Arctic Ice Hockey’s 2013 NHL Mock Draft: Pick #1

Hey all! Welcome to another instalment of Arctic Ice Hockey's annual NHL Mock Draft. Over the next thirty days, we will attempt to telepathically channel the minds of NHL General Managers as they complete their final rankings in preparation for the 2013 NHL Draft being held June 30, 2012 in Newark, NJ.

Without further adieu, we present our loyal readers with the first overall pick of Arctic Ice Hockey's 2013 Mock Draft.

Joe Sakic: With the first overall selection in this years draft, the Colorado Avalanche are pleased to select…

The Skinny: By all accounts, Seth Jones is an absolute stud. Although Erik Johnson is the only defenceman to be selected first overall dating back to 2000 — a pick that some might call a bust — Jones is as complete a player as you’ll find in this year’s draft. With Stefan Elliott and Duncan Siemens being the only two notable rearguards in Colorado’s pipeline, this is a selection that makes a lot of sense. When you factor in that he grew up in the city of Denver while his dad (Popeye Jones) was a member of the Denver Nuggets, the aesthetics look good for a team looking to shed its recent struggles and return to prominence.

Hockey Prospectus:

"If Seth Jones has a weakness in his game, I do not see it. He is a special defense prospect, and as I outlined in the previous section, he nearly made me break my tendency of preferring an elite forward to a defenseman. Jones is a high-end (arguably an elite) skater, who moves at a unique and unusual level for such a large man. With his very large wingspan and mobility, Jones closes gaps with high efficiency, and he can be difficult to get around. His best trait is his clearly elite hockey sense. Jones was making pro-level reads when he was 16, showing he was, and still is, advanced way beyond his years. He makes a multitude of good defensive plays with positioning, stick work and anticipation. He seems to always to be a step ahead of everyone else."

AIH Draft Board