1. Edmonton--Nail Yakupov

I'm not sure the Oilers are looking to get younger on the blueline since they willingly got older at the deadline.

2. Columbus--Alex Galchenyuk

Their system is pretty much all guys playing in North America, so I don't think they pick Forsberg. They traded for Jack Johnson at the deadline and that makes me think they think he's any good at all, which in turn suggests to me they want a forward. "Grigorenko" sounds too similar to "Filatov."

3. Montreal--Mikhail Grigorenko

Seems like a big twp-way C is exactly what Montreal needs, especially with Plekanec a UFA after next season.

4. Islanders--Ryan Murray. The Islanders are a little stronger up front than on the blueline among their prospects. They also have a history making early picks I don't agree with.

5. Toronto--Filip Forsberg

He has a truculent-sounding name (and I get the impression he's best player available and was even at 4).

6. Anaheim--Matt Dumba

With only one high-end D in the system, Anaheim finds a nice fit here, and a guy who should be able to play Boudreau's system pretty well.

7. Minnesota--Teuvo Teravainen

Another player from Finland.

8. Carolina--Brendan Gaunce

I'm suspicious of how after drafting Jack Johnson and subsequently seeming to swear off drafting D early, GM Jim Rutherford suddenly appears to like them again. I think he'll go with a forward here, and I'm thinking North American, potentially overblown skating issues.

9. Winnipeg--Jacob Trouba

Per Hockey's Future, I've only heard of their fifth-best prospect on the blueline, but seven of their top prospects up front. Clearly, the issue here is defense.

10. Tampa--Morgan Rielly

The last time they picked a big not-so-physical-but-positionally-sound defenseman in the first round, the Bolts regretted it, if by "regretted" I mean "loved." But I think they'll want some more puck-moving ability, some that's NHL-caliber already.

11. Washington--Radek Faksa

The Capitals need more Europeans to choke properly (i.e. like a European, in the first round, not like a North American, in the Stanley Cup Finals).

12. Buffalo--Griffin Reinhart

The Sabres will lead the NHL in total team neck length.

13. Dallas--Zemgus Girgensons

I hope Tom Gaglardi makes this pick. A fresh start to new ownership with a fresh name.

14. Calgary--Pontus Aberg

Just looking for an impact player, and speedy sniper Aberg could be lethal if the rest of his game develops alright.

15. Ottawa--Hamphus Lindholm

16. Washington--Sebastian Collberg

The Capitals have tended to take good skaters. Since 2008: Gustafsson, Carlson, Johansson (plus 3rd rounder Eakin), and Kuznetsov (plus third rounder Galiev) can all skate really well, and with the exception of Gustafsson can all flat-out fly. Collberg can fly, too, like the weagle he'll be wearing.

17. San Jose--Tomas Hertl

Since Charlie Coyle was the Sharks' last top prospect, I'm guessing they like forwards a little more than defensemen. With a slew of UFAs coming up over the next two years, seems like San Jose will be building its skaters around Couture, Pavelski, Burns, Vlasic, and this pick. Their system emphasizes cycling and dump-and-chase, areas in which Hertl is pretty good.

18. Chicago--Matt Finn

The Hawks want as many puck movers as possible--get the puck to the forwards and let them do their thing.

19. Tampa--Cody Ceci

Big with hockey sense. Sounds head(man)y to me.

20. Philadelphia--Tanner Pearson

No college players up at the top, so the Flyers go with an overager.

21. Buffalo--Slater Koekkoek

Had to be North American, preferably American. Couldn't be short.

22. Pittsburgh--Nicolas Kerdiles

Maybe this is the season they actually start implementing the plan for the Jordapocalypse.

23. Florida--Tom Wilson

Size.

24. Boston--Derrick Pouliot

The Bruins can afford to go with a guy who may take a little longer to develop. Especially when it's a D who's fallen several spots from where he should have been taken.

25. St. Louis--Brady Skjei

I don't know what the deal is with their ownership, but while it's cheaper to maintain a competitive team using mainly D (a la Nashville), St. Louis was effective this season in large part because young forwards produced well above their contracts. With some decent prospects, the Blues can afford to try and hit it big again. Then again, Schwartz and Tarasenko project to be elite offensively already, with Rattie also in the fold, so I think D is the pick here.

26. Vancouver--Henrik Samuelsson

Swedish forward.

27. Phoenix--Martin Frk

May as well.

28. Rangers--Stefan Matteau

29. New Jersey--Malcolm Subban

Finally understand they need to find someone to replace Brodeur, the Devils try to hit a home run here with a pick they kept, for some reason.

30. Columbus--Andrei Vasilevski

Scott Howson finally decides Steve Mason isn't the answer, and so drafts a guy who probably has a ~30% chance of replacing Mason in 3-5 years.