This is the first version of the 2015 NHL Mock Draft. There’s obviously some picks you disagree with me and that’s perfectly understandable. However, I want to know your point of view so make sure to let me know by commenting, telling us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/NotYourAverageHockeyBlog or tweet me @hkyblogger!

1. Buffalo Sabres – Connor McDavid
– Don’t think there’s any arguments on this one.

2. Edmonton Oilers – Jack Eichel
– Like I mentioned before,

Don’t think anyone would complain though if Jack Eichel turned out to be like Patrick Kane.

3. Arizona Coyotes -Noah Hanifin
– Cornerstone defenseman. Not much argument here. Could make an amazing pair with Ekman-Larsson

4. Carolina Hurricanes – Mitchell Marner
– Very quick hands. Needs to work a bit on his defense

5. Toronto Maple Leafs – Dylan Strome
– I’m more interested on which Strome will have a better career.

6. Columbus Blue Jackets – Lawson Crouse
– Nice power forward. Uses frame well. Columbus should not be disappointed to get a player like Crouse.

7. New Jersey Devils – Kyle Connor
– The top 6 were easy IMO. Now this is where it gets a bit harder. I know this is a major reach, but New Jersey loves it’s possession and Connor has top notch possession skills.

8. Philadelphia Flyers – Zach Werenski
– Will make a formidable pair with 2014 pick Sam Morin.

9. Dallas Stars – Matthew Barzal
10.Colorado Avalanche – Mikko Rantanen
11. Ottawa Senators – Ivan Provorov
12. Florida Panthers – Pavel Zacha
13. Winnipeg Jets – Thomas Chabot
– Great two player. Love his shot.

14. San Jose Sharks – Travis Konecky
15. Carolina Hurricanes – Timo Meier
16. Boston Bruins – Paul Bittner
– Love Paul Bittner’s game and size. Could be the steal of the draft

17. Vancouver Canucks – Brandon Carlo
18. Minnesota Wild – Oliver Kylington
– Really depends who you ask. Some people will tell you he’s a top 10 pick, but others will tell you he’s more top 20.

19. Calgary Flames – Jordan Greenway
20. Washington Capitals – Nick Merkley
21. Detroit Red Wings –  Daniel Sprong
22. Arizona Coyotes – Jansen Harkins
23. Edmonton Oilers – Jakub Zboril
24. Buffalo Sabres – Colin White
– Some fall here, but Sabres fans will be happy to pick up Colin White.

25. Philadelphia Flyers –  Evgeny Svechnikov
26. Toronto Maple Leafs – Jeremy Bracco
27. Montreal Canadiens – Jeremy Roy
28. Buffalo Sabres – Jacob Larsson
– After focusing on forwards, it’s a nice pick up and a nice focus on D.

29. Tampa Bay Lightning – Brock Boeser
30. Anaheim Ducks – Jake DeBrusk

Players to watch for:

– Denis Godla (G), highly doubt he gets drafted in the earlier rounds, but he was the U-20 best goalie. Fun player to watch.

– Ryan Pilon (D), he’ll get drafted in the 2nd round. Something about his all around game just makes me interested in him.

Since the deadline is basically over when I’m writing this (2:58PM EST), I might as well start writing the Trade Deadline Winners and Losers. Most people write about which team won and what not, here’s my alternative view on who won and lost this trade deadline. Tell us how you think! Tell us on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/notyouraveragehockeyblog on Twitter @hkyblogger or simply comment below!

Winners:
Jeff Petry
Man oh man. Lucky Jeff Petry. He gets traded from the worst team in the league to one of the best. You really can’t complain here if you’re Jeff Petry.

Jordan Leopold’s family
Just read the letter.

Losers:
TSN Twitter Box

Well uh… Not exactly what I’d call great for the network? Some poor intern is getting fired. It did bring everyone some giggles and laughs but probably not the smartest move and Lupul is definitely not happy.

Ouch. TMZ is bad enough already… Maybe just screen all the tweets next time?

Llamas in the TSN studio
Well what the f*ck was this.

Gino Reda and the Llamas #NHLTradeDeadline #TradeCentre #Beauty @GinoRedaTSN http://t.co/EmOoL3h7vx—
Joel Forman (@joelthesakic) March 02, 2015

It was during the empty period near lunch time and I guess TSN just had nothing to do. TSN’s not really having the greatest TradeCenter right now… A little bit of context. CNN had spent several hours the other day tracking some escaped Llamas. TSN tried to do the same thing and I have no words to explain what happened… All I know is that if this was in the States, PETA would lose their minds…

Fans everywhere
This deadline day was rather boring. No big trades. The only big trades happened at the wee hours of the night. All of the fans at who spent the entire days glued to the TV were surely disappointed. Cause I surely am.

So with the deadline creeping Not Your Average Hockey Blog has its own live deadline show going on. Keep refreshing for real time updates!

1:30AM TBL trades Brett CONNOLLY to BOS for 2 2nd Rounders
Thoughts: Effectively takes them out of the Chris Stewart sweepstakes. Good trade for BOS. Gives them a young strong player for the future.

1:30AM PHI trades Braydon COBURN to TBL for 2015 1st Rounder, 3rd Rounder and Radko GUDAS.
Thoughts: PHI just robbed TBL. A deep draft, and an intimidating player? Shocking.

9:15AM Jeff PETRY traded from EDM to MTL for 2015 2nd Rounder and Conditional 3rd or 5th.
Thoughts: Wow. Rentals are pricey this year.

9:45AM FLA GM Dale Tallon doesn’t expect to make many trades today. Jimmy Hayes FLA WILL NOT be traded.

9:55AM Contrary to rumours. LAK Slava VOYNOV has not been traded PHI. Cannot be traded right now as he is suspended.

9:56AM Renaud of TVA reports that the Toronto Maple Leafs are trying to trade both Dion PHANEUF and Phil KESSEL.
Quick Thoughts: It’s going to be hard for Phaneuf if no money is retained. Kessel it will be hard to get fair value.
Update: John Shannon doesn’t believe that Phaneuf will be traded today.

10:04AM Marc Antoine Godin reports that MTL wants to trade PA PARENTEAU.
Quick Thoughts: It’s going to be hard. He’s been relegated to 4th line or healthy scratch status. Coming back from an injury it will be tough. But hey, Clarkson got traded so anyone can be traded.

10:17AM Petry was offered 4M for 4 years by EDM. He said no.
Quick Thoughts: Petry really wants to get out of there..

10:22AM Jim Nill has said that there’s a lot of hockey moves out there.

10:27AM Zbynek Michalek may have been traded to STL.

10:28AM Brian Lawton reports that BUF will trade Chris Stewart for a 4th and a conditional.
Quick Thoughts: No one wants him? Surprising. He does a bit of everything…

10:46AM MTL acquires Brian FLYNN from BUF for a 2016 5th Rounder.
Quick Thoughts: Not a big trade. BUF continues their stockpile, MTL gets a 4th liner.

10:55AM Michalek has been traded to STL like it was posted at 10:27AM.

11:47AM We’re still here. Nothing to report…

11:49AM Maxim LETUNOV is the prospect back to AZ for Michalek and conditional 3rd round pick.

12:30PM Something with WIDEMAN could possibly be going on…

12:56PM SJS trade Andrew DESJARDINS to CHI for Ben SMITH.
Quick Thoughts: FINALLY A TRADE. Not much to report here. Small move. Gives SJS a bit more grit.

1:06PM NJD acquires a conditional 2016 3rd Rd Pick from DET for Marek Zidlicky.
Quick Thoughts: Oh the dominos are falling. Condition is reported that if DET makes the Cup Finals it becomes a 2nd. Does this close the door on Phaneuf to DET?

1:19PM SJS trades Tyler KENNEDY to NYI for a conditional pick.

1:31PM COL acquires Freddie Hamilton from SJS for Karl STOLLERY

1:32PM PIT acquires Ian COLE from STL for Robert BORTUZZO.
Quick Thoughts: I love Bortuzzo. Good move for the future. PIT gets a good player right now. Some insurance for the future.

1:38PM DET is all done according to the Detroit Free Press. So Phaneuf to DET is a dead deal.

1:43PM NEUVRITH to NYI for JOHNSON and a conditional 3rd.
Quick Thoughts: Can we just give BUF all 211 picks?

2:07PM VAN acquires Corey CONACHER from NYI for Dustin JEFFREYS.
Quick Thoughts: Move along.

2:14PM NYI trade David LEGGIO to AZ.
Quick Thoughts: This is only important if Leggio tips the net in Arizona.

2:15PM CBJ trades Jordan LEOPOLD to MIN for Justin FALK and a 5th.
Quick Thoughts: Not worth much. MIN gets a nice 5 or 6D. Falk on a 1 year 2 way deal. Not bad.
UPDATE: Michael Russo says that Falk asked for a trade.

2:26PM TOR trades Olli Jokinen to STL for a late round pick
Quick Thoughts: Expected. Leafs had no use for Jokinen. It’s good to know the Leafs got something for him. STL get a nice piece for the long run. We had reported that the Leafs wanted a fifth for him. Price may have dropped due to the time.
UPDATE: Yup. Conditional 6th. The Leafs were hoping for a fifth as we reported, but a conditional 6th isn’t a bad return.
UPDATE 2: If Jokinen plays a role and the Blues made finals, it turns into a 4th.
Update 3: Leafs get Joakim Lidstrom as well.
Quick Thought #2: How do you define “plays a role”?

2:57PM MTL acquires Torrey MITCHELL from BUF.
Quick Thought: I bet it’s picks.

2:58PM BOS trades Jordan CARON.

3:00PM TRADE DEADLINE IS UP. But there are some trades waiting at NHL HQ.

3:00PM Chris STEWART has been traded.
Update 1: Pittsburgh has been floating around.
Update 2: It’s not Stewart.
Update 3: STEWART to MIN. I know it’s for picks.
Update 4: STEWART FOR MIN 2017 2ND ROUNDER.

3:02PM PIT has a trade for a D man.
Update 1: PIT re-acquires Ben LOVEJOY from ANA.
Update 2: PIT gives up DEPRES for LOVEJOY
Quick Thoughts: Uhm. Why. Just why did PIT do that?

3:12PM CAL may have traded Sven BAERTSCHI?
Update 1: Traded to Canucks.
Update 2: Traded for a 2nd Round pick?
Update 3: Apparently 2015 2nd Rounder.
Quick Thoughts: That’s a steal for the Canucks.

3:29PM Putting two and two together and starting to feel it’s COL giving up Max TALBOT to BOS for Jordan CARON.

3:36PM CBJ trades James WISNIEWSKI and a 3rd Rounder to ANA for a 2nd Rounder, William KARLSSON and Rene BOURQUE
Quick thoughts: BOOM BIG TRADE THERE.

4:02PM ANA trades Michael SGARBOSSA to COL for Mat CLARK
Quick Thoughts: DOES THIS COUNT AS A THREE WAY TRADE.

4:13PM Leafs may not be done.

4:21PM TOR trades Korbinian HOLZER to ANA for 5th Rounder and Eric BREWER.

4:59PM BOS trades friend of the site Jared KNIGHT to MIN for Zach PHILLIPS.

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