sweden, the Czech Republic and Russia.
Others from the USHL or college hockey.
Wherever they come from, these players will hear their name called early in the draft, which will take place in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The following are the top 25 NHL prospects of 2011.
25. Samu Perhonen
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Rank: No. 1 European goaltender
Projected: Second round
Team: JYP Jr. (Finland)
He's only in juniors and probably will go in the second round, but Samu Perhonen is a Finnish goaltender with plenty of size.
At 6'4", 174 pounds, Perhonen has plenty of time to grow into his body and develop into an NHL goaltender down the road.
24. Tyler Biggs
2 of 25Rank: No. 23 North American skater
Projected: Late first round
Team: US National Development Team (USHL)
Once the No. 5 ranked North American skater, right wing Tyler Biggs of the US Under-18 team took a tumble to No. 23, but will have plenty of time to redeem himself.
Unanimously chosen as a captain in 2010-11, Biggs had 28 points in 48 games, but also racked up 112 penalty minutes.
If Biggs can stay healthy and out of the penalty box, he will be a valuable asset to any team late in the first round.
23. Christopher Gibson
3 of 25Rank: No. 2 North American goaltender
Projected: Late first round
Team: Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Projected by some scouts to go ahead of John Gibson, Finish-born Christopher (no relation) had a 2.42 gaa and .920 SV% on a lowly team (14-15-3-5 record) in Chicoutimi.
His .920 save percentage ranked No. 1 in The Q. He was No. 2 in goals against average.
He should be available for the Anaheim Ducks, his favorite team, at No. 22, a team that could use a project goaltender to back up Jonas Hiller.
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22. Jamieson Oleksiak
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Rank: No. 13 North American skater
Projected: Mid-to-late first round
Team: Northeastern University (Hockey East)
Perhaps he went a little overlooked at Northeastern, a bottom-feeder in Hockey East, which features Boston College, Boston University and many Ivy League schools, but 6'7" defenseman Jamieson Oleksiak could become a force in a couple years.
The Toronto, Ontario native has Zdeno Chara-like size and international experience in the 2011 World Junior Championships.
Despite his age, he turned 18 in December, he led Northeastern with a plus-13 rating and was second among defensemen with 12 points in 34 games.
Oleksiak would be a great steal late in the first round.
21. Joel Armia
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Rank: No. 4 European skater
Projected: Mid-to-late first round
Team: Assat (Finland)
A large (6'3", 191 pounds) right wing who played a major role for Assat (Aces) in his hometown of Pori, Finland, Joel Armia is projected to go anywhere from the top-15 picks to the second round.
Armia has the propensity to think offense-first and needs work in his own zone, but his scoring ability (29 points in 48 games for Assat) will be coveted by many teams looking for future scorer.
20. Jonas Brodin
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Rank: No. 3 European skater
Projected: Mid-to-late first round
Team: Farjestads BK (Sweden)
A superstar for his hometown team in Karlstad, Sweden, Jonas Brodin's Farjestad team just defeated Adam Larsson's Skelleftea club for the league championship.
Described as a smart player in the defensive zone who is poised and mature for his age, Brodin will use his size (6'1", 169 pounds) to win more one-on-one battles as he grows into his body.
He has the potential become a solid defensive-defenseman in the league for years to come.
19. Mika Zibanejad
7 of 25Rank: No. 2 European skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: Djurgarden IF (Sweden)
A physical center, Mika Zibanejad split the last season between the Swedish Elite League and a junior team last season.
He registered nine points in 26 games in the Elite League.
Zibanejad is a project that could pay major dividends for a patient team.
18. John Gibson
8 of 25Rank: No. 1 North American goalie
Projected: Mid first round
Team: US National Development Team (USHL)
A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native, John Gibson moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to serve as the goaltender for the US Under-18 team last season.
A large netminder (6'3", 205 pounds), Gibson had a 2.64 GAA and .918 SV% in 32 USHL contests.
He will remain in Michigan, as he has committed to become a Wolverine next year.
17. Mark Scheifele
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Rank: No. 16 North American skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: Barrie Colts (OHL)
Last season, Mark Scheifele led all OHL rookies with 53 assists and was fourth with 75 points in 66 games.
Scheifele enters the draft on a hot streak: He had 11 of his 22 goals in the last 18 games.
The Kitchener, Ontario native was set to go to Cornell University on a four-year scholarship, but changed plans after being traded from the Saginaw (Michigan) Spirit to Barrie.
As he fills into his body (6'2", 185 pounds) and absorbs instruction from Hall of Famer Dale Howerchuk, Scheifele should develop into an NHL-ready player in the near future.
16. Tomas Jurco
10 of 25Rank: No. 20 North American skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
This man's sense of balance and nimble hands allow him to perform mind-boggling tricks off the ice, but right wing Tomas Jurco has plenty to offer on it.
Jurco's nimble hands and creative mind allowed the Slovakian to lead a stacked Saint John team to the QMJHL final. He is one of nine Sea Dogs on the Central Scouting list.
He recorded 16 points in 13 games in the postseason and had 56 points in 60 games this season.
Jurco's first task is going to be proving that he's more than a YouTube sensation.
15. Boone Jenner
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Rank: No. 18 North American skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Boone Jenner finished third on the Generals with 66 points in 63 games, following prospects Nicklas Jensen (No. 21 North American skater) and Lucas Lessio (No. 46).
In 2010 he was named to OHL First All-Rookie Team and was runner-up for the OHL's Rookie of the Year after finishing second in rookie scoring with 49 points in 2009-10.
The Dorchester, Ontario native is the nephew of former NHLer Bill Carrol, who won four Stanley Cups—three with the New York Islanders and one with the Edmonton Oilers.
At 6'1", 204 pounds, Jenner is a big forward that finishes checks and creates turnovers. Many scouts see him going to Buffalo at No. 16 overall.
14. Zack Phillips
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Rank: No. 15 North American skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
Compared to Adam Oats by Sea Dogs coach Gerard Gallant, center Zack Phillips may be overlooked on a solid team and could be a steal in this year's draft.
The Fredericton, Alberta native finished tied for sixth the Q with 95 points in 67 games, second on The Q's best team.
He led his team with 15 power-play goals.
Any team with a mid-round pick in need of a center will take a long look at this guy.
13. Mark McNeill
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Rank: No. 14 North American skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)
Mark McNeill, an Edmonton, Alberta native, led Prince Albert in assists (49) and finished second in points (81) in 70 games, leading the Raiders to the playoffs for the first time since 2006-07.
A large pivot (6'2", 201 pounds) who is tough to play against on both ends, McNeill has the potential to be an impact player in the next few years.
12. Vladislav Namestnikov
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Rank: No. 11 North American skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: London Knights (OHL)
Raised in Voskresensk, Russia, Vladislav Namestnikov traveled overseas to London, Ontario and had an outstanding first season in the OHL.
He led the Knights with 30 goals, 11 on the power play, and tallied 68 points in 68 games.
Namestnikov is inspired by his uncle, former NHLer and Stanley Cup Champion Slava Kozlov.
A solid two-way player with an accurate wrist shot, Namestnikov will hear his named called in the middle of the first round.
11. Sven Baertschi
15 of 25Rank: No. 5 North American skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Traveling to Oregon from Switzerland to play for the Winterhawks, Sven Baertschi led all WHL rookies in scoring with 85 points in 66 games and was named the league's Rookie of the Year.
He played with Islanders prospect Nino Niederreiter (fifth overall in 2010) on Team Switzerland in the 2011 World Junior Championships.
Some scouts consider him comparable to Niederreiter.
10. Duncan Siemens
16 of 25Rank: No. 10 North American skater
Projected: Mid first round
Team: Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
Duncan Siemens finished second among Saskatoon defensemen with 43 points in 72 points en route to the the Blades' first place finish in the WHL's Eastern Conference.
Known as a leader, Siemens was voted as an assistant captain, but relinquished his position to defensive mate Stefan Elliott (49th overall, Colorado) who was at training camp in Denver at the time.
The Sherwood Park, Alberta native is considered the most physical of the top-tier defensemen in the draft, but also has great mobility to complement his muscle.
9. Sean Couturier
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Rank: No. 6 North American skater
Projected: Top-10 pick
Team: Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
A center born in Phoenix, Arizona and raised in Bathurst, New Brunswick, Sean Couturier has the size (6'4", 197 pounds) necessary to make an impact at the NHL level.
Last year he was named the Most Valuable Player in The Q after scoring 96 points, tied for fourth-most in the league.
He was originally projected as the No. 2 skater in North America.
Couturier was the youngest and only draft-eligible player on Team Canada in the 2011 World Junior Hockey Championships, where he won a silver medal.
In 2009-10, he led The Q in scoring with 96 points, becoming the first 17-year-old to do so since Sidney Crosby.
Couturier is a great fit for any team looking to add size up front.
8. Nathan Beaulieu
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Rank: No. 5 North American Skater
Projected: Top-10 pick
Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
As a part of a powerhouse Saint John team last season, Nathan Beaulieu led all defensemen in the first round of the playoffs with eight points in four games.
In 2009-10, he helped the Sea Dogs reach the QMJHL championship, tallying 16 points in 21 games.
Last season he led all Saint John defensemen in scoring with 45 pints and finished the season with a plus-44 rating.
A strong player in transition known for his speed, poise and booming shot, Beaulieu is considered a strong candidate to go No. 9 to Boston.
7. Ryan Murphy
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Rank: No. 9 North American skater
Projected: Top-10 pick
Team: Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Voted into the top three by the OHL's Western Conference coaches as the Smartest Player and Best Offensive-Defensive category, Ryan Murphy may be a steal among the lottery picks.
The Aurora, Ontario native finished first among OHL defensemen with 26 goals and second with 79 points in 63 games.
A power-play specialist (14 PPG), Murphy is expected to eventually quarterback the man advantage for the team that drafts him.
6. Ryan Strome
20 of 25Rank: No. 8 North American skater
Projected: Top-10 pick
Team: Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Teammate of Dougie Hamilton's in Niagara, center Ryan Strome, a high-scoring forward with strong leadership abilities, is expected to be among the first ten names called in St. Paul.
The Mississauga, Ontario native finished third in OHL scoring with 106 points in 65 games when he lead the IceDogs to a franchise-best 45 wins and 96 points last year.
His 1.63 points-per-game average ranked first in the OHL.
Strome's performance last season merited Most Improved Player and Best Playmaker selections in the 2011 OHL Eastern Conference Coaches Poll.
Strome, a gifted scorer with nimble hands, is considered by many to be a perfect fit with the Atlanta Thrashers...or Winnipeg...whatever—the team drafted No. 7 this year.
5. Jonathan Huberdeau
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Rank: No. 3 North American skater
Projected: Top-five pick
Team: Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)
A lanky center from Laval, Quebec, Jonathan Huberdeau was on a Saint John team with superstar teammates defenseman Nathan Beaulieu (No. 5 North American skater), center Zach Phillips (No. 12) and Thomas Jurco (No. 20).
The Sea Dogs tied The Q's record for most wins in a season (58) and went undefeated at home in regulation.
Last season, Huberdeau finished third in The Q with 105 points in 67 games and set new single-season club records for points and assists (62).
His plus-59 ranking was first in the league.
As a rookie in 2010, he helped navigate the Sea Dogs to the QMJHL final. During the playoff run he set a franchise record for most postseason goals by a rookie (11) and finished second among rookies with 18 points in 21 playoff games.
He is a volume scorer who will be able to help a team out in the next few years.
4. Dougie Hamilton
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Rank: No. 4 in North America
Projected: Top-five pick
Team: Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
Dougie Hamilton, a large (6'4", 187 pounds) defenseman, had an outstanding playoff run while playing on his hometown from St. Catharines, Ontario. He had six points in the team's four-game sweep of Brampton.
Hamilton finished fourth in the OHL in scoring among defensemen with 58 points in 67 games.
In 2009-10, he was named to the OHL Second All-Rookie Team and was the IceDogs' Rookie of the Year.
Although he has the propensity to think offense-first, he is also a physical player in his own end.
3. Adam Larsson
23 of 25Rank: No. 1 European skater
Projected: Top-five pick
Team: Skellefea AIK (Sweden)
Adam Larsson and his hometown team recently lost the Elitserien championship final to Frajestad.
The Swede has great size (6'3", 200 pounds) and a bomb of a shot.
He became only the third defenseman to make his Elite League debut at age 16, following Calle Johansson and current Tampa blueliner Victor Hedman.
Some scouts have him going No. 2 to Colorado, filling the void left by Kevin Shattenkirk, going as far to say that he may, in time, make a bigger impact in the NHL than Hedman.
2. Gabriel Landeskog
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Rank: No. 2 North American skater
Projected: No. 2-3 overall
Team: Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
A left wing from Stockholm, Sweden, Gabriel Landeskog is described by scouts as a natural leader who will be a great complement to Matt Duchene and Paul Statsny on the power play.
If he falls to No. 3, the Panthers would gladly have the NHL-ready prospect, who would develop alongside Nick Bjugstad in South Florida.
Last season he suffered an ankle injury, but still played 53 games and led Kitchener with 36 goals and a plus-27 rating.
At age 17, Landeskog became the youngest player in 30 years to be named captain of the Rangers and was the first European captain in the franchise's 48-year history.
1. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
25 of 25Rank: No. 1 North American skater
Projected: No. 1 overall
Team: Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
While playing with the Red Deer last season, center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins led the league in assists and finished fourth overall in points (106).
The Rebels finished first place in the Central Division.
After being drafted first overall in the 2008 WHL bantam draft, Nugent-Hopkins tallied 65 points in 67 games as a 16-year-old in 2009-10, meriting him the Rookie of the Year Award.
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