Al Muir's Blog

2009 NHL Draft -- Live Analysis

Al Muir — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:04:22 GMT

(11:03) Long night...and I'm long overdue for a couple of Canadian cold ones. I'll be back here tomorrow with a second-round wrap-up and on the main site Monday with an overview of the draft. Thanks for stopping by and for all the comments and emails...and I hope your team got the player you wanted.

(10:56) The Stanley Cup champs close it out (and give the Bell Centre crowd a parting gift) by calling on Quebecer Simon Despres with the final pick of the first round. Everyone figured they'd be looking to add a defenseman with this pick, but Despres was a bit of a surprise. Not that he wasn't highly ranked (Central Scouting had him at eighth) but it was clear that few teams held him in such high regard. His size (6-4, 204) and skating ability suggest he'll be an NHLer, but his limited offensive instincts and questions about his compete level left many questioning his upside. If he's the next Hal Gill, he's a useful player...but you need more value than that out of a first round pick.

(10:51) Yep...it's Ashton. a power forward with great size (6-2.5, 205) and some offensive potential. Works hard in the corners, finishes his checks, skates hard up and down the boards. Best-case scenario, he's good for 20-goals a year, much like his dad, Brent.

(10:45) The Wings trade away their first rounder--they've had just four in the last 10 years, so the deal wasn't exactly a shock--to the Lightning, who've been trying to grab another first rounder for the last hour. Look for them to take Carter Ashton.

(10:40) The Hurricanes pass on a few players ranked more highly by other clubs to nab Philippe Paradis, a center from Shawinigan. He's another safe pick who looks like a lock to become a long-term NHLer as a depth player ... and maybe more if he realizes his offensive upside. Has NHL size (6-2, 195) and could make a relatively quick ascension to the pro ranks based on his mature, responsible defensive work. Jim Rutherford said the 'Canes would be looking for size up front from at least three of his six picks. With Paradis in tow, look for two more similarly built bruisers to get the call on Saturday.

The Hawks follow with Dylan Olsen. Solid value pick. Big hitter (6-2, 210) who also uses that bulk to launch bombs from the point. Odd fact: he grew up, and actually learned the game, in Italy. His father Darryl finished his pro career there after playing one game with the Calgary Flames back in 1991.

(10:32) The Ducks take Palmieri with their second pick of the round. I talked to a couple scouts this week who thought all of the fuss over his dismissal from the USNTDP was much ado about nothing. He's undersized, but fiesty and more than one scout drew a comparison to Chris Drury. He's highly competitive and has a plus-shot. Could be a tweener, flipping between the second and third lines.

(10:25) Not too many boos for Peter Chiarelli as he selects Rimouski center Jordan Caron. Big kid (6-2, 201) who plays a controlled, physical game and is a monster on the cycle. Sounds like an ideal Bruin--but don't get carried away by the 36 goals he scored this season. The consensus is that he maxes out as a high-end third liner.

(10:20) The Caps take center Marcus Johansson. That's the record for the Swedes and the third time in four years that Washington has gone to Sweden for their first rounder. He's one of those players whose value varied widely depending on who you spoke with. At least one team had him rated in the first round (well, at least two including the Caps) but others saw him as nothing more than a third or fourth rounder with some upside. He might be your Axelsson--a safe enough pick based on his defensive play, but there's real concern that he might not be able to contribute offensively at the NHL level.

(10:08) The Flames take Tim Erixon, the son of former Ranger Jan Erixon. Not the most exciting pick, but he was highly regarded as a responsible presence in the defensive end. A safe pick who'll probably top out as a No. 4 on Calgary's blueline. Have to think he'll stay in Sweden for another two or three years before he starts his NHL career. Really surprised Sutter didn't take a Western Canadian boy. Could have nabbed Ferraro or Ashton and picked up an Erixon-type later in the draft (Jesse Blacker comes to mind).

Erixon's also the sixth Swede taken in the first round, tying the record set in 1993.

(10:03) Nice moment: the Canucks send Montreal native Roberto Luongo out to make the pick. Shroeder finally gets the call after what has to be the longest wait of the night. Have to believe that teams were turned off by his size (5-8, 175) and an unimpressive showing at the World Juniors (note to his apologists: I'm talking about his passive efforts in games against legitimate competition here, not Germany and Slovakia). Still, he's a dynamic skater, wildly creative with the puck and has a tremendous shot, evidenced by his 1.3 points-per-game average with the Gophers, tops among all NCAA freshman. I do believe he'll end up being a top-six forward for the Canucks...and make more than a few teams regret passing him over.

(10:01) Nice to take a breather during the TV timeout (yep, they even have them at the draft). Gave me a chance to look at who might be taken in the next couple picks. I still like Kyle Palmieri for Vancouver and Landon Ferraro for the Flames, but keep an eye on Carter Ashton, Dylan Olsen and Tim Erixon.

(9:56) And that's why the Blue Jackets move up. They get Moore, a great value pick at this point of the night. He's one of the best skaters in the draft and has a real sharp eye with the puck. He'll key their transition game and be an ideal QB for a power play that's held them back as other elements have come together under coach Ken Hitchcock.

(9:53) Anaheim trades pick 21 to Columbus for 26 and 37. Dropping five slots to pick up a second rounder? Nice asset management by Bob Murray. If you're a Ducks fan, you have to love the night your team has had. And that's a steep price for the Jackets. They must have targetted someone to help their blueline. Moore?

(9:50) Devils made the deal to move up and take Jacob Josefson at 20. Haven't seen him myself, but scouts have talked up his two-way ability. That may come off as a bit of faint praise for a Euro--tends to bring up images of workmanlike drones such as P-J. Axelsson. But I've heard him described as a poor man's Henrik Zetterberg by at least one scout. Given that Lou Lamoriello traded up to get him, you can bet that latter comparison is probably close to the mark.

(9:45) A couple trades coming up? Looks like the Kreider pick has a couple teams itching to grab a player who might have slid a bit. Schroeder and Moore are out there.

(9:39) Touching moment when the Rangers mention the passing of Alexei Cherepanov. Worth noting that they were awarded a compensatory pick (#47) in the wake of his death. The Rangers then go mess up the will of the hockey gods by grabbing Kreider, a fantastic skater with decent size, albeit as raw as they come. Pretty much exactly the type of player everyone figured they were looking for. There was some question about just how good he was because he spent the year playing high school hockey in Mass. He's going the college route with Boston College. He'll probably be there at least three years before the Rangers even begin to think about his future in the NHL.

(9:32) What a great moment..actually, a pair of them. There's something right in the hockey universe when the Wild takes a kid from Minnesota and the Habs select one from La Belle Province. Have to wonder if the Bruins will make it a trifecta by taking Chris Kreider...

(9:28) The hometown Habs are on the clock. If they don't take Louis Leblanc, these fans might recreate the Metallica/Guns and Roses riot. Shoot, they might riot if the Habs *do* take Leblanc...

(9:22) Can't imagine anyone's mock is looking too good at this point. Shocked that the Wild didn't take Gopher forward Schroeder. At least they make home staters happy by taking Minnesota's Mr, Hockey, Nick Leddy. Another surprise: don't believe anyone saw him as the first American to be taken. He's small, but skilled and should impact their transition game. He'll join Schroeder at the University of Minnesota this fall.

(9:15) Peter Holland goes to the Ducks. Bit of a riser there. As I wrote in my mock, he's got all the tools but has a reputation as a Patrick Marleau-type. Great size, tremendous hands and outstanding skating...but you wonder whether he's willing to pay the price to make the most of his gifts. He'll work the greasy areas just often enough to tease you into hoping he can do it all, but not often enough to make anyone a true believer. Be interesting to see if playing with blood and guts types like Corey Perry, Bobby Ryan and Ryan Getzlaf will rub off on him.

(9:07) Shocked that the Panthers passed on John Moore. Pretty much everyone I spoke with had him headed to Florida. But, similar to the Paajarvi-Svensson pick, the decision to go with Kulikov was probably a case of a team going with a player they had rated higher and didn't expect to be available. I've heard talk that he has a contract with a Russian team, but don't hold me to it. I'll have to look into the details on that one. If that's true, that probably played a role in his slide. Kulikov is a legitimate two-way defender, blessed with both elite playmaking skills and a sound reliability in his own end. Plays a North American-style game--he's plenty physical and not afraid to take a hit to make a play. The eventual replacement for Jay Bouwmeester? Sure looks like it.

(9:02) The Sabres go with Zach Kassian. Had a few letters from Sabres fans saying there was no way Kassian would slide past them to the Habs (where I had him going in my mock). Good call on their part. This pick addresses a clear organizational need. The Sabres have suffered from the presence of too many smallish, timid forwards. That won't be a problem with Kassian who's all grit and sandpaper. The question is, will that be enough? Some nights he looks like Milan Lucic. Some nights, like Brad May. He might end up as a banging third liner which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but at this point in the draft there was a lot of skill left on the table and that opens the Sabres up to some second guessing. But if he works on his skating and addresses his consistency issues, this could turn out to be a great pick. Let's hope for the latter. The thought of all those Buffalo/Boston contests being highlighted by Kassian/Lucic tangles is heaven for fans of old time hockey.

(9:00) No Americans taken in the top 10 since 1993. EDIT My bad--. Should read: No Americans taken in the top 10 for the first time since 1993. Thanks for the correction Kuckooforkovalchuk. Trying to juggle too many plates at once here. Fingers aren't working as fast as the brain...and there's room to argue just how fast the brain is working...

(8:50) Wow...can I take that back? I love Snow's aggressive use of his assets, but moving up this far to get Calvin de Haan? That's a wild card pick. Time will tell how good he'll turn out to be, but I didn't hear anyone suggest that de Haan would be taken earlier than the 20th pick. He's a smooth skater, moves the puck well and has a real nose for the net. Most of his 55 assists came off rebounds and passes down low. But there are questions about his size. He's 6-0, 173. He'll get bigger and stronger, but strong enough? Elis may be short, but he's built like a fire hydrant. de Haan is a bean pole. Again, not to knock him--consensus is he'll be a player--but seems like he could have been had later in the round. Of course, we'll never know...

(8:48) The Isles trade 16, 77 and 182 to the Wild for 12. Wow...Garth Snow had a phenomenal draft last year and now he's making this year's event his as well.

(8:45) Looks like the Ellis pick has Minnesota in turmoil. Guessing he was their first choice in this spot. They might move the pick.

(8:41) Alright! My boy Ryan Ellis goes to the Preds. Geez, what a defense David Poile is building in Nashville. Ellis is the real deal. Thinks the game as well as anyone. Stronger than he's given credit for. Tremendous shot from the point--he'll be an elite power play quarterback. And don't worry about his five-on-five play. He'll need some time to develop, but that side of his game will come with experience and physical maturity. And geez, imagine him and Shea Weber throwing bombs from the point. That'll be worth the price of a ticket. And with one more high-end defensive prospect in the system, you have to wonder if the Ryan Suter trade rumors will finally amount to something.

(8:37) Nashville's on the clock. I like Jordan Schroeder with this pick. He's tiny, but has tremendous offensive instincts and proven chemistry with 2008 Preds' pick Colin Wilson.

(8:31) There he goes. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson to Edmonton. This kid looks like a prototypical Oiler. Compared by some to Peter Forsberg, Markus Naslund and Kent Nilsson, he's all about speed, strength and creativity. He's fearless when it comes to driving the net. Arguably the fastest player in the draft. Can you imagine him on that Edmonton ice? Wow. He's under contract with Timra for one more year and honestly, I think he'll probably stay in Sweden for another year or two after that. Still, great value pick. You always hear executives say, "We can't believe he was there when it was our turn to pick" but in this case, it's true.

(8:29) The Oilers have to go with MPS here, don't they? I liked Ellis with this pick, but didn't think Svensson would drop this far.

(8:23) The Sens go with Cowen. Smart, value pick. He's a massive, shutdown defender who probably would have gone higher were it not for an injury that sidelined him for much of the season. This kid was absolutely dominant in the Memorial Cup last season as 16-year-old. Word is his knee is fully healed from the ACL/MCL injury. Should be a nice counterpoint to last year's first rounder, Erik Karlsson, a smallish, Brian Rafalski-type blueliner who thinks offense first. Add in recent picks Patrick Wiercioch (42, 2008) and Brian Lee (9, 2005) and they've got the makings of a promising back-end.

(8:17) Look for the Lightning to try to move up to acquire another first round pick. They've got a pair of seconds to deal. Could be looking to grab one of the defenders that is sliding (Jared Cowen, Dmitri Kulikov) or one of the lower rated blueliners (John Moore, Ryan Ellis), depending on who they can convince to bite.

(8:15) Joe Nieuwendyk makes his first pick as GM of the Stars: Scott Glennie. Bit of a surprise. Great goal scorer, underrated playmaker. Can play center or wing, but you have to think he'll be a winger in the pros. Really thought they'd go defense with this pick, especially with a couple kids with top-pairing potential still on the board. Says a lot about how Dallas wants to play. With Jamie Benn and now Glennie ready to jump in in a couple years, you'll see Nieuwy's Stars playing a more offensive-minded game. Gotta be honest--I would have taken MPS here. Love his speed and creativity.

(9:06) The Leafs take Nazem Kadri. Great speed, great hands, thinks the game at high speed...but doesn't seem to fit the mold of player that Brian Burke has been saying he was looking for. Belligerent? Truculent? I don't think so. He gives Toronto's offense an explosive option...but man, I saw him take a LOT of nights off this season. Yeah, he was great in the playoffs but when a kid in his draft year sloughs off that much...well, it's no wonder at least one team had him ranked in the 20s.

Gotta love the Montreal crowd chanting "67! 67!" as Toronto was making the pick.

(8:01) The Coyotes take Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Caught me by surprise with this one. Heard a lot of chatter about him over the past few days but I thought he was the beneficiary of some misdirection hype from a couple of teams. My bad. Second Swede to go in the top six--bodes well for them to break their record for most first rounders. I've never seen him play, but the scouts who have rave about his skating and puck distribution skills. Smart player, not particularly physical, but always in position. Almost no chance he'll be in the NHL next year.

(8:00) Columbus trades a pair of picks (16 and 77) to the Islanders for four picks (26 37, 62 and 92). Have to see what they do with the selections before passing judgment on this one but you can see the advantages for both sides.

(7:53) The Thrashers grab Evander Kane and the Kings follow with Brayden Schenn. A couple of hard-nosed, second liners. Kane is a new-age power forward type. Not the biggest kid (6-1, 176) but he plays the game with consistent intensity. Goes hard to the net, has great hands. He'll be a special player...wouldn't be a total shock to see him in the NHL next season. He has the emotional maturity to make the jump. Schenn plays the game like Mike Richards. Not as talented a goal scorer as Kane, but a better playmaker and an outstanding two-way player. He needs more time in Brandon. Can't see him making the jump right away.

(7:45) Don't hold me to this, but I've got Philly's salary cap hit at somewhere in the neighborhood of $53.5 million next year with Pronger added and Lupul subtracted. That's with one goalie signed, so they've got about $3.3 million left to fill their roster. They need to address a couple of forward holes, but they can do that cheaply with youngsters like Claude Giroux and former first rounder James VanRiemsdyk. Finding a pair of reliable stoppers will be a real test for Paul Holmgren. Of course, he'll have an easier sell when he can offer them a defense of Pronger, Kimmo Timonen, Braydon Coburn, Ryan Parent, Randy Jones and Matt Carle. Hearing they (along with the Blues) might be interested in Josh Harding and that Martin Biron is Colorado bound.

(7:34) Colorado's on the clock...and it'll be Matt Duchene. First three fall as most expected. This kid can do it all. Heart and soul player. Great wheels, special hands, tremendous defenisve player. Like Jonathan Toews, he earns a lot of comparisons to Bryan Trottier. Tells you all you need to know about him. He has the potential to wear the C in Colorado, and could play in the NHL as soon as next year. Avs fans have to be excited imagining Duchene and Paul Statsny as the top two centers in the near future.

(7:21) Luca Sbisa, Joffrey Lupul, the 21st overall pick this year and Philly's first next year for Pronger. Wow. That's a steep price to pay, although it should propel the Flyers into contender status next season after consecutive playoff disappointments. The big question: How are they going to make this work under the cap? Daniel Briere has to be gone, right? Maybe Mike Knuble?

From the other perspective, what a nice job by Murray remaking the blueline in Anaheim. Next year they have Niedermayer, Ryan Whitney, James Wisniewski and now Sbisa. That's a nice top four, and relatively cheap. Might be able to keep Francois Beauchemin now, too. Plus, that extra first rounder....wonder if he'll try to package 21 and 15 to move up? I don't think he will--you can throw a blanket over the players from 10-25--but if they have their eye on someone they now have the assets to make it happen.

The Lightning are at the podium. Geez, Brian Lawton looks blown. Think his life's been turned upside down over the past couple weeks? They take Victor Hedman. Again, no surprise. A team that dressed an NHL record number of defenders last season needed a bedrock guy. Hedman is a beast, a great skater, tremendous offensive force, moves the puck exceptionally well. He's a real No. 1 type defenseman. He should play this season.

(7:15) It's Tavares. Honestly, can't believe anyone is too surprised by this choice. This kid is a goal-scoring machine. You have to take junior scoring marks with a grain of salt, but an OHL record 215? This kid's the real deal. They now have Tavares and Josh Bailey as their top two centers for the next decade. Not quite Malkin and Crosby, but this will be a very solid duo.You really have to be impressed with the young talent that Garth Snow has acquired since assuming the position. Respectability was getting closer. With this pick, it's just around the corner.

Say this about Tavares: The kid is instant excitement. He's not the most compelling personality in front of a microphone (nothing wrong with him, just a little vanilla), but he's going to attract a lot of attention with his work on the ice. Be interesting to see if his presence has any impact on the team's ability to get shovels in the ground on the new building they so desperately need.

(7:10) Geez, what a brutal attempt at pandering French by Gary Bettman. Makes Sascha Baron Cohen in Talledega Nights sound like Gerard Depardieu. And you have to love the most predictable fan reaction in all of pro sports. Wouldn't you love to walk behind him on the streets to hear if he's booed randomly throughout the day?

(6:59) Hey, Dashiva. Depends who you talk to on the first goalie. Matt Hackett is the consensus best goalie available, but I've heard a few scouts say they favor Edward Pasquale, the big (6-2, 216) stopper from Saginaw. I don't think either of them goes in the first, but I expect Colorado to use their second rounder to grab one and wouldn't be surprised to see Philly trade up in the second to grab one for their system. They don't have a second round pick at the moment, but could have two third rounders (if Boston doesn't exercise an option on one of them). They'll have to come up with something interesting to move into the second.

That was quick. Just hearing that Anaheim has dealt Pronger to Philly. Just a rumor at this point. I'll be back in a bit.

(6:50) Appreciate all the emails. Wish I could get to 'em all, but things are starting to roll. I'll try to get to a few of them as the opportunity arises. Bridgit in Ottawa asks about Dany Heatley being dealt tonight. Can't rule it out, but I don't think it happens. That salary is like a massive zit on the forehead of the prom queen. You wish you could overlook it and focus on all the positive attributes, but there it is ... staring at you. My gut is that if he is dealt, it'll be after free agency shakes out and teams decide to react to any perceived shifts in power in their division/conference. We'll see.

(6:37) Ducks now confirming that Niedermayer is coming back and will sign with the team. Guess that signals the official start to the Pronger sweepstakes. Doesn't necessarily mean he'll be dealt tonight (I don't think Anaheim GM Bob Murray's in any hurry), but a high pick would certainly sweeten the pot.

(6:20) The Kings and Senators are talking. Could just be discussing favorite fishing holes or cottage plans, but they are talking. We'll see if anything comes of it. I still think the Kings hold on to the pick.

Had an email about Ryan Ellis. Full disclosure: I grew up a fan of the Spits so there might be some personal bias involved in this assessment. Still, I've seen as much of this kid as anyone in the draft and I think he's going to be dynamic. Kind of reminds me of Greg Hawgood, the old Bruins defender who saw the ice and moved the puck as well as anyone in the league, but was the size of Billy Barty. Tough act back in the '80s. These days? Much more workable. I think Ellis will be a major contributor for someone. I can't imagine him dropping past 12, but I think he goes at 10 to Edmonton, even with their need for a physical forward.

(6:12) Hear a couple other outlets are announcing Niedermayer intends to play next season. That didn't take 'em too long...

Had a couple emails asking if I still thought the Isles would be going with Tavares at No. 1. Honestly, I really like Matt Duchene's game and I think he's going to be a heck of a player, but I can't believe that Garth Snow is going to take him. If he wants Duchene, he can trade down and get him. At No. 1, it's got to be Tavares. Like I wrote earlier, you can teach a kid anything but how to score. Tavares has got some special hands and a knack for creating space for himself in the greasy areas. I think people are just looking to create some friction when they start talking up Duchene as No. 1.

(3:14) Chris Pronger to the Blues? Could be. Looks like Scott Niedermayer is coming back to the Ducks for one more season, and that means Pronger and his salary are on the way out.

(3:10) Will the Kings keep their first-rounder? Broad consensus was that they would move it as part of a package to obtain immediate help for next season (possibly Dany Heatley?). Word now is that they're leaning toward keeping the pick.

(2:41) Can someone explain to me how this Tomas Kaberle plus seventh overall to Boston for Phil Kessel rumor makes sense? Kaberle's salary may be very reasonable at $4.25, but that still leaves Boston in the same cap quagmire they're in with Kessel, assuming the potential RFA is looking for $-$4.5 million. For this to work, Boston has to move another significant salary. Ryder, maybe? I just don't see this working out without other moving parts.

(2:15) Rumors are circulating that the salary cap has been set at $56.8 million, or $100,000 more than last season. Official statement by the NHL says lower Limit of $40.8 million, an adjusted midpoint of $48.8 million and an upper limit of $56.8 million.

(2:08) Had two scouts tell me there's "no chance" that Zach Kassian falls to Montreal at 18 as I predicted in my mock draft. They could be right. At the same time, I've had another observer tell me that someone is going to make a mistake taking him too early, likening him to the next Brad May...nice player, but you're looking for a little more talent early in the first round. We'll see how it goes. Also heard that Dallas might be looking at John Moore. Eight seems too high to take him considering the blueliners that would have to be left on the board at the time, but this is worth watching.

It's all about to go down in Montreal, tonight at 7 p.m. Eastern on Versus.

Will the Islanders use the first overall pick on sniper John Tavares, hulking defender Victor Hedman...or go off the board and take two-way center Matt Duchene?

Will Brian Burke make his promised splash, wheeling and dealing to move up in the draft, or flipping his first rounder for some immediate bellicosity?

Will the Bruins dump Phil Kessel to save some cap space? Could Dany Heatley be fitted for a new sweater? What about Vincent Lecavalier, Patrick Marleau, Chris Pronger or Jay Bouwmeester? All are rumored to be on the block, as are Ryane Clowe, Tomas Kaberle, Joffrey Lupul, Josh Harding and about a dozen more players who could impact a team's success next season.

As soon as the boos greeting Gary Bettman's appearance subside, I'll be here offering instant analysis of all the picks and deals. I'll even address some of your questions, as time allows. See you back here tonight at 6 p.m. Eastern . . . or sooner, if things get interesting. In the meantime, check out my first round mock draft and see what you think.

NHL Draft: The Second Round

Al Muir — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:11:25 GMT

The second round saw teams select four netminders, a couple of familiar names (including a Staal) and a bit of wheeling and dealing, just to keep things interesting.

(31) Florida takes Jacob Markstrom, a big (6-3, 180) Swedish goalie who was ranked as a first-round talent by at least three teams, and was the highest rated European. He led Tre Kroner to gold at the Ivan Hlinka Under-18 tournament and is a good bet to be the No. 1 for the Swedes at the World Juniors in 2009. With no real high-end prospects behind Biron and Niittymaki, the Flyers needed to grab a premium stopper here.

(32) Los Angeles takes Vjateslav Voinov. He made his name as a fiesty competitor in international play over the past 12 months. He’s a nasty defender, always looking for a chance to make your life miserable. A little cheap sometimes, but that’s when he’s most effective. Another great building block for the Kings blueline.

(33) St. Louis takes Phil McRae, a St. Louis native and the son of former Blues agitator Basil McRae. His hands are more adept at scoring than splitting open faces like his old man, and he’s got the potential to be a reliable 20-25-goal man in the NHL. He’s a decent skater, but scouts have pointed out his need to improve that area if he wants to advance.

(34) St. Louis takes Jake Allen, the goaltender whose stock rose dramatically after leading Canada to gold at the IIHF Under-18 World Championships. He’s an excellent puckhandler, and makes a big impact on the transition game a la Marty Turco. The Blues are loaded with young goalies with both Ben Bishop and Marek Schwarz inthe system, but Allen's developmental curve gives them a few years to fish or cut bait.

(35) Anaheim takes Nicolas Deschamps. Using the compensatory pick Phoenix received when they were unable to sign 2004 first rounder Blake Wheeler, the Ducks grab the mid-size center who was the top prospect in the QMJHL. Great offensive instincts and a real battler. He projects as a second line center who can be a standout in all three zones.

(36) Islanders take Corey Trivino, a Tier 2 forward who averaged a point and a half per game. Think the creativity and finish of Sam Gagner, without the same physical edge. He’ll play at Boston Univerity next year. Hopefully he’ll discover pasta there—the kid weighs about a buck fifty.

(37) Columbus takes Codey Goloubef, an offensive defenseman who already has a year of college (Wisconsin) to his credit. Tells you all you need to know about his hockey sense and poise that he earned a regular role under coach Mike Eaves as a 17-year-old. Projects as a second-pairing, second PP stalwart.

(38) Nashville takes Roman Josi, a Swiss defenseman who’s every bit as good as first rounder Luca Sbisa…but maybe not fully committed to the idea of playing in North America. The knock on drafting Swiss players is that their national league is a compelling alternative for many players, but the thought of adding his skating and passing ability makes Josi a reasonable risk at this point in the draft. There are some scouts who think he could develop into a top pairing guy.

(39) Anaheim takes Eric O’Dell, a center who earned a lot of praise for his play with Team Canada at the U-18. Great playmaker, solid hockey sense, surprisingly quick on his feet. Curious pick coming right after Deschamps, but Anaheim obviously was going with the BPA philosophy.

(40) Islanders take Aaron Ness, the speedy but small defenseman who was named Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey. I heard from a number of scouts who thought he could slip into the first round. He completely dominated his league last year. Brian Rafalski is brought up as a comparable because of his ability to play such a calm, smart game. That’s the second really small guy selected by New York in this round, but both he and Trivino could become leaders for the Isles.

(41) Vancouver takes Yann Sauve, a massive (6-2, 210) defenseman. His size makes him appealing, but one scout told me Sauve is a “turnover factory.” May just be a matter of developing more confidence in his surroundings…or it may be that he just doesn’t make good decisions. We’ll see.

(42) Ottawa takes Patrick Wiercioch, a defenseman heading to Wisconsin next season. He was used extensively on the power play with Omaha of the USHL, taking advantage of his great reads, but skating is an issue

(43) Anaheim takes Justin Schultz, another Wisconsin pledge (says a lot about the quality of that program, eh?) He’s an offensive-minded blueliner who’s expected to play one more season in the Tier 2 BCHL. Interesting to see how Anaheim handles him—this is the same loophole situation that led to Blake Wheeler becoming a free agent.

(44) Buffalo takes Luke Adam, a big (6-2, 205) center who’s shown some nice touch around the net, but also comes with the standard knock against Newfoundland prospects: skating. One scout compared him to former Sabre Adam Creighton. Buffalo needed to add size up front, so Adam is a smart choice here.

(45) Carolina takes Zac Dalpe, a rangy center who projects as a winger in the pros. He slid a bit past expectations—some scouts mentioned him as a potential low first rounder after an impressive season in Tier 2. Dalpe’s got some nice touch and great vision, but questions about his speed and strength likely dropped him to this point.

(46) Florida takes Colby Robak. The Panthers swap picks with the Predators so they can move up to snatch another slider who some had ranked in the first. Robak’s fans point out his size and mobility. His detractors question his intensity and decision making. Think Joni Pitkanen, a similarly frustrating player.

(47) Boston takes Maxime Sauve, son of former Sabre J-F Sauve. Like dad, he’s small and speedy with decent hands. Gets criticized for a sometimes lackadaisical approach to defense, but he’s regarded as a coachable kid.

(48) Calgary takes Mitch Wahl, who earned a spot on the Memorial Cup All-Star team. From the hockey hotbed of Seal Beach, California, he’s a playmaking center with a bit of grit and elite hockey sense.

(49) Phoenix takes Jared Staal who is not, contrary to the well-distributed rumor, the best of the Staal brothers. No one argues his potential, but there are plenty of whispers about his commitment after the scouting combine revealed his lousy conditioning. One scout told me “I think he thinks his last name is his ticket.” Still, you have to love the bloodlines, and if the Coyotes can get his head right, he could be a steal.

(50) Colorado takes Cameron Gaunce, a defenseman who looks like a great value at this spot. Gaunce has size and mobility and displayed some real offensive smarts with Mississauga of the OHL, scoring 44 points in 63 games. He came from the same Markham Waxers program as first rounders Stamkos and Pietrangelo and 2009 prospect John Tavares.

(51) Rangers take Derek Stepan, another future Wisconsin Badger. He’s an offensive-minded center, but he’s paper thin and there were real questions about his ability to add strength to a less-than-ideal frame.

(52) New Jersey takes Brandon Burlon. No matter who New Jersey takes, you wonder what they know that everyone else is missing. Burlon is a mid-sized defender whose fiery temperament and desire to compete suggest he’ll be an ideal top-four type for the Devils. He dominated the strength testing categories at the scouting combine.

(53) Islanders take Travis Hamonic, another speedy defender, but with better size than Ness. He’s extremely aggressive, always looking to force a play at the offensive blueline or to make a hit. Has the tools to be a decent defender, but his judgment is suspect.

(54) New Jersey takes Patrice Cormier. I apologize if I’m coming off like a Devils fanboy, but this is another brilliant pick by Conte and crew. Cormier was looked on as a first-round talent earlier in the season, but missed considerable time due to a string of injuries that include appendicitis, shoulder surgery and a concussion. His skating needs to improve, but everything else, including size, is there for him to develop into a solid NHLer.

(55) Minnesota takes Marco Scandella, a defensive-minded blueliner who keeps his game simple, not unlike the Wild’s first pick, Tyler Cuma. He looks a lot bigger than the 6-2, 190 at which he’s listed.

(56) Montreal takes Danny Kristo, the second-leading scorer for the US National Team Development Program. He’s going to North Dakota in 2009.

(57) Washington takes Eric Mestery, a huge (6-5, 200) stay-at-home blueliner. Think Hal Gill, with a bit more physical bite to his game.

(58) Washington takes Dmitri Kugryshev, a smallish winger with dynamite hands but a tendency to be bullied out of the play.

(59) Dallas takes Tyler Beskorowany with an eye towards an eventual replacement for Marty Turco. The 6-5 stopper had a goals-against above four, but he was playing behind a porous Owen Sound defense. One scout said he reminded him of Andrew Raycroft, another kid who gained considerable poise while facing a ton of rubber in juniors. He was the 16th-ranked NA goaltender, but impressed with his play at the recent Hockey Canada goaltender's camp.

(60) Toronto takes Jimmy Hayes, a massive (6-5, 210) winger with a willingness to battle for position in front of the net and a nice touch with the puck. So why’s he still available at this point of the draft? Heavy, heavy feet.

(61) Colorado takes Peter Delmas. The Avs traded Brad Richardson to the Kings for this pick and tabbed their goaltender of the future in Delmas. He didn’t see a lot of ice this year, slotted behind Kings prospect Jonathan Bernier in Lewiston, but he was impressive with Team Canada at the Ivan Hlinka tournament. He’s big, and his economical style leaves little room for shooters.

NHL Draft Live Blog

Al Muir — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:05:57 GMT

(11:19) I won't be blogging live tomorrow (at least, that's not the plan at the moment), but I will be here after the second round for a quick review, and then later in the day for an overview of the weekend. Thanks for stopping by tonight.

(11:11) While the beer's chilling, here's a quick take on the night's winners. I love what LA did--short of trading up for Stamkos, they couldn't have done much better than adding a pair of ace defenders in Doughty and Teubert. Calgary walks away smiling after picking up Cammalleri and Nimisz and clearing some cap space. Washington looks like it got tremendous value in Gustafsson and Carlson. Nashville whistles a happy tune after filing two major needs with Wilson and Pickard. But grabbing Boedker and Tikhonov and Jokinen was like coming within $100 in the Showcase Showdown for Phoenix. That's my first blush impression, anyway.

(11:00) So, after four hours of watching teenagers in new suits hug their extended families and pose for pictures with retired NHLers, my first thought is a pizza and a six pack. Seriously, I'm starving here. Next thought is shock that Deschamps remains undrafted after the first day. Hard to imagine him sliding past Florida (which has Tampa's first pick of the second round) or the Kings tomorrow morning. Two or three years from now, he's going to be the Patrice Bergeron of this draft, the kid that scouts who were picking in the 20s kick themselves for bypassing. He's gonna be *that* good.

I could also see the Kings calling on Jacob Markstrom or Jake Allen with that pick (assuming, of course, that they sitll have it tomorrow). They have Jonathan Bernier in the system, but another premium goalie could be a very valuable asset...especially since the Kings have so many other selections they can use to fill other needs.

(10:55) Four hours after the Lightning take Stamkos, the Wings go with Thomas McCollum. Makes sense. Osgood's nearing the end of his career and Jimmy Howard was a sieve this past season in Grand Rapids, so adding a premium netminder to the system was a smart call. He covers a lot of the net with his 6-2, 175 body, and he's got great technique. He's like Osgood in that he's a real battler and takes care of the plays he's supposed to. Check back in four years, and the Wings could have themselves a good one.

(10:52) With the Pittsburgh first rounder obtained in the Marian Hossa trade, the Thrashers go with Tier 2 waterbug Daultan Leveille. Never saw a minute of him playing, so all I can tell you is what I've read. He's really small, really fast, and a long-term project. I'm sitting here shaking my head, wondering what Don Waddell is thinking.

(10:44) Anaheim trades out of the first round, sending 28 to Phoenix for 38 and 39. Good use of assets by both clubs. Coyotes go off the board to grab Viktor Tikhonov, the grandson of the legendary Russian coach. The buzz is that the Kings would have nabbed him with their next pick. That's an impressive jump for a player expected to go in the second or third round, and even more amazing to see that kind of demand for a kid that's been bypassed in his first two years of eligibility. Tikhonov was the best Russian forward at the Super Series, and the best forward period at the World Juniors. Great instincts, solid hands and a real knack for creating something out of nothing. Based on his maturity and dedication, it wouldn't surprise to see him stick with the Coyotes in 2008-09.

(10:40) Geez, the Caps are having a nice night. Love the pick of John Carlsson. This kid's a big hitter who makes solid reads at both ends of the ice. He was a great offensive player in the USHL, but I think he'll be more of a straight defensive player if he makes it to the NHL. Great value at this point of the first.

(10:34) With their second pick of the round (obtained from San Jose in the Brian Campbell trade), the Sabres go...small? Seriously? Tyler Ennis? Was Verne Troyer not available? A team that desperately needs some size up front goes with Ennis, who lists his height at 5-8 1/2, the same way my seven-year-old describes himself as seven and a half. There's no arguing his offensive abilities--43 goals and 91 points last season--but with Nicolas Deschamps still on the board, there must be something they *really* like about this kid. This is a swing for the fences pick.

(10:26) Calgary might have just made my favorite pick of the night. Tod Button mentions the recently deceased Mickey Renaud before calling on Spitfires teammate Greg Nemisz. I saw a lot of this kid this year, and there's a lot to like about his game. Tremendous size (6-3, 197) and great instincts around the net. People mention John LeClair as a comparable, but a better one is Glen Murray. Like the soon-to-be ex-Bruin, Nemisz can score (34 goals this year), but he takes some knocks for his skating. That said, he works hard, and knows how to find his own end without leaving a trail of peanuts, so he has a chance to be a solid second liner.

(10:23) WW: If I had to put money on it, I'd say the Wings will go with a goalie. I really like Jake Allen--thought the Devils might take him--but Thomas McCollum seems like more their type.

(10:19) Guess no one else wanted to trade with the Devils. They finally had to make a pick and went with Tedenby. He's really tiny, but he's a real Martin St. Louis-type. Great wheels, tremendous instincts around the net and an absolutely overwhelming desire to compete. You just can't discount this guy, especially playing for a team that's had a lot of success with smaller players. He's a few years away--Swedes usually choose to spend their developmental time at home--but he projects as a top-six winger when he comes over.

(10:15) They go with Cuma. Thinking about it now, makes more sense for the Wild than those two forwards. This is a team that needs to rebuild the blueline and Cuma's a safe pick at this point. Again, nothing fancy to his game. Kind of a mid-sized guy who--surprise--is capable of playing a solid transition game. The Wild aren't afraid to fast-track a guy, and he plays the kind of safe, simple game that could translate quickly.

(10:10) The Devils are sliding as fast as Tedenby. They just dealt the 23rd pick for Minnesota's 24th and a third rounder in 2009. The Wild might be looking to grab Tedenby or perhaps Greg Nemisz, the big power forward from Windsor. Tyler Cuma's another possibility.

(10:06) The Oilers go with Jordan Eberle. All you need to know is that the kid has great hands and a tremendous release. 42 goals in 70 games for Regina. A real slippery, if not speedy, skater, as well. Looks like a nice addition to their eventual top six alongside Sam Gagner and Andrew Cogliano.

Just realized that Mattias Tedenby hasn't gone yet. That's a big surprise.

(10:04) Glenn Anderson must have left his mustache in his other suit. It's like seeing Alex Trebek after he shaved the lip. Kinda creepy.

(9:58) Great value pick by the Caps in taking Anton Gustafssson, the son of former Washington great Bengt Gustafsson. Just going on talent, there were plenty of scouts willing to rank him much higher in the first round, but concerns over back problems led to a belief that he might fall to the second. You have to think the Caps relied on Bengt to get the inside word on his condition. If he stays healthy, this could be one of those picks, like Mike Richards going 24th in 2003, that looks like an absolute steal in hindsight

(9:56) Redskins: Afinogenov's name is getting tossed around, but if he's going to be moved this weekend, it'll be tomorrow.

(9:55) Devils were due up, but they dealt the pick to the Caps for their first rounder and one of their three second rounders. Not sure which one yet.

(9:50) It's Del Zotto. Seems to me that I heard more negative things about this guy than positive. Everyone loves his skill set. Great size, good wheels, and a tremendous shot. No doubt he can be a very nice offensive defenseman. Same time, there are questions about his desire, his ability to make the most of that skill set. Maybe it's maturity, maybe it's a sense of entitlement (that word came up more than once from scouts). Either way, it's no real surprise he was still here for the Rangers. This one could go either way.

(9:47) Rangers are up. I'm thinking John Carlson here, although Michael Del Zotto is sliding.

(9:43) Philly uses their first of two first rounders to grab Luca Sbisa. Not a real sexy pick. A nice all-around defender who doesn't do anything really well or have any gaping problems with his game. He's smart, though. Reads the play well, never panics and makes a good first pass. Best case scenario, he ends up playing reliable second pair minutes three or four years down the road.

(9:39) Nice work by David Poile. Trades down, adds an asset from the Sens, and still gets the player everyone assumed he wanted. Pickard is just a solid, solid pick. Great, big body. Tremendous athlete. Really sound technically. Everyone assumes he'll be in the mix, if not the starter, for Team Canada at the World Juniors next Christmas. You'll hear Carey Price's name mentioned when discussing Pickard. That's a bit of an oversell, but he definitely looks like he has the potential to be a very good No. 1 down the road.

(9:38) Here come the Preds. Gotta be Pickard, doesn't it?

(9:32) The Ducks were hoping Karlsson would fall to them when they traded down. Them's the breaks. They grab Jake Gardiner instead out of Minnetonka High School. Great speed, good character, and has a frame that suggests he'll eventually fill out to be 6-3, 210. Think of him as a bigger version of the just-traded Marc-Andre Bergeron. He's offense first and foremost, but his defensive ability is compromised by his inability to read the play when he doesn't have the puck. Could be a solid, third pairing, second PP unit guy.

(9:24) Joe Colborne to the Bruins? I hate this pick. Hate it. Feel free to quote me years from now. The kid's huge--which is good--and he's soft--which is not. Well, not soft, but he doesn't use that massive size (6-5, 190) to the sort of effect that they'll expect of him in Boston. He's a playmaker who does most of his work on the perimeter, rather than using his size to create space down low. Sound like another, more talented, player who got run out of Boston a couple years ago? Hey, three or four years from now, when this kid actually is ready to take a shot at the NHL, he might have added this dimension to his game and become a snarling hairy man-beast. But if he doesn't...wow, this pick is going to look ugly.

(9:19) WW: What's with all the picks? Hey, the Kings were about the worst team in the NHL. They're still years away from competing, so there's two good reasons to stockpile picks. First, by adding more bodies, you increase the odds of of picking guys who actually develop into contributing NHLers. Second, you have assets that you can deal, if you choose, to help fill any holes you identify as immediate needs. Lombardi's doing a great job.

(9:17) The Sens go with Erik Karlsson. Everyone's been talking this kid up over the past few weeks. His game is ideal for the new NHL. Fast, great puck mover, reads the play superbly. Think Brian Rafalski. He's a few years away from the NHL though. He's small, and really, really slight. It's going to take some time before he packs on enough meat to prevent himself from getting poster-ized in the NHL.

(9:14) Nashville deals the pick to Ottawa for #18 and a third in 2009. Good value move for both. Ottawa could use a goalie, too. Maybe they take Chet Pickard and Nashville goes for Thomas McCollum.

(9:09) Zach Boychuk goes 14th to the Hurricanes. The Canes stated they were going to go after a forward, and Boychuk was the BFA. He's really small--he's listed at 5-9 but I've heard that might be generous--but he's got the speed to make up for it. Great offensive instincts, and can play with a nasty edge. Don't expect to see him in Raleigh any time soon, though. He needs plenty of development time. Nashville's up next. I'm convinced they're going for a goalie.

(9:06) stlfan: I could see the Blues using one of those second rounders on McCrae. He's got the character that Davidson has made a priority, good size and he's got decent offensive instincts. Of course, it all depends on how the chips fall the rest of the way. Never know who else might be available once it gets back around to them.

(8:58) The Sabres grab the 6-7 Myers. More than one scout talked about how frustrating he was this year--the body is really appealing and he's a great skater, especially for his size. But there are concerns about his ability to think as fast as he skates. He's going to need a lot of time, both to fill out physically and to learn the game, but he's got a chance to be a top pairing guy over the long haul.

(8:56) Nice play by the Kings. Drop one spot to add a third rounder in 2009. Gotta love the way Lombardi is leveraging his assets. Sabres move up to grab the player they want.

(8:54) Lombardi is talking to Buffalo. Tyler Myers would look pretty good on a smallish Sabres squad.

(8:53) Time for #12. Something tells me the Kings are going to move this pick.

(8:49) So that's why Anaheim was willing to give up the 12th pick. Obviously heard that the Hawks weren't going to let Kyle Beach get by them. There are all kinds of people in hockey who wanted nothing to do with this kid, but I've got a feeling he's going to be a dandy for Chicago. He's a big, power forward who'll play the wing in the NHL. One day, he may be the Clark Gillies to Johhny Toew's Bryan Trottier.

(8:42) Canucks take Cody Hodgson. Safe pick. Great two-way player who scored 40 goals last year in the OHL, and was the leading scorer at the Under-18 last summer. Offense is exactly what the Canucks needed. Add in his competitiveness and he brings up memories of Trevor Linden. Vancouver fans have to be happy with this pick.

(8:35) I grew up a Spitfires fan, so it's nice to see Windsor's Josh Bailey go ninth to the Isles. Smart moves by the GM of New York, Garth Snow, to drop back twice, add some assets, and get the guy they wanted. He had 67 assists last year, and I think that was tops in the OHL. I think he needs another year in juniors before he thinks about turning pro...but that may just be my bias talking. Be nice to see him stick with the Spits, a team that looks well on its way to challenge for a spot in the Memorial Cup next year. I see him as an elite second-line center when he hits his prime.

(8:32) Boedker looks like an ideal fit for the Coyotes, doesn't he? Great speed, good size and fills a need for scoring on the wings. You can see him sliding in alongside Mueller on the second line (with Jokinen centering the first)...and it'll probably happen next year. If you saw him at all playing for the Rangers in the Memorial Cup, he just looks like he has the physical and mental maturity to make the jump.

(8:28) Winged Wolverine: surprised by the trades? Absolutely. Well, let me qualify. There was certainly reason to believe there would be a lot of deals based on the lack of quality/quantity in the free agent market this summer. I think the surprise is that these deals are being made vying for draft position more than anything. Just shows that after that top five group, you can pretty much throw a blanket over the rest. There's not a lot to choose from in the next 12-15 players, but each team is going to have their favorites. Better to make a deal and get the guy you have your heart set on rather than sit pat and hope he falls to you.

(8:28) Watch for the Coyotes to take Boedker here.

(8:25) So the Preds traded up to nab Colin Wilson. I guess the only surprise is that they felt they had to make that move to get him. I had him going to Nashville in my mock because his size, consistency and competitiveness really fills a hole in their lineup. And don't be surprised to see him make the jump next year. He's already said he thinks he's ready to play in the NHL. What I saw of him, he might be right.

(8:23) stlfan: don't think Pietrangelo will be ready to make the jump next year. Really needs to work on his defensive game and his play away from the puck. But everything else is there for him to be a real impact player. I know there were a couple scouts who think he's a better long-term bet than anyone other than Stamkos in this draft.

(8;22) I'm laughing. How did I not see *this* coming? Isles deal #7 to Nashville for the #9 (acquired from Florida in the Vokoun deal last summer) and a second rounder, 40th overall. I *think* that's another pick acquired from Florida. Have to look that up.

(8:18) Seems like the Isles will go either with Boedker or Beach. Boedker, the Dane, is a safer choice. Great speed, elite playmaking skills, decent finisher. That said, Beach seems like more of a Ted Nolan player. Nasty, physical and a great presence down low. There's been all kinds of talk about attitude problems, but word is that issue was resolved during the interview process at the recent scouting combine. I'd put my money on Beach.

(8:09) Columbus trades #19 (acquired from Colorado in the Foote swap) and #67 to Philadelphia for R.J. Umberger and pick #119. Interesting deal. Umberger went to Ohio State, so he'll be a popular figure there and should fit nicely into their top six. It's also a hurry-up deal. They get immediate help instead of having to wait three years for that #19 to make his debut. For the Flyers, they clear salary cap room to ensure they can get a deal done for Jeff Carter, and add a mid-first rounder. Filatov to the Blue Jackets at #6 makes sense at this point.

(8:04) It's Schenn. As miserable as it's been to live life as a Leafs fan the past few years, you finally have something to look forward to. A mean, effecient, defense-first defender. That said, good thing this is such a value selection. They gave up a third rounder yesterday in the Jamal Mayers deal, and they've coughed up either a second or a third in this tradem so they won't be making many picks tomorrow. Barring trades, this is about all they'll have to crow about from this weekend...unless they can get someone to swap a box of Timbits for the rights to Andrew Raycroft.

(8:02) So it's two picks, a second and third, in addition to the seventh overall going to the Isles. They get to choose whether the second is this year and the third next year, or vice versa.

(7:55) Looks like it'll be Luke Schenn going next, but to Toronto, not the Isles who currently own the fifth pick. Guess you *can* teach an old dog new tricks if Cliff Fletcher is abandoning his old "draft, schmaft" approach. Pretty bold move by the old guy. Bet it cost him a little more than #60 for the privilege of moving up two spots.

(7:50) Pietrangelo it is. Nice pick by the Blues, great complement to Erik Johnson. Figure in the rest of the youngsters they've got in the pipeline (Steve Wagner, Ian Cole and Jonas Junland) and they've got the makings of a very nice group a couple years down the line. And let's throw this out there: Jarmo Kekalainen may be the best head scout in the league outside of New Jersey's David Conte. Discuss among yourselves.

(7:47) The Blues are going to take Pietrangelo.

(7:46) Buzz is Anaheim is going to package those two first rounders with a player to move up. We'll see.

(7:42) Apparently they've decided to go ahead with announcing draft picks even though everyone's buzzing about the deals and hoping for more. They crammed 18,000 into the rink with the promise of watching teenagers walk up to a stage. Imagine how many they could have lured if they just turned this into a huge swap meet (hmmm...remind me to send a note to the NHL before next year's trade deadline). First three have been no surprise: Stamkos to the Lightning, Doughty to the Kings and Bogosian to the Thrashers. Now's where things get interesting.

(7:31) Something tells me Kyle Beach is going early, maybe to Vancouver at 10. I'm thinking if Burke thought he could have nabbed the big winger at 12, he doesn't make that deal with the Flames/Kings.

(7:21) The word is the Panthers have just dealt captain and leading scorer Olli Jokinen to Phoenix for Ballard, Boynton and a second rounder (49th overall).

Wow. First pick hasn't even been made yet and we've already had three deals involving significant players. Guess this makes up for the lack of drama with the Stamkos coronation that should be happening any minute.

Gut reaction? This deal makes good sense for both sides. Florida loses their captain, but also a guy who apparently had come to the end of his patience with the Panthers. His departure opens up a roster spot for Shawn Matthias, the Team Canada WJC vet who impressed in a brief tryout last year. Boynton and Ballard will be solid additions. The Panthers allowed the fifth fewest goals in the East last year, but they were looking for a veteran upgrade. Watch and see how Jay Bouwmeester's game improves playing with less pressure.

As good as that sounds, the Coyotes really got the sizzle in this swap. Gretzky and co. get a great leader, someone who can take a lot of pressure off the young kids that were asked to carry a little bit too much weight last year. And now they can trot out a center group of Jokinen, Mueller and Hanzal? Gretz should be happy rotating those three. They're going to have to address two holes on the blueline, though. Ballard was a 21-minute man, and Boynton was a tough, character player. Guess they're counting on big things from Keith Yandle, and they'll probably look to add another veteran through free agency or trade.

(7:05) Okay, there's the reason the Flames dumped Tanguay. Looks like they're going to pick up Cammalleri from Los Angeles as part of a three-way deal. Costs them their own first rounder (17), but having picked up the 25th from Montreal, that's not exactly a dear price. LA moves up to the 12th overall slot courtesy of Anaheim (nee Edmonton) , and the Ducks a pair of first rounders: 17 from the Flames and 28 from the Kings.

Think the salary of Cammalleri saves the Flames about $1.5 million, plus they get a feistier, more consistent forward who gives them a dangerous (if smallish) one-two punch up the middle. The Ducks pick up an additional first rounder--ridiculous value for dropping down just five picks at a point of the draft that seems pretty much even in terms of potential. One more talking point to justify my belief that Brian Burke is the best GM in hockey. The Kings must have someone in mind that they have a real hankering for, plus they get rid of a guy that they never could have re-signed before he headed to UFA status next summer.

(7:02 PM) I hide away for 20 minutes to grab some dinner (can't beat that Burger King Steakhouse burger) and come back to find that Flames are on the verge of dealing Alex Tanguay to the Habs for the 25th overall pick. First thoughts? No-brainer for both. Tanguay was no favorite of Calgary coach Mike Keenan, and a player who's always run hot-and-cold was wearing mittens more often than not last season. Getting his $5.25 million hit off the books makes good financial sense, and clears space to take on another salary.

For the Habs, they get an offensive-minded forward who just happens to be a francophone...and I don't know about you, but the hockey world seems like a better, more civilized place when the Canadiens are working that French mo-jeaux.

NHL Entry Draft

Al Muir — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 23:06:53 GMT

I'll be blogging the first round of the NHL Entry Draft live tonight. Already a lot of action in Columbus, with the Leafs grabbing Vesa Toskala and Mark Bell from the Sharks for a trio of draft picks including, potentially, the 13th overall pick tonight. My knee-jerk reaction to that deal is already up at www.si.com. The Vokoun deal that just went down was another pretty fair deal from the perspective of both sides. The Panthers picked up a legitimate top-10 goalie--maybe top-five--to help replace Luongo. He'll play a huge role in stabilizing that young but rapidly improving squad, and he's under contract for the next four years, which gives them stability at that position and may make Florida a more appealing destination for free agents. The Preds get three picks, including a first in next year's draft--with a much deeper talent pool than this year--and based on what we've seen from Chris Mason, they probably won't experience a significant drop off in the net.

Lots of talk about the Flyers moving the No. 2 overall pick. I'd bet on it happening.

***

Word's going around about the Nashville sale and it appears the Balsillie deal is dead. Not quite sure what's up, but the rumour is that Craig Leipold has killed it. I speculated in a column a couple weeks ago that the league would slap him down for his overly aggressive approach to moving the team to Hamilton, but it sounds like it was Leipold who pulled the plug for that very reason. Great day for the fans of Nashville, but they still have a lot of work to do if they want to keep this struggling franchise in place.

***

Biggest penalty kill of the night will be all the perfunctory thanking of Columbus for the hospitality and congratulating Anaheim for the Cup win. I'm setting the over/under for each at 20. I figure I'll be stepping into my dress blues and polishing the revolver by the fifth mention.

Chicago's on the clock. First time they've ever selected first. Has to be Kane, doesn't it?

***

Tallon just mentioned that there are 3,500 fans in Chicago at a draft party. That's pretty close to what they get at the rink most nights, isn't it? Well, at least on the nights when they've got a decent giveaway ...

And there it is...it's Kane. This kid was amazing at the World Juniors. Every time he was on the ice, you held your breath waiting for something spectacular to happen. Tiny? Yeah, he really is small, and he's going to need some size playing with him, but there are a lot of guys playing in the league at his size these days. It has to be energizing for Hawks fans to imagine this kid playing on a line with Jonathan Toews, maybe as soon as 2008-09. And even though I grew up hating the London Knights, I really have to respect that organization. You look at the talent they've developed over the past couple years--Rick Nash, Rob Schremp, Corey Perry--they're unmatched in junior hockey. No wonder Dale Hunter's name is starting to pop up when NHL coaching jobs open up. He obviously deserves a lot of credit both for attracting and developing top talent.

***

Looks like I was wrong about that trade talk. The Flyers just grabbed James Van Riemdsyk. No surprise with that choice. Big banging winger, prototypical power forward. Classic Flyers player. Great skater for his size and has above-average hands. He's probably a couple years away--he needs time to fill out, learn how to play away from the puck, but when he's ready, he'll be an excellent second liner. I'm a bit concerned about his plans to attend New Hampshire next year. US college hockey has developed a lot of talented players over the years, but the last quality power forward to come out was, who? Bill Guerin, maybe? It wouldn't surprise me to see him head to the OHL after his first year of school. I'll have to see who owns his rights.
Just found out it's Brampton. Makes a lot more sense for his development to go to the O.

The Coyotes just took Turris. That's as good a fit for him and his talents as Philly was for Van Riemsdyk. Another smallish guy--he's six foot-- but he's paper thin. Looks like he'd fall down if you skated by him, but he's got an amazing shot that has everyone comparing him to Sakic. I think Kariya is a better comparison, same size, thinks the game the same way, very composed, mature kid. Lot of fun to watch. He's going to Wisconsin next year and he'll probably be there for at least two years, so as much as Phoenix needs a quick fix, he's not it. In time, though, they might have picked up a really special player...and someone who's game really seems in sync with coach Gretzky.

***
This is going on a lot quicker than usual today. Guess that's the power of American TV at work. And there's the first off-the-board pick. Thomas Hickey to Los Angeles. Absolute shocking pick by the Kings. I talked to a couple scouts who really like him, but both thought he'd be available when they selected in the 20s. Hard to believe that Karl Alzner didn't appeal to them more based on what I've seen of these guys. Obviously the Kings think his skating and his offense were too good to wait on, and they wanted to make sure they got the player they had ranked highest on their list, but I'm thinking they could have traded down and still managed to grab him. This really shakes things up for the next few picks. Washington could certainly use a blueliner like Alzner, and as much as they have a need for a creative center like Gagner, it's hard to imagine them passing on the Calgary Hitmen star. Remember, this is a kid who made Team Canada at 17, and though he didn't get a lot of ice, it tells you all you need to know about his maturity, his composure and his hockey sense that he was given a chance at a tournament dominated by 19-year-olds. Now wait, I can see WAS GM George McPhee talking to Kevin Lowe, who has three picks to play with. Maybe something's up...

***

Washington's keeping the pick. If you haven't seen the new Washington sweater, have to say, it's pretty sharp. Pretty simple, but I like the clean look.

Funny flub by McPhee, who started out by saying "proud to select from the London..." Had to give Gagner a heart attack when he corrected himself.

Alzner was their choice. This is a great pick by the Caps. He's close to being NHL ready by all accounts. Probably only a year away. Smart, disciplined kid. Nothing fancy, makes very few mistakes. The sort of kid you can count on for 25-plus minutes for 15 years. Oilers are on the clock. I'm betting on Gagner.

***

And there goes Gagner to the Oil. Smart pick. Little undersized, but his hockey sense is off the charts, and hey, when in doubt, go with the Canadian kid, right? He has the chance to be an elite second liner. Voracek's still on the board thanks to the Hickey pick. I think Columbus is going to be hard pressed to pass on Voracek even though they really need to add some talent for their blueline. The obvious choice there would be Ellerby, but not everyone is sold on his upside. Everyone loves his size, but there are questions about his hockey sense, so Voracek is the safer choice.

Always fun when the home team gets to make their first rounder. Only reason for most of these fans to be in the building, at least if they're not related to, dating or representing a player. And it's Voracek. Had to make that pick--clearly the best player available at this point. Just a solid all-around player, great two-way game, but has a lot of offensive potential. Another guy who looks like he could be a solid second liner. And wait til you get a look at him. He looks exactly like Peter Parker's landlord in Spiderman 3. Columbus' new jersey looks sharp, too. Really sharp logo.

This pick puts the Bruins in a tough spot--they've bombed with Russian picks in the past, but can they pass on Cherepanov at this point? Kessel fell into their laps last year, and this might be another great break for them with another high-end player plummeting. And what's Cam Neely doing up there making the pick? Did I miss a hiring? Anyway, the Bruins grab Zach Hamill. I had him rated a little lower, but it's a safe pick. He's a great offensive player, led the Western League in scoring so he knows how to put the puck in the net. I'm really concerned about his size (5-10, 180, if that) and his feet are slow. Kind of reminds me of Kyle Wellwood. I suppose the Bruins would be happy with that kind of development, but Hamill doesn't strike me as a guy who has the upside of Couture or Cherepanov. This pick may come back to haunt them. And more fashion talk: the new Boston jersey looks pretty much like the vintage sweater they've worn over the past couple years. Little change on the spoked B was the only obvious diffrence. Not sure that's enough to convince their fans to shell out a couple hundred bucks to upgrade, but I guess you don't want to mess too much with an Original Six jersey.

***

Alright, we have our first deal of the night! The Blues just traded their pick (9th overall) to the Sharks. The Blues move down to 13, which means the Sharks exercised their option on the Leafs first rounder that they acquired this afternoon in the Toskala deal. Couple additional picks went to the Blues, including a second rounder tomorrow. Have to think they really like someone to give away two assets like that. Is it Cherepanov?

***

Nope, it's Couture. Good choice--very safe pick. Great offensive instincts. Great two-way player, outstanding leadership skills. Might have gone higher if not for that bout of mono earlier in the year. Probably shouldn't overlook that he's from the Ottawa 67's. Along with the Knights and the Petes, they've got the best track record for developing prospects in the OHL. Brian Kilrea just has that ability to push talent. Couture could turn out to be a Mike Fisher type.

***

Don't think the Cats will take Cherepanov with this pick....nope, they went with Ellerby. Great bloodlines. This kid is huge, plays a mean game, real physical, but also a very nice skater which makes him ideal for the new NHL. Doesn't have much of an offensive game, and there are concerns about his hockey sense but if you're happy with a guy who can be a solid No. 4, Ellerby's a good choice.

***

Can Carolina afford to pass on Cherepanov? I know Carolina likes Esposito a lot, and while there are questions about his mental toughness and his desire, hard to imagine they won't take one of these two.

For the reader who asked, nope, no word on Montoya of yet, and at this point, I'm thinking he's out of play today. I still expect him to be moved, but it probably won't be today.

***

Well, screw me. It's Sutter to the Hurricanes. Lot of mixed reads of this kid. Nobody questions his heart or his desire, and he's a very clever hockey player. This kid is a lock to play, but what's his upside? He was dead in the water offensively during the second half and you have to wonder if he'll be anything more than an elite third liner. Not a bad thing, but you can find guys like that later in the draft. And man, look at how huge that sweater looks on him!! He looks like he's wearing his dad's clothes up there. You have to know he'll gain some weight over time, but man, he's like a rail.

This pick leaves Esposito up there for the Habs at 12. They always seem to take the francophone player when there's a good one on the board (the Denis Savard memory still evokes tears in Montreal)...but they go with Ryan McDonagh. The defenseman was Mr. Hockey in Minnesota. Someone told me earlier that he's related to Steve Walsh from the 49ers. Don't know if that's true or not, so don't quote me. If so, you have to love those bloodlines, don't you? Good day for the Wisconsin Badgers--that's two of their incoming freshmen going in the top 12. He's a smart all-around defender--one scout told me he reminded him of Chris Chelios. Good offense, nasty edge to his game. He's going to need some work though...it's not like he faced elite talent in high school, so he's got a bit to prove.

Surely someone is going to make a move to jump up and snag Cherepanov or Esposito at this point, aren't they? The Blues are up now and they've come out and said they want offensive talent in this draft...and they go with Lars Eller. Guess that's not a huge surprise. Head scout Jarmo Kekalainen loves European players. Highest selection ever for a Danish-born player. Everyone loves his offensive game. He was a top scorer in the Swedish junior league, and he's got dynamite hands, but all I've heard is questions about his ability to handle the physical game. Still, this is exactly the sort of player St. Louis said they wanted to grab today, and if Kekalainen likes him, I'm inclined to go with it. His rep as a talent hound is growing.

***

Kevin Shattenkirk goes 14th to the Avs. The word today was that they wanted defense, and this kid was clearly the best available at this point. Everyone talks about his impressive play at the U-18 tournament. He's a prototypical PP QB, a great puck mover, nice shot from the point. A lot of poise--he's like ice when he's under pressure with the puck. He's a lot like John-Michael Liles. Might be his replacement in the next few years.

And there's a bit of a surprise by the Oilers at 15--Alex Plante. I thought he might go around this point, but didn't think he was the sort of player Edmonton was looking for. Still can't believe that Esposito and Cherepanov are on the board, but I guess the Oilers were swayed by Plante's size, strength and efficiency. Not a real sexy description, but that's pretty fair. Kind of reminds me of Boston's Andrew Alberts. Just does his job without attracting much attention. And don't expect much offense from him, either.

Alright...another deal. The Ducks drop down to 19 (and add 42) and give 16 to the Wild. After watching them get manhandled by the Ducks, you can imagine they want some size and strength. Colton Gillies, maybe? Or will someone finally pull the trigger on the sliders?

***

Halfway through the draft, looks like everyone who took the over on the Columbus hospitality remarks will collect, but there haven't been many shout outs to the Ducks. Bunch of sore losers, eh?

***

And it's Gillies to the Wild. Have to think that the Ducks success weighed heavily into this decision. I compared him to Travis Moen in another article, and that makes me think this pick is completely crazy. Size and speed are highly desirable qualities, but his hands are stone. You can find guys like this later on. I think the Wild will rue the day they called his name with Cherepanov on the board.

***

Man, I was starting to think I was the only one who had a mancrush on Cherepanov, but the Rangers finally grabbed him. What a value pick for New York at this point. The kid broke Pavel Bure's rookie goal-scoring record in the RSL, and outscored Malkin, Kovalchuk and Ovechkin at the same age, so clearly he's a high end talent. More I think of it, it could be a nice break for the league that he ends up there. The NHL needs exciting players in major markets, and Cherepanov is that. He'll be with Omsk in Russia next season, but he's got the tools to grab a spot in New York as soon as 2008-09. This pick reminds me of Martin Havlat who slid to 26th in 1999--lot of teams regret that they took "safer" picks that day, too.

****

Another trade--this time the Blues and Flames swap picks. Looks like the Blues had their eyes on Ian Cole. Yet another American-born defender--there's your theme for this draft. That US NTDP hothouse is doing some great work, aren't they? Cole's a big kid--he's 6-1, 210 or thereabouts. Good skater, makes nice outlet passes, keeps his game pretty simple. Another guy who won't be a star, but he could be a very useful second pair guy.

***

Ducks are up and they grab Logan MacMillan. Didn't impress me when I saw him--the guy's a painful skater and his play away from the puck was brutal--but I had a couple scouts tell me they thought he'd go in the first. Obviously he's got good bloodlines--his dad is former NHLer Bob MacMillan--and he's got a decent physical game for his size (6-1, 172). You have to think he'll play some day, but like Gillies, he's a guy who probably tops out as a third liner if all goes well.

Man, I'm starting to feel bad for Esposito. Surely the Pens can't pass on him...

Finally! There he goes to the Pens at 20. What a tremendous pick for Ray Shero and what an ideal landing spot for this kid. Remember, going into the season he was the No. 1 prospect, but the more scouts watched him, the more holes they picked in his game--fairly or not. The main knock on him was that he simply wasn't as effective on his own in Quebec as he was when he played with Radulov on the Memorial Cup- winning Remparts back in 2006. So maybe he's not a guy capable of carrying a team on his back, but he clearly knows what to do with talented linemates. He just adds another dimension to an already scary offense. Hard to imagine him ending up with better linemate options than he'll get in Pittsburgh. He could develop into an impact player as the Pens move toward Stanley Cup contention.

***

Another deal...it's a swap of picks between the Oilers and Coyotes. The Oilers move up to grab Riley Nash of Salmon Arm of the BCHL. The Coyotes get the #30 and #36 picks in return. Good deal for a rebuilding team, grabbing two good assets at a point where this draft is wide open. For the Oilers, they used their third pick of the first 21 selections to grab a guy who had 38 goals and 83 points this season. Not everyone was as impressed--he was ranked 64th in North America by CSB, but those who like Nash see him as someone who'll find a place in the league one way or another. He's a center with good size (6-1, 175) who impressed with his consistency, his skating and his smarts.

***

The Habs just grabbed Max Paccioretty (don't quote me on the spelling). Lot of people like this kid. Big, strong power forward body with great hands who could develop into a nice second line scorer. I've heard good things about his temperment. He's willing to put in the work to become a better player, and he's a team-first guy. I'm betting those last two qualites were what swayed Bob Gainey to tab him at this spot. He's the sixth American taken in the first 22 picks... I think the record is 10, so another great year for the Americans. Make it seven. Jon Blum --from the hockey hotbed of Rancho Santa Margarita, California--just went to the Preds. (Wait a minute--Rancho Santa Margarita--isn't that where Marge Simpson went on a spa vacation?) Blum's stock rocketed thanks to his play with the Vancouver Giants in the Memorial Cup. Everyone loves his toughness, his smarts and his puck skills, but man, how much smaller can this guy be? The guy's a waif. He's hockey's version of Kate Moss. His height is fine--he's six foot--but man, he disappears when he's holding his stick. He's listed at 160, but I'd be shocked if he's 150. I don't care how good a player is, there's no way he can survive the punishment in the NHL at that size.

***

Good value pick here for the Flames-- Swedish forward Mikael Backlund. I thought he'd go higher, but it looks like teams had concerns about his health after midseason knee surgery. Word is he's healthy, and he certainly looked it at the U-18 tournament that he led with seven goals. Decent size (6-0, 191) and world-class wheels suggest he'll be a second line type.

Wow, there's a shocker. Seemed like there were safer options on the board (I would have tabbed Brett MacLean or David Perron at this point), but the Canucks liked Patrick White. Big center who plays with an edge...and that's the eighth American of the night. Perron just went 26th overall to St. Louis--man, they've really maximized the return on their three picks tonight. He was overlooked in last year's draft, but as a rookie in the QMJHL he was one of the the top offensive players. He had 39 goals and 83 points in the regular season, but really turned it on for Lewiston in the playoffs. scoring 12 goals and 28 points in just 17 games to lead the Maineiacs in scoring.

***

Man, did they just boo Steve Yzerman? No doubt they're not fond of the Red Wings in Columbus, but after the reception Gretzky got, you'd think Yzerman would get the same. This is just Detroit's second first rounder in six years thanks to their history of activity at the trade deadline, and they went with Brendan Smith. He's another kid who's headed to Wisconsin--that's their third first rounder. I talked to one scout who was hoping his team would be able to steal Smith in the second round. Sorry, Charlie. Smith is a highly skilled player who dominated with St. Mike's Jr. A squad. High-end skater, great hands, good puck skills. He has to work harder away from the puck, especially in his own end, but those are areas you can address with good coaching.

****

Washington just dealt their 28th overall pick to San Jose for a pair of second rounders. The Sharks came to Columbus without a first rounder, and walk out with two. Man, Doug Wilson does it again. Has to be to pick up Nick Petrecki, a defenseman who has dropped well below where he was expected to go.

***

Yep, it's Petrecki. The ninth American to go in the first. He's just a nasty, physical beast. One scout described him as the strongest player in the draft. He's 6-3, 213, and the thought is he'll fill out to 225-230 in a couple of years. He skates pretty well at that size, but his value is demonstrated in the corners and in front of the net. Has a good shot, but you have to think he won't be doing much scoring at the next level. He's headed to Boston College.

Is Wilson the best GM in the West? Seriously, who's better right now?

***

Who's dropping? Kept hearing Dana Tyrell would slip into the first round. Akim Aliu is another guy who I thought might get nabbed. Oscar Moller's a real surprise--guess everyone's scared off by his upside (or lack thereof). Safe is death after all, even in the draft. There was a wide mix of opinions on Bill Sweatt, but I thought he'd be gone by now for sure. John Negrin's another guy who's falling.

With the 29th pick, the Sens grabbed Jimmy O'Brien out of Minnesota--the 10th American of the first round. I've double checked, and that ties the record. He was the youngest player in US college hockey last year. Word is he's a tweener, not unlike Ottawa's Christoph Schubert. He's a big kid, 6-2, 185, but he's not very strong at this point. I've heard Minnesota wants to play him at D next year. I'm guessing the Sens will have something to say about that now.

***

Sorry guys--just noticed my pithy comments on Phoenix's selction of Regina D Nick Ross disappeared into the ether. I gotta run and make some calls, but I'll sum up by saying he's a heavy hitter who plays a smart defensive game and could develop into a depth player. Really, nothing special, but he has the work ethic to find his way to the NHL. I'll be back in a bit after I get some reactions.

***

Sorry for the delay...got stuck in the middle of a radio rant on the Toskala trade. Sounds like Leafs fans already are suicidal over missing the chance to take Cherepanov. I still like the deal, and it's not a sure thing the Leafs would have taken him even if they'd kept the pick. Four other teams passed on him after their spot in the order, after all.

It's a bit of a buzz kill to have to stop down after just one round, but the talk suggests there won't be a lot of down time before the actual drafting resumes in the morning. Expect some action on the trade front to keep things percolating over night. Pretty obvious at this point that there's a wide array of opinions on player values this year, and that means there should be a lot of movement with teams trying to move up to grab their favorites--or down to add assets--before tomorrow morning. I already mentioned a few of the kids I think will go early in round two: Tyrell, a Darcy Tucker clone; MacLean, a Rob Brown starter kit; Aliu, the troubled physical winger; Moller, the vanilla ice cream of the draft; and Sweatt, the stone-handed speedster. A couple others who I've heard mentioned tonight include Michal Repik--look for the Bruins to call his name and reunite him with Vancouver Giants linemates Wacey Rabbit and Milan Lucic-- Mark Katic, Luca Cunti and Maxim Mayorov, another talented Russian whose stock was impacted by the lack of a transfer agreement.

Writing these names, it reminds me that, for some reason, the second round's always a bit more fun than the first. I think it's that there are always guys like these that fans have targeted in the hope that they'd slip to their team's next pick. When they do, you really come away feeling like your team got a steal. Now that I think of it, that's one thing I didn't hear much of tonight: "We were thrilled he was there when it was our turn to pick. We didn't think he'd still be there." Guess everyone recognized the truth of this thing: Once they got past the first three picks, it was even money their guy would be there.

One final note before I close for the night: there's a rumour making the rounds that the agent for 16-year-old CHL player of the year John Tavares has put in an official request to have his client declared draft eligible next summer, one year early. Don't have the dates handy, but I think he only misses the official cut-off date by a couple weeks, so the request isn't completely off-base. Still, hard to imagine the league and PA signing off on this, even though the PR it would generate would be a boon to the sport. Make this exception and they'll be dealing with these requests every year from here on out. It won't happen.

Thanks for stopping by. I'll have a draft recap up later this weekend on SI.com.