The Nashville Predators are hosting the NHL Draft for the first time in 20 years, and it’s shaping up to be a generational one yet again after the famed 2003 first round produced many future Hall of Famers. A potential top five of Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson, Will Smith, and Matvei Michkov are all set to be possible franchise talents.
Tonight’s draft should also include a fair bit of intrigue with plenty of NHLers on the trade block and potential massive pick-for-pick trades on the draft floor.
Below, we’ll keep track of all 224 selections through tonight and all day Thursday.
Round One
- Chicago Blackhawks – F Connor Bedard, Regina (WHL)
- Anaheim Ducks – F Leo Carlsson, Orebro (SHL)
- Columbus Blue Jackets – F Adam Fantilli, Michigan (NCAA)
- San Jose Sharks – F Will Smith, USA U-18 (NTDP)
- Montreal Canadiens – D David Reinbacher, Kloten (NL)
- Arizona Coyotes – D Dmitri Simashev, Yaroslavl (MHL)
- Philadelphia Flyers – F Matvei Michkov, St. Petersburg (KHL)
- Washington Capitals – F Ryan Leonard, USA U-18 (NTDP)
- Detroit Red Wings – F Nate Danielson, Brandon (WHL)
- St. Louis Blues – F Dalibor Dvorsky, AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan)
- Vancouver Canucks – D Tom Willander, Rogle (J20 Nationell)
- Arizona Coyotes (via OTT) – F Daniil But, Yaroslavl (MHL)
- Buffalo Sabres – F Zach Benson, Winnipeg (WHL)
- Pittsburgh Penguins – F Brayden Yager, Moose Jaw (WHL)
- Nashville Predators – F Matthew Wood, UConn (NCAA)
- Calgary Flames – F Samuel Honzek, Vancouver (WHL)
- Detroit Red Wings (via NYI) – D Axel Sandin Pellikka, Skelleftea (J20 Nationell)
- Winnipeg Jets – F Colby Barlow, Owen Sound (OHL)
- Chicago Blackhawks (via TBL) – F Oliver Moore, USA U-18 (NTDP)
- Seattle Kraken – F Eduard Sale, Brno (Czech Extraliga)
- Minnesota Wild – F Charlie Stramel, Wisconsin (NCAA)
- Philadelphia Flyers (via LAK) – D Oliver Bonk, London (OHL)
- New York Rangers – F Gabriel Perreault, USA U-18 (NTDP)
- Nashville Predators (via EDM) – D Tanner Molendyk, Saskatoon (WHL)
- St. Louis Blues (via TOR) – F Otto Stenberg, Frolunda (J20 Nationell)
- San Jose Sharks (via NJD) – F Quentin Musty, Sudbury (OHL)
- Colorado Avalanche – F Calum Ritchie, Oshawa (OHL)
- Toronto Maple Leafs (via BOS) – F Easton Cowan, London (OHL)
- St. Louis Blues (via DAL) – D Theo Lindstein, Brynas (SHL)
- Carolina Hurricanes – F Bradly Nadeau, Penticton (BCHL)
- Colorado Avalanche (via FLA) – D Mikhail Gulyayev, Omsk (MHL)
- Vegas Golden Knights – F David Edstrom, Frolunda (J20 Nationell)
Round Two
33. Anaheim Ducks – F Nico Myatovic, Seattle (WHL)
34. Columbus Blue Jackets – F Gavin Brindley, Michigan (NCAA)
35. Chicago Blackhawks – G Adam Gajan, Chippewa (NAHL)
36. San Jose Sharks – F Kasper Halttunen, HIFK (Liiga)
37. Tampa Bay Lightning (via MTL) – F Ethan Gauthier, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
38. Arizona Coyotes – G Michael Hrabal, Omaha (USHL)
39. Buffalo Sabres (via PHI) – F Anton Wahlberg, Malmo (J20 Nationell)
40. Washington Capitals – F Andrew Cristall, Kelowna (WHL)
41. Detroit Red Wings – G Trey Augustine, USA U-18 (NTDP)
42. Detroit Red Wings (via STL) – D Andrew Gibson, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)
43. Nashville Predators (via VAN) – F Felix Nilsson, Rogle (J20 Nationell)
44. Chicago Blackhawks (via OTT) – F Roman Kantserov, Magnitogorsk (MHL)
45. Buffalo Sabres – D Maxim Strbak, Sioux Falls (USHL)
46. Nashville Predators (via PIT) – F Kalan Lind, Red Deer (WHL)
47. Detroit Red Wings (via NSH) – D Brady Cleveland, USA U-18 (NTDP)
48. Calgary Flames – D Etienne Morin, Moncton (QMJHL)
49. New York Islanders – F Danny Nelson, USA U-18 (NTDP)
50. Seattle Kraken (via WPG) – F Carson Rehkopf, Kitchener (OHL)
51. Philadelphia Flyers (via TBL) – G Carson Bjarnason, Brandon (WHL)
52. Seattle Kraken – F Oscar Fisker Molgaard, HV71 (SHL)
53. Minnesota Wild – F Rasmus Kumpulainen, Pelicans (U20 SM-sarja)
54. Los Angeles Kings – D Jakub Dvorak, Liberec (Czech Extraliga)
55. Chicago Blackhawks (via NYR) – F Martin Misiak, Youngstown (USHL)
56. Edmonton Oilers – D Beau Akey, Barrie (OHL)
57. Seattle Kraken (via TOR) – D Lukas Dragicevic, Tri-City (WHL)
58. New Jersey Devils – F Lenni Hameenaho, Assat (Liiga)
59. Anaheim Ducks (via COL) – F Carey Terrance, Erie (OHL)
60. Anaheim Ducks (via BOS) – G Damian Clara, Farjestad (J20 Nationell)
61. Dallas Stars – D Tristan Bertucci, Flint (OHL)
62. Carolina Hurricanes – F Felix Unger Sorum, Leksand (J20 Nationell)
63. Florida Panthers – F Gracyn Sawchyn, Seattle (WHL)
64. Minnesota Wild (via VGK) – F Riley Heidt, Prince George (WHL)
Round Three
65. Anaheim Ducks – F Coulson Pitre, Flint (OHL)
66. Columbus Blue Jackets – F William Whitelaw, Youngstown (USHL)
67. Chicago Blackhawks – F Nick Lardis, Hamilton (OHL)
68. Nashville Predators (via SJS) – F Jesse Kiiskinen, Pelicans (U20 SM-sarja)
69. Montreal Canadiens – G Jacob Fowler, Youngstown (USHL)
70. Arizona Coyotes – F Jonathan Castagna, St. Andrew’s (CAHS)
71. San Jose Sharks (via PHI) – F Brandon Svoboda, Youngstown (USHL)
72. Arizona Coyotes (via WSH) – F Noel Nordh, Brynas (J20 Nationell)
73. Detroit Red Wings – F Noah Dower Nilsson, Frolunda (J20 Nationell)
74. St. Louis Blues – D Quinton Burns, Kingston (OHL)
75. Vancouver Canucks – D Hunter Brzustewicz, Kitchener (OHL)
76. St. Louis Blues (via OTT) – F Juraj Pekarcik, Nitra (Slovak Extraliga)
77. Vegas Golden Knights (via BUF) – F Mathieu Cataford, Halifax (QMJHL)
78. Los Angeles Kings (via PIT) – F Koehn Ziemmer, Prince George (WHL)
79. Dallas Stars (via NSH) – F Brad Gardiner, Ottawa (OHL)
80. Calgary Flames – F Aydar Suniev, Penticton (BCHL)
81. Arizona Coyotes (via NYI) – F Tanner Ludtke, Lincoln (USHL)
82. Winnipeg Jets – F Zachary Nehring, Shattuck St. Mary’s (USHS)
83. Nashville Predators (via TBL) – D Dylan MacKinnon, Halifax (QMJHL)
84. Seattle Kraken – D Caden Price, Kelowna (WHL)
85. Anaheim Ducks (via MIN) – F Yegor Sidorov, Saskatoon (WHL)
86. Buffalo Sabres (via LAK) – D Gavin McCarthy, Muskegon (USHL)
87. Philadelphia Flyers (via NYR) – G Yegor Zavragin, Khanty-Mansiysk (MHL)
88. Arizona Coyotes (via EDM) – F Vadim Moroz, Minsk (KHL)
89. Vancouver Canucks (via TOR) – D Sawyer Mynio, Seattle (WHL)
90. New York Rangers (via NJD) – D Drew Fortescue, USA U-18 (NTDP)
91. Pittsburgh Penguins (via COL) – D Emil Pieniniemi, Karpat (U20 SM-sarja)
92. Boston Bruins – F Christopher Pelosi, Sioux Falls (USHL)
93. Chicago Blackhawks (via DAL) – F Jiri Felcman, Langnau (Swiss U20-Elit)
94. Carolina Hurricanes – F Jayden Perron, Chicago (USHL)
95. Philadelphia Flyers (via FLA) – F Denver Barkey, London (OHL)
96. Vegas Golden Knights – D Arttu Karki, Tappara (U20 SM-sarja)
Round Four
97. Anaheim Ducks – D Konnor Smith, Peterborough (OHL)
98. Columbus Blue Jackets – D Andrew Strathmann, Youngstown (USHL)
99. Chicago Blackhawks – F Alex Pharand, Sudbury (OHL)
100. Carolina Hurricanes (via SJS) – F Alexander Rykov, Chelyabinsk (VHL)
101. Montreal Canadiens – F Florian Xhekaj, Hamilton (OHL)
102. Arizona Coyotes – D Terrell Goldsmith, Prince Albert (WHL)
103. Philadelphia Flyers – F Cole Knuble, Fargo (USHL)
104. Washington Capitals – F Patrick Thomas, Hamilton (OHL)
105. Vancouver Canucks (via DET) – F Ty Mueller, Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA)
106. St. Louis Blues – F Jakub Stancl, Vaxjo (J20 Nationell)
107. Vancouver Canucks – F Vilmer Alriksson, Djurgarden (J20 Nationell)
108. Ottawa Senators – D Hoyt Stanley, Victoria (BCHL)
109. Buffalo Sabres – F Ethan Miedema, Kingston (OHL)
110. Montreal Canadiens (via PIT) – D Bogdan Konyushkov, Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)
111. Nashville Predators – F Joey Willis, Saginaw (OHL)
112. Calgary Flames – F Jaden Lipinski, Vancouver (WHL)
113. New York Islanders – F Jesse Nurmi, KooKoo (U20 SM-sarja)
114. Columbus Blue Jackets (via WPG) – F Luca Pinelli, Ottawa (OHL)
115. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Jayson Shaugabay, Warroad (USHS-MN)
116. Seattle Kraken – F Andrei Loshko, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
117. Detroit Red Wings (via MIN) – D Larry Keenan, Culver Military Academy (USHS)
118. Los Angeles Kings – G Hampton Slukynsky, Warroad (USHS-MN)
119. Vancouver Canucks (via NYR) – F Matthew Perkins, Youngstown (USHL)
120. Philadelphia Flyers (via EDM) – F Alex Ciernik, Sodertalje (J20 Nationell)
121. Nashville Predators (via TOR) – G Juha Jatkola, KalPa (Liiga)
122. New Jersey Devils – F Cam Squires, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
123. San Jose Sharks (via COL) – D Luca Cagnoni, Portland (WHL)
124. Boston Bruins – F Beckett Hendrickson, USA U-18 (NTDP)
125. Dallas Stars – D Aram Minnetian, USA U-18 (NTDP)
126. Carolina Hurricanes – F Stanislav Yarovoi, Vityaz Moscow (KHL)
127. Florida Panthers – D Albert Wikman, Farjestad (J20 Nationell)
128. Montreal Canadiens (via VGK) – G Quentin Miller, Quebec (QMJHL)
Round Five
129. Anaheim Ducks – D Rodwin Dionicio, Windsor (OHL)
130. San Jose Sharks (via CBJ) – D Axel Landen, HV71 (J20 Nationell)
131. Chicago Blackhawks – F Marcel Marcel, Gatineau (QMJHL)
132. San Jose Sharks – D Eric Pohlkamp, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
133. Montreal Canadiens – F Sam Harris, Sioux Falls (USHL)
134. Arizona Coyotes – G Melker Thelin, Bjorkloven (J20 Region)
135. Philadelphia Flyers – D Carter Sotheran, Portland (WHL)
136. Washington Capitals – D Cameron Allen, Guelph (OHL)
137. Detroit Red Wings – D Jack Phelan, Sioux Falls (USHL)
138. St. Louis Blues – D Paul Fischer, USA U-18 (NTDP)
139. Carolina Hurricanes (via VAN) – D Charles-Alexis Legault, Quinnipiac (NCAA)
140. Ottawa Senators – D Matthew Andonovski, Kitchener (OHL)
141. Buffalo Sabres – G Scott Ratzlaff, Seattle (WHL)
142. Pittsburgh Penguins – F Mikhail Ilyin, Cherepovets (MHL)
143. Nashville Predators – F Sutter Muzzatti, Rensselaer (NCAA)
144. Montreal Canadiens (via CGY) – G Yevgeni Volokhin, Khanty-Mansiysk (MHL)
145. New York Islanders – F Justin Gill, Sherbrooke (QMJHL)
146. Winnipeg Jets – F Jacob Julien, London (OHL)
147. Detroit Red Wings (via TBL) – F Kevin Bicker, Mannheim (DNL U20)
148. Seattle Kraken – D Kaden Hammell, Everett (WHL)
149. Minnesota Wild – D Aaron Pionk, Waterloo (USHL)
150. Los Angeles Kings – D Matthew Mania, Sudbury (OHL)
151. Winnipeg Jets (via NYR) – G Thomas Milic, Seattle (WHL)
152. New York Rangers (via EDM) – D Rasmus Larsson, Vasteras (J20 Nationell)
153. Toronto Maple Leafs – F Hudson Malinoski, Brooks (AJHL)
154. New Jersey Devils – D Chase Cheslock, Rogers (USHS-MN)
155. Colorado Avalanche – D Nikita Ishimnikov, Yekaterinburg (MHL)
156. Columbus Blue Jackets (via BOS) – G Melvin Strahl, MoDo Hockey (J20 Nationell)
157. Dallas Stars – G Arno Tiefensee, Mannheim (DEL)
158. Carolina Hurricanes – G Ruslan Khazheyev, Chelyabinsk (MHL)
159. Florida Panthers – G Olof Glifford, HV71 (J20 Nationell)
160. Arizona Coyotes (via VGK) – D Justin Kipkie, Victoria (WHL)
Round Six
161. Anaheim Ducks – D Vojtech Port, Edmonton (WHL)
162. Arizona Coyotes (via CBJ) – F Samu Bau, Ilves (Liiga)
163. Carolina Hurricanes (via CHI) – F Timur Mukhanov, Omsk (MHL)
164. New Jersey Devils (via SJS) – F Cole Brown, Hamilton (OHL)
165. Montreal Canadiens – F Filip Eriksson, Vaxjo (J20 Nationell)
166. Arizona Coyotes – G Carsen Musser, USA U-18 (NTDP)
167. Chicago Blackhawks (via PHI) – F Milton Oscarson, Orebro (SHL)
168. Seattle Kraken (via WSH) – G Visa Vedenpaa, Karpat (U20 SM-sarja)
169. Detroit Red Wings – G Rudy Guimond, Taft School (USHS)
170. St. Louis Blues – D Matthew Mayich, Ottawa (OHL)
171. Vancouver Canucks – D Aiden Celebrini, Brooks (AJHL)
172. Philadelphia Flyers (via OTT) – F Ryan MacPherson, Leamington (GOJHL)
173. Buffalo Sabres – D Sean Keohane, Cape Cod (18U AAA)
174. Pittsburgh Penguins – F Cooper Foster, Ottawa (OHL)
175. Nashville Predators – F Austin Roest, Everett (WHL)
176. Calgary Flames – G Yegor Yegorov, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
177. New York Islanders – D Zach Schulz, USA U-18 (NTDP)
178. New York Rangers (via WPG) – F Dylan Roobroeck, Oshawa (OHL)
179. Tampa Bay Lightning – D Warren Clark, Steinbach (MJHL)
180. Seattle Kraken – F Zeb Forsfjall, Skelleftea (J20 Nationell)
181. Minnesota Wild – D Kalem Parker, Victoria (WHL)
182. Los Angeles Kings – F Ryan Conmy, Sioux City (USHL)
183. New York Rangers – F Ty Henricks, Fargo (USHL)
184. Edmonton Oilers – G Nathaniel Day, Flint (OHL)
185. Toronto Maple Leafs – D Noah Chadwick, Lethbridge (WHL)
186. New Jersey Devils – D Daniil Karpovich, Yekaterinburg (MHL)
187. Colorado Avalanche – D Jeremy Hanzel, Seattle (WHL)
188. Boston Bruins – F Ryan Walsh, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
189. Dallas Stars – F Angus MacDonell, Mississauga (OHL)
190. Carolina Hurricanes – F Michael Emerson, Chicago (USHL)
191. Florida Panthers – D Luke Coughlin, Rimouski (QMJHL)
192. Vegas Golden Knights – F Tuomas Uronen, HIFK (U20 SM-sarja)
Round Seven
193. Tampa Bay Lightning (via ANA) – F Jack Harvey, Chicago (USHL)
194. Columbus Blue Jackets – F Oiva Keskinen, Tappara (U20 SM-sarja)
195. Chicago Blackhawks – D Janne Peltonen, Karpat (U20 SM-sarja)
196. San Jose Sharks – F David Klee, Waterloo (USHL)
197. Montreal Canadiens – D Luke Mittelstadt, Minnesota (NCAA)
198. Florida Panthers (via ARI) – F Stepan Zvyagin, Minsk (MHL)
199. Philadelphia Flyers – D Matteo Mann, Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
200. Washington Capitals – F Brett Hyland, Brandon (WHL)
201. Detroit Red Wings – F Emmitt Finnie, Kamloops (WHL)
202. St. Louis Blues – F Nikita Susuyev, Spartak Moscow (MHL)
203. San Jose Sharks (via VAN) – F Yegor Rimashevsky, Dynamo Moscow (MHL)
204. Ottawa Senators – F Owen Beckner, Salmon Arm (BCHL)
205. Buffalo Sabres – D Norwin Panocha, Berlin (DNL U20)
206. Washington Capitals (via PIT) – G Antoine Keller, Geneve-Servette (Swiss U20-Elit)
207. Ottawa Senators (via NSH) – G Vladimir Nikitin, Astana (Kazakhstan U20)
208. Calgary Flames – D Axel Hurtig, Rogle (J20 Nationell)
209. New York Islanders – D Dennis Good Bogg, AIK (J20 Nationell)
210. Winnipeg Jets – F Connor Levis, Kamloops (WHL)
211. Tampa Bay Lightning – F Ethan Hay, Flint (OHL)
212. Seattle Kraken – F Zaccharya Wisdom, Cedar Rapids (USHL)
213. Minnesota Wild – F Jimmy Clark, Green Bay (USHL)
214. Boston Bruins (via LAK) – F Casper Nassen, Vasteras (J20 Nationell)
215. Ottawa Senators (via NYR) – F Nicholas VanTassell, Green Bay (USHL)
216. Edmonton Oilers – F Matt Copponi, Merrimack (NCAA)
217. Pittsburgh Penguins (via TOR) – F Emil Jarventie, Ilves (U20 SM-sarja)
218. Nashville Predators (via NJD) – F Aiden Fink, Brooks (AJHL)
219. Colorado Avalanche – F Maros Jedlicka, Zvolen (Slovak Extraliga)
220. Boston Bruins – D Kristian Kostadinski, Frolunda (J20 Nationell)
221. Dallas Stars – F Sebastian Bradshaw, Elite Hockey Academy (18U AAA)
222. Carolina Hurricanes – G Yegor Velmakin, Novovoronezh (NMHL)
223. Pittsburgh Penguins (via FLA) – D Kalle Kangas, Jokerit (U20 SM-sarja)
224. Columbus Blue Jackets (via VGK) – F Tyler Peddle, Drummondville (QMJHL)
ESPN can’t even put an actual draft analyst on their panel? They ruin everything.
SiriusXM NHL channel to the rescue!
@Gbear – Who do they have on their coverage? DP and DB, maybe, or Scott Laughlin? I’m on SN960 with Pat & Aaron Vickers (with occasional guest visits from Frank Seravalli, if he has the time).
@Mac – Bucci, Weekes, Boucher and some gal named Meghan. Blah.
@Gbear – Sorry, I should have clarified that. I was asking about Sirius. Buttheadgross ruins everything for me. Weekes can be overcome with homer-itis at times. I still like Boucher, and that isn’t Meghan Duggan, is it?
@Mac – Sirius has Scott Laughlin, Steve Kolius (sp), Shane Malloy and Russ Cohen. And it’s a different Meghan. :/
@Gbear – I thought I recognized Kouleas (phonetic spelling helps), and I wonder if Russ Cohen is related to Kings’ Insider, Jesse Cohen. Malloy fills the role of Analytics expert, and Miss Meghan is currently undefined. If it had been Duggan, I was going to ask how, as she’s supposed to still be with NJD.
@Mac – I knew I misspelled Kouleas. Typing on the fly. :D
@Gbear – The one good thing about a half-decent search engine is “similar-sounding” searches. I thought I recognized his name, as he shows up on various shows, from time to time. As you said, SiriusXM NHL channel to the rescue. (Envious here)
Hoo boy, that ESPN group was the single worst bunch of doofuses on any hockey broadcast I’ve ever heard! It was so bad, I was wishing that Pierre McGuire was back! My ears are bleeding. Woe is me.
@KRB – Heartfelt condolences to you. I was not unhappy with the job done by Pat & Aaron on SN960. Pity Frank’s contributions were just before the picks got going.
@Mac
I was trying to get the Sportsnet broadcast on my non-Bettman approved feed, but it kept locking up. The ESPN crew was just dreadful. Buccigross, as always, is lame, with bad jokes, Emily Kaplan was talking about bagels, and their apparent draft expert, Meghan someone or other, giggled and made bad comparisons of draftees with NHL players. Pierre would have been a relief:
“I gotta tell ya Doc, this kid out of Regina in the WHL is going to Chicago. And speaking of Chicago, if you go there, go to Tony’s Pizza on the West Side. Reminds me of the time I was sitting with Bobby Hull eating pizza, when Gordie Howe comes up..”
ESPN is embarrassing. By design, IMO.
@KRB – If I had known about your technical difficulties, I could’ve offered up a few alternative methods to get there. Next time, just let me know. Emily’s Twerper page has stated in the past (and still today) that she’s a bagel snob. Pity she feels obligated to fulfill that “truth in advertising” deal. And, I’ll agree with you about Buttheadgross. He just sucks. When I first checked in on the SN590/650/960 page, only 960 listed the draft as upcoming programming for the night, which seemed a little weird. TSN 1050 had non-draft stuff listed, and I didn’t visit TSN 690, 1200, or 1260. Pat said 960 will have coverage starting at 9:00 AM MT, in case you’re interested. I hope that’ll be accurate, as long as Pat sticks to non-flammable liquids tonight. ;)
Yeah Bear, this DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) crap has to end. The bimbos they had, Kaplan and the other broad, were just embarrassing. And before I get ripped for being so mean and unwoke: I think Anson Carter and Kevin Weekes are two of the best hockey broadcasters on the planet.
Thanks Mac. I was using onhockey
All I really needed to do was get a trial membership to Sirius XM (which I’ve done about 20 times now) but was too lazy to fill out the form. Normally I don’t give a fig what feed I’m getting, but seeing how you couldn’t turn off the audio without missing a lot, well…. I was screwed.
@KRB – Maybe that’s where a VPN could help. I was able to access a few extra WC games last month, even though they seemed to roll dice to let you in on only one of the two offerings around midday. By tweaking things, I was able to watch in 1080p, which was better than the last time I had to go through the hoops. As I’ve mentioned before, the free VPN I use is only for this type of stuff – using other sites to access hockey-related programming, and not for anything else.
@KRB – With so many knowledgeable draft analysts available to put on their broadcast, it’s clear that ESPN does what they do to deliberately stick it in your face. Even if one were on the far left, they still would want to see a competent broadcast.
@Gbear & @KRB – What you guys are describing paints an image in my head that ESPN, as you’ve said, seems to want to stick it to the long-time fans. Over the years, many have suggested that because Bettman stupidly went away from them, that they would do everything they could to ruin the hockey experience just for spite. Some thought Bettman should have flat-out given the broadcast rights to them (including me), which might very well have truly grown the game more, just using different and unconventional methods.
@Mac – Personally, I would never have gone back to ESPN. TBS/TNT (to my suprise) did a good job, but ESPN is unredeemable at this point.
@Mac and Bear
ESPN is engaging in flat out virtue signaling
“Look how diverse we are! We have women broadcasters! We have electric car commercials, with 70% minorities! We have Native American trans Muslim quadriplegics as producers!”
Never mind knowledge and talent. Check some boxes and you’re hired. The quality of last night’s broadcast says it all. They care about their woke street cred, and nothing else.
tonight is the night Bedard finally gets drafted
And to my team, THE BLACKHAWKS!!! I just hope they draft and acquire players that can build around him and make the Hawks relevant again.
You trying to help out Gbear with some color commentary or just captain obvious?
So far only a Gibson guitar has been announced.
Does Poile even play?
26 years and he get a guitar. Not a Rolex. Not a corvette. Surprised he didn’t go Pete Townsend on the stage and flip off Nashville management.
@Gbear – He was heard going on a guitar rant after the Easter Epic. That’s the other reason most of the Easter eggs weren’t found.
I’d much rather follow the draft right here, I hate ESPN!!!!!! LAZY JOURNALISM PRETTY BOYS!!!!!!
That group on ESPN was terrible. Obnoxious, bad jokes, irrelevancies, giggles, grating voices, lack of knowledge, inane…. You know it’s a bad group when you wish Pierre McGuire was back.
You are the ESPN of posters on this site.
@doghockey, wilf may be worse than the ESPN of this site. He might be what you get if you took the worst of each company that broadcasts NHL and combined it into 1 person.
David….RRRRR…..David….RRRR Carey! Guess who is getting bought out! WE planned it that way!
“David rrrrrrrrrrreally we’re not taking Michkov?”
@Mac – Carey Price just let one go right thru the five hole from center ice, ROFL!
I hate to be the buzz kill, but the way Carey stuttered and froze there did not seem like merely forgetting or being nervous. Something went “wrong”. I don’t know what his history with concussions and mental health has been, but that didn’t look like a funny blooper to me, he looked in legitimate distress. I seriously hope he is okay.
@Josh – I was hoping Carey wasn’t going to have an “episode” and say, “Sergei Fedorov”!
@Josh – From Josh’s pen to our ears! Danny only had a slight toe-pick on that one.
@PyramidHeadcrab – I know those symptoms, too. I’ve had it happen to me, and I’ve watched stroke victims struggle with it.
That kid’s career is ruined. He’ll never hear his name announced like he dreamed it would.
@PyramidHeadcrab – If a report surfaces tomorrow that Carey Price had a health episode, I’ll be posting an apology here, guaranteed.
Keep taking Dmen everyone (Preds need an offensive star!). ;)
So… What’s everyone’s thoughts on Simishev at 6th?
Bewildered.
I’m lower on him than most, so in my mind, this is almost a Tyler Boucher-level reach.
@PyramidHeadcrab – I think some of us are still stuck on the Ducks’ pick.
He has Nikishin potential.
Which is to say, he should have been drafted closer to where Nikishin was, as his floor is no sure thing at all.
Reminds me of Zadorov for some reason. Not a bad dman, but not a top 10 pick.
Alright now I’m convinced Arizona is deliberately trying to scuttle the franchise.
Jaw was on the floor with Simashev, it’s past the Earth’s core with But. Just stunning mismanagement here
I am very happy for these players, who should not get caught up in this lol
I think it’s interesting that both are from Yaroslavl, do these two play together or something?
Yes, both play for Loko Yaroslavl in the MHL (Russian juniors), could both likely be with the KHL club next year
I am not a professional scout, but this is some ridiculous oversight from the Coyotes here. Missing out on a pair of extremely high-end prospects in Michkov and Benson.
My take is that they deliberately took kids who will take awhile to develop so they can delay any contract offers for a number of years.
@Josh – You wonder if GMBA (and ownership) is basically saying to the NHL, “We DARE YA to relocate us to Utah or Houston!”
Wonder why Zach Benson and Oliver Moore are dropping…they were projected top 10 picks. Interesting as there is always someone who freefalls
Because teams like Arizona pick in the top ten every year – and it shows why.
Don’t know who Trotz will pick, but both Moore and Perreault are dropping right into his lap (please take one of them!).
You got wood.
Show are at 7 and 10pm. Tip your waiter.
Serious note – Perreault should’ve been selected. Surprised the Preds passed on him.
They got Wood.
Slowest rated skater of the projected 1st round picks. Whee. :/
@Gbear – I can’t believe they showed you that kind of disrespect! You said “Please”, and they still went around you. “After further review, there is NO goal – the entire team was offside!”
@Mac – This reminds me of that Rangers 1st round pick awhile back, Hugh Jessiman. Big, slow, played at UConn. Yup, you never heard of him. :/
@Gbear – Actually, that name did ring a distant bell. And, you owe Dartmouth an apology (or vice versa). A 6′-6”, 221lb pylon who now holds a sign at the start of construction zones that says, “Speed Limit 10. Go any faster, and I’ll run you down and slash your tires!”
@Mac – Wow, Dartmouth? :0
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s a speed game now, right?
@Gbear – That depends on which HC & GM you ask. Now his speed comes from chasing moving cars, as all the stray dogs are going after the parked ones. :) I’m still trying to figure out where EP has put the skater ratings, since you brought that up. I thought it used to be there, but I can’t find it right now.
@Gbear – I think I did it again to you. Were you referring to Wood’s team, referencing UConn? If so, I get a double-skate of shame…
Predators have Wood? Dear God i hope you’re talking about hockey…
@Mac – Yup, Wood is a Husky.
@Gbear – I thought so. He’s also a tool box, it seems. I’ve seen his picture at The Home Depot. :)
@Mac – On the plus side, Wood is ranked highly by most scouting sites. We shall see.
Color me underwhelmed. :(
I love the way Chevy drafts. Barlow and last years pick McGroarty could make up a nice power forward line.
Bedard to Moore…..he shoots and scores!
Checking back in here – in my unprofessional opinion, Stramel takes the cake as the worst pick of the round so far. Winnipeg nabbing Barlow at 18 and Chicago getting Moore at 19 were pretty incredible steals.
Must have had a bit too much hydration at Tootsie’s there…
Worse than the Preds 2nd pick?
@Josh – Maybe Bill G. thought he was getting a Gopher, instead of a Badger? His freshman numbers are truly underwhelming, even in spite of the program’s down year.
Yeah. I didn’t have Molendyk in my first but he has scarily spectacular analytics in juniors. I had Molendyk in my late 30s, Stramel in my late 40s/early 50s
Shane Malloy had Molendyk ranked #87. Just wow.
Preds rebuild took a step backwards tonight. Yikes.
Rangers got a steal at 23 Gabe Perreault will shock teams that passed on him
Indeed, especially the team hosting the draft.
Loving the pick. No brainer.
My Leafs hat just got thrown out the window.
Great for the kid, very hard worker, but he was not in my top 70
Did team executives spend too much time at Tootsies before the draft?
That’s my bet.
@Josh – OOoo, that’s bad. There was an infamous “hat thrown out the window” moment in a famous movie. I believe the title is “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” Spencer Tracy, aka Captain T. G. Culpeper, comes into the office, goes to throw his hat on the hat rack…that isn’t there. And, the window was open. Again. He scurries to the window, only to see a maniacal guy see the hat in the road, and swerves over to hit it. That nameless guy? Jerry Lewis.
They thought there was a conversion rate assessed after the pick.
@Josh – Cowan? If so, that’s very understandable. Right now, it looks like he was overdrafted by one or two rounds.
@ Josh, Might be the smartest decision you make in your life. Putting your hat on the Leafs bandwagon doesn’t prove well too often.
I like Easton but this is the problem with the cupboard being empty. they couldn’t rely on a 2nd round pick or use it + a 3rd to move up.
sounds like they were trying to trade down but with a deep draft, teams were willing to wait.
would have rather taken gulyayev or cristall but Treliving will have to live with this pick and the 3+ yrs of Devo still required
What a pick by the Avs there. One of the big steals of the round in Gulyayev
Preds could’ve had him too……
Sounds like another Makar in the making.
Wanted the Flyers to take him 22nd.
Hawks won this draft. A franchise forward and the fastest player in the draft. Their rebuild is going full speed ahead.
Add in Nazar and Korchinski from last year, and it’s clear they are valuing speed quite highly
Suddenly even Athanasiou’s contract makes sense
You could tell they were going for speed with all the guys they traded for and drafted. Either speed or brawn to keep the speed guys from getting pounded. Bjork, Guttman, and those guys were all fast. Didn’t really work out last year but one more year in Richardson’s system will help. One thing you can’t teach is speed.
I am very interested to see what a full, healthy season of Cole Guttman looks like. He has some skill. Want to see a next step from Raddysh, Reichel and Kurashev.
Flyers, Avs, Blue Jackets, and Sabres really made out, IMO. Meanwhile Yotes will be Yotes.
It was funny that Davidson was working the phone lines trying to move up and all he had to do was sit there and wait for people to be stupid. He had his pick of Moore and Perreault at 19. Really happy so far. No trades was a bit of a shock. Katchook, Raddysh, Moore and another first next year for Brandon Hagel. Total Fleecing.
And stupid some teams were tonight. Bizarre draft.
Hawks pick 3rd in the 2nd Rd. Gauthier, Cristall and Hrbal still there. I’d take one of the 3.
If I had my choice I’d pick Gauthier if teams keep being stupid. Gauthier is a total sniper with a quick, Wicked shot. As much as I’d like to see Hrabal I think they go Forward. I think Hrabal and Commesso might make a big excellent tandem in Goal for the future. They can’t really go wrong whatever way they go. We’ll find out soon. Still surprised there haven’t been any more trades. You still have guys who were projected first rounders available in the second round. I don’t know what that one guy is smoking who said it was a weak draft.
Josh interacting with these posts, whether it’s tonight or the many other times, is really cool
Agreed. Nice seeing a member of the team interact with the community.
I really liked the Sharks picks at #4, (the somewhat obvious pick of) Will Smith, and #26 Quentin Musty. Two solid prospects!
Having a look at Simashev, a few prospect sites had him in their Top 10. EliteProspects had him ranked 10th overall. Coyotes definitely could have traded down I think, but if their goal was to grab two guys from Jr. Yaroslavl specifically and develop them together, I think the two Coyotes picks look a lot less stupid.
But is one where I’m DEFINITELY thinking the Coyotes could have traded down, as two outlets had him ranked 15th… But another has him as low as 43rd.
If I were a betting man, I would say that someone on that Coyotes scouting team is in love with the idea of developing these two players together, and they simply weren’t able to get a trade done. Not saying it’s smart, but it would make some sense.
If the Coyotes like the players, they like the players. I’m just not nearly as high on Simashev as most, but that’s totally a scouting preference that I can’t get too mad about. He wasn’t terribly overdrafted – a lot of teams had him as the best D in the class. But was maybe a few picks ahead of where he should have gone, although I don’t think he was the most egregious overdraft compared to teams’ consensus. My vote there would be MIN/Stramel at 21 and TOR/Cowan at 28
I agree. Those 2 were stranger than Simashev.
Stramel I can kiiiiinda see, because he’s local. Like maybe he really sold the Wild on the idea of keeping him close to home and they liked him on an emotional level. People are not machines, I could totally see that.
Cowan is utterly baffling. He’s from a bedroom community outside London, ON. So him playing on the KNIGHTS make sense… But the Leafs? I know Cowan is a major construction company here in Ontario, so I wonder if there’s any relation there. No friggin clue on that one, that’s just bonkers.
He’s slow and small, but “intelligent” . so you have that goin for you
Yotes relocating to Yaroslavl.
This must rank as one of the weakest drafts in decades.
After Bedard it was a crap shoot as to who each team was going to pick.
And even the announcers were surprised that there weren’t any trades at all in the first round.
They said if was because each team was happy with who they got when it was their turn to pick.
Which was a load of hot air.
There weren’t any trades because NONE of the teams wanted to give up players and/or picks to move up (or down) the draft order because there wasn’t anyone worth getting excited enough about to do it.
It was a ho-hum affair from start to end. I watched it (on TV) and there didn’t seem to be any action at all at any of the team’s tables like we’ve seen in previous drafts as GMs try to make last second deals.
And listening to the commentators after each pick and it seems every single player had as many drawbacks as positives.
And you know it was a weak draft when, the day of the draft, you still couldn’t name who the #2, 3 or 4 players could be, because you hadn’t heard a thing about them until they were actually picked.
Hopefully with the Red Wings having 3 second round picks Steve Yzerman packages a couple or all and bring Alex DeBrincat home to Detroit. They need to make a NJ leap this offseason.
I am glad to see they didn’t make that move. I think it would be an over payment & too long of term for DeBrincat. They need a #1 center. Not sure if there are any free agents that fit that bill. We shall see come July 1.
Hawks take Gajan over Hrabal and Augustine. That was a surprise. I had heard some rumblings he might be the first G off the board.
Do the Preds even scout the USA NTDP? They pass by so much talent there.
3 western Canadian kids so far. Trotzy loves his fellow citizens.
Bear, every team has its bias. The Capitals hate Finns. They’ve had only 7 Finns in their 50 year history, only one (Henrik Borgstrom, 1 game) in the last 15 years. On the other hand, the Caps love their Russians, Western Canadians and USNTDP. Guess it has to do with who their scouts are. Caps didn’t even have a guy in Finland until the last couple years.
Bizarre. What did the Finns ever do to them?
Trotzy will get the same mediocre draft results as Poile did as long as Jeff Kealty is running the scouting department.
Sorry the Preds are doing so badly, my friend
I’m lovin’ the Caps draft. Feisty power forward with #8 pick, and a mid first round talent with the #40 pick. Ross Mahoney is nailing it!
It’s not that it’s a bad draft, just that it looks like another vanilla draft. But time will tell.
Wish Trotz could’ve brought along some of his Caps/Isles connections over to the Preds scouting department. Caps did well in this draft.
The Caps are bucking trends. This draft they’re looking strictly for skill, taking a highly skilled kid with skating issues, and an overager with good numbers in the OHL. They’re not going down the New Jersey road of speed, speed, speed. So are Brian MacLellan and Ross Mahoney predicting the future, or stuck in the past? We’ll see.
Columbus reuniting the UofM boys. Great job Jarmo!
Cbus has had a good draft. Pat Verbeek and Anaheim will rue passing on Fantilli.
lightning getting Gauthier at 37 and Caps Cristall at 40 is robbery
Simpleton question – if’n a ‘drafted’ player goes to college prior to ‘drafting team facilities or affiliates’ do they get paid by the team?
Or
Do players not get paid and being drafted is like ‘getting engaged’ and either party can change their mind later
I believe they don’t get paid.
If after 3 years the player still remains unsigned he xan re enter the draft ,
I could be wrong tho
If they sign their entry level deal after being drafted they can’t play college hockey anymore. If they play college hockey the team that drafted them holds their rights for a certain amount of years. Hawks drafted Commesso like 3 years ago but he played for Boston College for years until he signed his entry level deal this off season. Also as with Korchinski they can play Junior after signing their contract but their deal doesn’t kick in until they get promoted. Hawks have a ton of guys playing college hockey who’s rights they still own. Basse, Wise, Hayes, Nazar, now Moore and Rinzel and others.
From my imperfect understanding of the rules, college players can’t accept any money from pro teams. If they go to development camp, they have to pay their own way, and can’t even accept freebies like jackets and hats.
If the player is drafted from Canadian juniors, the team has 2 years to sign him, for college players it’s 30 days after he leaves school, for European players it’s 4 years
Also the NHL has some stupid rules about where a guy can play due to agreements with the AHL and USHL. For example Korchinski signed his entry level deal last year after being drafted wasn’t allowed to play in the AHL because of the agreement. That’s why the Hawks sent him back to his Junior team because he would either have to play in the USHL or Junior or Chicago. He wasn’t NHL ready yet so he went back to juniors. Another dumb CBA rule or agreement that keeps guys from playing at their true level.
@Unclemike
The rule is a player can’t go into the AHL if he was drafted out of Canadian juniors, until he’s age 20. The purpose of the rule was to preserve Canadian junior hockey, and keep minor pro leagues from raiding the talent. 18 and 19 year old kids would surely love contracts worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, what kid wouldn’t?
That rule was suspended in certain cases during the COVID pandemic, since some Canadian junior leagues canceled their seasons.
So then how did Rinzel get drafted out of High School and play in the USHL before he goes to College this year? Seems a bit hypocritical then.
@Unclemike
The USHL is often used as a feeder for colleges. Canada wants to preserve its junior leagues as an institution. People in the US aren’t as sentimental about junior leagues as Canadians are.
The NHL has different transfer agreements with every league. Korchinski never played in the USHL, he was drafted out of the WHL (part of the Canadian Hockey League), which, to paraphrase, dictates a player has to return to their junior club if not on the NHL roster prior to their age 20 season. The NHL and high schools/USHL don’t have that stipulation built into the transfer agreements
I’m sure the Hawks would of much rather had Korchinski play in Rockford last year than in Juniors but so be it. It’s just weird that they have different rules for different leagues and countries. But hey Josh Thanks for the commentary and the answers.
Thanks for following along today, everyone!
Thanks for the hard work keeping this motley crew here informed! :)
Thank you Josh. Good work! You kept everything updated nicely.
@Josh – I’ll gladly chime in with another “Thank You!” 141+ Comments is something to brag about! :) And, for the time being, it appears Carey Price’s blunder wasn’t health related, from the reports I’ve scanned.
@Mac – But half of those comments were from me, lol!
@Gbear – OK, for you about 71 Gabby Johnson-esque “Rehhr-Em!”s :)
wtf is Toronto doing?
So the real situation is, there needs to be more NHL teams