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2008 NHL Draft Take Two: Second Overall Pick

at CDT | by 24 Comments

Hindsight is an amazing thing, and allows us to look back and wonder “what could have been.”  Though perfection is attempted, scouting and draft selection is far from an exact science and sometimes, it doesn’t work out the way teams – or players – intended.  For every Patrick Kane, there is a Patrik Stefan.

We’re looking back at the 2008 NHL Entry Draft and asking how it would shake out knowing what we do now.  Will the first round remain the same, or will some late-round picks jump up to the top of the board?

On Sunday, we asked the PHR community to weigh in on who should have been the top pick and over 70% of the votes cast went towards history repeating itself with Steven Stamkos being the number one selection.  For comparison, Patrick Kane had over 85% of the votes to stay as the top selection in our 2007 series so while it was still a sizable majority, it was a little closer this time around as we move on to the next selection.

That pick was made by the Kings who opted for defenseman Drew Doughty.  He was coming off of two high-scoring seasons with Guelph of the OHL which had him ranked as the top defenseman available by most scouting services so the selection didn’t come as too much of a surprise.

It’s safe to say that it has panned out quite nicely.  Doughty played his way onto the roster – no small feat for an 18-year-old defenseman – and made an immediate impact as he logged nearly 24 minutes a night.  The following year, the offensive promise he showed at the major junior level came through as he picked up 16 goals (the most of his career to date) and 59 points (second-most).

All in all, Doughty is the only player from the 2008 draft class to play at least 1,000 career NHL games while he has been a four-time Norris finalist, winning the award once in 2016.  He has two Stanley Cup championships under his belt in 2012 and 2014 and at the age of 32, he still has been going strong, averaging more than 25 minutes a night in each of the last ten seasons.  It’s safe to say the Kings are happy with how things turned out with their selection.

But was it the right one; would they have been better off with someone else instead?  With the second pick of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, who should the Los Angeles Kings select?  Cast your vote below.

(App users, click here to vote.)

2008 NHL Draft Take Two: First Overall Pick

at CDT | by 12 Comments

Hindsight is an amazing thing, and allows us to look back and wonder “what could have been.” Though perfection is attempted, scouting and draft selection is far from an exact science and sometimes, it doesn’t work out the way teams – or players – intended. For every Patrick Kane, there is a Patrik Stefan.

The summer doldrums often provide opportunities to look back at the past – moves that have worked out and others that didn’t go exactly as planned.  The same can be said for draft picks – some early selections have panned out and become franchise players while others came up well short of expectations.  In the past, we’ve looked back at the drafts in 2005, 2006, and 2007 and now, it’s time to do the same for 2008.

This draft class was a pretty strong one with 33 players (and counting) playing in at least 500 NHL games while it also has some All-Stars and future Hall of Famers.  On the flip side, there were four players who never saw a taste of NHL action and certainly won’t be slotted as high in our redraft.

Over the coming weeks as we wait for training camp to begin, we’ll be going through the 2008 NHL Entry Draft to have the PHR community select who they would have picked knowing the result of the player’s career. We’ll include a list of players to vote for, and update the first round as it progresses.

The Tampa Bay Lightning had the first pick in 2008 after winning the lottery to hold onto the top selection.  They were faced with the choice of picking a franchise center or a franchise defenseman with Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty being the consensus top two selections in Brian Lawton’s first draft at the helm.  Obviously, they opted for the former and Stamkos has been as advertised as the leading scorer from this draft class although Doughty has played the most games and has been nominated for end-of-season awards more frequently.  With the benefit of hindsight, did Tampa Bay make the right choice or would they have been better off with the franchise defender instead?  Or someone else entirely?

With the first pick of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, who should the Tampa Bay Lightning select?  Cast your vote below.

App users, click here to vote.

Looking Back At The First Round Of The 2005 NHL Entry Draft

at CDT | by 18 Comments

On this date 17 years ago, the first round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa. It was the league’s first major event since the lockout that cost them the entire 2004-05 season ended just over a week prior, and considering the draft’s top prize, there was added intrigue.

With the lack of regular-season standings to determine the draft order, the league implemented a snake draft system to make things more equitable for teams in later rounds that didn’t fare so well in the draft lottery. One team that did fare well that night, though, was the Pittsburgh Penguins, who cemented a 15-plus year run of success by drafting future captain Sidney Crosby with the first overall pick.

Five players selected that night went on to appear in at least 1,000 NHL games, including Crosby. One was 2022 Stanley Cup Champion Jack Johnson, taken third overall by the Carolina Hurricanes. Johnson never played a single game for Carolina, though, as he was traded the following offseason to the Los Angeles Kings along with defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky in exchange for defenseman Tim Gleason and center Eric Belanger.

Johnson wasn’t the only player from the first round to play meaningful games for the Kings, though. The team selected two-time Stanley Cup champion and future captain Anze Kopitar with the 11th overall selection. Another thousand-gamer was selected directly after him when the New York Rangers picked defenseman Marc Staal 12th overall, while Johnson’s teammate on the 2022 Avalanche, forward Andrew Cogliano, was selected 25th by the Edmonton Oilers.

One name from that night who could still join the 1,000-game club was St. Louis Blues selection and current Washington Capitals forward T.J. Oshie. Taken 24th overall, he only needs 100 more appearances to hit the mark.

Future Stanley Cup-winning skaters weren’t the only future legends drafted that night, though. Two of the greatest goalies in recent memory were drafted that night, with the Montreal Canadiens selecting Carey Price with the fifth overall pick and the Toronto Maple Leafs selecting Tuukka Rask with the 21st overall pick, of course prior to trading him to the Boston Bruins the following season.

Just three players selected that night, all taken within four picks of each other, would never make an NHL appearance. Slovak forward Marek Zagrapan, drafted 13th overall by the Buffalo Sabres, played just three years in the organization with two different AHL affiliates, scoring 20 goals there just once. At 35 years old, Zagrapan is still active, playing the 2022-23 season in the French Ligue Magnus.

Directly after him, the Washington Capitals took Canadian defenseman Sasha Pokulok with the 14th overall pick. The first overage player taken in the draft, he’s arguably the biggest bust of the night. He never spent a full season in the AHL, bouncing up and down between there and the ECHL for four seasons after turning pro in 2006. He failed to make a notable impact in Europe, too, only lasting one season in the DEL (2010-11) before floating around various lower-level leagues in Eastern Europe and Quebec.

Lastly, there’s Canadian winger Alex Bourret, taken by the Atlanta Thrashers at 16th overall. A short but strong power winger, Bourret had a very successful junior career in the QMJHL that just didn’t translate. His North American career fizzled out quickly after a strong start in the AHL, but after being traded twice (first to the Rangers, then to the Coyotes), he had just 14 points in 48 AHL games during his final season there in 2008-09.

2022 Draft Results By Team

at CDT | by 3 Comments

The 2022 NHL Entry Draft is now complete. Check out how each team did accruing talent and filling needs with each of their selections this weekend:

Anaheim Ducks

1-10 – D Pavel Mintyukov, Saginaw (OHL)
1-22 – F Nathan Gaucher, Quebec (QMJHL)
2-42 – D Noah Warren, Gatineau (QMJHL)
2-53 – D Tristan Luneau, Gatineau (QMJHL)
4-107 – F Benjamin King, Red Deer (WHL)
5-139 – F Connor Hvidston, Swift Current (WHL)
5-154 – F Michael Callow, St. Sebastian’s School (High School)
6-178 – G Vyacheslav Buteyets, Chelyabinsk (VHL)

Read more

2022 NHL Draft Pick Trade Tracker

at CDT | by 10 Comments

While names like Alex DeBrincat and Kevin Fiala have been moved in blockbuster trades, a lot of the deals around the draft are limited to just selection swaps. As the 2022 draft unfolds, with the first round on Thursday evening and the remaining six on Friday, follow along here for all of those draft-pick-for-draft-pick deals, as teams move up and down the board.

Arizona Coyotes Receive: No. 11 (F Conor Geekie)
San Jose Sharks Receive: No. 27 (F Filip Bystedt), No. 34 (F Cameron Lund), and No. 45 (D Mattias Havelid)

Vegas Golden Knights Receive: No. 79 (F Jordan Gustafson)
Toronto Maple Leafs Receive: No. 95 (F Nicholas Moldenhauer), No. 135 (F Nikita Grebyonkin)

Tampa Bay Lightning Receive: No. 86 (F Lucas Edmonds)
Los Angeles Kings Receive: No. 103 (F Kenny Connors), No. 169 (F Jared Wright)

Seattle Kraken Receive: No. 91 (F Ben MacDonald)
Boston Bruins Receive: No. 117 (F Cole Spicer), No. 132 (D Frederic Brunet)

Arizona Coyotes Receive: No. 94 (D Jeremy Langlois)
Chicago Blackhawks Receive: 2023 third-round pick (DAL)

Toronto Maple Leafs Receive: No. 122 (G Dennis Hildeby)
Nashville Predators Receive: 2023 fourth-round pick (TOR)

Vegas Golden Knights Receive: No. 128 (G Cameron Whitehead)
Montreal Canadiens Receive: 2023 fourth-round pick (TBL)

Columbus Blue Jackets Receive: No. 138 (G Sergei Ivanov)
San Jose Sharks Receive: 2023 fifth-round pick (CBJ)

Chicago Blackhawks Receive: No. 188 (F Nils Juntorp)
Carolina Hurricanes Receive: 2023 sixth-round pick (CHI)

Arizona Coyotes Receive: No. 204 (F Adam Zlnka)
San Jose Sharks Receive: 2023 seventh-round pick (VAN)

Florida Panthers Receive: No. 214 (F Liam Arnsby)
Pittsburgh Penguins Receive: 2023 seventh-round pick (FLA)

Los Angeles Kings Receive: No. 215 (F Kaleb Lawrence)
Boston Bruins Receive: 2023 seventh-round pick (LAK)

2022 NHL Draft Results

at CDT | by 38 Comments

The Bell Centre in Montreal is home to delegations from 32 teams this evening, as one of the premier events on the hockey calendar is finally happening again in person. After two straight years of being held remotely, the executives, players, and fans are back in attendance.

The 2022 NHL Draft will include trades, surprise picks, and plenty of intrigue, as the hometown team gets to pick first overall.

Below, we’ll keep track of all 225 selections (remember, the Minnesota Wild will receive a compensatory second-round pick for failing to sign Filip Johansson), through tonight and tomorrow.

Round 1

    1. Montreal Canadiens – F Juraj Slafkovsky, TPS Turku (Liiga)
    2. New Jersey Devils – D Simon Nemec, Nitra MHC (Slovakia)
    3. Arizona Coyotes – F Logan Cooley, USNTDP (USHL)
    4. Seattle Kraken – F Shane Wright, Kingston (OHL)
    5. Philadelphia Flyers – F Cutter Gauthier, USNTDP (USHL)
    6. Columbus Blue Jackets (from CHI) – D David Jiricek, Plzen HC (Czech)
    7. Chicago Blackhawks (from OTT) – D Kevin Korchinski, Seattle (WHL)
    8. Detroit Red Wings – F Marco Kasper, Rogle BK (SHL)
    9. Buffalo Sabres – F Matthew Savoie, Winnipeg (WHL)
    10. Anaheim Ducks – D Pavel Mintyukov, Saginaw (OHL)
    11. Arizona Coyotes (from SJS) – F Conor Geekie, Winnipeg (WHL)
    12. Columbus Blue Jackets – D Denton Mateychuk, Moose Jaw (WHL)
    13. Chicago Blackhawks (from NYI, via MTL) – F Frank Nazar, USNTDP (USHL)
    14. Winnipeg Jets – F Rutger McGroarty, USNTDP (USHL)
    15. Vancouver Canucks – F Jonathan Lekkerimaki, Djurgardens IF (SHL)
    16. Buffalo Sabres (from VGK) – F Noah Ostlund, Djurgardens IF (SHL)
    17. Nashville Predators – F Joakim Kemell, JYP HT (Liiga)
    18. Dallas Stars – D Lian Bichsel, Leksands IF (SHL)
    19. Minnesota Wild (from LAK) – F Liam Ohgren, Djurgardens IF (SHL)
    20. Washington Capitals – F Ivan Miroshnichenko, Omskie Krylia (VHL)
    21. Pittsburgh Penguins – D Owen Pickering, Swift Current (WHL)
    22. Anaheim Ducks (from BOS) – F Nathan Gaucher, Quebec (QMJHL)
    23. St. Louis Blues – F Jimmy Snuggerud, USNTDP (USHL)
    24. Minnesota Wild – F Danila Yurov, Magnitogorsk (KHL)
    25. Chicago Blackhawks (from TOR) – D Sam Rinzel, Chaska High (High School)
    26. Montreal Canadiens (from CGY) – F Filip Mesar, Poprad HK (Slovakia)
    27. San Jose Sharks (from CAR, via MTL, ARI) – F Filip Bystedt, Linkoping HC (SHL)
    28. Buffalo Sabres (from FLA) – F Jiri Kulich, Karlovy Vary HC (Czech)
    29. Arizona Coyotes (from EDM) – D Maveric Lamoureux, Drummondville (QMJHL)
    30. Winnipeg Jets (from NYR) – F Brad Lambert, Lahti (Liiga)
    31. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Isaac Howard, USNTDP (USHL)
    32. Edmonton Oilers (from COL, via ARI) – F Reid Schaefer, Seattle (WHL)

Round 2

  1. Montreal Canadiens – F Owen Beck, Mississauga (OHL)
  2. San Jose Sharks (from ARI) – F Cameron Lund, Green Bay (USHL)
  3. Seattle Kraken – F Jagger Firkus, Moose Jaw (WHL)
  4. Arizona Coyotes (from PHI) – D Artem Duda, Krasnaya Armiya Moscow (MHL)
  5. Washington Capitals (from NJD) – D Ryan Chesley, USNTDP (USHL)
  6. Toronto Maple Leafs (from CHI) – F Fraser Minten, Kamloops (WHL)
  7. Chicago Blackhawks (from OTT) – F Paul Ludwinski, Kingston (OHL)
  8. Detroit Red Wings – F Dylan James, Sioux City (USHL)
  9. Buffalo Sabres – G Topias Leinonen, JYP HT (Liiga)
  10. Anaheim Ducks – D Noah Warren, Gatineau (QMJHL)
  11. Arizona Coyotes – F Julian Lutz, EHC Munich (DEL)
  12. Columbus Blue Jackets – F Luca Del Bel Belluz, Mississauga (OHL)
  13. San Jose Sharks (from NYI, via ARI) – D Mattias Havelid, Linkoping HC (SHL)
  14. New Jersey (from WPG, via WSH) – D Seamus Casey, USNTDP (USHL)
  15. Minnesota Wild (from VAN, via ARI) – F Hunter Haight, Barrie (OHL)
  16. Vegas Golden Knights – F Matyas Sapovaliv, Saginaw (OHL)
  17. Seattle Kraken (from NSH) – F Jani Nyman, Ilves (Liiga)
  18. Dallas Stars – D Christian Kyrou, Erie (OHL)
  19. Los Angeles Kings – F Jack Hughes, Northeastern (Hockey East)
  20. Detroit Red Wings (from WSH) – F Dmitri Buchelnikov, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)
  21. Anaheim Ducks (from PIT) – D Tristan Luneau, Gatineau (QMJHL)
  22. Boston Bruins – F Matthew Poitras, Guelph (OHL)
  23. Winnipeg Jets (from STL, via NYR) – D Elias Salomonsson, Skelleftea AIK (SHL)
  24. Minnesota Wild (compensatory) – F Rieger Lorenz, Okotoks (AJHL)
  25. Chicago Blackhawks (from MIN) – F Ryan Greene, Green Bay (USHL)
  26. Seattle Kraken (from TOR) – G Niklas Kokko, Karpat (Liiga)
  27. Calgary Flames – F Topi Ronni, Tappara (Liiga)
  28. Carolina Hurricanes – F Gleb Trikozov, Omskie Yastreby (MHL)
  29. Seattle Kraken (from FLA, via CGY) – F David Goyette, Sudbury (OHL)
  30. Montreal Canadiens (from EDM, via CHI) – D Lane Hutson, USNTDP (USHL)
  31. New York Rangers – F Adam Sykora, HK Nitra (Slovakia)
  32. Ottawa Senators (from TBL) – D Filip Nordberg, Sodertalje SK (Allsvenskan)
  33. New York Islanders (from COL) – D Calle Odelius, Djurgardens IF (SHL)

Round 3

  1. Chicago Blackhawks (from MTL) – F Gavin Hayes, Flint (OHL)
  2. Arizona Coyotes – F Miko Matikka, Jokerit (Finland U20)
  3. Seattle Kraken – D Ty Nelson, North Bay (OHL)
  4. Philadelphia Flyers – F Devin Kaplan, USNTDP (USHL)
  5. Washington Capitals (from NJD) – F Alexander Suzdalev, HV71 (Allsvenskan)
  6. Carolina Hurricanes (from CHI) – F Alexander Perevalov, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
  7. Ottawa Senators – F Oskar Pettersson, Rogle BK (SHL)
  8. St. Louis Blues (from DET) – F Aleksanteri Kaskimaki, HIFK (Liiga)
  9. Buffalo Sabres – F Viktor Neuchev, Avto Yekaterinburg (MHL)
  10. Montreal Canadiens (from ANA) – F Vinzenz Rohrer, Ottawa (OHL)
  11. San Jose Sharks – D Michael Fisher, St. Mark’s (High School)
  12. Winnipeg Jets (from CBJ) – F Danny Zhilkin, Guelph (OHL)
  13. New York Islanders – F Quinn Finley, Madison (USHL)
  14. Vegas Golden Knights (from WPG, via VAN and TOR) – F Jordan Gustafson, Seattle (WHL)
  15. Vancouver Canucks – D Elias Pettersson, Orebro HK (SHL)
  16. Chicago Blackhawks (from VGK) – F Samuel Savoie, Gatineau (QMJHL)
  17. Nashville Predators – F Adam Ingram, Youngstown (USHL)
  18. Dallas Stars – D George Fegaras, North York (OJHL)
  19. Nashville Predators (from LAK) – D Kasper Kulonummi, Jokerit (Finland U20)
  20. Washington Capitals – F Ludwig Persson, Frolunda HC (SHL)
  21. Tampa Bay Lightning (from PIT, via LAK) – F Lucas Edmonds, Kingston (OHL)
  22. Ottawa Senators (from BOS) – D Tomas Hamara, Tappara (Liiga)
  23. St. Louis Blues – D Michael Buchinger, Guelph (OHL)
  24. Minnesota Wild – F Mikey Milne, Winnipeg (WHL)
  25. Chicago Blackhawks (from TOR, via CGY) – F Aidan Thompson, Lincoln (USHL)
  26. Seattle Kraken (from CGY, via BOS) – F Ben MacDonald, Noble & Greenough School (High School)
  27. Montreal Canadiens (from CAR) – D Adam Engstrom, Djurgardens IF (SHL)
  28. Florida Panthers – D Marek Alscher, Portland (WHL)
  29. Arizona Coyotes (from EDM, via CHI) – D Jeremy Langlois, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
  30. Toronto Maple Leafs (from NYR, via VGK) – F Nicholas Moldenhauer, Chicago (USHL)
  31. Columbus Blue Jackets (from TBL) – F Jordan Dumais, Halifax (QMJHL)
  32. New York Rangers (from COL) – F Bryce McConnell-Barker, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

Round 4

  1. New York Islanders (from MTL) – D Isaiah George, London (OHL)
  2. Winnipeg Jets (from ARI) – D Garrett Brown, Sioux City (USHL)
  3. Seattle Kraken – D Tyson Jugnauth, West Kelowna (BCHL)
  4. Carolina Hurricanes (from PHI) – D Simon Forsmark, Orebro HK (SHL)
  5. New Jersey Devils – G Tyler Brennan, Prince George (WHL)
  6. Los Angeles Kings (from CHI, via TBL) – F Kenny Connors, Dubuque (USHL)
  7. Ottawa Senators – F Stephen Halliday, Dubuque (USHL)
  8. Detroit Red Wings – D Anton Johansson, Leksands IF (SHL)
  9. Buffalo Sabres – D Mats Lindgren, Kamloops (WHL)
  10. Anaheim Ducks – F Benjamin King, Red Deer (WHL)
  11. San Jose Sharks – G Mason Beaupit, Spokane (WHL)
  12. Columbus Blue Jackets – F Kirill Dolzhenkov, Krasnaya Armiya Moscow (MHL)
  13. New Jersey Devils (from NYI) – D Daniil Orlov, Sakhalinskiye Akuly (MHL)
  14. New York Rangers (from WPG, via VGK) – F Noah Laba, Lincoln (USHL)
  15. Vancouver Canucks – F Daimon Gardner, Warroad High (High School)
  16. Detroit Red Wings (from VGK) – F Amadeus Lombardi, Flint (OHL)
  17. Nashville Predators – F Cole O’Hara, Tri-City (USHL)
  18. Dallas Stars – D Gavin White, Hamilton (OHL)
  19. Los Angeles Kings – D Angus Booth, Shawinigan (QMJHL)
  20. Boston Bruins (from WSH, via SEA) – F Cole Spicer, USNTDP (USHL)
  21. Pittsburgh Penguins – G Sergei Murashov, Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
  22. Boston Bruins – F Dans Locmelis, Lulea HF (SHL)
  23. St. Louis Blues – D Arseni Koromyslov, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL)
  24. Minnesota Wild – D Ryan Healey, Sioux Falls (USHL)
  25. Toronto Maple Leafs – G Dennis Hildeby, Farjestad BK (SHL)
  26. Seattle Kraken (from CGY) – F Tucker Robertson, Peterborough (OHL)
  27. Carolina Hurricanes – F Cruz Lucius, USNTDP (USHL)
  28. Florida Panthers – D Ludvig Jansson, Sodertalje SK (Allsvenskan)
  29. New Jersey Devils (from EDM) – D Charlie Leddy, USNTDP (USHL)
  30. Montreal Canadiens (from NYR, via FLA) – F Cedrick Guindon, Owen Sound (OHL)
  31. Vegas Golden Knights (from TBL, via MTL) – G Cameron Whitehead, Lincoln (USHL)
  32. Detroit Red Wings (from COL) – F Luis Schinko, Grizzlys Wolfsburg (DEL)

Round 5

  1. Montreal Canadiens – F Jared Davidson, Seattle (WHL)
  2. Arizona Coyotes – D Matthew Morden, St. Andrew’s College (High School)
  3. Boston Bruins (from SEA) – D Frederic Brunet, Rimouski (QMJHL)
  4. Philadelphia Flyers – F Alex Bump, Omaha (USHL)
  5. Buffalo Sabres (from NJD) – D Vsevolod Komarov, Quebec (QMJHL)
  6. Toronto Maple Leafs (from CHI, via VGK) – F Nikita Grebyonkin, Stalnye Lisy Magnitogorsk (MHL)
  7. Ottawa Senators – D Jorian Donovan, Hamilton (OHL)
  8. Detroit Red Wings – D Tnias Mathurin, North Bay (OHL)
  9. Columbus Blue Jackets (from BUF, via VGK, SJS) – G Sergei Ivanov, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)
  10. Anaheim Ducks – F Connor Hvidston, Swift Current (WHL)
  11. San Jose Sharks – D Jake Furlong, Halifax (QMJHL)
  12. New Jersey Devils (from CBJ) – F Petr Hauser, HC Sparta Praha (Czechia U20)
  13. New York Islanders – F Matt Maggio, Windsor (OHL)
  14. Ottawa Senators (from WPG) – F Cameron O’Neill, Mount St. Charles Academy (High School)
  15. Vancouver Canucks – G Ty Young, Calgary (AJHL)
  16. Vegas Golden Knights – F Patrick Guay, Charlottetown (QMJHL)
  17. Nashville Predators – D Graham Sward, Spokane (WHL)
  18. Dallas Stars – G Maxim Mayorov, Lada Togliatti (VHL)
  19. Los Angeles Kings – D Otto Salin, HIFK (Finland U20)
  20. Washington Capitals – F Jake Karabela, Guelph (OHL)
  21. Pittsburgh Penguins – F Zam Plante, Chicago (USHL)
  22. Ottawa Senators (from BOS) – G Kevin Reidler, AIK (Sweden J20)
  23. St. Louis Blues – D Marc-Andre Gaudet, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
  24. Minnesota Wild – D David Spacek, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
  25. Anaheim Ducks (from TOR) – F Michael Callow, St. Sebastian’s School (High School)
  26. Calgary Flames – F Parker Bell, Tri-City (WHL)
  27. Carolina Hurricanes – D Vladimir Grudinin, Krasnaya Armiya Moscow (MHL)
  28. Florida Panthers – F Sandis Vilmanis, Lulea HF (Sweden U20)
  29. Edmonton Oilers – G Samuel Jonsson, Brynas IF (Sweden U20)
  30. New York Rangers – D Victor Mancini, University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – G Nick Malik, KooKoo (Liiga)
  32. New York Rangers (from COL) – F Maxim Barbashev, Moncton (QMJHL)

Round 6

  1. Montreal Canadiens – G Emmett Croteau, Waterloo (USHL)
  2. Arizona Coyotes – D Maksymilian Szuber, EHC Munich (DEL)
  3. Seattle Kraken – F Barrett Hall, Gentry Academy (High School)
  4. Philadelphia Flyers – D Hunter McDonald, Chicago (USHL)
  5. New Jersey Devils – F Josh Filmon, Swift Current (WHL)
  6. Pittsburgh Penguins (from CHI) – D Nolan Collins, Sudbury (OHL)
  7. Ottawa Senators – D Theo Wallberg, Skelleftea AIK (Sweden U20)
  8. Los Angeles Kings (from DET, via TBL) – F Jared Wright, Omaha (USHL)
  9. Buffalo Sabres – F Jake Richard, Muskegon (USHL)
  10. Carolina Hurricanes (from ANA) – G Jakub Vondras, HC Plzen (Czechia U20)
  11. San Jose Sharks – F Joey Muldowney, Nichols School (High School)
  12. Chicago Blackhawks (from CBJ) – F Dominic James, University of Minnesota-Duluth (NCHC)
  13. New York Islanders – F Daylan Kuefler, Kamloops (WHL)
  14. Winnipeg Jets – F Fabian Wagner, Linkoping HC (Sweden U20)
  15. Vancouver Canucks – D Jackson Dorrington, Des Moines (USHL)
  16. Vegas Golden Knights – F Ben Hemmerling, Everett (WHL)
  17. Anaheim Ducks (from NSH) – G Vyacheslav Buteyets, Chelyabinsk (VHL)
  18. Dallas Stars – F Matthew Seminoff, Kamloops (WHL)
  19. Los Angeles Kings – D Jack Sparkes, St. Michael’s (OJHL)
  20. Washington Capitals – F Ryan Hofer, Everett (WHL)
  21. Pittsburgh Penguins – F Luke Devlin, St. Andrew’s College (High School)
  22. Boston Bruins – G Reid Dyck, Swift Current (WHL)
  23. St. Louis Blues – F Landon Sim, London (OHL)
  24. Minnesota Wild – F Servac Petrovsky, Owen Sound (OHL)
  25. Florida Panthers (from TOR, via CBJ) – F Joshua Davies, Swift Current (WHL)
  26. Buffalo Sabres (from CGY, via FLA) – F Gustav Karlsson, Orebro HK (Sweden U20)
  27. Chicago Blackhawks (from CAR) – F Nils Juntorp, HV71 (Sweden U20)
  28. Florida Panthers – G Tyler Muszelik, USNTDP (USHL)
  29. Edmonton Oilers – D Nikita Yevseyev, Kazan (VHL)
  30. New York Rangers – F Zakary Karpa, Harvard (ECAC)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Connor Kurth, Dubuque (USHL)
  32. Colorado Avalanche – D Christopher Romaine, Milton Academy (High School)

Round 7

  1. Montreal Canadiens – D Petteri Nurmi, HPK (Liiga)
  2. San Jose Sharks (from ARI) – D Eli Barnett, Victoria (BCHL)
  3. Seattle Kraken – F Kyle Jackson, North Bay (OHL)
  4. Philadelphia Flyers – F Santeri Sulku, Jokerit (Finland U20)
  5. New Jersey Devils – D Artyom Barabosha, Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)
  6. Chicago Blackhawks – F Riku Tohila, JYP (Finland U20)
  7. Boston Bruins (from OTT) – D Jackson Edward, London (OHL)
  8. Detroit Red Wings – F Owen Mehlenbacher, Muskegon (USHL)
  9. Buffalo Sabres – F Joel Ratkovic Berndtsson, Frolunda HC (Sweden U20)
  10. Columbus Blue Jackets (from ANA) – F James Fisher, Belmont Hill School (High School)
  11. Arizona Coyotes (from SJS) – F Adam Zlnka, Sioux Falls (USHL)
  12. Carolina Hurricanes (from CBJ) – D Alexander Pelevin, Nizhny Novgorod (MHL)
  13. Ottawa Senators (from NYI) – F Tyson Dyck, Cranbrook (BCHL)
  14. Winnipeg Jets – G Domenic DiVincentiis, North Bay (OHL)
  15. Vancouver Canucks – D Kirill Kudryavtsev, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
  16. Vegas Golden Knights – D Abram Wiebe, Chilliwack (BCHL)
  17. Nashville Predators – F Benjamin Strinden, Muskegon (USHL)
  18. Buffalo Sabres (from DAL) – F Linus Sjodin, Rogle BK (SHL)
  19. Detroit Red Wings (from LAK) – F Brennan Ali, Avon Old Farms School (High School)
  20. Washington Capitals – D David Gucciardi, Michigan State University (Big 10)
  21. Florida Panthers (from PIT) – F Liam Arnsby, North Bay (OHL)
  22. Los Angeles Kings (from BOS) – F Kaleb Lawrence, Owen Sound (OHL)
  23. Montreal Canadiens (from STL, via PHI, ARI) – D Miguel Tourigny, Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
  24. San Jose Sharks (from MIN) – F Reese Laubach, Northstar Christian Academy (High School)
  25. Toronto Maple Leafs – F Brandon Lisowsky, Saskatoon (WHL)
  26. Calgary Flames – F Cade Littler, Wenatchee (BCHL)
  27. Philadelphia Flyers (from CAR) – F Alexis Gendron, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
  28. Florida Panthers – F Jack Devine, University of Denver (NCHC)
  29. Edmonton Oilers – F Joel Maatta, University of Vermont (Hockey East)
  30. Tampa Bay Lightning (from NYR) – D Dyllan Gill, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL)
  31. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Klavs Veinbergs, Zemgale (Latvia)
  32. Colorado Avalanche – G Ivan Zhigalov, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)

Seattle Kraken Select Shane Wright Fourth Overall

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When the Seattle Kraken arrived in Montreal, they probably didn’t think they would be making this pick. Shane Wright is the fourth-overall selection and will join the NHL’s newest franchise.

Captain of the Kingston Frontenacs, Wright is coming off a season in which he scored 32 goals and 94 points in 63 games, an impressive total considering he started slow after missing the entire 2020-21 campaign when the OHL canceled the season because of COVID-19 restrictions.

It was in late 2018 that Wright applied for CHL exceptional status, which would allow him to enter the major junior league a year early. He wouldn’t turn 15 for another month, and wouldn’t be granted the status for another three, but there was already a momentum growing for the young center from Burlington, Ontario.

When he was just 13, top NHL player agents had lined up to advise him through the process, knowing that there was a potential star in the making. By the time he made his OHL debut in the 2019-20 season, he was already the odds-on favorite for the top spot in 2022, and he didn’t disappoint. As a rookie, he not only scored 39 goals in 58 games, snapping the puck past goaltenders from all angles but Wright was also named an alternate captain for Kingston, the youngest in team history.

The scene was set for him to follow in the footsteps of other exceptional players, including Connor McDavid, John Tavares, and Aaron Ekblad, who had all been taken at the top of their respective drafts as well. When he was granted the status, he was still comparing himself to Mathew Barzal, focusing on the offensive abilities of the New York Islanders star. Today, he says he would rather model his game after Patrice Bergeron, with defensive ability and the “details” of the game ranking just as importantly.

Having dropped to Seattle, general manager Ron Francis will happily snap up the top prospect and give him the chance to pair with Matty Beniers down the middle to prove those three teams wrong.

Snapshots: DeSmith, Mock Draft, McCallum

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Once Tristan Jarry got injured late in this past season, many figured that backup goalie Casey DeSmith would have a prime opportunity to earn some extra money on his next contract. The pending unrestricted free agent was the team’s starter in Game One of the first round against the New York Rangers, but his chance at showcasing his talents on a national stage was cut short. Like Jarry, DeSmith was also knocked out with an injury. Louis Domingue, third on the Penguins’ goalie depth chart, got that valuable opportunity instead. Even with that missed opportunity, DeSmith still enters free agency on solid ground. The Penguins, though, are reportedly hoping he doesn’t get there. According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period, the Penguins are “trying to sign” DeSmith to a new deal, with the two sides working at reaching an agreement on an acceptable contract.

The motivations for the Penguins are clear and based in DeSmith’s performance. He has been a steady, reliable backup for three seasons now, and carries a career .916 save percentage in 97 NHL games. DeSmith went 11-6-5 in 2021-22, and had a 2.79 goals-against-average and .914 save percentage. DeSmith is an undrafted player who made his professional debut as an ECHL goalie after finishing his college career at the University of New Hampshire. DeSmith’s NHL resume is more consistently successful than Scott Wedgewood’s, who today signed a two-year deal worth $1MM AAV. With DeSmith already earning $1.25MM on his last deal, and with a more extensive track record of success at the NHL level, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him double Wedgewood’s number on his own next contract.

Now, for some other notes from across the league:

  • We are rapidly approaching the NHL Draft, and rumors are swirling constantly. This is a rare year for NHL fans as there is some real mystery at the top of the draft. Who the Montreal Canadiens, the hosts of the draft, pick there is anyone’s guess. The Athletic’s Corey Pronman waded into the murky waters of next week’s draft, and projected all seven rounds as part of a full mock draft. (subscription link) Pronman writes that the “winds seem to be blowing” towards the Canadiens selecting Slovakian winger Juraj Slafkovsky at the number-one slot, and as a result of that choice Kingston Frontenacs center Shane Wright slides all the way to the Seattle Kraken at the fourth pick. Pronman projects that the New Jersey Devils will take a big defenseman in David Jiricek, and that the Arizona Coyotes will stick with American center Logan Cooley, who they are often connected to. If Pronman’s extensive work is any indication, it will be an extremely exciting – even chaotic – draft night.
  • The Vegas Golden Knights’ AHL affiliate, the Henderson Silver Knights, announced today that they have signed forward Lynden McCallum to a one-year AHL contract. McCallum is a former Brandon Wheat King, playing for the WHL club from 2017-18 to 2020-21. GM Kelly McCrimmon has deep ties to the Wheat Kings, so it’s easy to see the connection between McCallum and the organization McCrimmon currently runs. McCallum was an impressive ECHL player in his first professional season, scoring 17 goals and 32 points in 36 games for the Fort Wayne Komets. His AHL run was far less productive, as he only managed five points in 20 games, although his ice time did decline from 17:39 per game in Fort Wayne to only 10:32 per game in Henderson. With this extension, the 22-year-old McCallum will get another chance to continue his run of success at the ECHL level with the hopes that his stay in the AHL can be more permanent this time around.

Full Order Of Selection For 2022 NHL Draft

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Now that the Winnipeg Jets and others have decided on some trade conditions, the NHL has released the official order of selections for this year’s draft. The event starts next Thursday at 6 pm CT, while rounds 2-7 are the next day, starting at 10 am CT.

The full order is:

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Atlantic Notes: Anderson, Sykora, Senators Hockey Operations

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The Montreal Canadiens had a season to forget in 2021-22, falling to last in the NHL standings. Part of the disappointment in Montreal this past season was not just due to the performance of the team as a whole, but also of the individual players. Winger Josh Anderson is one of those Canadiens whose 2021-22 production was a reason for disappointment. While he showed flashes of goal-scoring touch and ended up fifth on the team in points, Anderson’s 19-goal, 32-point marks are definitely on the low end of what former GM Marc Bergevin had in mind when he signed Anderson to a $5.5MM AAV contract. With all that being said, though, this season’s disappointing production apparently hasn’t stopped Anderson from being a hot name on the trade market.

Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff reported as part of his Trade Targets Board that GM Kent Hughes’ “phone rang consistently with teams inquiring about Anderson.” Seravalli adds that the Canadiens have “resisted” the urge to trade Anderson, but that interest did exist on the part of the inquiring teams. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic shed some light on the situation as well, reporting that Montreal “turned down some serious offers” for Anderson and that GM’s around the league “keep asking about him,” but that the Canadiens “aren’t planning on trading” their power forward. Evidently, Anderson’s rare combination of size and speed is tantalizing enough for other teams to make “serious offers” for Anderson, despite his somewhat underwhelming production. While these reports do indicate that Montreal is hesitant to trade Anderson, it’s clear that his situation will be one to monitor once the offseason trade market begins in full.

Now, for some other news regarding teams in the Atlantic Division:

  • Much of the attention surrounding the Canadiens’ draft strategy revolves around who they might pick with the number-one selection. What is discussed less is the possibilities the team can pursue thanks to the second first-rounder Montreal owns as part of the Tyler Toffoli trade from earlier this year. One player Montreal could be targeting with that selection or even one of their second-round picks is Slovakian winger Adam Sykora. Per Robert Durkac of Slovakian outlet tvnoviny.sk, both the Canadiens and Arizona Coyotes have interest in Sykora and sought out additional information from the player while he was in Buffalo attending the NHL Combine. Sykora is one of the youngest players in this year’s draft and has impressed scouts with his defensively-oriented, relentless style, a style that has allowed him to be a regular at the highest level of Slovakian professional hockey, despite his youth. Sykora is ranked 42nd among European Skaters by NHL Central Scouting, although his performance for Slovakia at the IIHF World Championships has seen his stock rise in the eyes of some outlets.
  • The Ottawa Senators lost a high-ranked executive in their hockey operations department earlier this year, as Pierre McGuire was fired from his role with the team after less than a year on the job. Now, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Senators would like to add to their hockey operations department. Friedman reports that there “could be some hires” coming to Ottawa “soon,” and that the hires would be made with the intention of the Senators bolstering their hockey operations. The Senators have had a difficult few years since their miraculous run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2017, so their reported intention to add more help to their hockey operations department could be seen as a positive sign that the team is looking to get a bit more assistance on the road back to contention.

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