NHL Mock Draft Pick #11 – Colorado Avalanche

The Colorado Avalanche are back at the podium for their second first round pick of the draft.  This is the pick they acquired in the trade with St. Louis, with Chris Stewart and Erik Johnson being the primary players involved.  The Avs selected Gabriel Landeskog at #2, and now they are back for #11.

Selecting on behalf of the Avalanche is Stephen, lead writer of Mile High Sticking.

"With the eleventh pick in the 2011 NHL FanSided draft, Mile High Sticking, selecting for the Colorado Avalanche, select Jamieson Oleksiak, defenseman for Northeastern University"

Jared’s Analysis –  Oleksiak is the first US born player selected in this draft, and will likely face numerous comparisons to Tyler Myers of the Sabres.  He is big (6’7″, 250 lbs) and mobile.  He is not offensively gifted, but will be a shutdown force.  Just completing his freshman season, I don’t think he will be making an impact in the NHL anytime soon, but a good chip for the Avalanche to hold going forward.

Stephen from Mile High Sticking joins us again for his comments on Oleksiak:

"After the selection of Duncan Siemens I knew I would have to reach a bit for the next pick. Although Nathan Beaulieu is still on the board the Avalanche need to take a chance on a defenseman who is not known for just his puck moving abilities. Oleksiak stands at 6’7” and would be a welcomed giant to the Avalanche franchise. Even though he may be about 3 years away from the NHL he could pay off in a draft that is not seen as being deep."

I encourage fans and followers of the Avs to bookmark  Mile High Sticking for the latest news on the club!

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 #12 selection, on behalf of the Carolina Hurricanes, is Cardiac Cane.

PREVIEWING THE HURRICANES

2010-2011 Record: 40-31-11 (19th Overall)

League Rankings:
Goals for:  12th

Goals Against: 22th

Power Play: 24th

Penalty Kill:  20th

TOP 5 Prospects in the system:  Zac Dalpe (C), Zach Boychuk (C), Justin Faulk (D), Brian Dumoulin (D), Drayson Bowman (LW)

NEEDS: The Hurricanes have a solid foundation on which to build, with no really pressing needs.  Despite having a top flight goaltender, the Canes allowed too many goals against last season, which kept them on the outside looking in.  Whoever they get with this pick will not make an immediate impact at the NHL level, but will be another piece in the young puzzle that Jim Rutherford is assembling in Raleigh.  They have very few natural right wingers in the system, so Joel Armia might be the direction they take, however Mika Zibanejad‘s stock is rising and might be too good to resist (but I have been saying that for 3 or 4 picks now).

TOP 5 PLAYERS ON THE BOARD (per ISS):

1.  Mika Zibanejad, C, Djurgarden (SWE ELITE)

2.  Oscar Klefbom, D, Farjestad (SWE ELITE)

3.  Joel Armia, RW, Assat (FIN ELITE)

4. Nathan Beaulieu, D, Saint John (QMJHL)

5.  Rocco Grimaldi, C, USA Under-18 (USHL)

Check back on TOO MANY MEN ON THE SITE  tomorrow evening to see who  “Cardiac Cane” chooses to take for the Carolina Hurricanes, as the Fansided mock draft continues!