Morning all.  Tomorrow today is the big day, the NHL Entry Draft.  30 teams looking to upgrade their roster with young and talented kids.  Things may get ugly, with owners, GMs and coaches biting, kicking and sandwich punching their way to the podium and announce their pick (except for Burke, who gets to sleep in tomorrow).  I figured I'd take one more look at who I may be cheering for in the near future. Sooooooo, using pretty much every mock draft I was able to find, I put the following list together of possible future Avs.  Please note, I have no special knowledge of any of these players, just the things I've read on the internet (and it never lies).

Nick Bjugstad (player info http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/2010/5/6/1459838/2010-nhl-draft-prospect-nick)

Mock draft sites:
http://www.milehighhockey.com/2010/6/23/1532549/detavs-2010-mock-draft
http://forecaster.thehockeynews.com/hockeynews/hockey/se-news.cgi?mock&x_SEID=23&x_SEType=1

Both our own DetAvs and The Hockeynews has us selecting Mr. Bjugstad. BJ is a 6'4" 187 pound center. That's right, a center, cuz were hurting for one of them. I understand the theory of taking the best player available, center just seems to be the one position that we could take a pass on (that and puck moving midgets). From the reports, this is a high energy player who has a cannon of a shot (that when you can hit the puck really really hard. Generally toward the net, but that's not so important). Also you should note this tiny newborn infant baby is only 17 years old (sorry ladies) and appears headed the college route. If he is who we end up taking... eh. Ok.

Dylan McIlrath (player info http://www.jacketscannon.com/2010/6/1/1491480/draft-prospect-profile-24-dylan)

Mock draft sites:
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=325594
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/410234-nhl-draft-who-is-ready-for-an-oil-change

TSN, Bleacherreport, and over half the MHH members (looking at you Hoppy) have chosen Dylan "Undertaker" Mcllrath as the 17th pick. He's kind of tall, kind of heavy, and is kind of mean. He began his hockey career as a forward, but due to there being too many forwards and not enough defensemen on his team was asked to switch. He hasn't looked back. This is the club wielding troll who can defend our zone and our goalie. Oh, one more thing, he has that cannon thingy... Full disclosure, this would be my pick. Think of what he could do to Bertuzzi.

Calvin Pickard (player info http://www.jacketscannon.com/2010/5/3/1454851/draft-prospect-profile-6-calvin)

Mock draft sites:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=62937

Adam Kimelman of NHL.COM has us choosing Ensign Pickard. Love the name, hate the idea. I really, really, really doubt we take him. Weirder things have happened.

Derek Forbort (player info http://www.westerncollegehockeyblog.com/2010/5/7/1460949/2010-nhl-draft-prospect-derek)

Mock draft site:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=62943

6'5" 198 pound Derek Forbort is Brad Holland's choice for the Colorado Avalanche. Forbort's a big of an odd duck, an athletic giant who has "hockey smarts." His profile tells us that he pretty much can do it all, but looks to top out as a number #2 defensemen. Exactly what defines a number #2... we can talk about that later... Probably not a bad pick.

Jonathan Merrill (Player info http://www.mynhldraft.com/2010/NHL-Draft-Profiles/Jon-Merrill)

Mock draft site:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=62944

Moving along, Mike Morreale has tabbed Jon Tebow Merrill (just threw that in there to make sure your paying attention). Not the most talented person in the draft, but apparently one hard freaking worker. A good positional player who has a good head on his shoulders. He may be all smart and stuff, but is this who you draft in the 1st round? I don't know. Maybe. Guys like this are either half way decent defenders or major studs. Roll them dice.
Just for fun, Johnny "Egg-o?" No... Johnny "Pizza Roll?" Nope... Johnny "Hungryman?" I got nothing.

John McFarland (Player info http://thehockeywriters.com/2010draft-prospect-profile-john-mcfarland/)

Mock draft site:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=62774

Cough *Wolski* Cough. The entire Western Conference scouting department has handpicked John McFarland. Great talent. One of the best skaters in the draft. Good size (6'1" 195 lbs) and a LW. Why NOT pick this guy? He may or may not be lazy. Maybe not lazy, just someone who doesn't like to work or do anything. Internet scouts pretty much agree this is either a home run or a total bust. Can Wacco Sacco put his Foote in his rear and get him working? Who knows. Cough *Wolski* Cough.

Austin Watson (Player info http://thehockeywriters.com/2010draft-prospect-profile-john-mcfarland/)

Mock draft site:
http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=62773

The dumbass East Coast spaz-tards threw their pudding on Austin Watson's name so, take it for what it's worth. This kid seems to be able to do it all. Fearless, a more talented Lappy. No one is sure if he plays on the left side or the right side (the pudding wouldn't say) so he can most likELY play either. I wouldn't jump off a bridge or anything if we pick this guy.

Vladimir Tarasenko

Mock draft site:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/allan_muir/06/22/nhl.mock.draft/index.html

No.

Beau Bennett (Player info http://thehockeywriters.com/2010-nhl-entry-draft-prospect-profile-beau-bennett/comment-page-1/)

Mock draft site:
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2010/06/16/2010_nhl_mock_draft/

Sportsnet goes out on a limb and names Beau Bennett the next Colorado Av. Only one organization has him at 17 (McKeen) so is this a bit of a stretch? I hate risk. Risk and 1st round just doesn't go together in my mind. Your thoughts? Oh yeah, Wings suck.

Mikael Granlund (Player info http://thehockeywriters.com/the-hockey-spy%E2%80%99s-2010-nhl-entry-draft-preview-%E2%80%93-mikael-granlund/)

Mock draft site:
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2010/06/22/spf-mock-draft-legacies.html

This boy has skills. A Saku Koivu clone with little man syndrome. I like that fact that he's "shifty." More hockey players on our team need to be shifty. Maybe I just like the word? Maybe it's late and I'm tired. Would we put him on the wing? Isn't Helsinki in Switzerland? No, FIN-LAND!

Jack Campbell (Player info http://www.hockeywilderness.com/2010/6/23/1531459/nhl-draft-prospect-preview-jack)

Mock draft site:
http://www.sbnation.com/2010/6/16/1521046/nhl-mock-draft-2010-sb-nation

Our very own MHH selected some no-named goalie named Jackie or something (possibly that gal on my NHL 09 who has almost a perfect rating). Whatever his / her name is, he sounds like he may be pretty good. Seriously. He won a gold medal in a pie eating contest I think. He likes pie. This kid's good, mucho good. If he's still available, we have to take him.

Emerson Etem (Player info http://www.blueshirtbanter.com/2010/6/18/1516258/previewing-the-2010-nhl-draf)

Mock draft site:

This is a video link, 24 min long.  http://watch.tsn.ca/nhl/clip318138#clip318138

This is a name that has also been thrown out there.  No site to link to, just a name I've heard several times.  I wouldn't mind this kid either.  Has the speed to be crazy good with Duchene.

So, he's what I'm thinking.  Campbell 1st.  Mcllrath 2nd. Forbort 3rd. 4th Etem. Whoever next.  Tell me what you think.

There it is ladies and gentlemen, after this, no more mock drafts or we should pick this person but not this one crap.  Tomorrow today will be fun. I close with this. Kovie Kovie Kovie.