50-50 Murray goes #1, CBJ could trade #2 if he does … 5 teams for Luongo … Informal talks for Parise-Devils at draft … Stars want in on top players available
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  • Julie Stewart-Binks via twitter: Talked with some scouts this morning and they think there is a 50% chance that the Ryan Murray gets drafted 1st overall.
  • Mark Spector via twitter: 9 out of 10 scouts say Nail Yakupov should be the 1st overall pick. 1 scout said if their team was drafting 1st overall, they’d take Ryan Murray first. If Murray goes first, there is a belief that Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson would trade the #2 pick instead of drafting another Russian. The Sharks lost $15 million last season. It looks like Toronto may be the only option for Roberto Luongo as low cap teams like the Panthers or Blue Jackets may not want the $47.3 million that is left on his contract. Spector wouldn’t be surprised if the Canucks try to package Mason Raymond with Luongo in an attempt to get some size on the wing. The Blackhawks may be the only other option for Luongo if they are concerned about Corey Crawford and Ray Emery. The Oilers are small up front, and if they draft Yakupov, they’ll be even smaller. If they do move Sam Gagner, who will be their 2nd line center? Brian Burke on the 1st overall pick, “no sense from Edmonton that that pick’s in play. If someone’s trying to actively get that pick it’s not us.”
  • Tom Gulitti of the Bergon Record: Zach Parise agent, Wade Arnott, said he’ll probably talk informally with Devils GM Lou Lamoriello some time over the weekend at the draft. He’ll meet with Parise on Monday to formulate their plan.
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: Heika thinks the Stars are trying to be in on the conversation for every top player that is available, such as Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Rick Nash. Price to acquire them through free agency or trade may be too high though. He thinks are they interested in Justin Schultz.