NHL Mock Draft 2011: Who's Next After Ryan Nugent-Hopkins?

With the NHL 2011 Draft quickly approaching on Friday in St. Paul, it seems obvious who the Edmonton Oilers will choose with the top pick: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, a six foot center and an excellent playmaker.

Already being compared to Wayne Gretzky, Hopkins has scouts praising him from every angle.

"He can dish both right or left, either on his backhand or forehand, with that kind of vision. It’s not just the vision, either, but the fact he can lay that puck between the skate boot and the skate blade — that’s hard to find, " says NHL Central’s B.J. MacDonald.

What the real question is, however, is who will go next after Nugent-Hopkins? Here are my projected top five picks for the upcoming draft, with a little help from Craig Custance from Sporting News. 

Pick #2 -Adam Larsson (Colorado Avalanche)

Adam Larsson is a defenseman who is playing his second year in the Swedish Elite league. Scouts are calling him a great skater who can be compared to Tampa Bay defenseman Victor Hedman. 

"Essentially, Larsson came across as a smart, heads up and tough player, not a blazing skater but an extremely adept and shifty one, as well as being a strong, clever puck mover, a player who almost always makes the right move with the puck, even under pressure. Imagine a bigger version of tough, clever and shifty Jordan Eberle, and this guy playing defence. That’s Adam Larsson, at least on first glance," says David Staples from the Cult of Hockey.

Pick #3 - Jonathan Huberdeau (Florida Panthers)

Huberdeau, a center at St, John's, is being considered as a future top-six forward in the NHL. He's been praised for his accurate shot, excellent passing and good vision, and is versatile enough to play at either center or wing effectively. 

Chris Mooring of International Scouting Services adds that "Huberdeau is just one of those kids that just impresses me with the work ethic, the smarts, the skill level, it's all there."

Pick #4 - Dougie Hamilton (New Jersey Devils)

Hamilton is a defenseman playing in the OHL for Niagara Falls. He is being compared to Jay Bouwmeester, and is a solid defender who moves extremely well for a big man (6'4").

"He's a two-way beast. He'll nail you, play physically in the defensive end, he can take the puck and go end-to-end with it. He can quarterback the power play. I'd be shocked if he made it out of the top-eight picks this year, " comments Kyle Woodlief, Chief Scout and Publisher, Red Line Report; December 2010.

Pick #5 - Gabriel Landeskog (New York Islanders)

Gabriel Landeskog is a left winger for the Kitchener Rangers.

"Gabriel Landeskog is a terrific all-around talent who can both distribute and snipe. He can beat you with a big hit, a creative set-up, a clutch goal, or a huge shot block on the penalty kill. In short, he's the most complete and NHL ready of all the forwards in this year's crop, " says Kyle Woodlief.

Scouts like how he uses his size to be physical and active in his style of game. 

“He is a good-size guy who is solid on his skates, not afraid to take the puck to the net or battle for it along the boards. His skating is very good in all areas. He plays the game with so much passion, he plays the game hard, he's a great mentor for players that are younger and older, maturity beyond his years. (He) doesn't need one game in the American league next year -- he should step right into the NHL. I think the team that gets him next year is going to get a player that helps them win a Stanley Cup,” says NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards.

There is no doubt that each of these five players will go on to be great NHL stars. The only question is which team they will play for?