With the 2009 NHL Entry Draft only days away it's time for something you've all been waiting for...my 2009 NHL Mock Draft! Feel free to let me know how awful, or preferably how good, my picks are.


1. New York Islanders
D - Victor Hedman - MoDo (SWE)

2. Tampa Bay Lightning
C - John Tavares - London (OHL)

3. Colorado Avalanche
C - Matt Duchene - Brampton (OHL)

4. Atlanta Thrashers
C - Evander Kane - Vancouver (WHL)

5. Los Angeles Kings
C - Brayden Schenn - Brandon (WHL)

6. Phoenix Coyotes
D - Jared Cowen - Spokane (WHL)

7. Toronto Maple Leafs
LW - Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson - Timra (SWE)

8. Dallas Stars
D - Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Leksand (SWE)

9. Ottawa Senators
C - Nazim Kadri - London (OHL)

10. Edmonton Oilers
D - Dmitry Kulikov - Drummondville (QMJHL)

11. Nashville Predators
RW - Jordan Schroeder - Minnesota (NCAA)

12. Minnesota Wild
D - Ryan Ellis - Windsor (OHL)

13. Buffalo Sabres
D - Simon Despres - Saint John (QMJHL)

14. Florida Panthers
C - Jacob Josefson - Djurgarden (SWE)

15. Anaheim Ducks
C/W - Scott Glennie - Brandon (WHL)

16. Columbus Blue Jackets
D - John Moore - Chicago (USHL)

17. St.Louis Blues
RW - Zack Kassian - Peterborough (OHL)

18. Montreal Canadiens
RW - Landon Ferraro - Red Deer (WHL)

19. New York Rangers
C - Peter Holland - Guelph (OHL)

20. Calgary Flames
C - Drew Shore - U-18 NTDP (USA)

21. Philadelphia Flyers
C - Louis Leblanc - Omaha (USHL)

22. Vancouver Canucks
C - Kyle Palmieri - U-18 NTDP (USA)

23. New Jersey Devils
D - Stefan Elliott - Saskatoon (WHL)

24. Washington Capitals
D - Calvin deHaan - Oshawa (OHL)

25. Boston Bruins
C - Chris Kreider - Andover (MA-HS)

26. New York Islanders
C - Ethan Werek - Kingston (OHL)

27. Carolina Hurricanes
D - Tim Erixon - Skelleftea (SWE)

28. Chicago Blackhawks
LW - Carter Ashton - Lethbridge (WHL)

29. Detroit Red Wings
D - David Rundblad - Skelleftea (SWE)

30. Pittsburgh Penguins
D - Nick Leddy - Eden Prairie (HIGH-MN)



Take off,
Coco

Steve Molitor stopped by the studio today before his big comeback fight against Heriberto Ruiz this Friday night at Casino Rama. Steve’s always been generous with his time with us, and today was no different.

But unlike other times visiting the program, Steve had a bone to pick with me. Not only a bone to pick with me, but one with long-time broadcaster and boxing analyst Spider Jones as well.

You see, before Molitor lost his IBF title to Celestino Caballero seven months ago, we talked about the Canadian Kid’s chances against the tough fighter from Panama on the Casino Rama Grill Room. In doing so, the roundtable was discussing the quality of opponents he faced during his title defences at Casino Rama. I openly questioned the guys Steve had previously fought, even to the point where I called a couple of the fighters ‘stiffs’. As always, we’re a straight-up program, and we’re going to give straight-up answers. Spider agreed with my sentiment, that Steve hadn’t really been challenged. We both agreed Caballero would be a big step up for Steve and a true test.

Let’s be clear, I’m no boxing expert, but I do know a thing or two about the game, and consider myself pretty well-read. Steve didn’t take my assessment as a knock against the fighters he faced – he took it personally, as a sign of disrespect and an attempt to take away from his victories. This was not my intention – I was simply being honest about Steve’s opponents.

Now, there’s no need to re-hash what happened last November, but coming into studio today, Steve was still pissed off at me and Spider. To this day, I stand behind everything I said, as I do every time we go to air.

But today, Steve brought up a good point. He asked me, “What have I done?” In the ring, I’ve done absolutely nothing. It’s true – I’ve never fought a competitive fight, nor do I want to. While at the University of Western Ontario, I used boxing training to help me with my footwork and agility for University soccer. I got into the ring to spar just once, with a younger kid who kicked my butt. I’ll tell you what, it seriously hurt, and I have no shame in saying that! I don’t think I was prepared to take a punch like that, and it really changed my perspective.

But does the fact I’ve never been in the ring like Molitor has mean I can’t critique, criticize and ask questions when need be? Isn’t that what’s sport is all about? And if the media’s simply telling Molitor and the public what they want to hear, am I doing my job?

Steve’s a great guy, and we wish him nothing but the best. Today we patched things up and I think we’re on the same page going forward. But the one thing he must realize is every time I go on air and make a statement, I’m leaving myself open to public scrutiny, just as Steve is open to critique as a competitor in the public eye. Just because I don’t get beat up in the process doesn’t mean one of us should be immune and the other one shouldn’t.

Check out the entire interview on tonight’s Casino Rama Grill Room (6:30pm – Sun TV)