Mock Draft Cont. (# 6 - #24) and Other Stuff:

UPDATES: Busy news day (well, afternoon) with the release of the 2010-11 NHL Schedule, Hall of Fame induction announcement (congrats to Dino Ciccarelli...long overdue!!), Player's Union voting to activate the 5% Salary Cap escalator clause and thus extending the CBA through 2012, and finally, the big blockbuster deal between Florida and Boston involving Nathan Horton and the 15th overall pick as the key pieces. Makes this whole mock drafting thing seem pretty darn silly now doesn't it? Well, we shall continue on with it just the same, but not spend too much time with picks 9 thru 24...why stop at 24 you ask?? Because the Thrashers pick again at # 24 and after that, I could not really care less!

Now that I have revealed my prediction for the Thrashers at # 8, I might as well switch to "speed-draft" mode (Ass Mode if you're a fan of Craig Ferguson!) and knock this puppy out! Afterall, it's tough to wax eloquently about players whom you've never seen play! And really, the most important question at this year's draft extravaganza is: will there be any cheese & spinach-stuffed cannolis, compliments of Maggiano's, at the Thrashers Draft Party on Friday night?!

#6) TBL - Brandon Gormley (D) Moncton Wildcats -- newly minted GM Steve Yzerman would probably love to make a splash in his first NHL Draft by picking a player possessing some pizzazz, whether it be the sensational Swiss known as El Nino or a dynamic Russian winger like Vladimir Tarasenko, each of whom would certainly send a thrilling jolt of electricity down the legs of under-performing center Vinny Lecavalier. However, Yzerman learned GM'ing whilst serving under a more conservative regime in Detroit. Simply said: Tampa needs defense. And a murky goaltending situation makes Gormley the smart choice here.

#7) CAR - Nino Niederreiter (W) Portland Winterhawks -- with the prospect of a dramatically reduced payroll (self-imposed as owner Peter Karmanos looks for new partnership) and a flood of young players expected to crack the line-up this season, CAR will look to replenish their organizational prospect depth by taking the best player available in Niederreiter. Plus, he already looks good in red. But all jokes aside, CAR will need to re-load the prospect pipeline with a talented forward since both Drayson Bowman and Zach Boychuk are expected to play significantly larger roles in Raleigh this season.

#8) ATL - Ryan Johansen (C) Portland Winterhawks -- since GM Rick Dudley seems to prefer players who are "miserable SOB's" (referring to Jeremy Morin's tenacious and relentless pursuit of goals), I am not sure the baby-faced Johansen fits the profile. And predicting what the soft-talking, stoic Dudley will do with this pick is like trying to pick the winner of the Kentucky Derby...there are just too many variables. But there is very little doubt that the Thrashers' prospect pool is lacking when it comes to play-making centers.

The other centers worthy of consideration with this pick, Jeff Skinner of Kitchener (and Morin's teammate) and Alexander Burmistrov of Barrie, have more than enough skill to warrant the 8th overall pick, but I think Johansen's 6' 3" frame and high-ceiling for maturity will be tough to pass up. Dudley loves kids who are hard to play against (see Patrice Cormier) and young Ryan, who was not afraid to assert himself in the rough and tumble WHL, may just prove to be a baby-faced assassin with a nasty edge.

ASS MODE ENGAGED:

#9) MIN - Mikael Granlund (LW) HIFK of SM-Liiga in Finland -- creative and crafty, Granlund fits the profile of a Wild forward: small and Finnish with a high hockey IQ!

#10) NYR - Aleander Burmistrov (C) Barrie Colts -- as GM of the Rangers, Glen Sather doesn't have the same worries as others when it comes to convincing Russian kids to stay in the NHL.

#11) DAL - Derek Forbort (D) U-18 US Natl Team -- after trading blueline prospect Ivan Vishnevskiy to ATL for Kari Lehtonen, look for GM Joe Nieuwendyk to jump all over Forbort with the 11th pick -- his blend of size and skating ability matches Dallas' needs to a, well...'D'...sorry!

#12) AHM - Jeff Skinner (C) Kitchener Rangers -- despite the hype surroundng a potential love affair with California-born Emerson Etem, GM Bob Murray will need a center as aging pivot Saku Koivu has only a couple good years left. Jeff Skinner goes to Disney Land! That is, if the Thrashers don't snatch him up first.

#13) PHX (via CGY) - Jack Campbell (G) U-18 US Natl Team -- it doesn't take a genius to see that the U-20 World Championship hero, Jack Campbell, would be the perfect heir apparent to Ilya Bryzgalov, regardless of where the franchise plays in two years.

#14) STL - Emerson Etem (W) Medicine Hat Tigers -- after perhaps flirting with the idea of selecting the Russian star forward, Vlad Tarasenko (from the KHL), GM Doug Armstrong then realizes all of his budget is going to pay newly acquired goalie Jaro Halak (see Alan Walsh). Speedy winger Etem might be the perfect choice to succeed the soon-to-retire Paul Kariya.

#15) FLA (via BOS) - Dylan McIlrath (D) Moose Jaw Warriors -- GM Dale Tallon will probably dance his way to the podium to select this fearsome hulk of a boy-human to defend not only the crease, but also prized puck-mover Dimitri Kulikov. Also, let it be noted that, in light of today's trade for Dennis Wideman, I fully expect Tallon to now draft a forward at # 3 to replace departed winger Nathan Horton -- either the gnat-like Niederreiter or wild-card Connolly whose blend of size and skill may make more sense.

#16) OTT - Jonathan Merrill (D) U-18 US Natl Team -- late rising stock makes Jon Merrill an intriguing proposition for GM Bryan Murray, who will surely go with a defenseman at this spot. Merrill's size, hockey IQ and instincts make him a very attractive option for the Sens.

#17) - COL - Austin Watson (LW) Peterborough Petes -- tenacious, high-energy winger Austin Watson is a seamless fit for the burgeoning COL squad. He is sure to compliment an offense that already features a potent trio of skill-forwards: Stastny, Duchene and Mueller.

#18) NSH - Tyler Toffoli (C) Ottawa 67's -- GM David Poile has a knack for recognizing talented and rugged players to play his signature "Smashville" style of hockey, but the need for play-making skill may make it impossible to pass up this under-rated center with soft hands.

#19) LAK - Quinton Howden (LW) Moose Jaw Warriors -- LA doesn't have many glaring needs and will certainly have the luxury of taking the best player available at their spot. That's why I think GM Dean Lombardi will opt for one of the speediest skaters in the draft pool, Moose Jaw's lanky, 2-way specialist Q. Howden.

#20) PIT - Vladimir Tarasenko (LW) Sibir of the KHL -- if Tarasenko is still on the board when the Pens are due to pick, GM Ray Shero may be salivating at the podium by the time he steps up to select this skilled Russian winger, who can play Jari Kurri to Sidney Crosby's Wayne Gretzky. Tarasenko has already proven he can play with grown men by potting 13 G in 42 games of KHL play and PIT has the cache (and the cold, hard money cash, eh?) to persuade the young man to play stateside.

#21) DET - Mark Pysyk (D) Edmonton Oil Kings -- I would not be surprised if there is a run on Russians (Kuznetsov, Kabanov etc.) at this juncture of the draft as teams like LAK, PIT and DET have the prestige and big-time budgets to tantalize talented Russian prospects away from the KHL. However, GM Ken Holland knows that a D-man as fast and smart as this should not fall this far in the draft. Pysyk becomes the heir apparent to Brian Rafalski in DET.

#22) PHX - Nick Bjugstad (C) Blaine H.S. (MN) -- after getting to select a player at # 15 thanks to the Olli Jokinen trade with Calgary, PHX GM Don Maloney gets to play with house money at their well-earned draft spot. At 6'5", Bjugstad is a freak of nature who has the hands of a 5'10" center. His long reach, hockey sense and ability make him worth the risk for the 'Yotes.

#23) BUF - Beau Bennett (RW) Penticton Vees of the BCJHL -- since GM Darcy Regier rarely makes much noise when it comes to trades and free-agent signings, perhaps he'd like to flex his risk-reward muscle (what? don't you have one?) for a change by selecting the high-scoring -- to the tune of 2 points per game -- winger from the weaker junior 'B' league in British Columbia.

#24) ATL - Stanislav Galiev (RW) St. John Sea Dogs -- at this point in the draft, anything can happen and many rumors are swirling that GM Pimp Daddy Dudley will look to parlay this pick (via New Jersey in the Kovalchuk pre-deadline deal) into an established veteran who can bolster the ATL offense now, not later. However, should the Thrashers hold onto this pick, do not be surprised if they take a flyer on this dynamic Russian winger, who has toiled for two years playing stateside, first in the USHL and last season in the QMJHL.

According to scouting reports, Galiev possesses a great deal of creativity in dishing the puck and sees the ice very well. While his goal-scoring production in St. John did not match up with the chances he created, his puck-handling and passing skills may be too good to pass up. From what I've read, he sounds like a young Max Afinogenov without the blazing speed and ankle-breaking moves. The Thrashers need to stock the shelves with skilled, play-making forwards so a player like Galiev, with bountiful up-side potential, may be worth the risk at # 24.