NHL: 2007 NHL Entry Mock Draft

The 2007 NHL Entry Draft will be held at Nationwide Arena in Columbus Ohio on June 22-23. The first round selections will take place on Friday the 22nd, during prime time at 7 p.m. EST. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese offers his views on the first round with his mock draft. Make sure to follow the draft and see how well Max does with the McKeen's 2007 NHL Draft Ticker, tracking all seven rounds.

1. Chicago Blackhawks: RW Patrick Kane, London Knights OHL

It is time the Blackhawks take a shot on a pure offensive talent instead of the safe two-way forward they have gone for recently. Kane can play in the NHL next season and supply offensive creativity with an exceptional skill level to the Blackhawks anemic offense.

2. Philadelphia Flyers: RW James vanRiemsdyk, USNTDP

Stacked with young and talented centers, the Flyers will look to add size and skill on the wings, both of which Van Riemsdyk has in spades. He is also an eastern boy and the Flyers should be enamored with his character.

3. Phoenix Coyotes: C Kyle Turris, Burnaby Express BCHL

He's not the most NHL ready but Turris is a special player that Gretzky has seen for himself and will target at the draft. Long term, he can develop into that franchise center the Coyotes have lacked.

4. Los Angeles Kings: D Karl Alzner, Calgary Hitmen WHL

GM Dean Lombardi believes that good defensemen are like good pitching in baseball, hard to find and vital to team success. Alzner is the perfect complimentary defenseman to Jack Johnson in the long run.

5. Washington Capitals: RW Alexei Cherepanov, Omsk RUS

The Capitals have possibly the most-talented player in the draft fall into their laps and with their abundance of young talent, they can afford to take the risk that comes with drafting this talented Russian. The fact that he will fit into their locker room does not hurt either.

6. Edmonton Oilers: RW Jakub Voracek, Halifax Mooseheads

Edmonton can use help at every position and with three first-round selections in this draft, they can afford to target the best player available regardless of position. Voracek brings the dynamic combination of power and skill that the Oilers sorely lack.

7. Columbus Blue Jackets: D Kevin Shattenkirk, USNTDP

The Blue Jackets do not have a true offensive defenseman in their system that can skate and move the puck. Shattenkirk has all of that and then some, as he is also a leader with great character.

8. Boston Bruins: D Ryan McDonagh, Cretin-Durham USHS

The Bruins will continue to bolster their young defensive corps with this superb two-way talent that could end up being the best defenseman taken in this year's draft. McDonagh proved his mettle with a strong performance at the U-18's, a competition the Bruins put a lot of stock in.

9. St. Louis Blues: C Sam Gagner, London Knights OHL

With three first-round selections, the Blues hope to find offensive playmakers. There may not be a better playmaking center in this draft than Gagner.

10. Florida Panthers: D Keaton Ellerby, Kamloops Blazers WHL

This pick makes sense, as he is exactly what the Panthers can use in their organization, as they are looking to acquire defenseman with size and mobility. The long term thought of him and Jay Bouwmeester pairing up is enticing.

11. Carolina Hurricanes: C Zach Hamill, Everett Silvertips WHL

Hamill is the skilled and creative offensive wizard at center that this organization needs.

12. Montreal Canadiens: RW Bill Sweatt, Colorado College Tigers NCAA

The Canadiens will be looking to acquire defenseman in this years draft but with Shattenkirk and McDonagh off the board, they take the best player available in Sweatt. He is their type of player, as he brings tremendous speed and character to an organization rich in both.

13. Toronto Maple Leafs: C Angelo Esposito, Quebec Remparts QMJHL

While Esposito carries some risk, he also brings great upside, as he is a powerful skater that fits the new game well. The Maple Leafs will not be able to say no if Esposito slips to them.

14. Colorado Avalanche: D Nick Petrecki, Omaha Lancers USHL

Petrecki is the big and mobile athlete on defense the Avalanche sorely need. This pick makes sense, as the Avalanche often target players with hype-factor, which Petrecki has carried with him since he was 15 years old.

15. Edmonton Oilers: C Lars Eller, Frolunda Jr SWE

With speed and creativity in abundance, Eller will fit in well to an organization looking for more pure skill up front.

16. Anaheim Ducks: C Patrick White, Grand Rapids USHS

The Stanley Cup Champions originally wanted to move this pick at the trade deadline but it appears to be a blessing in disguise that they did not. White is a fast, skilled, and creative two-way center that the Ducks could use in their development system, as the rich get richer.

17. New York Rangers: RW Max Pacioretty, Sioux City USHL

With a stacked development system, the Rangers can target the best player available. Pacioretty has a blossoming power game to go along with an impressive top gear, soft hands, and a playmakers touch.

18. Calgary Flames: RW Brandon Sutter, Red Deer WHL

Darryl Sutter will cross his fingers his nephew is available here, as he possesses the size, speed, and tenacity ratio that Darryl covets in players.

19. Minnesota Wild: C Logan MacMillan, Halifax QMJHL

Minnesota is looking for character and hockey sense both of which MacMillan possesses. They may have hit a home run with a QMJHL center last year in James Sheppard and will look to do it again this year.

20. Pittsburgh Penguins: D Ian Cole, USNTDP

Cole is that big and smart shutdown defenseman they need to compliment their offensive talent from the blueline.

21. Phoenix Coyotes: RW Simon Hjalmarsson, Frolunda SWE

Gretzky has made it clear he wants more skill and creativity in the Coyotes organization. Hjalmarsson is one of the most talented players in the draft and his offensive instincts are off the charts.

22. Montreal Canadiens: D Teddy Ruth, USNTDP

Ruth is on top of many teams draft boards in terms of character but he also has a complete two-way game and a take-charge style that makes him one of the drafts late risers.

23. Philadelphia Flyers: RW Brett MacLean, Oshawa OHL

MacLean fits in perfectly with the Flyers organization as a big winger with terrific scoring potential. Would fit in ideally down the road on a line centered by Mike Richards.

24. St. Louis Blues: C Logan Couture, Ottawa OHL

This is a big draft for the Blues and they cannot afford to miss, which makes Couture so attractive this late in the first round. While he may top-out as just a checking line center, Couture is mature mentally and smart on the ice, making his bust potential very low.

25. Vancouver Canucks LW Colton Gillies, Saskatoon WHL

Gillies is a big and mean power forward with blinding speed. The Canucks need to bring more sandpaper and size to their system and Gillies is the ideal selection here.

26. St. Louis Blues: D Jonathon Blum, Vancouver WHL

Blum is the pure offensive defenseman the Blues lack on their organizational depth chart. With three first round picks, they can afford to take one risk on a player with a high upside and Blum would be an astute selection here for his skill and offensive creativity.

27. Detroit Red Wings: LW Mikael Backlund, SWE

The Red Wings appear to have struck gold in 2005 when they selected defenseman Jakub Kindl. The story on Backlund's draft stock is similar to Kindl's, as he was projected to be a top-five pick at the beginning of the season but had a rough year and has seen his stock fall. Backlund is the smart and skilled, complete two-way player the Wings are after.

28. Washington Capitals: D Nick Ross, Regina WHL

Ross is the type of defenseman the Capitals target, as they can look past inconsistencies if the prospect brings an exciting raw package to the table.

29. Ottawa Senators: RW Stefan Legein, Mississauga OHL

Similar to last years first round selection of Nick Foligno, Legein is a fast sparkplug from the OHL. Legein is a better finisher than Foligno and already brings a more mature work ethic. He is the type of player that the Senators are trying to bring into their organization.

30. Edmonton Oilers: D Thomas Hickey, Seattle WHL

Hickey's superb skill set and mobility coupled with his competitive streak, make him the prototypical defenseman to play in the Oilers high-tempo system.

31. Buffalo Sabres: RW Michal Repik, Vancouver WHL

Repik saw his stock skyrocket with a commanding playoff performance. He brings the skill and creativity on the puck the Sabres covet.

41. San Jose Sharks: D John Negrin, Kootenay WHL

Negrin is the type of defenseman the Sharks target at the draft, as he is big, mobile, and defensively aware.

47. Tampa Bay Lightning: C Joakim Andersson, SWE

Tampa Bay needs to add some talent up front in their organization. Andersson is a big two-way center with a playmakers touch.

50. Dallas Stars: D Brendan Smith, St. Michael's OPHJL

The Stars are willing to take on projects with high upside and that is exactly what Smith is. He is big with great mobility and a dynamic offensive skill set but is still raw defensively.

54. Nashville Predators: RW Mike Hoeffel, USNTDP

Hoeffel fits in well with the Nashville organization, as they are hungry for the type of player he is. He is big with nimble feet and is a goal-scoring power forward.

57. New Jersey Devils: RW Sergei Korostin, RUS

Korostin is expected to have his stock fall on draft day due to character concerns and the fact that Russia has yet to sign the IIHF agreement. That didn't stop New Jersey from taking a similar player last year in Alexander Vasyunov and don't expect them to hesitate this year, if a dynamic talent like Korostin falls to them.

76. New York Islanders: RW Spencer Machacek, Vancouver WHL

Spencer is the gritty two-way winger that is always on the puck that the Islanders always go after on draft day. They also like the fact that he elevates his goal scoring in the playoffs and his motor never quits.

78. Atlanta Thrashers: RW Nico Sacchetti, Virginia USHS

Atlanta never hesitates to take a player from the high school level and Sacchetti is one of the most dynamic players available. He is a creative winger with good feet and plays with tenacity every night.