Final NHL Draft 2011 Rankings and More on Landeskog and the Panthers

My favorite Gabriel Landeskog (and rumored Florida Panther target) ranks 2nd for N. American Skaters, Sean Couturier falls to 6th, Dougie Hamilton jumps to top 5 and Draft's 2nd best D.

Rank	Name	League	Birthdate	Height	Weight	Pos	GP	G	A	P	PIM
1	NUGENT-HOPKINS, RYAN	WHL	04/12/93	6' 0.5"	164	C	69	31	75	106	51
2	LANDESKOG, GABRIEL	OHL	11/23/92	6' 0.5"	207	LW	53	36	30	66	61
3	HUBERDEAU, JONATHAN	QMJHL	06/04/93	6' 1.25"	170	C	67	43	62	105	88
4	HAMILTON, DOUGIE	OHL	06/17/93	6' 4.25"	187	D	67	12	46	58	77
5	BEAULIEU, NATHAN	QMJHL	12/05/92	6' 1.75"	174	D	65	12	33	45	52
6	COUTURIER, SEAN	QMJHL	12/07/92	6' 4"	197	C	58	36	60	96	36
7	BAERTSCHI, SVEN	WHL	10/05/92	5' 10"	181	LW	66	34	51	85	74
8	STROME, RYAN	OHL	07/11/93	6' 0"	175	C	65	33	73	106	2
9	MURPHY, RYAN	OHL	03/31/93	5' 10.5"	166	D	63	26	53	79	36
10	SIEMENS, DUNCAN	WHL	09/07/93	6' 2.5"	192	D	72	5	38	43	121
11	NAMESTNIKOV, VLADISLAV	OHL	11/22/92	5' 11.5"	166	C	68	30	38	68	49
12	MORROW, JOSEPH	WHL	12/09/92	6' 0.25"	197	D	60	9	40	49	67
13	OLEKSIAK, JAMIESON	H-EAST	12/21/92	6' 7"	244	D	34	3	9	12	51
14	MCNEILL, MARK	WHL	02/22/93	6' 1.5"	201	C	70	32	49	81	53
15	PHILLIPS, ZACK	QMJHL	10/28/92	6' 1"	178	C	67	38	57	95	16

       *top 15 only*

In Europe, Adam Larsson remains top dog and will most likely go in the top 3. Sweden is the dominant country, having Larsson, forward Mika Zibanejad, and D Jonas Brodin as the top 3 skaters.

Rank	Name	League	Birthdate	Height	Weight	Pos	GP	G	A	P	PIM
1	LARSSON, ADAM	SWEDEN	11/12/92	6' 3"	200	D	37	1	8	9	41
2	ZIBANEJAD, MIKA	SWEDEN	04/18/93	6' 1.5"	191	C	26	5	4	9	2
3	BRODIN, JONAS	SWEDEN	07/12/93	6' 1"	169	D	42	0	4	4	12
4	ARMIA, JOEL	FINLAND	05/31/93	6' 3"	191	RW	48	18	11	29	24
5	JASKIN, DMITRI	CZREP	03/23/93	6' 1"	196	RW	33	3	7	10	16
6	KLEFBOM, OSCAR	SWEDEN	07/20/93	6' 3.5"	200	D	23	1	1	2	2
7	SALOMAKI, MIIKKA	FINLAND	03/09/93	5' 11"	198	RW	40	4	6	10	53
8	NERMARK, JOACHIM	SWE-JR.	05/12/93	6' 1"	187	C	37	8	18	26	16
9	GRANLUND, MARKUS	FINLAND-JR.	04/16/93	5' 10"	169	C	40	20	32	52	49
10	BENGTSSON, RASMUS	SWEDEN-2	05/14/93	6' 2.5"	189	D	45	2	7	9	6
11	HOFMANN, GREGORY	SWISS	11/13/92	6' 0"	170	C	41	3	9	12	2
12	RASK, VICTOR	SWEDEN-2	03/01/93	6' 1.5"	194	C	37	5	6	11	8
13	FRIBERG, MAX	SWEDEN-3	11/20/92	5' 11"	185	LW	34	13	27	40	6
14	BOYCE ROTEVALL, JEREMY	SWEDEN	08/28/93	6' 0"	169	LW	33	1	2	3	4
15	JOHANSSON, KARL	SWE-JR.	01/21/93	5' 8.5"	167	D	35	6	5	11	49

*top 15 only*

The Florida Panthers finished with the third worst record in the NHL this year and most likely will have the 3rd pick.With their deep, young core of defenseman it is expected that they are to take a forward. With Nugent-Hopkins most likely going in the first two picks, the Panthers could take the Swede Landeskog of the OHL. Landeskog, according to the scouts, may not be the best player in the draft but he is most NHL ready and the most complete player. It is expected that Nugent-Hopkins and Larsson to be the best of the draft, although I wouldn't put Landeskog far behind them.

If Nugent-Hopkins falls to the Panthers (which is a possibility as the Edmonton Oilers are stocked with offensive young talent and lack any defensive talent, they could take Larsson first, and the Panthers could get 2nd in the lottery)  I would not be unhappy. However, Landeskog's leadership capabilities are what is so attractive to the Panthers franchise. They need their Mike Richards or Jonathan Toews. Nugent-Hopkins, while more offensive talented does not have that natural leadership like Landeskog.

A key to drafting players is not always taking the best available player, but the best available player that matches your needs and wants. Hopefully, Landeskog turns out to be both for the Florida Panthers.

We will know more as June 24th approaches.