NHL Draft: Nathan MacKinnon, Seth Jones and a Loungo trade?

If you believe the Colorado Avalanche, they’re going to make former Halifax Mooseheads star Nathan MacKinnon the No. 1 overall pick in Sunday’s NHL 2013 Entry Draft. MacKinnon’s certainly deserving of the top spot. He was the MVP of the Memorial Cup and recorded 75 points in just 44 games with the Mooseheads in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League play last season. MacKinnon is a strong two-way player and is easily the most well-rounded option in the draft.

But it will be a at least a little surprising if the Avalanche pass on 6-foot-4 defenceman Seth Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones. The former Portland Winterhawks standout was the top-rated player in this year’s draft for months and grew up in Denver. Plus, the Avalanche could really use some help on the blue line after allowing 3.12 goals per game last year.

Colorado GM Joe Sakic and new coach Patrick Roy say they want a forward though, so unless they’re pulling our leg, MacKinnon is the best bet to be drafted first overall. That is, unless, the Avalanche trade the No. 1 selection. Lately there have been some rumors circulation that the Florida Panthers are very interested in Jones and would like to trade up in the draft to take him first overall.

“Whomever Florida gets at No. 2 is going to be a great pick,” Panthers rookie Drew Shore told reporters. “Seth has done some phenomenal things the past few years, has made great strides. I’m happy for him; he’s a great kid. Whomever takes him is going to be thrilled. He’s pretty humble.”

Other big names in this year’s draft include Jordan Subban, who may just end up with his brother P.K in Montreal, and Max Domi, son of former NHL enforcer Tie Domi. Sports Interaction has a ton of NHL Draft odds.

But wherever these young superstars end up, Sunday is going to be a busy day in NHL transactions. Next to the annual NHL Trade Deadline, the Entry Draft always spurs a ton of trades. This year Sports Interaction has the trade over/under set at 17.5 with the over pegged as a solid favorite.

One of the big names floating around right now is Roberto Luongo – again. After Vancouver failed to trade him last offseason and at the Trade Deadline, he’s on the block again now that John Tortorella is stepping behind the bench.

“There’s going to be a lot more moving parts now in the draft with compliance buyouts, a lower cap number, teams that are in a very narrow bend and want to improve — and want to improve immediately,” Vancouver GM Mike Gillis told reporters. “There’s a lot of different synergies going into this draft, I think, than in past years.”