The 2009 first overall pick made it quite obvious that he was the only All-Star caliber player on the ice last night as he put forth a dominating performance that was highlighted by a three point third period that helped the Islanders escape with the 5-2 road victory.  Tavares recorded two goals and one assist during the final 20 minutes of the game, and he also added a first period assist during his four-point performance.  That moved him all the way up into a tie for fourth in NHL scoring (53 points), and it also earned him “The Stat Line of the Night” for Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Total Pro Sports – With the start of the 2009-10 NHL Season upon us it’s time to take a look and see how each team stacks up. As per the norm, each preview will be broken down by division in order of how we think the team will finish.

Lets take a look at the Atlantic Division for the 2009-10 NHL Preview.

1. Pittsburgh Penguins

Obviously not a big surprise here. As seems to be the trend, the Penguins did loose some players to free agency during the summer but they’ve managed to keep their core together which is huge.

Sidney Crosby and Bill Guerin showed some nice chemistry playing together in last year’s playoffs and will look to continue that success for the 2009-10 season. Evgeni Malkin unfortunately lost his linemate in Petr Sykora to Minnesota, but Malkin is too good of a player to let that stop him from collecting 100+ points. Jordan Staal leads a group of players looking to provide some secondary scoring with Matt Cooke, Maxime Talbot and Michael Rupp adding some sandpaper.

Defence is probably the one weak spot for the Penguins but when looking at their blueline it’s anything but. Sergei Gonchar, Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski supply the offence from the back end while Mark Eaton, Jay McKee and Brooks Orpik hold things down in the defensive end.

Marc-Andre Fleury showed in the playoffs that even though he may not be one of the top goaltenders in the league, he is capable of making the key save at the right time which is all Pittsburgh needs with their fire power. Despite some injury issues, Brent Johnson had a solid season with Washington last year and is a solid back-up.

2. Philadelphia Flyers

Bit of a disappointing season for the Flyers last year after making it to the Eastern Conference Finals in the 2007-08 season. However, like the Pens, Philly has managed to keep their core players and with the addition of Chris Pronger will be one of the harder teams to play against.

The great young duo of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter will look to lead the Flyers offence yet again this season. If Daniel Briere and Simon Gagne can stay healthy for longer than 40 games and Scott Hartnell can duplicate his 2008-09 campaign Philly could challenge the likes of Pittsburgh, Washington and Detroit as the league’s highest scoring team. Claude Giroux will look to build off a successful rookie season and highly touted prospect James Van Riemsdyk looks poised to make the opening day roster and possibly compete for the Calder Trophy.

The Flyers defence looks solid with Chris Pronger, Kimmo Timonen and Matt Carle playing the point on the power play and also very capable in their own end. Ryan Parent, Braydon Coburn and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen are three big young defencemen that’ll bring a solid defensive presence.

As per the norm since Ron Hextall left, the Flyers goaltending is a big question mark. Ray Emery has looked good so far during preseason but it’s only preseason and a lot can happen between now and early/mid April. Brian Boucher played great for the Sharks last year but at 32-years old will probably start running into some injury problems.

3. New Jersey Devils

After a disappointing end to their 2008-09 season in the game 7 loss to Carolina, New Jersey will look to rebound with a solid 2009-10 campaign.

Zach Parise leads the Devils offence with another young player in Travis Zajac looking to improve off of a  great 2008-09 season. Brendan Shanahan, Patrik Elias Jamie Langenbrunner and Brian Rolston will look to help put the puck in the net as well but with Jacques Lemiare behind the bench, don’t look for it to happen as often as it did last year.

The Devils defence doesn’t stand out as great, but they do have some solid players and should end up working well together as a unit. Paul Martin, Johnny Oduya and Cory Murphy will be looked upon to supply a majority of the scoring from the point. Players such as Colin White, Mike Mottau and Bryce Salvador will be looked upon to keep things simple and play solid in their own end.

Martin Brodeur will look to build on what will be a Hall of Fame career and Yann Danis will have a great time watching from the bench. If Marty misses a handful of games due to injury like last year things could get interesting as they don’t have a guy like Scott Clemmensen currently in their system that’d be able to help bail them out.

4. New York Rangers

Unlike some people I actually like the look of the Rangers this year and think they have enough to finish ahead of the Devils and possibly compete with the Flyers for second in the division. However, the Atlantic is a very tough division so I have them in the four spot, but I expect them to make the playoffs.

Just like the past few years, the Rangers have a solid forward group heading into the season. However, there is one big question…can Marian Gaborik stay healthy? If he can, adding him to the likes of Chris Drury, Chris Higgins, Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan and Vincent Prospal New York could surprise.

The biggest question mark has to be on defence. Wade Redden needs to step it up big time and Matt Gilroy will have to show why he won the 2009 Hobey Baker Award. Daniel Girardi, Michal Rozsival and Marc Staal are all good bets to have a solid 2009-10 season.

Henrik Lundqvist is one of the top goalies in the league and should have himself another 30+ win season. Steve Valiquette played well when relied upon last season and is one of the more underrated backups in the league.

5. New York Islanders

I don’t think I’m blowing anyone’s mind here with this pick. The Islanders have some decent young players coming up, but it’ll still be another 2-3 years before you can even think about the playoffs with this team.

As it looks right now the Islanders offence will live and die by John Tavares. Josh Bailey, Jesse Joensuu, Blake Comeau, Jeff Tambellini and Kyle Okposo make up a solid but inexperienced core of young players. Doug Weight, Richard Park and Trent Hunter will try to help the young players adjust to life in the NHL with their experience and leadership while also chipping in a few goals in the process.

With Brendan Witt, Mark Streit and Bruno Gervais the Islanders defence doesn’t look terrible. It doesn’t look great, but it isn’t horrible.

Goaltending is definitely New York’s strength for the 2009-10 season. With Garth Snow unconvinced about Rick DiPietro’s health he went out and signed both Dwayne Roloson and Martin Biron. Both upgrades over Yann Danis and Joey MacDonald from last year.

With so much going on, here is a breakdown of the top 5 question that may/will be answered over the next couple of days in Montreal.

5.  Will the Leafs, or anyone else, move up into a top three spot?

John Tavares, Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene are all players who rebuilding teams, like the Leafs, would love to use as the foundation for their team in the future.  Are they worth the high asking prices that the New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning or Colorado Avalanche are likely to set for a top three pick?  We’ll see what the answer is early in tonight’s draft.

4.  Where will Jonas “The Monster” Gustavsson end up?

He is the most sought after player not in the NHL, or the Draft this year.  Jonas Gustavsson is a 24-year-old Swedish goalie who is looking to make his mark in the NHL next season.  His agent ahs said he will likely make a decision by Sunday or Monday, prior to the beginning of the free-agency period beginning on Wednesday.  The most probable suiters are Toronto, Dallas, Colorado and San Jose.

3.  Will the Chris Pronger Trade actually happen?

It was reported on the same day as game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals that Chris Pronger had been traded by the Anaheim Ducks to the Los Angeles Kings for Jack Johnson and the Kings first round pick (fifth overall).  This would be a huge trade if it goes through, but will it?

2.  What other movement will we see on Draft Weekend?

Several names are floating around the rumor mill.  Many teams are said to be interested in the Maple Leafs Tomas Kaberle (sources have said the Bruins offered kessel for him and the Leafs first rounf pick).  Jay Bouwmeester’sDany Heatley rights are up for sale to the highest bidder.  is still looking to get out of Ottawa, and ther eare many other players also on the market if a good deal can be worked out.  Some of those include Ryan Clowe, Patrick Marleau, Vincent Lecavalier and David Krejci.

1.  Who’s Number 1?

That is the biggest question of them all.  It seemed as though it was only a two horse race, but recent reports have the Islanders very interested in Matt Duchene.  now the question is ow high on him are they?  Can they pass on the likes of a John Tavares or a Victor Hedman for the Brampton Battalion star?  That question will likely be the first to be answered.

Updated (June 22nd, 2009)

Total Pro Sports – Introducing the Total Pro Sports NHL Mock Draft, version 3.0! It is our intention to add more, more, MORE to this section each week, making TPS your one stop shop for draft analysis.

Changing team needs, player workout results, in-depth film study, character assessments, and all the other “measurables” play significant roles in where players are drafted. As new information becomes available, watch as players move up or down the draft board, possibly landing on your favorite team’s roster.

Leave your comments or questions below and share your thoughts with us, as well as other NHL fans around the globe.

Lets take a look at the 2009 Mock NHL Draft: 3.0

Round 1

Pos	Team	Player	Comments	Comparison	Change
1		Victor Hedman, MoDo (SWE), D	Not too sure what his nickname is, but it could easily be “The Total Package”. Big, physical, smooth skater and great at both ends of the ice.	Chris Pronger	1
2		John Tavares, London (OHL), C	Nothing but a pure goal scorer. He doesn’t have the greatest skating ability but can work magic with the puck and has tremendous hockey sense.	Mike Bossy	1
3		Matt Duchene, Brampton (OHL), C	Excellent two-way player, explosive speed, great hands and a has a nice quick release.	Mike Modano	-
4		Evander Kane, Vancouver (WHL), C	Great skater and can work magic with the puck with his excellent stick handling ability.	Marian Gaborik	-
5		Brayden Schenn, Brandon (WHL), C	Tough, physical and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves. Terrific at using his body, great playmaker and posses a hard and accurate wrist shot.	Brendan Shanahan	2
6		Jared Cowen, Spokane (WHL), D	Big, tough, physical d-man who’s great in his own end. What’s even better is that he’s also very disciplined, has lots of character and has quality leadership skills.	Derian Hatcher	-
7		Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, Timra (SWE), LW	Very fast and fluid skater, great playmaker and just as good at scoring goals. Has started to finally use his big frame in playing in high traffic areas and driving to the net.	Peter Forsberg	2
8		Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Leksand (SWE), D	Very mobile and smooth skater. Also posses great hockey sense, some nice hands and a top notch passer.	Tomas Kaberle	1
9		Nazim Kadri, London (OHL), C	Great speed and playmaking ability. Can also dangle with the best of them and has a great shot.	Daniel Briere	1
10		Dmitry Kulikov, Drummondville (QMJHL), D	Mobile, with some good size and great passing ability. Also has a good shot from the point and is solid in his own end.	Sergei Zubov	-
11		Jordan Schroeder, Minnesota (NCAA), RW	Small scrappy player with soft hands. Is also a quick skater and has great playmaking ability.	Corey Perry	-
12		Ryan Ellis, Windsor (OHL), D	Small but quick offensive d-man. Has a rocket from the point and excellent hockey sense. Also a great passer and has solid positioning in the defensive end to help make up for his lack of size.	Brian Rafalski	-
13		Simon Despres, Saint John (QMJHL), D	Has all the makings of a great power play QB. Big, mobile, great passing and an excellent shot from the point.	Rob Blake	-
14		Jacob Josefson, Djurgarden (SWE), C	Highly skilled two-way centre. Has very good hockey sense and is also very creative with the puck. More of a playmaker than a scorer.	Pavel Datsyuk	-
15		Scott Glennie, Brandon (WHL), C/W	Very fast and smart offensive player. Posses a great hard and accurate shot and is great at picking off other team’s passes.	Mike Gartner	-
16		John Moore, Chicago (USHL), D	Big and mobile d-man who’s been described as a “freakish skater”. Posses great puck handling skills and a hard and accurate shot from the point.	Duncan Keith	1
17		Zack Kassian, Peterborough (OHL), RW	If you look up the word “power forward” in the dictionary you’ll see a picture of this guy beside it. Hits, scores and brings a tonne of energy every shift.	Todd Bertuzzi	1
18		Landon Ferraro, Red Deer (WHL), RW	Quick speedy forward who isn’t afraid to get into the corners and play feisty when need be. Has become one of, if not the, best penalty killer in the WHL.	Geoff Sanderson	1
19		Peter Holland, Guelph (OHL), C	Pure power forward. Big, strong and loves to camp out in front of the net. Is also an excellent skater and very aggressive on the forecheck.	Tomas Holmstrom	3
20		Drew Shore, U-18 NTDP (USA), C	Big strong center with some good speed. Is very strong on the puck, good hockey IQ, works his butt off every shift and has tonnes of character.	Patrick Marleau	-
21		Louis Leblanc, Omaha (USHL), C	Feisty player who also has some great skating ability. Great scorer, good passer and is one of the best forwards in one-on-one situations.	Rick Nash	-
22		Kyle Palmieri, U-18 NTDP (USA), C	Potentially the next big clutch player in the NHL. Plays hard, has some good hands and shows great vision on the ice. Has also shown an ability to score key goals when the game is on the line.	Steve Thomas	-
23		Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon (WHL), D	Quiet d-man that likes to lead by example. Lets his play do the talking and it shows with his great offensive instincts and is just as solid in his own end. One of the better man-on-man defenders in the draft.	Jay Bouwmeester	-
24		Calvin deHaan, Oshawa (OHL), D	Great skating d-man with excellent puck control ability. Is great in the defensive end as well and started to throw his body around a lot more in the second half of the OHL season.	Niklas Kronwall	2
25		Chris Kreider, Andover (MA-HS), C	Very strong skater who uses his body very effectively. Has great hands, hockey sense and is also used on the point during power plays because of his great passing ability and shot.	Evgeni Malkin	-
26		Ethan Werek, Kingston (OHL), C	A great combination of offense and grit. An above average passer who drives to the net hard. Uses his long reach to his advantage as he scores most of his goals around the crease area.	Ryan Smyth	2
27		Tim Erixon, Skelleftea (SWE), D	Stereotypical European/Swedish offensive defenceman. Smooth skater who puts up points but isn’t flashy. Isn’t great defensively but isn’t a liability either and is improving.	Kimmo Timonen	1
28		Carter Ashton, Lethbridge (WHL), LW	Another pure power forward. Big, physical, and has good hands down low. Is also an above average skater and oozes of character.	Brenden Morrow	-
29		David Rundblad, Skelleftea (SWE), D	100% offensive defenceman. Very skilled with the puck, smooth, loves to lead the rush and an okay shot from the point.	Sergei Gonchar	-
30		Nick Leddy, Eden Prairie (HIGH-MN), D	Seen mostly as an offensive defenceman, he is also very capable in the defensive end. Is a great skater, strong, has a powerful shot and top notch hockey sense.	Cam Barker	1

Other noteable players to look out for:

• Jordan Caron, Rimouski (QMJHL), C
• Ryan O’Reilly, Erie (OHL), C
• Jeremy Morin, U-18 NTDP (USA), LW
• Chris Brown, U-18 NTDP (USA), LW
• Dylan Olsen, Camrose (AJHL), D
• Carl Klingberg, V. Frolunda Jr (SWE), LW
• Zach Budish, Edina (HIGH-MN), RW
• Cody Eakin, Swift Current (WHL), C
• Charles-Olivier Roussel, Shawinigan (QMJHL), D
• Toni Rajala, Ilves (FIN JR), RW
• Tomas Tatar, Zvolen (SVK), C
• Marcus Johansson, Farjestads (SWE), C
• Dmitri Orlov, Novokuznetsk (KHL), D
• Sami Vatanen, JyP Jyvaskyla (FIN JR), D
• Robin Lehner, Frolunda (SWE), G
• Matt Hackett, Plymouth (OHL), G
• Olivier Roy, Cape Breton (QMJHL), G
• Edward Pasquale, Saginaw (OHL), G
• Mikko Koskinen, Blues (FIN), G
  

At only 20 years of age, Kane is not far removed from the days he used to play the game himself.  His father, Pat had the following to say about his son’s honor:

“For Patrick, growing up and playing this game his whole life and then to be on the cover, he is so excited about this, it’s not funny.  And the greatest thing about is that he’s a kid and the kid’s coming out of him on something like this.” [TSN]

Also taking part in the promotional press conference put together yesterday was top prospect John Tavares.  The two played each other in the game with Tavares winning the series two game to one.  The big question is, what team did he play with to beat Kane?

Wait for it…

The Toronto Maple Leafs.  Guess he’s not set on being a New York Islander just yet.

This years top European prospect, Victor Hedman, expected to go in the top two at the 2009 NHL entry draft, was selected by Spartak in the fourth and final round, 83rd overall.  That was of little surprise, but what may have turned a few more heads was the selection of Windsor Spitfires star Taylor Hall, going 89th overall to AK Bars.  Hall is not eligible for this year’s NHL draft, but with the KHL’s minimum age being one year younger, he was on the list of possible selections.

One notable prospect who didn’t get taken was John Tavares, who is also slated to go in the top couple of picks at this years NHL entry draft.  It was likely figured by most teams that he will no doubt be going to the NHL, and thus is not worth using a pick on.  So what does that tell us about Hedman and Hall?

It is almost a sure thing that Hedman will also be playing in the NHL next season rather than the KHL, but him being a European may have Spartak believing in the possibility of keeping the young defenseman closer to home.  As for Hall, with another year to wait before being eligible for the NHL draft, there is always the chance that he will take the money and go to the KHL, rather than remain in the OHL.  Although he did not comment on the situation, his agent Darren Ferris did:

“He’s one of the best players I’ve seen in a long time, so I can see why they’d want to draft him.  I wouldn’t have any immediate comment to say whether he’d go or not go. We haven’t even discussed it.”

It is an interesting decision for Hall, but one that he is likely to pass up for another shot at the Memorial Cup.  Don’t expect this to turn into a big drama, but should Hall be tempted by the big bucks of the KHL, it could become an interesting summer story.

The hockey world will get a closer look at possible upcoming stars like JohnTavares, Victor Hedman and Matt Duchene.  There is, however, reason for us to believe that perhaps some are getting just a bit too close of a look.  TSN.ca has been covering the event up close, and their latest report at 3:45 pm ET today has some rather odd comments.  Here’s what we are talking about:

• 9:41 am et - Chris Kreider, ranked No. 14 by NHL Central Scouting, has a very lean body.

• 10:42 am et - Jordan Schroeder, a top prospect at #5, did his wingate test and vomited once it was complete.

• In one of his meetings with a GM, the 18-year-old said he was asked who he would most like to go out to dinner with -  Barack Obama, Maria Sharapova or Sean Avery.  “I would have liked to have picked Sharapova but I went with Avery,” Schroeder said with a smile.
• Zach Budish, ranked 22nd, is much more physically mature than most of the other players that are here. At 6’2 1/2, 229 pounds, he is well beyond the growth level of most 18-year-olds who still need to fill out. Consider him already filled out.
• 20th-ranked Kyle Palmieri is ripped – he took off his shirt and everyone in the room turned their heads to see that the guy is cut.

• There are suspicions here that the guys from the U.S. under-18 development program all got tattoos. They all have patches covering their chests, but for now this is unconfirmed speculation. [TSN.ca]
  

Talk about in-depth.  I’m surprised there wasn’t someone going through the players’ vomit to see what has been in their diet.  It is also quite odd to hear the reaction that a teenager can get when he take off his shirt in a room full of men, but I guess when you are putting that much money into a single player, nothing is off limits.

NHL Mock Draft: | 1.0 | 2.o

Updated (May 20th, 2009)

Total Pro Sports – Introducing the Total Pro Sports NHL Mock Draft, version 2.0! It is our intention to add more, more, MORE to this section each week, making TPS your one stop shop for draft analysis.

Changing team needs, player workout results, in-depth film study, character assessments, and all the other “measurables” play significant roles in where players are drafted. As new information becomes available, watch as players move up or down the draft board, possibly landing on your favorite team’s roster.

Leave your comments or questions below and share your thoughts with us, as well as other NHL fans around the globe.

Lets take a look at the 2009 Mock NHL Draft: 2.0

Round 1

Pos	Team	Player	Comments	Comparison	Change
1		John Tavares, London (OHL), C	Nothing but a pure goal scorer. He doesn’t have the greatest skating ability but can work magic with the puck and has tremendous hockey sense.	Mike Bossy	-
2		Victor Hedman, MoDo (SWE), D	Not too sure what his nickname is, but it could easily be “The Total Package”. Big, physical, smooth skater and great at both ends of the ice.	Chris Pronger	-
3		Matt Duchene, Brampton (OHL), C	Excellent two-way player, explosive speed, great hands and a has a nice quick release.	Mike Modano	1
4		Evander Kane, Vancouver (WHL), C	Great skater and can work magic with the puck with his excellent stick handling ability.	Marian Gaborik	1
5		Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi, Timra (SWE), LW	Very fast and fluid skater, great playmaker and just as good at scoring goals. Has started to finally use his big frame in playing in high traffic areas and driving to the net.	Peter Forsberg	1
6		Jared Cowen, Spokane (WHL), D	Big, tough, physical d-man who’s great in his own end. What’s even better is that he’s also very disciplined, has lots of character and has quality leadership skills.Great skater and can work magic with the puck with his excellent stick handling ability.	Derian Hatcher	3
7		Brayden Schenn, Brandon (WHL), C	Tough, physical and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves. Terrific at using his body, great playmaker and posses a hard and accurate wrist shot.	Brendan Shanahan	-
8		Nazim Kadri, London (OHL), C	Great speed and playmaking ability. Can also dangle with the best of them and has a great shot.	Daniel Briere	-
9		Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Leksand (SWE), D	Very mobile and smooth skater. Also posses great hockey sense, some nice hands and a top notch passer.	Tomas Kaberle	-
10		Dmitry Kulikov, Drummondville (QMJHL), D	Mobile, with some good size and great passing ability. Also has a good shot from the point and is solid in his own end.	Sergei Zubov	-
11		Jordan Schroeder, Minnesota (NCAA), RW	Small scrappy player with soft hands. Is also a quick skater and has great playmaking ability.	Corey Perry	-
12		Ryan Ellis, Windsor (OHL), D	Small but quick offensive d-man. Has a rocket from the point and excellent hockey sense. Also a great passer and has solid positioning in the defensive end to help make up for his lack of size.	Brian Rafalski	4
13		Simon Despres, Saint John (QMJHL), D	Has all the makings of a great power play QB. Big, mobile, great passing and an excellent shot from the point.	Rob Blake	1
14		Jacob Josefson, Djurgarden (SWE), C	Highly skilled two-way centre. Has very good hockey sense and is also very creative with the puck. More of a playmaker than a scorer.	Pavel Datsyuk	1
15		Scott Glennie, Brandon (WHL), C/W	Very fast and smart offensive player. Posses a great hard and accurate shot and is great at picking off other team’s passes.	Mike Gartner	2
16		Peter Holland, Guelph (OHL), C	Pure power forward. Big, strong and loves to camp out in front of the net. Is also an excellent skater and very aggressive on the forecheck.	Tomas Holmstrom	2
17		John Moore, Chicago (USHL), D	Big and mobile d-man who’s been described as a “freakish skater”. Posses great puck handling skills and a hard and accurate shot from the point.	Duncan Keith	2
18		Zack Kassian, Peterborough (OHL), RW	If you look up the word “power forward” in the dictionary you’ll see a picture of this guy beside it. Hits, scores and brings a tonne of energy every shift.	Todd Bertuzzi	2
19		Landon Ferraro, Red Deer (WHL), RW	Quick speedy forward who isn’t afraid to get into the corners and play feisty when need be. Has become one of, if not the, best penalty killer in the WHL.	Geoff Sanderson	3
20		Drew Shore, U-18 NTDP (USA), C	Big strong center with some good speed. Is very strong on the puck, good hockey IQ, works his butt off every shift and has tonnes of character.	Patrick Marleau	2
21		Louis Leblanc, Omaha (USHL), C	Feisty player who also has some great skating ability. Great scorer, good passer and is one of the best forwards in one-on-one situations.	Rick Nash	3
22		Kyle Palmieri, U-18 NTDP (USA), C	Potentially the next big clutch player in the NHL. Plays hard, has some good hands and shows great vision on the ice. Has also shown an ability to score key goals when the game is on the line.	Steve Thomas	1
23		Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon (WHL), D	Quiet d-man that likes to lead by example. Lets his play do the talking and it shows with his great offensive instincts and is just as solid in his own end. One of the better man-on-man defenders in the draft.	Jay Bouwmeester	2
24		Ethan Werek, Kingston (OHL), C	A great combination of offense and grit. An above average passer who drives to the net hard. Uses his long reach to his advantage as he scores most of his goals around the crease area.	Ryan Smyth	1
25		Chris Kreider, Andover (MA-HS), C	Very strong skater who uses his body very effectively. Has great hands, hockey sense and is also used on the point during power plays because of his great passing ability and shot.	Evgeni Malkin	2
26		Calvin deHaan, Oshawa (OHL), D	Great skating d-man with excellent puck control ability. Is great in the defensive end as well and started to throw his body around a lot more in the second half of the OHL season.	Niklas Kronwall	-
27		Jordan Caron, Rimouski (QMJHL), C	Has finally grown in and started to use his body this season. Is an effective two-way player that’s used in all situations.	Jordan Staal	3
28		Tim Erixon, Skelleftea (SWE), D	Stereotypical European/Swedish offensive defenceman. Smooth skater who puts up points but isn’t flashy. Isn’t great defensively but isn’t a liability either and is improving.	Kimmo Timonen	-
29		Nick Leddy, Eden Prairie (HIGH-MN), D	Seen mostly as an offensive defenceman, he is also very capable in the defensive end. Is a great skater, strong, has a powerful shot and top notch hockey sense.	Cam Barker	-
30		Jeremy Morin, U-18 NTDP (USA), C/RW	Pure goal scorer who’s quick on his skates. Has a great quick release and is very accurate with his shot.	Tony Amonte	2

Check back often for frequent changes during the NHL playoffs. Leave your questions or comments below. I will respond to as many as I can.

NHL Mock Draft: | 1.0 |

Updated (April 1st, 2009)

Total Pro Sports – Introducing the Total Pro Sports NHL Mock Draft, version 1.0! It is our intention to add more, more, MORE to this section each week, making TPS your one stop shop for draft analysis.

Changing team needs, player workout results, in-depth film study, character assessments, and all the other “measurables” play significant roles in where players are drafted. As new information becomes available, watch as players move up or down the draft board, possibly landing on your favorite team’s roster.

Leave your comments or questions below and share your thoughts with us, as well as other NHL fans around the globe.

Lets take a look at the 2009 Mock NHL Draft: 1.0

Round 1

Pos	Team	Player	Comments	Comparison	Change
1		John Tavares, London (OHL), C	Nothing but a pure goal scorer. He doesn’t have the greatest skating ability but can work magic with the puck and has tremendous hockey sense.	Mike Bossy	-
2		Victor Hedman, MoDo (SWE), D	Not too sure what his nickname is, but it could easily be “The Total Package”. Big, physical, smooth skater and great at both ends of the ice.	Chris Pronger	-
3		Jared Cowen, Spokane (WHL), D	Big, tough, physical d-man who’s great in his own end. What’s even better is that he’s also very disciplined, has lots of character and has quality leadership skills.	Derian Hatcher	-
4		Matt Duchene, Brampton (OHL), C	Excellent two-way player, explosive speed, great hands and a has a nice quick release.	Mike Modano	-
5		Evander Kane, Vancouver (WHL), C	Great skater and can work magic with the puck with his excellent stick handling ability.	Marian Gaborik	-
6		Magnus Svensson-Paajarvi, Timra (SWE), LW	Very fast and fluid skater, great playmaker and just as good at scoring goals. Has started to finally use his big frame in playing in high traffic areas and driving to the net.	Peter Forsberg	-
7		Brayden Schenn, Brandon (WHL), C	Tough, physical and isn’t afraid to drop the gloves. Terrific at using his body, great playmaker and posses a hard and accurate wrist shot.	Joe Thornton	-
8		Nazim Kadri, London (OHL), C	Great speed and playmaking ability. Can also dangle with the best of them and has a great shot.	Daniel Briere	-
9		Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Leksand (SWE), D	Very mobile and smooth skater. Also posses great hockey sense, some nice hands and a top notch passer.	Tomas Kaberle	-
10		Dmitry Kulikov, Drummondville (QMJHL), D	Mobile, with some good size and great passing ability. Also has a good shot from the point and is solid in his own end.	Sergei Zubov	-
11		Jordan Schroeder, Minnesota (NCAA), RW	Small scrappy player with soft hands. Is also a quick skater and has great playmaking ability.	Corey Perry	-
12		Simon Despres, Saint John (QMJHL), D	Has all the makings of a great power play QB. Big, mobile, great passing and an excellent shot from the point.	Rob Blake	-
13		Scott Glennie, Brandon (WHL), C/W	Very fast and smart offensive player. Posses a great hard and accurate shot and is great at picking off other team’s passes.	Mike Gartner	-
14		Peter Holland, Guelph (OHL), C	Pure power forward. Big, strong and loves to camp out in front of the net. Is also an excellent skater and very aggressive on the forecheck.	Tomas Holmstrom	-
15		Jacob Josefson, Djurgarden (SWE), C	Highly skilled two-way centre. Has very good hockey sense and is also very creative with the puck. More of a playmaker than a scorer.	Pavel Datsyuk	-
16		Ryan Ellis, Windsor (OHL), D	Small but quick offensive d-man. Has a rocket from the point and excellent hockey sense. Also a great passer and has solid positioning in the defensive end to help make up for his lack of size.	Brian Rafalski	-
17		Carter Ashton, Lethbridge (WHL), LW	Another pure power forward. Big, physical, and has good hands down low. Is also an above average skater and oozes of character.	Brenden Morrow	-
18		Drew Shore, U-18 NTDP (USA), C	Big strong center with some good speed. Is very strong on the puck, good hockey IQ, works his butt off every shift and has tonnes of character.	Patrick Marleau	-
19		John Moore, Chicago (USHL), D	Big and mobile d-man who’s been described as a “freakish skater”. Posses great puck handling skills and a hard and accurate shot from the point.	Duncan Keith	-
20		Zack Kassian, Peterborough (OHL), RW	If you look up the word “power forward” in the dictionary you’ll see a picture of this guy beside it. Hits, scores and brings a tonne of energy every shift.	Todd Bertuzzi	-
21		Stefan Elliott, Saskatoon (WHL), D	Quiet d-man that likes to lead by example. Lets his play do the talking and it shows with his great offensive instincts and is just as solid in his own end. One of the better man-on-man defenders in the draft.	Jay Bouwmeester	-
22		Landon Ferraro, Red Deer (WHL), RW	Quick speedy forward who isn’t afraid to get into the corners and play feisty when need be. Has become one of, if not the, best penalty killer in the WHL.	Geoff Sanderson	-
23		Kyle Palmieri, U-18 NTDP (USA), C	Potentially the next big clutch player in the NHL. Plays hard, has some good hands and shows great vision on the ice. Has also shown an ability to score key goals when the game is on the line.	Steve Thomas	-
24		Louis Leblanc, Omaha (USHL), C	Feisty player who also has some great skating ability. Great scorer, good passer and is one of the best forwards in one-on-one situations.	Rick Nash	-
25		Ethan Werek, Kingston (OHL), C	A great combination of offense and grit. An above average passer who drives to the net hard. Uses his long reach to his advantage as he scores most of his goals around the crease area.	Ryan Smyth	-
26		Calvin deHaan, Oshawa (OHL), D	Great skating d-man with excellent puck control ability. Is great in the defensive end as well and started to throw his body around a lot more in the second half of the OHL season.	Niklas Kronwall	-
27		Chris Kreider, Andover (MA-HS), C	Very strong skater who uses his body very effectively. Has great hands, hockey sense and is also used on the point during power plays because of his great passing ability and shot.	Evgeni Malkin	-
28		Jeremy Morin, U-18 NTDP (USA), C/RW	Pure goal scorer who’s quick on his skates. Has a great quick release and is very accurate with his shot.	Tony Amonte	-
29		Ryan O’Reilly, Erie (OHL), C	Has a great hockey IQ and a nice set of hands to go with it. Excellent without the puck, great defensively and is seen as one of the best penalty killers in the OHL. He also posses great leadership qualities.	Rod Brind’Amour	-
30		Jordan Caron, Rimouski (QMJHL), C	Has finally grown in and started to use his body this season. Is an effective two-way player that’s used in all situations.	Jordan Staal	-

Check back often for frequent changes during the NHL playoffs. Leave your questions or comments below. I will respond to as many as I can.

But never mind John Tavares, the New York islanders also have future star Justin DiBenedetto whom they drafted last year.  This year in Sarnia minus linemate Steven Stamkos, Justin is having a fantastic season, he is second in OHL in points and goals and recently won the MVP of the OHL All Star game.  So make sure you keep an eye on this kid, he’s gonna have a long career in the NHL.

Anyways after the game Leafs coach Ron Wilson had an interesting press conference and was ticked off by some questions specifically asked by Howard Berger of Fan590,

Granted, it’s because Howard Berger asks him a dumb-ass question (”ARE YOU ANNOYED WHEN YOUR TEAM TAKES PENALTIES?”), but it’s hilarious because Wilson, who has always had a contentious relationship with the media, was bothered by a question Berger had asked him the night before. [TheTwoLinePass]

Howard Berger had this to say,

If there is one thing, among many, that I’ve learned in my first season around Ron Wilson, it’s that the coach of the Maple Leafs doesn’t react well to criticism. That’s not to suggest the other Leaf coaches I’ve had experience with in the past 20 years enjoyed being challenged, but Wilson takes it as a particular affront — mainly because of his heightened sensitivity to all things media.

I mean you can’t fault Ron Wilson, put yourself in his shoes.  Ron went from coaching the first place San Jose Sharks to the lowly underachieving Leafs.  I’m surprised he hasn’t already quit!!!