Draft With Us

2015 NHL Mock Draft: Final Mock 7 Rounds

1-15

16-30

Round 6

Posted By: Chris Ransom Last Updated: June, 26, 2015

Buffalo Sabres: Luke Philp, C, Kootenay Ice (WHL)

Buffalo could really use a third line center. Luke Philp of the Kootenay Ice was a line 2 center behind Sam Reinhart. Buffalo drafted Reinhart second overall in 2014.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Nikita Pavlychev, C, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

Nikita Pavlychev is a guy with immense size at 6-6 207 lbs. The Russian center is a gritty defensive center with good awareness that can win face offs. He's not a scorer, but he has the intangibles to do everything else consistently. He's going to Penn State in 2016-2017, so with Pavlychev, your goal will be to take a flyer on him by bringing him into camp. Pavlychev won't be in the AHL for at least five years, and he might need another season in the AHL after that.

Tampa Bay is a team that has the luxury of taking a guy like Pavlychev. Steve Yzerman likes Russian skaters, so if he knew there was one with good size that played in North America, he might be intrigued enough to take a flyer on that skater.
Edmonton Oilers: Auguste Impose, LW, Geneve-Servette HC (National League A)

Auguste Impose had 45 points 36 games on the Geneve-Servette H.C. Under 20 team. He had 0 points 9 games on the National League A main roster. Impose looks like a project player with enough upside to be a top line winger on an AHL team. Having the versatility to play left wing and right wing will help Impose get drafted.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Jake Morrissey, G, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Toronto never addressed goalie. I think the Maple Leafs will do that in the sixth round. Jake Morrisey is a bargain if he's there in the sixth round. Morrissey did an awesome job to get scouts attention in the 2015 WHL Playoffs. It would not surprise me if Morrisey got selected earlier than this.
Carolina Hurricanes: Joe Gatenby, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Carolina grabs one more developmental defenseman here. For now Gatenby will work towards reaching an AHL squad as he continues to develop. In this situation, Gatenby would become a future member of the Charlotte Checkers should the Carolina Hurricanes take him in the sixth round.
New Jersey Devils: Will Borgen, D, Moorhead HS (MN)

I thought about giving the Devils a goalie. They have Keith Kinkaid as a backup to Cory Schneider and Anthony Brodeur, the son of Martin Brodeur is now 20 years old. Martin's kid was the Devils 2013 seventh round pick. Anthony Brodeur will likely start for the Albany Devils in the AHL this season now that he's old enough to be on the AHL team.

With New Jersey having some outstanding depth at goalie, they turn to defense. Will Borgen is a high school defenseman. He still has time to develop into an outstanding skater.
Philadelphia Flyers: Ales Stezka, G, HC Bili Tygri Liberec (Extraliga)

Ales Stezka would be a phenomenal developmental goalie. The Philadelphia Flyers need someone like this.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Julian Napravnik, RW, Adler Mannheim (DEL)

Columbus grabs the first German skater from the DEL league in the 2015 NHL Draft. Napravnik could be a late round pick in round six or seven. There's nothing more he can do to improve his stock.
San Jose Sharks: Kay Schweri, RW, Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

San Jose gets another winger. Kay Schweri has a chance to be a late round gem.
Colorado Avalanche: Jonne Tammela, RW, Kalevan Pallo (SM Liiga)

Montreal adds a right winger for depth here. Deven Sideroff provides good value in the fifth round.
Florida Panthers: Gustav Olhaver, LW, Rogle B.K. (Allsvenskan)

Florida goes with a big man in the sixth round. Gustav Olhaver will dominate in the AHL with his 6-6 214 lb imposing size. If he can develop his game in the minors then he has a shot at the NHL.
Dallas Stars: Matteo Gennaro, C, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Dallas gets a center for depth. Matteo Gennaro would likely be a minor league player on the Texas Stars once he finishes developing.
Chicago Blackhawks: Gustaf Franzen, C, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Chicago adds Gustaf Fraznen here. The Blackhawks may need one more center after Brad Richards leaves. Even if you don't need that guy, Askew could be a solid addition to the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL.
Boston Bruins: Evan Smith, G, Austin Bruins (NAHL)

Boston is already loaded at goalie with Tuukka Rask as a starter and 2012 first round pick Malcolm Subban as a backup. North Dakota's senior goalie will be ready to start for the Providence Bruins this season. Still, I like the idea of sending a Bruin from Austin to Boston. What's even more ironic is that Austin rhymes with Boston even though the cities are spelled differently.

Previous Pick: Jeremiah Addison, LW, Saginaw Spirit
Calgary Flames: Michael McNiven, G, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Calgary has Jonas Hiller. I still believe that bringing in an AHL goalie will have its benefits.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Ryan Bednard, G, Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL)

Pittsburgh could use this late round pick to find a developmental goalie to groom for the future. Marc-Andre Fleury will probably get 3 to 5 more seasons in Pittsburgh, but the Penguins need to find out who is most likely to succeed him. Usually it takes 5 to 8 years to develop a goalie through the juniors and then to keep developing them in the AHL after he turns 20. Fleury turns 31 in November and will still have 3 to 5 more productive seasons after this season in 2015-2016 allowing Pittsburgh to discover which goalie in their system has the best chance to succeed Fleury.

Ryan Bednard just needs a shot in the right environment. Bednard has a chance to make it in Pittsburgh if he can beat out the other goalie prospects on the Penguins that happen to have more experience. There are a lot of goalies on that list like Matt Murray and Tristian Jarry so nothing is guaranteed.
Winnipeg Jets: Spencer Smallman, RW, Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL)

Winnipeg has gone way too many rounds without addressing the wing. Spencer Smallman is one of the top wingers left in the sixth round.
Carolina Hurricanes: Anthony Cirelli, C, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

Anthony Cirelli seems like he would be a good fit for the Carolina Hurricanes. Cirelli was part of a Oshawa Generals team that won the 2015 Memorial Cup after heading into the OHL Championship as underdogs against the Erie Otters.
Detroit Red Wings: Colton White, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

Detroit goes with another defenseman. Colton White is the best player available at this spot in the sixth round.
Minnesota Wild: Jacob Jaremko, C, Elk River HS (MN)

Minnesota goes after a high school skater here. Jacob Jaremko is a local center that every Minnesota sports fan will gush over.
New York Islanders: Rihards Bukarts, LW, Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)

Rihards Bukarts challenged Jesse Gabriel for the top line spot at left wing. Bukarts would be a good fit here.
Washington Capitals: Kyle Capobianco, D, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

The Washington Capitals will draft a defenseman to groom for the Hershey Bears in the AHL. I doubt the Capitals will draft any defenseman that are ready for the NHL.
Vancouver Canucks: Denis Malgin, C, ZSC Lions (National League A)

Denis Malgin was the playmaker on a ZSC Lions team that did well in Switzerland in the National League A Team. Malgin might go earlier than round 6, but he won't slip past the Vancouver Canucks if he falls this far.
Nashville Predators: Karson Kuhlman, RW, Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)

Nashville could use another winger for depth. Karson Kuhlman is the top winger left in the sixth round.
St. Louis Blues: Kade Jensen, D, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

Kade Jensen has good height at 6-3. He only weighs 186 lbs. If he can put on some weight he could get a shot to play on the Chicago Wolves in the AHL when he's done developing in the WHL.
Montreal Canadiens: Kevin Davis, D, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Montreal already has an abundance of defensemen on their NHL team, but they could use one more player in their AHL system. Kevin Davis was line mates with Noah Juulsen on the Silvertips first line making him a good fit with Juulsen projected to go in the top 40 and possibly the top 30.
Anaheim Ducks: Bradley Lalonde, D, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)

Bradley Lalonde could be a good defensive addition to the San Diego Gulls in the AHL. For now he remains with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles in the QMJHL.
New York Rangers: Jeremiah Addison, LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Time for the Rangers to reload at left wing. Jeremiah Addison is the top winger available in the sixth round.

Previous Pick: Evan Smith, G, Austin Bruins
Tampa Bay Lightning: Andreas Kaberg, G, Farjestads B.K. (Elitserien)

Tampa Bay adds a developmental goalie. Andreas Kaberg can take his time and develop into a solid goalie on an AHL team. Because he doesn't play in the CHL or the USHL he might be able to make an immediate transition to the AHL without playing more games in Sweden in the Elitserien league and that's what makes him such a high value goalie at the end of the sixth round.
Chicago Blackhawks: Samuel Laberge, LW, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

Samuel Laberge is a 6-2 210 lb wing who wields a wrist shot with great power and tremendous accuracy. He could be a star if you kept him int he juniors to work on his slap shot. Chicago is a team with the luxury of taking a flyer on Laberge.