BY: Ryan Kennedy


The time is nigh for drafting. Minnesota is just days away and every permutation of the order has been pondered. But who helped themselves the most during the second half of the year? For this week’s list, we look at the draft’s high-risers heading into the weekend and how they got there.
Mika Zibanejad, C – Djurgarden (Swe.)

Z-Bad’s stock has soared throughout the season, particularly since his brand of power forward hockey has such an entertaining edge to it. He can hit, he can score and he did it all in Sweden’s best league against older competition. Even he’s a bit surprised that some are considering him a top-5 pick and buzz-worthy player.

“It means a lot to me, actually,” Zibanejad said. “I’m not used to this kind of attention. But it’s fun.”

http://www.thehockeynews.com/article...daily_20110622