NHL Mock Draft: First Round

Team Needs: Metropolitan I Atlantic I Central I Pacific

The first round of the NHL Draft will get underway Friday night in Philadelphia, followed by round two through seven on Saturday.  

theScore's Justin Bourne provides his mock draft for the first round.

1. Florida Panthers  
Aaron Ekblad, D

Scouting Report: The first defenseman ever granted "exceptional player" status in the OHL - allowing him to compete a year earlier than his eligible age - Ekblad recorded 40 goals and 76 assists in 116 career games with the Barrie Colts. Read More.

2. Buffalo Sabres
Sam Reinhart, C

Scouting Report: No one who has paid attention would be the least bit surprised were intelligent Kootenay Ice centerman Sam Reinhart, the third best North American prospect according to NHL Central Scouting, to hear his name called first overall at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Read More.

3. Edmonton Oilers
Leon Draisaitl, C

Scouting Report: Not counting NHL forward Dany Heatley and former NBA center Shawn Bradley, both second overall draft picks who were German-born but were reared in North America and aren't really German internationals (though Bradley represented Deutschland in international competition); Prince Albert Raiders center Leon Draisaitl has a chance to be the highest drafted German in any major North American professional sports league. Read More.

4. Calgary Flames
Sam Bennett, C

Scouting Report: Despite all of Sam Bennett's talent and potential, a pull-up (or lack thereof) at the scouting combine has colored perceptions on the top-ranked North American skater. His on-ice abilities are evident: Bennett plays hard in all four corners of the ice and uses his stellar awareness and deceptive speed to control possession and create chances. Read More.

5. New York Islanders
Michael Dal Colle, LW

Scouting Report: Michael Dal Colle has scored 143 points with the Generals through two seasons with the team. As large left-winger in the OHL, he has great vision and a willingness to go to the cliched dirty areas to get the puck. Read More.

6. Vancouver Canucks
Nikolaj Ehlers, LW

Scouting Report: Ehlers played youth hockey in Switzerland, and debuted with the senior EHC Biel team during the 2012-13 season, scoring one goal and adding one assist in 11 games. Ehlers was with the team during the NHL lockout, meaning he was able to practice with the likes of Tyler Seguin and Patrick Kane, no doubt an invaluable experience. Read More.

7. Carolina Hurricanes
Haydn Fleury, D

Scouting Report: Haydn Fleury is a capable two-way defenseman with a whole host of above-average tools. A strong skater with NHL size and a significant physical edge to his game, Fleury logged major minutes against top competition as an 18-year-old for a mediocre Red Deer Rebels team. Read More.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs
Nick Ritchie, LW

Scouting Report: Nick Ritchie looked like a man among boys in his draft year. He already has the size of an NHL power forward, as well as NHL-caliber speed, and he proved he knows how to use both on numerous occasions over the course of the season. Read More.

9. Winnipeg Jets
Travis Sanheim, D

Scouting Report: Travis Sanheim has slowly blossomed into an effective jack-of-all-trades defenseman, and could be the steal of the draft if he drops to the second round. At 6-foot-3, 189 pounds, Sanheim, with some added bulk, possesses ideal size for an NHL defenseman, and is a very good skater with deceptive speed for a player his size. Read More.

10. Anaheim Ducks
Brendan Perlini, LW

Scouting Report: Brendan Perlini is a large kid for his age. He is not only tall at 6'3, but he already tips the scales 205 pounds, the average weight of players in the NHL. With his size comes an ability to move through opponents. Read More.

11. Nashville Predators
Kasperi Kapanen, RW

Scouting Report: The top-rated European skater in the draft pool, Kapanen is an offensively gifted player who cut his teeth in the pro game playing alongside his father and former NHLer Sami with SM-Liiga's KalPa. Read More.

12. Arizona Coyotes
Adrian Kempe, LW

Scouting Report: 17-year-old Adrian Kempe is the type of player who often gets branded with the "toolsy" moniker at this time of the year. Born on September 13th, 1996 - the 6,2 Swedish forward is the youngest player in the 2014 NHL Draft class, and is as raw as you might expect. Read More.

13. Washington Capitals
Ivan Barbashev, C/LW

Scouting Report: Barbashev wants to play in the NHL. After being drafted into the KHL last season, he turned down their contract to play with the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL. He has played in four international tournaments representing Russia including the 2013 World Junior Championship. Read More.

14. Dallas Stars
Robby Fabbri, C

Scouting Report: If there's one player who's draft stock has risen highest over the course of the 2013-14 season, it's Robby Fabbri. Not only did he finish third in scoring on a loaded, OHL-champion Guelph Storm team, he also scored 13 goals and added 18 assists in 16 playoff games, earning the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as the Playoffs MVP despite missing time with a head injury. Read More.

15. Detroit Red Wings
Brayden Point, C

Scouting Report: Brayden Point was part of Team Canada's gold medal team at the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament scoring four points in five games. As a smaller forward, Point models his game after Buffalo Sabres forward Tyler Ennis. Read More.

16. Columbus Blue Jackets
Sonny Milano, LW

Scouting Report: Sonny Milano might be the best stick-handler available. His lightning-quick moves with the puck seem to confound opponents and he possesses the acceleration necessary to separate from a defender after slipping past him. Read More.

17. Philadelphia Flyers
William Nylander, LW

Scouting Report: William Nylander played for three different teams through his last season. He started with Sodertalje SK, moved to Rogle BK, and finished the season with Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik. Read More.

18. Minnesota Wild
Josh Ho Sang, C/RW

Scouting Report: Joshua Ho-Sang has the skill level of a top-10 draft pick, although his slight frame (he's listed at 165 pounds) and reputation for inconsistency on the defensive side of the puck may result in him falling out of the first round. Read More.

19. Tampa Bay Lightning
Vlad Kamenev, C

Scouting Report: Vladlislav Kamenev is a big, skilled winger who split time between the MHL and KHL, and although he didn't see much ice with the big club in Magnitogorsk, the 17-year-old gained valuable experience playing at the highest level his country has to offer. Read More.

20. San Jose Sharks
Julius Honka, D

Scouting Report: Julius Honka was the sixth highest scoring player on the Swift Current Broncos this season and was the only rookie to appear on that list with 56 total points. He was also the only defenseman to appear in top-six scoring on the team. Read More.

21. St. Louis Blues
Jared McCann, C

Scouting Report: Falling just outside the top tier of center prospects, Jared McCann should make for an intriguing selection in the middle of the first round. McCann matured into a leader at both ends of the ice in his second season with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds and while his game is rarely flashy, he possesses the talent and vision to make defenders pay for giving him too much room. Read More.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins
Dylan Larkin, C

Scouting Report: Larkin is a product of US National Development Program and is committed to the University of Michigan for the 2014-15 season. He played center behind 2015 can't-miss prospect Jack Eichel, and possesses a mix of size and speed that is reminiscent of another American hockey product, Max Pacioretty. Read More.

23. Colorado Avalanche
Jakub Vrana, RW

Scouting Report: Vrana split his time in 2013-14 between the SHL and the SuperElit, amassing more than a point a game in the junior league, while notching 3 points in 24 games with the big club. Although those numbers don't immediately jump off the page, the 18-year-old handled himself well among men in the SHL. Read More.

24. Anaheim Ducks
Nick Schmaltz, C

Scouting Report: Nick Schmaltz spent the last two seasons tearing up the USHL, recording 52 points as a rookie and a team-leading 63 points in his draft year. He is a pass-first playmaker who uses his strong skating, great vision and pinpoint passing to create opportunities. Read More.

25. Boston Bruins
David Pastrnak, RW

Scouting Report: David Pastrnak likes to use his breakaway speed and deft hands to catch defenders off-guard, often leading to a clear scoring chance for him or a teammate. He possesses a quick shot, but often elects to pass if the play is available. Read More.

26. Montreal Canadiens
Ryan MacInnis, C

Scouting Report: The son of Hall-of-Famer, and noted humanized-howitzer Al MacInnis, Ryan MacInnis doesn't patrol the point like his father. Instead he's a big, talented two-way centerman with good speed, a high hockey I.Q and solid playmaking skills. Surprisingly, MacInnis doesn't have a next-level shot, something he'll have to work on as he moves into the next level of his career (it might become easier once he adds bulk to his lanky frame). Read More.

27. Chicago Blackhawks
Thatcher Demko, G

Scouting Report: Thatcher Demko back-stopped Boston College to an appearance in the Frozen Four last season, recording 16 wins while posting a 2.24 GAA and a .919 save percentage in 24 games as a freshman. Read More.

28. Tampa Bay Lightning
Kevin Fiala, RW

Scouting Report: Kevin Fiala is the next hot-shot Swiss forward prospect, and is one of the fastest risers in the 2014 NHL Draft class. Fiala skyrocketed from 11th in NHL Central Scouting's mid-term rankings all the way up to third in its final ranking. The boost in Fiala's draft stock is reflective of the extent to which the game-breaking Swiss forward dominated the SuperElit and the SHL in the latter part of the season. Read More.

29. Los Angeles Kings
Anthony DeAngelo, D

Scouting Report: DeAngelo led all OHL defenseman in scoring during the 2013-14 season, averaging 1.39 points per game. His point totals would have been higher had he not been suspended eight games for a violation of the league's harassment and abuse/diversity policy after making an inappropriate statement to a teammate in January. Read More.

30. New Jersey Devils
Alex Nedeljkovic, G

Scouting Report: Alex Nedeljkovic was stellar in his second season with the Plymouth Whalers in 2013-14, appearing in an astonishing 61 of their 68 games while posting a .925 save percentage, good for second best in the league. Read More.

You can follow every pick of the 2014 draft with theScore's draft tracker beginning at 7 p.m. ET Friday.