NHL draft 2011: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins tops Gare Joyce's final mock draft - ESPN via kwout
In his final mock draft (4.0), ESPN Insider Gare Joyce has the Bruins taking 18-year-old defenseman Ryan Murphy with the No. 9 overall pick in tomorrow night's NHL entry draft. Here's a look at which players Joyce had the Bruins taking at No. 9 in previous mocks:
* Mock 3.0 -- Nathan Beaulieu, D, Saint John (QMJHL): A defenseman who makes the dynamic first pass to set the offense in motion, Beaulieu can give the Bruins that quick transition and puck-handling that Tomas Kaberle was supposed to give them. This No. 9 pick is the second first-rounder from the Toronto Maple Leafs from the Phil Kessel trade. Bonus value: Beaulieu shows more nasty in a game than Kaberle has over his entire career.
* Mock 2.0 --Joel Armia, RW, Assat (Finland): Although the Bruins franchise is not exactly in love with Euros, they tap a big winger who can make opponents pay a physical price on the forecheck. How dynamic his scoring will be is an open question.
* Mock 1.0 -- Dougie Hamilton, D, Niagara (OHL): Marc Savard's career-threatening concussions make Tyler Seguin's progress more urgent than previously expected. That said, the Bruins are due to draft D after a run on forwards. Hamilton is a good fit and compares favorably with last year's No. 3 overall, Erik Gudbranson.