NHL Draft 2011: Gabriel Landeskog and 5 Most NHL Ready Players

Experts say that their are no superstars in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. 

This is not true. 

While there may not be a Sidney Crosby, or Steven Stamkos or Taylor Hall, there are plenty of players who will be greats in the NHL. In fact, this is one of the deepest drafts in a while. 

There a more than a few players who can make the jump into the NHL directly after the draft. 

Here is a list of the 5 most likely to make that jump. 

As always please feel free to comment with your opinion about the upcoming draft; I always love hearing from others. 

5. Sean Couturier

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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

Sean Couturier comes in fifth on the list of draft eligible players who can easily make the transition into the NHL.

Couturier played for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Last season, he finished with 96 points (36 goals, 60 assists) and 11 points (six goals, five assists) in the postseason. 

Couturier is ranked fifth by international central scouting.

Much has been made about the fall from grace of Couturier, who had previously been ranked first by scouts.

This is exaggerated, however, as Couturier is still an excellent player and will be a star in the NHL. 

4. Jonathan Huberdeau

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MISSISSAUGA, CANADA - MAY 20: Jonathan Huberdeau #11 of the Saint John Sea Dogs takes a penalty against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors in the opening game of the 2011 Mastercard Memorial Cup at the Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Canada. The Sea Dog

Jonathan Huberdeau is an offensive superstar. 

He played the 2010-2011 season with the St. John's Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League where he won the memorial cup. 

Huberdeau finished with 43 goals and 62 assists in 67 games of the regular season. 

He also added 16 goals and 14 assists in the postseason and earned Memorial Cup MVP honours. 

Huberdeau's stock has risen significantly since the beginning of the season and continues to rise.

3. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

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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

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is ranked No. 1 in international central scouting, and for good reason.

He is one of the few offensive dynamo's in the 2011 draft. 

He currently plays for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. 

He finished with 106 points (31 goals, 75 assists) in 69 games of the WHL regular season.

At 6-feet and 153 lbs, some critics say that he still needs to grow a little bit still to make the NHL, but if Nugent-Hopkins is selected first overall by the Edmonton Oilers, the Oilers will be heavily scrutinized for leaving him off the roster. 

2. Adam Larsson

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BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 03: Adam Larsson #5 of Sweden skates against Russia during the 2011 IIHF World U20 Championship Semi Final game between Sweden and Russia on January 3, 2011 in Buffalo, New York. Russia won 4-3 and faces Canada in the gold medal game

Adam Larsson is certainly one of the most NHL ready prospects. 

This is partly because he has already played with the Skelleftea AIK of the Swedish Elite League for the last two seasons.

During the 2009-2010 season, Larsson tied the single season record for scoring among defensemen under the age of 18 with 17 points (four goals and 13 assists). 

Larsson has played in both the 2009 and 2010 World Junior Championships, where he played a crucial role. 

1. Gabriel Landeskog

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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)

Gabriel Landeskog is the most NHL ready player to enter the draft. 

Landeskog is a young Swede who plays a North American style of play. 

Gabriel ended up with 66 points in 53 games for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League. 

He also finished with 10 points in seven games in the OHL Playoffs. 

Gabriel is not known for his skill, however, he is more known as a power forward in the OHL, something unusual for hockey players from Sweden.