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Alright, so, we've covered the players we feel may be available at nine. We've made our selection in Mikael Granlund. In the interest of full information gathering, let's look at who everyone else thinks the Wild will take with the ninth selection.
Keep in mind that some of these are mock drafts, some are simply draft rankings. The rankings do not necessarily mean that author thinks the Wild will take the ninth rated player at the ninth pick, but for the purposes of this post, let's assume that's what it means, shall we?
Full list after the jump (and I will update if others come to my attention).
ProHockeyNews.com: Mikael Granlund
Puck Daddy: Ryan Johansen
Bob McKenzie, TSN: Jack Campbell
Jeff Marek, CBC: Vladimir Tarasenko
The Hockey News: Derek Forbert
Jackets Racket: Nick Bjugstad
NESN.com: Mikael Granlund
Canes Country: Ryan Johansen
RLD Hockey: Alexander Burmistrov
Mike Morreale, NHL.com: Alexander Burmistrov
Brad Holland, NHL.com: Jeff Skinner
Adam Kimelman, NHL.com: Jeff Skinner
MyNHLDraft.com: Jeff Skinner
The Program: Jeff Skinner
Fanhouse: Nick Bjugstad
The Hockey Writers: Ryan Johansen
If you would like more mock drafts, check out DC Pro Sports Report's database
(Clicking the player's name will take you to the full write up, and I have included one writer's opinion for each.)
Circular Theory: Here's a guy I don't understand the love. I believe he is a good prospect but do not think should be in the same class as Johansen, Niederrieter or Connolly. He is technically sound and posses impressive athleticism. He is also very cool under pressure and impressed during the recent NHL scouting combine. However, when I saw him during the WJC, I believed some goals he left in, he should have saved. But nonetheless, he is a very good prospect but at #9, I rather the Wild invest their pick in a forward prospect.
Nino Niederreiter
Nathan: Wheels. Mad, mad wheels. Proven scorer. Good on special teams, not so much in his own end (which may be an issue with the WHL in general, moreso than an indictment of Etem's defensive prowess). Now, understand that Etem is only 17. He's still 4+ years from the NHL, but that means he'll get time in the WHL, then the AHL to hone his two-way play, but this would be drafting a position of need for the future, not a position of need now. The kid isn't close to ready, but he has decent size already, though another couple of inches would be nice (see: Bjugstad, Nick). He definitely takes being in shape seriously, as he was a physical freak at the combine, so he seems to have a good work ethic. The biggest question is his playmaking. Do you want a center who thinks of scoring first, or do you move him to the wing? Honestly, I think he's a great selection, but not my number 1, because he's so far out.
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