The 9th Overall Pick: The Reader's Digest Version

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.)

Mikael Granlund

Erik Gudbranson

Jack Campbell

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

Ryan Johansen

Brett Connolly

Alexander Burmistrov

Nick Bjugstad

Austin Watson

Derek Forbert

Jeff Skinner

Emmerson Etem

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.