2011 NHL Draft Predictions

The 2011 NHL Entry Draft will be held on June 24th and 25th at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. NHL teams may possibly trade to move up in the draft order. Barring any blockbuster trades, here are my predictions for the top 5 draft selections:

1. The Edmonton Oilers select Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. The Oilers need a top center and they have claimed on their website that they fully intend to select Hopkins.
2. The Colorado Avalanche select Adam Larsson. The Avalanche need help on defense and Larsson solidifies their blueline.
3. The Florida Panthers select Gabriel Landeskog. The Panthers need a strong winger, and Landeskog is no pushover.
4. The New Jersey Devils select Sean Couturier. The Devils need a big center, and Couturier is a force down the middle.
5. The New York Islanders select Douglas Hamilton. The Islanders need a defense pair for Mark Streit and Hamilton is projected to be a number two defenseman.