- Will DePaoli of Inside Pittsburgh Sports: Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is getting interest in James Neal, but he hasn’t indicated to inquiring teams that he’s open to trade him. Neal has four years left on his deal and his no-trade doesn’t kick in until July 2015. The Senators could be interested in Neal. The Penguins have only one draft pick, No. 22, in the first 122 selections. Rutherford has told scouts that he intends to pick a forward at No. 22.
- Elliott Pap of the Vancouver Sun: Will the Canucks hold onto the No. 6 pick at Friday’s draft?
“I think a big part of this is going to be predicated on what happens, or doesn’t happen, with Ryan Kesler,” says TSN draft guru and former NHL executive Craig Button. “I think it is going to be a factor in what type of player they take. If they trade Kesler, do they get a younger centre back?”
“Jim Benning is very open-minded,” Button continues. “He likes skill and he’s never been fussy about if you’re big, or if you’re small, but I don’t know how you can’t look at what’s happening in the Pacific Division. If bigger players are available, how could you take a smaller player?”
Options at No. 6 according to Brian Costello, senior editor of the The Hockey News Draft Preview, could be Haydn Fleury and Nick Ritchie, with Jake Virtanen as a wild card.
- Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer: The Flyers need to start developing their own prospects, and appear to be on the right track with Shayne Gostisbehere, Robert Hagg and Sam Morin. The Flyers could use to prospects up front, which this draft appears to be deep on.
“My philosophy is to draft the best player,” Hextall said. “Typically with these kids, you’re looking three, four, five, six years down the road before they’re going to make a big impact. Your team changes so much between now and then that to sit and say we need this position or that position” is irrelevant.
If two players equal, Flyers scouting director Chris Pryor said they would lean towards the forward. Though they are likely not to be there at No. 17, the Flyers are high on Brendan Perlini and Kasperi Kapanen.
