More signings expected Wednesday

I spoke with Keith Cassidy on Monday. He said no new signings were done, but at least a couple should be official by Wednesday, after he gets settled in Estevan.

Not sure if one of them is Taylor Reich, who had already committed aside from signing on the dotted line.

Two of the guys the Bruins are trying to get signed are Manitoba top scorers Jesse Bernard (MBAAA scoring leader) and Matt Brykaliuk (eighth), who sounds like more or less a sure thing.

I'm off work tomorrow, but I'll try to get a post up here if there's news.

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I'm heading to Minnesota next weekend for the NHL draft and I decided to throw together a top 40 mock for fun.

I've only seen a handful of these kids play, so take it with a grain of salt. It's more based on what I've heard from contacts in the NHL and looking at team needs.

1. Edmonton - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C

-Personally, I think Larsson is the best player in the draft and the Oilers could use him, but it seems they've more or less decided on RNH.

2. Colorado - Gabriel Landeskog, LW

-A tough choice between Landeskog and Larsson, but dealing away Chris Stewart left a huge hole on the wings and Landeskog has an enticing mix of skill and grit.

3. Florida - Jonathan Huberdeau, C

-Finally a clear-cut #1 centre for the Panthers, who desperately need one. Huberdeau's stock has risen more in the last couple of months than almost anyone.

4. New Jersey - Adam Larsson, D

-This is a slam dunk for a team depleted in depth on the blueline. If Larsson is gone, they take Hamilton.

5. NYI - Dougie Hamilton, D

-Hard to predict what the Isles will do here, but Hamilton would be an excellent addition to a young D group including Hamonic, de Haan, Katic and Wishart.

6. Ottawa - Sean Couturier, C

-The Sens could take Strome here, but there's no doubt they go with a centre. A few years ago they were loaded with skilled forwards; now it's their biggest need.

7. Winnipeg - Ryan Strome, C

-Strome is one of the biggest risers in the draft. Might not be a first-line centre, but he and Burmistrov could make for an awesome 1-2 punch down the road.

8. Columbus - Mika Zibanejad, C

-Zibanejad is another riser and the Jackets like the jam he brings to a very skilled two-way game. Can also play the wing.

9. Boston - Nathan Beaulieu, D

-The choice is between Beaulieu and Murphy, but the Memorial Cup champ is a safer bet in his own end and can still put up the points, something the Bruins lack in their prospect pool.

10. Minnesota - Sven Bartschi,  LW

-A bit of a reach, but the Wild need wingers to play with Mikko Koivu and you can't argue with the points Bartschi put up in his first season in North America.

11. Colorado - Ryan Murphy, D

12. Carolina - Joel Armia, RW

13. Calgary - Mark McNeill, C

14. Dallas - Zack Phillips, C

15. NY Rangers - Duncan Siemens, D

16. Buffalo - Oscar Klefbom, D

17. Montreal - Mark Scheifele, C

18. Chicago - Scott Mayfield, D

19. Edmonton - Jamie Oleksiak, D

20. Phoenix - Boone Jenner, C

21. Ottawa - Brandon Saad, LW

22. Anaheim - Tyler Biggs, RW

23. Pittsburgh - Nicklas Jensen, RW

24. Detroit - Jonas Brodin, D

25. Toronto - Matt Puempel, LW

26. Washington - Victor Rask, C

27. Tampa Bay - John Gibson, G

28. San Jose - David Musil, D

29. Toronto - J.T. Miller, LW

30. Vancouver - Phillip Danault, LW

31. Edmonton - Joe Morrow, D

32. St. Louis - Ty Rattie, LW

33. Florida - Tomas Jurco, RW

34. NY Islanders - Daniel Catenacci, C

35. Ottawa - Rickard Rakell, RW

36. Chicago - Vladislav Namestnikov, C

37, Columbus - Christopher Gibson, G

38. Nashville - Dmitri Jaskin, RW

39. Toronto - Stuart Percy, D

40. Boston - Matthew Nieto, LW