#26 - Montreal Canadiens - Joel Eriksson-Ek (C)
The 26th overall pick belongs to the Montreal Canadiens. With that pick, we've decided on the best player available, Swedish center Joel Eriksson-Ek. Eriksson-Ek had 32 PTS in 25 GMS whilst bearing the "A" for Farjestad in Sweden's J20 League. Playing with Farjestad's mens team, Eriksson-Ek has 6 PTS in 34 GMS. A large step down, but playing with men is a lot different than playing against your own age group, so that plays a role. I honestly think Eriksson-Ek could easily go higher than 26, he most likely will, so this would be a steal for Montreal. He's a dynamic, two way center that uses his outstanding vision in all 3 zones. He scores big goals, and is the type of player you want on the ice in all situations. Like I previously mentioned, Montreal would jump at him if he was still on the board at #26.
#27 - Anaheim Ducks - Jake DeBrusk (LW)
Jake DeBrusk, son of Louie DeBrusk, is a solid prospect that is most likely to be selected within the first round. DeBrusk had 81 PTS in 72 GMS with the WHL's Swift Current Broncos. He's a chippy, two-way winger that has a good scoring touch. He will go to those dirty areas and battle, and that makes him very effective as a penalty killer, as well as a goal scorer. He has his father's competitiveness, he wants to win every night. All in all, hes very likely to fall to Anaheim at number 27, and he would be a solid two way winger with that little bit of scoring touch.
#28 - Tampa Bay Lightning (From NYR) - Brock Boeser (RW)
Were almost there! Picking at #28 is Tampa, acquiring this pick in the Martin St. Louis trade from the Rangers. Brock Boeser is one I think would fit in Tampa. Boeser had 68 PTS in 57 GMS with the USHL's Waterloo Blackhawks. He's committed to the University of North Dakota for next year. Tampa took offensive defenseman Anthony DeAngelo last year, so I feel they shy away from a potential defenseman with this pick. Brock Boeser is a goal scoring winger with dynamic traits and good instincts. He knows exactly where to go to get his goals, and can snipe the puck just as good or even better than anyone on this list. Boeser could be taken before this, or even fall to round 2, but if Tampa takes him, they're getting a solid winger of the future.
#29 - Philadelphia Flyers (From TBL) - Thomas Chabot (D)
The Flyers acquired Tampa's first round selection in the Braydon Coburn trade, and barring no draft-day moves, this will be Philly's second first round pick. I had them taking Ivan Provorov with their first, but why not go with another d-man with their second, especially if Thomas Chabot is still around. Chabot has 41 PTS in 66 GMS with the QMJHL's Saint John Seadogs. He's a quick skating solid two-way d-man that has good hockey sense and makes good choices under pressure. He's good at jumping up offensively with his quick movement, and is able to get back when in too deep. He has a lot of upside, and could potentially develop into a solid option that can log big minutes on "D". Landing Provorov and Chabot in round one would be outstanding for Philly, but we can only wait to see if Chabot is still on the board.
#30 - Arizona Coyotes (From CHI) - Ilya Samsonov (G)
We are finally here, the LAST PICK of round one! (In our mock draft at least, real draft starts 7:00 ET on Friday, June 26th). Arizona has Chicago's first rounder after acquiring it in the Vermette trade. We already have Arizona selecting Noah Hanifin at #3, and adding another defensive piece to that puzzle in AZ would be drafting the best goalie in the draft, Ilya Samsonov. Samsonov really could go anywhere between mid-first round to mid-second round, but most likely #1. He played in 18 GMS with the MHL's (Russian Junior League) Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk. He had a 2.66 GAA and 918 SV%. He was also outstanding for Russia at the U18's. He's a mobile goalie that has excelled in Russia, and plays a lot like Russian counterpart and previous first round pick Andrei Vasilevski. The 'Yotes need a young goalie to take over for Mike Smith eventually, and Samsonov could be that replacement.
That's all folks, the end of the 2015 mock draft. We'll have to see how the draft actually plays out now! Thanks for following us all the way through, and enjoy the posts to come! Leave your own opinions in the comments below!
Cheers,
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