*Grades are based on the players age, draft position, other players available, NHL situation etc.

 

Grade: A+

Reason: There is no doubt Stamkos is the next young superstar in the NHL, and is the most skilled player in the draft. Stamkos is a great addition to the already might Calgary Flames whose future looks even brighter with the Steven. An easy decision for Calgary at the #1 spot.


 

Grade: A-

Reason: The Predators made a surprising yet solid pick at the number 2 spot with Nikita Filatov. The young Russian is arguably the most skilled forward in this draft for some and is going to develop into a superstar in the NHL. GM Odette's stated "Defenseman take too long to develop", and hence was his deciding factor for taking Filatov, but a key fact is that both Drew Doughty and Zach Bogosian are expected to start on their respective NHL club's rosters come opening night while Filatov will go to either the OHL or AHL. Still a great pick, but atleast 3 years before we see a real impact by Filatov in the CDNHL, that is if he isn't gone back to Russia.


 

Grade: A+

Reason: Franchise D-man, who is going to play on the LA Kings this year. Doughty has a great 2-way game and should see a lot of ice time in LA this year considering their weak D-men core. Doughty still has a lot of areas to improve, but the fact that he is NHL ready right now, only tells you how much potential this kid has.


 

Grade: A+

Reason: Another Franchise defenseman in the draft. Bogosian impressed all scouts with his strength and conditioning at the NHL combine. Bogosian is set to be on Atlanta's roster come opening night and should have a decent rookie season given the opportunity he has for that hurting franchise. Bogosian is going to be a great partner for Calgary's other highly rated rookie Erik Johnson, both offer a great 2 way game... which will be very important for Calgary's success in this league.


 

Grade: B+

Reason: While Schenn is considered the next "Adam Foote" by many, we must realize that this is a Toronto Maple Leafs prospect, which means he is going to be overrated to death for years to come. He is a defenseman that is a project and atleast 2-3 years away, which doesn't help his value a lot in the CDNHL, where GM's with patience tend to be scarce. Schenn is still a great defense prospect, and has a great future if he does indeed live up to his potential.


 

Grade: A

Reason: Boedker is one of the faster players this draft has to offer, with great offensive potential. Boedker played on the 2nd line in Kitchener with 2 other rookies, and still put up solid numbers, and was a threat everytime he was on the ice. Boedker is going to try to make the jump this season, but it is unlikely considering Phoenix's depth up front. Boedker has a great future ahead of him, and is a top line player that Wayne Gretzky badly wanted with the 8th overall pick in the NHL. Boedker seems to be the perfect player for Montreal considering with the movement of that team and its youth. Only flaws for Boedker in the CDNHL, is whether or not the skilled forward will be able to crack a top 6 spot with Phoenix, there are just way too many forwards for Phoenix to choose from which can really hurt Boedker's chances at making the big club soon.


 

Grade: A+

Reason: Pietrangelo fell in the CDNHL draft due to Boedker and Schenn being picked higher than expected. Pietrangelo is a great D-men prospect, and while he is not the most physically dominant D-man this draft has to offer, he is one of the more offensive ones. Many say that due to his size, he will develop into a more defensive prospect, but as for now he is a great 2-way player and considered to be a poor mans Pronger. A solid future and should make a case to make the club this year or otherwise the following.


 

Grade:A-

Reason: While Wilson does not have the flashy dynamic skills that some players in this draft have to offer, he is a great 2-way forward who aside from Bogosian impressed a lot of scouts at the combine with his fitness level. Wilson is still 2-3 years away from having an impact in the NHL, but should have no problem cracking Nashvilles roster when he decides to go pro.


 

Grade: Bias

Reason: The power foward has a lot of issues surrounding him that cost him from being a top 5 pick this draft. He has a mean streak and can still put the puck in the net. Beach was rated higher than the likes of Boedker and Hodgson by central scouting. Beach has a great opportuinty ahead of him in Chicago, and if he can learn to control his emotions he could be a great power forward in the NHL.


 

Grade: A

Reason: Hodgson is considered the poor mans Stamkos of this draft, and that is because if he was a faster skater, they would be similar players. Hodgson has great leadership qualities and has a great offensive game. Still a couple years away, but due to the Canucks weak prospect crop, there is less competition for him, and should be easier for him to make the jump to the NHL when the time comes.


 

Grade: A-

Reason: The big d-man of the draft at 6'7, with great defensive play, and possible great offensive potential, Myers draws comparisons to Zdeno Chara, and should have a very bright future if developed properly. D-men with the frame of Myers are known to have boom/bust potential. Myers approaches the game a simple way, and doesn't look to do anything he is not comfortable with, he is known to make smart decisions under pressure.


 

Grade: B

Reason: Colborne played in a league that is considered weaker than ones played by other players drafted close to him. Colborne has a big frame, and follows his game after the likes of Thornton, and likes to be considered a playmaker. Colborne will attend Denver University to continue to develop. Still a while away before we see him in the NHL.


 

Grade: A

Reason: An all around offensive player with great vision, Boychuk is a fast skater and is going to be a great player for the Hurricanes for years to come. Boychuk is able to create plays at high speed, which is an asset in the new NHL. Solid pickup by the Dallas Stars.


 

Grade: A

Reason: A great pickup for the Sharks, the talented center who is known for his playmaking is going to be the perfect coplimentery player for the Islander's other top prospect Kyle Okposo. Bailey is a threat on the ice because he is known for creating plays out of nothing, and due to the Islanders weak group of forward, Bailey could possibly make a case for himself to make the team this year, after looking great at the prospect camp.


 

Grade: B+

Reason: Teubert should develop into a solid 2nd pairing d-man for the kings in the future. Teubert is big and strong and is known for having a mean streak. A solid shut down d-man, that can put up points once in a while.


 

Grade: A-

Reason: A pure offensive specialt as a Defenseman. There are a lot of concerns for his defensive game, but the kid is a great shooter, puck handler and skater, and is going to be an asset for any team on the PP. Del Zotto can make the quick pass, and even carry the puck himself into the zone.


 

Grade: A-

Reason: Has a great shot, great skating, and most importantly, great stick handling which he is known for. Eberle does need to bulk up a bit, and get more strength, and find a way to be more consistant every shift on the ice. Still a couple years away from cracking the Oilers' roster.


 

Grade: A-

Reason: A good pickup by the Capitals. Gardiner is a Forward turned Defenseman, and loves playing there. He is a dynamic defenseman with great skating and speed, he also has a lethal wrist shot. Gardiner has potential through the roof, and what better place than Anaheim for him to develop as a D-man. Gardiner needs to get bigger and is still a few years away from the NHL. Reminds me a lot of S.Neidermayer.


 

Grade: A

Reason: Picked higher than some expected, but still a great pick by the Preds. Hornqvist was basically guaranteed a top 6 role before the whole Radulov situation arised, and now a spot on the top line is open for Hornqvist. The kid is known for scoring goals and could be a darkhorse for the Calder Trophy next year.


 

Grade: B+

Reason: A decent d-man that is still a while away from the NHL. Sbisa is known for his calmness with the puck, but still needs to adjust to the North American game. Sbisa does have a lot of offensive potential, and if he can improve the other areas of the game, he could possibly be a great pick.


 

Grade: A+

Reason: Im shocked that Tedenby fell this far in the draft, and I had him ranked to go higher. Tedenby might be the fastest player available in the draft, and has amazing skill. Tedenby will continue to develop in the SEL next season, and should be getting more ice time. This could end up being the steal of the draft as the Devils don't really have much forward depth prospect-wise, so Tedenby will be given a good shot to make the NHL when the time comes. Great pick by the Panthers.


 

Grade:A

Reason: There are just too many question marks when it comes to Brunnstrom, but the fact the Red Wings wanted this kid, is reason enough to pick him, and which is what has caused a lot of the hype. He is going to start as a top 6 forward for the Stars next year and could possibly rack up decent points playing with Richards. Most scouts, SEL fans and players are puzzeled as to why there is so much hype around Brunnstrom because they never really considered him a top player in the SEL, so it should be interesting what happens next year with Brunnstrom.


 

Grade: B+

Reason: Tikhonov has shown that he knows how to read and react to plays with his great vision on ice. Tikhonov is still a while away from the NHL, and is going to be difficult to crack the lineup with such great prospects by the coyotes. Tikhonov needs to improve his skating.


 

Grade: A-

Reason: Solid goalie with good size. Markstrom plays the butterfly style. Markstrom will continue to develop in Sweden and should develop into a top goalie in the SEL before making the move to the NHL, still a while away, as goalies take a while to develop, but the potential is there for this kid.


 

Grade: D

Reason: A surprise pick to say the least. Brittain is known as a power forward, but still hasn't shown much offensive potential. Definitely not worth a 1st round pick, as there are a lot of better players available, and Minnesota did have a 2nd round pick, where it would seem somewhat acceptable for him to go, so im surprised they took Brittain this early. Brittain is a long way from making the NHL.


 

Grade: A

Reason: Nice pickup by the Blues, I had Bowman on my list. Bowman did have a great year in Spokane and proved a lot of people wrong about why he was drafted so late. Bowman signed a 3 year deal not long ago with the canes, and should crack the roster the following year. Bowman has a great shot and is very fast, but needs to bulk up.


 

Grade: A+

Reason: Im shocked Pickard fell this much, after drawing a lot of comparisons to Carey Price. Pickard signed a 3 year deal with the Preds, and the Preds have made it clear that Pickard will be their next guy in net. Pickard has a lot of potential, and this could be a perfect pick for the Blackhawks since Lundqvist will be a UFA in 4 years, and Pickard could possibly be ready to come in for them by then.


 

Grade: A-

Reason: Great 2-way player who has great vision and playmaking abilities. A dominant player in college who just finished his senior year. Will be a contender for a spot on the Coyotes roster, but will most likely be playing in the AHL where he can develop his skills better and get more ice time. Porter does have good potential, and if he does crack the squad this year, he can be considered another dark horse for the Calder.


 

Grade: D

Reason: Definitely one of the worst picks in the 1st round. While the kid had a decent season in the W, he is still a while away from the NHL, while some players available at this spot were much better skill and potential wise. I would have still been surprised to see Benn go in the 2nd round.


 

Grade: A

Reason: A pure offensive talent, Ennis is a quick sniper that can not only put the puck in the net but also set up his team mates. The only knock on Ennis is his size, but it is still possible for him to grow a couple more inches. Ennis posses great puck handling abilities and vision, and it's very hard for defenders to stop him.