With the sixth pick in the 2010 SB Nation NHL Mock Draft, our Tampa Bay Lightning bloggers at Raw Charge select...
Vladimir Tarasenko, Novosibirsk (KHL)
photo via thehockeynews.com
Tarasenko is the first European player to be selected in our draft.
While the Lightning have multiple needs, none appear to be greater than adding scoring depth on wing. Tarasenko (labeled "a poor-man's Alex Ovechkin" and also compared with Pittsburgh Penguins Evgeni Malkin) may be looked at as a risk due to his obligations to play in the KHL, but Steve Yzerman's approach of patience coupled with Tarasenko's own stated desires to play in the NHL, make this a risk worth taking for the Bolts. Tarasenko is undersized (5'10") by comparison to Ovi and Malkin, but size should not be the reason to write off ability.
For more on their pick, visit Raw Charge.
That's it for today's selections. Our first pick on Friday will be the seventh of the draft, and it belongs to the Carolina Hurricanes delegation at Canes Country.