Middle of the Mock Draft 20-11 Countdown
Posted: Thu Nov 07, 2024 10:09 pm
Sorry for the delay but things have been crazy over at the Athletic lately. Finally able to get the next section out. Can’t wait for the actual draft and see what each GM is thinking. Today we countdown from 20-11 with a few surprises littering the list. Hope you all enjoy
20. Vancouver Canucks- Daniil But is a power forward that has possession skills that come with a large imposing frame. The 6’5 winger is a dangerous player in open space but he is a grinding board battler where he makes his living. Cycling, net drives and a very solid shot he is a very attractive prospect with some pretty promising scoring upside.
19. New York Rangers-Gavin Brindley is a high impact player with a dynamic offensive tool kit. He hands the puck in traffic and in space very well and has a solid two-way game. His a dangerous shooter that is comfortable setting the table for others. He plays a physical game but might be a bit over matched until he adds a significant size and strength. He might play all 4 years of college but when he comes out he will be a player.
18. Florida Panthers-Calum Ritchie is a talented player that thinks the game at a high level. He can disrupt the game with his stick or with his body and is effective in his own zone. He can play an agitator game but is capable or still filling the net. He skating isn’t high end but if he is able to make some realistic improvement here his game will flourish at the next level. Ritchie has no real weaknesses in his game but he isn’t higher up because he doesn’t possess an elite traits. Middle six minutes lie ahead for this solid player.
17. Dallas Stars-Nate Danielson is an elite defensive forward. He is a strong skater with good edges and shiftiness. He is going to be an elite 3rd line center as a floor. Think of players like Danault, Backlund, even part of Kopitar’s game although a little less offensive upside. He is a physical, imposing, hard working player that competes on every shift. Players that end up on his wing flourish and he is the type of player that scoring wingers will thrive with.
16. New Jersey Devils-Colby Barlow is a shooter that can finish plays. There is a real nose for the net with this kid. Possible to carry to the net or be there for a deflection. He thrives in the dirty areas. Not huge but very strong for his size Colby uses his hockey sense to find soft spots around the offensive zone to get off high danger scoring chances. He is a battler and works hard on the forecheck. He has already produced at the AHL level and has back to back 40 goal seasons in the OHL. His NHL landing spot is ideal as there is plenty of opportunity in the near future on the Jets. Fa forwards are coming over the next few season and he is a player who can transition to the pro game very well.
15. Edmonton Oilers-Dalibor Dvorsky had shown potential in Sweden with 48 games across all leagues but his decision to come to the OHL is really what unlocked his potential. 45 goals and 43 assists in his first season in North America has lead to a strong AHL start with 6 goals in his first 12 games. He is one of the best puck handlers in this draft. He plays with the confidence of a player who is going to try things others wouldn’t dream of. His only draw back is his skating which could really use another gear but everything else makes you think he can be a top player. He can over handle the puck sometimes but that is the price you pay for having the skills to leave defenders in your wake more often than not.
14. Minnesota Wild- Brayden Yager is a personal favourite of mine. On a deep and strong Moose Jaw team he was a leading player in the offensive zone. There is speed and strength in his stride that enable him to chance speeds, and vary attacks. He is a shooter first and foremost but has a pretty strong playmaking game as well. It’s possible he is the ends up a 2-C on a very good team where he can use his smarts and other tools to pick teams apart in the offensive zone.
13. New York Islanders-Alex Sandin Pellikka is the most gifted offensive blue liner in this draft. There is a lot of layers to his game. He has a multiple shots, wrister that is quick release and accurate, slapper that can hit the target. If he decides to move the puck he is a great skater with a great break out skill and decision making with the puck. When dishing he leads guys well, and make high end reads that make his a possible PP1 quarterback in the future. His only concerning development obstacle is being drafted by Detroit and them having so much youth on the blueline. He is already in his 3rd season of pro hockey in Sweden where he won a championship with a 10 goal season, impressive for a U-20 blueliner. This year he is nearly a point per game.
12. Calgary Flames-Ryan Leonard popped off last year at BC. He is a real threat anytime he is on the ice. There is high end effort wrapped up in a skill player. He isn’t Crosby by any stretch but he does match skill with grinding effort and a great mind for the game. He has a above average shot, puck skills, vision and playmaking which is exactly what you want in an offensive winger. Last season’s 60 points on the most dangerous line in College hockey has given him even more confidence. Sliding out of a top 10 is a major coup for GM McAndrews.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins- David Reinbacher is a minute eating defender that can play in any situation. 3 years in the Swiss league got him over to North America at the end of the last season and he looked like a vet with 5 points in his first 11 games on the smaller ice surface. Injuries have hurt his development a bit this season but he should make a full recovery before Christmas and start working his way up the Hab’s depth chart. He provides a solid top4 option for LaConte as his blue line starts to age out.
Thanks for following along. Top 10 will drop next week
SW
20. Vancouver Canucks- Daniil But is a power forward that has possession skills that come with a large imposing frame. The 6’5 winger is a dangerous player in open space but he is a grinding board battler where he makes his living. Cycling, net drives and a very solid shot he is a very attractive prospect with some pretty promising scoring upside.
19. New York Rangers-Gavin Brindley is a high impact player with a dynamic offensive tool kit. He hands the puck in traffic and in space very well and has a solid two-way game. His a dangerous shooter that is comfortable setting the table for others. He plays a physical game but might be a bit over matched until he adds a significant size and strength. He might play all 4 years of college but when he comes out he will be a player.
18. Florida Panthers-Calum Ritchie is a talented player that thinks the game at a high level. He can disrupt the game with his stick or with his body and is effective in his own zone. He can play an agitator game but is capable or still filling the net. He skating isn’t high end but if he is able to make some realistic improvement here his game will flourish at the next level. Ritchie has no real weaknesses in his game but he isn’t higher up because he doesn’t possess an elite traits. Middle six minutes lie ahead for this solid player.
17. Dallas Stars-Nate Danielson is an elite defensive forward. He is a strong skater with good edges and shiftiness. He is going to be an elite 3rd line center as a floor. Think of players like Danault, Backlund, even part of Kopitar’s game although a little less offensive upside. He is a physical, imposing, hard working player that competes on every shift. Players that end up on his wing flourish and he is the type of player that scoring wingers will thrive with.
16. New Jersey Devils-Colby Barlow is a shooter that can finish plays. There is a real nose for the net with this kid. Possible to carry to the net or be there for a deflection. He thrives in the dirty areas. Not huge but very strong for his size Colby uses his hockey sense to find soft spots around the offensive zone to get off high danger scoring chances. He is a battler and works hard on the forecheck. He has already produced at the AHL level and has back to back 40 goal seasons in the OHL. His NHL landing spot is ideal as there is plenty of opportunity in the near future on the Jets. Fa forwards are coming over the next few season and he is a player who can transition to the pro game very well.
15. Edmonton Oilers-Dalibor Dvorsky had shown potential in Sweden with 48 games across all leagues but his decision to come to the OHL is really what unlocked his potential. 45 goals and 43 assists in his first season in North America has lead to a strong AHL start with 6 goals in his first 12 games. He is one of the best puck handlers in this draft. He plays with the confidence of a player who is going to try things others wouldn’t dream of. His only draw back is his skating which could really use another gear but everything else makes you think he can be a top player. He can over handle the puck sometimes but that is the price you pay for having the skills to leave defenders in your wake more often than not.
14. Minnesota Wild- Brayden Yager is a personal favourite of mine. On a deep and strong Moose Jaw team he was a leading player in the offensive zone. There is speed and strength in his stride that enable him to chance speeds, and vary attacks. He is a shooter first and foremost but has a pretty strong playmaking game as well. It’s possible he is the ends up a 2-C on a very good team where he can use his smarts and other tools to pick teams apart in the offensive zone.
13. New York Islanders-Alex Sandin Pellikka is the most gifted offensive blue liner in this draft. There is a lot of layers to his game. He has a multiple shots, wrister that is quick release and accurate, slapper that can hit the target. If he decides to move the puck he is a great skater with a great break out skill and decision making with the puck. When dishing he leads guys well, and make high end reads that make his a possible PP1 quarterback in the future. His only concerning development obstacle is being drafted by Detroit and them having so much youth on the blueline. He is already in his 3rd season of pro hockey in Sweden where he won a championship with a 10 goal season, impressive for a U-20 blueliner. This year he is nearly a point per game.
12. Calgary Flames-Ryan Leonard popped off last year at BC. He is a real threat anytime he is on the ice. There is high end effort wrapped up in a skill player. He isn’t Crosby by any stretch but he does match skill with grinding effort and a great mind for the game. He has a above average shot, puck skills, vision and playmaking which is exactly what you want in an offensive winger. Last season’s 60 points on the most dangerous line in College hockey has given him even more confidence. Sliding out of a top 10 is a major coup for GM McAndrews.
11. Pittsburgh Penguins- David Reinbacher is a minute eating defender that can play in any situation. 3 years in the Swiss league got him over to North America at the end of the last season and he looked like a vet with 5 points in his first 11 games on the smaller ice surface. Injuries have hurt his development a bit this season but he should make a full recovery before Christmas and start working his way up the Hab’s depth chart. He provides a solid top4 option for LaConte as his blue line starts to age out.
Thanks for following along. Top 10 will drop next week
SW
