I've been asked to do a Mock Draft by many followers of the blog and I stay may today if I hear more definite information on who will pick who at the top. In the mean time, here is a brief summary of what you can expect in the first round of the draft.
- Currently there are three players who are being considered as a the first overall selection tomorrow. Those players are: Ryan Pilon (Warman), Brycen Martin (Calgary Bisons) and Jake Virtanen (Abbotsford). If I were going to venture a guess as to who go's first, it would be D- Brycen Martin.
- There are three defenseman who have pulled away from the rest of the pack. Martin, Pilon and Jordan Thomson. All three should go in the top 6 lottery picks.
- Jake Virtanen is the consensus #1 overall forward in the draft. He will go in the top 3 picks. After Virtanen, forwards such as: Duke, Mappin, Gardiner, Warkentine, Bleackley and Gropp will all go soon after.
- This is a very strong draft for the province of Saskatchewan. There could be as many as 8 and atleast 6 players from the province to go in the first round. And between 12-15 kids in the top 2 rounds. To put that in perspective. The province has just over a million people, while Alberta and BC have around 4 times as many. I would be surprise to see Warkentine, Gardiner, Pilon, Harris, Shirley or Chartier fall out of the first round.
- To narrow it down further in terms of Saskatchewan talent. The City of Saskatoon could have as many as 4 first rounders alone. Collin Shirley and Rourke Chartier are considered definite first rounders, while high scoring Kolten Olynek and Braden Oleksyn who played midget hockey with Beardy's are borderline.
- The province of B.C. may have as few as 3 first rounders this year. After Ryan Gropp and Jake Virtanen who should be top 10 picks, it is far from having another sure-fire first rounder. Joe Hicketts is a true wildcard as he could be picked very high or fall until the later portions of the 2nd round. Riley Stadel from Cloverdale will get consideration and some still like Sandhu. A player getting lots of consideration now and seems to be vaulting up the ranks is big Lucas Mercer from BWC.
- Manitoba only has one forsure first round selection in Jordan Thomson from Souris. High scoring Adam Brooks is another possibility.
- 5'5 130 Brayden Point is another wildcard in the draft. There is no denying how skilled the player is, but whether that can translate to the WHL is another question. He could go first round with a team who has multiple picks or fall to the 3rd round.
More thoughts later.
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