Swedish players have gone 1-2 early on in the Fansided NHL Mock Draft, and now it is time for the Florida Panthers to make their selection. Check my preview of the Florida situation from yesterday.
Picking for the Panthers on behalf of The Rat Trick, is their Senior Editor, Frank.
"The Florida Panthers organEYEzation would like to thank the people of Minnesota for the wonderful hospitality and for the hard work they have done to make this a wonderful few days. With the third overall pick in this years entry draft the Florida Panthers are proud to select from the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins."
Jared’s Analysis – Some tense moments for the #1 ranked player as he falls to #3 and the Florida Panthers. RNH’s vision is his best asset, and he will make plays that will dazzle Florida fans. He is a potential franchise cornerstone that the team can build around in South Florida. He still has some growing to do physically, but the Panthers must be elated that the player that could have the most upside of all first-rounders fell into their laps. I like this pick for the Panthers and their future. So far I have agreed with all 3 picks for the individual teams and their situations.
Frank from The Rat Trick sent along his assessment of Nugent-Hopkins and why he was their choice:
"The Florida Panthers have selected Ryan with their pick as he will be able to fill a void that has been a weak spot for the Panthers, a top centreman. While Ryan is young, he will be given every opportunity to show that he deserves to be with the team this season. He was ranked number one by by Central Scouting as well as TSN, and there some very good reasons for that. He has good hockey sense, scoring ability, and by playing in the tough WHL, he should be able to blend right in very soon at the NHL level. We see no reason why Ryan can’t be a Florida Panther for a very long time."
Followers of the Panthers should check out The Rat Trick for more on this pickup and the Panthers in general.
Here are the Mock Draft results so far (click on the team name to go to the post about that pick):
HAVE YOUR SAY
Now on the clock for the #4 Selection, on behalf of the New Jersey Devils, is Pucks and Pitchforks.
PREVIEWING THE DEVILS
2010-2011 Record: 38-39-5 (23rd Overall, won Draft Lottery to move up to 4th pick from 8th)
League Rankings:
Goals for: 30th
Goals Against: 9th
Power Play: 28th
Penalty Kill: 11th
TOP 5 Prospects in the system: Jon Merrill (D), Mattias Tedenby (LW), Jacob Josefson (C), Alex Uborn (D), Brandon Burlon (D)
NEEDS: The Devils atrocious start was not indicative of their overall talent. Add Zach Parise back to that team and the offense should be better by default. There are many different directions New Jersey could choose to go. The Devils would like to find a playmaking centre to play with Ilya Kovalchuk, since Zajac and Parise have some chemistry on another line. Jonathan Huberdeau and Sean Couturier would be ideal candidates up front. On the flip side, the Devils defense could really use an upgrade and there are a couple of elite defensive prospects on the board. Ryan Murphy is a clone of former Devil Brian Rafalski, and could add offense from the back end, while Dougie Hamilton is a towering presence who can skate and move the puck.
TOP 5 PLAYERS ON THE BOARD (per ISS):
1. Sean Couturier, C, Drummondville (QMJHL)
2. Dougie Hamilton, D, Niagara (OHL)
3. Ryan Murphy, D, Kitchener (OHL)
4. Ryan Strome, C, Niagara (OHL)
5. Jonathan Huberdeau, C, Saint John (QMJHL)
Check back on TOO MANY MEN ON THE SITE tomorrow evening to see who “Pucks and Pitchforks” chooses to take for the NEW JERSEY DEVILS, as the Fansided mock draft continues!