It’s the NHL entry draft tonight and we’re going to be updating as often as possible all day. There’s a lot of potential for trades surrounding high profile free agents from all over the League and draft maneuvering talk as teams jockey for position in what is expected to be a very exciting draft.
Amazingly, it’s not even 100% clear who will be drafted 1st overall at this point and you could make a compelling case for any of the top 3 prospects, including Tavares, Hedman, and Duchene.
At the 4 and 5 spots, you have Atlanta and the Kings who are both strong possible trading partners for teams to move up in the draft. The kings have been linked in trade rumors with almost every high priced potential free agent out there and have the cap space to sign one. Some veteran leadership would be a huge asset on the young, talented Kings team and the 5th pick is a valuable trade tool to help facilitate that.
We’ll be keeping a close eye on San Jose today as well. The Sharks are coming off another playoff disappointment, after another amazing regular season, and the feeling is there will be a change of leadership this year if for no other reason than to be able to say they made changes. We’ll see.
Also keeping a close eye on;
- The Dany Heatley situation in Ottawa,
- The Jay Bo suspected trade to the west coast, or Philly…
- The Vincent Lecavalier possible move, maybe to the Habs,
- the Leafs fielding offers for Tomas Kaberle-Burke has stated he wants to move up in the draft,
- Will Hossa sign with the Wings or test the market?
More updates as the news breaks will follow below as they occur…(most recent at the top of the list)
- Check out MyNHLDraft.com for a full list of the Draft as it Happens.
- Update:The Minnesota Wild trade 12th pick to the New York Islanders. Islanders select Calvin de Haan.
- Update:The Nashville Predators select Ryan Ellis 11th overall.
- Update:The Edmonton Oilers select Magnus Paajarvi-svensson. 10th overall.
- Update:The Ottawa Senators select Jared Cowen 9th overall.
- Update:The Dallas Stars select Scott Glennie 8th overall.
- Update:The Toronto Maple Leafs select Nazem Kadri 7th overall.
- Update:The Pheonix Coyotes select Oliver Ekmanlarsson 6th overall.
- Update:The Los Angeles Kings select Brayden Schenn 5th overall.
- Update:The Atlanta Thrashers select Evander Kane 4th overall.
- Update:The Colorado Avalanche select Matt Duchene 3rd overall.
- Update:The Tampa Bay Lightning select Victor Hedman 2nd overall.
- Update:The New York Islanders select John Tavares 1st overall.
- Update:Pronger to Flyers. Details in link.(TSN)
- Update:The Vancouver Sun reports Roberto Luongo is close to signing a long-term contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks.
- Update:A new rumor surrounding Kaberle. Talk is Tomas Kaberle to Dallas for Matt Niskanen and 8th overall.(ESPN)
- Update:Masterton winner Steve Sullivan will have to wait until after the draft to talk about a contract with the Predators.(Tennessean)
- Update: Bryan Murray is having a tough time getting anything close to market value for sniper Dany Heatly. You gotta feel for Murray in this situation.
- Update: sources say Ryan Clowe possibly to the Leafs for the 7th pick overall rejected by burke.
- Update: Bob Mckenzie at TSN reports sources indicate the Boston Bruins are offering Phil Kessel to the Maple Leafs in exchange for Tomas Kaberle and the leafs 7th overall pick.