2010 NHL Mock Draft, 19th Pick: Los Angeles Kings Select Jon Merrill

6'3"+, 198lbs, ranked 11th by ISS, Central Scouting 21st (NA skaters), gold medal for US-U18 this past year, Freshman at University of Michigan in the fall (which he committed to four years ago). Also, he's an Okie.

Conventional wisdom has the Kings picking a forward, but I think Lombardi will pick the best player available, and will have no problem picking someone who won't be ready for several years. Also, Lombardi's love of Red Berenson is legendary.

When I spoke to Merrill last week at Ann Arbor's Yost Arena, he told me he was excited about the prospect of -- wait, that didn't happen. I'm a blogger.