2011 Nashville Predators Draft Picks
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft is completed, and all seven rounds are in the books. Before we look ahead to free agency in the National Hockey League, let’s take a look at a team by team synopsis of all of this year’s draft picks. Find out who they are, what to expect from them, and when you can expect to see them putting on a sweater in the NHL. Also, each team will be graded on their overall performance during the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Let’s find out who the Nashville Predators drafted, after the jump.
Bryan Vickroy
Here are the seven players drafted by the Nashville Predators in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Magnus Hellberg (Rd 2, 38th overall)
| G | SWE | 6′ 5″ | 185 | SWEDEN-2 | Almtuna |
Was unranked as late as mid season rankings, then skyrocketed to second best European goaltender. Huge, lanky frame that fills up the entire net and leaves very little room to shoot. Stopped almost every puck he faced last year, including five shutouts in 31 games.
Estimated Arrival: 2014-15
Miikka Salomaki (Rd 2, 52 overall)
| RW | FIN | 5′ 11″ | 198 | FINLAND | Karpat |
Played 40 games as a 17 year old in Finland’s highest league. Aggressive two way player who isn’t afraid to use his body, and also shows the ability to be a playmaker. Will develop in Finland for a couple years before coming over to the United States.
Estimated Arrival: 2013-14
Josh Shalla (Rd 3, 94th overall)
| LW | CAN | 6′ 1″ | 202 | OHL | Saginaw |
Skilled winger who is a very strong skater and a pure goal scorer. Quick up the middle of the ice, and has the ability to finish the play himself or find the open teammate for a goal. Has the instincts and offensive ability to be a high contributor on the power play.
Expected Arrival: 2013-14
Garrett Noonan (Rd 4, 112th overall)
| D | USA | 6′ 0″ | 205 | H-EAST | Boston University |
Big defenseman who has shown he can play at one of the best college hockey programs in America. Stay at home defenseman who excels at defending his own zone. Not a great offensive contributor, but can control play on the ice with his positioning.
Expected Arrival: 2014-15
Simon Karlsson (Rd 5, 142nd overall)
| D | SWE | 6′ 2″ | 178 | SWE-JR. | Malmo Jr. |
Defenseman with a large frame who isn’t afraid to contribute offensively on the rush or from the point. Good passer who can get the puck into space. Must show more commitment to defensive responsibilities, as well as add some bulk to his body, to succeed at the NHL level.
Estimated Arrival: 2015-16
Chase Balisy (Rd 6, 170th overall)
| C | USA | 5′ 11″ | 170 | CCHA | Western Michigan |
Was second leading scorer as a freshman at Western Michigan. A California native, was motivated this past season after being passed over in last year’s draft. Must add some size and strength, as well as improve his skating, if he wants to take his game to the next level and make an impact.
Expected Arrival: 2014-15
Brent Andrews (Rd 7, 202nd overall)
| LW | CAN | 6′ 2″ | 200 | QMJHL | Halifax |
Big bodied winger who is very strong at both ends of the ice. Prototype grind line player who throws his body around and will occasionally contribute a goal or two. Is a quiet, hard worker who is very strong around the crease, and can contribute on the power play.
Estimated Arrival: 2015-16
Synopsis
Nashville didn’t have a first round pick, and surprised a lot of people by taking a goalie, although a very good prospect, with their first pick of the weekend. Nashville is a team who builds through the draft, and they did a good job of getting multiple players whose developments will stagger enough to trickle into the NHL roster as positions need to be filled. While Nashville’s biggest priority right now is getting restricted free agent to be Shea Weber signed, supporters of the Predators can be happy that there are now a few more goal scorers in the pipeline now. After their first playoff win in franchise history this past spring, the organization in Nashville has things headed in the right direction at all levels.
Grade: B
Bryan Vickroy has an addiction to hockey, and is willing to partake in all its forms. He is skating extra shifts for The Sports Bank, covering the Minnesota Wild, the NHL, and NCAA hockey all year long. Look for new articles throughout the week. He can be followed on Twitter at @bryanvickroy. If you’d prefer to speak in more than 140 characters at a time to him, he can be reached at bryan.vickroy@gmail.com .