The Winnipeg Jets pick 12th in this year's NHL Entry Draft. With a draft class that some scouts are saying is possibly the deepest draft of all time. The Jets are slowly tumbling down the draft ladder, which in this case is a good thing. It shows that the team is headed in the right direction, moving up in the standings, but down on the draft board. It will be a shame they'll miss out on the top end talent like Seth Jones, Nathan MacKinnon, and Jonathan Drouin, but the Jets will still have a solid group of players to pick from when their name is called.
I think it's fair to list the players who will definitely be gone by the time the Jets pick. They include:
Seth Jones: Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Nathan MacKinnon: Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Jonathan Drouin: Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
Alexander Barkov: Tappara (Finnish Elite League)
They're pretty much the unanimous top 4 on most scouts rankings which means that by the time the Jets pick, these players will be gone. But with so much talent in this year's draft, the Jets could get their hands on a real good player.
The Jets have made some surprising draft choices over the past couple year's. Taking Mark Schifele in 2011, and Jacob Trouba in 2012 when there were still names such as Sean Coutourier and Filip Forsberg on the board. However, both Trouba and Schifele have dominated at their respective levels, and look ready to move onto the pro's.
So finally, here it is, a list of 12 players who the Jets will give a good hard look at, if they are still available when the Jets pick.
1-Darnell Nurse: D from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL): Nurse played in 68 games for the Greyhounds this year, registering 12 goals and 29 assists for 41 points during the regular season. His 116 penalty minutes shows that he's got a mean streak in him. Something valuable to any team is a d-man with a mean-streak who can put points on the board. He was -13 in his first season, but cleaned that up his sophomore year and improved to +15. At 6'5 weighing in at only about 190 pounds he has some growing to do, once that growing is done he'll be a big, strong defenseman.
2-Valeri Nichushkin: F for Chelyabinsk Traktor (KHL): The big 6'5 Russian center would give any team what they want, a big center with skill. Playing only 18 games for Chelyabinsk Traktor in the KHL, he recored 2 goals and 4 assists, as well as 3 goals and 6 assists during their playoff run. He's big, he's fast, and would give any team a solid, big, top end center.
3-Elias Lindhold: F for Brynas IF Gavle (Swedish Elite League): Over two seasons with Brynas, Lindholm has racked up 11 goals and 19 assists in 60 games. He was a -1 over his two year career in Sweden, and was also part of the Swedish team that captured silver at the past year's Under 20 World Championships in Ufa, Russia. At 6 feet and 190 pounds he isn't big by any means, but he isn't small either. Only time will tell if he'll be physically and mentally ready for the NHL level off the bat.
4-Sean Monahan: F from the Ottawa 67'S (OHL): After putting up 47 points in his rookie season, Monahan racked up back to back 78 point seasons for the Ottawa 67's. During his career in Ottawa, he's put up a total of 201 points in only 185 games. He was +24 his first two years but that fell to -18 this past season, though he was on a weaker 67's team. His minus shows that like most other prospects, he has some work to do in his own zone. He's tall at 6'2 but still needs to put on some muscle. I wouldn't expect to see him in the NHL this upcoming year, but whoever drafts him will be gaining a skilled center who gets his name on the score sheet.
5-Max Domi: F from the London Knights (OHL): Unfortunately I don't see him still being available when the Jets pick, but you never know. It would be nice for him to come to Winnipeg (or Toronto for that matter) given his father's history with both teams. With Max Domi, you're getting about the opposite of what his father brought to the table. He was part of the Knight's team that last season that went to the Memorial Cup tournament, and has led them back into that position as they play Game 7 against Mark Schifele's Barrie Colts. Over his career in London, Domi has collected 136 points in 126 games, and 41 points in 39 career playoff games, including 32 points in their current playoff run. He's never been a minus player in his junior career.
6-Hunter Shinkaruk: F from the Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL): Part of Canada's 4th place team in Ufa, Shinkaruk has emerged as a star in the WHL. In 193 games throughout his career with the Tigers, he's racked up 229 points averaging about 1.6 points per game. He clearly has offensive upside, and would be a nice addition to any team. If the Jets could pick him up he'd help them in a department they desperately need help in; a solid top 6 forward to play with Evander Kane, and Olli Jokinen. Not to say his impact would be immediate, but he clearly has the offensive ability to someday play in the NHL. The one blemish he has is the -13 in the plus/minus column for this past season, showing he has some work to do in his own end of the ice.
7-Nikita Zadorov: D from the London Knights (OHL): The London Knights continue to churn out top prospects. In only one season with the Knights, Zadorov played 63 games, collecting 25 points, and was a +33. At 6'5 and 225 pounds there's no doubt he is physically ready for the NHL, but he may still have some work to do to refine his game a bit. Anyone who picks him will be getting a big skilled d-man, something every team wants.
8-Alexander Wennberg: F for Djurgardens IF Stockholm (Swedish Elite League): The young Swede collected 32 points in 46 games with Djurgardens in the Swedish Elite League this season, and was a +10 during the regular season. While he hasn't had a ton of exposure, he has a year against grown men in the Swedish league under his belt, where he put up some solid points for an 18 year old. He's 6'1 and only weighs about 170 lbs so he has some growing to do, but that will come with age.
9-Rasmus Ristolainen: D for TPS Turku (Finnish Elite League): Like many other European prospects, this 19 year old has the advantage of playing two seasons against grown men. In two seasons with TPS Turku, Ristolainen racked up 23 points in 92 games but was a combined -28 during his two seasons. He's a big right-handed shooting d-man, and word has it the Flyers are actively trying to make sure they get him. The Jets are pretty deep on d already, but it wouldn't surprise me if they nabbed Ristolainen if his name is still on the board.
10-Ryan Pulock: D from the Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL): With a booming shot and lots of hockey smarts, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Wheaties captain move his way up the draft board (he's currently listed at 14th). In 195 games with the Wheat Kings, Pulock has scored 41 goals, added 106 assists for a total of 147 points, and is a +28 for his career. The Grandview, Manitoba native would like nothing more than to be picked up by his home province team, but one thing is certain, whoever picks him will be getting a strong, solid d-man with a big shot.
11-Curstin Lazar: F from the Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL): Lazar has been a member of the Oil Kings for 3 years, and was integral to their Memorial Cup appearance last season. He had a career high in points this past season with 61, and has collected 93 points in 141 games. He may not have the offensive numbers that some of the other top ranked players may have, and at 6 feet 190 lbs he's not that big either but he brings a gritty game to the ice, and solid d-zone awareness at +42 for his career.
12-Zachary Fucale: G from the Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL): Another key piece in a stacked Halifax team. Fucale is widely recognized as the highest ranked goaltender in this year's draft. While the Jets have made it abundantly clear that Pavelec is their man going forward, it never hurts to have depth at the goaltending position. He's appeared in 113 games with the Mooseheads, achieving an outstanding record of 77-23-9 with a career 2.76 GAA, and a .900 save %. In this year's playoffs he went 16-1. I wouldn't expect the Jets to pick him up, but you never know.
Whichever of these players (if any) the Jets decide to draft will not be a choice wasted. They are pretty deep at the defense position, and in the goaltending department as well, so I would expect them to take a forward with their first pick. No matter who it is, there's no denying that this year's draft boasts some of the best talent that we've seen in year's.
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