There are plenty of entries of rumors this morning, so we’ve broken them down in to 3 separate entries.
- Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has had talks with Oilers GM Steve Tambellini, not about moving up, but sending an asset to the Oilers not to take the player they want. It has been rumored the Bruins target winger Taylor Hall. The Bruins won’t be trading the #2 pick and will select Tyler Seguin if a trade can’t be worked out with the Oilers, and the Oilers select Hall. The Bruins also hold the #15, #32, and #45 and may consider moving up or down in the draft.
- Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Continuing on with the top 2 picks and a possible trade. The Bruins may have the #15 pick, RFA winger Blake Wheeler, or Mikko Lehtonen (prospect) in play. Chiarelli told Boston reports that they haven’t had moved forward with “that type of discussion”. Edmonton won’t know who’ll they take until they sit down one more time with their scouts.
- Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch: One top draft pick whose stock could be all over the lottery range is Brett Connolly. Arguably the 3rd best forward behind Hall and Seguin, could be drafted in the top 5, or fall down to 15th. Connolly played for the woeful Prince George Raiders of the WHL, but was limited to only 16 games. On 4 different occasions he was forced out of the lineup with hip flexors, at first to the right side, then to the left. All teams have been given his medical reports, and spoke to him about injuries at the scouting combine. MyNHLdraft.com has him going at #5 to the NY Islanders. I don’t see him dropping any further than 10th to the Rangers and I think he’ll be gone before then. Isles at #5, Tampa at #6, Atlanta at #8, and Minnesota at #9 are strong candidates to draft him.
- Mike Russo of the Star Tribune: Draft options for the Minnesota Wild at #9. LWer Brett Connolly. C/RW Jeff Skinner, RW Nino Niederreiter, C Ryan Johansen, C Alex Burmistrov, C Mikael Granlund.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: With the stock piling of defenseman in the past couple years with their top picks, look for the St. Louis Blues to move in a different direction with their 14th overall pick.
- Ken Warren of the Ottawa Citizen: The Ottawa Senators (drafting 16th) are in a similar situation to the St. Louis Blues, depth on the blueline when it comes to prospects/young players. They aren’t against moving up to get a top propect unless it’s reasonable, but without a 2nd round pick it may be difficult. The Sens may also consider moving back in the draft, picking up some extra picks.
- Jon Lu of TSN (video): The Canadiens may focus on center’s that have size. John MacFarland or Riley Sheahan could be possibilities.