SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/1/2013 Anaheim Ducks 683113
advertisement
SPORT-SCAN DAILY BRIEF NHL 7/1/2013 Anaheim Ducks 683113 683114 683115 683116 683117 683118 683119 683120 683121 683122 683123 683124 683125 683155 Boston Bruins 683156 Bruins select D Linus Arnesson in second round Bruins meet with Vincent Lecavalier Bruins happy with six draft picks Bruins select Swedish defenseman, eye Lecavalier Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli on Tyler Seguin: 'Got to become more of a professional' Williamsville's Bailey on becoming a Sabre: 'It's just absolutely amazing' Bruins, Vincent Lecavalier have ‘good meeting’ Tyler Seguin called out by Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli B's GM Peter Chiarelli has Lecavalier, Seguin and Horton on his mind B’s go Euro to start Message sent to Tyler Seguin LeBlanc, Pinho head local draftees Buffalo Sabres 683126 683127 683128 683129 683130 683131 683132 683133 683134 683135 683136 Round One: Sabres pick Ristolainen, Zadorov Regier still expects Sabres to keep Miller, Vanek through draft; happy to pick two big D No. 16: Zadorov, new project on blueline, says 'I really like to hit' Round 2 drama: Sekera dealt for McBain; Compher and Hurley taken Dreams come true for two WNY kids Sabres use top picks on defensemen, deal Sekera Buffalo doubles its bet with two defensemen Sabre prospects know the way to Buffalo Bailey on becoming a Sabre: Amazing Regier says no change on Vanek, Miller; happy with two D Buffalo Sabres take two big defensemen in first round Calgary Flames 683137 683138 683139 683140 683141 683142 683143 683144 683145 683146 683147 683148 683154 683157 683158 683159 683160 683161 683162 683163 683164 683165 683166 683167 683169 683170 683171 Nathan MacKinnon drafted first by Colorado Avalanche in 2013 NHL Draft Seth Jones doesn't begrudge Avalanche for passing on him in NHL draft Coach Patrick Roy says Nathan MacKinnon will center Avs' third line Frei: Colorado Avalanche blew it by not selecting Seth Jones with No. 1 pick Columbus Blue Jackets 683172 683173 683174 NHL draft: Blue Jackets take Swedish center with 14th pick Michael Arace commentary: Jackets could pick up some big-time bricks today Blue Jackets notebook: Bobrovsky talks drag on Dallas Stars 683175 683176 Carolina Hurricanes 683181 Canes take Swedish forward Lindholm DeCock: Canes have yet to fix big problem Hurricanes get Lindholm, Sekera Hurricanes take Swedish center with 5th pick of draft 683182 683183 Blackhawks trade Bolland, Frolik Hawks draft updates: West Dundee's Hartman selected Blackhawks, Bickell agree to four-year deal Hawks at top of Chicago sports heap Bryan Bickell signs 4-year, $16M deal to stay with Blackhawks There’s no arguing with Hawks coach Joel Quenneville’s success There’s no arguing with Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville’s success Blackhawks trade Dave Bolland to Maple Leafs, Michael Frolik to Jets Blackhawks draft local winger Ryan Hartman with 30th overall pick Hawks trade Game 6 hero Bolland for 3 draft picks Article posted: 6/30/2013 10:59 PM Bolland, Frolik gone; Bickell gets new deal with Hawks Hawks send Bolland to Toronto Blackhawks select Hartman in first round Blackhawks' GM Bowman feels confident heading into Draft Frolik sent to Winnipeg for two draft picks Four more years for Bickell Blackhawks ready for young players to step up Blackhawks happy with draft haul on eventful night Colorado Avalanche 683168 King shoots down Saskatoon rumours, is confident flooded ‘Dome will be ready Klimchuk thrilled to be selected by Flames ‘It was a good day’ says Flames GM Morrissey’s ‘unreal day’ sees him headed to Winnipeg Calgary pleased with its first-round haul Flames stick to the script, take Monahan at No. 6 Tod Button rates the Flames’ picks New Calgary Flames star looks to prove his new team right Chicago Blackhawks 683149 683150 683151 683152 683153 Blackhawks cont'd Hockey: Ducks get defenseman; Kings trade up for winger 683177 683178 683179 683180 683184 Stars take physical winger Remi Elie in second round of NHL Draft Stars take talented project Jason Dickinson with 29th overall pick in 2013 NHL Draft The next Alexander Ovechkin? Dallas Stars get lucky, draft Russian Valeri Nichushkin Stars take goalie Philippe Desrosiers with 54th pick in NHL Entry Draft Dallas Stars draft analysis: Top pick Valeri Nichushkin earns Eric Lindros comparison; Jason Dickinson has 'to Stars draft bios: Get to know a little about each of Dallas’ draft picks Heika: Valeri Nichushkin an uncharacteristic pick for Stars, but rising Russian too good to pass up He said it: Stars GM Jim Nill on Sunday’s NHL Draft He said it: Valeri Nichushkin on getting drafted by the Stars 10th overall Dallas Stars take Russian standout forward with 10th pick in NHL Draft Detroit Red Wings 683185 683186 683187 683188 683189 683190 683191 683192 683193 683194 683195 683196 683197 683198 683199 683200 683201 683202 683203 683204 683205 683206 NHL draft: Detroit Red Wings add size, skill with forward Anthony Mantha in first round After Vincent Lecavalier meeting, Detroit Red Wings wait to see if they're on his list Complete list of 2013 NHL Draft Selections Ticker: Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe still king of Detroit sports nicknames Red Wings GM Ken Holland interested in Vincent Lecavalier, but so are others Red Wings select Todd Bertuzzi's nephew, Tyler Meet the Red Wings' 2013 draft class Canadiens take Macomb's Michael McCarron in first round Wings bulk up on blue line by adding 6-4 defenseman Mitchell Wheaton in 5th round Wings meet with Vincent Lecavalier; 'We'll see where it goes,' Holland says Meet the Red Wings draft picks Red Wings get needed 'sniper' in Anthony Mantha Red Wings had sights set on sniper Anthony Mantha, who is determined to take fast track to NHL Red Wings add size in David Pope, Mitchell Wheaton with their fifth and sixth picks Red Wings pick Swedish center Mattias Janmark-nylen with their fourth selection in entry draft Red Wings pick with forward Tyler Bertuzzi, Todd's nephew, with their third pick in entry draft Red Wings take forward Zach Nastasiuk of Owen Sound with second selection in entry draft Red Wings select a sniper, Anthony Mantha, with their top pick, after moving down two spots t Valtteri Filppula will sign elsewhere. Red Wings meet with free agent Vincent Lecavalier, now wait to see if he is interested in further talks Detroit Red Wings take big defenseman, Swedish forward with their final two picks in NHL Draft Wings get player they want in first round, Anthony Mantha Edmonton Oilers 683207 683208 683209 683210 683211 683212 683213 683214 683215 683216 Getting drafted by Oilers a dream come true for Nurse Edmonton Oilers trade 37th overall pick to Los Angeles, after missing out on Zach Fucale Oil Kings’ Lazar selected by Senators 17th overall Oilers concentrate on size, more skill with other draft picks MacKinnon: MacTavish makes modest progress towards acquiring ‘meat’ for lineup Gregor: MacTavish fails to deliver on promise to do ‘bold things’ With draft over, Oilers look to free-agent market Where were the goalies on Edmonton Oilers’ draft list? Edmonton Oilers draft gritty defenceman Darnell Nurse JONES: Where's the deals? Florida Panthers 683217 683218 683219 683220 683221 683222 PANTHERS ON OFFENSIVE: Florida Takes C Sasha Barkov with Second Pick in NHL Draft David J. Neal: Florida Panthers make gutsy, bold move with Aleksander Barkov PANTHERS FILL HOLES AT DRAFT: Florida Takes Barkov with Second Pick, McCoshen in Second Round Posted on Sun, Jun. 30, 2013 Tallon could've taken the safe way out and selected defenseman Seth Jones with the second overall Panthers GM won't tip hand but expects an instant game-changer at No. 2 Los Angeles Kings 683223 683224 683225 683226 683227 683228 Kings upgrade to No. 37, get Valentin Zykov; Ducks get Shea Theodore Hockey: Ducks get defenseman; Kings trade up for winger Kings select Fasching, Bartosak, Brodzinski Kings don’t move up into the first round Introducing Dominik Kubalik Introducing Zachary Leslie Minnesota Wild 683229 683230 683231 683232 683233 683234 683235 683236 683237 683238 683239 683240 683241 683242 Islanders trade former 1st-round pick Niederreiter to Wild for Clutterbuck, 3rd-round pick Clutterbuck dealt to Islanders, reunited with Tavares; Wild acquires El Nino Wild, Rangers pull off a trade just hours before the start of the NHL draft Wild trades Justin Falk to the Rangers; Wild needs defensemen After the draft: assessing Clutterbuck-Niederreiter trade Trade winds bring 'El Nino' to Wild Wild brass likes size, grit in this draft class Wild drafts Gustav Olofsson with first pick Three years later, Minnesota Wild finally get their man with trade for Nino Niederreiter Tom Powers: Minnesota Wild sit out first round of draft as all-in bill comes due Minnesota Wild's first draft pick is Gustav Olofsson Minnesota Wild trade Cal Clutterbuck for Nino Niederreiter Minnesota Wild trade defenseman Justin Falk to kick off draft day Minnesota Wild draftee Gustav Olofsson patterns his game after Jonas Brodin Montreal Canadiens 683243 683244 683245 683246 683247 Canadiens choose winger Mike McCarron with 25th overall pick Canadiens go big with 1st-round pick Habs select McCarron in first round, Rosèmere native Fucale in second QMJHL scores at NHL draft NHL draft: Habs notes Nashville Predators 683248 683249 683250 683251 Nashville Predators select defenseman Seth Jones in NHL Draft Nashville Predators pick Seth Jones fourth in NHL draft Nashville Predators draft picks at a glance Defenseman too good for Preds to pass up with first pick New Jersey Devils 683252 683253 683254 683255 683256 683257 683258 683259 683260 683262 With Big Trade for Schneider, Devils Prepare for Life After Brodeur Devils Work a Trade So They Can Select Brodeur’s Son NHL draft 2013: Devils pick defenseman Steven Santini with 42nd pick in second round NHL draft 2013: Newest Devils goalie Cory Schneider learned of trade on TV NHL draft 2013: Devils trade first-round pick to Canucks for goalie Cory Schneider NHL draft 2013: Devils have ninth overall pick at Prudential Center NHL draft 2013: Devils' Martin Brodeur worried about team finances and free agency NHL Draft 2013: Devils looking for a pick who will make immediate impact Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek may sell team NHL draft 2013: Devils take Anthony Brodeur in seventh round Devils cont'd 683263 683264 683265 683266 683267 683268 Devils draft pick capsules Another Brodeur on the Devils Devils acquire Cory Schneider as heir apparent for Marty Brodeur Devils trade No. 9 pick at NHL draft to Canucks for goalie Cory Schneider Devs secure Marty’s heir Devs draft Brodeur’s son New York Islanders 683269 683270 683271 683272 Islanders Make Deal With Wild Before Selecting a Defenseman in the First Round Rangers’ First Pick Is One With Ties to the Islanders Isles trade Nino Niederreiter to Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck Islanders take defenseman Ryan Pulock with first pick New York Rangers 683273 683274 683275 683276 683277 683278 683279 683280 683281 683282 Friday Rangers’ First Pick Is One With Ties to the Islanders NY Rangers acquired defenseman Justin Falk for 2014 sixth-round pick and forward Benn Ferriero in early draftUlf Samuelsson to join Alain Vigneault’s coaching staff with NY Rangers Samuelsson named as assistant coach Rangers' draft pick capsules Rangers acquire D Justin Falk from Wild, pursue Ulf Samuelsson as assistant coach Rangers trade for Minnesota Wild's Justin Falk Rangers choose center Adam Tambellini with their first pick Rangers acquire Falk (not Faulk) Rangers’ draft summary; prospects camp runs Monday- Phoenix Coyotes 683313 683314 Pittsburgh Penguins 683315 683316 683317 683318 683319 683320 683321 683322 683323 683287 Ottawa Senators draft Curtis Lazar with No. 17 pick MacLean a happy man at the draft Curtis Lazar with No. 17 pick in NHL entry draft Ottawa Senators start contract talks with captain Daniel Alfredsson's agent J.P. Barry Ottawa Senators wrap up NHL entry draft with seven new members of organization Philadelphia Flyers 683288 683289 683290 683291 683292 683293 683294 683295 683296 683297 683298 683299 683300 683301 683302 683303 683304 683305 683306 683307 683308 683309 683310 683311 683312 Flyers take 6-6 defenseman with their top pick NHL Draft 2013: Philadelphia Flyers select Robert Hagg with No. 41 pick Inside the Flyers: Flyers cast their lot with slow-developing defensemen Choosing Morin a motion for the defense Flyers' next big moves will wait No boos for McNabb's 18-year-old nephew NHL Draft: Flyers select Morin Flyers' second pick could need time to develop Top pick Morin eyes Pronger-like role Flyers draft: Will Flyers sit at No. 11, or move up? Flyers make defense top priority NHL Draft: Flyers hope Sam Morin will pack defensive punch McCaffery: Sam Morin could be the bully that Broad Street needs With so much uncertain, might as well mock the NHL draft Flyers' Paul Holmgren and Co. already negotiating Flyers select D Samuel Morin with 11th pick Outside first round, Flyers own poor draft history 2013 draft loaded with defensemen for Flyers Flyers exit 2013 draft with four defensemen Hagg surprised but happy to be drafted by Flyers Flyers draft defenseman Robert Hagg in 2nd round Flyers' pick Morin idolized Pronger Flyers put the accent on 'D' Hulking defenseman Morin could become Pronger for Flyers Flyers 2013 Entry Draft capsules Penguins’ deal with Letang held up; team won’t guarantee he won’t be traded next summer Kovacevic: Will Penguins ever prioritize youth? Penguins’ 1st pick in draft thinks big Dupuis, Penguins not close to reaching deal Canucks draft Cheswick’s Liberati in 7th round Penguins choose goalie Tristan Jarry in NHL draft Penguins trade Kennedy to San Jose for 2nd-round draft pick The Penguins' 2013 draft picks Kris Letang close to signing eight-year deal with Penguins San Jose Sharks 683324 683325 683326 683327 683328 San Jose Sharks trade up in first round to select defenseman Mirco Mueller San Jose Sharks trade second-round pick to Pittsburgh Penguins Sharks select defenseman in first round Sharks acquire Kennedy from Pittsburgh Sharks notes: Wrapping up the draft St Louis Blues 683329 683330 683331 683332 Blues meet with free-agent Lecavalier Blues draft capsules Blues make small haul at NHL draft Blues make deals to move up in draft Tampa Bay Lightning Ottawa Senators 683283 683284 683285 683286 Phoenix Coyotes select center Max Domi with 12th overall pick Phoenix Coyotes on the verge of re-signing goalie Mike Smith 683333 683334 683336 Lightning select winger Drouin with third pick Bolts notes: Lecavalier meets suitors Lightning takes Drouin No. 3 in NHL draft Toronto Maple Leafs 683337 683338 683339 683340 683341 683342 683343 Maple Leafs get players, prospects and a new approach: Cox Maple Leafs acquire Dave Bolland from Blackhawks NHL draft: Maple Leafs beat Canadiens to Frederik Gauthier Leafs draft huge centre Frederik Gauthier Leafs to pick best of rest with 21st spot Leafs won't rush first-round pick Gauthier Leafs keep busy at NHL draft with Dave Bolland trade Vancouver Canucks 683353 683354 683355 683356 683357 683358 683359 683360 683361 Canucks turn an embarrassment of riches in net into a flat-out embarrassment. Canucks 2nd pick: Calgary's Shinkaruk puts others first, whether it's flood victims or teammates Gallagher: Luongo can still make it work with Canucks Botchford: Back to you, Lu Canucks fans shocked at trading away of promising goalie Cory Schneider Kuzma: Gillis had no choice but to trade Schneider Over to you Lu, Canucks trade Cory Schneider for Bo Horvat Schneider was never convinced the Canucks would be able to deal Luongo’s contract Duhatschek: Will Luongo be able to reconnect with Canucks? Washington Capitals 683344 683345 Vincent Lecavalier ‘fits into our puzzle’, Adam Oates says Vincent Lecavalier on Capitals’ radar in free agency Websites 683362 683363 683364 683366 683367 683368 683369 683370 683371 683372 683373 683374 683375 ESPN / 2013 draft: Highs, lows, what-have-yous ESPN / Even a day later, Schneider move surprises ESPN / Bryan Bickell gets 4-year deal ESPN / Sources: Kris Letang close to deal ESPN / Letang, Pens talk; Lecavalier makes rounds FOXSports.com / Lightning take winger Jonathan Drouin with No. 3 pick NBCSports.com / Lamoriello insists Brodeur is still a No. 1 goalie NBCSports.com / Caps letting Ribeiro go to market NBCSports.com / NHL draft stats: Recapping the first round USA TODAY / Devils acquire Cory Schneider from Canucks USA TODAY / Blackhawks re-sign Bryan Bickell, trade Dave Bolland USA TODAY / Seth Jones' selection by Predators is history-making YAHOO SPORTS / 2013 NHL draft: Seth Jones drops into perfect position with the Predators Winnipeg Jets 683346 683347 683348 683349 683350 683351 683352 Jets pick up Frolik, Lodge and Lipon in third round Jets go for Petan in second round Jets snag Morrissey in first pick Jets fans gather for draft day Burmistrov departure rumours amp up before draft Winnipeg Jets take defenceman Josh Morrissey with 13th overall pick of NHL entry draft Jets acquire Frolik from Hawks in draft day deal SPORT-SCAN, INC. 941-284-4129 683113 Anaheim Ducks Hockey: Ducks get defenseman; Kings trade up for winger By Elliott Teaford @ElliottTeaford on Twitter Posted: 06/30/2013 10:24:21 PM PDT Updated: 06/30/2013 10:28:20 PM PDT The Ducks and Kings waited and waited and waited some more to make their first picks in Sunday's NHL draft. When the time came, the Ducks used their first-round pick (26th overall) to take defenseman Shea Theodore from Seattle of the Western Hockey League. Theodore scored 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) in 71 games last season for the Thunderbirds. "Shea is a great skater and can really move the puck," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said of Theodore, who was the 11th-ranked North American skater going into the draft. "The way the game is played now, that's really important. You need players like that. We are really excited." Theodore doesn't turn 18 until Aug. 3, so it's likely he'll return to Seattle to play next season rather than join the Ducks' American Hockey League affiliate at Norfolk, Va. Theodore said he looked forward to gaining strength and developing his game, particularly on the defensive end. He also said he looked forward to meeting Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler and former player and current assistant coach Scott Niedermayer, who has mentored Fowler, a first-round pick in 2010. Fowler also lived in Niedermayer's Orange County home during his rookie season. "I'm sure I can learn a lot from him," Theodore said of Niedermayer. The Kings dealt their first three picks to the Edmonton Oilers to move up to No. 37 and select Russian left wing Valentin Zykov of Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the second round, more than 3 1/2 hours after the draft began a little past noon (PDT). Edmonton received picks in the second (57th), third (88th) and fourth rounds (96th). Zykov, the Canadian junior-level rookie of the year, was the top scorer among rookies in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this past season with 75 points and 40 goals in 67 games. Overall, he was 10th in the league in goals and was the team's second-leading scorer. He told a reporter for the Kings' website he idolized Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings while growing up in Russia. His style is not like Datsyuk, however. He described himself as more of a power forward than a skater with a lot of smooth moves with the puck. "I didn't expect that L.A. would draft me," he said. "I was really, really happy." LA Daily News: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683114 Boston Bruins Bruins select D Linus Arnesson in second round Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff June 30, 2013 07:35 PM NEWARK – The Bruins have selected defenseman Linus Arnesson with their second-round pick. Arnesson is a 6-foot-1, 179-pound defenseman who played for Sweden’s Djurgarden this past season. The left-shot Arnesson split time between Djurgarden’s men’s team and junior club. Arnesson is a two-way defenseman. Arnesson scored zero goals and one assist while playing for the men’s team. On the junior team, Arnesson scored one goal and three assists. Djurgarden did not play in the Swedish Elite League. The club competed in Sweden’s second-tier league. Arnesson compared himself to Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson, who had a strong series against the Bruins. Arnesson interviewed with the Bruins during the NHL combine in May in Toronto. Arnesson will play in Sweden next year, then transition to North American play. Boston Globe LOADED: 07.01.2013 683115 Boston Bruins Bruins meet with Vincent Lecavalier Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff June 30, 2013 12:21 PM JERSEY CITY, N.J. – The Bruins met with Vincent Lecavalier and agent Kent Hughes on Saturday. Lecavalier will reach the open market next Friday. The former Tampa Bay captain was bought out by the Lightning, making him available for every club. Lecavalier became a bigger target for the Bruins after Nathan Horton declared his intention to test free agency. “With what happened with Nathan, it became a little more ripe,” said GM Peter Chiarelli. “We had a good meeting.” The Bruins would most likely have to convince Lecavalier to change positions. David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron are the top two centers. Lecavalier does not project to be a No. 3 center. Chiarelli said Lecavalier would be amenable to switching to wing. * Chiarelli acknowledged being surprised by Horton’s decision. “Yeah. I was surprised,” Chiarelli said. “I respect someone’s decision to go to free agency. I think it was a real tough decision for him and his family. I can never say never. Maybe he’ll come back and want to revisit it. But the message I got is that he’s going to test free agency and wants a new beginning.” * Chiarelli said there was a deluge of calls on Tyler Seguin’s availability yesterday. The inquiries halted once Horton’s decision was made. * The Bruins are still pursuing a first-round pick. It is unlikely they will land one. Boston Globe LOADED: 07.01.2013 683116 Boston Bruins Bruins happy with six draft picks Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff June 30, 2013 10:48 PM The Bruins were satisfied with their six selections in the 2013 draft: three Europeans (Linus Arnesson, Peter Cehlarik, Anton Blidh), two New Englanders (Ryan Fitzgerald, Wiley Sherman), and Canadian Mitchell Dempsey. “I think we were able to stick to our policy of having Bruins-style players,” said Wayne Smith, director of amateur scouting. “People that are committed to winning and committed to the team game. I’m confident in every one of those players that they’ll do everything they can to make it. I know they’re excited about it.” Some observations about the prospects from Smith, assistant GM Jim Benning, and European head scout Jukka Holtari: Arnesson: “Steady defenseman. Very difficult to beat one-on-one. Responsible. Sticks up for his teammates. Plays a good puck-moving game. Has size to go with it.” (Smith) Cehlarik: “If he turns out what we wish him to be, the style of play reminds me a little bit of Anze Kopitar. Kopitar was already ahead of this player at this age. He played in the men’s world championships. But the style of play has some similarities.” (Holtari) Sherman: “We drafted him because he’s 6-foot-6. He’s a raw player right now. But he’s athletic. He’s a good skater. He can make a good first pass. We’re hoping he develops into a defensive, stay-at-home D-man. If he hits his high side, we’re hoping he can kind of play a Hal Gill-style of game.” (Benning) Fitzgerald: “He’s a real smart hockey player. He plays hard. He competes hard. He’ll fit right into our culture and our competitiveness. I think he’s going to be a real good player for us.” (Benning) Blidh: “Plays a Bruins-style of play. He’s an up-and-down, hard-nosed kid.” (Smith) Dempsey: “Big, strong kid. Had injury problems with a high ankle sprain and pneumonia this year. Fortunately, we were very familiar with him. We took a chance he’s going to have a comeback season this season.” (Smith) Boston Globe LOADED: 07.01.2013 683117 Boston Bruins Bruins select Swedish defenseman, eye Lecavalier AP / June 30, 2013 BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Bruins, hit with the news they will likely be losing right wing Nathan Horton to free agency, are one of many teams interested in signing free-agent forward Vincent Lecavalier. The team met with the center Saturday in New Jersey. Recently released by the Tampa bay Lightning via a compliance lockout, Lecavalier is clearly a hot commodity on the open market and moved onto the Bruins’ radar after Boston, the runner-up in the Stanley Cup final, was told by Horton’s agent that he will test the market. ‘‘With what happened with Nathan, it became a little more ripe,’’ general manager Peter Chiarelli told the media in Newark. ‘‘We had a good meeting.’’ With forwards David Krejci and Patrice Bergeron already centering the top two lines, the Bruins would likely move Lecavalier to a wing. Chiarelli said Lecavalier is willing to make the move. While the Bruins are in the mix, Lecavalier is a Montreal native and also grew up as a fan of the Detroit Red Wings. The Canadiens talked about trading for him in 2009. ‘‘Montreal is a special place with a lot of history and it can offer a lot,’’ Lecavalier said after the buyout was announced. ‘‘They have a good team, they proved it last year, so I'm open to Montreal. But I'm not closing the door on anyone. ‘‘The door is open for everyone and after that we'll see.’’ The Philadelphia Flyers, with some cap space after two buyouts of their own last week, also have an interest in Lecavalier. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren met with Lecavalier over the weekend, as well. Lecavalier, 33, is likely seeking a five-year deal, on top of the $30-plus million he will receive from the Lightning for the buyout. With 32 points in 39 games this season, he has 383 goals and 874 points in his 14-year career, and led the Lightning to the 2004 Stanley Cup. Chiarelli said he was ‘‘surprised’’ at Horton’s position, and left the door open for a change of heart on Horton’s part. He also said he has been receiving calls regarding forward Tyler Seguin, who is slated to make $5.75 million next year. Losing Horton could mean not trading Seguin, but the signing of Lecavalier could change that. Seguin struggled in the postseason, scoring just one goal, as Boston won the Eastern Conference for the second time in three years. On Sunday night, Chiarelli, talking about Seguin, said, ‘‘he’s got to commit his mind and focus to the one task at hand. He’s got to become more of a professional. You know what? I can say that about a lot of 21-year-olds. I know he got criticized for playing on the periphery and all that stuff. He did. He’s got to commit to being a professional and focusing on the game. Simple as that. He does that, we don’t expect him to be crashing and banging. ‘‘Just play your game.’’ The Bruins, who have shown a commitment to lock up marquee players long term in the Chiarelli era, appear close on a six-year contract extension with Bergeron. Boston, which didn’t have a first-round pick in the draft, selected Swedish defenseman Linus Arnesson with the 60th choice. Arnesson, 18 and listed at 6 foot, 2 inches, 190 pounds, played for Djurgarden in Stockholm and was projected as a third- or fourth-round pick by experts. As it turned out, he went one pick from the end of the second round. ‘‘Versatile defenseman, good skater,’’ Chiarelli said, ‘‘not necessarily a banger but a solid, two-way defenseman.’’ The Bruins surrendered their first-round pick to Dallas in the conditional deal for Jaromir Jagr that went from a second- to a first-rounder because Boston reached the Eastern Conference finals. In the third round, the Bruins tabbed left wing Peter Cehlarik, a Slovakian playing in Sweden. In Round 4, Boston tabbed local talent Ryan Fitzgerald, a center who played with the Valley Junior Warriors in the Boston area last year and is headed for Boston College. He is the son of former Bruins and current Pittsburgh assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald and the nephew of Bruins’ director of amateur scouting Scott Fitzgerald. In the fifth round, the Bruins took 6-6 Harvard defenseman Wiley Sherman, from Greenwich, Conn. In Round 6, Boston tabbed winger Anton Blidh, from Sweden. Then, with the next-to-last pick in the draft, the Bruins took left wing Mitchell Dempsey from Cambridge, Ontario. Boston Globe LOADED: 07.01.2013 683118 Boston Bruins Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli on Tyler Seguin: 'Got to become more of a professional' Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff June 30, 2013 08:16 PM Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli issued his most emphatic critique of Tyler Seguin since the forward entered the NHL. “He’s got to commit his mind and focus to the one task at hand,” Chiarelli said. “He’s got to become more of a professional. You know what? I can say that about a lot of 21-year-olds. I know he got criticized for playing on the periphery and all that stuff. He did. He’s got to commit to being a professional and focusing on the game. Simple as that. He does that, we don’t expect him to be crashing and banging. Just play your game.” Inquiries on Seguin withered after Nathan Horton declared his intention to test free agency. If he were to trade Seguin, Chiarelli said he would demand an elite young player or prospect in return. Even if Seguin is not traded, Chiarelli hopes the chatter will straighten out the forward. “I hope it does,” Chiarelli said. “If it doesn’t, I’d be more concerned. We gave Tyler a big contract because he projects and he had good performance. I would expect that going forward.” Starting next season, Seguin will earn $5.75 million annually for the next six years. Boston Globe LOADED: 07.01.2013 683119 Boston Bruins Williamsville's Bailey on becoming a Sabre: 'It's just absolutely amazing' June 30, 2013 - 8:15 PM By Mike Harrington NEWARK, N.J. -- Justin Bailey waited through 51 picks -- including two in the second round by the Buffalo Sabres. Then his hometown team pulled the trigger, making the Williamsville native and Kitchener Rangers winger their third pick of the second round this evening. Pretty heady stuff for a guy who has known Matthew Barnaby since he was a tot and played for Pat LaFontaine's Long Island Royals. If you missed John Vogl's story on the life of Bailey today, you must go to this link and check it out. "It was amazing for my family and myself," said Bailey, who had nearly 30 family members and friends with him in the Prudential Center. "You grow up and you're playing hockey and especially for me loving the Sabres, quoting Rick Jeanneret when I was younger, knowing every guy on the team and growing up with them as well. It's just absolutely amazing." The 6-3, 186-pound Bailey had 17 goals and 36 points in 57 games this season. He's a bit of a project, likely 2-3 years away from the NHL. But he said it was "surreal" to don a blue Sabres jersey when he was selected Sunday. And he's a week away from skating at First Niagara Center in an official capacity as part of the team's development camp. "It's incredible. I love that rink and I can't wait to go out there and show them what I have," he said. Speaking of incredible, Vogl and I had quite a talk a few minutes ago with Bailey's mother, Karen Buscaglia. She recalled a few years ago having Justin hanging around Amherst getting Sabres autographs. "I was in the rinks at the summer skates at the Northtown Center and he'd make me wait there and I'd be like, 'We already have their autographs' and he'd get them 500 times," she said. "He had Afinogenov and all those guys. It's just amazing to see this little kid that stood out at the rinks and now he's pulling the jersey over his head for the team." Boston Globe LOADED: 07.01.2013 683120 Boston Bruins Bruins, Vincent Lecavalier have ‘good meeting’ By Fluto Shinzawa Globe Staff July 01, 2013 NEWARK — On Saturday night, the Bruins met with Vincent Lecavalier and his agent, Kent Hughes. The former Tampa Bay captain was once a far-fetched pursuit for the Bruins. But earlier Saturday, Nathan Horton informed the Bruins he would hit the market when free agency opens on Friday. Horton’s impending departure jacked up the heat on the Bruins’ chase of Lecavalier. The Lightning used one of their compliance buyouts on Lecavalier Thursday. Tampa Bay will pay Lecavalier $32,666,667 over the next 14 years to be rid of his $7,727,273 annual cap hit. “With what happened with Nathan, it became a little more ripe,” said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. “We had a good meeting.” The Bruins didn’t anticipate Horton’s decision. They wouldn’t have been able to give Horton the term and salary he will command on the open market. But Horton liked his teammates and was an excellent fit on the first line with Milan Lucic and David Krejci. The Bruins were prepared to clear salary — Rich Peverley was the leading candidate — to accommodate Horton. “Yeah. I was surprised,” Chiarelli said. “I respect someone’s decision to go to free agency. I think it was a real tough decision for him and his family. I can never say never. Maybe he’ll come back and want to revisit it. But the message I got is that he’s going to test free agency and wants a new beginning.” Filling Horton’s spot is just one of the chores facing the Bruins. Chiarelli said his first priority is to extend his go-to players. Deals for Tuukka Rask (restricted free agent on Friday) and Patrice Bergeron (unrestricted after 2013-14) are coming. Neither the Bruins nor the players’ representatives anticipate any roadblocks impeding their extensions. “Our first priority is to make sure we have our core players locked up,” Chiarelli said. “Then we’ll have to fill in the holes a little bit. It doesn’t mean you can’t do that at the same time.” Lecavalier would replace Horton as a top-six forward. The 33-year-old leftshot center has 383 goals and 491 assists in 1,037 career games, all with the Lightning. Lecavalier was one of Tampa’s three offensive dynamos alongside Steven Stamkos and Martin St. Louis. In previous seasons, the Bruins matched Zdeno Chara against Lecavalier instead of Stamkos and St. Louis. The 6-foot-4-inch, 215-pound Lecavalier is strong on the puck and skilled in the danger areas. Lecavalier could man the right-side half-boards on the power play and replace Jaromir Jagr. To play in Boston, Lecavalier most likely would have to move to wing. Krejci and Bergeron are the top two centers. Lecavalier does not project to be a third-line center. Chiarelli said Lecavalier would be amenable to switching positions. Landing Lecavalier, however, will be challenging. Lecavalier met with more than five teams before Sunday’s draft. Toronto is desperate for a No. 1 center to play alongside Phil Kessel. The Maple Leafs would trump any Bruins offer in salary and term. During their meeting, the Bruins pitched Lecavalier on their strong roster. Lecavalier would not have to be a primary weapon. “I think we’ve got such a strong core that I think there will be players who want to come play for us,” Chiarelli said. “If we don’t decide to proceed on Vinny or he decides to go [elsewhere], that’s not a reflection on him not wanting to win. We’ve got a good, strong core. We’re going to try and keep this core. There’ll be players. There’ll be players that want to win, shooters we can fill in on that line.” Lecavalier is just one forward the Bruins could pursue in free agency. Jarome Iginla, the would-be Bruin, could be another. Pascal Dupuis, Sidney Crosby’s right wing, also could be a short-term solution. Both Iginla and Dupuis, more than Lecavalier, fit the shoot-first characteristic the Bruins are seeking for their first line. Chiarelli acknowledged it would be difficult to land a power forward with Horton’s shot and snarl. Of the two characteristics, Chiarelli prefers a shooting touch to accompany Lucic’s brawn and Krejci’s creativity. “It will be tough,” Chiarelli said of finding a replacement to re-form the line’s former identity. “There’s obviously chemistry there. There’s different ways to look at building your line. There’s building in pairs. Maybe that’s something to look at rather than getting an exact replacement for Horty. To attempt to try and re-create the chemistry, that will be hard. You’d like to have a shooter on that line.” In Chiarelli’s first year in Boston, the Bruins produced a UFA thunderclap by signing Chara and Marc Savard. They were the foundation pieces for the franchise’s makeover. Since then, Chiarelli has not been active in free agency. The most significant UFA was Michael Ryder (three years, $12 million) on July 1, 2008. Come Friday, the Bruins may be more aggressive. “You’re going to go into free agency, you’re going to overpay. You have to accept that,” Chiarelli said. “That’s the risk and the reward the player takes. It’s the risk and reward the team takes. The reward is that you’re going to get a player that can help you. The risk is that you’re going to overspend in term and value. I think there’s going to be a lot of players. We have to be resourceful.” Boston Globe LOADED: 07.01.2013 683121 Boston Bruins Arnesson is a two-way defenseman. He scored no goals and had one assist while playing for the men’s team. On the junior team, Arnesson scored one goal and had three assists. Tyler Seguin called out by Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli Arnesson compared himself with Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson. Arnesson will remain in Sweden in 2013-14. Fluto Shinzawa Stars make pick Globe Staff The Bruins originally traded a conditional second-round pick to Dallas as part of the Jaromir Jagr trade. That pick became a first-rounder for Dallas when the Bruins reached the Eastern Conference finals, and Dallas drafted forward Jason Dickinson with the No. 29 selection. July 01, 2013 NEWARK – The Bruins are not happy with Tyler Seguin. The 21-year-old submitted a question mark of a third NHL season. Seguin scored 16 goals and had 16 assists during the regular season. In the postseason, Seguin recorded one goal and had seven assists. He showed sparing interest in being strong on the puck or entering the dirty areas. Seguin is nowhere close to being the Steven Stamkos-like player the Bruins once projected him to become. The Bruins’ displeasure with the right wing is one reason they considered trade inquiries before Sunday’s draft. “He’s got to commit his mind and focus on the one task at hand,” general manager Peter Chiarelli said. “He’s got to become more of a professional. And you know what? I can say that about a lot of 21-year-olds. I know he got criticized for playing on the periphery and all that stuff. He did. He’s got to commit to being a professional and focusing on the game. He does that, we don’t expect him to be crashing and banging. Just play your game.” Seguin has few NHL peers when measured by speed and shot. His best year was in 2011-12. Seguin poured in 29 goals and had 38 assists while playing mostly on the No. 2 line with Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. But Seguin regressed in 2013. He did not display enough courage or smarts for his bosses’ liking. Too often, Seguin played like a youngster who never had to develop his battle level or hockey sense because of his great talent. Chiarelli’s comments regarding professionalism underscore questions regarding Seguin’s maturity. Seguin showed a flickering level of engagement in the playoffs and was demoted to the No. 3 line. The bottom-six rotation is not an acceptable landing spot for a former No. 2 pick who will carry the second-highest cap hit among team forwards next season. On Sept. 11, 2012, the Bruins signed Seguin to a six-year, $34.5 million extension. They did not have to do so. Seguin had one season remaining on his entry-level contract. But the Bruins followed Carolina and Edmonton, who extended Jeff Skinner and Taylor Hall, also drafted in 2010, to long-term contracts. The Bruins had faith Seguin would deserve to carry a $5.75 million annual cap hit, second only to Milan Lucic ($6 million). So far, it looks like a premature call. “I hope it does,” Chiarelli said when asked if trade talk would command Seguin’s attention. “If it doesn’t, I’d be more concerned. We gave Tyler a big contract because he projects and he had good performance. I would expect that going forward.” On Sunday, Chiarelli reiterated that he had listened to several trade inquiries. The GM was overwhelmed with calls once word leaked of Seguin’s availability. Inquiries withered after Nathan Horton declared his intention to test free agency. Despite Seguin’s flaws, it would not have served the Bruins well to lose two right wings. “If I were to trade Tyler, it would be for an elite young prospect or player,” Chiarelli said. “He’s an elite young player who had an average year. He’s 21 and I expect big things from him. I wasn’t satisfied with his year. He wasn’t either. So we move on. He’s a [heck] of a player and will be a [heck] of a player.” Arnesson selected With their first pick, the Bruins drafted Swedish defenseman Linus Arnesson in the second round. The 6-foot-1-inch, 179-pound Arnesson played for Djurgarden in Sweden’s Allsvenskan (second tier below the Swedish Elite League) this past season. The left-shot Arnesson split time between Djurgarden’s men’s team and junior club. Dickinson had 18 goals and 29 assists in 66 games for Guelph this past season. Cehlarik tapped The Bruins tabbed Slovakian forward Peter Cehlarik in the third round. He is a left-shot forward who most recently played for Lulea of the Swedish Elite League. Cehlarik dressed for Lulea’s men’s and junior teams. For the juniors, Cehlarik scored 17 goals and had 20 assists in 38 games . . . The Bruins drafted forward Ryan Fitzgerald in the fourth round. The right-shot forward is the son of ex-Bruin Tom Fitzgerald. Ryan Fitzgerald (Malden Catholic) played for the EJHL’s Valley Junior Warriors in 2012-13. He scored 14 goals and had 16 assists in 26 games. The North Reading native will be a Boston College freshman this fall . . . The Bruins selected defenseman Wiley Sherman in the fifth round. The native of Greenwich, Conn., is a 6-6, 206-pounder who played for Hotchkiss in 2012-13. Sherman will be a Harvard freshman in 2014 . . . The Bruins picked forward Anton Blidh in the sixth round. Blidh had 17 goals and 10 assists in 43 games for Frolunda of the Swedish Elite League . . . Boston took forward Mitchell Dempsey with the third-to-last pick of the night. The 6-3, 204-pound Dempsey had a goal and four assists for Sault St. Marie (OHL). Boston Globe LOADED: 07.01.2013 683122 Boston Bruins B's GM Peter Chiarelli has Lecavalier, Seguin and Horton on his mind Sunday, June 30, 2013 Steve Conroy NEWARK, N.J. — Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli this morning expressed surprise that Nathan Horton has decided to test free agency, confirmed he's had discussions with teams about trading Tyler Seguin, and acknowledged that he has held talks with Vincent Lecavalier's camp about bringing the soon-to-be free agent to Boston. At the start of what could be a very busy draft day at Prudential Center for the Bruins, Chiarelli met with reporters at the team's hotel in Jersey City and first spoke about Horton. “Yeah, I was surprised,” Chiarelli said of Horton's decision. “I respect someone’s decision to go to free agency. I think it was a real tough decision for him and his family. I can never say never. Maybe he’ll come back and want to revisit it. But the message I got is that he’s going to test free agency and wants a new beginning.” As for Seguin, Chiarelli conceded that that he'd had discussions with teams about the 21-year-old's services and, once word got out, received a “deluge” of calls. Those stopped once Horton's decision was made. Chiarelli said that he talked with Seguin's agent Ian Pulver to let him know what was going on. “I've got a lot of balls in the air, guys,” said Chiarelli. With Horton not coming back, that could prevent the GM from moving Seguin, considering they're already down a right wing. But you never know what's going to become available at the draft. Chiarelli also confirmed that he met with the Lecavalier camp on Saturday. Lecavalier is being bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning and will become an unrestricted free agent on July 5. Lecavalier, 33, played in 39 games for the Lightning last season with 10 goals and 22 assists. He also suffered a broken bone in his foot that caused him to miss nine games. He has 383-491-874 career numbers. The Bruins are just one of many teams that have inquired about Lecavalier. The GM is hoping that the Bruins' Cup appearances the last few years will be enough to sway Lecavalier — or soneone of that ilk — to play with a winner. “With what happened with Nathan, it became a little more ripe,” said Chiarelli of the Lecavalier talks. “We had a good meeting.” Chiarelli said that Lecavalier, a natural centerman, would be open to changing positions to right wing to fill the void left by Horton. Lecavalier is represented by Kent Hughes, who also represents Patrice Bergeron. Boston Herald LOADED: 07.01.2013 683123 Boston Bruins B’s go Euro to start Monday, July 1, 2013 Steve Conroy, Bruins Notebook NEWARK, N.J. — Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli usually likes taking good Canadian boys in the early rounds at draft time. But last night at the Prudential Center, he and his organization went off his grid. In all, the B’s took three Europeans and two New Englanders, and didn’t select a Canadian until the final round. “We try to take the best player we can every year and this year it fell that there were more Europeans than usual,” chief scout Wayne Smith said. Operating without a first-round pick because of the Jaromir Jagr trade, the B’s selected Swedish defenseman Linus Arnesson in the second round and Peter Cehlarik, a Slovakian-born forward who played in Sweden, in the third round. Then, for the second straight year, the B’s not only went local, but in-house. In the fourth round, they selected forward Ryan Fitzgerald, whose father, Tom, was a one-time Bruin, and whose uncle Scott is the B’s assistant director of amateur scouting. Last year, the B’s took Charlestown’s Matt Grzelcyk, whose father, John, works on the Garden’s Bull Gang. “Being from Boston and hearing them call your name, it’s definitely something special. I’ll have it with me for the rest of my life,” said Fitzgerald, who played with the Valley Junior Warriors last year after playing at Malden Catholic. “The ups and downs with everything in Boston this year, with the Marathon, and now being a part of this organization is huge as well.” Tom Fitzgerald is a scout in the Penguins organization, but he kept the inside scoop about which way Pittsburgh was leaning to himself. “He was on the fence on whether he’d keep me informed,” Fitzgerald said. “But he just sat back and was a dad throughout this whole process, which was good.” The 5-foot-10, 168-pound Fitzgerald described himself as a heady player. “I think I’m a smart player who makes the players around him better,” said Fitzgerald, who is headed to Boston College in the fall. “I like to think I play 200 feet of ice and I’m a good utility player you can toss up there whenever you need something done.” Fitzgerald remembers as a kid being in the B’s dressing room when his father was with the team. “The time he was here, I was running around the locker room. It’s weird to think I’m part of the organization now. . . . It’s a great feeling,” Fitzgerald said. He and Grzelcyk are good friends as well. “He’s one of my best friends. I grew up playing with him,” Fitzgerald said. “I’ve talked with him throughout this whole process. Being together in the same organization is great.” Smith said the family ties are nice, but Fitzgerald can play hockey. “Ryan Fitz is his own man,” Smith said. “He’s a winner. I look for him to be a Bruin at some point. I don’t think there’s going to be anything that’s going to hold him back. I know he’s going to die trying. There’s nothing more he loves than this city and this hockey team, so it’s an exciting fit for us all.” Promising pair Chiarelli gave his scouting report on the first two players taken. “Arnesson’s a real solid defender. Cehlarik’s got a little bit of (the Chicago Blackhawks’ Michal) Handzus. He dishes, he has good size, a good twoway player,” Chiarelli said. Chiarelli did not have a comparable for Arnesson in his mind. “He’s a versatile defenseman, a good skater, good defender, not elite offensively,” Chiarelli said. “Not a banger, just a solid two-way defenseman.” Arnesson came away from his meeting with the B’s with a good feeling. “I think I had a very good meeting with them at the combine and I got a really good feeling of the Bruins, too,” Arnesson told a pool reporter. “And I’m very happy right now to be selected by them.” The 6-1, 179-pound Arnesson had one assist with in 31 games with Djurgarden, while the 5-10, 168-pound Cehlarik had 17-20-37 totals in 36 games with the Lulea junior team. Taking a T.O. The B’s drew boos from the crowd when they called a timeout before their sixth-round pick, but it wasn’t their fault. Because of technical difficulties, the name they wanted to pick, Anton Blidh, a Swedish left winger from the junior team in Frolunda, wouldn’t come up on their computer. Then Chiarelli mistakenly called out the name Mitchell Dempsey before immediately rectifying the mistake and taking Blidh. No worries. Dempsey, a forward from Sault Ste. Marie who battled through injury and illness this year, was still available when the B’s were picking in the seventh round. . . . The Bruins used their fifth-round pick on Wiley Sherman, a 6-6 defenseman from the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut. . . . Chiarelli, who said he might make a trade before the July 5 start of free agency, said negotiations with goalie Tuukka Rask are ongoing. Boston Herald LOADED: 07.01.2013 683124 Boston Bruins Message sent to Tyler Seguin Monday, July 1, 2013 Steve Conroy NEWARK, N.J. — Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli yesterday confirmed he’s had discussions with teams about trading Tyler Seguin. He hopes Seguin got the message. Chiarelli said he received a “deluge” of calls when news about talks involving Seguin leaked out. Those stopped once Nathan Horton decided to enter free agency and Chiarelli’s desire to move him waned as well. “If I were to trade Tyler, it would be for an elite young prospect or player,” Chiarelli said during yesterday’s NHL draft. “He’s an elite young player who had an average year. He’s 21 and I expect big things from him. I wasn’t satisfied with his year and neither was he. We’ll move on, but he’s a hell of a player and will be a hell of a player.” Asked what Seguin had to do to take the next step, Chiarelli spoke to Seguin’s maturity. “He’s got to commit his mind and focus to the one task at hand. He’s got to become more of a professional,” Chiarelli said. “I can say that about a lot of 21-year-olds. I know he got criticized a lot for playing on the periphery, and he did. He did. But he’s got to commit to being a professional and his focus on the game. We don’t expect him to crash and bang, just focus on his game.” Did Chiarelli think this would catch Seguin’s attention? “I hope it does. If it doesn’t, I’d be more concerned,” Chiarelli said. “Listen, we gave Tyler a big contract because he had good performance and I expect that going forward.” Earlier in the day, Chiarelli expressed surprise that Horton had decided to test free agency, and also said that he held talks with Vincent Lecavalier’s camp about bringing the soon-to-be free agent to Boston. There was a lot of anticipation yesterday that the Bruins would make a big deal, but as the draft reached its conclusion last night, they hadn’t pulled the trigger on anything. The Horton decision could have slowed any momentum Chiarelli may have had toward any potential deal. “Yeah. I was surprised,” Chiarelli said of Horton’s choice to hit the open market. “I respect someone’s decision to go to free agency. I think it was a real tough decision for him and his family. I can never say never. Maybe he’ll come back and want to revisit it. But the message I got is that he’s going to test free agency and wants a new beginning.” The size-and-skill package that Horton possesses will be hard to replace. When he was going with David Krejci and Milan Lucic at the same time, they comprised a line that was hard to stop. “It will be tough. There’s obviously chemistry there,” Chiarelli said. “There are different ways to look at building your line. There’s building in pairs. Maybe that’s something to look at rather than getting an exact replacement for Horty. To attempt to try and recreate the chemistry, that will be hard. You’d like to have a shooter on that line.” And speaking of shooters, Chiarelli confirmed that he met with the Lecavalier camp Saturday. Lecavalier is being bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning and will become an unrestricted free agent Friday. The Bruins are just one of many teams that have inquired about him. “With what happened with Nathan, it became a little more ripe,” Chiarelli said. “We had a good meeting.” Chiarelli is hoping that his team’s solid core can sway Lecavalier — or someone of that ilk — to play with a winner. “I think we’ve got such a strong core that I think there will be players who want to come play for us,” Chiarelli said. “If we don’t decide to proceed on Vinny or he decides to go, that’s not a reflection on him not wanting to win. We’ve got a good, strong core. We’re going to try and keep this core. There’ll be players. There’ll be players that want to win, shooters we can fill in on that line.” With so many teams in on Lecavalier — at least nine, counting the Bruins — the price is bound to be steep. That’s a fact of life in free agency, said Chiarelli. It could be that he waits for the secondary market to open up to see what bargains are available. “You’re going to go into free agency, you’re going to overpay. You have to accept that,” Chiarelli said. “That’s the risk and the reward the player takes. It’s the risk and reward the team takes. The reward is that you’re going to get a player that can help you. The risk is that you’re going to overspend in term and value. I think there’s going to be a lot of players. We have to be resourceful. “Our first priority is to make sure we have our core players locked up. Then we’ll have to fill in the holes a little bit. It doesn’t mean you can’t do that at the same time. I don’t know if I’ll go fully in.” Boston Herald LOADED: 07.01.2013 683125 Boston Bruins LeBlanc, Pinho head local draftees Monday, July 1, 2013 Adam Kurkjian Yesterday’s NHL draft produced a slew of surprises for local skaters, but perhaps none bigger than Winthrop’s Chris LeBlanc going to the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round. “I had no clue,” LeBlanc, a Herald All-Scholastic in 2012, said shortly after getting the call. “I talked to a couple teams, but I never said a word to Ottawa.” At Winthrop High, LeBlanc helped the Vikings reach the 2012 Division 2 North final before losing to eventual state champion Wilmington. He then spent this past season with the South Shore Kings in the Eastern Junior Hockey League, where he had 13 goals and 20 assists. The 6-foot-3, 195pound right winger will play at Merrimack next season. What made LeBlanc’s journey all the more unexpected is he had a chance to forego his senior year at Winthrop and play at a prep school where he’d get more exposure, but he declined. It was a decision that he admits he regretted until yesterday. “Yeah, I mean, I’m sure I would have gained a lot more experience out there,” LeBlanc said, “but it was important to make good memories while I was in high school.” Said his coach at Winthrop, Dale Dunbar: “He’s an exceptional talent. I mean, even in high school, me and (fellow Winthrop native and Olympic hero) Mike Eruzione used to watch him on the ice, and he just could do things you can’t teach — his instincts, his hockey sense, just everything in terms of a real natural player. “His freshman year, he was (5-foot-9) and by his junior year he was 6-3. So he had a big growth spurt, but he didn’t lose any of his coordination. He’s a rink rat and he’s playing every chance he gets. He has a real passion and drive to be good.” Another late, local pick was St. John’s Prep’s Brian Pinho, a 6-0, 170-pound center from North Andover who went in the sixth round to the Washington Capitals. “I’m pretty relieved, to be honest,” said Pinho, who scored 18 goals and dished out 34 assists to earn Catholic Conference co-MVP honors this season. “Well, I went to bed real late because I couldn’t fall asleep. Then I woke up at 6:45 in the morning and just hung out in my room, waiting for he draft. It was really nerve-wracking. I was really anxious to be picked but I was excited to be called by Washington.” Pinho, who talked most with the Anaheim Ducks, Montreal Canadiens and the Bruins, felt like Washington “came out of the blue” to select him. “I’ve always liked the Capitals,” he said. “They’re a great organization and it’s obviously cool to be drafted by a team with a superstar like (Alex) Ovechkin.” The big news of the day came when former Malden Catholic forward Ryan Fitzgerald went in the fourth round to the Bruins, but there were other noteworthy local selections. Anthony Florentino, a West Roxbury native who played at Selects Academy, went to the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round, and Boston native and Salisbury School defenseman Ryan Segalla went to the Pittsburgh Penguins at the end of the fourth. The first local skater to be picked was Auburn, N.H., native Zach Sanford, who went to the Capitals at the end of the second round. Boston Herald LOADED: 07.01.2013 683126 Buffalo Sabres With the 22nd pick, the Calgary Flames took speedy winger Emile Poirier. The Flames got the pick from the St. Louis Blues in the trade for defenseman Jay Boumeester. Round One: Sabres pick Ristolainen, Zadorov At 23rd, the Washington Capitals selected Swedish winger Andre Burakovsky. Staff Writer The Vancouver Canucks selected small but dynamic forward Hunter Shinkaruk with the 24th pick. June 30, 2013 - 3:18 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 6:55 PM The Buffalo Sabres took Finnish defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen with their first pick in the NHL draft Sunday, eighth overall. They also went with defense with their second pick, taking Nikita Zadorov of the London Knights 16th. Montreal took Michael McCarron 25th. He’s the first player from the United States selected since Jones at fourth overall. At 6-5, 22-pounds, the forward addresses the Canadiens’ need for size. Offensive defenseman Shea Theodore went 26th to Anaheim. With their final pick of the first round, the Blue Jackets took forward Marko Dano. Ristolainen, 6-foot-4, was rated eighth overall by TSN in their final draft rankings. He scored 15 points (3-12-15) for TPS Turku of the Finish Elite League. Forward Morgan Klimchuk went to Calgary at 28th. He scored 36 goals for Regina last season. Zadorov is 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds. He totaled 25 points (6-19-25) for London of the OHL and was plus-33. Dallas then took Jason Dickinson of the Guelph Storm with the 29th pick, giving Lindy Ruff two new forwards in his first draft with the Stars. The New Jersey Devils then made a big trade, sending the ninth overall pick to Vancouver for goalie Cory Schneider. With that pick the Canucks took forward Bo Horvat of the London Knights. Closing out the first round, Chicago GM Stan Bowman selected Ryan Hartman from Plymouth. The Colorado Avalanche did as they hinted they would, selecting Halifax center Nathan McKinnon with the first pick at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. The Florida Panthers then pulled a surprise by picking Alexander Barkov, passing on defenseman Seth Jones and winger Jonathan Drouin. Tampa Bay selected Drouin with the third pick, meaning Jones, who had been the top-rated player for much of the spring, has fallen out of the top three. Jones didn’t drop out of the top four. Nashville, which lost defenseman Ryan Suter in free agency last year, took the Portland defenseman with the fourth selection. There were rumors that Carolina would trade the fifth overall selection, but the Hurricanes held on to it and took center Elias Lindholm. The Calgary Flames had three picks in the first round, sixth, 22nd and 28th. With the first of those selections, GM Jay Feaster took center Sean Monahan. The Edmonton Oilers, who had been rumored to be shopping the seventh overall pick, instead kept it and selected defenseman Darnell Nurse. He is the nephew of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb. With the 10th pick, Dallas took big Russian winger Valeri Nichushkin. Philadelphia got the big defenseman they craved, taking Sam Morin at 11th overall. The Phoenix Coyotes, for the third year in a row, took the son of a former NHLer, selecting forward Max Domi of the London Knights. He is the son of Tie Domi. With the 13th pick, the Winnipeg Jets took defenseman Joshua Morrissey. The Columbus Blue Jackets took Swedish center Alexander Wennberg and the Islanders followed by selecting defenseman Ryan Pulock of the Brandon Wheat Kings 15th. After the Sabres took Zadorov, Ottawa picked center Curtis Lazar of the Edmonton Wheat Kings. The San Jose Sharks then traded with Detroit for the 18th overall pick and took defenseman Mirco Mueller. The Red Wings dropped back to 20th overall and picked up a second-round selection, 58th overall. With their second pick of the first round, at 19th, the Columbus Blue Jackets took forward Kerby Rychel, the son of former NHL tough guy Warren Rychel. Detroit then took Andre Pronovost’s grandson, forward Anthony Mantha. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Frederik Gauthier, a 6-5, 210-pound center. Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683127 Buffalo Sabres Regier still expects Sabres to keep Miller, Vanek through draft; happy to pick two big D June 30, 2013 - 6:06 PM By John Vogl NEWARK, N.J. -- Darcy Regier expects the NHL draft to feature a bunch of trades. He still expects Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek to not be part of the action. The Sabres' general manager continues to believe the goaltender and leading scorer will remain in Buffalo through the weekend. "Right now, I do, yeah, sure," Regier said this evening in Prudential Center after taking two defensemen in the first round. The marketplace for Vanek and Miller could open up in the next week or two, Regier said. "The draft is at the forefront," he said. "I think you’ll see free agency next, including the buyouts, and then I think teams will re-evaluate their positions, situations from there. Whether that changes our situation in respect to Ryan and Thomas, I don’t know. I really don’t know." There was one huge trade so far, with Vancouver sending goaltender Cory Schneider to New Jersey for the ninth pick in the draft. "I think that this is an unusual time because of the new CBA, the cap dropping and what I would consider an overabundance of players that teams have signed and would like to move," Regier said. "Maybe the marketplace isn’t there right now. Teams may not want what they’re offering, and you saw today sometimes you’ve got to go a little bigger." The Sabres stuck with picks eight and 16 in the first round, though Regier tried to pry No. 5 from Carolina. "It was fairly close," he said. "In the end, the decision was to go this direction." Buffalo took 6-foot-4 Finnish blue-liner Rasmus Ristolainen at No. 8 and 65, 225-pound Russian Nikita Zadorov in the middle of the round. "We want to become bigger," he said. "We want to become more physical. The game’s moving that way right now, and hopefully it will remain fairly consistent as these guys start their NHL careers. "In Ristolainen’s case, the fact that he’s played in a men’s league, Finnish elite league, two years in a row probably positions him a little better to step in than Zadorov. It might be a stretch to think that he can play next year." Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683128 Buffalo Sabres No. 16: Zadorov, new project on blueline, says 'I really like to hit' June 30, 2013 - 6:14 PM By Mike Harrington NEWARK, N.J. -- The numbers are all over the place on Nikita Zadorov depending on what Web site you look at, but I can vouch he's a big boy. So after he was done with his initial press conference as an NHLer, I returned to ask the 18-year-old Russian how big he was. He told me flat-out the Buffalo Sabres drafted a 6-foot-5 1/2, 225-pounder with their second pick in the first round today. The highlight of his self-analysis: "I really like to hit." Fair enough. Zadorov spoke no English when he came to Canada last fall to play for London in the OHL. But he learned the language, as you can see, and made a major impact with the Knights. Zadorov led OHL rookies with a plus-33 rankings and finishing second among rookie defensemen with 25 points (6-19). The Knights won the league title with 50 wins, 105 points and Zadorov also had a game-winning goal against Saskatoon in the Memorial Cup. A roommate of Sabres center Mikhail Grigorenko during the World Junior Championships, Zadorov said Grigorenko wished him luck before he headed to New Jersey. "He said, 'I'll be happy if you go to the Sabres' and I'm in the Sabres shirt right now so I think he's happy." Zadorov is a project who's not expected to be NHL-ready next season. He said he came to London to learn the NHL game and the KHL is not on his radar. "From playing in Russia, it's not like a physical game," he said. "Here in Canada, everybody plays physical and play against you stride for stride. You should be ready every second. I want to play in the NHL. It's my dream." Click below for his session with reporters. Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683129 Buffalo Sabres Round 2 drama: Sekera dealt for McBain; Compher and Hurley taken June 30, 2013 - 6:32 PM By Mike Harrington NEWARK, N.J. -- The Sabres have traded defenseman Andrej Sekera to Carolina for defenseman Jamie McBain and the Canes' No. 35 pick. The Sabres then drafted winger J.T. Compher of the US Development Program with the pick. With the No. 38 pick, the Sabres have taken Connor Hurley, a Minnesota high school center who finished his season with Muskegon of the USHL and is committed to go to Notre Dame in 2014-15. He will be a high school center this fall. We're approaching the Sabres' pick at No. 52 and waiting on Justin Bailey's selection as well. More to come. Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683130 Buffalo Sabres Malone, who said his favorite Sabre was former captain Chris Drury, is especially looking forward to playing in the ECAC with Harvard. Dreams come true for two WNY kids “I know it’s a very pro-like league, especially this past year with Yale and Quinnipiac being in the finals this year,” he said. “I’m real excited to be a part of that.” By Mike Harrington | News Sports Reporter | @BNHarrington In a little over a week, they’ll both be at the FNC for development camp officially wearing the Blue and Gold. June 30, 2013 - 11:49 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 11:58 PM NEWARK, N.J. — Williamsville’s Justin Bailey was picked in the second round of Sunday’s NHL draft and West Seneca’s Sean Malone went in the sixth. Pretty much what they expected. But what was already a lifechanging moment came with an incredible twist: Both players heard their name called by the Buffalo Sabres, the team they grew up watching. “It’s surreal. I always loved the Sabres. This is definitely a dream come true,” a smiling Bailey said after he donned his blue sweater. “It’s a blessing for me to be taken at all. There’s not disappointment being drafted into the NHL. There’s thousands of other kids that won’t get drafted and will never play at a high level. For me to be taken anywhere at this draft, especially by the hometown team, is really special.” Bailey, a rugged winger from the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers, went at No. 52 overall and that’s the highest pick ever for a Western New York native by the Sabres. The previous best came in 1989, when Nichols product Scott Thomas was taken in the third round at No. 56. The Harvard-bound Malone, a center who played two years at Nichols, most recently suited up for the U.S. National Development program and played at First Niagara Center in the All-America Prospects game in 2011. He went at pick No. 159. “It’s been a long day and I’m real excited to be picked by my hometown team,” Malone said. “I have a lot of family here and it’s a real honor. My dad was nudging me a little bit that it was always a possibility. … It’s really cool. I can’t wait to go home and celebrate with my friends.” Malone is 18 and Bailey turns 18 today. Kevin Devine, the Sabres’ director of amateur scouting, said he’s looking forward to both players having yearround access to the programs of Doug McKenney, the team’s strength and conditioning coach. General Manager Darcy Regier echoed that feeling. “I actually view the ability to choose local guys as an opportunity both for them and for us,” Regier said. “Because they are there, they can have full access to our resources, the facility, our staff. To be able to get hands-on with those players I think is a huge advantage both for them and for us.” Bailey was taken with the selection acquired from St. Louis in April for Jordan Leopold. Both Bailey and his mother, Karen Buscaglia, said they had not heard much chatter about the Sabres taking him other than perhaps Montreal. “As a mom, you feel their pain and their joys,” Buscaglia said. “I was just watching him. I did say, ‘Put him where you want him to be, God’ and this is where it is. Buffalo is close to home and there’s 25 wacky people with him here.” Bailey, the son of former Bills linebacker Carlton Bailey, grew up knowing all the Sabres and was especially close with Matthew Barnaby. He lived with Pat LaFontaine and played with his Long Island Royals. How bizarre are Bailey’s connections to the Sabres? He had minor shoulder surgery a few years ago and the doctor was Les Bisson, the Sabres’ orthopedist. “It was amazing for my family and myself,” Bailey said. “You grow up and you’re playing hockey. Especially for me loving the Sabres, quoting Rick Jeanneret when I was younger, knowing every guy on the team and growing up with them as well. It’s just absolutely amazing.” Bailey’s mother said he was a Sabres autograph hound until just a few years ago. “I was in the rinks at the summer skates at the Northtown Center and he’d make me wait there and I’d be like, ‘We already have their autographs’ and he’d get them 500 times,” Buscaglia said. He has the signatures of Maxim Afinogenov “and all those guys. It’s just amazing to see this little kid that stood out at the rinks and now he’s pulling the jersey over his head for the team.” “It’s incredible. I love that rink and I can’t wait to go out there and show them what I have,” Bailey said. “It’s crazy. It’s sort of going a full loop,” Malone said. “I started off in Buffalo, went to Nichols, played two years, headed out to the national team and then coming back to Buffalo. It’s pretty cool.” Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683131 Buffalo Sabres Sabres use top picks on defensemen, deal Sekera “This is such a tight draft,” MacKinnon said. “I don’t know if we’ve seen anything like this before. Any four of us could have been No. 1, I think, it’s pretty safe to say. Seth is a very special player, and he’s going to have an unbelievable career in Nashville. “Along with Barkov and Jo, it’s going to be great careers for those guys, as well.” By John Vogl | News Sports Reporter | @BuffNewsVogl June 30, 2013 - 11:52 PM NEWARK, N.J. — The Buffalo Sabres figured they’d be busy. They entered the NHL draft with the most picks and had several players on the trade market. By the time the second round was over Sunday, they’d added another selection, traded a defenseman and made a dream come true for a Buffalonian, a feat they duplicated later. The chaotic start significantly changed the Sabres’ defensive depth and the life of Justin Bailey. But it didn’t alter their rebuilding dilemma. As expected, they exited the draft with Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek on their roster. Jones has even more incentive to be great. “I have a competitive nature,” he said. “You definitely want to prove them wrong, and you definitely want to show them why they should have picked you. That’s not my only goal next year, but it’s definitely on my list.” The blockbuster came at No. 9 as the crowd continued its trend of lustily booing Commissioner Gary Bettman every time he walked on stage. “I think you might want to hear this,” Bettman shouted above the jeers. The host Devils sent the No. 9 pick to Vancouver for goaltender Cory Schneider, ending the Canucks’ dysfunctional goalie tandem of Schneider and Roberto Luongo. “We just felt we couldn’t go any longer in the situation we were in,” Vancouver GM Mike Gillis said. “The draft is at the forefront,” General Manager Darcy Regier said in Prudential Center. “I think you’ll see free agency next, including the buyouts, and then I think teams will re-evaluate their positions, situations from there. Whether that changes our situation in respect to Ryan and Thomas, I don’t know. I really don’t know.” Buffalo picked two locals, drafting Williamsville’s Bailey with the third of three second-round picks and West Seneca forward Sean Malone in the sixth round. The Sabres made one trade on a day that featured a blockbuster goaltending deal and drama at the top of the draft. Buffalo acquired defenseman Jamie McBain and a second-round pick from Carolina in exchange for defenseman Andrej Sekera. Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 McBain, a 25-year-old who’s played three full seasons for the Hurricanes, fell out of favor in Carolina after reporting to the club out of shape following the lockout. He had one goal and eight points in 40 games after totaling 15 goals and 57 points the previous two years. “I think Jamie will turn his game around next year,” Carolina GM Jim Rutherford said. “Unfortunately, he didn’t come to camp last year ready to play. He wasn’t in good shape, and because of that he didn’t have a good year. “He got himself into the coach’s doghouse, and I really didn’t see that he was going to get himself out of it. I wish him well and he’s a good guy, but I do feel we’ve got a more reliable top-four defenseman with the deal we just made.” The 27-year-old Sekera never turned into the offensive catalyst from the back end that Buffalo envisioned. He played 339 games for the Sabres and recorded 17 goals and 92 points. He had two goals and 12 points in 37 games last year. The deal with the Hurricanes came after the Sabres rejected an earlier offer. Rutherford offered the No. 5 overall pick and McBain in exchange for No. 8 and Sekera. “It was fairly close,” Regier said. “In the end, the decision was to go this direction.” The Sabres used their two first-round picks on big defensemen. They selected 6-foot-3 Finnish blue-liner Rasmus Ristolainen with the No. 8 pick, and they drafted 6-5 Russian Nikita Zadorov at No. 16. “When we looked at the forwards that were available and looked at the D, it was interesting because the year we took Tyler Myers we made a decision that we took a D and we were going to focus on forwards,” said Regier, who noted they passed over quality players by doing so. “You kind of learn from that. If there’s good D and good players, don’t be afraid to load up and get the best players you can.” The best player in Colorado’s view was center Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche selected the peerless skater and scoring sensation first overall. The drama started at No. 2. Defenseman Seth Jones has been the highestrated prospect all season, but Florida opted for Finnish forward Aleksander Barkov at No. 2. Tampa Bay passed on Jones, too, picking up MacKinnon’s junior teammate Jonathan Drouin. Nashville picked Jones fourth. “I couldn’t have picked a better team to have me, and I honestly couldn’t be happier,” Bailey said. “I’m at a loss for words almost.” 683132 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo doubles its bet with two defensemen Staff Writer NEWARK, N.J. — A player with a big shot who should jump into the lineup next year and a big project who will add some snarl. Going defense-first with a pair of 18-year-olds, there’s your capsule scouting report on the Buffalo Sabres’ first-round picks Sunday. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen of Finland was chosen at No. 8 and fellow blue-liner Nikita Zadorov, a Russian who played last year for the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, went at No. 16 as the Sabres held on to their two choices in the opening round. The 6-foot-3, 201-pound Ristolainen was rated the No. 4 overall international skater by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau and the top-rated skating defenseman. He led his Finnish team, TPS, in scoring with three goals and 15 points while averaging more than 21 minutes per game. “I try to play like Shea Weber,” Ristolainen said of the Nashville Predators star. “He’s like my idol. He’s a big leader on the ice, plays physical, has a good shot.” Zadorov, who said he is 6-5½ and 225 pounds, led OHL rookies with a plus-33 ranking and finished second among rookie defensemen with 25 points (six goals, 19 assists). London won the league title and Zadorov also had a game-winning goal against Saskatoon in the Memorial Cup. “I’m a two-way defenseman, big guy,” Zadorov said. “I play a physical game. I can do body checks and open-ice hits. I can shoot and score goals. I really like to hit.” Ristolainen said he thought he would be taken somewhere between picks 10-15 but added he feels he’s ready to make the NHL next season. “It was a good surprise for me,” Ristolainen said of the Sabres’ selection. “I think it’s maybe easier to get a spot on the team if they are rebuilding.” Both players have connections to previous first-round Buffalo picks. Ristolainen is close to winger Joel Armia, the Finn the Sabres took with their first choice in 2011. At last year’s World Junior Championships, Zadorov was roommates with 2012 top pick Mikhail Grigorenko, “Armia is a good friend for me,” Ristolainen said. “He told me Buffalo is a very good place and very nice city.” Grigorenko wished Zadorov luck before his Russian friend came to New Jersey. “He said, ‘I’ll be happy if you go to the Sabres,’ and I’m in the Sabres shirt right now so I think he’s happy,” Zadorov said. The Sabres are going to need plenty of defense playing in their new division next season. In addition to the old Northeast clubs, the unnamed group will now include Detroit, Florida and Tampa Bay. After Nathan MacKinnon went first overall to Colorado, the Panthers took Finnish center Aleksander Barkov with the No. 2 pick and the Lightning got Halifax winger Jonathan Drouin at No. 3. “That’s a pretty big deal,” said General Manager Darcy Regier. “The only good thing I suppose is that MacKinnon went out west.” Zadorov came to Canada to fulfill his dream of playing in the NHL but did it without knowing any English. With the help of teammates and a tutor, he learned the language in a few months and smoothly handled interviews Sunday. “It was pretty tough, and not just hockey,” he said. “I didn’t know English before. It was a different country. I played here and I liked it a lot. My teammates and everyone around me helped me a lot.” Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683133 Buffalo Sabres Sabre prospects know the way to Buffalo Possler, a 6-foot winger, had 19 goals and 40 points in 36 games with Modo Junior. Florentino is a 6-1, 209-pound bruiser who loves to play physical but has offensive skills as evidenced by his 21 goals and 53 points in 62 games. “I’m a nice guy off the ice, but on the ice it’s a different story,” Florentino said. By John Vogl | News Sports Reporter | @BuffNewsVogl June 30, 2013 - 11:47 PM NEWARK, N.J. — The Sabres had a plan to draft six forwards, three defensemen and a goaltender Sunday. They followed it almost to the letter. After drafting a pair of blue-liners in the first round, the Sabres went big on forwards. The prizes came in the second round when they took three players very familiar with Buffalo. J.T. Compher, a center from the U.S. National Team Development Program, played in Buffalo in September in the All-American Prospects Game. He left town impressed, and he’ll bring the same attitude when he returns for development camp next week. “I’m very excited to be part of this organization,” said Compher, who was taken 35th after the Sabres acquired the pick from Carolina as part of a deal that sent Andrej Sekera to the Hurricanes. “It’s great to be wanted. It’s a great organization. I think it’s going to be a great opportunity for me in the next couple years to try and make the club.” Compher is a 5-foot-10, 184-pound agitator who had 15 goals and 42 points in 49 games in the United States Hockey League. “My two years in the national team program were amazing,” he said. “They physically developed me, mentally developed me, made me into a good player and overall-rounded player.” Three picks later, the Sabres took Minnesota high school center Connor Hurley. He just finished his junior year by winning the prestigious state championship with Edina High. The 6-1, 174-pounder had 15 goals and 43 points in 25 games. “Playing for Edina and winning a state championship is something I’ve been dreaming about since I was a little kid,” said Hurley, who attended the Sabres’ scouting combine. “I liked them and their organization very much. Their building is unbelievable. I’m so happy they picked me.” Hurley will eventually attend Notre Dame, as will fifth-round pick Cal Petersen. Petersen, a goaltender, models his game after Boston’s Tuukka Rask and the Sabres’ Ryan Miller. “He’s a tremendous goaltender,” he said of Miller. “I’ve grown up idolizing him, and to be drafted to the same team he plays for is really an unbelievable thing.” Petersen also came to Buffalo for the scouting event. “I went to the combine after the NHL Combine and really fell in love with the whole atmosphere and the professionalism they brought,” said the 6-2, 183pounder for Waterloo of the USHL. “I’m pretty athletic, and I like to use that athleticism and quickness to kind of move around the crease as efficiently as I can.” Buffalo used its third-round pick on right wing Nicholas Baptiste. The 6-foot, 189-pounder for Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League was one of the most improved players this year in the eyes of NHL Central Scouting. He was 105th in its midterm rankings and vaulted to No. 61 at the end of the season. “This is what I’ve wanted to do my whole life, so I had to take the right approach off the ice and on the ice to do so,” said Baptiste, who had 21 goals and 48 points in 66 games. “Hard work and doing anything for the team, that’s what I pride myself on. That’s what I’m going to bring to Buffalo hopefully sooner than later.” The Sabres had three fifth-round selections, and in addition to Petersen they picked up Swedish forward Gustav Possler and Connecticut prep school defenseman Anthony Florentino. Buffalo also drafted Williamsville native Justin Bailey in the second round, West Seneca’s Sean Malone in the sixth and closed its draft by taking center Eric Locke in the seventh. Locke led Saginaw of the OHL with 44 goals and 97 points in 68 games. Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683134 Buffalo Sabres Bailey on becoming a Sabre: Amazing By Mike Harrington NEWARK, N.J. -- Justin Bailey waited through 51 picks -- including two in the second round by the Buffalo Sabres. Then his hometown team pulled the trigger, making the Williamsville native and Kitchener Rangers winger their third pick of the second round this evening. Pretty heady stuff for a guy who has known Matthew Barnaby since he was a tot and played for Pat LaFontaine's Long Island Royals. If you missed John Vogl's story on the life of Bailey today, you must go to this link and check it out. "It was amazing for my family and myself," said Bailey, who had nearly 30 family members and friends with him in the Prudential Center. "You grow up and you're playing hockey and especially for me loving the Sabres, quoting Rick Jeanneret when I was younger, knowing every guy on the team and growing up with them as well. It's just absolutely amazing." The 6-3, 186-pound Bailey had 17 goals and 36 points in 57 games this season. He's a bit of a project, likely 2-3 years away from the NHL. But he said it was "surreal" to don a blue Sabres jersey when he was selected Sunday. And he's a week away from skating at First Niagara Center in an official capacity as part of the team's development camp. "It's incredible. I love that rink and I can't wait to go out there and show them what I have," he said. Speaking of incredible, Vogl and I had quite a talk a few minutes ago with Bailey's mother, Karen Buscaglia. She recalled a few years ago having Justin hanging around Amherst getting Sabres autographs. "I was in the rinks at the summer skates at the Northtown Center and he'd make me wait there and I'd be like, 'We already have their autographs' and he'd get them 500 times," she said. "He had Afinogenov and all those guys. It's just amazing to see this little kid that stood out at the rinks and now he's pulling the jersey over his head for the team." Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683135 Buffalo Sabres Regier says no change on Vanek, Miller; happy with two D By John Vogl NEWARK, N.J. -- Darcy Regier expects the NHL draft to feature a bunch of trades. He still expects Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek to not be part of the action. The Sabres' general manager continues to believe the goaltender and leading scorer will remain in Buffalo through the weekend. "Right now, I do, yeah, sure," Regier said this evening in Prudential Center after taking two defensemen in the first round. The marketplace for Vanek and Miller could open up in the next week or two, Regier said. "The draft is at the forefront," he said. "I think you’ll see free agency next, including the buyouts, and then I think teams will re-evaluate their positions, situations from there. Whether that changes our situation in respect to Ryan and Thomas, I don’t know. I really don’t know." There was one huge trade so far, with Vancouver sending goaltender Cory Schneider to New Jersey for the ninth pick in the draft. "I think that this is an unusual time because of the new CBA, the cap dropping and what I would consider an overabundance of players that teams have signed and would like to move," Regier said. "Maybe the marketplace isn’t there right now. Teams may not want what they’re offering, and you saw today sometimes you’ve got to go a little bigger." The Sabres stuck with picks eight and 16 in the first round, though Regier tried to pry No. 5 from Carolina. "It was fairly close," he said. "In the end, the decision was to go this direction." Buffalo took 6-foot-4 Finnish blue-liner Rasmus Ristolainen at No. 8 and 65, 225-pound Russian Nikita Zadorov in the middle of the round. "We want to become bigger," he said. "We want to become more physical. The game’s moving that way right now, and hopefully it will remain fairly consistent as these guys start their NHL careers. "In Ristolainen’s case, the fact that he’s played in a men’s league, Finnish elite league, two years in a row probably positions him a little better to step in than Zadorov. It might be a stretch to think that he can play next year." Buffalo News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683136 Buffalo Sabres Buffalo Sabres take two big defensemen in first round Jun. 30, 2013 7:25 PM Kevin Oklobzija Staff writer Big and mean on the blue line is apparently very important to the Buffalo Sabres, based on their first-round selections in Sunday afternoon’s NHL draft. A little hometown flavor doesn’t hurt, either. The Sabres’ rebuilding project hit full stride when they selected Finnish defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen and Russian defenseman Nikita Zadorov. They then took two college-bound centermen early in the second round — but only after trading defenseman Andrej Sekera to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for pick No. 35 and defenseman Jamie McBain — before picking Williamsville native Justin Bailey later in round two. Bailey is a 6-foot-3, 194-pound right winger who played with Kitchener of the Ontario Hockey League. Strong and a solid skater, he is projected as a power forward and has been mentored by former Sabres Pat LaFontaine and Matthew Barnaby. The second-round picks will be part of the more distant future. The Sabres’ first pick of the day has a chance to play for them next season. The 6-foot-4, 207-pound Ristolainen, who played in the Finnish Elite League the past two seasons, was chosen eighth overall. Scouting reports say he can play mean, but he also has a big slap shot. He gained great experience with TPS in the Finnish League the past two years, playing against men when he was only 17 and 18, so it’s possible he could join the organization for the upcoming season. “It’s not the same as the NHL, but the men sure are as big and as tough,” Ristolainen told reporters on the draft floor at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. While surprised he was chosen so early (he expected to go after No. 10), Ristolainen said his goal is to be in the Sabres lineup next season. One of Ristolainen’s friends, Finnish winger Joel Armia, will be playing either with the Sabres or Rochester Americans in 2013-14. Armia was Buffalo’s first-round pick in 2011. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Zadorov was taken with the No. 16 pick. He played the past season with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Zadorov is a powerful hitter who projects into an imposing force in front of the net once he is NHL-ready in two or three years. “I love to hit people and score goals,” Zadorov told Brian Duff of the Sabres broadcast staff. The Sabres used pick No. 35 from the Hurricanes to take center J.T. Compher from USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. A very good skater who brings tenacity and a willingness towork, Compher played for the gold-medal winning Americans in the World Junior Championship and was the captain for the Under-18 team in Ann Arbor, Mich. He will be a freshman at the University of Michigan in the fall and very likely will be in the Wolverines’ lineup on Oct. 12 against Rochester Institute of Technology in the Brick City Homecoming game at Blue Cross Arena at the Rochester Community War Memorial. Center Connor Hurley of Edina, Minn., was chosen just four slots later with the Sabres own second-round pick. Hurley’s Edina team won the Minnesota State High School championship this past season, and he will play at Notre Dame this coming season. Before the second round was over, the Sabres selected again, using the No. 52 pick obtained from the Minnesota Wild in the Jason Pominville trade to draft Bailey. “Besides Eric Lindros, Justin Bailey probably has the best first couple strides for a big man that I’ve ever seen,” Barnaby recently told John Vogl of The Buffalo News. The day started with a kept promise: the Colorado Avalanche said all week that they would select Nathan MacKinnon with the first overall pick and they did. A dynamic centerman with speed and skill, MacKinnon is from the same Nova Scotia town — Cole Harbour — as Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby. The Florida Panthers (Aleksander Barkov) and Tampa Bay Lightning (Jonathan Drouin) also took scoring forwards, which was just fine with the Nashville Predators. They wanted Texas-born defenseman Seth Jones and got him with the fourth pick. Democrat and Chronicle LOADED: 07.01.2013 683137 Calgary Flames King shoots down Saskatoon rumours, is confident flooded ‘Dome will be ready June 30, 2013. 11:43 am Scott Cruickshank Leaning over the draft-floor rail a couple of hours before the National Hockey League draft, Ken King appeared quite eager to clear up a misconception. The Calgary Flames president wants people to know there is no plan in place to play regular-season games in Saskatoon. Pre-season dates are slated for there — and Regina — sure, that is true. “We have not selected a place,” King said Sunday morning at the Prudential Center. “There is every reason to believe that we will start our season on time, on schedule, including (home) exhibition games, (at the Scotiabank Saddledome). “We have no arrangement with Saskatoon or anybody else to start the season.” Yet rumours persist that the Flames, if the flood-ravaged Saddledome is not up to par, will open the season at the Credit Union Centre. “You know what? It’s a nuisance more than anything else,” King said of the gossip. “It causes people to speculate about things that are not necessarily accurate. It is what it is. And that’s fine. I kind of understand. We’re in a full construction mode, so people would expect, ‘Gee, what are they going to do if something doesn’t happen?’ But what’s going to happen is, we’re going to start our season in our building.” But wouldn’t it be prudent to have a Plan B in case the Saddledome is not ready? “I think everyone in this building, every team here, has a Plan B for everything they ever do, right?” replied King, nodding towards the draft floor. “People are opening up new buildings all the time, people are renovating buildings . . . so my guess is that there’s not a team here without some sort of envelope.” And in your envelope? “We’ve got several option cities. But I don’t it’s an envelope we’re going to have to open.” Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.01.2013 Klimchuk thrilled to be selected by Flames In the third round, 67th — D Keegan Kanzig, a strapping six-foot-five, 240pounder. Kanzig, on the blue line of WHL Victoria, compiled seven points (and 159 penalty minutes) in 70 games. Central Scouting ranked the Athabasca native 112th — a big jump from his mid-term slot of 194th. By SCOTT CRUICKSHANK, Calgary HeraldJune 30, 2013 In the fifth round, 135th — D Eric Roy, a third-year player out of WHL Brandon. A native of Beauval, Sask., the six-foot-two, 180-pounder been ranked 41st. He scored 17 times this past season. 683138 Calgary Flames Newark, N.J.—Morgan Klimchuk followed them closely every season. He went to all of their home games. The lad simply loved the Calgary Flames, especially that creature known as Oleg Saprykin. “I grew up watching all kinds of players go through that system.” Now Klimchuk joins that parade. The Flames, with the 28th overall pick at the National Hockey League draft Sunday at the Prudential Center, snared the Regina Pats winger. “To get drafted is one thing,” said Klimchuk, a product of the Calgary Buffaloes program, “but to get drafted by my hometown team is something that I was kind of hoping for. I’m very, very excited that my name got called. “It was pretty nerve-racking. I wanted to go as high as possible, but I wanted to go to a very good team as well. I saw the 28th pick come up. I was waiting for a bit and I was pretty nervous.” Central Scouting, after monitoring Klimchuk’s 76-point season in Regina, installed him as the 25th-best skater in North America. As a first-rounder, he’s sure to get a long look at Flames camp this fall. Klimchuk is thrilled about that, but made no bold predictions about muscling into the Flames’ opening-day lineup.“I don’t know,” said the five-foot-11, 180-pounder. “I think I’ll need another year of major junior, for sure, but you never know. I’m going to work pretty hard this summer to give myself the best chance at camp and make the decision pretty tough for them. But I think one year, maybe even two. We’ll see. “Just keep working hard. Don’t change my game too much. Just improve in all areas of my game — whether that’s strength or skating or anything like that. Don’t get complacent and keep working hard.” This past season — his second in Regina — Klimchuk did it all. And he thrived. “I got a good chance to play in a lot of different opportunities with a lot of different players,” Klimchuk said. “I wasn’t just playing one role all year, I was playing penalty kill, power play, shutdown minutes, and contributing offensively. Just a chance to play against top players every night was something that helped me develop a lot. “I take pride in putting the puck in the net, but I’ve come into a pretty good two-way game.” Earlier in the opening round, the Flames had secured Emile Poirier, ranked 39th by Central Scouting, with 22nd choice. This, as has been noted, with Calgary kid Hunter Shinkaruk, the No. 6-ranked skater, still perched in the seats. Poirier, by all accounts, can wheel. Really fast, really unorthodox. Chuckling, the right-winger couldn’t find the words to describe his stride. “If you see me, you’ll see me ... it’s not fluid,” said Poirier. “I’m not a pretty skater. But my speed is a big part of my game. I like going around defencemen.” Six foot one and 183 pounds, Poirier, this past season with the Gatineau Olympiques of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, collected 70 points and 101 penalty minutes in 65 appearances. “I like to compete, play hard,” said the Montreal native. “An offensive guy who likes to go to the net with a lot of speed. A two-way player.” Poirier was one of a few prospects invited by the NHL team to visit the city. “It went really well with the Flames,” Poirier said of his drop-in. “I saw all the people there, the rink. It’s a great organization there, so I’m very happy. I know the (rebuilding) situation of the Flames. I’ll be ready for that. I’ll train hard. I have a couple things to work on, but I’ll be ready.” In later Flames’ picks on Sunday: In the sixth round, 157th — RW Tim Harrison, unranked, is heading into his freshman season at Colgate University. This past season at Dexter Prep, the six-foot-three forward piled up 51 points in 28 games. In the seventh round, 187th — D Rushan Rafikov, ranked 21st among European skaters, is six-foot-two, 181 pounds. He skated for Yaroslavl 2 in the Russian junior league. In the seventh round, 198th — D John Gilmour, five foot 11 and 173 pounds, played his freshman season alongside Flames prospects C Mark Jankowski and G Jon Gillies. He picked up 13 points. Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683139 Calgary Flames ‘It was a good day’ says Flames GM By SCOTT CRUICKSHANK, Calgary HeraldJune 30, 2013 Newark, N.J.— Jay Feaster acknowledged that there had been deals on the table. But the idea of sending away first-round draft picks to secure established veterans didn’t sit well with the Calgary Flames general manager. “We are committed to a rebuild . . . and we talked about that as a management group,” said Feaster. “In our opinion, that’s not the way to go about the rebuild. But we had a lot of inquiries.” In other words, the Flames came to the Garden State with eight picks — and departed with eight prospects. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with (that),” said Feaster. “We were able to make a deal earlier in the week with Colorado.” That swap brought the Flames two skaters — defenceman Shane O’Brien and winger David Jones. Into the cupboard Sunday at the National Hockey League draft went three first-round plums — centre Sean Monahan, right-winger Emile Poirier, leftwinger Morgan Klimchuk. The Flames also snagged defencemen Keenan Kanvig, Eric Roy, Rushan Rafikov, John Gilmour, and winger Tim Harrison. “We thought it was a good day — and I know we always say that and everyone also says that,” said Feaster, grinning. “We had our list in the order we wanted it. We worked the list. Our three picks in the first round came from the first 13 names on our list. We feel good. “It was spread around in terms of forwards, defence, size, toughness, skill. A number of guys from the Western Hockey League. Somebody from the OHL, somebody from the Q. There was New England prep school in there. A college kid. A Russian junior. So we feel good about it.” Feaster also answered a question about not drafting local lad Hunter Shinkaruk, whom the Flames could have taken with the 22nd pick. “That’s not how we build a team,” he said. “For us, it’s about making sure we get the players in the right order. Then we draft the players we believe are the best players and the best fit. If it happens to work out that way, like it did with Morgan . . . that’s a bonus. But that’s not the way we put a list together.” Feaster added that he’s going to try to soon get a contract in front of Monahan. “One of the conversations we had with him was the fact that we want him to come into the development camp, then rookie camp, then come into main camp and try to compete for a spot on the team,” said Feaster. “So (signing him), that would be our intent, yeah.” C-NOTES: Feaster was tight-lipped about the team’s interest in bought-out C Vinny Lecavalier. “Oh no, I don’t want to comment on it . . . but it’s no secret we did visit.” Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683140 Calgary Flames Morrissey’s ‘unreal day’ sees him headed to Winnipeg By Kristen Odland, Calgary HeraldJune 30, 2013 It was a proud moment for Calgarians Josh Morrissey, Hunter Shinkaruk, and Morgan Klimchuk who were all selected in the first round of the 2013 National Hockey League draft on Sunday afternoon. Morrissey, a Prince Albert Raiders defenceman and product of the Calgary Royals, was the highest of the group, going No. 13 to the Winnipeg Jets. And, having been raised in the Springbank area, it’s safe to say Morrissey has a new favourite team now. “An unreal day,” said Morrisey from the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. “It’s been nuts, but it’s been everything I could want, that’s for sure.” Morrissey had wrapped up the year ranked No. 27 on the NHL’s Central Scouting Services final rankings and, surprisingly to some, he was the first Calgarian to be picked on Sunday. The six-foot, 188-pound smooth skating, two-way blueliner had 15 goals and 32 assists and 91 penalty minutes in 70 games during the 2012-13 Western Hockey League regular season. The summer only gets busier from here as Morrissey is off to the Jets rookie camp on July 14 and also received an invite to the Canadian world junior team camp in August. “I was really excited,” said the 18-year-old who, as of 7 p.m. Sunday night, had 125 text messages and a handful of Twitter mentions of congratulations to return. “I kind of had a feeling I’d be in that range. I talked to Winnipeg a couple of times and it always went really well. So, I guess I was ready for anything ... it’s pretty amazing. I’m at a loss for words, really. “I’m just fortunate Winnipeg thought so highly of me and picked me that high. It’s an honour really, that’s for sure.” Shinkaruk, also a former member of the Calgary Royals, was the next Calgarian selected going No. 24 to the Vancouver Canucks — two picks behind the Calgary Flames who had the opportunity to draft the Medicine Hat Tigers captain at No. 22, but elected to go with Emile Poirier out of Gatineau instead. Heading into the day, Shinkaruk, who was ranked No. 6 on the NHL’s CSS final rankings among North American skaters, had talked to a few teams including the Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, and Phoenix Coyotes and had only spoken to the Flames once at the NHL combine. Instead, the Flames selected Klimchuk, a winger with the Regina Pats and a product of the Calgary Buffaloes, who went 28th overall. “It was pretty special,” he said on Sunday. “When I saw Josh’s name get called, and Hunter’s . . . There’s a lot of us in Calgary that have been together, playing with and against each other, for a long time. “To see us all develop as players and people is pretty special.” Other local lads drafted on Sunday include: Dillon Heatherington (second round, 50th overall; Columbus), Cole Ully (fifth round, 131 overall; Dallas), and Myles Bell (sixth round, 160 overall; New Jersey Devils). Calgary Hitmen centre Greg Chase, a Sherwood Park native, was taken in the seventh round (No. 188) by the Edmonton Oilers. Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683141 Calgary Flames Calgary pleased with its first-round haul “I can tell you this — the first time I saw him, he scored three goals,” he said. “Our scout out in Ottawa, Fred Parker, saw him play a lot. And we were up there a lot watching Monahan (with the Ottawa 67’s), obviously, and the kid did come on as the season went. But from early in October and November . . . (Poirier) was just on a steady climb all year.” By SCOTT CRUICKSHANK, Calgary HeraldJune 30, 2013 The Flames, too, invested a real long look at Klimchuk, worker-bee of the Regina Pats. Newark, N.J.—Who knows? Maybe the Calgary Flames just cobbled together their next first line.Maybe the opening round of the National Hockey League’s draft will work out that well for them. “He was another guy that we just kept watching as the year went on,” said Button. “That’s why we don’t take 10-day windows and make our decisions. That’s why we watch all year long, instead of saying, ‘Oh, he was great in this tournament. This guy was great in this tournament.’ So Morgan developed, just as Emile did. Centre Sean Monahan went sixth. “At the end of the year, we were totally sold on both of them.” Right-winger Emile Poirier went 22nd. Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.01.2013 Left-winger Morgan Klimchuk went 28th. It’s worth noting that Monahan models his game after Jonathan Toews, Poirier after Rick Nash, Klimchuk after Jordan Eberle. Certainly, a nice blend of attackers. “Yeah, it could be a line,” said Tod Button, the Flames’ director of amateur scouting, “but we had no preconceived ideas to take all forwards. It’s how our list fell. We’re happy about it.” Meaning the Flames had stuck stubbornly to their best-player-available philosophy. It didn’t matter about position. Nor geography. Nor even dimensions. “We didn’t base anything on any of these three guys on size,” Button said of six-foot-two Monahan from the OHL, six-foot-one Poirier from the QMJHL, five-foot-11 Klimchuk from the WHL. “Size was an added bonus, OK? They’re all good-sized kids. They all play the game properly. They’re not shy. They play in traffic. So that’s more important to us than their actual physical stature.” Button was asked if the Flames managed to do exactly what they wanted with their three picks. “Twenty minutes after the first round, everyone comes away satisfied,” he said, chuckling. “I don’t think you’ll find anyone that said, ‘I can’t believe we took him.’ So, yeah, we are — we’re really excited.” Interestingly, all three of the first-rounders had been among a handful of prospects invited to the Scotiabank Saddledome for a pre-draft minicombine. Clearly, the team got what it needed from the meetings in Calgary. “It helped a lot in some regards,” Button said of that extra window of exposure. “They all bring accountability and offence. We’re excited that we got these three kids. We’re excited for Sean — really happy to get him.” Monahan, ranked sixth by Central Scouting, and Klimchuk, ranked 25th, were selected according to form. But the pick of Poirier was off the grid. He was rated 39th by Central Scouting, 111th by the International Scouting Services. “I can’t speak for what other people see,” explained Button. “We only go by our own list and what we’re doing.” “We like the kid. He scored 30 goals for (Gatineau) with not a lot of offensive support. He’s got some drive. He’s a feisty player. He’s got size. He can play either wing. He’s versatile. “So we go by what we do. We don’t ever consider what other teams are looking at or what other services are doing.” And his stride — awkward, yes; criticized, yes — works. “You know what? We call him a hockey skater,” said Button. “Incredible quickness and power right off the hop. He goes in those 10-foot places. He’s got a powerful first step. When you’re playing hockey, a lot of the skating isn’t the length of the ice — it’s more about what happens in short areas. And he does have that.” Poirier’s play began to spike in the latter stages of the winter. By then, though, Button was already convinced. 683142 Calgary Flames Flames stick to the script, take Monahan at No. 6 “It’s crazy,” Monahan, wearing a rather large grin, said of his (short) wait in the bleachers. “You don’t know what to expect. I heard my name called and I didn’t realize that I’d been picked. I was just sitting there and I stood up. You kind of black out as you walk up there. It really sunk in when I got on the stage. I couldn’t be happier to be selected by the Flames. By SCOTT CRUICKSHANK, Calgary HeraldJune 30, 2013 “I wasn’t 100-per-cent sure, but I knew they had interest. I had a few interviews with them and I thought I left a good impression. I wasn’t sure, but I had a good idea that it was possible to go there.” Newark, N.J.— Say one thing for Sean Monahan, the kid likes to set his goals high. Much has been made of Monahan’s status this past season — as the premier presence on a rotten team. (The 67’s, at 16-46-6, had been the OHL’s worst lot.) Like, really high. He insists that it had been a terrific proving ground. Not only does the teenage centre intend to skate in the National Hockey League in a few months, he expects to contribute. And the notion of being a liability? Unacceptable. “Obviously being the captain of the team, I was relied on a lot. I like that,” said Monahan, who had been the 16th pick in the 2010 OHL draft. “You’ve got to go through a lot of adversity. You go through bumps and learn a lot about yourself. It really helped me, leadership-wise, and to be a better player and a better person.” “I want to be a reliable player out there,” Monahan said minutes after being nabbed sixth overall by the Calgary Flames at the NHL draft Sunday at the Prudential Center. “I don’t want to be taken off (the ice in) my own end for faceoffs and stuff like that. I want to compete and (make) an impact next year. “I think I am NHL ready. Obviously, this summer is going to help that. I’ve been working really hard since my summer ended. It ended March 17 so I’ve had a long time. I’m going to continue working hard.” At six-foot-two and 187 pounds, Monahan doesn’t look at his future employers as a struggling club facing a steep rebuild. Rather, he spies a golden opportunity. “It’s awesome,” Monahan said. “I think I can fit in well. I think it’s a good spot for me. I’m excited.” Ending days, weeks, months of the speculation, the Flames had selected Monahan at 3:39 p.m. local time. General manager Jay Feaster made it official. “That’s an honour, being picked there when they need a centreman,” Monahan said. “Hopefully I can be that guy they can rely on and help win games. I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a challenge and I’m always up for a challenge. I’m going to be a big part of that team and help that team win. So it’s going to be a fun time. “It’s amazing. Best feeling in the world.” Monahan had been pegged by Central Scouting as the No. 5 skater in North America. International Scouting Services ranked him No. 9. After another productive winter for the lowly Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League — he’s banked back-to-back 78-point seasons — he got high marks for stickhandling, playmaking, faceoff-taking. The notices look good. According to thescoutingreport.org: “The rangy pivot won’t wow you with his foot speed or skating stride, but his ability to control the game and an emerging defensive game are traits that scream NHL top-six forward. The six-foot-two centre has a unique ability to make those around him better and his offensive vision and patience are top notch. For any team outside the top five, Monahan would be a great prize to land.” According to NHL Central Scouting’s Chris Edwards: “Sean has high-end puck skills and playmaking ability. He has very good offensive instincts and creates offence every shift.” The lad ticks a lot of boxes for the Flames — right size, right position — so, even with defender Darnell Nurse still on the board, they opted for Monahan. Which formally ended the draft-year grind for the Brampton, Ont., native. “It’s a lot of hard work,” Monahan said. “Obviously with all the interviews you go through, you’ve just got to learn to be yourself and I want to continue to do that. I’m going to take that out of this. Obviously sharing this draft day with my parents and other family members and friends is special. I’m going to remember this day forever.” Remember it? Well, he’ll certainly try. “It’s a trait I have — I’ve been a leader growing up. Obviously being named the captain this year was an honour. It made me a better player. I didn’t want to take any days off at all.” Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683143 Calgary Flames Tod Button rates the Flames’ picks June 30, 2013. 11:22 pm Scott Cruickshank Tod Button, the Calgary Flames’ director of amateur scouting, runs through the team’s eight picks from the National Hockey League draft Sunday at the Prudential Center: * 6. C Sean Monahan (six-two, 187, OHL Ottawa): “We really like him. He has a chance to be a real high-end player in the NHL. He plays every situation. He’s a centreman, which certainly fills a positional need. He’s got size. He’s got character. A lot of intangibles.” * 22. RW Emile Poirier (six-one, 183, QMJHL Gatineau): “We see Poirier as a scrappy goal-scoring winger who’s got speed and power. He’s a real hound around the net. He’s persistent. He’s another guy — we think he can play in the top-six down the road. He can contribute. Not just a onedimensional guy. The versatility of these kids . . . it’s certainly a bonus.” * 28. LW Morgan Klimchuk (five-11, 180, WHL Regina): “Morgan’s such a smart player. He can play in any situation. Kills penalties. Plays on the power play. Individually, he’s probably not a dynamic player. But the way he fits in, in any situation. He does have an unbelievable release and he’s a great shooter. But we don’t see him as a one-dimensional goal scorer. Even though he was on a weak team this year in Regina, he scored in the 30s. All three of those (first-round) guys had 30 goals and 70 points, right?” * 67. D Keegan Kanzig (six-five, 240, WHL Victoria): “A huge defenceman, but the first thing we noticed about him? We thought he understood the game very well and that he had high character, high intangibles. Off the ice leadership. On the ice leadership. He’s a great teammate. For us, it was an area we talked about — getting rough and tumble on the back end — but he’s got a good brain, too.” * 135. D Eric Roy (six-two, 180, WHL Brandon): “He put up some tremendous numbers last year (53 points), so we were on him early because they had another first-round pick there in Ryan Pulock. At some point in the year, they struggled, both of them. I don’t want to tell you that we were worried about him, but we just saw him as a guy who had a good brain and had not as good a year as people expected. He started sliding (in the draft) . . . and we didn’t have the fourth-round pick because of Corban Knight. When it got to the fifth round, it was a no-brainer. We think he has some offensive upside.” * 157. C Tim Harrison (six-three, 175, Dexter Prep): “(Scout) Mike Addesa pounded the table for this guy . . . all through our meetings, all through the year — ‘This guy is a good player. He’s big. He’s strong. He skates. He’s physical.’ He liked him so much and he had so much conviction about this guy being a player, we just said, ‘That’s your spot. Do you want to take him now?’ And he said, ‘Absolutely.’ ” * 187. D Rushan Rafikov (six-one, 185, Yaroslavl 2, Russian junior): “All our European scouts saw him . . . and they all called him a warrior. He’s hard to play against. And making it hard on everybody, not just little guys or skilled guys. The side story to that is I asked Craig Conroy to phone Igor Kravchuk because Igor coached his team . . . just to do some background on (Valeri) Nichushkin. I didn’t tell him about any other names. I just told Connie to ask him about Nichushkin. But through the conversation, Rafikov’s name kept coming up. We already knew about him, but it was confirmation.” * 198. D John Gilmour (five-11, 173, Providence College): “Because of (Flames prospects) Mark Jankowski and Jon Gillies, we had our pro scouts in there. Ronnie Sutter was in there. Obviously, John Weisbrod and Jay Feaster. So we had enough viewings of him. Mike Addesa’s in that area, too, and Frank Anzalone, our college scout. So the John Gilmour pick is like a total organizational pick because we had so many guys in there. He’s a ‘93-born freshman, so he’s got three years of school left. From speaking to those guys, it’s his brain and skill that they really like.” Calgary Herald: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683144 Calgary Flames New Calgary Flames star looks to prove his new team right By RANDY SPORTAK Calgary Sun First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 11:22 PM MDT | Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 11:31 PM MDT Emile Poirier is already aware about the kerfuffle which took place when he was drafted. Poirier, the winger who the Calgary Flames drafted with the No. 22 selection in Sunday’s NHL Draft in New Jersey, knows fans of the team were clamouring for the club to claim local product and Medicine Hat Tigers captain Hunter Shinkaruk at that spot. Likewise, he knows there was disappointment among the faithful when the Flames passed on the Calgary kid — who was chosen by the Vancouver Canucks a few minutes later — and grabbed the Montrealer who played for Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL, and that their careers will be compared to down the years. But is Poirier scared about having to prove the Flames made the right choice? Not a chance. “I’m OK with that,” Poirier said with confidence but not an ounce of cockiness. “When they came up, I knew it was my chance. I wasn’t that sure, but I had a little bit of a feeling about Calgary.” Poirier, a 6-foot-1, 183-lb. winger who netted 32 goals and 70 points in 65 games for the Olympiques, may have been further down the Central Scouting list compared to Shinkaruk, but the Flames are adamant they weren’t going to let the popular move from a public relations standpoint dictate who they claimed with the second of their three first-round selections. “That’s not how we build a team,” GM Jay Feaster said. “For us, it’s about making sure we get the players in the right order and that we draft the players we believe are the best players and the best fit. “Just from our perspective, if it happens to work out that way like it did with Morgan (Klimchuk), that it’s a local guy, that’s a bonus. That’s not the way we put the list together.” Klimchuk, who plays for the WHL’s Regina Pats, was the Flames’ third and final pick of the opening round, selected at No. 28. It’s not like Poirier is some Saturday shinny kid. Like Shinkaruk, he’s been invited to Canada’s world junior team summer camp in August. He led the Olympiques in scoring during the regular season and in goals in the playoffs (six in 10 games), and he plays with an edge — something the Flames are looking for to go with skill. “I love to play hard,” said the winger who was recently brought to Calgary for a summertime interview. “I compete, got to the net hard and fight a little bit, too. I want to bring energy. I know when I met in the interview, that was a big thing the want. I’m that type of player.” Klimchuk’s selection certainly diminished some of the disappointment among Flames fans, but he’s is in the crosshairs for another reason. The 5-foot-11 forward who is closing in on 185 lb, was chosen with the choice acquired in the deal which sent face-of-the-franchise and all-time leading scorer Jarome Iginla to the Pittsburgh Penguins. “Ya, I’ve heard,” Klimchuk said of being reminded he’s a big part of a trivia question. “I’m excited about it. Obviously, there’s pressure, but that’s there either way. It’s funny because I grew up watching Jarome play, and I want to make the most of it that I can.” Klimchuk, whose family are Flames season-ticket holders, is well aware of the team’s rebuilding plans and opportunities for prospects. “I play to win, whether it’s in practice or in a game — I compete every night,” said Klimchuk, who works out with several NHLers, including Jordan Eberle and Mike Green. “I like to think I bring a lot to the table, play responsible defence and create offence. “If I can push for a spot on the team, that’s what I’m looking to do, whether it’s this year or next year.” Calgary Sun: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683145 Carolina Hurricanes Canes take Swedish forward Lindholm Submitted by Chip Alexander on 06/30/2013 NEWARK -- The Carolina Hurricanes did use the No. 5 pick in the NHL Entry Draft Sunday -- there was not a last-second trade for a defenseman -and did take a forward, center Elias Lindholm of Sweden. Lindholm played for Brynas in the Swedish Elite League last season and has one year left on his contract with the Swedish team. But his goal is to be in the NHL next season, in the Canes' lineup. "I don't know. We'll see," he said, smiling. "You never know. "I have one year left and my plans were to stay (in Sweden) but you never know. I haven't talked to them about leaving and playing in the NHL next year." Canes general manager Jim Rutherford said Lindholm has a provision in his contract with Brynas that would release him from the final year if he makes the Canes roster. There would be no contract buyout by Carolina. If Lindholm does not play next season for the Canes, he would return to Brynas, Rutherford said, noting, "Another year against the men there would further his development." Rutherford said Lindholm was a natural center but could play right wing. While coach Kirk Muller will make the lineup decisions, Lindholm possibly could play right wing on Jordan Staal's line. "He's a guy who does everything at a high tempo," Rutherford said. "He plays every shift at a high tempo. He's on the puck and does the little things that you look for in a player who has a chance to be a star player. "A real team guy. He does what it takes to win. In his interview with us he explained that he always had to compete with his older brother that was two years older. He got that instilled in him at a young age." Lindholm, listed at 6 feet and 181 pounds, said he likely would be coming to Raleigh for the prospects camp in July. That will give him a chance to reunite with two fellow Swedes -- Victor Rask, a center drafted by the Canes in 2011, and forward Erik Karlsson, taken by the Canes last year. Asked to describe himself as a player, Lindholm said, "Two-way, working hard. I was a leader since I was a kid. "I can be skilled. I can be tough. I can get shots. I can do whatever the coach tells me to do." Lindholm said he was interviewed by the Canes in New York. He knew there was serious interest from Carolina, but wasn't not sure where he might land. He was told helikely would be selected between the fifth and ninth picks, coming to the Prudential Center Sunday afternoon to join the other nervous hopefuls and wait. "I didn't know what to expect," Lindholm said. "I was so nervous all day. When Carolina said my name it was amazing." Lindholm appears to be the kind of player any team would want. The skill level is there. So is the desire. "He's a tremendous competitor," Tony MacDonald, the Canes' director of amateur scouting, said. "He plays the game hard. He wears his heart on his sleeve." Lindholm, the youngest player on the Brynas team this season, finished third in points (30 points in 48 games) and was in the mix for the league's rookie of the year. "It's pretty tough going into the men's league," Lindholm said. "They're big and strong and tough. In the junior league it's pretty much about speed. In the elite league, it's pretty defensive and hard to get scoring chances. "Junior league is faster. But against the men you learn something every day." Lindholm's father, Mikael, was drafted by the L.A. Kings in 1987 and played 18 games in the NHL. Most of his hockey career was spent in the Swedish Elite League. Elias Lindholm, the third-rated European skater, competed for Sweden in the 2013 World Junior Championship in Russia, notching two goals and two assists in six games as the Swedes took silver. In talking about Lindholm, MacDonald noted he has been compared to such players as Daniel Alfredsson of the Ottawa Senators and Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals. He also has been referred to as the "next Peter Forsberg." "You have to be careful putting the Forsberg tag on a player because that's difficult to live up to. But he has some of those tendencies in his game.," MacDonald said. News Observer LOADED: 07.01.2013 683146 Carolina Hurricanes DeCock: Canes have yet to fix big problem Published: June 30, 2013 By Luke DeCock - staff columnist Andrej Sekera is a start. The defenseman is a clear improvement over Jamie McBain on the Carolina Hurricanes’ blue line, but if the Hurricanes are serious about getting better, considerable work remains. The trade for Sekera was the Hurricanes’ big move at the NHL Draft on Sunday. They narrowly missed out on an NHL-ready defenseman with the No. 5 pick. They didn’t trade down from fifth overall for more picks or a veteran player. They took a player at No. 5, Swedish center Elias Lindholm, who has a chance to make the Carolina roster but is more likely to play in Sweden next season. It represented incremental progress on a day when the Hurricanes might have had a chance to improve next year’s team dramatically. That isn’t always a possibility at the draft, but it sure looked like it could happen with the fifth overall pick openly on the market. “We had teams that were considering (moving up to take) defensemen and we didn’t get to that,” Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. “They went different directions. “We had a couple really good offers with NHL forwards to move down further in the draft than we wanted to move. … There were negotiations over the last couple of weeks as to a couple of teams that thought they were going to offer defensemen but at the end they didn’t.” The Hurricanes have spent years looking for an impact defenseman, and one nearly fell into their lap Sunday. Seth Jones, instead of going first overall to his hometown Colorado Avalanche, was still on the board after three picks. Not after four, though. They chose to pass on Darnell Nurse, who doesn’t have Jones’ hype but the kind of big, physical defenseman the Hurricanes have lacked for years. The only defenseman the Hurricanes have taken in the first round in the past decade is Ryan Murphy in 2011, who at 5 feet 11 isn’t exactly a towering figure. Lindholm, meanwhile, has drawn comparisons to Peter Forsberg for his tenacity but is still only 6 feet tall. He doesn’t add the size the Hurricanes continue to lack, just like Murphy, Jeff Skinner (2010, 5-11) and Zach Boychuk (2008, 5-10). Skinner could hardly have worked out any better, and the jury is still out on Murphy, but the larger – or more accurately, smaller – trend of undersized first-round picks is disturbing, particularly given the physical style of play on display in the playoffs this spring. Regardless, the No. 5 pick is no longer an asset if the Hurricanes want to continue to improve a defensive corps that now includes Sekera along with Justin Faulk, Joni Pitkanen, Tim Gleason and Jay Harrison. They’re also counting on two rookies, Murphy and Brett Bellemore, to contribute. That group isn’t going to inspire fear in any of the Hurricanes’ new division opponents, so it will be interesting to see which direction the Hurricanes go this summer. “The urgency is not there as much because we got Sekera,” Rutherford said. “We’ll continue to look around.” Will they push to add a top-echelon defenseman, either through free agency or the trade market? Or will they be content to go into the season with this group? It will be a good barometer of their level of ambition. News Observer LOADED: 07.01.2013 683147 Carolina Hurricanes “It’s pretty tough going into the men’s league,” Lindholm said of the Swedish Elite League. “They’re big and strong and tough.” Hurricanes get Lindholm, Sekera The Canes had the 66th overall pick in the third round, taking defenseman Brett Pesce, who just completed his freshman year at New Hampshire. But Sekera is the defenseman they wanted Sunday. Published: June 30, 2013 Updated 1 hour ago News Observer LOADED: 07.01.2013 By Chip Alexander — calexander@newsobserver.com NEWARK, N.J. — The Carolina Hurricanes were determined to leave the NHL draft on Sunday with a veteran defenseman, even if it meant trading the No. 5 overall pick. The Canes got their defenseman. They also kept the pick. The Hurricanes selected Swedish forward Elias Lindholm with the fifth pick of the opening round after being spurned on a trade by the Buffalo Sabres. General manager Jim Rutherford then kept pushing, picking up defenseman Andrej Sekera from the Sabres in exchange for Canes defenseman Jamie McBain and Carolina’s second-round pick – 35th overall – in the draft. “As it turned out we got to stay at (No.) 5 and get the player we wanted, and we also get the defenseman that when we came here to this draft we were hoping to get,” Rutherford said. Lindholm’s selection was a bit of a surprise in the draft at the Prudential Center. Many believed the Canes might take Valeri Nichushkin if he was available at No. 5 – and the big Russian winger was. But Rutherford said the Canes had Lindholm in their sights all along. Lindholm played for Brynas in the Swedish Elite League last season and was the highest-scoring junior-aged player in the league with 30 points in 48 games. He also starred for Sweden in the 2013 World Junior Championship in Ufa, Russia. In describing himself as a player, the 6-foot, 181-pound Lindholm said, “Two-way, working hard. I was a leader since I was a kid. I can be skilled. I can be tough. I can get shots. I can do whatever the coach tells me to do.” But it was more than age and numbers that convinced the Canes. Tony MacDonald, the team’s director of amateur scouting, said Lindholm – who could be used at center or right wing – was the kind of competitive player who “wears his heart on his sleeve.” “He’s a guy who does everything at a high tempo,” Rutherford said. “He plays every shift at a high tempo. He has some grit. He does the little things that you look for in a player who has a chance to be a star player. “He does what it takes to win. He’s a guy who has the character and the leadership we like to have.” The Hurricanes, Rutherford said, also wanted to have Sekera. He said they first offered Buffalo the fifth pick and McBain for the Sabres’ first-round choice, No. 8 overall, and Sekera but couldn’t make it work. Sekera, 27, was a third-round pick by the Sabres in the 2004 draft. A native of Slovakia, he has played 339 regular-season games for Buffalo, giving the Sabres steady performances on the back end. “We’re really pleased to get Sekera,” Rutherford said. “We feel very comfortable with him in our top four. He can play top-four minutes. He’s a real defensive defenseman, a shutdown guy.” McBain, 25 was a second-round pick by the Canes in the 2006 draft. He has played 206 regular-season games with Carolina and had flashes of offensive flair and good defensive play, but Rutherford said McBain’s poor conditioning this past season was disappointing to Canes coach Kirk Muller and management. “I think Jamie will turn his game around next year,” Rutherford said. “Unfortunately he didn’t come to camp last year ready to play. He wasn’t in good shape and because of that he didn’t have a good year.” Rutherford said Sekera has two years left on his contract, with a salary of $1.75 million a year. Lindholm has a year remaining on his contract with Brynas, but Rutherford said the player can be released from the contract if he makes the Canes’ roster next season. If not with the Canes, Rutherford said Lindholm would return to Brynas for another season. 683148 Carolina Hurricanes Hurricanes take Swedish center with 5th pick of draft Jun. 30, 2013 @ 11:04 PM The Associated Press The Carolina Hurricanes wanted to draft an NHL-ready player. They think they found one in Swedish forward Elias Lindholm. Lindholm, who was taken by Carolina on Sunday with the fifth pick of the draft, is under contract with his Swedish Hockey League team for next season. Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford says Lindholm's existing deal prevents him from being sent to the minors if he doesn't make the NHL team this fall and "is not going to affect anything that we'd be thinking about doing with him for training camp." Central Scouting rated Lindholm as the No. 3 European skater in the draft. The 18-year-old who can play both center and right wing had 11 goals and 19 assists in 48 games with Swedish team Brynas. He's "an all-around player that does everything at a high tempo," Rutherford said. "He's one of those real puck-pursuit guys with the high skill level. ... We met him, and he's the kind of guy that you can win with and fits our team. "We feel he'll have a good chance to make our team this year," the GM added. The Hurricanes entered the draft needing help on defense and Rutherford said they considered dealing their draft pick. But they couldn't swing a draft-day trade like they did last year when they acquired forward Jordan Staal from Pittsburgh in exchange for a package headlined by Brandon Sutter. The Hurricanes went with Lindholm after Seth Jones was taken fourth by Nashville. He's the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones and was one of the top defensemen in the draft. "When Florida didn't take him (with the No. 2 pick), we knew that anything was possible at that point," Rutherford said. "And obviously, if he had fallen to us, we would have taken him at (pick No.) 5 ahead of Lindholm." The Hurricanes also completed a trade of defensemen with the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday. The Sabres acquired defenseman Jamie McBain and a second-round draft pick in the deal, while with the Hurricanes received Andrej Sekera. Buffalo then used the Hurricanes' selection to pick forward JT Compher 35th overall. Compher is set to attend Michigan this fall. McBain is a 2006 second-round draft pick, who proved inconsistent over three-plus seasons with the Hurricanes. He has 19 goals and 75 points in 206 career games. Sekera had also struggled with consistency during his six-plus seasons in Buffalo, having failed to play to his offensive-minded reputation. Selected in the third round of the 2004 draft, he has 17 goals and 92 points in 339 career games. Herald-Sun LOADED: 07.01.2013 683149 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks trade Bolland, Frolik By Chris Kuc Tribune reporter 6:53 PM CDT, June 30, 2013 NEWARK, N.J.-- Less than a week after scoring the winning goal to give the Chicago Blackhawks the Stanley Cup championship, Dave Bolland was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The center was dealt to Toronto on Sunday for the 51st and 117th picks in the 2013 NHL draft and a fourth-round selection in the 2014 draft. "I have mixed emotions," Bolland told the Tribune. "I’ve been in Chicago for seven or eight years but I’m going back home to Toronto where I grew up. It’s sort of an up-and-down roller coaster right now. "Things like this happen--they make trades," Bolland added. "It’s a part of the game. You sort of know going into this game this can happen. It’s tough leaving this team. It’s one of the greatest organizations in the league. I’ve been here for so long." The Hawks followed that up by sending winger Michael Frolik, who assisted on Bolland's winning goal in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Bruins last Monday night, to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for the 74th and 134th overall selections in the draft. With the 51st overall pick acquired in the trade, the Hawks selected 6-3, 191 pound Swedish defenseman Carl Dahlstrom. The 27-year-old Bolland had seven goals and seven assists in 35 regularseason game with the Hawks but added three goals in 18 postseason games. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683150 Chicago Blackhawks Hawks draft updates: West Dundee's Hartman selected By Chris Kuc, Tribune reporter 7:50 PM CDT, June 30, 2013 NEWARK, N.J. -- The wait for the Chicago Blackhawks to use their first round pick of the NHL Draft was a long one as nearly three hours crawled by before the Stanley Cup champions chose Ryan Hartman of West Dundee with the No. 30 overall selection. Hartman is a 5-foot-11-inch, 185-pound right winger who had 23 goals, 27 assists and 127 penalty minutes in 56 games with Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League. With the 51st overall pick, the Blackhawks selected 6-3, 191 pound Swedish defenseman Carl Dahlstrom. The pick was acquired in the Dave Bolland trade to the Maple Leafs. The Hawks selected Chicago-born center John Hayden from the U.S. National Team Development Program in the third round (74th overall). With the 111th pick, the Hawks selected Swedish defenseman Robin Norell. The Hawks acquired that pick from the Sharks, along with a fifthround selection in 2014, in exchange for the 117th and 151st overall selections in the 2013 draft. With the 121st overall pick, the Hawks tabbed forward Tyler Motte. Center Luke Johnson was selected by the Hawks with the 134th pick. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683151 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks, Bickell agree to four-year deal By Chris Kuc Tribune reporter 7:08 PM CDT, June 30, 2013 NEWARK, N.J. -- General manager Stan Bowman is addressing the Chicago Blackhawks' future along two fronts Sunday at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Along with the Hawks' five selections in the NHL draft, the Hawks agreed to a four-year deal with forward Bryan Bickell. The 27-year-old ranked fifth in the NHL and second on the team with a career-high 17 points (9G, 8A) in 23 playoff games en route to the 2013 Stanley Cup Championship. The Bowmanville, Ontario, native ranked fifth in the NHL and paced club forwards with a +11 plus/minus rating. Bickell registered 23 points (9G, 14A) in 48 regular-season games. Originally drafted 41st overall by Chicago in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, he has tallied 90 points (40G, 50A) in 220 career NHL games. "It's looking good for 'Bick'," Bowman said earlier from the draft floor a few hours before the selections began. "I think we understand where they're at, they know where we're at, and we're trying to find a common ground." Bowman said both sides were interested in a deal and Bickell said recently he would consider taking a hometown discount to remain with the team that captured the Stanley Cup last Monday night in Boston. "Obviously, I think we want him and he wants to be here, so that's why I've always said I feel good that we're going to get it done," Bowman said. Bickell's agent, Todd Diamond, said via e-mail to the Tribune on Saturday night that "both parties want to make it work" and he "remains hopeful." Diamond said Sunday during the draft that he agreed with Bowman's assessment that it's "looking good." With the first pick in Sunday's draft, the Colorado Avalanche selected center Nathan MacKinnon. The Florida Panthers took center Aleksander Barkov and the Tampa Bay Lightning nabbed left winger Jonathan Drouin to round out the Top 2. Defenseman Seth Jones went No. 4 to the Nashville Predators and the Carolina Hurricanes picked center Elias Lindholm with the fifth pick. In the biggest trade of the day, the Vancouver Canucks traded goaltender Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth selection. That sent a jolt of energy through the Prudential Center crowd. After trading the Hawks' second- and third-round picks for defenseman Johnny Oduya in 2012, Bowman said he'd like to swing a deal or two to acquire more selections. "I'd like to try to pick up a pick or two if we can, and if not, then we'll just use where we are," Bowman said. "We've got confidence. Our guys have done a good job finding players later in the draft, and they've worked hard." Any moves would not be to add a player to the current roster and that finding more room under the salary cap is not as issue, Bowman said. "We're looking to get picks -- that's my goal," he said. "If we can get a couple more picks (Sunday), that would be my goal. I'm not really worried about salary. We used our buyouts and we're in a good spot financially. We have five picks, we'd like to try to get to six or seven if we could." As far as the trade market, Bowman said: "I've talked to a lot of teams, but we're not really close to anything right now. But that could change in 10 minutes if I go talk to a guy and they change their tune. The prices are, no one seems that interested in budging yet. Sometimes when one or two trades are made, it sort of gets things rolling." Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683152 Chicago Blackhawks Hawks at top of Chicago sports heap David Haugh's In the Wake of the News 6:46 PM CDT, June 29, 2013 Funny that Blackhawks goalie Corey Crawford probably came as close to losing his job as he had all year Friday at the team's Grant Park rally when he dropped two f-bombs publicly in front of image-conscious team president John McDonough. Of the types of saves Crawford must worry about, add tape-delay to the list. Yet despite how memorable Crawford's crudeness was for an audience of 2 million, as McDonough cringed, the most intriguing words at the podium came from Eddie Olczyk. Olczyk, as astute as any analyst, enthusiastically declared the Blackhawks had ascended to "the top of the sports totem pole here in Chicago.'' Hmmm. Bruins coach Claude Julien might call that another Blackhawks embellishment. I spent the rest of the day wondering if it was no exaggeration at all. At this moment of summer 2013, no other Chicago sports team can inspire the masses like Kaner, Tazer, Coach Q and the boys. Somebody could make a valid point arguing that, in our traditional "Bears Town," a Super Bowl victory parade would draw more fans — except realistically the Bears aren't close to winning a Super Bowl. So it's hypothetical. The Bears remain a team in transition under an unorthodox new coach nobody really knows yet. The Bulls have Derrick Rose, suddenly Chicago's most polarizing athlete, and more medical questions than the MCAT. The Sox and Cubs look unlikely to host playoff games at a local ballpark before the United Center hosts another Cup Final. Every now and then a team transcends sports by appealing across all demographic groups with equal parts proficiency and panache. The 1985 Bears and 1990s Bulls accomplished that. The 2013 Blackhawks fall into the same category. They have a historically robust Q rating — and that's not referring to future Hall of Fame coach Joel Quenneville. Nothing confirmed that like Friday's show of passion under a sweltering sun celebrating guys who chase a puck on ice. Years from now, history will record the arrival of Chicago's golden age of hockey with an image of the sea of red at Hutchinson Field as vast as the possibilities of the Patrick Kane-Jonathan Toews Era. Yes, players 25-and-younger with two Cup titles warrant their own era. Along the parade route, adults lifted children onto their shoulders for glimpses of Hawks stars. On crowded sidewalks, strangers exchanged high-fives and danced to "Chelsea Dagger.'' Near the stage, homemade signs like "SHAWSOME" and "I LOVE SHIN PADS" competed for camera shots. My favorite: "WE KANE, WE SHAW, WE … CRAWFORD.'' In the Loop, no day this year will see more people posing for keepsake photos than June 28, 2013 — the day the Second City threw a party second to none. Every sports city in American looked on with envy. Forget just Chicago; is there a recent title winner anywhere that penetrated its market like the Blackhawks have? Bigger and better than 2010, the turnout exceeded expectations. Not everybody appreciated speedy buses trying to beat every light but fans complaining about a ticker-tape parade pace is like a lottery winner whining about taxes. When a city can compare championship celebrations three years apart, how bad can any problem be? The Hawks easily unified more people than they alienated. How many times lately have you discussed the Blackhawks with somebody you rarely engage? How much have families or friends bonded over overtimes? My son just turned 13, the age when asking what he wants for breakfast can be considered an invasion of privacy. Andrew Shaw makes him chatty and Crawford gave him a cause. Kane elicits curiosity ("How old was he when he could do that, Dad?") and Toews respect. The Blackhawks rally provided a personal memory we will share long after we stopped laughing at Crawford's language. Thousands of parents lucky enough to take their kids too can relate. Whether it was Friday or during 71 games that led them there, the Hawks never offered an escape as much as an opportunity to create special experiences. Watching it all unfold was as precious to you as chronicling it was a privilege for me. You can stay objective as a sports journalist and still admire excellence without morphing into Super Fan. Maybe some Chicagoans embraced the Hawks to forget school closings and senseless shootings for a few hours. Maybe the Hawks gave people from all walks of life something on which they could agree. Maybe it just felt good to watch a bunch of guys have so much fun doing what they love. Whatever it was, for a so-called niche sport, hockey has carved a deep spot in more lives than ever around Chicago. The void in the months ahead will be hard to fill; the value of the past season impossible to measure. Chicago Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683153 Chicago Blackhawks Bryan Bickell signs 4-year, $16M deal to stay with Blackhawks BY MARK LAZERUS June 30, 2013 10:04PM Updated: June 30, 2013 10:11PM NEWARK, N.J. — Bryan Bickell played like a star. Now he’s going to be paid like a star. And the pressure’s on to prove that he is, indeed, a star. “Yeah, there’s going to be more pressure,” Bickell said after signing a fouryear, $16 million contract to stay with the Blackhawks. “They’re going to rely on me more. I feel these playoffs, I took a big step [in terms of] the way I need to play, the consistent level I need to bring. But I feel like I can bring that every night. I know what it takes now.” Bickell was the breakout performer of the Hawks’ run to the Stanley Cup over the last two months, timing his nine-goal, eight-assist outburst perfectly with his impending unrestricted free agency. All along, Hawks general manager Stan Bowman said he wanted to keep Bickell, and Bickell said he’d be willing to take a hometown discount to stay with the team that drafted him in 2004. While an average cap hit of $4 million — he’ll get a $1 million bonus and a $2 million salary next year, $4 million in 2014-15, and $4.5 million each of the next two season — it’s not much of a discount. And Bickell knew his contract was one reason the Hawks dealt away Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik earlier Sunday evening at the NHL draft. “It’s unfortunate, I’ve known Bolland for a long time, and he’s a big part of these Cup runs that we had,” Bickell said. “They felt they needed to move some guys to keep me, and I’m just happy that they wanted me that bad.” Bickell had nine goals and 14 assists as a third-liner during the regular season. He had 40 goals and 50 assists in 220 games until his postseason surge. He combined with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane to form a highly productive top line during the final two series of the playoffs, and said he’d like the chance to play a whole season with them to see what they could accomplish. “We’re excited to keep Bick because obviously we saw what he could do in the playoffs,” Bowman said. “But he’s got a different profile in terms of his style of play and his size.” For now, Bickell’s going to take the Cup back home to Bowmanville, Ontario, and take it fishing, as he did in 2010. He just bought a new fishing boat last year, but with his new contract, “maybe I’ll upgrade.” “I feel like Chicago’s like a second home,” he said. “I got drafted here. You can’t beat the city, the fans and the team. I’m happy to be back. It’s an awesome feeling.” Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683154 Chicago Blackhawks There’s no arguing with Hawks coach Joel Quenneville’s success This time, he put Toews and Kane together with the Hawks trailing the Bruins 2-1 in the Final. Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, who had been a plus-13 in his first 19 playoff games, was a minus-6 in the next three as the Hawks won 6-5, 3-1 and 3-2 to clinch the Cup. Other Quenneville moves BY MARK POTASH June 30, 2013 9:58PM If it’s a Zen thing with Joel Quenneville, we’ll never know it. When it comes to figuring out what makes the Blackhawks’ two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach tick, the best guess is that it’s an upper-body thing. He seems to learn well. We really don’t know because the Hawks and Quenneville never will give you the chance to find out. Casual media access to Quenneville is prohibited under the lordship of president John McDonough. Quenneville is whisked into news conferences by Hawks media-relations personnel and whisked out when they’re over. There is no time for idle chit-chat that might yield a little more insight into why Michal Rozsival got the extra ice time when Duncan Keith was suspended, why Nick Leddy isn’t playing much, why he decided to pair Brent Seabrook with Keith, whether he thinks he’s getting outcoached by Mike Babcock or whether there’s a Monarchos in the Kentucky Derby this year. Well, there is time for that, actually, but the Hawks forbid it. (The Bears, Bulls and other Chicago teams are warm and fuzzy by comparison. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau won’t give you anything more than his name, rank and serial number, but the team at least gives you a chance to try to break him down. The Bears have been holding one-on-one sessions between new coach Marc Trestman and the beat reporters who cover the team. Apparently, Trestman not only wants to meet the people reporting on his team but actually is interested in what makes them tick.) Likewise, Hawks players — a good group of guys like in most, if not all, NHL locker rooms — are cordial and accommodating but unlikely or unwilling to provide any kind of detailed insight into Quenneville’s coaching style. Maybe they just don’t know, either. It’s kind of cold and aloof. But that’s the way it is with the Hawks under McDonough. They’re as nice as they have to be, but they have no interest in letting sentiment or personality figure into any equation. And it might be the key to their success. It put Quenneville where he is today, in case you’ve forgotten. McDonough fired the popular Denis Savard four games into the 2008-09 season. That sudden and unexpected coaching change was compared to the Bulls’ ouster of the popular — and successful — Doug Collins in favor of untested Phil Jackson in 1989. And, like that unpopular move by then-Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, it’s hard to argue with McDonough’s results. Like Jackson, Quenneville has shown an uncanny ability to make the right moves — often subtle but sometimes not — to bring home a winner. With two Cups to his credit in his five seasons as the Hawks’ coach, there isn’t much of a debate regarding Quenneville’s status in the pantheon of Chicago coaches. In the last century, only Jackson (six), the Bears’ George Halas (six) and the Sting’s Willy Roy (two) have brought multiple championships to the city. With all due respect to soccer, that puts Quenneville a solid No. 3 on the all-time list — behind the guy who founded the NFL and the coach with more titles than anybody in the history of the NBA. Quenneville’s accomplishment is unquestioned. The Hawks became the first team in the NHL’s salary-cap era (since 2005) to win two Cups — a credit to GM Stan Bowman, too. In fact, nine franchises had won the previous nine Cups before the Hawks won last Monday in Boston. And, as was the case in 2010, Quenneville’s coaching moves made the difference. In 2010, he split up Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews when Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger was dominating the series. Pronger was on the ice for five goals and in the penalty box for a sixth as the Hawks won 7-4 in the critical Game 5. They went on to win the series in six games. also made a difference. He had two of the best goalies in hockey through the regular season in Corey Crawford (19-5-5) and Ray Emery (17-1-0) but avoided controversy and picked the right one for the postseason. After benching Viktor Stalberg against the Detroit Red Wings and Bruins, he put him back in when things weren’t working out. And analyst Eddie Olczyk was right on target that the best move of all was reuniting a struggling Seabrook with Keith in Game 5 against the Red Wings. It sparked a Seabrook revival that helped lift the Hawks out of a 3-1 series hole that became the ‘‘defining moment’’ of these playoffs. But Quenneville’s most valuable asset is his pitch-perfect temperament that kept his head clear to weather the playoff storms and make the right decisions. He never flinched publicly throughout the playoff run, whether he was being second-guessed about Stalberg, Kane and Toews or asked if Babcock was outcoaching him. That ultimately seems to be the difference. The excitable Ozzie Guillen lost control of the White Sox after winning it all in 2005. The excitable Lou Piniella won division titles but nothing else as manager of the Cubs. The excitable Mike Ditka never won a second Super Bowl as coach of the Bears. Quenneville, as best as anyone can tell, is the right guy in the right sport at the right time. There’s no telling how far he can take this. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683155 Chicago Blackhawks There’s no arguing with Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville’s success BY MARK POTASH June 30, 2013 9:58PM Updated: July 1, 2013 2:17AM If it’s a Zen thing with Joel Quenneville, we’ll never know it. When it comes to figuring out what makes the Blackhawks’ two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach tick, the best guess is that it’s an upper-body thing. He seems to learn well. We really don’t know because the Hawks and Quenneville never will give you the chance to find out. Casual media access to Quenneville is prohibited under the lordship of president John McDonough. Quenneville is whisked into news conferences by Hawks media-relations personnel and whisked out when they’re over. There is no time for idle chit-chat that might yield a little more insight into why Michal Rozsival got the extra ice time when Duncan Keith was suspended, why Nick Leddy isn’t playing much, why he decided to pair Brent Seabrook with Keith, whether he thinks he’s getting outcoached by Mike Babcock or whether there’s a Monarchos in the Kentucky Derby this year. Well, there is time for that, actually, but the Hawks forbid it. (The Bears, Bulls and other Chicago teams are warm and fuzzy by comparison. Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau won’t give you anything more than his name, rank and serial number, but the team at least gives you a chance to try to break him down. The Bears have been holding one-on-one sessions between new coach Marc Trestman and the beat reporters who cover the team. Apparently, Trestman not only wants to meet the people reporting on his team but actually is interested in what makes them tick.) Likewise, Hawks players — a good group of guys like in most, if not all, NHL locker rooms — are cordial and accommodating but unlikely or unwilling to provide any kind of detailed insight into Quenneville’s coaching style. Maybe they just don’t know, either. It’s kind of cold and aloof. But that’s the way it is with the Hawks under McDonough. They’re as nice as they have to be, but they have no interest in letting sentiment or personality figure into any equation. And it might be the key to their success. It put Quenneville where he is today, in case you’ve forgotten. McDonough fired the popular Denis Savard four games into the 2008-09 season. That sudden and unexpected coaching change was compared to the Bulls’ ouster of the popular — and successful — Doug Collins in favor of untested Phil Jackson in 1989. And, like that unpopular move by then-Bulls general manager Jerry Krause, it’s hard to argue with McDonough’s results. Like Jackson, Quenneville has shown an uncanny ability to make the right moves — often subtle but sometimes not — to bring home a winner. With two Cups to his credit in his five seasons as the Hawks’ coach, there isn’t much of a debate regarding Quenneville’s status in the pantheon of Chicago coaches. In the last century, only Jackson (six), the Bears’ George Halas (six) and the Sting’s Willy Roy (two) have brought multiple championships to the city. With all due respect to soccer, that puts Quenneville a solid No. 3 on the all-time list — behind the guy who founded the NFL and the coach with more titles than anybody in the history of the NBA. Quenneville’s accomplishment is unquestioned. The Hawks became the first team in the NHL’s salary-cap era (since 2005) to win two Cups — a credit to GM Stan Bowman, too. In fact, nine franchises had won the previous nine Cups before the Hawks won last Monday in Boston. And, as was the case in 2010, Quenneville’s coaching moves made the difference. In 2010, he split up Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews when Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Chris Pronger was dominating the series. Pronger was on the ice for five goals and in the penalty box for a sixth as the Hawks won 7-4 in the critical Game 5. They went on to win the series in six games. This time, he put Toews and Kane together with the Hawks trailing the Bruins 2-1 in the Final. Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara, who had been a plus-13 in his first 19 playoff games, was a minus-6 in the next three as the Hawks won 6-5, 3-1 and 3-2 to clinch the Cup. Other Quenneville moves also made a difference. He had two of the best goalies in hockey through the regular season in Corey Crawford (19-5-5) and Ray Emery (17-1-0) but avoided controversy and picked the right one for the postseason. After benching Viktor Stalberg against the Detroit Red Wings and Bruins, he put him back in when things weren’t working out. And analyst Eddie Olczyk was right on target that the best move of all was reuniting a struggling Seabrook with Keith in Game 5 against the Red Wings. It sparked a Seabrook revival that helped lift the Hawks out of a 3-1 series hole that became the ‘‘defining moment’’ of these playoffs. But Quenneville’s most valuable asset is his pitch-perfect temperament that kept his head clear to weather the playoff storms and make the right decisions. He never flinched publicly throughout the playoff run, whether he was being second-guessed about Stalberg, Kane and Toews or asked if Babcock was outcoaching him. That ultimately seems to be the difference. The excitable Ozzie Guillen lost control of the White Sox after winning it all in 2005. The excitable Lou Piniella won division titles but nothing else as manager of the Cubs. The excitable Mike Ditka never won a second Super Bowl as coach of the Bears. Quenneville, as best as anyone can tell, is the right guy in the right sport at the right time. There’s no telling how far he can take this. Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683156 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks trade Dave Bolland to Maple Leafs, Michael Frolik to Jets BY MARK LAZERUS June 30, 2013 10:33PM Updated: July 1, 2013 2:16AM NEWARK, N.J. — A week ago, Dave Bolland assured himself of a place in Blackhawks history. On Sunday, he became Blackhawks history. Six days after Bolland scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins, the Hawks traded the enigmatic agitator to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the NHL draft Sunday for three picks — a secondrounder, a fourth-rounder and a fourth-rounder in 2014. The Hawks also traded winger Michael Frolik, whose deflection banked off the post and led to Bolland’s Cup-winning goal, to the Winnipeg Jets for a third-rounder and a fifth-rounder. The trades helped the Hawks re-sign Bryan Bickell to a four-year, $16 million deal, but general manager Stan Bowman said the priority was to acquire draft picks and to free up roster spots, not cash. ‘‘We have a lot of young players that are ready to play, and at some point you have to open up spots for them to play,’’ said Bowman, who singled out forwards Brandon Pirri, Ben Smith, Jimmy Hayes and Jeremy Morin. ‘‘It has nothing to do with Dave Bolland or Michael Frolik. They contributed greatly to our success. But we’ve got a lot of young guys, and there’s only 12 spots up front.’’ Despite Bolland being a two-time Cup winner and part of the Hawks’ vaunted core, the deal wasn’t a shock. This was the third consecutive summer the Hawks shopped Bolland. The native of the Toronto suburb of Mimico knew the rumors were swirling around him, saying Thursday he wanted to return to Chicago, but ‘‘whatever happens, happens.’’ ‘‘Thank you for everything Chicago!’’ he said on Twitter. ‘‘Such amazing memories. I look forward to playing in front of my home fans wearing the Maple Leaf.’’ Bolland had seven goals and seven assists during the regular season as he battled numerous injuries. During his Hawks career, he had 70 goals and 98 assists in 332 games and earned a reputation as one of the NHL’s top irritants and a lockdown checking-line center. His departure leaves the Hawks even thinner at center than they’ve been (Bolland spent most of the regular season as their second-line center). But Bowman repeatedly mentioned Pirri was the American Hockey League’s leading scorer with 22 goals and 53 assists in 76 games with the Rockford IceHogs and said he thinks Pirri can be a top-six forward. Frolik, a former first-round pick of the Florida Panthers who emerged as a penalty-killing specialist this season, had three goals and seven assists during the regular season, then three goals and seven assists in the playoffs. His penalty-shot goal in Game 6 of the series against the Detroit Red Wings was one of the biggest of the postseason. Bolland and Frolik combined to make nearly $6 million, and the Hawks also saved about $6 million by buying out the contracts of Steve Montador and Rostislav Olesz. Aside from Bickell’s big deal, the Hawks now can re-sign restricted free agents Nick Leddy and Marcus Kruger. ‘‘We certainly are going to sign both of those players,’’ Bowman said. The extra cash could allow the Hawks to be players in the free-agent market, but Bowman said he doesn’t expect to make any splashes. Instead, he wants to promote from within. ‘‘These guys have paid their dues, and they deserve a chance to play at the NHL level,’’ Bowman said. ‘‘That’s sort of the way the puzzle’s supposed to work. If you draft well and you develop well, they’re going to become NHL players, then you don’t need to go in the free-agent market. . . . There’s nothing but good news that came out today for us. We’re headed in the right direction.’’ Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683157 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks draft local winger Ryan Hartman with 30th overall pick BY MARK LAZERUS June 30, 2013 10:38PM Updated: July 1, 2013 2:16AM NEWARK, N.J. — Ryan Hartman ‘‘grew up’’ watching Jonathan Toews. He went to Blackhawks games ‘‘all the time’’ as a kid with his grandfather and father, who was a big Eric Daze fan. He even was at the United Center for two first-round playoff games this year. And on Sunday afternoon at the Prudential Center, he was wearing a Hawks sweater with his name on the back, his hometown team’s first-round draft pick. ‘‘It couldn’t have gone any better,’’ said Hartman, 18, the 30th and final pick of the first round. The 5-11, 185-pound right wing, who went to Fremd High School, has lived in West Dundee since he moved from South Carolina when he was 2. He had 23 goals and 37 assists in 56 games with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League, where he’ll play again next season. He brings a physical edge to his game that he equated to that of a similarly sized player, Hawks center Andrew Shaw. ‘‘They love those type of players,’’ Hartman said of the Hawks. ‘‘I’d bring that.’’ Hartman won gold with Team USA at the 2012 Under-18 World Championship and the 2013 World Juniors. A Chicago Mission minor hockey product, he played for the U.S. Under-18 National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2011-12, posting 16 goals and 25 assists in 59 games. The Hawks also took center John Hayden, who was born in Chicago, with their third-round pick and Winfield’s Anthony Louis, a forward, to end the sixth round. J.T. Compher of Northbrook (Glenbrook North) was taken 35th by the Buffalo Sabres. Draft double-takes The top of the draft was full of surprises, including the blockbuster trade of Cory Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth pick. After the Colorado Avalanche took center Nathan MacKinnon first overall, Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon shocked everybody by taking center Aleksander Barkov, projected to go later in the top 10. That allowed American defenseman Seth Jones — rated by many as the best player in the draft — to fall to the Nashville Predators at No. 4. So the Hawks can look forward to contending with a division-rival Predators team with Shea Weber and Jones on the blue line. Cool reception Only three teams from the first round of the playoffs congratulated the Hawks on their Stanley Cup championship, usually an expected formality. Those teams were the rival Vancouver Canucks, the Winnipeg Jets (whose GM, Kevin Cheveldayoff, is a former Hawks assistant GM) and the Montreal Canadiens (whose GM, Marc Bergevin, also a former Hawks assistant GM). Chicago Sun Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683158 Chicago Blackhawks Hawks trade Game 6 hero Bolland for 3 draft picks By Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. — Dave Bolland's Game 6 game winner is the last goal he'll score for the Blackhawks. The Stanley Cup champions traded Bolland to the Toronto Maple Leafs for three draft picks Sunday at the NHL draft. The Blackhawks received the 51st and 117th picks in this year's draft, and a fourth-rounder next season. The Boston Bruins had a 2-1 lead with 2 minutes left in Game 6, and the Stanley Cup was all but packed away for a Game 7 back in Chicago. But then Bryan Bickell tied it with 1:16 left, and Bolland scored 17 seconds later to give the Blackhawks the lead. Bolland missed the entire first-round series vs. Minnesota with an injury. Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683159 Chicago Blackhawks Article posted: 6/30/2013 10:59 PM By Tim Sassone The drafting of West Dundee's Ryan Hartman got a bit lost in all the news the Blackhawks made Sunday. Before the Hawks traded Dave Bolland to Toronto, Michael Frolik to Winnipeg and re-signed unrestricted free agent Bryan Bickell to a four-year, $16 million contract, they drafted Hartman 30th in the first round of the NHL entry draft. Hartman, a 5-foot-11, 187-pound right wing from the Plymouth Whalers had 23 goals last season, 60 points and 120 penalty minutes in the Ontario Hockey League. Hartman, who said Jonathan Toews is his favorite player, hits and will fight anyone. "He's a guy you love on your team but hate to play against," a scout told The Hockey News. "The thing you like about him is his consistency. He plays hard every game and then you look at the score sheet at the end of the night and there he is." Hartman was a tower of strength as a third-line grinder for U.S. in the World Junior Championships. He had 2 goals, 3 points and was plus-4 in seven games. "He's not the biggest guy, but he shows no fear of getting involved and battles for the puck," NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards told NHL.com. "He can hit hard and is aggressive on the forecheck. He sees the ice well, gets the puck through traffic with creative passes and offers a very good shot that he gets off quickly." Hartman had an impressive showing at the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After delivering the game's first big hit on Team Orr MVP Laurent Dauphin less than 30 seconds into the contest, he went toe to toe with Kerby Rychel of the Windsor Spitfires in a fight. A product of the Chicago Mission midget program, Hartman had 16 goals and 41 points last season in 59 games with the United States National Team Development Program under-18 team. "Ryan is one of the best skaters in this year's draft class," Edwards said. "He has a long, smooth stride and his agility, acceleration and speed are all excellent. "He's not the biggest guy, but he shows no fear of getting involved and battles for the puck. He can hit hard and is aggressive on the forecheck." •The Hawks took defenseman Carl Dahlstrom from Sweden's Djurgarden in the second round (51st overall). In the third round with the 74th pick, the Hawks selected Chicago-born center John Hayden from the U.S. National Team Development Program. The Hawks grabbed defenseman Robin Norell from Sweden's Djurgarden Jr. in the fourth round with the 111th pick overall. Then in the fourth round, the Hawks took center Tyler Motte from the U.S. National Team Development Program at 121 overall. The Hawks closed the draft by taking center Luke Johnson from the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League in the fifth round (134th overall); center Anthony Louis from the U.S. National Team Development Program in the sixth round (181st overall); and defenseman Robin Press from the Sweden's Sodertalje in the seventh round (211th overall). Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683160 Chicago Blackhawks Bickell goes from the lowest-paid player on the team with a salary of a little more than $541,000 to the seventh-highest at $4 million. Bolland, Frolik gone; Bickell gets new deal with Hawks The 27-year-old Bickell cashed in on his best playoff performance ever when he had 9 goals, none bigger than the one that tied Game 6, and 8 assists. By Tim Sassone Daily Herald Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 Less than a week after the fourth line scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in Boston, Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman on Sunday traded two-thirds of that line in separate deals. In less than an hour at the NHL entry draft, Bowman sent center Dave Bolland to Toronto for three draft picks and winger Michael Frolik to Winnipeg for two more picks. The two trades saved the Hawks roughly $5.7 million. Those deals, combined with buying out of defenseman Steve Montador and winger Rostislav Olesz last week, knocked another $5.5 million off the payroll That gave the Hawks more than enough money under the salary cap to announce the re-signing of winger Bryan Bickell to a four-year $16 million contract. Bickell's cap hit is $4 million, according to CapGeek.com. "It feels good," Bickell said. "Chicago is like a second home to me and I'm happy to be back. There's going to be more pressure and they're going to rely on me more, but I know what it takes now. "It's unfortunate (Bolland) had to go. I've known him a long time and he was a big part of this Cup run. I'm just happy they decided to keep me." Bolland had one year left on the five-year, $16.875 million contract he signed with former GM Dale Tallon. His cap hit was $3.375 million. Frolik had one year remaining on his contract that carried a cap hit of $2.33 million. Bolland was quick to tweet: "Thank you for everything Chicago. Such amazing memories. I look forward to playing in front of my home fans wearing the Maple Leaf." Bolland grew up a Maple Leafs fan in the Toronto suburb of Mimico, Ontario. He was at home watching the draft and golf with Hawks teammate Daniel Carcillo when he learned of the trade. "I have mixed emotions," Bolland said. "It's sort of an up-and-down roller coaster right now. I'm excited being a Toronto boy and watching the Leafs growing up." Maple Leafs GM Dave Nonis said he was the one who initiated trade talks with Bowman via a text message. The Hawks got three draft picks for Bolland: Nos. 51 and 117 this year and a fourth-round pick in 2014. "He does have that pedigree," Nonis told NHL.com. "Part of having all those banners and Cups is being in the right place and part of it is being the right person. Usually if you're on multiple championship teams it's because you provide something." Nonis said he talked with coach Randy Carlyle, who is excited to insert Bolland into the lineup. Nonis said Bolland could potentially play in the Maple Leafs' top six, although Bolland admitted last week that was a failed experiment this season when he started as the Hawks' second center. Only Marcus Kruger is left from the fourth line that combined to score the Stanley Cup-winning goal in the 3-2 victory at Boston last Monday. Bolland got the goal, the biggest of his Hawks career, with 59 seconds left, just 17 seconds after Bickell's goal tied it. Kruger now will be looked upon to help replace Bolland at center, either on the third or fourth line. Andrew Shaw likely will get the first shot at the thirdline center job. Replacing Frolik as a penalty killer might prove to be more difficult. Frolik and Kruger formed a 1-2 punch on the PK that was as good as any in the league. This opens the door wide for Ben Smith if he can show he can kill penalties. Brandon Pirri, who led the American Hockey League in scoring this season, is a possible candidate to play center on the second line. 683161 Chicago Blackhawks Hawks send Bolland to Toronto Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 5:45 pm NEWARK, N.J. -- Dave Bolland scored the goal that gave the Chicago Blackhawks their second Stanley Cup in the past four seasons. Now he's headed to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Blackhawks traded Bolland to the Maple Leafs for the 51st and 117th overall picks in this draft, as well as a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. It wasn't an altogether surprising move for the Blackhawks, who were looking to free up cap space to get to the $64.3 million that every team must be at for the 2013-14 season. The Blackhawks are also looking to resign Bryan Bickell and Nick Leddy, among others. Bolland, who has spent his entire pro career with the Blackhawks, was the subject of much trade speculation heading into this draft. A source said several teams were interested in the third-line center, who scored the game- and Cup-winning goal with 58.3 seconds remaining in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins on Monday night. He has one year remaining on a five-year deal that was a $3.375 million cap hit per season. The 27-year-old Bolland finished the postseason on a high note, with three goals and two assists in the Stanley Cup Final series vs. Boston. But it was an otherwise tough regular season for Bolland, who struggled through injuries (a groin and back, at the very least), and low offensive production. Bolland was moved to second-line center this past season and his numbers fell; he had just seven goals and seven assists in 35 games. Bolland was asked about the potential trade rumors at the Blackhawks' final media availability on Thursday. The veteran took it in stride. "I'd love to be back here next year. But whatever happens, happens," he said. "It’s the NHL and trades happen, I’d love to be back here, I love Chicago. But it’s a game and this is what happens." Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683162 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks select Hartman in first round Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 5:15 pm With their only first-round selection of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks stayed local. Ryan Hartman, a native of West Dundee, was selected 30th overall by the Blackhawks as the NHL Entry Draft wrapped up its first round just after 6 p.m. ET. Hartman is a right wing for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound Hartman had 23 goals and 37 assists in 56 games for the Whalers during the 2012-13 season. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683163 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks' GM Bowman feels confident heading into Draft Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 2:00 pm NEWARK – As the 2013 NHL Entry Draft began on Sunday, the Chicago Blackhawks were biding their time until their 30th-overall selection. But the team’s talks with Bryan Bickell’s representative continue to be positive. General manager Stan Bowman said Sunday morning that talks are ongoing with Bickell’s agent Todd Diamond, and that things are “looking good.” “We’re talking, yeah. It’s looking good for Bick but we’re not there yet,” Bowman said. “It certainly hasn't broken down at all. I think we understand where they're at, they know where we're at and we're trying to find a common ground.” Diamond, via email, said Saturday that talks were “positive and productive” between the two camps. That’s sounding like good news for Bickell, who sounds like a guy who wants to stay in Chicago. Bickell is certainly due a raise after a tremendous postseason; he earned $600,000 this season. He has said he’s willing to take a “hometown discount” to stay with the Blackhawks. Meanwhile, there was plenty of talk in the hours leading up to the draft. But Bowman said, from the Blackhawks’ standpoint, that’s all it was as of now. “They’re sort of all over the board,” Bowman said. “There’s a lot of talking, but not really close on anything right now.” Bowman’s focus is on bolstering the Blackhawks’ draft selection numbers more than shedding salary. Right now, the team has five selections: one in the first round (30th overall), fourth (121st), fifth (151st), sixth (181st) and seventh (211th). If he can add to that, all the better. “If we can get a couple more picks today, that would be my goal. I'm not really worried about salary,” Bowman said. “We used our buyouts and we're in a good spot financially. We have five picks; we'd like to try to get to six or seven if we could.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683164 Chicago Blackhawks Frolik sent to Winnipeg for two draft picks Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 6:15 pm NEWARK, N.J. – Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said there would be changes to this roster. He wasn’t kidding. Michael Frolik became the second Blackhawks forward traded on Sunday night, as they sent him to the Winnipeg Jets for the 74th and 134th overall selections in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Frolik came to the Blackhawks as part of the deal that sent Jack Skille to the Florida Panthers in the 2010-11 season. The 25-year-old had two 21goal seasons with the Panthers but never reached that level of scoring with the Blackhawks. He did emerge as a tremendous penalty killer for them this season, as he and Marcus Kruger made that their calling card. Now Kruger is the only member of that strong postseason fourth line remaining with the Blackhawks. Dave Bolland was traded to the Toronto Maple leafs earlier this evening for three draft picks, including a fourthround selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. The Blackhawks were working to get under the $64.3 million cap that will go into effect for the 2013-14 season. They also wanted to clear some extra space to sign a few players, including pending unrestricted free agent Bryan Bickell and restricted free agent Nick Leddy. The Blackhawks used their two compliance buyouts on Steve Montador and Rostislav Olesz a few days ago. With all those moves, the Blackhawks cap payroll, according to capgeek.com, is now just over $51.1 million. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683165 Chicago Blackhawks Four more years for Bickell Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 7:00 pm NEWARK, N.J. -- Bryan Bickell wanted to stay with the Chicago Blackhawks. On Sunday, the Blackhawks made sure he did. Bickell, one of the team's top performers in the postseason, signed a fouryear deal with the Blackhawks on Sunday night. According to capgeek.com, the deal will average a $4 million cap hit per season. Bickell’s salary will be $3 million in the 2013-14 season, $4 million in 2014-15 and then $4.5 million in each of the final two seasons. That’s one hefty pay raise for a guy who earned $600,000 this season. The big forward is coming off a tremendous postseason for the Blackhawks in which he had a career-high 17 (9 goals, 8 assists) points in 23 playoff games. Bickell scored the game-tying goal in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins, just 17 seconds before Dave Bolland, who was traded earlier tonight, scored the Cup-winner. He had nine goals and 14 assists in 48 regular-season games. General manager Stan Bowman was excited that Bickell remains with the Blackhawks. “He was really good all year,” he said. “His role was different during the regular season, but that line (with Andrew Shaw and Viktor Stalberg) was effective. They just didn’t play as many minutes. And Bickell stepped it up when given the chance. He got a bigger role (in the postseason), and he was able to do more with it.” Bickell talked on Thursday about his impending unrestricted free agency, but he seemed reluctant to think of hockey life outside the Blackhawks’ locker room. Bickell, his agent Todd Diamond and Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman all talked of how he wanted to stay with Chicago, how much he loved it here. Now, he can. “It feels good that we got it done,” Bickell said via phone late Sunday night. “I feel like Chicago’s a second home. I got drafted (by the Blackhawks) and you can’t beat the city, the fans and the team. I’m happy to be back; it’s an awesome feeling.” Bickell’s agent Todd Diamond said both sides wanted to get this deal done before July 5, the opening day of free agency. “You guys were asking me a lot about unrestricted free agency during the playoffs but I was concentrating on hockey. But these last few days we’ve been celebrating (the Cup victory) and thinking about this,” Bickell said. “I’m definitely happy to get it done and I’m looking forward to the short summer.” But Bickell will be losing some teammates. Longtime Blackhawks center Dave Bolland, who scored the Cup-winning goal in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for two selections in this draft and a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Michael Frolik, who set up that game-winner, was traded to the Winnipeg Jets for two picks in this draft. “Yeah, it’s unfortunate,” Bickell said. “I’ve known Bolland for a long time and he’s a big part of these Cup runs we’ve had. They needed to move some guys for them to keep me. I’m just happy they wanted me that bad, but to see those two guys gone, it’s unfortunate. But I’m just happy to be in this situation.” Bowman said those trades were less about making cap room for Bickell’s contract and more about making room for in-system players who are ready to make the big club – or at least get the chance to. And in Bickell’s case, the Blackhawks didn’t want to lose what he brought. “We’re happy to keep Bicks because we saw what he can do in the playoffs. But he has a different profile in terms of his style of play and size,” Bowman said. “We had to keep Bickell’s style of play around, and we have to go forward to do that.” But with that situation comes added pressure and expectations. Bickell is no longer a $700,000 player who, when he had a good season, played above his potential. Now he’s getting paid handsomely – make that very handsomely – to be that player every game. Bickell said he understands what comes with that big contract. “There’s going to be more pressure, they’re going to rely on me more. But I took a big step in these playoffs with the way I need to play and the consistency level I need to bring,” Bickell said. “I feel I can bring that every night. I know what it takes now, what they want and hopefully I can just bring it.” Bickell will celebrate now, not just this Cup on which he’ll get his name etched, but also that contract he just signed. Bickell’s got plenty riding on it. He’s ready to prove he’s worth it. “I love playoff hockey and these playoffs were special,” Bickell said. “What I need to bring every night to help this team win is a big part of where I needed to be. This playoff run, I found it. I just have to remind myself every game that I can do it and I just have to stick with that.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683166 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks ready for young players to step up Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 10:30 pm NEWARK, N.J. – When the Chicago Blackhawks traded Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik to their respective new teams Toronto and Winnipeg, it cleared up a good deal of cap space, some of which when to Bryan Bickell’s new deal. But general manager Stan Bowman said it had less to do with freeing up money and more to do with freeing up spaces for would-be Blackhawks in waiting. Several Blackhawks in the system are on the verge of making the big club. Some have already had their “auditions,” such as Jeremy Morin, Ben Smith and Jimmy Hayes. And Bowman said, several of those players have earned the chance at a roster spot this coming season. “It’s not easy trading players who have been a big part of the team’s success. But you have to look forward,” Bowman said. “You have to open spots for some of these players who have been pushing. Whether it’s Jimmy Hayes, Brandon Pirri, Jeremy Morin or Ben Smith, those guys deserve to be in the NHL. But they’ve been blocked out for a long time. We have a lot of young guys pushing to get into the lineup.” Now, it looks like those guys will get their chance. This, Bowman said, is what the Blackhawks want to keep doing: drafting well, developing those prospects – be it those they drafted or acquired – and get the right pieces through free agency without relying heavily on it. And that’s the plan moving forward. The Blackhawks have been high on Pirri for some time. The 22year-old center won the John B. Sollenberger Trophy as the American Hockey League’s leading scorer for 2012-13, recording 75 points. Bowman said Pirri could fit in the top six. The others could fit in somewhere, too. “You have to give them a chance to play,” Bowman said. “They’ve paid their dues and they deserve a chance to play at the NHL level. That’s how the puzzle is supposed to work. If you draft well and develop well, they become good NHL players and you don’t have to go into the free agency market.” The opportunity will be there for the up-and-coming Blackhawks. Still, replacing the two traded players won’t be easy. Bolland and Frolik were good character guys, both in demeanor and in the type of game they played. Neither one was incredibly flashy; neither one had to be. Bolland was grit, guts, a whole lot of checking and the right amount of angst – with a little offense thrown in for good measure. He was also part of that core group that brought two Stanley Cups to Chicago, and the familiarity he had with other core members can’t be ignored. Frolik, we’re guessing, would’ve loved to equal those two consecutive 21goal seasons he had while with the Florida Panthers, but he didn’t. Instead, he took on the role that coach Joel Quenneville chose for him: penalty killer. He was great in that role, helping improve the team’s numbers in that category. He also supplied great defense as part of the Blackhawks’ fourth line. The Blackhawks parted with two players who left their mark on the team and still have plenty of hockey-playing years left. Bowman will also now focus on keeping two more youngsters – restricted free agents Nick Leddy and Marcus Kruger, who he said “we’re certainly going to sign.” The next group of young 20-somethings gets their chance. We’ll soon see if the cycle that has made the Blackhawks so successful keeps turning the right way. “We have guys who are knocking on the door to get into the NHL. They’ve been in our system for two years, and they’d probably be playing on many other teams already,” Bowman said. “We’ve let them take their time to develop. That’s good for us.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683167 Chicago Blackhawks Blackhawks happy with draft haul on eventful night Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 5:15 pm NEWARK, N.J. – Ryan Hartman sat and waited through the lengthy 2013 NHL Entry Draft’s first round at the Prudential Center. And waited and waited. “I had my palms sweating,” said Hartman, who grew up watching the Chicago Blackhawks in West Dundee. “I saw (the Blackhawks’) name at the lower end of the board and I pictured my name being there. I was hoping they’d pick me.” And with that final selection of the first round, the Blackhawks did. The Blackhawks picked Hartman with the 30th overall pick, their only firstround selection of the draft on Sunday. For Hartman, whose family moved to West Dundee when he was 2 years old, getting selected by the hometown team was a dream come true. “It’s unbelievable,” he said a few minutes after being selected. “(Winning) their second Stanley Cup in four years. Also being a hometown kid, it’s that much sweeter. My mom was anxious to hear my name get called (by the Blackhawks). So it worked out for me.” The 5-foot-11, 181-pound Hartman played this past season for the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. A right wing who was moved to center, Hartman recorded 23 goals and 37 assists in 56 games this season. General manager Stan Bowman said that Hartman being a Chicago-area kid is a nice touch, but that’s not why the Blackhawks selected him. “He’s a heart-and-soul kind of guy,” Bowman said. “He gets under other teams’ skin but he has a lot of talent as well. He’s a competitive kid. He’s the kind of player the fans will certainly embrace and he’ll be a Blackhawk for many years to come.” Hartman, who said his dad was an Eric Daze fan, is a big Jonathan Toews fan. And the thought of playing along side him some day is enticing. “That would be unbelievable,” Hartman said. “Growing up, watching the Blackhawks play and seeing a guy like Toews turn the team around, take them to win two Cups, he’s an awesome player.” The Blackhawks, who began the night with five draft picks, finished with eight. Bowman was happy with the variety of players they obtained. “We mixed in some size and skill. It was a nice mix for us, and we wanted to have a good combination,” he said. “Coming out of it, we got a lot of players we’re really excited about.” Here are the Blackhawks’ 2013 NHL Entry Draft selections: 1. (30th) Ryan Hartman RW Plymouth Whalers (OHL) 5-11, 185 2. ^(51st) Carl Dahlstrom D Djurgarden U-18 (SWE) 6-3, 191 3. ^^ (74th) John Hayden C US National Team U-18 (USHL) 6-2, 220 4. ^^^(111th) Robin Norell D Djurgarden Jr. (SWE) 5-10, 176 4. (121st) Tyler Motte C U.S.A. U-18 (USHL) 5-9, 190 5. ^^(134th) Luke Johnson C Lincoln Stars (USHL) 5-11, 179 6. (181st) Anthony Louis C U.S.A. U-18 (USHL) 5-6, 145 7. (211st) Robin Press D Sodertalje (SWE) 6-2, 187 ^ Acquired from Toronto (along with a fourth-round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft) in exchange for forward Dave Bolland. ^^ Acquired from WPG in exchange for forward Michael Frolik. ^^^ Acquired from SJS along with a fifth round-pick in the 2014 Entry Draft on June 30, 2013, in exchange for the 117th overall selection (originally acquired from TOR) and the 151st overall selection in the 2013 Entry Draft. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683168 Colorado Avalanche Nathan MacKinnon drafted first by Colorado Avalanche in 2013 NHL Draft With their second pick (32nd overall), the Avs drafted defenseman Chris Bigras from the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League. Bigras, 18, is projected as a strong stay-at-home defender with a bit of offensive skill as a left-handed shooter. He posted eight goals and 38 points in 68 games for Owen Sound. The Denver Post "He is very advanced in terms of his defensive reads and positioning, and he projects as a player that can play tougher defensive minutes," the Hockey Prospectus said of Bigras. Posted: 06/30/2013 01:26:08 PM MDT Denver Post: LOADED: 07.01.2013 By Adrian Dater Updated: 06/30/2013 06:12:24 PM MDT NEWARK, N.J. — One can only imagine what it must be like to have Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic standing by each side, smiling and announcing to the world that you are the NHL prospect they wanted more than other in the world. While the rest of the world imagines, Nathan MacKinnon can now speak to what it actually feels like. "It's crazy, it's unbelievable," said MacKinnon, who was chosen first overall by the Avalanche in Sunday's draft at the Prudential Center. "When I heard 'Halifax Mooseheads,' I had to pause for a second because I know it could have been (Halifax teammate) Jonathan (Drouin) picked. I'm just so thankful I got the opportunity. I couldn't be happier being picked by Colorado." MacKinnon, 17, rose to the top of most scouting lists after a dominant Memorial Cup tournament. He is the second native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, to be drafted first since 2005, when Sidney Crosby was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Comparisons to Crosby have been made, though that might be unfair at this stage. More than anything else, Sakic said, MacKinnon impressed him with his unique personality. "He's got the fire," said Sakic, the Avs' executive vice president of hockey operations. "He's a humble kid, but he wanted to be No. 1. He's a hard worker, and no matter what the moment is, he rises to the occasion." When he was a kid, MacKinnon filled out the back of a personalized hockey card with future ambitions to be drafted by the Avs and play with Sakic. "I told Patrick (the Avs' new coach) maybe I'd come out of retirement to play a couple games to make that one to come true, but I don't think he's going to go for it," Sakic joked. MacKinnon, a 6-foot, 182-pound center, will be introduced to the Denver media at the Pepsi Center at 2 p.m. Monday. An explosive skater with quick hands and a hard shot, MacKinnon has the intangibles, Roy said, that helped convince him and the rest of the Avalanche brass that he was worthy of being the No. 1 pick. "He's a winner," Roy said. "He's a very good player, just too good to pass up. People in Denver are really going to enjoy watching him play." Sakic said the Avs talked with a few teams about possible trades, but he said nothing got too serious. The Hall of Fame former center announced the pick, with MacKinnon's parents — Graham and Kathy — quickly embracing their son. "I got a little sleep (Saturday) night, but I woke up pretty early and I was just pretty excited," MacKinnon said. "My goal definitely is to play with the team this season and make a difference." Roy said MacKinnon will start the season as a third-line center, with Jamie McGinn and Steve Downie as his wings. Roy saw MacKinnon play a lot with Halifax, often uncomfortably as a rival coach with the Quebec Remparts. "But I didn't want to push too hard for him or (Drouin), because I wanted everyone else to feel comfortable with him as the decision," Roy said. "I think we all felt the same way." The Avs bypassed Drouin and the other top prospects, Seth Jones and Aleksander Barkov. Jones, once considered the favorite to go first overall, slipped to fourth with the Nashville Predators. Barkov went second to the Florida Panthers and Drouin third to the Tampa Bay Lightning. "They're all going to be really good players," Sakic said of the others. "But we got the guy we wanted. We're looking forward to having him around for 15 years at least." 683169 Colorado Avalanche Seth Jones doesn't begrudge Avalanche for passing on him in NHL draft Posted: 07/01/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT By Dan Gelston The Associated Press NEWARK, N.J. — While the Avalanche got all the early attention with the first pick in the draft, the rest of the teams were busy Sunday, also planning their future through youth. The Florida Panthers made center Aleksander Barkov, the top-ranked European skater, the second overall pick. Tampa Bay drafted forward Jonathan Drouin, from the Halifax Mooseheads, with the third overall pick. The Nashville Predators pounced on Seth Jones with the fourth overall pick. Jones, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound defenseman, was widely considered the top prospect at one time. He is the son of former Nuggets forward Popeye Jones. Popeye Jones paced the floor of the Prudential Center on Sunday and said Seth slept great and was calm in the final hours leading up to the draft. But that had to change just a bit when Jones, who played for Portland of the Western Hockey League, slipped to fourth. Jones, who lived in Colorado as a youth and seemed a perfect fit for the Avalanche, has ties to Tennessee as well. Popeye Jones owns a house there. "It's a perfect spot for him," Popeye Jones said proudly. "He'll be motivated there and ready to go." Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic gave the elder Jones some advice on getting Seth more interested in hockey when they both played in Denver more than a decade ago. Popeye Jones later developed a friendship with Colorado goalie, and now coach, Patrick Roy. The story line that had Jones joining the franchise that encouraged his push into hockey went bust on the first pick. "It definitely sounded too good to be true," Seth Jones said. "I'm not unhappy that they didn't choose me. It was their decision, and that's what they thought would be best for their organization. "You've got to respect that." Carolina selected Elias Lindholm, who played in Sweden, fifth and the Calgary Flames followed with center Sean Monahan from Ottawa of the Ontario Hockey League. After picking first the last three years, the Edmonton Oilers took defenseman Darnell Nurse, of Saulte Ste. Marie in the OHL, with the seventh choice. Nurse is the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. McNabb was famously booed by Eagles fans in the 1999 draft and was hurt for years by the reaction. Nurse heard polite applause in Newark. "We're even, because he went higher than me," Nurse said, "but I didn't get booed at my draft." Denver Post: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683170 Colorado Avalanche Coach Patrick Roy says Nathan MacKinnon will center Avs' third line Posted: 07/01/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT By Adrian Dater The Denver Post NEWARK, N.J. — Avalanche coach Patrick Roy wasted no time Sunday penciling No. 1 draft pick Nathan MacKinnon into his projected lineup. Roy told The Denver Post his plans for the Avs' top three forward lines, with MacKinnon slated to be a third-line center with Jamie McGinn at left wing and Steve Downie at right wing. To make room for MacKinnon at center, Roy said he plans to move Ryan O'Reilly to left wing on a line centered by Matt Duchene and P.A. Parenteau playing right wing. Another line would have Paul Stastny centering Gabe Landeskog at left wing and newly acquired veteran Alex Tanguay at right wing. O'Reilly has rarely played a wing position, so it will be interesting to see how that plays out. "It wouldn't matter where I play," MacKinnon said. "I just would do whatever it takes to help the team." Footnotes. MacKinnon said he wasn't told ahead of time by Avs management that he would be picked first overall. "I found out when everyone else found out," he said. ... MacKinnon said he received goodluck wishes on his NHL career from fellow Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, native Sidney Crosby. ... Avs president Josh Kroenke attended the draft. ... MacKinnon likely will wear No. 22 with the Avs. That was his uniform number with the Halifax Mooseheads. Newest Avs Sunday's draft picks by the Avalanche, with a comment on each by Denver Post NHL beat writer Adrian Dater: First round, No. 1 overall Nathan MacKinnon, 17, C, 6-foot, 182 pounds, Halifax • Deemed best player available in draft by most scouts. Second round, No. 32 overall Chris Bigras, 18, D, 6-1, 186 Owen Sound • Has size but also great speed as a blue-liner. Third round, No. 63 overall Spencer Martin, 18, G, 6-2, 190, Mississauga • Big butterfly goalie. Fourth round, No. 83 overall Mason Geertsen, 18, D, 6-4, 203, Edmonton (WHL) • Rugged D-man, drops gloves a lot. Fifth round, No. 123 overall Will Butcher, 17, D, 5-11, 180, U.S. Development • Speedy D-man scheduled to attend DU this fall. Sixth round, No. 163 overall Ben Storm, 19, D, 6-6, 215, Muskegon • Big D-man scheduled to attend St. Cloud State this fall. Seventh round, No. 183 overall Wilhelm Westlund, 18, D, 6-0, 178, Farjestad • Fifth D-man picked to close the draft day for Avs. Denver Post: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683171 Colorado Avalanche Frei: Colorado Avalanche blew it by not selecting Seth Jones with No. 1 pick Posted: 07/01/2013 12:01:00 AM MDT Updated: 07/01/2013 12:18:09 AM MDT By Terry Frei The Denver Post The Avalanche is going to rue the day it passed on the chance to draft Seth Jones. I couldn't shake that feeling Sunday after attending the team's NHL draft watch gathering at Chopper's Sports Grill. Chopper Travaglini — the legendary former Nuggets trainer who died in 1999 — indirectly helped convince me. His picture hangs inside the restaurant named after him. After the Avalanche claimed Halifax Mooseheads center Nathan MacKinnon with the first overall choice in Newark, N.J., I could see Chopper, gravelly voiced even when healthy, squinting and saying, as he often did, "Something here just doesn't feel right." Something here just doesn't feel right. For nearly a year, Jones — the American-born defenseman for major junior's Portland Winterhawks — was built up as the likely No. 1 overall choice in 2013. The comparisons flowed in, to Nick Lidstrom, to Chris Pronger, to more. Jones was poised beyond his years, he controlled games, he was an NHL great waiting to happen. And the kicker: He came with a great story that was tied to Denver and to both the Nuggets and Avalanche. Sunday, the Avalanche fans at Chopper's seemed fine with the choice of MacKinnon. Joe Sakic's pre-emptive strikes involving the team's intentions in the past two weeks had prepared them. Still, something here doesn't feel right. And that big picture includes that Florida and Tampa Bay ultimately went along with the notion there were at least three forwards — MacKinnon, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Drouin — who were wiser choices than Jones. Going fourth in the draft is no insult. In fact, it's a huge compliment. But I still don't get it. As a generalist not on the hockey beat any longer, I'm not going to pretend to have "scouted" these teen- agers beyond the casual glimpses of majorjunior games and highlight packages. Avalanche chief scout Rick Pracey, and the men whose judgments are being counted on to turn this franchise around, Sakic and Patrick Roy, have "sound" reasons for settling on selecting one of three forwards and then specifying it would be MacKinnon. In Roy's case, as the coach of the Quebec Remparts, he marveled at the talents of MacKinnon and Drouin as Halifax linemates — and tried to figure out ways to contain them. I've written many stories touching on a cliché that has the added benefit of being true — that even gifted defensemen, and big defensemen especially, generally take longer to develop than talented forwards. Neither Lidstrom nor Pronger were stars overnight, or even close to it. The less reasonable argument is that other defensemen taken high have been busts. And that never happens with forwards? Yet all of that seems to have entered into the Avalanche's thinking, as perhaps did these sudden whispers — which to me come off as lame last-second rationalizations — that would have you believe Jones wasn't sharp-edged or tough enough. MacKinnon might turn out to be as great as another kid from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia — Sidney Crosby. With MacKinnon, Matt Duchene and Gabe Landeskog all coming out of the draft's top three overall picks since 2009, the potential for collective greatness there is undeniable. But it also makes it clear that Colorado, horrible on defense, in no way believes it is as wellstocked at center as previously advertised. This makes me at least wonder if it now wishes it hadn't matched Calgary's offer sheet for Ryan O'Reilly, whose salary — while set by the Flames, not the Avalanche — is a benchmark in the extension discussions with Duchene, and will be with others. And, yes, Paul Stastny's solid overall play never has come close to justifying his $6.6 million annual salary in the deal that has one more season to run. Jones would have struggled at times with Colorado in 2013-14, as he now will with the Nashville Predators, who claimed him with the fourth choice. But soon, and sooner than the Avalanche, Panthers and Lightning seemed to consider possible, he will be great. This is a gut feeling. It is instinct. The Avalanche should have taken Jones. Denver Post: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683172 Columbus Blue Jackets NHL draft: Blue Jackets take Swedish center with 14th pick By Aaron Portzline The Columbus Dispatch Sunday June 30, 2013 4:44 PM The Blue Jackets selected center Alexander Wennberg with the first of their three first-round picks in today's NHL draft. Wennberg, taken with the 14th pick, had 14 goals and 18 assists in 46 games for Djurgardens of the Swedish second division. At 6 feet 2, 183 pounds, he can play all three forward positions with speed, skill and savvy. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.01.2013 683173 Columbus Blue Jackets Michael Arace commentary: Jackets could pick up some big-time bricks today “The higher it gets, the tougher it is to finish the building,” Davidson said. “Now, you need ladders and cranes. But we know what we have, we know what we need and now we’re trying to find a way to fill the needs. I don’t think we’re deviating from our plan. Our work habits are good — as we promised they would be — and now we have to find a way to score.” Today’s draft begins at 3 p.m. By Michael Arace The Columbus Dispatch Sunday June 30, 2013 7:58 AM NEW YORK — John Davidson, at his introductory news conference in October, stepped to the microphone and said: “That’s how you build a team, gang. You build it one brick at a time. One brick at a time is the only way to go, and that’s what’s going to happen here.” Davidson, the Blue Jackets’ new chief of hockey operations, did not know how many bricks he had on hand. Then the lockout ended and the Jackets went out and posted a 24-17-7 record — including a 19-5-5 stretch run — and missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. Suddenly, a structure appeared. “We’ve gone from a complete rebuild to a build,” Davidson said yesterday, when he and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen sat down with The Dispatch for a predraft chat. The NHL draft will be staged today at the Prudential Center, across the river in Newark, home of the New Jersey Devils. The Jackets are holding three first-round picks, Nos. 14, 19 and 27 overall, and before them is the deepest pool of prospects since 2003. What will they do? Kekalainen can hang on to all three first-round picks and, as he put it, “add to the depth chart for seven years, before those players come into unrestricted free agency.” He also can trade one or more of seven selections over seven rounds. He just might package picks and players for immediate help. He needs goal scorers to bolster the offense and the power play. “This is one thing we decided before the trade deadline (in April): We’re not going with short-term solutions,” Kekalainen said. “If we trade a pick for a player, it’s going to have to make sense long-term. We did that with (Marian) Gaborik. We’re building to last.” One would surmise that goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky is part of the longterm project. Yet, Bobrovsky needs a new contract and negotiations are not going along swimmingly. “We love Bob,” Davidson said. But they are not about to pay him like, say, Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne — whose annual salary-cap hit is $7 million through the 2018-19 season. Davidson and Kekalainen did not go into such detail, but the impression they left was that they and Bobrovsky’s agent remain far apart. My read: If the situation is not ugly at the moment, it is trending in that direction. That drama notwithstanding, the Jackets remain firm in the belief that they are a team on the rise. They are coming off one of the two best seasons in their history. They have the tools to improve now and when free-agent season opens on Friday. Optimism abounds, and it is of a different brand than the typical, draft-day variety. Strange, isn’t it? The Jackets’ decade-plus tale of woe is marked by a checkered draft history. There is no need to go into detail, but the primary reason they have made the playoffs just once in 12 seasons is their inability to identify and develop talent. Now, suddenly, something has sneaked up on them. This team was assembled, almost exclusively, during the six-year term of former GM Scott Howson. His trades look pretty good now. So does some of his drafting, which brings up another irony. Two years ago, Howson fired the longtime amateur scouting director, Don Boyd — and Boyd’s staff delivered Cam Atkinson, Jared Boll, Matt Calvert and Dalton Prout, each of whom was selected in the fourth round or later. Davidson knew he had a few bricks when he arrived in Columbus. He had more than he thought. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.01.2013 683174 Columbus Blue Jackets Blue Jackets notebook: Bobrovsky talks drag on By Aaron Portzline and Shawn Mitchell NEW YORK — The Blue Jackets have looked forward to this day for more than a year, ever since they traded star players Rick Nash and Jeff Carter to acquire first-round picks in a deep, talented draft. And yet a cloud is hanging over them: Contract talks with goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky are not going well. Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen and Bobrovsky’s agent, Paul Theofanous, had a 90-minute conversation on Friday, but a large gulf remains between the two sides. “We’re going to keep working at it,” Kekalainen said. He kept open the possibility of a morning negotiation today, but by the afternoon he will be caught up in the draft. The Blue Jackets have three first-round picks — Nos. 14, 19 and 27 — and seven picks overall. After today, the focus will swing back to Bobrovsky, who can become a restricted free agent on Friday. Bobrovsky, the Vezina Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goaltender this past season, can begin fielding offers from outside the NHL on Monday, and an offer is said to be in the works from SKA St. Petersburg of Russia’s Continental Hockey League (KHL). On Friday, the rest of the NHL can begin negotiating with Theofanous, although the Blue Jackets — as Bobrovsky’s rights-holders — have the right to match any offer. Kekalainen has vowed that they will do just that. Changing times Defenseman Seth Jones, son of former professional basketball player Popeye Jones, is considered the top defensive prospect in the draft and is likely to be selected by Colorado or Florida with the first or second overall pick. That would make Jones the highest-drafted black player in NHL history. Canadian defenseman Darnell Nurse, the No. 2-rated North American defenseman behind Jones and the nephew of former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb, is also black and a likely top-10 pick. “It’s always nice to see a person of color being drafted,” said former Boston Bruins forward Willie O’Ree, who became the first black player in the NHL in 1958. “I’ve always said in the upcoming years there are going to be far more black players and players of color coming into the league, and it just goes to show you what can happen when you set goals and work toward them.” O’Ree was in Newark, N.J., yesterday looking on as Jones, Nurse and fellow top prospects Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin participated in a clinic with local youth players at the Prudential Center practice rink. “I’ve sat with Seth, and he’s just a fine individual, a fine athlete,” said O’Ree, who has worked with the NHL’s diversity program since 1998. “Wherever he goes, he’s going to make his mark and definitively make an impact on kids who are playing hockey or want to play hockey.” According to the Buffalo News, 44 minority players were on opening-day NHL rosters last season, 22 of them black. Columbus Dispatch LOADED: 07.01.2013 683175 Dallas Stars Stars take physical winger Remi Elie in second round of NHL Draft By Mike Heika / Reporter 6:29 pm on June 30, 2013 With the 40th overall selection in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, the Dallas Stars selected left wing Remi Elie. During the 2012-13 season, Elie appeared in 65 games for London (OHL) recording 17 points (7G-10A) with 34 penalty minutes. During the 2013 OHL Playoffs, he recorded eight points (4G-4A) in 21 games and helped the Knights reach the Memorial Cup. The 6-foot-0, 203-pound native of Cornwall, Ontario skated with Hawkesbury (CCHL) in 2011-12, skating in 59 games with 46 points (21G25A). Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683176 Dallas Stars Stars take talented project Jason Dickinson with 29th overall pick in 2013 NHL Draft By Mike Heika / Reporter 5:35 pm on June 30, 2013 If the Stars’ two first-round draft picks hit their upside, this will be a great draft. After taking Russian winger Valeri Nichushkin with the 10th overall pick, the Stars grabbed a willowy forward from the Ontario Hockey League in Jason Dickinson. Dickinson is 6-2, 176, an is a left-handed shot. He can play left wing or center, and he is said to have tremendous upside. He had 47 points (18G, 29A) in 66 games for Guelph of the Ontario Hockey League. Here is McKeen’s Hockey on Dickinson: An offensive player whose skills inside the zone instantly create offensive opportunities .. very coy – rarely stays in one spot for too long and is capable of making nice subtle touch passes and slick in-close plays thanks to extremely quick hands .. possesses excellent hand-eye co-ordination for tips and deflections in front of the goal .. his skating complements his offensive game as he can generate deceptive speed from a fluid, compact stride .. the crispness of his stride allows him to maintain speed over the length of the ice .. despite having grown three inches since being a second-round pick in the 2011 OHL Priority Selection (32nd overall), he has been unable to add the accompanying muscle to a lean frame .. tries to finish his checks – but not consistently and can be guilty of playing passive at times .. displays an aversion to being hit – and can have a difficult time battling through checks .. would benefit by playing with heightened intensity, especially in board battles where he needs to do a better job utilizing his size .. biggest obstacle at this point is a lack of overall consistency and an erratic compete level .. shows capable of performing when the intensity of the game picks up, yet can also be guilty of blending into the scenery .. needs to understand that he must become a difference maker on each shift in every game. With the 29th overall selection in the first round of the 2013 NHL Draft, the Dallas Stars selected center Jason Dickinson. During the 2012-13 season, Dickinson appeared in 66 games for Guelph (OHL) and recorded 47 points (18G-29A), leading the team with a +19 plus/minus rating. The 6-foot-1, 179-pound native of Georgetown, Ontario skated in three games for Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2013 Under-18 World Championships, recording one point before having his tournament cut short due to injury. During the 2011-12 campaign, he posted 35 points (13G-22A) in 63 games with Guelph and was named to the OHL’s Second All-Team, closing the season with 31 points in his final 42 games. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683177 Dallas Stars The next Alexander Ovechkin? Dallas Stars get lucky, draft Russian Valeri Nichushkin By MIKE HEIKA Published: 30 June 2013 03:12 PM Updated: 30 June 2013 04:04 PM There are some scouts that will tell you that Valeri Nichushkin is one of the top five players in the 2013 NHL Draft, but the Stars were able to get him at No. 10 Sunday. So what happened? The Stars were patient, smart and lucky, and they received a player they believe could play in the NHL next season. Nichushkin is a big (6-4, 196), physical, talented winger, but he played last season in the KHL in Russia, and there are always risks that he would like to stay there. Nichushkin played for Traktor Chelyabinsk last season and had 6 points (4G, 2A) in 18 regular season games and 9 points (6G, 3A) in 25 playoff games as Traktor made it to the Gagarin Cup Finals. He was limited to around 10 minutes a game, but his scouting report is that he can be fantastic. Here is International Scouting Sevices on Nichushkin: “Nichushkin is a phenomenal talent who has seen his stock fall and rise quickly all year long. He isn’t your typical Russian offensive dynamo as he plays an intense two-way game and shows fantastic will to win in big games. He has great size and knows how to use it well to protect the puck. He is very strong on his skates and also has the quickness to burn opponents the second he gets them off balance. Nichushkin has eyes in the back of his head and is always in the right place to make a play but also always seems to be one step ahead of everybody else and very rarely hesitates to attack a situation when he identifies it.” Nichushkin’s right are owned by Dynamo Moscow, but it has been reported that he can play in the NHL immediately. The only pull the KHL has is that if Nichushkin does not make the NHL roster, he returns to the KHL and does not play in the AHL. Nichushkin is a left-handed shot, but can play both wings. He adds to an area of strength on the Stars, but the Stars believe he was clearly was the best player available at the No. 10 spot. From Mike Heika's draft preview of Nichushkin: Maybe the most controversial early pick in the draft. There are some who believe Nichushkin has the greatest offensive upside of any player available. And yet since he already has a contract in the KHL with Dynamo Moscow, the thought is he could not play immediately in the NHL. That would definitely lower his value, and you can find mock drafts that have him falling all the way to the Stars at 10. The guess is if he does, the Stars will take him. However, Nichushkin has told reporters he can get out of the Dynamo deal and that he wants to play in the NHL. That means he is a player to watch. If he goes early, it could slide a good player down and possibly start a chain reaction of moves. if he goes late, someone could get a heck of a value. Nichushkin is listed at 6-4, 202. He is said to be the fastest and most powerful skater in the draft. He draws comparisons to Rick Nash and, of course, Alexander Ovechkin, so his game definitely tilts toward one-on-one offensive skill. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683178 Dallas Stars Stars take goalie Philippe Desrosiers with 54th pick in NHL Entry Draft By Mike Heika / Reporter 7:39 pm on June 30, 2013 With the 54th overall selection in the second round of the 2013 NHL Draft, the Dallas Stars selected goaltender Philippe Desrosiers. During the 2012-13 season, Desrosiers backstopped Rimouski (QMJHL) in 43 games with a 22-8-5 record, posting a .900 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.07 goals against average (GAA). He appeared in four games during the QMJHL Playoffs with a 2-2 record with an .892 SV% and a 2.26 GAA. The 6-foot-1, 182-pound native of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec posted a perfect record (5-0) at the 2013 Under-18 World Junior Championship helping lead Team Canada to the gold medal. Desrosiers finished the tournament with a .970 SV% and 0.80 GAA, including a 33-save performance against the United States in the gold medal game. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683179 Dallas Stars Dallas Stars draft analysis: Top pick Valeri Nichushkin earns Eric Lindros comparison; Jason Dickinson has 'top-six potential' Staff reports Published: 01 July 2013 12:54 AM Updated: 01 July 2013 12:54 AM The Dallas Stars had a pair of picks in the first round of Sunday's NHL Draft. At No. 10, the team took Russian winger Valeri Nichushkin, then followed up with forward Jason Dickinson at No. 29. Here's a roundup of some of the analysis the Stars' picks earned from around the web: Dave Starman, ESPN On Nichushkin: Plays the off wing as a left-shooting, right-winger. That means he'll have a long stick with the puck in traffic, which shows me Dallas trusts his hands and his skill. I trust any pick Jim Nill makes. He's as smart as any guy in the league. Nichushkin has a knack for big goals and he'll probably end up being 6-foot-5, 225 pounds when he fills out. That's Lindros-esque. though. His defensive game also needs refining. But the comparisons to Alex Ovechkin or Evgeni Malkin speak to his upside. Nichushkin's already got some experience playing with men in the KHL, but it will probably take him time for him to transition from European hockey to the NHL. On Dickinson: Dallas acquired this selection from Boston as part of the Jaromir Jagr trade. Dickinson has seen his stock drop over the past few months in part due to his relatively poor second half of the season. However, he has huge potential and is only scratching the surface of his offensive skill set. He improved his production in 2012-2013, registering 47 points, but scouts point to his plus-19 rating after finishing a minus-15 in his rookie year as the greatest indication of his progression. He has very quick hands and uses his creativity to set up teammates for scoring chances. Some scouts are concerned with Dickinson’s consistency issues and his lack of compete level, as he seems to take shifts off at times. If he can gain some strength and become more reliable on a nightly basis, he has a real chance to become a very good offensive player in the NHL. Jesse Spector, Sporting News On Nichushkin: Nichushkin's skill is staggering. For more on him (and one of the greatest YouTube highlight reels ever) read this from Thomas Drance. Dallas desperately needs young offensive skill, and new GM Jim Nill is one of the best prospect evaluators in the league. On Dickinson: Dallas adds another offensive player. He played all three forward positions for Guelph of the OHL, according to Ray Ferraro. Ray Ferraro, TSN On Dickinson: Good hands in traffic, he goes to the net hard on a consistent basis. Defensively responsible, he's a really good skater. Jim Nill has earned the benefit of the doubt and that fact alone has to reflect well on the Stars' two first-round picks. If Nill believes in you, that's a high compliment. On Nichushkin: Jim Nill in his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings was never afraid to go more to the skill side, more to the European side. Valeri Nichushkin is a top-five talent and he’s sitting here for the Dallas Stars. Chris Peters, CBS Sports On Dickinson: I had an opposing OHL coach compare him to Jay McClement. He's a very versatile forward. On Nichushkin: Jim Nill's first pick as the Dallas Stars GM might be a home run. Getting Nichuskin at No. 10 is a coup for Nill and he very well could be rewarded as early as next season. Nichushkin has potential to be a dominant offensive force at the NHL level with great size, speed and skill. This is a tremendous value that does come with some risk. Nichushkin has said if he doesn't make the NHL roster next season, he'll return to the KHL at least temporarily. He's worth the risk. On Dickinson: With some more skill left on the board, Dickinson is a somewhat risky pick for Dallas. Also with the inherent KHL risk that comes with Nichushkin, the Stars may have been able to find a good Plan B here with a guy like Adam Erne or J.T. Compher. Instead, they've got a bit of a project. Scouts I've talked to were concerned with Dickinson's inconsistency this year, but did like his hockey sense, skating and potential. He'll need a lot of work before he's in Dallas. Allan Muir, Sports Illustrated On Nichushkin: This is the boom-or-bust pick of the first round. For a team like the Stars to swing for the fences like this demonstrates how Jim Nill is changing this organization. Nichushkin has the potential to be the best player in the draft, a true power forward who can change a game with a big hit or an unstoppable rampage to the net. There are questions about his motivation and his ability to play at a consistently high level, and his commitment to his own end is suspect, but if he puts it all together he could be the steal of the round. There might be a challenge finding the right center to get the most out of him -- not sure Jamie Benn is the guy -- but expect Nichushkin to at least start the season in Dallas. On Dickinson: The Stars made good use of the first rounder they stole from the Bruins in the Jaromir Jagr trade, picking up Guelph forward Dickinson. He's one of those players who gained a lot of steam toward the end of the season, impressing with his steady improvement. He's blessed with serious speed and while he has a bit of a rep for being a perimeter player, my viewings suggest he isn't afraid to drive the net. He projects as a versatile third-liner whose work ethic may see him develop into a player with top-six potential. Mike Finewax, NBC Sports On Nichushkin: Nichushkin is a monster with a 6-4, 202-pound frame and tremendous offensive skills. The winger has a powerful stride and superb vision and playmaking ability. He’s a menace to contain for defenders, as he has the ability to bulldoze his way to the net and utilize his smooth hands to create scoring chances at will. Nichushkin progressed to the KHL this year, and he turned heads at the World Junior Championsips and Five Nations. He’s still a little raw and needs to be a little more consistent, Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683180 Dallas Stars Stars draft bios: Get to know a little about each of Dallas’ draft picks Comment: Smallish winger shows hockey sense and great skill. Played for owner Tom Gaglardi’s Kamloops Blazers, so Stars know him well. Matej Paulovic, LW Fifth round, 149th overall By Mike Heika / Reporter 11:35 pm on June 30, 2013 Shoots: Right. Height: 6-3. Weight: 187 Home country: Slovakia Comment: Rangy, fast, with good offensive skills. Currently playing in Sweden, so he should develop two-way game. Here’s a short breakdown of each of the Dallas Stars’ draft picks: Aleksi Makela, D Valeri Nichushkin, RW-LW Seventh round, 182nd overall First round, 10th overall. Shoots: Left. Height: 6-1. Weight: 195 Shoots: Left. Height: 6-3. Weight: 196 Home country: Finland Home country: Russia Comment: Slippery defenseman scored 17 points in 37 games in Finnish junior leagues. Long-term project. Comment: Played in KHL in Russia last season. Physical, fast winger will make NHL roster next season or return to KHL for year. Jason Dickinson, C First round, 29th overall Shoots: Left. Height: 6-1. Weight: 179 Home country: Canada Comment: Lanky, skilled forward has tremendous potential but could be long-term project as he finds his consistency. Remi Elie, LW Second round, 40th overall Shoots: Left. Height: 6-0. Weight: 203 Home country: Canada Comment: Tough winger with potential for big development in OHL. Could be longer-term project than Dickinson. Philippe Desrosiers, G Second round, 54th overall Catches: Left. Height: 6-1. Weight: 182 Home country: Canada Comment: Went 22-8-5 with a 3.07 goals against average and .900 save percentage while playing for Rimouski in Quebec last season. Long-term project to push Jack Campbell. Niklas Hansson, D Third round, 68th overall Shoots: Right. Height: 6-0. Weight: 175 Home country: Sweden Comment: Slick-skating, puck-moving defenseman. Had 23 points (three goals, 20 assists) in 39 games for Rogle last season. Nicholas Paul, LW Fourth round, 101st overall Shoots: Left. Height: 6-2. Weight: 202 Home country: Canada Comment: Prototypical power winger who can shoot, hit and fight. Stars are hoping he makes big push with Brampton of OHL. Cole Ully, LW Fifth round, 131st overall Shoots: Left. Height: 5-11. Weight: 157 Home country: Canada Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683181 Dallas Stars Heika: Valeri Nichushkin an uncharacteristic pick for Stars, but rising Russian too good to pass up MIKE HEIKA Published: 30 June 2013 11:19 PM Updated: 30 June 2013 11:21 PM After spending more than 20 years in player development with Ottawa and Detroit, new Stars general manager Jim Nill knows a thing or two about patience. He has already stated that the Stars will slow down the track of prospects already under their control, hinting that youngsters such as Jamie Oleksiak and Brett Ritchie will have to force their way into the NHL next season. And he said Sunday that the majority of players taken by the Stars in the NHL Entry Draft in Newark, N.J., are also long-term projects who will have to fight through a few years of development before they taste the big leagues. Well, except for one guy. The Stars on Sunday made a move that’s uncharacteristic for Nill and for the history of the organization, but it is all that’s really worth talking about right now. In taking highly prized winger Valeri Nichushkin 10th overall, the Stars have opened the door to a high-end talent with some interesting history. And the next step is to get him to Frisco and get him ready to start playing in the NHL as an 18-year-old next season. “If he’s not the best player in the draft, he’s one of them,” Nill said of the 63, 196-pounder from Chelyabinsk, Russia. “To pass up on a player like that … we just couldn’t do it.” And yet several NHL teams did. Nichushkin was ranked in the top six in several mock drafts, but he kept slipping. Calgary took a center, and Edmonton and Buffalo took defensemen. Then, when New Jersey made the biggest move of the draft by trading the ninth pick to Vancouver for goalie Cory Schneider, most felt the Canucks had their eye on Nichushkin. Instead, Vancouver went for center Bo Horvat, and the Stars had a readymade superstar who draws comparisons to Rick Nash and Alexander Ovechkin. He is big, he is physical, he is talented, he is mean. He’s Russian, something that used to scare the Stars a great deal. The “Russian Factor” is real. It comes not only from the fact that Russian players tend to assimilate more slowly to the United States than Finns or Swedes, but that the Kontinental Hockey League will pay players big money to keep them in Russia. Nichushkin played last season for Traktor in his hometown and helped that squad get to the Gagarin Cup Finals — the championship of the league. The eventual winner, Moscow Dynamo, swung a deal for his rights, and Nichushkin started to drop in the draft after that trade. After all, why waste a top-10 pick on a player who isn’t going to play for you? But Nill received assurances from the NHL that the KHL holds no rights to Nichushkin and said the Stars expect to get him under an NHL contract as soon as possible. Nill said the team will bring Nichushkin in for a development camp Wednesday and will probably keep him here all summer to help him learn English and get used to the city. He also said the team will probably use veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar to help with the transition. Gonchar, 39, is from the same hometown and served as a great ambassador for Evgeni Malkin when Malkin was getting started in Pittsburgh. “We’re lucky we have him,” Nill said of Gonchar. “That’s a bonus for us.” Now, there still is plenty of work to do for the Stars. Jason Dickinson was taken with the Stars’ second pick in the first round, but he could be a couple of years away. He also is as much a winger as he is a center, so we’ll see how he transitions. That means the Stars still haven’t solved their problem at center. They weren’t able to move up and grab NHL-ready players such as Elias Lindholm or Sean Monahan. They are but one of 10 teams trying to woo free agent Vincent Lecavalier. They might be able to convince a second-tier center to come in free agency, but that still leaves them thin down the middle. And that’s a little concerning for Stars fans. But while the team added wingers and defensemen and goalies in the draft, and sort of neglected the center position, they may have made everything all right with just one pick — the one pick they probably wouldn’t have made in the past. Briefly: The Stars still hold negotiating rights to winger Eric Nystrom, who can become an unrestricted free agent Friday. Nill said that while the two sides have been negotiating for a while, he expects Nystrom will explore free agency. … The Stars are hoping goalie Philippe Desrosiers is a project who can keep the rotation going in net. “He probably has two more years in juniors, and then we’ll bring him on,” Nill said. “We have Kari Lehtonen under contract for five more years, and we have Jack Campbell behind him, so you want to be sure you’re prepared there.”… Dallas will hold its prospects camp in Frisco beginning Wednesday. Most of the draft picks are expected to attend. … Executive advisor Mike Modano announced the two first-round picks at the podium for the Stars. Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683182 Dallas Stars He said it: Stars GM Jim Nill on Sunday’s NHL Draft By Mike Heika / Reporter 10:17 pm on June 30, 2013 On this draft being a long-term process for the most part “Other than Nichuskin, he’s a special player…the other guys it’s a three to five-year process and that’s something that I’m very strict on. We have to be patient. You can’t rush kids. You just can’t. Patience is a word that’s kind of lost in our game and it’s something we have to really be strict with ourselves on. These guys are all, like I said they’re three, five years away. If they surprise us, great but our plans [are to preach patience]. The biggest thing is don’t break the chain. You can’t go through a draft if you don’t have any picks.” On how he looks at the center situation Stars GM Jim Nill revealed his thoughts on Sunday’s NHL Draft: On what he saw in first-round pick Valeri Nichushkin: “Well, everybody knows him well. If he’s not the best player, he’s one of the best players in the draft. There’s definitely the Russian factor but we’re a very confident organization. I come from an organization in Detroit where it was never an issue for us and I know Dallas is the same way if you go back to the Zubov years. So, like I said, it got to a point in the draft where we were picking, to pass up on a player like that we just couldn’t do it. It’s been a while since Dallas has drafted a player with that kind of upside and just something we couldn’t pass on. We met the player yesterday. We had a meeting with him, a one-on-one meeting. We had our management team in there and ownership team. We were just so impressed with the player that we knew it was something we couldn’t pass on.” On if there’s any issues with him transferring here: “We plan on signing him as soon as possible. He’s free. His contract is free from Russia. We have notice from the NHL from the KHL. So there was no problem that way for us. That’s not a concern.” On if Nichushkin will be in the NHL next year “Really think he’s going to have a chance. We’re going to monitor it. I want to be careful with it but he is a young player. He played in the KHL against men. He played in the Russian Final, the KHL Final and was one of the better players. We’re not worried about him physically. It’s just going to be moving over to North America, playing in the NHL, the best league in the world. Our plans are to start him here and let’s see where it goes but we’re going to monitor him very close.” On if there’s a chance he could play in the AHL next year or if he would have to go back to the KHL if he doesn’t make the NHL: “We’ll just monitor it. I’m not really judge anything at all. I just want to watch. He’s coming to our development camp. He’s going to come over here. We plan on keeping him here in Dallas for the summer. We want him to get working on his English and get him acclimated. We’re going to get him over here. Let’s get him to go through training camp, go through Traverse City rookie tournaments. I want him to fully adjust. We’ve got to remember he’s a 19-year-old kid. Something I’ve always preached is about patience and if he’s ready, he’s ready but we’re going to be patient with him also.” On the Stars drafting a lot of wingers “They were just the best players available at that stage. Dickinson really plays center also. He’s flexible. He can play any forward position. Elie is a winger. They were just the best players at that position at the right time.” On what he liked in Jason Dickinson, taken 29th overall: “Well, he’s a big, strong kid, strong skater, plays 200 feet, plays hard on both ends, has got good skills. He’s intriguing. He’s got a little bit of a Ryan Kesler type of game to him. We like his size. He’s got good puck skills, can play a physical game. He was someone we had ranked pretty high.” On the goalie, Philippe Desrosiers: “The goalie, we watched him all year. He was very good for Team Canada. They won the gold medal at the Under-18 championships. He was their No. 1 goalie, went in there as the backup and ended up taking the No. 1 position over. He’s very athletic and we like his upside.” On how important it is to have the right rotation of goalies coming through “It’s important. He’s going to go back. He’s got two years of junior left down the road and then the process starts of three, four years in the American League and that. You’re looking at it is; like a five-year gap with all these goalies. We’ve got (Kari) Lehtonen for five years and then we’ve got Jack Campbell coming up. We just want to make sure we’ve got somebody in the pipeline all the time. It’s very important.” “We have free agency coming up and that’s going to be our next step. We went into this draft there was lots of talk that there might be lots going on but surprise, surprise, not a lot happened trade-wise. I think it’s a lot of factors. With the cap coming down, teams don’t have a lot of money. We’re all starting to sign our players to these six, seven, eight-year deals so there’s less free agents available and for the key free agents that were available, teams jumped in early. That’s what we did with Gonchar. We targeted two or three defensemen that were going to be key defensemen and Gonchar was one of those guys. So between us and Philly jumping in and grabbing a couple free agents early, that just ties up the market. That’s what happened.” On how hard it is to find a center “Well, centers are hard to find. Center and defensemen are two key positions. The good ones, they’re tied up. They’re signed. That’s why Vinnie Lecavlier is so important, he has high-end skill and he’s available.” On this being his first draft as GM “Every draft’s a big day for the organization. It doesn’t matter who the GM is. In this new system, this new CBA, drafting and developing it’s your lifeline and if you’re successful at it, the organization can be successful. I thought our staff had a great day today. It was my first draft with them and I got to kind of sit back and watch how they operate. They did a great job. I thought our selections were great. It was a great day for the organization and we’re going to kind of reap the rewards later on down the road.” On Gonchar’s role in helping Nichushkin’s transition to the NHL and America “Well, I think Sergei Gonchar’s going to be a big, big part of Valeri Nichushkin’s development. Sergei Gonchar’s a high-end character guy. He’s the guy that gets a lot of credit for improving Malkin in Pittsburgh. The timing’s worked out perfect. He’s a great ambassador of the game and character guy. Now we have a young guy coming in that can learn from him, that’s really a bonus for us.” Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683183 Dallas Stars He said it: Valeri Nichushkin on getting drafted by the Stars 10th overall By Mike Heika / Reporter 9:20 pm on June 30, 2013 Nichushkin doesn’t speak English, so the Stars provided a translator: What do you know about Dallas? And are your familiar with defenseman Sergei Gonchar? “I know that Dallas is the fourth biggest city in US and that is about it. I know of the Stars mostly because of Mike Modano, he was a great player and it was awesome that he announced me as the pick. As for Gonchar, he’s a proven player in this league and it is great that he will be here. He’s done a great job with Evgeni Malkin in the past, mentoring him, and he’ll help my transition for sure. He’s from my hometown too, so it’ll be good.” Did you have any talks with the Stars prior to the draft? “We had a meeting yesterday with all the Stars staff. After we finished, I told Boris Protsenko (Stars scout) that it was the best interview I had with any team and that I wanted to be a Star.” Do you believe you are ready to play in the NHL? “Of course I’m confident that I can play. Now I have to work hard all summer and be ready to prove it.” What do you see as your best assets as a player and how do they fit in the organization? “I have good skating, size and see the ice well. I like to play a physical game and being in competitive situations. I feel like I can help this organization and can’t wait until I can get a chance to compete.“ Dallas Morning News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683184 Dallas Stars Dallas Stars take Russian standout forward with 10th pick in NHL Draft Posted Sunday, Jun. 30, 2013 By Travis L. Brown Some of the more exciting and talented hockey players in today’s NHL, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin for starters, hail from Russia. New Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill believes the next great Russian transplant is on his way to Dallas. With the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft on Sunday, Nill and the Stars took left-shooting forward Valeri Nichushkin as their top selection. Nichushkin will enter the NHL with quality experience for just an 18-yearold, playing in the finals of the KHL, Russia’s elite hockey league, for Traktor Chelyabinsk. “It came to the point in the draft that to pass up on a player like that — we couldn’t do it,” Nill said. “It’s been awhile since Dallas has drafted a player with that kind of upside, and it’s something we couldn’t pass on.” A question of whether he could be released from his contract that was sold to Dynamo — another KHL team — to join the Stars or the Texas Stars lingered before the draft. Nill confirmed the player is free to sign with his new organization when the two can come to terms. Nichushkin will participate in the Stars’ development camp next week in Frisco. Nill said the organization plans to keep him in Dallas all summer to adjust to American life. Nichushkin will have the opportunity to prove he is ready to immediately prove himself at the NHL level and bypass the Stars’ AHL farm team. “We think he’s going to have a chance,” Nill said. “We are going to monitor it. I want to be very careful with it. He is a young player, but he’s been playing in the KHL and played in the KHL finals against one of the two best teams in the KHL and was one of the better players, so we’re not worried about him physically. “It’s just going to be moving over to North America and playing in the NHL, which is the best league in the world.” In 18 games with Traktor, Nichushkin tallied six points, including four goals and logged playing time for Russia’s U17-20 international teams. He said he knows of Dallas because of Stars legend Mike Modano, who was present in New Jersey to announce the organization’s selection of Nichushkin on Sunday. All it took was one short interview with team officials and the Stars’ future star said he knew Dallas was the right fit. “After we finished, I told [Stars’ scout] Boris Protsenko that it was the best interview I had with any team and that I wanted to be a Star,” Nichushkin said. Star-Telegram LOADED: 07.01.2013 683185 Detroit Red Wings NHL draft: Detroit Red Wings add size, skill with forward Anthony Mantha in first round 8:49 PM, June 30, 2013 By Helene St. James NEWARK, N.J. – The Detroit Red Wings went big and they went skilled and they went with tradition in making their first-round pick at this year’s draft. Forward Anthony Mantha is 6-foot-4 and around 200 pounds. That’s at 18 years-old. He scored 50 goals last season in juniors. His grandfather is four-time Cup winner Andre Pronovost, who played for the Wings in the 1960s. Every team at the draft claims happiness over its selection, but Wings director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell really, really meant it. “He was a guy we had targeted a lot higher,” McDonnell said, “so we lucked out on that one, for sure. Obviously it’s going to be a few years, but we were just real excited to get him where we picked him.” The Wings got Mantha with the 20th pick, trading down at the last minute by exchanging their 18th overall pick in exchange for San Jose’s picks at 20 and 58, giving Detroit an extra pick in the second round. Detroit used their 48th overall pick to take 18-year-old forward Zach Nastasiuk (6-1, 190 pounds) from the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack and a member of Canada’s gold-medal winning team at this year’s U-18 World Championship. With the 58th pick, the Wings picked Tyler Bertuzzi, 18, the forward wtih the OHL’s Guelph Storm and nephew of Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi. Mantha was giddy to hear his name after sitting through two hours at Prudential Center. Mantha had a good feeling he’d go to Detroit, because at the NHL combine earlier in the year, he recalled how someone from the Wings organization — he couldn’t remember who — shook his hand and said, according to Mantha, “I’ll go get you, and he did, so it’s really a good feeling to remember that he said it.” Mantha sounded impatient to make his NHL debut, saying he’d like to try for a spot next season. “My confidence level right now is high,” Mantha said. “So I’m just going to go into camp and try to make my place as soon as I can.” That is not likely to happen, but down the road, Mantha could be an impact player. His strength is his offensive game, specifically, he said, “scoring goals. The power play is my asset.” The inside scoop on Mantha is that he’s a good skater with great puck awareness and a shot that’s incredibly accurate and quick. Witness his 2012-13 season with Val-d’Or: 50 goals and 39 assists in 67 games. That, plus his size, was why the Wings were so delighted. “He’s got a great shot,” McDonnell said. “And he just seems to find the open ice. With his size to go along with those things, it was a real intriguing package for us. “He’s on the skinny side right now, but we’ll see his work ethic and he’ll get bigger eventually.” Mantha will be at the Wings’ development camp later this month, where he’ll mingle with previous draft picks. So will Nastasiuk who needs to work on his first step. “Once he gets going, he’s good,” McDonnell said of Nastasiuk, “but his first few strides are something that needs work. But I think the nice thing about him is, he’s a real quality kid that’s wiling to put in the work to get better. He had a real good tournament in April over in Russia for Team Canada, and was one of their best penalty killers. He’s another good-size kid.” Nastasiuk said he was thrilled, “to join an organization like the Red Wings, with so much history.” A two-way forward, he described his strengths as being willing to work hard and “coming to the rink every day with focus.” Both Mantha and Nastasiuk will be back with their junior teams next season. Come the following fall, in 2014, Mantha is pegged to make his debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins. Maybe at that time he’ll push for a spot in Detroit. He’s got the size and the skill, mixed with some good family genes, to make it happen. Scouts have raved about Mantha’s accuracy, describing him as “one of those guys who just finds a way to sneak it through,” McDonnell said. “His accuracy is excellent.” Mantha may want to challenge for a spot, but the Wings’ plans call for Mantha to spend next season back with Val-d’Or, then bring him to Grand Rapids the following year. Maybe at that time, he’ll push for a spot in Detroit. He’s got the size and the skill, mixed with some good family genes, to make it happen. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683186 Detroit Red Wings After Vincent Lecavalier meeting, Detroit Red Wings wait to see if they're on his list 5:18 PM, June 30, 2013 By Helene St. James NEWARK, N.J. — General manager Ken Holland met with coveted free agent center Vincent Lecavalier this morning about the possibility of joining the Red Wings. The Wings are among about a dozen NHL teams who think Lecavalier would be a good addition, which will lead to eager bidding for his services. Holland described his meeting with Lecavalier as a sort of “feeling out” situation. “I talked to him about our organization, where he’d fit in,” Holland told the Free Press. “If he’s interested in us, we’ll talk later.” Lecavalier, 33, became an unrestricted free agent last week, when he was bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Wings like his hands and leadership, though there are concerns about his pace. Still, he’s an intriguing possibility as a second-line center. The stumbling block for the Wings is likely going to come down to term. The buzz in hockey circles is that Lecavalier wants five-to-six years; the Wings aren’t likely to top two. Another team, like the Calgary Flames, who also met with Lecavalier, are likely to give him whatever he wants. So then it’s up to Lecavalier where he’d rather play. Several others teams are in play, too: Montreal, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Dallas, Toronto, Washington and Boston. With today’s focus on the draft, talks with unrestricted free agents will heat up Monday. Players cannot sign until Friday. The Wings remain in talks with all three of their unrestricted free agents — Damien Brunner, Daniel Cleray and Valtteri Filppula — but all appear to want to listen to offers from other teams. The Wings have most of their pieces in place. A top-six forward tops their wanted list, but that holds true for half the league. Holland reiterated that “I’m not signing somebody just to have something to talk about. We’re not looking to make lateral moves. We’re not looking for one-year fixers.” The Wings have 12 forwards under contract for next season, along with coming contracts in restricted free agents Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson. They’re also operating under the parameters that guys like Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco will be pushing for spots in 2014-15. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683187 Detroit Red Wings 38. Buffalo, Connor Hurley, C, Edina, Minn. (USHL). 39. Phoenix (from New Jersey), Laurent Dauphin, C, Chicoutimi (QMJHL). Complete list of 2013 NHL Draft Selections 40. Dallas, Remi Elie, LW, London (OHL). 41. Philadelphia, Robert Hagg, D, Modo (Sweden). Staff report 42. New Jersey (from Phoenix), Steven Santini, D, USA U-18 (USHL). 3:22 AM, July 1, 2013 43. Winnipeg, Nicolas Petan, C, Portland (WHL). 44. Pittsburgh (from Columbus), Tristan Jarry, G, Edmonton (WHL). First Round 45. Anaheim (from N.Y. Islanders), Nick Sorensen, RW, Quebec (QMJHL). 1. Colorado, Nathan MacKinnon, C, Halifax (QMJHL). 46. Minnesota, Gustav Olofsson, D, Green Bay (USHL). 2. Florida, Aleksander Barkov, C, Tappara (Finland). 47. St. Louis (from Ottawa), Thomas Vannelli, D, Minnetonka, Minn. (USHL). 3. Tampa Bay, Jonathan Drouin, Halifax (QMJHL). 4. Nashville, Seth Jones, D, Portland (WHL). 5. Carolina, Elias Lindholm, C, Brynas (Sweden). 6. Calgary, Sean Monahan, C, Ottawa (OHL). 48. Detroit, Zach Nastasiuk, RW, Owen Sound (OHL). 49. San Jose (from N.Y. Rangers), Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau, LW, Baie Comeau (QMJHL). 7. Edmonton, Darnell Nurse, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL). 50. Columbus (from Pittsburgh through San Jose), Dillon Heatherington, D, Swift Current (WHL). 8. Buffalo, Rasmus Ristolainen, D, TPS (Finland). 51. Chicago, Carl Dahlstrom, D, Djurgarden U-18 (Sweden). 9. Vancouver (from New Jersey), Bo Horvat, C London (OHL). 52. Buffalo (from St. Louis), Justin Bailey, RW, Kitchener (OHL). 10. Dallas, Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Chelyabinsk (Russia). 53. Washington, Madison Bowey, D, Kelowna (WHL). 11. Philadelphia, Samuel Morin, D, Rimouski (QMJHL). 54. Dallas (from Vancouver), Philippe Desrosiers, G, Rimouski (QMJHL). 12. Phoenix, Max Domi, C-LW, London (OHL). 55. Montreal, Artturi Lehkonen, LW, TPS (Finland). 13. Winnipeg, Joshua Morrissey, D, Prince Albert (WHL). 56. Edmonton (from Anaheim), Marc-Olivier Roy, C, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL). 14. Columbus, Alexander Wennberg, C, Djurgarden (Sweden). 15. N.Y. Islanders, Ryan Pulock, D, Brandon (WHL). 16. Buffalo (from Minnesota), Nikita Zadorov, D, London (OHL). 17. Ottawa, Curtis Lazar, C-RW, Edmonton (WHL). 18. San Jose (from Detroit), Mirco Mueller, D, Everett (WHL). 19. Columbus (from N.Y. Rangers), Kerby Rychel, LW, Windsor (OHL). 57. St. Louis (from Edmonton through Los Angeles), William Carrier, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL). 58. Detroit (from San Jose through Pittsburgh), Tyler Bertuzzi, LW, Guelph (OHL). 59. Winnipeg, Eric Comrie, G, Tri-City (WHL). 60. Boston, Linus Arnesson, D, Djurgarden (Sweden). 20. Detroit (from San Jose), Anthony Mantha, RW, Val¢D’Or. (QMJHL). 61. Washington (from Winnipeg through Chicago), Zachary Sanford, LW, Islanders (EJHL). 21. Toronto, Frederik Gauthier, C, Rimouski (QMJHL). Third Round 22. Calgary (from St. Louis), Emile Poiriwe, LW, Gatineau (QMJHL). 62. Phoenix (from Florida through N.Y. Rangers and San Jose), Pavel Laplante, C, P.E.I. (QMJHL). 23. Washington, Andre Burakovsky, LW, Malmo (Sweden). 24. Vancouver, Hunter Shinkaruk, C, Medicine Hat (WHL). 25. Montreal, Michael McCarron, RW, USA U-18 (USHL). 26. Anaheim, Shea Theodore, D, Seattle (WHL). 27. Columbus (from Los Angeles), Marko Dano, C, Bratislava (Russia). 28. Calgary (from Pittsburgh), Morgan Klimchuk, LW, Regina (WHL). 29. Dallas (from Boston), Jason Dickinson, C, Guelph (OHL). 30. Chicago, Ryan Hartman, RW, Plymouth (OHL). Second Round 63. Colorado, Spencer Martin, Mississauga (OHL). 64. Nashville (from Tampa Bay), Jonathan-Ismael Diaby, D, Victoriaville (QMJHL). 65. N.Y. Rangers (from Nashville), Adam Tambellini, LW, Vernon (BCHL). 66. Carolina, Brett Pesce, D, New Hampshire (NCAA). 67. Calgary, Keegan Kanzig, D, Victoria (WHL). 68. Dallas (from Edmonton), Niklas Hansson, D, Rogle (Sweden). 69. Buffalo, Nicholas Baptiste, RW, Sudbury (OHL). 31. Florida, Ian McCoshen, D, Waterloo (USHL). 70. N.Y. Islanders (from Minnesota through New Jersey), Eamon McAdam, G, Waterloo (USHL). 32. Colorado, Chris Bigras, D, Owen Sound (OHL). 71. Montreal (from Dallas), Connor Criso, LW, Erie (OHL). 33. Tampa Bay, Adam Erne, LW, Quebec (QMJHL). 72. Philadelphia, Tyrell Goulbourne, LW, Kelowna (WHL). 34. Montreal, Jacob de la Rose, LW, Leksand (Sweden). 73. New Jersey (from Phoenix), Ryan Kujawinski, C, Kingston (OHL). 35. Buffalo (from Carolina), J.T. Compher, LW, USA U-18 (USHL). 74. Chicago (from Winnipeg), John Hayden, C, USA U-18. 36. Montreal (from Calgary), Zachary Fucale, G, Halifax (QMJHL). 75. N.Y. Rangers (from Columbus), Pavel Buchnevich, LW, Cherepovets (Russia). 37. Los Angeles (from Edmonton), Valentin Zykov, LW, Baie Comeau (QMJHL). 76. N.Y. Islanders, Taylor Cammarata, LW-C, Waterloo (USHL). 77. Pittsburgh (from Minnesota through Philadelphia and Dallas), Jake Guentzel, C, Sioux City (USHL). 78. Ottawa, Marcus Hogberg, G, Linkoping Jr. (Sweden Jr.). 79. Detroit, Mattias Janmark-Nylen, C, AIK (Sweden Jr.). 80. N.Y. Rangers, Anthony Duclair, LW, Quebec (QMJHL). 81. Minnesota (from San Jose), Kurtis Gabriel, RW, Owen Sound (OHL). 82. Toronto, Carter Verhaeghe, C, Niagara (OHL). 83. Edmonton (from St. Louis), Bogdan Yakimov, C, Nizhnekamsk (Russia). 84. Winnipeg (from Washington), James Lodge, C, Saginaw (OHL). 85. Vancouver, Cole Cassels, C, Oshawa (OHL). 86. Montreal, Sven Andrighetto, RW, Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL). 87. Anaheim, Keaton Thompson, D, USA U-18. 88. Edmonton (from Los Angeles), Anton Slepyshev, LW, Novokuznetsk (Russia). 89. Columbus (from Pittsburgh), Oliver Bjorkstrand, LW, Portland (WHL). 118. Los Angeles, Hudson Fasching, RW, USA U-18 (USHL). 119. Pittsburgh, Ryan Segalla, D, Salisbury, Conn. 120. Boston, Ryan Fitzgerald, C, Valley (EJHL). 121. Chicago, Tyler Motte, C, USA U-18 (USHL). Fifth Round 122. Florida, Christopher Clapperton, LW, Bainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL). 123. Colorado, Will Butcher, D, USA U-18 (USHL). 124. Tampa Bay, Kristers Gudlevskis, G, LVA (Russia Jr.). 125. Nashville, Saku Maenalanen, RW, Karpat (Finland Jr.). 126. Carolina, Brent Pedersen, LW, Kitchener (OHL). 127. Winnipeg (from Washington through Calgary), Tucker Poolman, D, Omaha (USHL). 128. Edmonton, Evan Campbell, LW, Langley (BCHL). 129. Buffalo, Calvin Petersen, Waterloo (USHL). 90. Boston, Peter Cehlarik, LW, Lulea (Sweden). 130. Buffalo (from New Jersey through Los Angeles and Florida), Gustav Possler, RW, Modo (Sweden Jr.). 91. Winnipeg (from Chicago), J.C. Lipon, C, Kamloops (WHL). 131. Dallas, Cole Ully, LW, Kamloops (WHL). Fourth Round 132. Philadelphia, Terrance Amorosa, D, Holderness, N.H. 92. Florida, Evan Cowley, Wichita Falls (NAHL). 133. Phoenix, Connor Clifton, D, USA U-18. 93. Colorado, Mason Geertsen, D, Vancouver (WHL). 134. Chicago (from Winnipeg), Luke Johnson, C, Lincoln (USHL). 94. Edmonton (St. Louis through Tampa Bay), Jackson Houck, RW, Vancouver (WHL). 135. Calgary (from Columbus), Eric Roy, D, Brandon (WHL). 95. Nashville, Felix Girard, C, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL). 136. N.Y. Islanders, Viktor Rydberg, C, Linkoping (Sweden). 137. Minnesota, Carson Soucy, D, Spruce Grove (AJHL). 96. Edmonton (from Los Angeles through Carolina), Kyle Platzer, C, London (OHL). 138. Ottawa, Vincent Dunn, C, Val-d’Or (QMJHL). 97. Florida (from Calgary), Michael Downing, D, Dubuque (USHL). 139. Detroit, Mitchell Wheaton, D, Spruce Grove (AJHL). 98. Florida (from Edmonton), Matt Buckles, C, St. Michael’s (OJHL). 140. Nashville (from N.Y. Rangers), Teemu Kivihalme, D, Burnsville, Minn. 99. Nashville (from Buffalo), Juuse Saros, HPK Jr. (Finland Jr.). 141. San Jose, Michael Brodzinski, D, Muskegon (USHL). 100. New Jersey, Miles Wood, LW, Nobles, Mass. (USHL). 142. Toronto, Fabrice Herzog, RW, Zug (Switzerland Jr.). 101. Dallas, Nicholas Paul, LW, Brampton (OHL). 143. Buffalo (from St. Louis), Anthony Florentino, D, South Kent, Conn. 102. Ottawa (from Philadelphia through Tampa Bay), Tobias Lindberg, RW, Djurgarden (Sweden Jr.). 144. Washington, Blake Heinrich, D, Sioux City (USHL). 103. Los Angeles (from Phoenix through Colunbus and Philadelphia), Justin Auger, RW, Guelph (OHL). 146. Los Angeles (from Montreal), Patrik Bartosak, Red Deer (WHL). 104. Winnipeg, Andrew Copp, C, Michigan (NCAA). 105. Columbus, Nick Moutrey, LW-C, Saginaw (OHL). 106. N.Y. Islanders, Stephon Williams, G, Minnesota St. (NCAA). 107. Minnesota, Dylan Labbe, D, Shawinigan (QMJHL). 108. Ottawa, Ben Harpur, D, Guelph (OHL). 109. Detroit, David Pope, LW, West Kelowna (BCHL). 110. N.Y. Rangers, Ryan Graves, D, P.E.I. (QMJHL). 111. San Jose, Robin Norell, D, Djurgarden (Sweden Jr.). 112. Nashville (from Toronto), Zach Pochiro, LW, Prince George (WHL). 113. Edmonton (from St. Louis), Aidan Muir, LW, Victory Honda (Michigan Midget). 145. Vancouver, Anton Cederholm, D, Rogle (Sweden). 147. Anaheim, Grant Besse, RW, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, Minn. 148. Los Angeles, Jonny Brodzinski, C, St. Cloud State (NCAA). 149. Dallas (from Pittsburgh), Matej Paulovic, LW, Farjestad (Sweden Jr.). 150. Boston, Wiley Sherman, D, Hotchkiss, Conn. 151. San Jose (from Chicago), Gage Ausmus, D, USA U-18. Sixth Round 152. Florida, Joshua Brown D, Oshawa (OHL). 153. Colorado, Ben Storm, D, Muskegon (USHL). 154. Tampa Bay, Henri Ikonen, LW, Kingston (OHL). 155. Nashville, Emil Pettersson, C, Timra (Sweden Jr.). 156. Carolina, Tyler Ganly, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL). 114. Winnipeg (from Washington), Jan Kostalek, D, Rimouski (QMJHL). 157. Calgary, Tim Harrison, RW, Dexter, Mass. 115. Vancouver, Jordan Subban, D, Belleville (OHL). 158. Edmonton, Ben Betker, D, Everett (WHL). 116. Montreal, Martin Reway, LW, Gatineau (QMJHL). 159. Buffalo, Sean Malone, C, USA U-18. 117. San Jose (from Toronto through Anaheim), Fredrik Bergvik, G, Frolunda (Sweden Jr.). 160. New Jersey, Myles Bell, LW, Kelowna (WHL). 161. Ottawa (from Dallas), Chris LeBlanc, RW, South Shore (EJHL). 162. Philadelphia, Merrick Madsen, Proctor Academy, N.H. 206. Florida (from Montreal), Mackenzie Weegar, D, Halifax (QMJHL). 163. Phoenix, Brendan Burke, Portland (WHL). 207. San Jose (from Anaheim through Colorado), Emil Galimov, LW, Yaroslavl (Russia). 164. Pittsburgh (from Winnipeg), Dane Birks, D, Merritt (BCHL). 165. Columbus, Markus Soberg, RW, Frolunda (Sweden Jr.). 208. New Jersey (from Los Angeles), Anthony Brodeur, G, Shattuck-St. Mary’s, Minn. 166. N.Y. Islanders, Alan Quine, C, Belleville (OHL). 209. Pittsburgh, Troy Josephs, LW, St. Michael’s (OJHL). 167. Minnesota, Avery Peterson, C, Grand Rapids, Mich. 210. Boston, Mitchell Dempsey, LW, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL). 168. Ottawa, Quentin Shore, C, Denver (NCAA). 211. Chicago, Robin Press, D, Sodertalje (Sweden Jr.) 169. Detroit, Marc McNulty, D, Prince George (WHL). Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 170. N.Y. Rangers, Mackenzie Skapski, Kootenay (WHL). 171. Nashville (from San Jose), Tommy Veilleux, LW, Victoriaville (QMJHL). 172. Toronto, Antoine Bibeau, P.E.I. (QMJHL). 173. St. Louis, Santeri Saari, D, Jokerit (Finland Jr.). 174. Washington, Brian Pinho, C, St. John’s Prep., Mass. 175. Vancouver, Mike Williamson, D, Spruce Grove (AJHL). 176. Montreal, Jeremy Gregoire, C, Baie Comeau (QMJHL). 177. Anaheim, Miro Aaltonen, C, Blues (Finland). 178. Los Angeles, Zachary Leslie, D, Guelph (OHL). 179. Pittsburgh, Blaine Byron, C, Smiths Falls (CCHL). 180. Boston, Anton Blidh, LW, Frolunda (Sweden Jr.). 181. Chicago, Anthony Louis, C, USA U-18. Seventh Round 182. Dallas (from Florida), Aleksi Makela, D, Ilves (Finland Jr.). 183. Colorado, Wilhelm Westlund, D, Farjestad (Sweden). 184. Tampa Bay, Saku Salminen, C, Vantaa (Finland Jr.). 185. Nashville, Wade Murphy, RW, Penticton (BCHL). 186. Tampa Bay (from Carolina), Joel Vermin, RW, Bern (Switzerland). 187. Calgary, Rushan Rafikov, D, Yaroslavl (Russia). 188. Edmonton, Gregory Chase, RW-C, Calgary (WHL). 189. Buffalo, Eric Locke, C, Saginaw (OHL). 190. Winnipeg (from New Jersey), Brendan Kichton, D, Spokane (WHL). 191. Los Angeles (from Dallas), Dominik Kubalik, LW, Sudbury (OHL). 192. Philadelphia, David Drake, D, Des Moines (USHL). 193. Phoenix, Jed Soleway, RW, Penticton (BCHL). 194. Winnipeg, Marcus Karlstrom, D AIK (Sweden Jr.). 195. Columbus, Peter Quenneville, Dubuque (USHL). 196. N.Y. Islanders, Kyle Burroughs, D, Regina (WHL). 197. Minnesota, Nolan De Jong, D, Victoria (BCHL). 198. Calgary (from Ottawa through Chicago), John Gilmour, D, Providence (NCAA). 199. Detroit, Hampus Melen, RW, Tingsryd (Sweden Jr.). 200. Minnesota (from N.Y. Rangers), Alexandre Belanger, G, RouynNoranda (QMJHL). 201. San Jose, Jacob Jackson, C, Tartan, Minn. 202. Toronto, Andreas Johnson, RW, Frolunda (Sweden Jr.). 203. Nashville (from St. Louis), Janne Juvonen, G, Pelicans (Finland Jr.). 204. Washington, Tyler Lewington, D, Medicine Hat (WHL). 205. Vancouver, Miles Liberati, D, London (OHL). 683188 Detroit Red Wings Ticker: Mr. Hockey Gordie Howe still king of Detroit sports nicknames July 1, 2013 By Kirkland Crawford As we put the 2013 NBA draft to bed, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman pointed out the five rookies who could have an early impact and the five in tough situations. Goodman thinks Michigan’s Trey Burke is in position to make something happen soon for the Jazz because they “get a heady, high-character floor leader whose game translates to the next level.” There’s a chance Burke could start immediately because Utah’s three point guards from last season are all free agents. As for Tim Hardaway Jr., Goodman thinks he’s in a tough spot with the Knicks because he’s a “streaky, streaky shooter who doesn’t do much else” and will battle guard Iman Shumpert for playing time. Who could say no to this? The most coveted free agent center will be Dwight Howard. The Dallas restaurant, Raising Cane’s, is doing its part for the Mavericks, offering Howard free chicken fingers for life if he signs there. Compiled from staff reports and news services by Kirkland Crawford: Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683189 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings GM Ken Holland interested in Vincent Lecavalier, but so are others July 1, 2013 By Helene St. James NEWARK, N.J. — General manager Ken Holland met with coveted free agent center Vincent Lecavalier for half an hour Sunday morning about the possibility of joining the Red Wings. The Wings are among about a dozen NHL teams who think Lecavalier would be a good addition, which will lead to eager bidding for his services. Holland described his meeting with Lecavalier as a sort of “feeling out” situation. “I talked to him about our organization, where he’d fit in,” Holland told the Free Press. “If he's interested in us, we’ll talk later.” Lecavalier, 34, became an unrestricted free agent last week, when he was bought out by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Wings like his hands and leadership, though there are concerns about his pace. Still, he’s an intriguing possibility as a second-line center. The stumbling block for the Wings is likely going to come down to terms. The buzz in hockey circles is that Lecavalier wants five or six years; the Wings aren’t likely to top two. Another team, like the Calgary Flames, who also met with Lecavalier, are likely to give him whatever he wants. So then it’s up to Lecavalier. Several others teams are in play, too: Montreal, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Dallas, Toronto, Washington and Boston. With Sunday’s focus on the draft, talks with unrestricted free agents will heat up today. Players cannot sign until Friday. The Wings remain in talks with all three of their unrestricted free agents — Damien Brunner, Daniel Cleary and Valtteri Filppula — but all appear to want to listen to offers from other teams. The Wings have most of their pieces in place. A top-six forward tops their wanted list, but that holds true for half the league. Holland reiterated that, “I'm not signing somebody just to have something to talk about. We’re not looking to make lateral moves. We’re not looking for one-year fixers.” The Wings have 12 forwards under contract for next season, along with coming contracts in restricted free agents Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson. They’re also operating under the parameters that guys like Riley Sheahan and Tomas Jurco will be pushing for spots in 2014-15. Contact Helene St. James: 313-222-2295 Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683190 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings select Todd Bertuzzi's nephew, Tyler July 1, 2013 By Helene St. James NEWARK, N.J. — Todd Bertuzzi was enjoying a barbecue with family and friends. He’d just stepped outside to enjoy a beer when his son, Tag, came racing. One Tyler Bertuzzi had just been snapped up by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2013 NHL draft at Prudential Center. Tyler is the son of Todd Bertuzzi's sister, Angela, a left wing who plays for Guelph in the Ontario Hockey League. Tyler was projected to go somewhere in round three at the earliest, so when he went as early as he did, and to Todd Bertuzzi's team, one or two beers were raised in celebration during Bertuzzi's party in Kitchener, Ontario. “None of us expected it,” Bertuzzi said. “We’re so excited. Detroit is getting a good kid. He’s a fearless little bugger.” Joe McDonnell, Detroit’s director of amateur scouting, compared Tyler to Chicago’s Andrew Shaw, saying of Tyler that, “he’s a bit of a rat. He’s real hard to play against. He had some injuries sort of early and midseason, and I think that a lot of teams, I don't know if they really paid any attention to him later. He really took off near the end of the year. He’s just a real hard guy to play against, and that's something we really wanted in the organization.” Tyler and Todd Bertuzzi could be skating together come September’s training camp, as young draft picks usually overlap a few days into the main team’s scrimmages. "I'm hoping so," Bertuzzi said. "That'd be pretty cool — a big, old one and little, young one." Bertuzzi is cognizant, though, that his name has come up in compliance buyout chatter. If that happens, it'd be this coming week. He's 38, and coming off a season that saw him sidelined from early February on by back and leg pain. He came back to play briefly in the playoffs, and said he's now training and skating. He hasn't heard from general manager Ken Holland, but, "I'm not young, I understand everything, I understand it's a business," Bertuzzi said. "But if does happen, it would break my heart." â– FORWARD, HO: The Wings went with one forward after another at the draft, selecting center Mattias Janmark-Nylen in the third round and left wing David Pope in round four. McDonnell said that, "we were sort of looking, too - there was a defenseman that we had real high, and we got sort of shut out, I think on our second pick - we thought we had a guy who was a defenseman, it didn't happen to work out. But we weren't overly disappointed with Zach Nastasiuk." The Wings took Nastasiuk 48th overall, after using the 20th selection on Anthony Mantha. Jeff Finley, Detroit's Western Canada scout, said Pope needs to get stronger, but "we see him as a third-line type of guy. He's got some good skill." Hakan Andersson, the Wings' European scout, said he likes Janmark, "for his hands, his speed. He's got potential." The Wings picked up right wing Hampus Melen in the seventh round. "He needs to fill out, strength-wise," Andersson said, "but he has good hockey sense, good hands." â– BIG D: The Wings are well-stocked with defensemen in their systems, and added a couple big in the later rounds Sunday. Mitchell Wheaton, 6foot-4, was selected in the fifth round, while Marc McNulty is already, at 18, listed as 6-foot-6. Wheaton, Finley said, needs to improve his mobility. "Moves the puck very well, has great hockey sense, smart player for a big guy." Finley said McNulty "has a big long reach, has real good feet and real good hands for a guy that size." Contact Helene St. James: 313-222-2295 Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683191 Detroit Red Wings Vitals: 6-4, 228 pounds. DOB: Feb. 6, 1995 Meet the Red Wings' 2013 draft class Junior team: Kelowna (WHL). July 1, 2013 Overview: Plays in all situations. Doesn't use his big size as much as he could, but that should come with experience. Has strong shot on net, creating second-chance opportunities. Good stride. By Helene St. James D Marc McNulty Selected: 6th round (169th). F Anthony Mantha Vitals: 6-6, 185. Selected: 1st round (20th overall). DOB: April 5, 1995. Vitals: 6-4, 190 pounds. Junior team: Prince George (WHL). DOB: Sept. 16, 1994 (18 years old) Overview: Good hands and feet for his size, but inconsistent, needs to show work ethic both on and off the ice. Junior team: Val-d'Or *(QMJHL). Overview: A 50-goal scorer with an incredibly accurate shot. Is lethal on power plays. Full of confidence. Good skater. Will be even better when he puts more bulk on his 6-foot-4 frame. Has potential to be an impact player early in his NHL career. Hampus Melen F Zach Nastasiuk Vitals: 6-2, 165 pounds. Selected: 2nd round (48th overall). DOB: Feb. 28, 1995. Vitals: 6-1, 190 pounds. Junior team: Tingsryd (SWE-JR.). DOB: March 30, 1995. Overview: Possibly a Swedish sleeper. Needs two-three years go get stronger, but has upside. Junior team: Owen Sound (OHL) Overview: Had four points in seven games as member of Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2013 U-18 World Championship. Ranked fourth on his team last season with 20 goals, and also had a plus-21 rating in 62 games. Needs to get bigger and faster, but has good potential. LW Tyler Bertuzzi Selected: 2nd round (58th overall). Vitals: 6-0, 178 pounds. DOB: Feb. 24, 1995. Junior team: Guelph (OHL). Overview: Nephew of Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi. Described as similar to Chicago's Andrew Shaw, someone who's tough to play against. Was projected to go lower, but Wings liked what they saw from him in second half of his season with Guelph Storm. C Mattias Janmark-Nylen Selected: 3rd round (79th). Vitals: 6-1, 189 pounds. DOB: Dec. 8, 1992. Junior team: AIK JR (SWE-JR.). Overview: Was leading scorer in 2011-12, got promoted to men's league and he was second-best scorer, played on national team as a 20-year-old. Hakan Andersson said Janmark has a little of Patrik Berglund in him, but more tenacious. LW David Pope Selected: 4th round (109th). Vitals: 6-2, 187 pounds. DOB: Sept. 27, 1994. Junior team: West Kelowna (BCHL). Overview: Big, tall lanky winger, got an NHL shot and release. Can play any forward position. Biggest weakness is he needs to get much stronger. D Mitchell Wheaton Selected: 5th round (139th). Selected : 7th round (199th). Contact Helene St. James: 313-222-2295 Detroit Free Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683192 Detroit Red Wings Canadiens take Macomb's Michael McCarron in first round Ted Kulfan Detroit — The second United States player picked in the NHL draft on Sunday was a local product. Macomb's Michael McCarron was picked No. 25 overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round. McCarron played for the Ann Arbor-based United States National Development Team Program. He attended Dakota and Ann Arbor Pioneer, and is planning on playing Western Michigan next season. "I didn't think I'd go this high; even today I didn't think I'd go this high," McCarron told TSN. "I can't describe this feeling." McCarron added later: "I guess I have to learn French!" The Canadiens are looking for size and McCarron will provide that. McCarron is a 6-foot-5, 228-pound right wing who had 53 points with 16 goals and 37 assists, along with 183 penalty minutes — more than any other player in this draft. "We like his size, grit and character," said Marc Bergevin, the Canadiens' general manager. Several local players also were selected in the fourth round. Defenseman Michael Downing, a Canton native who played for Dubuque in the USHL, was picked 97th overall by the Florida Panthers. A University of Michigan product, forward Andrew Copp, was picked 104th by Winnipeg. In the third round — Saginaw (OHL) center Jimmy Lodge went to Winnipeg with the 84th pick. Detroit News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683193 Detroit Red Wings Wings bulk up on blue line by adding 6-4 defenseman Mitchell Wheaton in 5th round Bertuzzi was the 207th-ranked North American skater according to Central Scouting — yet the Red Wings selected Bertuzzi at No. 57 overall. At 6-foot, 176 pounds, Bertuzzi doesn’t have the size of his uncle but plays with a similar grit. A classic agitator, Bertuzzi had 13 goals and nine assists in 43 games with Guelph (OHL) with 68 penalty minutes. Ted Kulfan Bertuzzi loves to fight and get under opponents’ skin, but needs to get physically stronger. Detroit — And, yet another big body for the Red Wings in this draft. Janmark-Nylen was draft eligible in 2012 but was passed over. In Round 5 the Red Wings selected defenseman Mitchell Wheaton, who played for Kelowna in the Western Hockey League. A late bloomer, Janmark-Nylen attracted the interest of many scouts this season with a good season but needs to fill out physically (6-foot-1, 189pounds). Wheaton is 6-foot-4 230-pounds, and played 39 games in Kelowna with one goal and three assists. Detroit News LOADED: 07.01.2013 Wheaton was ranked No. 69 by Central Scouting. The Red Wings keep adding size. They selected forward David Pope in round four of Sunday's NHL Entry Draft. Pope played for West Kelowna of the British Columbia Hockey League, scoring 17 goals with 22 assists in 42 games. At 6-foot-2, 187-pounds Pope fits the bill of what the Red Wings have been looking for, adding size and skill to the organization. The aim was to accumulate size and skill for the Red Wings at this NHL draft. In the early going Sunday, they did just that. The top two picks — first-rounder Anthony Mantha and second-rounder Zach Nastasiuk — are big forwards who scored goals in the junior ranks. They added an agitator, Tyler Bertuzzi — yes, Todd’s nephew — with their second second-round pick (acquired in a trade with San Jose earlier in the day) and picked Swedish forward Mattias Janmark-Nylen in round three. Joe McDonnell, the Red Wings director of amateur scouting running his first draft table Sunday, said prior to the draft size was an attribute the Red Wings were going to look for. “You look at the scrums on the ice and they’re all big guys out there,” McDonnell said. “It’s the way the game is evolving. There’s room for the smaller guy. But players are getting bigger.” The Red Wings selected Mantha, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound winger who was a 50-goal scorer for Val-d’Or in the Quebec League. Mantha was the No. 20 overall pick. The Red Wings traded their original first-round pick, No. 18 overall, to San Jose. In exchange, the Sharks gave their first-round pick, No. 20 overall, plus a second-round pick, No. 58, to the Red Wings. Scouts have mixed reviews of Mantha. Some think he was too perimeteroriented in junior hockey and didn’t go to the net enough. But scouts universally believe Mantha has elite skill level and regarded him as one of the most skilled players in this draft. Continuing their search for size and skill, the Red Wings picked Nastasiuk in the second round. Nastasiuk, a 6-foot-1 190-pound right wing from Owen Sound in the OHL, scored 40 points (20 goals, 20 assists) in 62 games with 32 penalty minutes and was picked with the 48th overall pick. Nastasiuk comes from an athletic family. His father, Paul, won the 1991 Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and holds the league record for most special team tackles in a playoff game, with five. His mother, Sue, played basketball at Laurier University, and older sister, Samantha, plays for the Western (Ont.) Mustangs women’s hockey team. Bertuzzi was a classic “reach.” 683194 Detroit Red Wings Wings meet with Vincent Lecavalier; 'We'll see where it goes,' Holland says Ted Kulfan Detroit — The Red Wings and free-agent center Vincent Lecavalier met for breakfast Sunday, just one of about 15 such meetings Lecavalier had over the weekend. The suddenly sought-after free agent — who was bought out of his contract by Tampa Bay Thursday — met with general manager Ken Holland, coach Mike Babcock and Kris Draper. Holland said the meeting lasted about 30 minutes. "We asked questions of him and he had questions for us," Holland said from the NHL draft in Newark, N.J. "We talked about our organization and how we see him fitting. "We'll see where it goes. He's talked with other teams. We'll see if there's interest." Lecavalier's hometown Montreal Canadiens, Toronto, Philadelphia, Dallas (with former Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill), Anaheim and Boston are among the teams that have been aggressive in their pursuit of Lecavalier. Lecavalier, 33, played in 39 games last season in Tampa and had 10 goals and 22 assists. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, Lecavalier has the size and skill level many teams covet — some perhaps more than the Red Wings. The Red Wings aren't likely to offer Lecavalier more than a two-year deal, maybe three years. But some of those other interested teams are likely willing to go as high as five years. Holland also met with the agents for potential unrestricted free-agent forwards Damien Brunner, Valtteri Filppula and Daniel Cleary in the last few days, but progress on new deals has been slow. There was speculation leading into the weekend the Red Wings would trade Filppula's rights, but that now appears doubtful. Detroit News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683195 Detroit Red Wings Position:Left wing Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 187 Meet the Red Wings draft picks July 1, 2013 at 1:59 am Ted Kulfan Last season: West Kelowna (British Columbia Hockey League), 42 games, 17 goals, 22 assists, 20 penalty minutes. Scouting report:A definite project coming out of British Columbia juniors, Pope was ranked 67th among North American skaters by Central Scouting…Has shown a good scoring touch but needs to get stronger physically…He’ll play at Nebraska-Omaha. Mitchell Wheaton 2013 NHL Draft - Portraits Anthony Mantha Round: 1 Pick: 20 overall. Position: Right wing Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 190 Last season: Val d’Or (QMJHL), 67 games, 50 goals, 39 assists, 71penalty minutes. Scouting report: The Red Wings were looking for size and skill and Mantha provides that….Mantha dominated smaller junior opponents with his physique. He also possesses a great wrist shot and has good speed for his size…The knock has been the fact Mantha doesn’t hang around the net as much, judged by some scouts of being too perimeter oriented…Needs a bit of mean streak and get stronger, filling out his body. Zach Nastasiuk Round: 2; Pick: 48 Position: Right wing Round: 5 Pick: 139 Position: Defenseman Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 230 Last season: Kelowna (WHL), 39 games, 1 goal, 7 assists, 27 penalty minutes. Scouting report: A shoulder injury shortened Wheaton’s season but he returned in time for the playoffs …A project with great size, Wheaton is a defensive defenseman with good hockey sense. Marc McNulty Round: 6 Pick: 169 Position: Defenseman Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 185 Last season: Prince George (WHL), 52 games, 8 goals, 7 assists, 70 penalty minutes. Ht.: 6-1 Wt.:190 Scouting report: Needs to get stronger but has outstanding size, a long reach, and is a good skater…The knock has been his inconsistency, which needs to be worked on. Last season: Owen Sound (OHL) 62 games, 20 goals, 20 assists, 32 penalty minutes. Hampus Melen Scouting report: Another player with the size and skill combination the Red Wings were looking for in this draft...A promising goalscorer with good frame and hands, some scouts feel Nastasiuk’s skating needs to catch up to some other attributes...Comes from an extremely athletic family — his father Paul was a CFL kicker and mother Sue was a Canadian college basketball player. Tyler Bertuzzi Round: 2 Pick: 58 Postion: Left wing Ht: 6-foot Wt: 176 Last season: Guelph (OHL), 43 games, 13 goals, 9 assists, 68 penalty minutes. Scouting report: His uncle Todd, obviously, plays for the Red Wings …Tyler is a similar player in he gets under the skin of opponents — although he’s significantly smaller than his uncle…Tyler could develop into a classic thirdor fourth-line agitator. Mattias Janmark-Nylen Round: 3 Pick: 79 Position: Center Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 189 Last season: AIK (Sweden) 55 games, 14 goals, 17 assists, 22 penalty minutes. Scouting report: Passed over in the draft last year, Janmark-Nylen is a late bloomer who played well this season for AIK. Needs to fill out physically but has good skill level and played just as well as higher-round draft picks in his division according to some scouts. David Pope Round: 4 Pick:109 Round: 7 Pick: 199 Position: Right wing Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 165 Last season: Tingsryd Jr. (Sweden Jr.), 5 games, 0 goals, 0 assists, 2 penalty minutes. Scouting report: Skill player who played in Swedish junior league…Classic Red Wings pick in that he’s a no-risk prospect, will be given plenty of time to develop and get stronger, and see if he pans out in a few years. Detroit News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683196 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings get needed 'sniper' in Anthony Mantha July 1, 2013 at 2:24 am Gregg Krupa Detroit— The Red Wings got their big man with a heavy shot, whom some observers are calling “a sniper.” Is he Bryan Bickell, Vincent Lecavalier or Nathan Horton, the unrestricted free agents? No. This was the 2013 NHL draft, not unrestricted free agency. As is often the case when it comes to the Wings these days, the fans simply are going to have to be more patient than that. They also selected 6-1, 190-pound Zach Nastasiuk, a goal-scoring forward, with the 48th pick, and Tyler Bertuzzi, Todd’s nephew, a 6-foot, 178-pound goal-scoring forward, at 59th. Both Nastasiuk and Bertuzzi, who is less sizeable than his uncle but shares some of his tenacious, physical instincts, were selected in the second round. The trio are unlikely to play anytime soon. But as the Red Wings continue to retool, as they continue to add youth and size to the lineup, they may be important acquisitions to be heard from in the years to come. Meanwhile, Holland and Babcock are undoubtedly interested in kicking a lot of tires in free agency this month. There are more players than just Lecavalier and Horton still available. But after re-signing defenseman Jakub Kindl and penalty-killing forward Drew Miller this week and drafting the trio of goal-scoring forwards, the Wings undoubtedly believe they already have had the sort of success this offseason that is consistent with how they intend to restructure a perennial Stanley Cup contender: with draft choices and with players they develop in Detroit, Grand Rapids and Toledo, to be topped-off, eventually, with some key free-agent acquisitions or trades. The player is an 18-year-old from Quebec named Anthony Mantha. At 6foot-4, 190 or 200 pounds — depending on which scouting report one reads — with good skating skills for a big man and a heavy wrist shot, Mantha was the only 50-goal scorer in the draft. Something big might yet develop for them in the summer of 2013 along those two paths. Ken Holland looked happy at the Prudential Center in New Jersey. Mike Babcock looked ebullient. Detroit News LOADED: 07.01.2013 The Red Wings may have the big sniper they have needed since Brendan Shanahan left town. But fans will not know for a while. Mantha is unlikely to play in the NHL until about 2017. Quick help unlikely But fans of the Red Wings ought to be excited, nonetheless. The fact of the matter is Bickell, Lecavalier and Horton are utterly unlikely to come to Detroit to play for the Wings. At this point in their careers, all three are still looking for a big payday. The Blackhawks, for whom the large, gritty Bickell scored nine goals on the way to the Stanley Cup, were intent Sunday on clearing as much cap space as it could, trading Dave Bolland to the Maple Leafs. By the end of the day, they had re-signed Bickell for four years at $16 million. Reportedly, the Red Wings are one of eight teams who have talked to Lecavalier, 33, who scored only 10 goals, albeit in the lockout-shortened season of 2013. It is conceivable most if not all of the other seven teams will offer Lecavalier more money and time. Horton? The Bruins, who played in the Stanley Cup Finals, do not do well in the playoffs without the big forward. But, while Horton’s injury problems have been manifest, they may not keep some teams from showering the sizeable marksman with dollars. Given the lay of the land in the NHL and the current status of the Red Wings, the importance of the NHL draft is increased and Mantha is an exciting development worth watching over the next few seasons. What does it mean about now? It means the Wings will continue to amass young talent to restock both the Calder Cup-winning Grand Rapids Griffins and their own increasingly youthful, surprisingly-successful roster in Detroit. And when they have enough pieces in place to pull the trigger on some moves for free agents that will suddenly and markedly increase their chances of winning the Stanley Cup, they will do it. But, until then, Junes and Julys are more about youth and development for the Red Wings. While that makes thing less exciting, it also seems like the shrewd strategy. While it is less than 50-50, perhaps considerably so, that they will sign a big-name unrestricted free agent this month, they were picking up what they needed for the more distant future by drafting large, goal-scoring forwards. It has been a need for a few seasons that was underlined again this year, when goals were at a premium for the Red Wings, especially in postseason. Picks will be heard from Mantha is the highest forward selected in the draft by the Wings since Martin Lapointe, when that sizeable shooter was selected 10th in 1991. Even if it does not, however, their current plans are proceeding apace. 683197 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings had sights set on sniper Anthony Mantha, who is determined to take fast track to NHL Ansar Khan on June 30, 2013 at 9:06 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 9:22 PM NEWARK, N.J. --€“ When Anthony Mantha was at the NHL Scouting Combine in Toronto this month, someone from the Detroit Red Wings shook his hand and told him, “I’ll go get you.'' That's what the Red Wings did on Sunday, selecting the high-scoring left wing with their top pick, 20th overall, in the first round of the entry draft at the Prudential Center. Mantha doesn't recall who this mystery man was, but it's no mystery why this 50-goal scorer from Val-d'Or of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League was high on Detroit's list. He is a sniper with a tremendously accurate shot and a knack for finding open ice. He has a 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame which should fill out well by the time he dons a Red Wings jersey in a few years. “He's one of those guys that seems to find a way to hit the net, find a way to sneak to the goalies,'' Red Wings director of amateur scouting Joe McDonnell said. “His accuracy is excellent. … And with his size to go along with those things, it was a real intriguing package for us.'' Said Mantha of the shot that enabled him to lead the QMJHL in goals: “It’s not necessarily the force that you put, but more of the precision.†• So deep was this draft that the Red Wings were able to trade down two spots to No. 20, acquiring a second-round pick from San Jose (No. 58 overall), and still get one of the players they targeted. “We had it narrowed down to three names, would have been ecstatic with any of them,'' McDonnell said. “As soon as we got to that point we knew we were going to get one of them, (trading down) was a no-brainer. And then we ended up getting the guy we really wanted. “Obviously, it's going to be a few years from now, but we're real excited to get him where we picked him.'' He'll spend another year at the junior level before turning pro and joining the Grand Rapids Griffins. The supremely confident Mantha is hoping to fast-track it to the NHL. “My approach is really to make the big team next year, if not, in the next two years,'' Mantha said. “I will show them everything that I can to be there without having to go to the minors. “I’ll show everyone, every team, and the Red Wings, that they did not take the wrong guy.'' That kind of determination and self-confidence is good, McDonnell said. “They might not say it, but most kids think that,'' McDonnell said. “They think, 'I've got a real chance to make an NHL team,' and that should be their goal. They have to come in with lofty expectations. Deep down they probably know it's going to be tough, but it's good to say that.'' Mantha, like most draft picks, needs to bulk up. “Like all these kids that are (drafted) today, there's not many that are real men yet,'' McDonnell said. “He's on the skinny side right now, but we'll see his work ethic. He'll get bigger eventually.'' The Montreal native grew up a Canadiens fans and has never been to Detroit, but has a Red Wings connection. Mantha's grandfather is four-time Stanley Cup champion Andre Pronovost, who played 556 games for Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Minnesota between 1956-57 and 1967-68. “My father and my grandfather were always on the ice with me when I was younger,'' Mantha said. “They helped me out the whole way.  Said McDonnell: “We didn't even know that until we interviewed him at the Combine. It was a bit of a surprise to hear that, but it was neat.'' Mantha hopes to play with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg one day. “They’re two great players. I love both of their styles of play,'' Mantha said. “It will be an honor just to be around them and I’m pretty sure I’m going to learn by (watching) them.  Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683198 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings add size in David Pope, Mitchell Wheaton with their fifth and sixth picks By Brendan Savage on June 30, 2013 at 9:00 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 9:12 PM The Detroit Red Wings added size in the fourth and fifth rounds of today's NHL Draft in New Jersey by selecting forward David Pope and defenseman Mitchell Wheaton. Pope, 18, is a 6-foot-2, 187-pound left winger who played last season for West Kelowna of the British Columbia Hockey League. Wheaton (6-4, 228) played for Kelowna of the WHL. He had 17 goals, 22 assists and 20 penalty minutes in 42 games for West Kelowna last season. Pope spent the last three years in the BCHL, recording 25 goals, 39 assists and 64 PIM for three teams. Pope, the 109th overall pick, has been recruited to play college hockey for Nebraska-Omaha next season. Wheaton, 18, had one goal, seven assists and 27 PIM in 39 games for Kelowna. A shoulder injury sidelined him late in the season but he returned to play in four playoff games. He was the 139th pick overall. Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683199 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings pick Swedish center Mattias Janmark-nylen with their fourth selection in entry draft Ansar Khan on June 30, 2013 at 7:58 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 8:20 PM NEWARK, N.J. -- After selecting North Americans with their top three picks in Sunday's NHL entry draft at the Prudential Center, the Detroit Red Wings revisited some old stomping grounds for their fourth choice. The Red Wings picked Swedish center Mattias Janmark-nylen with the 79th overall pick (third round). Janmark-nylen, 20, appeared in 55 games for AIK in the Swedish Elite League, collecting 14 goals, 17 assists and 32 penalty minutes. He shoots left. Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683200 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings pick with forward Tyler Bertuzzi, Todd's nephew, with their third pick in entry draft Ansar Khan on June 30, 2013 at 7:22 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 7:47 PM NEWARK, N.J. -- The Detroit Wings selected left wing Tyler Bertuzzi of Guelph (OHL) with their third pick, 58th overall in the second round, at Sunday's NHL entry draft at the Prudential Center. Tyler is the nephew of Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi. Tyler plays an abrasive game despite his modest size (6-foot, 178). He appeared in 43 games this season, picking up 13 goals and nine assists to go along with 68 penalty minutes. In two seasons with the Storm, Bertuzzi has 19 goals, 20 assists and 185 penalty minutes in 104 games. Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683201 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings take forward Zach Nastasiuk of Owen Sound with second selection in entry draft Ansar Khan on June 30, 2013 at 6:59 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 7:43 PM NEWARK, N.J. -- The Detroit Red Wings selected center/right wing Zach Nastasiuk from Owen Sound (OHL) with their second pick, 48th overall in the second round, of Sunday's NHL entry draft at the Prudential Center. In 2012-13, Nastasiuk ranked fourth on the Attack with 20 goals (40 points) and fifth with a plus-21 rating in 62 games. He was a member of Canada's gold medal-winning team at the 2013 Under-18 World Championship, recording four points (including two goals) in seven games. Here's what NHL Central Scouting's Chris Edwards said of Nastasiuk on NHL.com: "He does something to contribute to win every shift. He's an excellent penalty killer and uses his long reach very well, is smart in his ability to be in the right place. Earlier in the year, I would have called him a puck chaser, but he played with purpose and made a big jump over the second half of the season. I think he could end up becoming a big pro." Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683202 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings select a sniper, Anthony Mantha, with their top pick, after moving down two spots Ansar Khan on June 30, 2013 at 5:07 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 6:15 PM NEWARK, N.J. -- The Detroit Red Wings selected left wing Anthony Mantha with their top pick, 20th overall in the first round, of the 2013 NHL entry draft at the Prudential Center. Mantha (6-4, 190) is a sniper who led the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with 50 goals for Val-d'Or. The Red Wings traded the 18th pick to the San Jose Sharks for picks No. 20 and 58 (in the second round). They also have their own second-round pick, No. 48. Mantha tied for second in the Canadian Hockey League with 50 goals in 67 games (89 points). He recorded five hat tricks, posted one four-goal performance and was named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team. He led the Foreurs in scoring with 12 points (5-7--12) in nine games during the 2013 playoffs -- Val-d’Or lost to Blainsville-Boisbrand in the second round. Mantha helped Team Canada capture a bronze medal at the 2012 Under18 World Championship, scoring one goal in seven games. His grandfather is four-time Stanley Cup champion Andre Pronovost -- he played 556 games for Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Minnesota between the 1956-57 and 1967-68 seasons. Here's what NHL Central Scouting's Chris Bordeleau said of Mantha on NHL.com: “He's a big kid with a lot of skill. He has everything you need to succeed -- he can skate, he's smart, he reads the play, he has everything. He might need to work on his defensive game, but he can be taught that. You can't teach talent like he has, or hands like he has.” Here's what Val-d'Or coach Mario Durocher said of Mantha on NHL.com: "He's a very intelligent kid. It's great talking hockey with him. He's always asking the right questions in practice and even pointing things out that we might have missed sometimes." The Red Wings were hoping that forward Valery Nichushkin would fall to them at 18, but he was selected at No. 10 by the Dallas Stars and their new general manager Jim Nill, the former Detroit assistant GM. Some in the Red Wings organization believe Nichushkin is the best Russian in the draft since Alexander Ovechkin in 2004. Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683203 Detroit Red Wings t Valtteri Filppula will sign elsewhere. Staff report No trade imminent; talks with UFAs continue There has been a lot of trade talk at this year's draft, but Holland said he is not close to making a move. “Our goaltending is set, our defense is set,Holland said. "If we can get a top 2-3 defenseman, we'll look at it. They're hard to find. "We got 14 forwards signed (they will after signing restricted free agents Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson). Some of them are kids. We have a move or two left over the next week or 10 days.'' Holland hasn't decided if he'll use a compliance buyout. The deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday, but a player who is bought out must be placed on waivers by noon Wednesday. "I'm not even sure what we're doing (with buyouts),'' Holland said. "We got until Wednesday or Thursday to make some decisions. "I talked to, if not all the teams, 25-26 teams yesterday or Friday. Probably lots of teams are like I am, they're not sure (about buyouts). There's lots of talk, but I can't tell you I sense anything's really happening. There might be something happening with a team or two or three.'' Holland said he continues talking with the agents for unrestricted forwards Daniel Cleary, Damien Brunner and Filppula, but nothing is imminent. "I talked to them all just know or yesterday,'' he said. "We're going to continue to stay in touch.' Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683204 Detroit Red Wings Red Wings meet with free agent Vincent Lecavalier, now wait to see if he is interested in further talks Ansar Khan on June 30, 2013 at 2:54 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 3:16 PM NEWARK, N.J. – The Detroit Red Wings met with free-agent center Vincent Lecavalier Sunday, trying to gauge his level of interest in joining their organization. General manager Ken Holland and coach Mike Babcock met with the former Tampa Bay Lightning star for about a half-hour. Now, they'll wait to see if Lecavalier's representatives want to talk more. “I don't know what their process is,'' Holland said before the start of the entry draft at the Prudential Center. “They reached out to say Vinny was going to be in (New York) this weekend, was going to meet as many teams that had interest to meet. “He has to make some decisions personally, what's on his priority list. I don't know the process.'' The Red Wings' interest appears to be lukewarm at best due concerns about his pace and ability to get up and down the ice, as well as his asking price. Lecavalier, 33, is believed to be seeking a long-term deal, possibly five years, and $5 million a season. That would be way more than the Red Wings are willing to offer in term and salary. Lecavalier reportedly met with several other teams on Saturday – Dallas, St. Louis, Montreal, Philadelphia, Anaheim and Toronto – and was scheduled to meet with Calgary today. The Lightning on Wednesday bought out the final seven years of Lecavalier's contract, shedding his $7.727 million salary-cap hit. They will pay him two-thirds of the remaining value of his contract over twice the term of the deal – a total of $32.67 million through the 2026-27 season. The Red Wings will be in the market for a second-line center because it appears almost certain that unrestricted free agent Valtteri Filppula will sign elsewhere. No trade imminent; talks with UFAs continue There has been a lot of trade talk at this year's draft, but Holland said he is not close to making a move. “Our goaltending is set, our defense is set,Holland said. "If we can get a top 2-3 defenseman, we'll look at it. They're hard to find. "We got 14 forwards signed (they will after signing restricted free agents Gustav Nyquist and Joakim Andersson). Some of them are kids. We have a move or two left over the next week or 10 days.'' Holland hasn't decided if he'll use a compliance buyout. The deadline is 5 p.m. Thursday, but a player who is bought out must be placed on waivers by noon Wednesday. "I'm not even sure what we're doing (with buyouts),'' Holland said. "We got until Wednesday or Thursday to make some decisions. "I talked to, if not all the teams, 25-26 teams yesterday or Friday. Probably lots of teams are like I am, they're not sure (about buyouts). There's lots of talk, but I can't tell you I sense anything's really happening. There might be something happening with a team or two or three.'' Holland said he continues talking with the agents for unrestricted forwards Daniel Cleary, Damien Brunner and Filppula, but nothing is imminent. "I talked to them all just know or yesterday,'' he said. "We're going to continue to stay in touch.' Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683205 Detroit Red Wings Detroit Red Wings take big defenseman, Swedish forward with their final two picks in NHL Draft Brendan Savage on June 30, 2013 at 10:01 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 10:11 PM Another big defenseman and a Swedish forward were the Detroit Red Wings final two picks in this year's NHL entry draft. The Red Wings used their sixth-round pick (169th overall) to take defenseman Marc McNulty of Prince George in the WHL before taking forward Hampus Melen in the seventh round (199th overall). The 6-foot-6, 188-pound McNulty, who turned 18 in April, spent last season playing for the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. In 52 games for Prince George, he had eight goals, seven assists and 70 penalty minutes. Hampus (6-2, 165) played junior hockey in Sweden season. In 29 games for Tingsryd, he had 18 goals, 22 assists and 59 PIM. Michigan Live LOADED: 07.01.2013 683206 Detroit Red Wings Wings get player they want in first round, Anthony Mantha By CHUCK PLEINESS Posted: Sunday, 06/30/13 09:56 pm It’s always good when a plan works out. With three names on their draft board that they’d like to select, the Detroit Red Wings traded down two spots and got the guy that topped that list in the first place. With the 20th selection in the NHL Entry Draft, the Wings took big left winger Anthony Mantha, Sunday in New Jersey. “We had it narrowed down to three names, would have been ecstatic with any of the three names we had, and as soon as we got to that point we knew we were going to get one of them, so it was a no-brainer really for us,” said Joe McDonnell, the team’s director of amateur scouting. “And then we ended up getting the guy we really wanted in the end.” The Wings dealt the 18th pick to San Jose for the 20th pick and 58th overall pick. “He was a guy we had targeted a lot higher so we lucked out on that for sure,” McDonnell said. “Obviously, it’s going to be a few years from now, but we’re real excited to get him where we picked him.” Mantha, who grew up a Montreal fan, is anxious to get in a Wings jersey as soon as possible. “I’ll do whatever it takes to be there, or not I’ll be back in the junior level, bring my game back to 100 percent and just be ready for the next year, for sure,” said Mantha, who patterns his game after Eric Staal. “I’ll show everyone, every team, and the Red Wings that they did not take the wrong guy. It’s the fourth straight year the Wings have taken a forward with their top pick – Martin Frk (2012), Tomas Jurco (2011) and Riley Sheahan (2010). “It’s really being prepared for the whole summer and my confidence level is quite high so I’m just going to go into camp and try to make place as soon as I can,” Mantha said. Mantha is the grandson of four-time Stanley Cup champion Andre Pronovost, who played 556 games for Montreal, Boston, Detroit and Minnesota between the 1956-57 and 1967-68 seasons. “It’s really an honor,” Mantha said when asked if it was surreal to wear the jersey his grandfather wore. “Words really can’t come, but it’s just being there and showing them what I’m able to do. It’s just something that’s great for me.” Mantha will participate in the Wings’ development camp in Traverse City July 10-15. With the Wings first of two picks in the second round they took right wing Zach Nastasiuk, who played last season with Owen Sound in the Ontario Hockey League. “He’s got real good hands, but if he has one thing that he has to work on it’s his skating,” McDonnell said. “Once he gets going he’s good, but the first two strides are something that needs some work, but the nice thing about him is he’s a kid that is willing to put the work in to get better.” Nastasiuk, who’s 6-1, 190 pounds, had 20 goals and 20 assists last season in 62 games and was a plus-21. He was a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2013 Under-18 World Championship. “I’m a two-way forward,” Nastasiuk said. “I take pride in my defense. I chip pucks in, chip pucks out, keep it simple out there, out-battle against the guy I’m out there up against. I come into the rink every day with a purpose.” Left wing Tyler Bertuzzi, from Guelph of the OHL, was taken with the 58th overall pick in the second round. Bertuzzi, whose uncle is Detroit’s Todd Bertuzzi, finished ranked 207th by NHL Central Scouting and had 13 goals and nine assists in 43 games last season. “My approach is really to make the big team next year, if not, in the next two years,” Mantha continued. “I will show them everything that I can to be there without having to go to the minors.” “I think he’ a bit of a rat,” McDonnell said. “He’s an Andrew Shaw kind of guy in Chicago and he’s real hard to play against. He’s just a real hard guy to play against and I think we really wanted him in the organization and he fits the role, and I think Todd’s really excited.” McDonnell said Mantha, who has two years of junior eligibility remaining, will return to juniors next season and will turn pro the following year. Left wing David Pope was selected in the fourth round by the Wings, 109th overall. “Most kids think that,” McDonnell said when told Mantha had aspirations of making the Wings out of training camp. “They might not say it, but most kids think it. They think ‘I’ve got a real chance to make an NHL team,’ and that should be their goal. They have to come in with lofty expectations. Deep down they probably know it’s going to be tough but it’s good to say that. Pope, who finished ranked 67th by NHL Central Scouting, improving from a mid-term rank of 104th, is 6-2, 187 pounds and had 17 goals and 22 assists with West Kelowna of the BCHL last season. “He has to bulk up for sure,” McDonnell continued. “Like all these kids that are going, there’s not many that are real men yet. It’s a process for them. He’s on the skinny side right now but we’ll see his work ethic. He’ll get bigger eventually.” The left winger, who’s 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, had 50 goals and 39 assists in 67 games last season with the Val d’Or of the Quebec Major Junior League. He was also a plus-21. He’s the only 50-goal scorer in draft. “He’s just one of those guys that seem to find a way to hit the net, find a way to sneak to the goalies,” McDonnell said. “His accuracy is excellent.” Mantha, who helped lead Team Canada to capture a bronze medal at the 2012 Under-18 World Championship, recorded five hat tricks last season and was named to the QMJHL Second All-Star Team. “I think it’s really the precision that I put into my shot,” Mantha said when asked what makes his shot so good. “It’s not necessarily the force that you put, but more of the precision.” Mantha looks forward to help continue the Wings’ playoff streak, which stands at 22 years in a row, down the road. “If we can continue that with me in the lineup in the next years I’ll be willing to go there right away and performing to help them out even more.” In the fifth round, with the 139th pick, Detroit took defenseman Mitchell Wheaton. Wheaton, who’s 6-4 and 230 pounds, plays for Kelowna of the WHL. He had a goal and seven assists in 39 games last season. In the sixth round, with the 169th pick, they nabbed Marc McNulty, who plays for Prince George of the WHL. McNulty, whose 6-6 and 185 pounds, had eight goals and seven assists in 52 games last season. With their last of the draft, 199th overall in the seventh round, the Wings took Hampus Melen out of Sweden. Melen is 6-2, 165-pound right winger. Macomb Daily LOADED: 07.01.2013 683207 Edmonton Oilers Getting drafted by Oilers a dream come true for Nurse By Joanne Ireland June 30, 2013 6:35 PM Newark, N.J. — At a recent season-ticket holder’s function, rookie general manager Craig MacTavish let it be known how impressed he was with defenceman Darnell Nurse. He liked his toughness, his competitive streak, his predigree. There wasn’t much he didn’t like about the Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., product. When he was available when the Oilers headed up to the podium at the NHL entry draft at the Prudential Center on Sunday, there wasn’t much debate. “Unbelievable. Organizations like this, you dream about being a part of. I wish I could describe how excited I am,” said Nurse, the seventh selection overall. He is the first defenceman the Oilers have drafted with a first-round pick since Alex Plante in 2007. Plante was the 15th pick; Sam Gagner was the first pick for the Oilers that year. The Colorado Avalanche, with the first pick of the day, selected Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads. It was the first time since 2009 that the Oilers weren’t making the first selection. The Florida Panthers threw a curve in the proceedings with the second selection, taking Aleksander Barkov, the six-foot-two centre who has been playing in the Finnish Elite League. The Tampa Bay Lightning, with the third pick, took MacKinnon’s teammate Jonathan Drouin, leaving Seth Jones for the Nashville Predators. The Portland Winterhawks defenceman had been pegged as a potential No. 1 pick. Edmonton, meanwhile, was certain it was going to get a solid player with the seventh selection and was not looking to move up prior to the draft. They brought Nurse, London Knights centre Bo Horvat and Ottawa 67s centre Sean Monahan to Edmonton following the NHL combine. Edmonton was the only team to bring in Nurse for a longer look. “I was genuine. I just showed them the type of person I am,” Nurse said. “The biggest part about it was that I showed them what they’ll get if I’m a part of the organization and I’m so happy to be a part of it now. “I’m not going to put any limitations on myself and say I can’t do it next year, but that being said, I have a lot of work to do with my game to get to that point. I’m going to put in as much work as I can in the gym. I’ll have no regrets when the summer is done.” The six-foot-four, 190-pound Hamilton native will likely need another year in the Ontario Hockey League before he’s ready to turn pro, but he’ll get a good look, starting with the Oilers’ annual prospect camp, which gets underway on Wednesday. Nurse figures that at 215, 210 pounds, which is his end goal, he’ll have enough weight to throw around and remain quick on his skates. He is the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and the son of former Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver Richard Nurse. His mother, Cathy, played basketball at McMaster University and his sisters, Tamika and Kia, are both skilled on the court. McNabb was among the crowd of 35 who flew into New Jersey with Nurse, who takes pride in the fact he has some snarl in his game. McNabb told his nephew to take it all in. Several times. They had adjoining hotel rooms in New York. “I have a little bit of jam in my game. I’ve always had it. Like I’ve said, it’s always better to give than receive. It creates a little more room for myself in the corners. That said, with the way I play, I do get challenged, but I’ve never been scared to step up.” One of his first shutdown assignments was Nail Yakupov, who is now a teammate. “He was someone who was always hard to play against,” Nurse said. “He never backed down. Even if you gave him little or no space, he’d put one in the back of the net and you’d sit on the bench for a little bit. “This doesn’t feel real,” he said soon after he slipped into an Oilers’ jersey. “This is something you work for, but you never know when the day will come. Being a Canadian kid, I grew up watching the Canadian teams. I’m just so excited. “With a young team, you’re able to learn with the guys. When you’re in a position and growing as players, as people, it makes the group a lot tighter.” Nurse was the OHL’s scholastic player of the year and said school was a priority. He couldn’t play hockey when he was young unless he had good marks. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683208 Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers trade 37th overall pick to Los Angeles, after missing out on Zach Fucale June 30, 2013. 3:34 pm Jonathan Willis The Edmonton Oilers have traded their second-round draft pick, 37th overall, to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a package of three draft picks. Coming back from Los Angeles was a late second round selection (57th overall) as well as a third and fourth-round pick (88th and 96th overall). The obvious impetus for this trade is to add picks at the middle of the draft. Edmonton entered the 2013 Draft without either a third or fourth round selection, with the former having gone to Dallas in exchange for defenceman Mark Fistric and the latter the property of Florida after a trade deadline deal for Jerred Smithson. According to TSN’s Ryan Rishaug, the timing of the deal was predicated on Montreal’s selection of Zach Fucale at 36th overall: Oilers wanted Fucale. Lombardi was at Oiler table, As soon as Fucale was gone Mactavish and Lombardi shook hands, picks swapped. Fucale, the consensus top goaltender in the draft, somewhat surprisingly slid into the second round, though there had been indications prior to the draft that Edmonton had targeted a goaltender with the 37th overall selection. In terms of value, history suggests the Oilers likely didn’t do as well as they could have in exchange for moving down 20 spots in the second round. Nevertheless, this trade does mean that Edmonton will make seven picks (like every other NHL team) and will add value in numbers – though they may not be able to find a player like Valentin Zykov, the power forward chosen by Los Angeles with the 37th overall selection. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683209 Edmonton Oilers Oil Kings’ Lazar selected by Senators 17th overall By Joanne Ireland, Edmonton Journal June 30, 2013 8:05 PM Newark, N.J. — There were times when Curtis Lazar had to remind himself to exhale, but he figured draft day would be like that. The Edmonton Oil Kings forward was selected 17th overall by the Ottawa Senators in Sunday’s NHL entry draft at the Prudential Center. His teammate, goaltender Tristan Jarry, went 44th overall to the Pittsburgh Penguins while Eric Cromie, who honed his skills in Edmonton stopping shots by his brothers Paul and Mike, was selected with the 59th pick by the Winnipeg Jets. “Absolute shock, there’s no other way to put it. You forget to breath, it’s so exciting,” said Lazar, who has never been to Ottawa, but was just looking forward to the experience of settling in with an organization. During a pre-draft interview, Senators general manager Bryan Murray asked the forward if he could handle the pressure and Lazar assured him he could. He was anxious to get a chance to play for a Canadian team. “The draft year is behind us now,” Lazar said. “I can move on with my career and get some guidance from the organization. It has been quite hectic going from playing to the combine to here, but it’s worth it in the end. “Now I can get more specific in my training and get ready to make that jump to the pro level.” It got even more hectic when Lazar was stranded in Toronto for a couple of days. His flight took off and circled New York on Thursday night but was rerouted back to Canada because of a storm. He finally arrived late Friday. “My dad was probably hoping I didn’t make it so he could have gone on stage, but I made it,” he said. “I’m really enjoying it a lot.” Lazar had no shortage of players in the Oil Kings dressing room to lean on when it came to the draft experience. Last June, defenceman Griffin Reinhart (New York Islanders), forward Henrik Samuelsson (Phoenix Coyotes) and winger Mitch Moroz (Edmonton Oilers) were selected within the first 32 picks. “I owe my teammates a lot,” Lazar continued. “You look at the drafted guys on our team who have gone through this. Having those guys as resources helped me to get to where I am.” Jarry had a chance to play regularly this past season when Oil Kings starter Laurent Broissoit (Calgary Flames prospect) was at the Canadian world junior team selection camp. “It’s going to be a great experience,” Jarry said about joining the Penguins organization. “I came here not expecting too much. This will be great in the long run. It’s hard not to get excited about it when you think about (Sidney) Crosby and (Evgeni) Malkin and (Marc-Andre) Fleury.” Comrie, meanwhile, is just back on the ice after missing all but 37 games with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League to have both his hips repaired. Doctors shaved bone from both joints and assured the Edmonton native that it was something he’d had from birth, rather than an injury from playing. “When they called my name, that was the most fun experience of the draft. I was trying to stay even-keeled the whole time and I thought I had done a good job. I was really happy to hear it was Winnipeg,” said the goalie, whose brothers were both with him in New Jersey. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683210 Edmonton Oilers Oilers concentrate on size, more skill with other draft picks By Joanne Ireland, Edmonton Journal June 30, 2013 11:05 PM Newark, N.J. — The Edmonton Oilers started the day with six draft picks and left the Prudential Center with 10 assets. That’s not exactly the way general manager Craig MacTavish wanted the day to go, but when he was unable to secure a roster play in a trade, attentions turned to the prospects. After selecting defenceman Darnell Nurse with the seventh pick, MacTavish traded their 37th pick to the Los Angeles Kings to acquire the 57th, 88th and 96th selections. He then traded their 56th to the St. Louis Blues for the 83rd, 94th and 114th. The Oilers started the day without any selections in the third and fourth rounds. They ended up with eight forwards and two defencemen: forward MarcOliver Roy (Blainville-Boisbriand, QMJHL), centre Bogdan Yakimov (Nizhnekamsk, which is in the hometown of the Oilers’ Nail Yakupov); leftwinger Anton Slepyshev (Ufa, Russia), right-winger Jackson Houck (Vancouver Giants, WHL), centre Kyle Platzer (London Knights, OHL), forward Aidan Muir (Detroit, MWEHL), left-winger Evan Campbell (Langley Rivermen, BCHL), defenceman Ben Betker (Everett Silvertips, WHL) and Sherwood Park’s Greg Chase (Calgary Hitmen, WHL). “They have a lot of young players, superstars,” said Roy. “One of my favorite players in the NHL is Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, so I’m very proud to be a part of his team. Taylor Hall, Yakupov, all those kids. It’s good to be a part of this organization.” Head amateur scout Stu MacGregor said they addressed some of the team’s needs with more size and more skill, which was one of the priorities heading into the draft. The prospects will be in Edmonton later this week for the team’s annual camp. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683211 Edmonton Oilers The same held true for a later swap of picks with the St. Louis Blues. MacKinnon: MacTavish makes modest progress towards acquiring ‘meat’ for lineup Something else. In both cases where he traded picks, MacTavish traded away from a chance to draft a highly regarded goalie. At pick No. 37, the Edmonton Oil Kings’ young goaltender Tristan Jarry would have been available, for example. The Pittsburgh Penguins chose Jarry at No. 44. By John MacKinnon, Edmonton Journal At No. 57, Edmonton could have taken Eric Comrie, but again the Oilers traded that draft pick. Comrie went to Winnipeg at No. 59. June 30, 2013 So MacTavish balked at paying too stiff a price for Schneider, and fair enough. But he then passed on Jarry and Comrie? Curious decisions for an organization whose goalie pipeline is ill-stocked. EDMONTON - Fortune favours the bold, the saying goes, but sometimes when bold swaggers into the competitive chaos on the NHL entry draft floor, reality takes over, as Craig MacTavish learned on Sunday. And yet on a day when few actual trades were made, MacTavish was not out of place as the new kid on the managerial block. The freshly minted general manager has pledged to Edmonton Oilers’ season-ticket holders to try to make bold moves to improve his team, which is loaded with high-end skill but thin at goaltender, light on grit and role players. Several bricks shy of a load, in other words. By most measures, MacTavish’s moves on Sunday did not qualify as bold, not even close. But that’s not all bad. The line between bold and reckless or misguided can be a fuzzy one. Was Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis being bold when he traded goalie Cory Schneider to New Jersey for the ninth overall pick, which he used to select two-way centre Bo Horvat from the London Knights. Or was he a man desperate to create salary-cap space by trading whichever goalie he could move. In short, was he being a desperate man? Was Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster displaying his brilliance when he drafted Quebec Major Junior Hockey League forward Emile Poirier with the 22nd overall pick instead of hometown hero Hunter Shinkaruk, who stars for the Medicine Hat Tigers? Or was he stubbornly, short-sightedly sticking to his plan? Hockey history — and the ubiquitous hockey analytics zealots — will judge that, no doubt. As for MacTavish, he made modest progress toward his stated goals of acquiring significant “meat” for his talented but unimposing lineup. He used the seventh overall pick to secure defenceman Darnell (Good Night) Nurse, a banger with a strong athletic pedigree — his father, Richard, having played for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats; his uncle, Donovan McNabb, a longtime NFL quarterback. Nurse’s mother, Cathy, played basketball for McMaster University and his sisters, Tamika and Kia, take after their mother. The Oilers selected nine other players in Rounds 2 through 7 of the 211player talent mart, names that now can be filed away for future reference, say three to five years from now. Apart from snaring Nurse, who is not expected to be on duty in Edmonton for a season or two, MacTavish’s most significant achievement is more subtle, borrowing as it does from a precept of medical ethics to “first, do no harm.” So, MacTavish, though pitching vigorously, did not swing a deal with Vancouver for Schneider. The asking price was said to include the No. 7 pick, a second-round pick and a prospect. Too steep. Despite much theatrical dialogue with Paul Holmgren, his Philadelphia counterpart, no trade was made for the Flyers’ big, shutdown defenceman Braydon Coburn. Any Oilers fan who was hungry for “meat” in the form of Chicago’s rambunctious-but-skilled Bryan Bickell, was no doubt crestfallen to see the winger translate his playoff performance into a lucrative, four-year extension with the Blackhawks club he so obviously loves. “You generally default to no deal versus a bad deal,” MacTavish told reporters in New Jersey. Which is bang on. But MacTavish replaced a GM (Steve Tambellini) perceived as insufficiently aggressive in making trades. He pledged to make bold moves, not find witty words to justify being prudent. So, watching MacTavish repeatedly huddle with Holmgren, then seeing him trade the 37th overall pick, not as part of a Coburn package but in a swap of picks with the Los Angeles Kings, sure felt like an anticlimax. “My deal rate per spoken word is extremely low right now,” said MacTavish, whose tongue is as silvery as his hair. At least he had the good grace to be self-deprecating. MacTavish knows he is not yet walking the talk he delivered when he was named the club’s GM back in April. He also knows that on Friday, the NHL free-agency period commences, another recruitment avenue to explore. He knows that trade discussions begun on the draft floor could be concluded weeks or months from now. Fortune may still favour the bold, but in the NHL, bold does not come easily or quickly. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.01.2013 Gregor: MacTavish fails to deliver on promise to do ‘bold things’ The Oilers can start talking to free agents on Wednesday, and while I don’t expect Edmonton to be in the hunt for any of the big names — Jarome Iginla, Nathan Horton and David Clarkson — MacTavish needs to sign a free-agent goalie, and some depth forwards. By JASON GREGOR, Edmonton Journal MacTavish wants his young players to learn how difficult it is to have success at this level, and after this weekend, I suspect he learned just how difficult it is to make trades in the NHL. June 30, 2013 11:54 PM Parting shots 683212 Edmonton Oilers EDMONTON - When Craig MacTavish was named general manager of the Edmonton Oilers on April 15, he spoke openly about the need to be bold and change the direction and culture of the team. Many people expected the overhaul to begin this weekend, but it never came to fruition. “I’m an impatient guy and I bring that impatience to this situation. We’re at the stage ... that we have to do some bold things,” MacTavish said during his opening press conference. He wanted the fans to know his plan and vision for the future. His assessment of the team was accurate. Fans, media and hockey experts across the league agreed with MacTavish, and since his opening remarks everyone has been anxiously waiting to see what “bold” moves he would make. “We have to expose ourselves to some semblance of risk to try and move the team forward in a rapid fashion,” said MacTavish. “We’ve got a lot of primary pieces here, but we’ve got to add some depth to help these young players. “We’ve got to add competitiveness. I think we lack a true understanding of just how difficult it is to have success at this level.” It is true, many of the young Oilers don’t know what it takes to win, and I wonder, after striking out at the NHL entry draft, if MacTavish feels that making trades is more difficult than he imagined? MacTavish spoke openly last week that he had contacted every GM in the league. He wanted them to know he was open for business and willing to make a deal. He was hopeful talks would heat up closer to the draft; however, MacTavish wasn’t able to find a partner despite numerous conversations with Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren. The only trades he made in New Jersey involved draft picks. Trading the 37th pick to the Los Angeles Kings for the 57th, 88th and 96th selections and then swapping No. 57 to the St. Louis Blues for Nos. 88, 96 and 113 didn’t register on the “bold” meter. It was clear MacTavish wanted to make a deal, but in the end he couldn’t. Reports suggested the Oilers offered Vancouver more for Cory Schneider than the New Jersey Devils’ ninth overall pick, but did anyone realistically expect the Canucks to trade a goalie to a divisional foe? MacTavish and Holmgren had numerous conversations during the last 48 hours, but both admitted afterwards they were never that close to a deal. I believe it is way too early to suggest MacTavish hasn’t lived up to words, but after striking out in New Jersey, he has more pressure to appease his twitchy-eyed, machete-wielding fans. I understand they will be disappointed, especially when the GM proclaimed he’d make “bold” moves, but the off-season isn’t finished. It is clear the Flyers and Oilers are interested in making a deal and I’d expect them to talk again. MacTavish can’t afford to make a trade just to conciliate his fan base. He has to make deals that improve his hockey club. “My deal rate per spoken word is extremely low right now,” MacTavish said Sunday. He wasn’t the only GM who couldn’t make a trade. Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen had three first-round picks and was hoping one or two of would fetch an established NHL player. He said they had numerous discussions with teams about deals, but nothing materialized. So what’s next for MacTavish? After he throws some darts at a picture of Holmgren’s face on a dartboard, he’ll keep making phone calls. If he had facilitated a trade for defenceman Brayden Coburn, I doubt he’d sit back and relax, so his mission shouldn’t change this week. MacTavish stated last week that if he didn’t make a trade at the draft he’d be disappointed. I’m sure he looks at this weekend as a missed opportunity, but it can’t derail his plan. Anton Khudobin should be on the Oilers’ radar. He isn’t going to re-sign in Boston to be Tuuka Rask’s backup. It is obvious the Oilers want someone to push Devan Dubnyk, and Khudobin is the best fit amongst the pending unrestricted free-agent goalies. If Roberto Luongo can return as the starter in Vancouver, it is possible the Oilers could bring back Shawn Horcoff. I’d be shocked if the Oilers buy him out, so if they can’t make a trade, he’ll be their third-line centre. Ales Hemsky’s trade value likely goes up once the free-agent frenzy is over. Teams that miss out on Horton, Clarkson and Iginla will still be looking for a top-six winger. Tough weekend for rookie GMs in Edmonton. MacTavish can’t make a trade and Ed Hervey’s Eskimos got embarrassed at home. The good news for both of them is that next week likely can’t be worse. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683213 Edmonton Oilers With draft over, Oilers look to free-agent market By Joanne Ireland, Edmonton Journal June 30, 2013 Newark, N.J. — If he’d had his way, Edmonton Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish would have left the National Hockey League entry draft with some immediate help for his roster, as well as some prospects for the seasons to come. Instead, he had to satisfy himself with the selection of defenceman Darnell Nurse plus more assets. Unable to strike a deal for a roster player, the Oilers kept their seventh pick in the first round, selecting Nurse, a well-spoken, hard-hitting product of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. “I’m learning these trades and deals are the end result of a lot of legwork. My deal rate per spoken word is extremely low right now,” said MacTavish after Sunday’s proceedings at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. The Oilers are in immediate need of more size, more sandpaper for the third and fourth lines, as well as experienced puck-movers on the defence. Nurse could very well be a core player in the future, but he won’t be rushed onto the roster this fall, which is why MacTavish’s attentions will now turn to free agency. The free-agent market opens on Friday. “I said that I want to help the club as much as I can (and) we did weigh a lot of different things,” MacTavish continued. “We have to support the group we have here right now, and I’m going to be doing everything I can to support that group, but I’m not going to do something that I think is outside of our best interest going forward. “I talked about having my eyes firmly on the future and I think that with that No. 7 pick that helps in that regard but there weren’t a lot of deals made in the course of the few days here, but I think we’re going to continue to talk, and hopefully we can do something.” MacTavish didn’t want to get into specific deals he may have had on the table, but he did have conversations with Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren on the draft floor. There had been a lot of rumblings that the Oilers were in play for defenceman Braydon Coburn, who may be moved as the Flyers try and reduce their salary cap. “My initial thought is that you generally default to no deal rather than a bad deal,” MacTavish concluded. “I know there’s going to be more deals made. We’re hopeful we can get some things done. I may not be as optimistic, but I’m still very hopeful. “Coming in here, I felt like we could use those second-round picks to help our team and that didn’t turn out to be the case. Now I will be willing to move pieces.” Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683214 Edmonton Oilers Where were the goalies on Edmonton Oilers’ draft list? June 30, 2013. 9:09 pm Jim Matheson Goaltending is an organizational black hole for the Edmonton Oilers, who have no hotshot anywhere near being ready for Prime Time to challenge Devan Dubnyk, yet they took NO goalies in the draft. That’s hard to believe. The jury is very much out on draft pick Olivier Roy in the minors–he’s acrobatic but small– and bigger local boy Tyler Bunz had a fairly tough go of his first pro season in Stockton this season. He’s a long ways from the NHL. There’s no young netminder ready to be the starter in OKCity next year with Yann Danis eating up most of the work on Todd Nelson’s team but surprisingly they didn’t get a single netminder in the draft Sunday. Why? They had a shot at Oil Kings’ quiet, very good Tristan Jarry , Laurent Brossoit’s backup, but traded the No. 37 pick to Los Angeles for some extra picks later so the Kings could take a sniper Valentin Zikov. Then at No. 57, remarkably Eric Comrie was remarkably still there, Mike’s half brother, but again they decided to pass and drafted a Quebec League centre Marc-Olivier Roy, who supposedly has some of Alex Burrows in him which is a good thing. They had the 58th pick as well, but then dealt it to St. Louis for more picks and Winnipeg swooped right in to take Tri Ciy’s Comrie, who only fell as far as he did because he had hip surgery this past season. Not sure of t his strategy. Maybe they were set on Halifax’s Zach Fucale at 37 and when he went to the Habs one pick earlier, then decided to pass on goalies altogether. It looks like Russians Bogdan Yakimov and Anton Slepyshev are the wild-card picks at No. 84 and No. 88 Oilers’ GM Craig MacTavish wanted his sc0uts to make–two big guys with skill who could turn out, especially Skepyshev, who was very good at the world juniors. But again, no goalies taken. Not in round one, or later in rounds five through seven. I don’t get that. I’d have taken Jarry, who went to the Penguins at No. 44, or Comrie. Edmonton Journal: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683215 Edmonton Oilers Edmonton Oilers draft gritty defenceman Darnell Nurse While he was rated as high as four on some scouting lists, Nurse wasn’t at all concerned when Nashville, Carolina and Calgary passed on him with the fourth, fifth and sixth picks. The newest Oiler says it’s the destination, not the journey. “You want to be part of a great situation, like I am.” By Robert Tychkowski First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 01:54 PM MDT Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 06:26 PM MDT NEW JERSEY — The Nurse will see you now, Edmonton. After three seasons of picking first overall — a haul that yielded high-octane forwards Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Nail Yakupov — the Edmonton Oilers added muscle, grit and passion to their blueline in Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft. Selecting seventh overall, the took big, tough defenceman Darnell Nurse from the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The 6-4, 190-pound nephew of former NFL QB Donovan McNabb is a rough and rambunctious blueliner who Dan Marr of NHL Central Scouting compared to a young Shea Weber. He lists Chris Pronger as the player he most wants to emulate, but is nevertheless still very excited about coming to Edmonton. Here's some video of Nurse in action, as well as a list of some of his favourite things. Hover over the picture for more info. The story is continued below. Sponsored by Crosstown Auto Centre “Unbelievable,” said Nurse, whose father Richard played for the Hamilton Ti-Cats. “Organizations like this, when you’re a kid, you grow up dreaming of being a part of. I wish I could describe how excited I am. You watch these guys on TV and see how gifted they are, how much of an impact they have, this is a dream come true. I’m just going to work so one day I’ll have the opportunity to play alongside them. I can’t wait to try and make my mark.” The Oilers wanted Nurse because he brings everything they need and Nurse wanted Edmonton because a young team on the rise represents an entirely different atmosphere than a veteran room long on experience and short on peers. “I think you want to be in a place where, not that everyone is in the same boat, but you’re able to learn with the guys. When you’re in a position where you’re growing as players and people together, it makes the group a lot tighter. It’s a situation you dream about, to be with so much young talent. Hopefully I can be a piece of that.” In addition to Nurse scoring 41 points in 68 games with the Greyhounds this year, he is tough and abrasive, qualities the Oilers simply don’t have at the moment, and also brings a character and attitude that Oilers GM Craig MacTavish instantly fell in love with. “I was just genuine in showing the type of person that I was,” he said of their interviews. “I just showed who I am and what they’ll get if I’m part of the organization. I’m so happy to be a part of it now.” One way or the other, he expects his first year in the league will be full of fireworks. “I think I have a little bit of jam in my game,” he said. “With that being said, I’m going to be challenged based on the way that I play, but I’ve never been scared to step up.” He’s no meathead, though. Nurse was the OHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year and credits education with laying the foundation for who and what he is today. “I think school is a big part, you have to be intelligent to excel,” he said. “The guys who get in trouble are the guys who don’t really focus in school. For me, as a young kid, school was always a priority. Intelligence not only helps you off the ice, but on the ice.” He’s 190 pounds right now, but expects to ultimately play at 215 or 220. “Just because of the way I play, it’s enough weight to throw around and stay fast.” Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683216 Edmonton Oilers JONES: Where's the deals? Terry Jones First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 07:28 PM MDT Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 07:35 PM MDT It was a big build-up for an extra large letdown. The hype and anticipation for new Edmonton Oilers GM Craig MacTavish to be bold and exceptionally active. And nuthin’. It was the complete opposite of the projected plan, the expressed and even trumpeted mission to move draft choices and assets to acquire missing links and support players who could play a role and still be able to contribute offence. Instead of adding three or four 26- and 27-year-old veterans as envisioned, the Oilers stocked the organizational cupboard by making more 18-year-old picks than they had when they arrived! The Oilers used their first pick, 7th overall to make a safe selection in unlikely-to-play-this-year defenceman Darnell Nurse and then traded two second round picks — 37 and 57 — for 83, 88, 94, 96 and 113. That was the bold? Basically they simply managed to make up for former GM Steve Tambellini and the pro scouts giving up third- and fourth-round picks for Mark Fistric and Jarred Smithson and then some. It was like the plan was to stock the OKC Barons and Stockton Thunder to the limit. But the Oilers added nothing for Edmonton. MacTavish promised bold. There was no bold. He suggested eight new Oilers for next year. There were none. General managers went to the draft projecting a multiple of deals to be made and expecting MacTavish to be the most active of all. Obviously MacTavish was not alone in not being able to deliver deals. But no city was primed for a plethora trades like the fans of Edmonton. If they weren’t going to use the second-round picks to help get somebody like Braydon Coburn from Philadelphia, the expectation was they’d at least use one of them to help the goalie depth by acquiring Edmonton Oil Kings netminder Tristan Jarry. Didn’t get him. Or Eric Comrie either. Selecting Nurse is a lot better than the idea of trading the No. 7 pick, a second rounder and a prospect for Vancouver Canucks goalie Cory Schneider as was reported to be the asking price by Mike Gillis by TSN’s Ryan Rishaug. MacTavish would have been ripped by every hockey commentator and fan in town if he’d done that deal. But to watch Gillis then dispatch Schneider to New Jersey for the No. 9 pick was clearly less than the Oilers had offered according to the shock on the faces at the Edmonton table reported from the scene ... Nurse was the second defenceman selected at the draft. Shockingly Seth Jones of the Portland Winterhawks, projected No. 1 most of the season, went fourth to the Nashville Predators. Just think. If the Oilers had just lost their last two games (Nashville finished four points back), he could have been an Oiler. When the Calgary Flames picked Sean Monohan from the Ottawa ’67s, the Oilers choice was basically for one of their two missing links, a power forward (Russian Valery Nichuskin) or a big, physical defenceman. The idea for the Oilers going forward will be to play heavier hockey. And 6foot-4, 199-pound Nurse is what the doctor ordered. Except it’s hard to figure him to fit in right now with Oscar Klefbom entering his rookie year and Justin Schultz coming off a lockout shortened-season. The star of the pre-draft player interviews this year, Nurse will be popular with the media and certainly sounds like he’ll be a good team-mate if MacTavish drafted the player he thought he did. Quote-unquote MacTavish post pick on TSN: “When you are making a selection like this, you want to bet on the character and there’s nobody, in our minds, that possesses this type of character. And from that, I mean toughness and standing up for team-mates. He really has all the intangibles as well. He’s a hard worker and a guy that I felt very comfortable coming into our locker room who is going to be there 15-plus years.” So no problem there. But what now? MacTavish is definitely not coming home saying “mission accomplished.” Edmonton Sun: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683217 Florida Panthers PANTHERS ON OFFENSIVE: Florida Takes C Sasha Barkov with Second Pick in NHL Draft Staff report NEWARK, N.J. -- The Panthers had a chance to continue to improve their defensive stock with the second pick in the 2013 NHL Draft but instead addressed a more pressing need. Despite having top-ranked propect Seth Jones waiting for them, the Panthers picked Finnish center Sasha Barkov on Sunday afternoon. Barkov, born in Finland to Russian parents, becomes the second-highest draft pick in Panthers history. Florida selected Ed Jovanovski with the top pick in 1994. The Panthers apparently told Barkov they were very interested in taking him during their interview Saturday afternoon in New York City. The Panthers are expecting Barkov to compete for a center job during training camp. "I want to play in the NHL and this is my chance,'' Barkov said shortly after the selection. "I have improved my game. I think I will [leave Finland] and play in Florida. I will be ready.'' Tampa Bay didn't pick Jones, either, and went with Jonathan Drouin with the third selection. Jones landed with Nashville and the fourth pick. Florida GM Dale Tallon will meet with the media following the Panthers' first pick in the second round. Barkov injured his shoulder in March but should be ready to go for training camp. The top-rated European skater, Barkov turned pro at the age of 16 and has played the past two seasons in the Finnish elite league for Tappara. When the Panthers played a preseason game against Tappara in Finland in 2009, Barkov's father Alexander was an assistant coach for the Tampere team. Florida ended up losing that exhibition 4-3 in a shootout. Barkov, who attended the game, admits he rooted against the Panthers then -- but is now a big fan. "I've always liked the Florida Panthers,'' Barkov said. Miami Herald LOADED: 07.01.2013 683218 Florida Panthers David J. Neal: Florida Panthers make gutsy, bold move with Aleksander Barkov By David J. Neal The Panthers are the only professional team in town that plays with pucks, but Sunday they showed they’ve got a lot of guts. cojones With everybody’s No. 1 or No. 2, 6-4 offensive defenseman Seth Jones, sitting there to be taken at No.2 overall, the Panthers went for 17-year-old Finnish center Aleksander Barkov. They eschewed the kind of player on which general managers and scouts tether their careers. Give Panthers general manager Dale Tallon credit for the courage his peers so often lack. Do you know why the NHL adopted the point just for getting to overtime when they instituted four-on-four overtime, and refuse to institute threepoint wins? Because both moves mitigate what’s on the line each of 82 game nights. General managers and coaches hate real risk. They hate leaving the warmth and comfort of the herd. Tallon doesn’t. He stepped out in the cold. Instead of making an organizational strength even stronger — and maybe giving himself some really good trade options down the road — he addressed a more immediate need. That’s not the usual NHL draft philosophy. A Prudential Center-wide grumble audible on the TSN (Canada’s ESPN) broadcast accompanied the Panthers announcement. The last time a South Florida team’s draft pick drew that kind of response, six years ago and a commuter train ride away in New York, the Dolphins had just taken kick returner/wide receiver Ted Ginn (and his family). This isn’t a Ginn pick, a reach for a specialist instead of trying to address a major need. Top line two-way centers, especially ones as big as the 6-2, 205 Barkov, bring great value. Ask Detroit’s brain trust where the Red Wings would be without Pavel Datsyuk, and watch their faces crumble like inner city Detroit. He’s been the NHL’s best two-way center since the 2004-05 lockout. Guys like Datsyuk play regular shifts, power plays, penalty kills, often take important late game face-offs. Barkov’s already been playing with mature men in the Finnish Elite League for two seasons. This season, he was the second-leading scorer for Tappara, which had its best season in years, behind former NHL player Ville Nieminen. He’s more ready to make an NHL impact now that Jones is by nature of his position — defensemen take longer to develop. The only question on him concerns a shoulder he injured last year. That said, Detroit had Datsyuk while still dreading for years the eventual retirement of seven-time Norris Trophy (Best Defenseman) winner Niklas Lidstrom. More than one media outlet quoted Detroit general manager Ken Holland, in discussing how defenseman Chris Pronger’s teams fell off after he left, as saying that’s exactly what Holland worried would happen to Detroit after Lidstrom left. In the first year post-Lidstrom, the Red Wings went from an annual 100point team and Cup contender to just scraping into the playoffs. And Datsyuk averaged a point per game, right at his career scoring average, with a plus/minus of plus-21, ninth in the league. Barkov could be a bulkier Datsyuk. He could be Niklas Hagman, who showed goal scoring potential in the Finnish First Division then specialized in ringing posts with the Panthers. He could be Alexander Svitov, the big two-way center Tampa Bay drafted No. 3 overall in 2001 and had a paltry 37 points in 179 games for Tampa Bay and Columbus. When Tallon said Saturday he had heard many people compare this draft to 2003’s excellent first round, I thought about what the Panthers did that year. The Panthers held the No. 1 overall pick. They decided on center/winger Nathan Horton over center Eric Staal. So, they traded down to No. 3 because they knew Pittsburgh would take goalie Marc-Andre Fleury at No. 1 and Carolina would take Staal at No. 2. Fleury backstopped Pittsburgh’s consecutive Eastern Conference champions and 2009 Stanley Cup champions. Staal was the centerpiece of Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup. The multi-talented, sometimes lackadaisical Horton kept getting injured with the Panthers before being traded to Boston. He helped the Bruins win the 2011 Stanley Cup. Taking Horton wasn’t a bad pick. It just wasn’t the best pick. That’s what the Barkov selection feels like. Save this column to laugh at it one way or another in five years. Miami Herald LOADED: 07.01.2013 683219 Florida Panthers PANTHERS FILL HOLES AT DRAFT: Florida Takes Barkov with Second Pick, McCoshen in Second Round GeorgeRichards NEWARK, N.J. -- The Panthers had a chance to continue to improve their defensive stock with the second pick in the 2013 NHL Draft but instead looked to fill a more pressing need. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about going to those teams,'' Jones said. "I'm competitive. I have a competitive nature and I get that from my parents. You definitely want to prove them wrong and you definitely want to show them why they should have picked you. That's not my only goal next year, but it's definitely on my list.'' Florida did end up taking a defenseman -- but waited until the second round to take Ian McCoshen. Born in southern California but raised in Wisconsin, McCoshen is big and can play on both ends of the ice. McCoshen will join Florida prospect Mike Mathesen at Boston College in the fall. "We really like him, his size and intensity,'' Tallon said. "He has great skills and Boston College develops defensemen. He's another big player for us. We're going to be a big, fast team. I'm excited about the future.'' Despite having top-ranked prospect Seth Jones waiting for them, the Panthers picked Finnish center Aleksander 'Sasha' Barkov on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers also added some depth later in the draft, selecting three college-bound players in the fourth round starting with goalie Evan Cowley (92nd overall), defenseman Mike Downing (97th) and center Matt Buckles (98th). Barkov, born in Finland to Russian parents, becomes the second-highest draft pick in Panthers history. Florida selected Ed Jovanovski with the top pick in 1994. Florida also selected winger Chris Clapperton to kick off the fifth round and defenseman Josh Brown in the sixth. Although Jones -- who landed in Nashville -- said he wanted to make the three teams who passed up on him regret it, the Panthers needed a player ready to step into the NHL right now. Barkov, who has played two seasons of pro hockey in Finland, appears to fit that bill. Jones was available after Colorado took center Seth MacKinnon with the first overall pick. "He's big, strong, creative and can play in all three zones,'' said general manager Dale Tallon, who added he made the decision to draft Barkov shortly after their final interview on Saturday afternoon. "He makes other players around him better. He has great vision, great hands. He's a rare commodity, a big center with skill. He fits into what we already have coming in size and speed. He gives us real strength up the middle.'' One thing that seemed to impress Tallon and his staff the most is the skillset Barkov showed in Finland. As scouting director Scott Luce said on Saturday, Barkov's talents have always surpassed his age as he has played up a level throughout his junior career. Barkov turned pro as a 16-year-old and scored 28 goals with 36 assists in 85 games over two seasons with Tappara of Finland's elite league. Barkov, who turns 18 on Sept. 2, told Tallon he is ready to leave Finland behind and join the Panthers and the NHL in the fall. Barkov, at age 16, became the youngest player to score a goal at the world juniors for Finland. "I played already two years against men in the Finnish Elite League,'' Barkov said, "and it's a very good league with very good players. I think it helps me very much.'' Said Tallon: "He's played against men as a 16, 17-year-old. We like his strength, he's strong on the puck and on his feet. He's only going to get stronger.'' Barkov missed most of the postseason after suffering a shoulder injury that needed surgery. Tallon said Barkov will be cleared to play in August and be in camp come mid-September. If that is the case, Barkov will say goodbye to Tappara. When the Panthers played a preseason game against Tappara in Finland in 2009, Barkov's father Alexander was an assistant coach for the Tampere team. Florida ended up losing that exhibition 4-3 in a shootout. Barkov, who attended the game, admits he rooted against the Panthers then -- but is now a big fan. "I know we have very good players, one Finnish player [Sean Bergenheim], and Johnny Huberdeau who won the Calder Trophy,'' Barkov said. For Jones, projected to be the top pick just a few weeks ago, falling to the Preds at No. 4 wasn't too big of a deal. When Florida went for Barkov, Tampa Bay selected playmaker Jonathan Drouin. Tallon said it was a tough decision deciding between Jones and Barkov. Miami Herald LOADED: 07.01.2013 683220 Florida Panthers Posted on Sun, Jun. 30, 2013 Florida Panthers select Finnish center Aleksander Barkov with No. 2 pick By George Richards The Panthers had a chance to continue to improve their defensive stock with the second pick in the 2013 NHL Draft but instead looked to fill a more pressing need. Despite having top-ranked prospect Seth Jones waiting for them, the Panthers picked Finnish center Aleksander “Sasha” Barkov on Sunday afternoon. Barkov, born in Finland to Russian parents, becomes the second-highest draft pick in Panthers history. Florida selected Ed Jovanovski with the top pick in 1994. Although Jones — who landed in Nashville — said he wanted to make the three teams who passed up on him regret it, the Panthers needed a player ready to step into the NHL right now. Barkov, who has played two seasons of pro hockey in Finland, appears to fit that bill. Jones was available after Colorado took center Seth MacKinnon with the first overall pick. “He’s big, strong, creative and can play in all three zones,” said general manager Dale Tallon, who added that he made the decision to draft Barkov — 6-3, 210 pounds — shortly after their final interview on Saturday afternoon. “He makes other players around him better. He has great vision, great hands. He’s a rare commodity, a big center with skill. He fits into what we already have coming in size and speed. He gives us real strength up the middle.” One thing that seemed to impress Tallon and his staff the most is the skill set Barkov showed in Finland. As scouting director Scott Luce said Saturday, Barkov’s talents always have surpassed his age as he has played up a level throughout his junior career. Barkov turned pro as a 16-year-old and scored 28 goals with 36 assists in 85 games over two seasons with Tappara of Finland’s Elite League. Barkov, who turns 18 on Sept. 2, told Tallon he is ready to leave Finland behind and join the Panthers and the NHL in the fall. Barkov, at age 16, became the youngest player to score a goal at the world juniors for Finland. “I played already two years against men in the Finnish Elite League,” Barkov said, “and it’s a very good league with very good players. I think it helps me very much.” Said Tallon: “He’s played against men as a 16-, 17-year-old. We like his strength, he’s strong on the puck and on his feet. He’s only going to get stronger.” Barkov missed most of the postseason after sustaining a shoulder injury that needed surgery. Tallon said Barkov will be cleared to play in August and be in camp come mid-September. If that is the case, Barkov will say goodbye to Tappara. When the Panthers played a preseason game against Tappara in Finland in 2009, Barkov’s father, Alexander, was an assistant coach for the Tampere, Finland, team. Florida ended up losing that exhibition 4-3 in a shootout. Barkov, who attended the game, admits he rooted against the Panthers then — but is now a big fan. “I know we have very good players, one Finnish player [Sean Bergenheim] and Johnny Huberdeau who won the Calder Trophy,” Barkov said. For Jones, projected to be the top pick just a few weeks ago, falling to the Preds at No. 4 wasn’t too big of a deal. When Florida went for Barkov, Tampa Bay selected playmaker Jonathan Drouin. Tallon said it was a tough decision deciding between Jones and Barkov. “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about [being among the top three picks],” Jones said. “I’m competitive. I have a competitive nature, and I get that from my parents. You definitely want to prove them wrong, and you definitely want to show them why they should have picked you.” Florida did end up taking a defenseman — but waited until the second round to take Ian McCoshen. Born in Southern California but raised in Wisconsin, McCoshen is big and can play on both ends of the ice. McCoshen will join Florida prospect Mike Mathesen at Boston College in the fall. “We really like him, his size and intensity,” Tallon said. “He has great skills, and Boston College develops defensemen. He’s another big player for us.” The Panthers also added some depth later in the draft, selecting three college-bound players in the fourth round — goalie Evan Cowley (92nd overall), defenseman Mike Downing (97th) and center Matt Buckles (98th). Florida also selected winger Chris Clapperton to kick off the fifth round, and took defenseman Josh Brown in the sixth. Miami Herald LOADED: 07.01.2013 683221 Florida Panthers "There's no issue in Sasha transitioning to the NHL, he's played with men for two years in Finland and it's not just that he just played, he was one of the best players,'' Luce said. Tallon could've taken the safe way out and selected defenseman Seth Jones with the second overall In the second boldest move of the first round, the host Devils traded their ninth pick to the Canucks for goalie Cory Schneider, the heir apparent to 41-year-old icon Martin Brodeur. Staff report Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.01.2013 Tallon shocked the hockey world, as well as the pro-Devils boisterous crowd at the Prudential Center, when he followed the Colorado Avalanche pick of high-scoring center Nathan MacKinnon by taking Finnish center Aleksander Barkov, who goes by Sasha. The 6-foot-3, 209-pound broad-shouldered Barkov, 17, was ranked the top European skater by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau but fourth overall, while Jones was No. 1, followed by MacKinnon and his Halifax Mooseheads linemate Jonathan Drouin. "I've dreamed about this moment for the majority of my life, and for it finally to come true and to be part of an organization like this is definitely surreal,'' said MacKinnon, the seventh straight forward taken at No. 1 but first from the QMJHL since the Penguins took Sidney Crosby in 2005, who is from the same hometown in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. Joe Sakic, Avalanche vice president of hockey operations, stuck to his predraft word and took MacKinnon, who led Halifax to a QMJHL title and Memorial Cup championship to jump over Jones in most general managers' eyes. Tallon said it was tough to pass on Jones, but he felt the organization was stocked with enough young, talented defensemen, such as Erik Gudbranson, Alex Petrovic, Dmitry Kulikov and Mike Matheson. "It was a tough decision,'' Tallon said. "Somebody's going to suffer there, not get enough ice time." Tallon covets two-way, smooth-skating defensemen but also craves big, physical, goal-scoring centermen like Barkov, who has excelled in Finland's elite sm-Liiga for two seasons while playing against adults, including Panthers forward Sean Bergenheim during the lockout. "Great vision, great hands,'' Tallon said. "A rare commodity, a big centermen with skill that plays both ends of the ice and it fits in what we have coming in our system. … "It gives us strength up the middle and he makes players around him better.'' Barkov was second on Tappara with 48 points, including 21 goals. He had five assists in five playoff games before undergoing shoulder surgery in April, which Tallon said should be fine for the start of training camp in September. "It means very much, but that's not enough,'' Barkov said of his No. 2 selection. "I want to play in the NHL and this is the first step.'' The Lightning, picking third, also passed on Jones, the WHL Rookie of the Year, and instead took Drouin, the Canada Player of the Year. Finally, Jones' nervous father, former NBA forward Popeye Jones, breathed a sigh of relief when Nashville snatched the 6-4 blue-liner at No. 4. "Yes and no a little bit,'' Jones said of the Panthers' snub. "It's a business, that's how it works. That's what they thought they needed to win.'' Tallon did get a rugged defenseman with his second pick at the top of the second round when he tabbed Ian McCoshen of Waterloo in the U.S. Hockey League. Barkov has never been to Florida, but he attended his first NHL game, albeit an exhibition, when his hometown Tappara team beat the Panthers 32 in a shootout in 2009. His father, Alexander, was the assistant coach of Tappara, and a longtime professional player in Russia and Finland. "I was happy then, but not now,'' Barkov joked. Panthers scouting director Scott Luce compared Barkov to six-time All-Star center Joe Thornton. 683222 Florida Panthers Huberdeau's special Panthers GM won't tip hand but expects an instant game-changer at No. 2 Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau, who earlier this month was voted the Rookie of the Year, was named one of six starters on the NHL AllRookie Team Saturday. By Harvey Fialkov, Sun Sentinel He scored 31 points in 48 games and did so with a torn labrum that required surgery following the season. 7:49 PM EDT, June 29, 2013 "He played hurt, but still contributed, played his heart out and still won Rookie of the Year and all-team honors,'' Tallon said. "He's a special kid and this is a draft with special kids.'' NEW YORK Tallon said Huberdeau's hip is way ahead of schedule as is the surgically repaired hip of veteran defenseman Ed Jovanovski, who played just six games this year. … General Manager Dale Tallon was surprised that his cellphone didn't need charging late Saturday afternoon, but he's confident that if he keeps the overall second pick in Sunday's draft or trades it to take any of the top four prospects, the Panthers will wind up with an NHL-ready, game-changing player. Tallon believes Colorado Avalanche vice president of hockey operations Joe Sakic will stand by his word and take high-scoring center Nathan MacKinnon with the first pick, leaving the Panthers their choice of defenseman Seth Jones, the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau's top-ranked North American skater, skillful left wing Jonathan Drouin or versatile Finnish center Aleksander Barkov. "The top-four guys are slam dunks, but we're still debating,'' Tallon said from the ninth floor of his midtown hotel headquarters. "We're very prepared that any of those three players [that Colorado doesn't take] will make a difference for us.'' Tallon, assistant General Manager Mike Santos and their scouting staff held meetings with the 'fab four' Saturday as well as the projected top 10, including center Sean Monahan. Tallon admitted speaking to Sakic about flopping picks. Last season's NHL-worse, injury-decimated Panthers were last in goals allowed and tied for last in goals, so they can't go wrong with any of the foursome. "When you finish last overall you obviously need a lot of things,'' Santos said. "We've got a lot of young talent in all the positions so there's not really a need in one position over the other.'' If Tallon takes Jones as expected, he can still bolster his center position by signing another No. 1 draft pick in free-agent veteran center Vincent Lecavalier — albeit in 1998 — who the Lightning bought out on Friday. Or by possibly re-signing his own center Stephen Weiss before free agency kicks in next week. Lecavalier, 33, a four-time All-Star captain, will receive $32 million over the next 14 years from Tampa, which Santos pointed out is a huge selling point for the Panthers with no state tax in Florida. "Very interesting, his leadership and skill level,'' Tallon said. "We've got young, big centermen that would learn a lot from him. We have some interest and hopefully he has some interest.'' Several teams have expressed an interest in Lecavalier, including the Stars who met with him on Saturday. Tallon said he spoke to Weiss' agent on Saturday, but understands the franchise's all-time leader in games played may command bigger bucks in a center-starved market. Tallon said if Florida takes the 6-foot-4 Jones, he believes the Panthers will have the, "best crop of young defensemen in hockey,'' including Erik Gudbranson, Alex Petrovic, Mike Matheson, Jonathan Racine, Dmitry Kulikov and Colby Robak. "That would really solidify that position for years to come,'' Tallon said. "It would affect our offense at first because we wouldn't get the prolific forward in this particular draft, but in the long term we'd get a lot of offense from our back end. "With the development of [goalie Jacob Markstrom] and young defensemen, there'd be less chances against them and more play in the [offensive] zone. That's where the offense will eventually come once [Nick Bjugstad, Vincent Trocheck and Drew Shore] all mature.'' Tallon added that teams are asking for Gudbranson, his third pick of 2010, but that's not happening. The Panthers will tender restricted free agent Markstrom a qualifying offer before Tuesday's deadline. Sun Sentinel LOADED: 07.01.2013 683223 Los Angeles Kings Kings upgrade to No. 37, get Valentin Zykov; Ducks get Shea Theodore Like Murray, Lombardi will turn his attention to his pending free agents. Lombardi indicated, via email, that he was continuing to negotiate with soon-to-be unrestricted defenseman Rob Scuderi's camp and that they had come back to him with a workable number. By Lisa Dillman The biggest deal of the day involved a divisional rival of the Kings and the Ducks, the Canucks. Vancouver curiously opted to move goalie Cory Schneider, sending him to New Jersey for the Devils' No. 9 pick. 9:43 PM PDT, June 30, 2013 Dean Lombardi's face at the draft table did not give away much early in the second round Sunday . Would he start yawning? It certainly looked that way. But the Kings' general manager has a gift for crafting something out of nothing and he may have done just that at the NHL's entry draft in Newark, N.J., sending three draft picks to Edmonton for the Oilers' second-round selection, at No. 37. With that, they took a gifted goal-scorer, 18-year-old Russian Valentin Zykov. The winger had 40 goals and 75 points in 67 games with BaieComeau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, winning Canadian Hockey League rookie-of-the-year honors. As expected, Colorado took dynamic center Nathan MacKinnon with the top pick. Defenseman Seth Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, surprisingly fell to Nashville at No. 4. In the first round, the Ducks picked skilled defenseman Shea Theodore, at No. 26. Theodore, 6 feet 2 and 180 pounds, has played junior hockey the last two seasons with Seattle of the Western Hockey League. Ducks General Manager Bob Murray took note of Theodore's skating and puckmoving ability. "He got a little fire in his belly to be better, to grow," Murray said. "He agrees with our assessment of the things he has to work on. And he has no problem talking about it. We were hoping he was still there when we got to pick." The Kings couldn't wait that long for Zykov. That bold move up was made possible after Lombardi and his staff hoarded draft picks, rebuilding the cupboard. The three were the 57th, 88th and 96th selections. "It was a very hard deal to put together," said Mark Yannetti, the Kings' codirector of amateur scouting. "It wasn't hard to get Dean to do it. We go through every scenario in our meetings. Every year someone falls…. Despite the best preparations, there was some on-the-fly work. We thought to get Valentin, we would have had to move up to the first round." He said there were three or four phone calls between the Kings and the Oilers. "It was hard and it was nerve-racking," Yannetti said. "Because each pick that goes by, this could be the pick where you lose your guy. We felt very strongly about Valentin. You don't need to be a scout to watch him play and realize he is a high-level talent." Zykov said he was surprised the Kings selected him, even though they had interviewed him twice. "They said they liked me, but I didn't expect they would take me," he said in a telephone interview from Newark. "I didn't think I would be available." Zykov, 6 feet and 210 pounds, has an inspirational story. His said his father died when he was 7 and he moved away from the rest of his family, at age 10, to pursue his hockey career in Moscow. One of his two older sisters came with him to the draft. "My mom, I didn't want [her] to come," he said. "It would be very hard for her. I didn't want to stress her." The Kings ended up making seven selections, including goalie Patrik Bartosak in the fifth round (146th overall). The Czech Republic native is the nephew of former NHL player Radek Bonk. In the seventh round, the Kings traded their pick to New Jersey, so Devils goalie Martin Brodeur could draft his son Anthony. In addition to Theodore, Anaheim had four other draft picks. Murray said that the team was close to reaching a contract agreement with center Saku Koivu and that he would reconnect shortly with Teemu Selanne to discuss Selanne's plans. It had looked as though goalie Roberto Luongo and his onerous contract would be moved out of Vancouver. Now, instead of succeeding Luongo in Vancouver, Schneider could be doing that with New Jersey incumbent Brodeur. LA Times: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683224 Los Angeles Kings Hockey: Ducks get defenseman; Kings trade up for winger By Elliott Teaford Posted: 06/30/2013 10:24:21 PM PDT Updated: 06/30/2013 10:28:20 PM PDT The Ducks and Kings waited and waited and waited some more to make their first picks in Sunday's NHL draft. When the time came, the Ducks used their first-round pick (26th overall) to take defenseman Shea Theodore from Seattle of the Western Hockey League. Theodore scored 50 points (19 goals, 31 assists) in 71 games last season for the Thunderbirds. "Shea is a great skater and can really move the puck," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said of Theodore, who was the 11th-ranked North American skater going into the draft. "The way the game is played now, that's really important. You need players like that. We are really excited." He also said he looked forward to meeting Ducks defenseman Cam Fowler and former player and current assistant coach Scott Niedermayer, who has mentored Fowler, a first-round pick in 2010. Fowler also lived in Niedermayer's Orange County home during his rookie season. "I'm sure I can learn a lot from him," Theodore said of Niedermayer. The Kings dealt their first three picks to the Edmonton Oilers to move up to No. 37 and select Russian left wing Valentin Zykov of Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in the second round, more than 3 1/2 hours after the draft began a little past noon (PDT). Edmonton received picks in the second (57th), third (88th) and fourth rounds (96th). Zykov, the Canadian junior-level rookie of the year, was the top scorer among rookies in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this past season with 75 points and 40 goals in 67 games. Overall, he was 10th in the league in goals and was the team's second-leading scorer. He told a reporter for the Kings' website he idolized Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings while growing up in Russia. His style is not like Datsyuk, however. He described himself as more of a power forward than a skater with a lot of smooth moves with the puck. "I didn't expect that L.A. would draft me," he said. "I was really, really happy." LA Daily News: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683225 Los Angeles Kings Kings select Fasching, Bartosak, Brodzinski Posted by JonRosen on 30 June 2013, 6:15 pm The Los Angeles Kings have selected: 118th overall 6-foot-3 RW Hudson Fasching, who will play at the University of Minnesota in the fall 146th overall 6-foot-1 G Patrik Bartosek, who posted a 2.25 GAA and .935 Sv% in 55 GP with WHL-Red Deer 148th overall 6-foot RW Jonny Brodzinski, who posted 33 points in 42 GP as a freshman at St. Cloud State University Lots more to come on these players. Fasching and Bartosak were at the draft; I’ll have their quotes, posts and pictures up by the end of the evening. More to come. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683226 Los Angeles Kings Kings don’t move up into the first round Posted by JonRosen on 30 June 2013, 3:13 pm The Los Angeles Kings, who do not pick until the 57th overall selection but hold 10 overall picks in the 2013 NHL Draft, did not trade up into the first round. Former LA Selects goaltender and Newport Beach native Eric Comrie, who was ranked second amongst North American goalies in NHL Central Scouting’s final rankings, was not amongst the top 30 selections. As it stands, the Kings hold the 27th pick of the second round. They also currently hold the 88th, 96th, 103rd, 118th, 146th, 148th, 178th, 191st and 208th picks in the 2013 NHL Draft. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683227 Los Angeles Kings Introducing Dominik Kubalik Posted by JonRosen on 30 June 2013, 9:40 pm Seventh round, 191st overall: Dominik Kubalik Position: Left Wing Shoots: Left DOB: 8/21/95 Height: 6’1 Weight: 176 Birthplace: Czech Republic NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 139 (North American skaters) NHL Central Scouting midterm ranking: 146 (North American skaters) Stats (OHL-Sudbury): 67 GP, 17-17=34, 25 PIM Dominik’s brother, Tomas, was drafted in the fifth round by Columbus in 2008 and appeared in 12 games with the Blue Jackets between 2010-12. Tomas will play for KHL-Prague in 2013-14. Dominik was named the most sportsmanlike player on the Sudbury Wolves and was the co-winner of the Wolves’ playoff MVP award. He recorded three game-winning goals in a first round series win over Brampton. Sudbury was swept in the second round by Belleville. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683228 Los Angeles Kings Introducing Zachary Leslie Posted by JonRosen on 30 June 2013, 8:37 pm Sixth round, 178th overall: Zachary Leslie Position: Defense Shoots: Left DOB: 1/31/94 Height: 6’0 Weight: 172 Birthplace: Ottawa, ON NHL Central Scouting final ranking: 146 (North American skaters) NHL Central Scouting midterm ranking: NR Stats (OHL-Guelph): 68 GP, 12-28=40; 58 PIM This is Leslie’s second year of being draft eligible. He joins Guelph Storm teammate Justin Auger as a 2013 Los Angeles draftee. In addition to Leslie and Auger, Jason Dickinson (Dallas), Tyler Bertuzzi (Detroit) and Ben Harpur (Ottawa) were also selected on Sunday. Drew Doughty and Dustin Brown are Guelph alumni. LA Kings Insider: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683229 Minnesota Wild Islanders trade former 1st-round pick Niederreiter to Wild for Clutterbuck, 3rd-round pick Staff Writer Updated: June 30, 2013 - 4:25 PM NEWARK, N.J. — The New York Islanders have traded right wing Nino Niederreiter to the Minnesota Wild for right wing Cal Clutterbuck and a thirdround pick, No. 70 overall in Sunday's NHL draft. The deal was made during the draft Sunday, shortly before New York selected defenseman Ryan Pulock with the 15th selection. Niederreiter, the fifth overall selection by the Islanders in 2010, has two goals in 64 career NHL games. He played in the AHL last season. The 25-year-old Clutterbuck was due to be a restricted free agent in five days. Clutterbuck was always among the league's leaders in hits. He is an intense player who for a while gave the Wild decent production on the third line. He had 19 goals and 15 assists in the 2010-11 season, but following the lockout this year he scored only four goals in 42 games. Star Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683230 Minnesota Wild He has a $2.795 million cap hit, but that's including performance bonuses. You can go 7.5 percent over the cap, and his bonuses are major awardladen. So it may not be an issue. If it is, that's a good thing. Clutterbuck dealt to Islanders, reunited with Tavares; Wild acquires El Nino Fletcher said it's good to have four guys on two-ways like Niederreiter, Coyle, Granlund and Jason Zucker and nothing will be promised to them. Posted by: Michael Russo Islanders GM Garth Snow Updated: June 30, 2013 - 5:53 PM Early look at the trade...Clutterbuck and Garth Snow quotes are below Chuck Fletcher didn’t trade into the first round of Sunday’s NHL draft, but in the mind of the Wild general manager, he did the next best thing. Fletcher traded hard-hitting fan favorite Cal Clutterbuck and one of its two 2013 third-round picks to the New York Islanders for the Swiss kid known as “El Nino” -- Nino Niederreiter, a 20-year-old projected power forward who was drafted fifth overall in the 2010 draft. “Two years from now it’ll be interesting to see how many of the kids that were selected today are at the level that Nino is right now,” Fletcher said. “This is a guy that’s knocking on the door. All the hype around the top picks today, and deservedly so, were on this guy two years ago and we’re just two years further down the road.” The highest-drafted Swiss player in NHL history, Niederreiter finished 10th in goal scoring in the American Hockey League last season, scoring 28 goals and 50 points in 74 games for Bridgeport. He’s a European who decided to play Canadian juniors early, scoring 130 points in 120 games for the Portland Winterhawks. "I’ll try to bring my size, my physical play as a power forward, and would like to bring the game I played in junior. I’m capable of scoring goals," Niederreiter said. Clutterbuck, 25, a third-round pick in 2006, scored 62 goals and 110 points in 346 games for the Wild. He gained a reputation as one of the NHL’s most physical forwards, leading the league in hits (1,010) his first three full seasons. But Clutterbuck was in the last year of his deal, coming off a tough year and the Wild, which is also strapped for salary-cap space, felt it was time it could parlay him into a player it hopes can contribute offensively. “We’re acquiring a 20-year-old guy who’s been a proven goal scorer at every level short of the NHL so far,” Fletcher said. Clutterbuck’s will be reunited with John Tavares, the No. 1 pick in the 2009, draft. The two were linemates in Oshawa, where Tavares was a superstar. Fletcher said there was a lineup of teams in the East that sought Clutterbuck. He told teams from the West not to bother. The trade gives the Wild three of the 30 first-round picks in 2010 (Mikael Granlund, 9th overall and Charlie Coyle, 28th overall). In fact, two hours before that 2010 draft, Niederreiter said the Wild, which was undoubtedly taking a forward with its first pick, called Niederreiter for one final meeting. There, he said, the Wild told him how much it was interested in selecting him. The Islanders chose him four picks earlier. But the relationship between Niederreiter and the Islanders became strained last year when he was called up from Bridgeport and played a handful of minutes a night on the fourth line. He was in and out of the lineup. The summation by many in New York and Niederreiter’s camp was that the Islanders only had Niederreiter on the team so they could stay above the cap floor. Niederreiter asked to be traded. That upset the Islanders. Niederreiter wasn’t invited to training camp, nor put on the playoff roster despite the fact he had a strong year in the minors. “I didn’t have a strong year [in 2011-12], I didn’t get the chance I was hoping for, and then I didn’t get invited to camp, but I knew I had to work as hard as I can,” Niederreiter said. “I never really heard anything from the team, so I was just a little bit of disappointed about that. I wanted to see if they still wanted me and stuff. “Now I got a new opportunity and I’m very excited about it.” We got a good young player that’s established in the NHL. We love the element of grit and he obviously has had success putting the puck in the net and creating offense. He brings immediate help and we’re happy about the trade. Whenever you have a good, young player it’s tough to make a deal. But if we didn’t get Cal in return, it’s not something we would have considered. We got a quality player that’ll be inserted into our lineup to help our team win. (Problems with Nino?) I’m not going to speak from (Niederreiter’s) perspective, but for us, no. You’ve got to give up something to get something, and that’s what we did. Clutterbuck I had some foresight that I might be traded ahead of the draft, so it wasn’t a total shock. It’s a good situation for me and I’m excited. I’ve known John (Tavares) since he came into the OHL as a fresh-faced, 14-year-old. We go back a ways. And he’s obviously a great player. It bodes well for the franchise going forward. It’s tough to leave (Minnesota) for sure. It would have been a whole lot tougher if it were a midseason thing -- the summer is a little different, you have a little more time to let it sink in. More later Here's a Clutterbuck-Tavares story from a few years ago Star Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683231 Minnesota Wild Wild, Rangers pull off a trade just hours before the start of the NHL draft Staff Writer Updated: June 30, 2013 - 12:40 PM NEW YORK — The Rangers have acquired defenseman Justin Falk from the Minnesota Wild on Sunday for the rights to forward Benn Ferriero and a sixth-round pick in next year's draft. The 24-year-old Falk had three assists and 40 penalty minutes in 36 games last season with the Wild. He posted a plus or even rating 27 times and skated in his 100th NHL game on March 27 against Phoenix. Falk also played in four playoff games, making his postseason debut May 3 at Chicago in Game 2 of the first-round series. In 108 regular-season games over four seasons, the 6-foot-5 Falk has one goal, 14 assists and 100 penalty minutes. The 26-year-old Ferriero is a restricted free agent. He had one assist in four games with the Rangers last season after being acquired from Pittsburgh on Jan. 24. The draft choice going to the Wild originally belonged to Columbus. Star Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683232 Minnesota Wild Wild trades Justin Falk to the Rangers; Wild needs defensemen Michael Russo Updated: June 30, 2013 - 12:45 PM On a day where there is expected to be a flurry of activity, the Wild started things off with a minor move -- dealing defenseman Justin Falk to the New York Rangers for a 2014 sixth-round pick and the rights to pesky right wing Benn Ferriero. The Rangers had to trade an expiring contract, so we will see what the future holds for Ferriero. The Wild could be just doing the Rangers a favor. Ferriero, a decent depth player the past few years for the Rangers and Sharks, is a restricted free agent. The Wild hasn't talked to his representatives, so we'll see if he ends up being a depth player for the Wild. Ferriero, 26, has one assist in four games for the Rangers last year. He had 30 points in 57 games for AHL Connecticut and Wilkes-Barre. In 96 career games for San Jose and the Rangers, Ferriero has scored 14 goals and 23 points. Two of those goals have come against Minnesota. Falk was a restricted free agent that the Wild had yet to tender a qualifying offer. But he's an NHL defenseman, so the Wild knew it could at least get a pick for him. This also gives Falk new scenery and a chance to become an everyday player. The 6-foot-5 2007 fourth-rounder had 15 points in 108 games for the Wild. He was in and out of the lineup this past season and Falk said his agent and the Wild kept him up to date the last few days that a trade may be on the horizon. “I’m excited about the new opportunity here,” Falk said. “It’s a new chapter that I’m looking forward to. I’m thankful of the opportunity Minnesota gave me to get into the league. This is a new opportunity to continue to develop. That’s my main concern. I felt I didn’t quite develop the way that I would have liked this last year. I want to continue to build my career, and this is a new start in New York.” The Wild's blue line now looks like this: Ryan Suter-Jonas Brodin Marco Scandella-Jared Spurgeon (unsigned) Clayton Stoner-Tom Gilbert Nate Prosser Scandella spent most of last season in the minors. Gilbert may be traded or bought out. Prosser couldn't get much playing time. So one thing we know: The Wild will be in the market for a defenseman or two this summer. I've been reporting that the asking price for Cal Clutterbuck today has been a second and a prospect. I hear one concept the Wild has explored the past few days is getting a defenseman back in a trade for Clutterbuck. One team that has shown a lot of interest the past few days is Pittsburgh. The Wild has had interest in the past in Simon Despres, but the one guy I keep hearing is Virginia, Minn., native Matt Niskanan. The draft starts at 2. As of now, the Wild has eight picks -- the first coming at No. 46. The Wild continues to try to trade into the first round. Star Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683233 Minnesota Wild After the draft: assessing Clutterbuck-Niederreiter trade Michael Russo June 30, 2013 - 10:25 PM The 2013 NHL draft – the 17th I have covered – is over, the Wild added seven more hockey players to its pool of prospects … and traded Cal Clutterbuck and a third to the Islanders for Nino Niederreiter. I’ll write more on this in Tuesday’s newspaper in a Wild Insider regarding a look at the rest of the summer, but it’s clear the Wild’s not done. Do the math, and there are still holes. Jared Spurgeon isn’t re-signed, although GM Chuck Fletcher tonight progress has been made. Matt Cullen isn’t resigned, although I still have serious doubts he’ll be back. Tom Gilbert hasn’t been bought out yet. That is likely coming provided the Wild wants that $4 million of cap space to make some moves this summer. The Wild would then be thin on the back end and will likely look to upgrade there. Fletcher thinks he can get some bargains later in the summer, maybe with guys that can't find jobs that would take two-way deals or tryouts. And it sure sounds like Fletcher has other things cooking right now from a trade perspective. I will post an updated depth chart on Monday. I will also be on KFAN at 9:55 a.m. Monday and am filling in for Common from 12-3 on Tuesday. For scouting reports and thoughts about the draft from assistant GM Brent Flahr, see below. As for the Clutterbuck trade, I ran into Ray Ferraro and Pierre McGuire in the hallway a few hours ago. This is the way they summed it up: to be traded, and the Islanders responded by not even bringing the kid to camp. Fletcher says the Wild had interest in drafting him in 2010, but he went fifth and the Wild chose ninth, where it took Mikael Granlund. The Wild also has Charlie Coyle (28th overall), meaning it has three players from that 2010 first round now. Read the story in the paper for the coverage and quotes, and again, I’ll provide a follow Tuesday. Here is Flahr on Niederreiter: “He was a bigtime prospect who deserved to be drafted where he was. He’s 20 years old. He stepped into the league and he wasn’t ready. Last year he was a very good in the American Hockey League and led their team in scoring in the first half. Obviously he was a little frustrated and I don’t all the details behind that. I think they asked for a change in scenery. “He’s a big body, can really shoot the puck and plays a power game, but he’s also a goal scorer. He projects out to be a top-6 forward with size and scoring ability, which is what we’re looking for. We had to pay a price in Clutter, who was a popular guy and physical impact. But to get a potential scoring winger, they’re hard to come by.” Flahr says he has a natural ability that can’t be taught and he should challenge for a spot. Niederreiter gives the Wild another Olympic participant (Switzerland). On the draft, Flahr was very happy (of course, I’ve never met a head scout that wasn’t happy after a draft). The Wild drafted seven players – six skaters. All were 6-1 and over. The Wild want to add size and competitiveness. Here is Flahr on the kids: Gustav Olofsson (46th overall) Ferraro: “Niederreiter’s upside is a lot bigger. I mean, to me, this is a nobrainer. They traded Cal Clutterbuck for a first-round pick. They got the fifth overall pick, a potential goal scorer, for a bowling ball. I don’t mean that as disrespect to Cal. But they traded a goal scorer for a guy that hits.” Position: D McGuire: “I have no problem with Cal Clutterbuck. He’s a useful player. He played junior with Tavares, so there’s chemistry there. But Nino Niederreiter, his upside is gigantic. You’re not talking about an eight-to-12 goal scorer. You’re talking about a guy who can score 20 to 30. Tremendous talent. Clearly there was an issue between he and the Islanders. I mean, I was there for the playoffs and he wasn’t even part of the equation.” Born: Boras, Sweden Writers I talked to tonight like the New York Post’s Larry Brooks also agree this was a no-brainer try by the Wild. Brooks said sure Niederreiter may flame out, but the talent is obvious and he thinks he’s going to be a player. Clutterbuck was only 25 and obviously physical, but the way the Wild is currently set up, there was going to have to be a time where they move him. The hope is that a guy like Brett Bulmer, who is physical, bigger and plays with a mean streak, will eventually take his role. Obviously, Bulmer still has some development to do after a tough first full year pro. But Clutterbuck, on the Wild, did not look like he would turn out to be the 20-goal scorer I always thought he would become at least. The physicality also seemed to lessen, and I think with a player as physical as Clutterbuck, you have to start to worry if he’s going to wear down and break down. But as you know from how often I quote Clutterbuck, I’m a fan and I think he’ll be an effective player on the aggressive, fast Islanders. And he gets to play with John Tavares, his Oshawa linemate, again, so maybe he’ll put up points. I asked Fletcher about losing the physicality, and Fletcher said, “I think we’re a pretty physical team, and we have a lot of grit in our bottom six and a lot of size and the player we added in Niederreiter, if he’s able to make our team, is a big man. He’s 210 pounds and plays in the hard areas. So I’m not worried about physicality. Goal scoring is always something you want to focus on.” The Wild hopes Niederreiter, who has scored everywhere but the NHL, can develop into a natural goal scorer and power winger. He is only 20. He only has two goals and an assist in 64 NHL games, but he was playing on the fourth line on Long Island. That was why the relationship became rocky. Ask anyone in the New York media, and the belief is Niederreiter was only up in 2011-12 so the Islanders could get to the cap floor. Finally, he asked Ht./wt.: 6-2, 185 Age: 18 (Dec. 1, 1994) Team: Green Bay (USHL) 2012-13 stats: 63 games, 2 goals, 23 points, 59 penalty minutes Flahr: “He’s a kid we targeted. He’s a kid that really shot up our draft board throughout the year. He basically played high school hockey in Colorado last year, which is a real low level, and stepped in the USHL, and right from the first tournament of the year, he looked like a player and just get better and better. His mobility, instincts for the game, moving the puck and going back into tight situations. Some of the reads he makes, we were very impressed. His dad is a huge man. He’s already a big kid and he has lots of room to fill out. We’re excited for his future.” Kurtis Gabriel (80th overall) Position: RW Ht./wt.: 6-3, 189 Age: 20 (April 20, 1993) Born: Newmarket, Ont. Team: Owen Sound (OHL) 2012-13 stats: 67 games, 13 goals, 28 points, 100 penalty minutes Flahr: “Late bloomer (undrafted last two years). He has a huge impact in games because of his physicality. He’s a kid that plays in straight lines. He hits like a train and he likes to drop the gloves. He’s a real character kid and a kid that has really come on and made himself a player.” Dylan Labbe (107th overall) Position: D Ht./wt.: 6-1, 180 Age: 18 (Jan. 9, 1995) Born: St-George, Quebec Team: Shawinigan (QMJHL) 2012-13 stats: 61 games, 7 goals, 28 points, 57 penalty minutes Flahr: “Was a kid, he played a team that was decimated after their Memorial Cup, so they had no players. He stepped in as basically a first-year guy and logged 35-plus minutes a night as a kid that’s not very physically strong. But a very intelligent player, really smart with the puck, plays the game with a lot of poise. He’s going to have get physically stronger, but he’s going to have a huge role on his team again next year. He actually made the Canadian Under-18 team at the end of the year, but he was hurt in the exhibition game.” Carson Soucy (137th overall) Position: D Ht./wt.: 6-4, 191 Age: 18 (July 27, 1994) Born: Viking, Alb. Team: Spruce Grove (AJHL) 2012-13 stats: 35 games, 5 goals, 15 points, 71 penalty minutes Flahr: “Tier-2 Alberta. Going to Duluth next year. Big kid, 6-4, good mobility and really moves the puck well. Obviously he’s a couple years down the road, but with his size and range and ability to play the game, our guys were excited.” Avery Peterson (167th overall) Position: C Ht./wt.: 6-2, 193 Age: 18 (June 20, 1995) Born: Grand Rapids, Minn. Team: Grand Rapids High 2012-13 stats: 23 games, 23 goals, 54 points, 2 penalty minutes Flahr: Local kid. He’s got to grow into his body, but he was a quality, quality high school player. Good two-way player, good-sized kid, good skater. He’ll have to spend some time in the gym getting stronger. He’ll need some time at the NCAA level.” Nolan De Jong (197th overall) Position: D Ht./wt.: 6-1, 165 Age: 18 (April 25, 1995) Born: Victoria, B.C. Team: Victoria (BCHL) 2012-13 stats: 51 games, 5 goals, 24 points, 16 penalty minutes Flahr: “Mobile defender. Rated highly earlier in the year because of his mobility. He’s a physically weak kid, but good size. Going to Michigan next year. Our guys feel he has a chance to play down the road.” Alexandre Belanger (200th overall) Position: G Ht./wt.: 6-0, 170 Age: 17 (August 19, 1995) Born: Sherbrooke, Que. Team: Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) 2012-13 stats: 44 games, 3.46 GAA, .875 SP Flahr: “Had a strong playoffs against a good Quebec team from being a backup goalie for most of the year.” Star Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683234 Minnesota Wild Trade winds bring 'El Nino' to Wild MICHAEL RUSSO Star Tribune July 1, 2013 - 12:33 AM NEWARK, N.J. – Chuck Fletcher didn’t trade into the first round of Sunday’s NHL draft, but in the mind of the Wild general manager, he did the next best thing. Fletcher traded hard-hitting fan favorite Cal Clutterbuck and one of its two 2013 third-round picks to the New York Islanders for “El Nino” — former Swiss star Nino Niederreiter, a 20-year-old 6-2, 210-pound projected top-six power forward who was drafted fifth overall in the 2010 draft. “This is a guy that’s knocking on the door,” Fletcher said. “All the hype around the top picks today, and deservedly so, was on this guy two years ago and we’re just two years further down the road. … He has proven himself as a goal scorer at every level short of the NHL.” The highest-drafted Swiss player in NHL history, Niederreiter finished 10th in goal scoring in the American Hockey League last season, scoring 28 goals and 50 points in 74 games for Bridgeport. He came to North America as a teenager, playing Canadian juniors for the Portland Winterhawks and scoring 130 points in 120 games. “I’ll try to bring my size, my physical play as a power forward, and would like to bring the game I played in junior. I’m capable of scoring goals,” Niederreiter said. Clutterbuck, 25, a third-round pick in 2006, scored 62 goals and 110 points in 346 games for the Wild. He has gained a reputation as one of the NHL’s most physical forwards, leading the league in hits (1,010) his first three full seasons. But Clutterbuck was a restricted free agent, coming off a poor season and the Wild, strapped for salary-cap space, felt the time was right to parlay him into a player it believes can contribute offensively. Clutterbuck understood he likely would be traded. He is reunited with John Tavares, the No. 1 pick in the 2009 draft. The two were junior linemates in Oshawa, where Tavares was a superstar. Fletcher said there was a lineup of Eastern Conference teams that sought Clutterbuck. He told teams from the West not to bother. “It’s tough to leave [Minnesota],” Clutterbuck said. “It would have been a whole lot tougher if it were a midseason thing — the summer is a little different, you have a little more time to let it sink in.” The Wild sorted through a number of trade offers but believed that Niederreiter, an accomplished player on the international stage who led Switzerland to silver at the most recent world championships with five goals and three assists, was too good to pass up. The Wild also added to its prospect pool during the draft, starting in the second round when it drafted Swedish 6-3 defenseman Gustav Olofsson 46th overall. The big, mobile blueliner moved to the United States in the first grade, grew up in San Jose, Calif., and Broomfield, Colo., speaks with no accent, made the USHL All-Rookie Team for Green Bay and is headed to Colorado College. His favorite player? The Wild’s Jonas Brodin. “His fluidness and how he skates … that’s how I want to play,” Olofsson said. The Niederreiter pickup gives the Wild three of the 30 first-round picks from the 2010 draft (Mikael Granlund, ninth overall and Charlie Coyle, 28th overall). In fact, Fletcher said the Wild wanted to draft him in 2010, but he was chosen four picks earlier by the Islanders. But the relationship between Niederreiter, who has two goals and one assist in 64 NHL games, and the Islanders became strained. Two years ago, Niederreiter played a handful of minutes a night on the fourth line. He was in and out of the lineup. The summation by many was that the Islanders only had Niederreiter on the team so they could stay above the salary cap floor. Niederreiter asked to be traded. He wasn’t invited to training camp, nor put on the playoff roster despite his strong year in the minors. “I didn’t have a strong year [in 2011-12], I didn’t get the chance I was hoping for, and then I didn’t get invited to camp, but I knew I had to work as hard as I can,” Niederreiter said. “I never really heard anything from the team, so I was just a little bit of disappointed about that. I wanted to see if they still wanted me. “Now I got a new opportunity, and I’m very excited about it.” Fletcher said there are “no red flags” and that he will be given a “clean slate” in Minnesota. With Niederreiter’s potential bonuses, his cap hit is technically $2.795 million. The Wild, before other trades, re-signing Jared Spurgeon and potentially buying out Tom Gilbert, is only $3.6 million under the cap. Cap-wise, the Wild clearly has more work to do, and Fletcher continues to say he has “balls in the air” and wants to improve while staying cap compliant. But teams can exceed the cap by 7.5 percent for performance bonuses. Fletcher says the bulk of Niederreiter’s bonuses are for “winning a major award or being an elite leader, and if that happens, it’ll be one of the best checks we have to write for next season.” With Niederreiter, Granlund, Coyle and Jason Zucker, the Wild will have four young forwards on two-way contracts vying for spots next season. “Nothing will be promised to any of them, and hopefully it provides a healthy competition in our training camp,” Fletcher said. Star Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683235 Minnesota Wild Peterson, who will in Sioux City of the USHL next year, has visited Wisconsin, North Dakota and St. Cloud State and plans visits to Minnesota, Nebraska-Omaha and Ohio State. Wild brass likes size, grit in this draft class Etc. Article by: MICHAEL RUSSO • The Wild will hold development camp at Xcel Energy Center from July 914. Star Tribune June 30, 2013 - 11:32 PM NEWARK, N.J. – The Wild isn’t the biggest team in the world. Even its top prospects aren’t the biggest players in the world. But Sunday the Wild did its best to add size and competitiveness to its prospect pool. “That’s the team we’re trying to get to,” assistant General Manager Brent Flahr said. Besides drafting four defensemen, all six skaters it selected were 6-1 or taller. It also drafted one goaltender (Alexandre Belanger of the Quebec League). Defenseman Carson Soucy, taken in the fifth round and heading to Minnesota Duluth, is 6-4. Second-round pick Gustov Olofsson is a big, mobile defenseman. Kurtis Gabriel, a third-rounder, is 6-3 and Flahr says “hits like a train.” “In the perfect world, if we get size, that’s great. But talent and speed and competitiveness are most important,” GM Chuck Fletcher said. “Look at the playoffs. Boston has a lot of players that are 6 foot or smaller, but they’re competitiveness. “Sure they have a couple big men in [Zdeno] Chara and [Milan] Lucic. But you go through from [Rich] Peverley to [David] Krejci to [Patrice] Bergeron to [Brad] Marchand to even [Andrew] Ference. These guys aren’t the tallest guys in the league, but they’re competitive. We’d like to get the biggest, strongest, fastest guys we can, but I’d rather get a slightly smaller guy that’s competitive than just a big guy because he’s big.” Falk dealt to Rangers for Ferriero The Wild traded defenseman Justin Falk to the New York Rangers for a 2014 sixth-round pick and the rights to pesky right winger Benn Ferriero. Still, it’s uncertain if Ferriero will end up being signed. The Rangers needed to trade an expiring contract to add Falk, so the Wild did them a favor. Ferriero, 26, has 14 goals and 23 points in 96 games for San Jose and New York. Falk, a 2007 fourth-round pick by the Wild, had 15 points in 108 games for Minnesota, and this gives him a chance to become an everyday player. “I’m excited about the new opportunity here,” Falk said. “It’s a new chapter that I’m looking forward to. … I felt I didn’t quite develop the way that I would have liked this last year. I want to continue to build my career, and this is a new start in New York.” If the Wild buys out Tom Gilbert this week, it will be in the market for a defenseman or two. Fletcher expects he’ll be able to get bargains later this summer. Fletcher also said he has made progress trying to re-sign Jared Spurgeon, “but we’re not there yet.” Wait is worth it for Grand Rapids center Center Avery Peterson was starting to get nervous as he sat for hours in the Prudential Center on Sunday. But finally, with the 167th pick, his homestate Wild drafted the Grand Rapids native in the sixth round. Peterson, 18, a junior Wild fan who scored twice in the Thunderhawks’ Hockey Day Minnesota overtime victory over Benilde-St. Margaret’s, was pumped. “From the first round on, you just sit there and wait for your name to be called,” said Peterson, who scored 23 goals and 54 points in 23 games. “Finally it did. You get nervous, but you get over that and enjoy the moment.” • Training camp starts Sept. 11 in Minnesota. Because of Michael Buble and Blake Shelton concerts at the X, the Wild will have to hold the first couple of days of camp elsewhere in the Twin Cities. Details are being worked out. Star Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683236 Minnesota Wild In the sixth round, it took Grand Rapids High School star Avery Peterson. He was a Hockey Day Minnesota stud and had 23 goals and 54 points in 23 games last year. He's going to Sioux City (USHL) next year. Wild drafts Gustav Olofsson with first pick Brent Flahr: Michael Russo Gabriel: big imposing winger that brings a physical element every night. He's a late bloomer that really improved this season. June 30, 2013 - 8:51 PM The Wild, four hours after the start of the draft, has finally selected a player. Labbe: a smart puck moving dman that plays in all situations. Needs to get stronger but we feel he has a quality upside. Soucy: a 6-4 dman with good mobility and does a good job of moving the puck. Will be attending UMD in the fall. With the 46th pick, the Wild drafted Swedish defenseman Gustav Olofsson, a 6-foot-3 blue-liner who scored 23 points for Green Bay of the USHL last year. He is Colorado College bound, although his WHL rights are owned by Portland. Peterson - a good sized two way center that skates well and has been a productive player at the high school and USHL levels. Olofsson moved to the U.S. in first grade because of his dad's job -- auditor. Now they've stayed because of hockey. He has two younger brothers -including Fredrik, who is following in his footsteps -- Green Bay, then CC. Has lived a lot of places, but mostly grew up in San Jose, Calif., and Broomfield, Colo. No accent. Loves Jonas Brodin. Very excited to wear a Wild uni. Big Broncos fan. Star Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 "My nerves kind of dropped. Unbelievably excited," he said. Assistanr GM Brent Flahr: "Gustav is a big mobile defenseman that really jumped up our draft rankings. He's an intelligent player with quality natural instincts for the game. We feel like his game will continue to improve as he gets stronger and gains experience." McKeen's scouting report: Steadily improved throughout his first season in Green Bay, his efforts recognized with a berth on the USHL All-Rookie Team .. a native of Boras, Sweden who played youth hockey in Denver since moving to North America with his family in 2009 .. committed to attend Colorado College along with younger brother Fredrick, a `96-born forward also drafted by the Gamblers .. SCOUTING REPORT .. a poised, big-bodied rearguard .. mobile, all-axis skater powered by excellent feet and a smooth, sturdy stride .. effortless in turns and pivots and lateral movements .. plays a responsible and conservative game - guided by solid awareness and hockey sense .. astute in his positioning - always alert and surveying the landscape .. not blessed with flashy skills, yet is an accurate passer and steady puckmover .. manages the puck well - takes the simple play - and gradually improved his decision making during the season .. will benefit from adding power to a decent point shot which he has demonstrated an ability to make space for - and a knack for getting through traffic to the net .. not afraid to initiate contact with his expansive body and wingspan .. his impact as a physical presence should increase as he builds muscle mass onto his spacious frame .. a solid prospect with versatility and tools at his disposal - and plenty of development potential. The Wild has, so far, a third, fourth, fifth, sixth and two sevenths to go. The Wild took Kurtis Gabriel, a right wing, from Owen Sound 80th overall. Big, tough, gritty The Wild took Dylan Labbe, a defenseman from Shawinigan, 107th overall The Wild took Carson Soucy, a 6-4 defenseman from Irma, Alberta 137th overall. Minnesota-Duluth bound. 2 sevenths to go 683237 Minnesota Wild After recording 27 points and 15 goals in 2011-12, Clutterbuck lit the lamp just four times in 42 regular-season games for the Wild in 2013. Three years later, Minnesota Wild finally get their man with trade for Nino Niederreiter The move is a sign that the Wild are going to rely heavily on young players offensively next season. Charlie Coyle and Jason Zucker, both 21, are expected to be mainstays with the team. Mikael Granlund, also 21, and Niederreiter will get chances, too. By Chad Graff Those four have the ability to find the back of the net. cgraff@pioneerpress.com "We're still a team that's looking to add skill, trying to improve our ability to score goals, our offensive production, and in Nino, we're acquiring a 20year-old guy who's been a proven goal scorer at every level short of the NHL so far," Fletcher said. "He's a young man that we expect to contribute at the NHL level in the near future. It seemed like a trade that made a lot of sense at this point of our development." Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT Updated: 06/30/2013 08:50:58 PM CDT NEWARK, N.J. -- A few hours before the 2010 NHL draft in Los Angeles, the Wild sat down with a highly skilled Swiss forward touted as a top prospect. Nino Niederreiter, just a teenager at the time, left that meeting confident that the Wild were going to select him. They had three picks in the first round and the assets to move up if they wanted. Instead, Niederreiter was taken fifth overall by the New York Islanders. But his career with the Islanders didn't go as planned. He jumped into NHL action before he was ready and struggled mightily. Then the Islanders didn't invite him to training camp in January and the player nicknamed El Nino asked for a trade. Sunday, he finally got one. And the Wild got the player they wanted three years ago. The Wild traded hard-hitting fan favorite Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick (No. 70 overall) to the Islanders for Niederreiter. "There's no red flags from our perspective," Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "At the end of the day, he's a 20-year-old player. I'm sure, like every 20-year-old kid, maybe he made a couple decisions that five, 10 years later you look back and say, 'Why did I do that?' like the rest of us. He'll have a clean slate for us. His size and scoring ability are two ingredients that we can use." It was the second trade the Wild made during a busy afternoon. Both trades were completed before the team made a selection in the draft. The Wild made the league's first trade on draft day, sending restricted freeagent defenseman Justin Falk to the New York Rangers for restricted freeagent forward Benn Ferriero and a sixth-round pick. Minnesota wasn't going to be able to re-sign Falk, as it's looking for more players with two-way deals. Instead, the Wild got what value they could from Falk, who would have become an unrestricted free agent July 5 without a contract. "In Justin's case, he played well for us," Fletcher said. "That was a caprelated move. We're going to have to find some players with two-way contracts this summer to give us some depth." The Wild were expected to make at least one trade as they attempt to become cap compliant. The player on their trading block who didn't get moved was defenseman Tom Gilbert. If the Wild can't find a destination for him via trade before July 5, they'll likely use a compliance buyout to clear his $4 million cap hit. Clutterbuck was the team's biggest trade piece, though. Fletcher said there was a lot of interest in Clutterbuck, but he wanted to trade him to a team that wasn't going to play the Wild often. "I told the teams in our division, 'You're not getting him,' " Fletcher said. In exchange for Clutterbuck, the Wild opted for Niederreiter rather than try to accumulate more picks. "All the hype around the top picks today, and deservedly so, were on this guy two years ago. We're just two years further down the road," Fletcher said. "So from our standpoint, that's attractive, because while we want to accumulate young assets, we want to win. And he's a guy that will help us for the future, but certainly has a chance to help us next year." The issue with Niederreiter isn't his talent. It's his struggles and disagreements with the Islanders' decision-makers. "I kind of had a feeling that I'd get traded somewhere, but I had no idea the Minnesota Wild were interested," Niederreiter said in a phone interview. "Obviously, I'm very happy about being in a new situation." Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683238 Minnesota Wild Tom Powers: Minnesota Wild sit out first round of draft as all-in bill comes due By Tom Powers tpowers@pioneerpress.com Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT Updated: 06/30/2013 08:27:52 PM CDT The 2013 NHL draft? (Insert yawn here.) The Wild went "all in" last season and now the bill has come due. As a result, they pretty much sat this one out. Say this about the draft, though, at least it remains unique and rather quaint. In other sports, club officials are secluded in "war rooms" staring at big boards and, from all reports, screaming at the top of their lungs in an effort to make their voices heard over a cacophony of differing opinions. There are hot lines and speaker phones and Batphones. Computers frantically spit out data as the clock ticks down. Later, after everyone towels off and takes a couple of aspirin, the general manager emerges into the public eye to discuss the selections. In hockey, team representatives sit at circular tables, as if everyone were attending a Rotary Club breakfast, right out there on the arena floor. Guys tend to move from table to table, socializing and occasionally talking trade. There are no big boards or super computers, just the occasional mobile phone. "Everybody has a list in front of them," said Brent Flahr, the Wild's assistant general manager. "As players get drafted, they are scratched off." Probably scratched off using blunt pencils with worn-down erasers. But that's not to say there is a lack of scientific evaluation. Flahr is the main man for the Wild when it comes to evaluating talent at the amateur level. He said a couple of days before the draft that he personally has seen all of the top 60-rated amateurs -- maybe even the top 80. You can imagine how many frequent-flier miles he has accrued. "I don't know, but my wife probably does," Flahr said. Yes, they probably could skip down to Barbados for coffee on the spur of the moment. Flahr also has conducted enough meetings to choke a bureaucrat. Prospects are ranked by position, league, country ... He has taken into account the opinions of all the Wild scouts before compiling a master list. Which, I imagine, he handed to Chuck Fletcher while shedding a tear this time around because the Wild had no first-round draft choice. For Flahr and the Wild scouts, that's like waking up on Christmas morning with nothing under the tree. After a year of preparation, they really don't get to play. "It is what it is," Flahr said. "This is what you work all year for on the amateur side. But this year there is depth into the second and third rounds." With the 46th overall pick, the Wild selected Swedish defenseman Gustav Olofsson. Who knows? He didn't fall down the arena steps after his named was called. That's a good sign. Flahr probably has an entire file cabinet full of information on him. But at No. 46 there are no sure things. Fletcher traded this year's No. 1 pick along with Johan Larsson and Matt Hackett to Buffalo for Jason Pominville and a fourth-round pick. The Wild went "all in" last season and were in danger of not making the playoffs after spending nearly $200 million on Zach Parise and Ryan Suter. Both of those fellows played great, by the way. It was the rest of the team that was overestimated. Pominville was acquired to provide a late-season boost of offense. It would have been a disgrace if the Wild had missed the postseason after spending all that money. And with Pominville, they managed to slip in at the last second. But the price to acquire him was steep. Larsson is an impressive prospect at forward. And Hackett, a netminder, would have come in handy during the great goalie epidemic late in the season. On Sunday, I became rather depressed when the Sabres used that pick (No. 16 overall) from the Wild to select Nikita Zadarov, the biggest, meanest, hardest-hitting defenseman available in the draft. That's exactly what is needed by the Wild, who are soft and getting softer by the minute after Fletcher traded Cal Clutterbuck and Jason Falk on Sunday. Pominville is a skilled player. However, he is 30 years old and that pick looked awfully good Sunday. We'll have to see how it all works out. But watching the Wild make trades in an effort to trim salary, rather than actually drafting on draft day, wasn't very interesting. Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683239 Minnesota Wild Minnesota Wild's first draft pick is Gustav Olofsson By Chad Graff cgraff@pioneerpress.com Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT Updated: 06/30/2013 08:34:58 PM CDT NEWARK, N.J. -- After a busy day filled with a pair of trades and nearly four hours after the draft began, the Wild finally made their first selection of the day. They took defenseman Gustav Olofsson, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound defensiveminded player with the No. 46 pick overall. Olofsson played for Green Bay in the United States Hockey League (though he said he's not a Packers fan) and is set to play for Colorado College in the fall. When asked who he models his game after, he smiled. "Jonas Brodin," he said. Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683240 Minnesota Wild Minnesota Wild trade Cal Clutterbuck for Nino Niederreiter By Chad Graff cgraff@pioneerpress.com Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT Updated: 06/30/2013 06:57:17 PM CDT NEWARK, N.J. -- As expected, the Wild continued their busy day here at the NHL draft without even making a selection. The team pulled off its second trade of the day sending hard-hitter and fan favorite Cal Clutterbuck along with the No. 70 pick overall (third round) to the New York Islanders in exchange for 2010 No. 5 overall pick Nino Niederreiter. Earlier Sunday, they traded defenseman Justin Falk. Clutterbuck is a restricted free agent. After recording 27 points and 15 goals in 2011-2012, Cluttberbuck, 25, lit the lamp just four times in 42 regular season games for the Wild in 2013. In return for the package, the Wild get a skilled forward in Niederreiter, nicknamed El Nino. He's put up big numbers throughout his career, but has struggled during his stints in the National Hockey League. In 64 career games with the Islanders, he's netted two goals, dished an assist and is a minus-30. In the American Hockey League, though, he's shown glimpses of why he was a top-five pick in 2010. Last season with AHL Bridgeport, Niederreiter, 20, scored 28 goals in 74 games. He added 22 assists. Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683241 Minnesota Wild Minnesota Wild trade defenseman Justin Falk to kick off draft day By Chad Graff cgraff@pioneerpress.com Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT Updated: 06/30/2013 07:17:07 PM CDT NEWARK, N.J. -- In a move that kicks off what's expected to a busy day, the Wild traded restricted free agent defenseman Justin Falk to the New York Rangers for a sixth round pick in Sunday's draft and restricted free agent forward Benn Ferriero. The draft kicks off here at 2 p.m. The Wild don't have a first round pick, but are expected to be very busy during the draft working to accumulate more picks in a deep talent pool available, and also looking to shed some salaries. They're shopping Cal Clutterbuck and defenseman Tom Gilbert. If they can't find a suitor for Gilbert, they'll likely use one of their two compliance buyouts on Gilbert to clear $4 million in cap space -- room they badly need as they work to fill out their roster under a tight salary cap. With Gilbert's return unlikely and the trade of Falk, the Wild's blueline situation is beginning to take shape. Ryan Suter, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella, and Clayton Stoner are under contract. So is Nate Prosser, who would likely serve as a reserve defenseman with the Wild. Restricted free agent Jared Spurgeon is expected to re-sign. The Wild would still need another defenseman or two, which they may look to acquire here at the draft. If they can't do so via trade, they'd have to sign a defenseman once free agency kicks off July 5. Falk, 24, was one of the team's most physical defenseman and added size to what was an undersized blue line. The 6-foot-5, 215 pound Falk recorded three assists in 36 regular season games. He was drafted by the Wild in the fourth round of the 2007 draft. Ferriero, 26, appeared in four games with the Rangers and recorded one assist. He scored eight goals and dished 22 assists in 57 games in the American Hockey League. Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683242 Minnesota Wild Minnesota Wild draftee Gustav Olofsson patterns his game after Jonas Brodin By Chad Graff cgraff@pioneerpress.com Posted: 06/30/2013 12:01:00 AM CDT Updated: 06/30/2013 10:22:55 PM CDT "It was unbelievable," Gabriel said. "I'm just really glad the team stepped up and put a lot of trust in me." Locals drafted Avery Peterson watched from the Prudential Center as fellow Minnesotans were taken ahead of him. There was Edina's Connor Hurley gone at pick No. 38. Incoming Gophers freshmen Tommy Vannelli, Taylor Cammarata, Hudson Fasching and Michael Brodzinski. And Hill-Murray's Jake Guentzel. After no Minnesotans were taken in the first round, they quickly went off the board after that. And Peterson, of Grand Rapids High School, watched it all unfold in front of him. And then, at No. 167, he was drafted by his favorite team -- the Wild. NEWARK, N.J. -- It had been about four hours since the draft started, and Gustav Olofsson was growing restless. He was with his two brothers and his parents at the Prudential Center, waiting to hear his name called at the draft. Forty-five players heard their names before him. But when the Wild were on the clock for the first time Sunday, they took Olofsson with their only second-round pick. A few minutes later, he was wearing a Wild sweater and meeting with members of the Twin Cities media. When the defenseman from Sweden was asked which player he models his game after, he paused and smiled. "Jonas Brodin," he said, naming the Wild's star rookie defenseman from Sweden. The two Swedes had similar scouting reports coming into the draft. "Gustav is a big, mobile defenseman that really jumped up our draft rankings," Wild assistant general manager Brent Flahr said. "He's an intelligent player with quality natural instincts for the game. We feel like his game will continue to improve as he gets stronger and gains experience." Olofsson said he watched Brodin play last year in the under-20 World Championship. What stood out to him about his fellow Swede? "Just his fluidness and how he skates really stood out to me, and that's kind of how I want to play," Olofsson said. Olofsson played for Green Bay in the United States Hockey League last season and made the league's all-rookie team after recording 23 points with 21 assists. He also played in the junior league's prospects game. Olofsson will play for Colorado College next season. Olofsson said he didn't know the Wild were going to take him, but he got excited when he saw they were at No. 46. He said he felt he had a very good interview with them. But the nerves were still there as he sat with his family. He's the oldest of three. His brother Fredrik is following in his footsteps, headed to Green Bay and committed to Colorado College. "We're very competitive with each other," Olofsson said. "We train with each other in the summer and I think we push each other and have that kind of edge with each other which makes us better." The Wild used their second pick of the evening at No. 81 overall in the third round , on Kurtis Gabriel, a confident agitator who compared his game to that of Cal Clutterbuck. Gabriel accumulated 100 penalty minutes in 67 games in the Ontario Hockey League last season. He tallied 13 goals and 15 assists. "The first thing I know is it's the State of Hockey," Gabriel said of Minnesota. "It's a place that's obsessed with hockey. I know that they traded Cal Clutterbuck today who is a guy that I really admire the way he played in that third line checking role." As Minnesota was on the clock with the No. 81 overall pick, Gabriel's mom leaned over to him and said, "Here's an option." Not long after, he was celebrating. "It felt amazing to be drafted," Peterson said. "But to be drafted by the hometown team that I grew up watching was kind of the cherry on top." Other players taken with Minnesota ties: East Grand Forks' Tucker Poolman, Burnsville's Teemu Kivihalme, Duluth recruit Blake Heinrich, Minnesota's Mr. Hockey winner Grant Besse, Ham Lake's Johnny Brodzinski and St. Cloud State's Ben Storm. Pioneer Press LOADED: 07.01.2013 683243 Montreal Canadiens Canadiens choose winger Mike McCarron with 25th overall pick The Canadian Press Published Sunday, Jun. 30 2013, 6:00 PM EDT Last updated Sunday, Jun. 30 2013, 6:22 PM EDT The Montreal Canadiens picked hulking winger Mike McCarron 25th overall in the first round of the NHL draft. McCarron is listed at six-foot-five, 228 pounds and would provide the Canadiens with much-needed size up front. The Michigan native played with the U.S. National Team Development Program, with whom he scored 11 goals and had 18 assists in 49 games last season. Interactive 2013 NHL Entry Draft: Round 1 The top three picks in the 2013 National Hockey League (NHL) draft pose together at the draft in Newark, New Jersey, June 30, 2013. At center is top pick Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, at left is Jonathan Drouin the third overall pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning and at right is Aleksander Barkov the second overall pick taken by the Florida Panthers. Live Live blog: The 2013 NHL Entry Draft Seth Jones tries on a Nashville Predators jersey and cap after being selected by the Predators as the fourth overall pick in the 2013 National Hockey league (NHL) draft in Newark, New Jersey, June 30, 2013. Photos The cream of the crop in the NHL entry draft The Canadiens have another three choices in the second round and hold six picks among the first 86 selections. Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.01.2013 Canadiens go big with 1st-round pick — Artturi Lehkonen (2nd round, 55th overall) is a 5-foot-11, 163-pound forward from Kalpa in the Finnish League. He's a skilled, hard-working forward who needs to bulk up. Lehkonen had 14 goals and 16 assists in 45 games and was the rookie of the year in the Finnish League. By Pat Hickey, The Gazette June 30, 2013 9:52 PM — Connor Crisp (3rd round, 71st overall) is a 6-foot-4, 225-pound left winger from Erie in the Ontario Hockey League. He had 14 goals and 26 assists in 63 games and racked up 139 penalty minutes. 683244 Montreal Canadiens NEWARK, NJ -— You want size? The Canadiens delivered just that with the 25th pick in the first round of the NHL draft Sunday when they selected Michael McCarron, a 6-foot-5, 228pound right winger who played last season for the United States National Development Team. And while general manager Marc Bergevin said he didn't believe McCarron could get much bigger, the Grosse Pointe, Mich. native says he's still growing. "I was 6-foot-5 six months ago and I've grown half an inch," said McCarron, who says he expects to be 245 pounds when he's ready for the NHL. McCarron, who said he wants to play like Milan Lucic, has a college commitment to Western Michigan but his junior rights belong to the London Knights. "The ultimate decision will be mine but I'll talk it over with my parents and (the Canadiens) and make a decision sometime in the next week," said McCarron. "Western Michigan would give me a chance to work on the strength in my legs and Andy Murray is a good coach who's worked in the NHL. London plays more of a pro style and they play more games. If I play junior, I'd also be able to fight and that's part of my game." While the Canadiens insist they leave the decision up to the player, it should be noted that Jarred Tinordi was in a similar position a few years ago and turned his back on Notre Dame to play in London. That worked out fine for all concerned. McCarron said he compares himself to Lucic because "I can play a shutdown role on the fourth line or I can move up and play on the first line." The 18-year-old said it gave him chills to put on the Canadiens sweater and, while he doesn't know much about the city, his family has a Quebec connection. "My grandmother Lavallée is from Quebec and I have some relatives there, although I've never met them," McCarron said. Bergevin said the Canadiens went into the draft thinking more about their needs to get bigger and add some grit. He said the team's early exit from the playoffs showed "there are players who get you into the playoffs and players who get you through the playoffs." The Canadiens used their two early second-round choices to select Jacob de la Rose, a 6-foot-2 forward from Leksand in the Swedish second division at No. 34 and Halifax goaltender Zachary Fucale at No. 36. De la Rose is projected as a shutdown winger. He said he didn't consider himself a skilled player but said, "I like to think I'm always going to be the hardest-working player on the ice." An entourage of about 50 family members and friends raised a cheer as Rosemere native Fucale's name was announced. "I grew up in Montreal and I think every kid in Montreal dreams of playing for the Canadiens," Fucale said. "It's such a great feeling wearing this sweater and I hope that the next time I wear it, I've earned it." Fucale said his life has been a whirlwind since he helped the Halifax Mooseheads win the Memorial Cup, but he expects to relax for a few days before reporting to the Canadiens development camp on Wednesday. Fucale was the first goaltender selected in the draft; the Canadiens haven't drafted a goaltender as high since they picked Carey Price fifth overall in 2005. "We haven't picked a goaltender for a while and we thought it was time," Bergevin said. The Canadiens' other picks Sunday were: — Sven Andrighetto (3rd round, 86th overall) is a 5-foot-10, 175-pounder from Switzerland who plays for Rouyn-Noranda. He's a left-shooting right winger with a strong skill set. Andrighetto was overlooked in last year's draft but had a solid junior season with 31 goals and 67 assists in 53 games. — Martin Reway (4th round, 116th overall) is a 5-foot-8, 158-pound Czech winger who plays for Gatineau in the QMJHL. The scouts say he plays bigger than his size. He's an above-average skater with excellent puck skills. Reway had 22 and 28 assists in 47 games. — Jérémy Grégoire (6th round, 176th overall) Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.01.2013 683245 Montreal Canadiens Habs select McCarron in first round, Rosèmere native Fucale in second Brenda Branswell The Canadiens added size with their first-round pick at the NHL draft in New Jersey, selecting 6-foot-5, 228-pound forward Michael McCarron, who was ranked 35th by Central Scouting among North American skaters. The Habs also nabbed top-ranked North American goalie prospect Zachary Fucale, who many expected would go in the first round. A Rosemère native who grew up a Canadiens’ fan, the 6-foot-1 Fucale backstopped the Halifax Mooseheads this season as they won the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League championship and Memorial Cup. The Canadiens chose Fucale 36th overall. Dominique Ducharme, the Mooseheads’ head coach, described Fucale earlier this month as a “super kid” with great ability. “He’s really intelligent, calm, confident,” Ducharme told The Gazette. “He’s another one that really enjoys being on the ice. He’s working hard. And he’s got great ability. He’s pretty good athletically, but technically also. Put all that together with a great mindset. He knows how to win a game.” “If there’s one thing that makes him even better, it’s his hockey sense,” Ducharme said. “And sometimes we don’t talk about hockey sense for a goalie that much. But the way he reads the play, the way he sees it coming, that helps him a lot . . . to be in a good position.” The Habs chose Michigan native McCarron, who is with the U.S. under-18 development team, 25th overall at the draft, which is being held at the Prudential Center in Newark. In 59 games this season, McCarron posted 16-21-37 totals and led the U.S. development team with 182 penalty minutes. “I never thought I was going to go this high,” McCarron told TSN. “Even today I didn’t think I was going to go this high. It’s the biggest surprise to me. I’m so excited.” “Obviously we like the size, the grit and the character,” Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said of McCarron on TSN. “Mike has a lot of character and the way he’s been used we know he has hockey sense and he has grit. And it’s something that we need to build moving forward with his size.” The Canadiens used their 34th overall pick to select 6-foot-2 Swedish centreman Jacob De la Rose. European Central Scouting placed him seventh among European skaters in their final rankings. The Habs also looked to Europe with their 55th pick overall, selecting Finnish forward Artturi Lehkonen. In the scouting report on NHL.com, Goran Stubb, NHL Director of European Scouting, said of the 5-foot-9, 163-pound Lehkonen:”He has very quick feet and smooth hands, plays a solid two-way game, and uses his speed and hockey sense to his advantage. He’s full of surprises in the offensive zone, can score the big goals and accelerates quickly, especially when in possession of the puck. While he’s not very big or strong, he’s still a first-round talent.” The Canadiens selected Connor Crisp, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound forward in the Ontario Hockey League, with their 71st overall pick. Crisp scored 22 goals and picked up 14 assists in 63 games this past season with the Erie Otters. With their 86th overall pick, the Habs chose forward Sven Andrighetto from the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. Andrighetto put up 98 points this season (31 goals, 67 assists) in 53 games. The team’s next pick was Martin Reway from the Gatineau Olympiques in the fourth-round (116th overall.) Both are 5-foot-9 wingers. Jérémy Grégoire, a 6-foot, 188-pound centreman with the Baie Comeau Drakkar in the QMJHL, was the Habs’ sixth-round pick (176th overall) He was ranked 79th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The Canadiens went into the draft Sunday with nine picks, six of them in the first three rounds. The Habs traded their seventh-round pick to Florida for the Panthers’ seventh-round pick at next year’s draft. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.01.2013 683246 Montreal Canadiens QMJHL scores at NHL draft By Pat Hickey, The Gazette July 1, 2013 NEWARK, N.J. - The Quebec Major Junior Hockey League commanded some respect at the NHL entry draft as Halifax linemates Nathan MacKinnon and Jonathan Drouin went first and third overall. After being blanked in the first round last year, the "Q" had six players selected in the first round Sunday. MacKinnon went to Colorado at No. 1 and Drouin was selected by Tampa Bay at No. 3. A total of 29 QMJHL players were drafted, including 15 in the first two rounds. Drouin, a Lac St-Louis (Quebec Midget AAA) grad, said he was thrilled to be the first francophone player selected. "It was a honour to have (Tampa Bay general manager Steve Yzerman) call my name because he was such a great player and he won all those gold medals and Stanley Cups," Drouin said. "I turned to my father and we were so happy because all the hard work has paid off." Drouin's stock rose this past season as he led the Quebec league in scoring and joined Mackinnon and goaltender Zach Fucale in winning the Memorial Cup. He said his goal is to play in the NHL next season. The Canadiens drafted Fucale with the sixth pick in the second round. "I'm looking forward to going to Tampa and meeting the players and coaches and getting ready for next season," said Drouin, who described himself as a playmaker. Rimouski's Samuel Morin, a 6-foot-6 defenceman whose stock rose over the past season, was selected 11th overall by Philadelphia, which is hoping he'll mature into a Chris Pronger type. The Detroit Red Wings picked Val d'Or's Anthony Mantha, a 6-foot-4, 190pound right winger, at No.20. Mantha is regarded as a skilled forward; he scored 50 goals for the Foreurs last season. The Toronto Maple Leafs followed at No. 21 and chose Frédérik Gauthier, a 6-foot-3, 193-pound centre. Gauthier is prized for his powerful stride and competitiveness. The biggest surprise among the Quebec picks was Émile Poitier, who was selected 22nd overall by Calgary after he was projected as a second-round pick at best. The 6-foot-1, 183-pounder is a strong two-way player. He has good faceoff skills but is versatile enough to play on the wing. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.01.2013 683247 Montreal Canadiens NHL draft: Habs notes By Pat Hickey, The Gazette July 1, 2013 NEWARK, NJ — On a scale of one to 10, Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin said the team's interest in free-agent centre Vincent Lecavalier is "very high." When he was asked if that meant an 'eight', he replied: "Is that high?" Bergevin, who described the possible addition of Lecavalier as "intriguing," confirmed the former Tampa Bay Lightning captain met with him, head coach Michel Therrien and team owner Geoff Molson on Saturday. "We made our proposal and we have to wait for him to make his decision," Bergevin said. The 33-year-old Lecavalier became a free agent last week when the Lightning announced it would buy out the remainder of his contract. Bergevin said the Canadiens could use the 6-foot-4 Lecavalier's size in the . But he hedged on the question of whether a long-term deal would run counter to his philosophy of building through the draft. It's believed at least six teams have expressed interest in Lecavalier. Moving on up: Bergevin said the Canadiens attempted to move up in the draft, but they couldn't find a trading partner. "We were talking to a team and we were close but the other team had the guy they wanted and they decided to keep the pick," he said. Bergevin said the price for moving up was high, but "we were willing to pay it." The Canadiens did trade their seventh-round pick to Florida for the Panthers's seventh-round pick in 2014. “There wasn’t anyone our scouts were pushing hard for and we figured we would get a higher pick next year," director of amateur scouting Trevor Timmins said. Missing out on Subban: Bergevin said Belleville defenceman Jordan Subban, the youngest brother of P.K. Subban, was on the Canadiens' list. But he wasn't very high on the list. Subban, projected as a second-round pick, was still available in the fourth round when Vancouver finally selected him 115th overall. That was one spot before Montreal picked Gatineau forward Martin Reway. “We missed out by one spot,” Timmins said. Proud dad makes pick: The host New Jersey Devils called upon future Hall of Fame goaltender Martin Brodeur to make its seventh-round pick. He selected his son Anthony, a goaltender at Shattuck-St. Mary's High School in Minnesota. Montreal Gazette LOADED: 07.01.2013 683248 Nashville Predators Nashville Predators select defenseman Seth Jones in NHL Draft He has been a major national story for the last few years as an AfricanAmerican who spurned basketball and ventured into hockey in a nontraditional market. Jun. 30, 2013 7:14 PM “It’s pretty awesome, growing up 2½ hours from Nashville, one of those untraditional hockey markets,” Popeye Jones said. “I think the people in Nashville have really caught onto the Predators and really support them well, so my family will get to go see him play a lot.” Josh Cooper Seth Jones The Tennessean Position: Defense Height, weight: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds NEWARK, N.J. — Predators general manager David Poile spoke from shock. As he sat with a gaggle of reporters underneath Prudential Center after the Nashville selected Seth Jones with the No. 4 pick in the NHL Draft, the normally understated Poile took a moment to crow about his newest asset. “I wish we had the No. 1 pick then I can’t say ‘I can’t believe the player was there,’ ” Poile said. “We had Seth Jones rated No. 1, he’s just a terrific player.” The Predators went into the draft hoping to add a dynamic forward. Instead, the selection of Jones, the top player in the draft according to multiple rankings, gave them yet another blueline game-changer. Team: Portland Winterhawks (Western Hockey League) Numbers: 61 games, 14 goals and 42 assists (56 points), plus-46 with the Winterhawks. About: His father Popeye is a former NBA player and a native of Dresden, Tenn. Cooper’s take: Jones is considered the top player in the draft by many scouts and analysts. He can easily fill a hole on Nashville’s defense. His selection also frees up the Predators to look for a forward in free agency or trade. Other Predators picks It also shortened their offseason checklist. Nashville can now focus on adding the top-six forward it desperately needs — a player with punch and stature — via trade or free agency. Note: Nashville did not have a second-round pick. The Predators traded what ended up being the 34th overall pick to Montreal as part of a deal for Andrei Kostitsyn last season. Jones has a tantalizing mix of size, skating, defensive ability and offensive ability. He has been likened to former Norris Trophy winners Rob Blake and Scott Niedermayer. Jonathan-Ismael Diaby There was already some talk that the 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of Plano, Texas, could play with captain Shea Weber next season. Weber and Roman Josi were penciled in as the top defensive pairing, but Jones provides an interesting and dynamic option to put with Weber. Picked: Third round, 64th overall Position: Defense Height, weight: 6-5, 223 Team: Victoriaville (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) “You got one of the best guys in the league to play with,” Predators assistant coach Phil Housley said of Weber. “He’ll be a great mentor because you don’t have to push Seth along. He can learn from one of the best. That’s invaluable as far as that experience part.” Numbers: 67 games, four goals, 22 assists, 117 penalty minutes One offseason ago, Nashville lost an American-born defenseman in free agent Ryan Suter. Now they have a new one in the 18-year-old Jones, who could add more size and power than the 6-foot-1 Suter. Position: Center “I think I can be a solid defenseman, produce a little bit offensively as well,” Jones said. “I know people say it takes time for defensemen to really grow in the league and a couple of years at least, so hopefully I can prove that theory wrong.” Team: Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) Most importantly for the Predators: their defensive pairs aren’t only set for next season, but they’re set for the next several years. The 27-year-old Weber has 13 years left on his contract. Kevin Klein, 28, has five years left. Victor Bartley, 25, has three years left. Josi, 23, has seven years left. Picked: Fourth round, 99th overall “It looks like a defense that could stay together for a lot of years,” Poile said. If the Predators do put Jones with Weber, there could be a slight issue in that both blueliners play the right side. Housley downplayed the potential for a problem, saying Jones could shift to the left side if needed. “Would we like him to play on his strong side? Yeah. But he’s very mobile. He can skate, pivot well,” Housley said. “I think it’s going to be good because he’s on his strong side when he pivots to the outside as a right hander. “But I think you see those two guys on the power play, and I’m like ‘who are you going to defend?’ That’s one of the elements that Seth Jones brings.” Felix Girard Picked: Fourth round, 95th overall Height, weight: 5-11, 190 Numbers: 58 games, 23 goals, 38 assists Juuse Saros Position: Goaltender Height, weight: 5-10, 178 Team: HPK (Junior A Finland) Numbers: 37 games, 1.86 goals against average, .933 save percentage Saku Maenalanen Picked: Fifth round, 125th overall Position: Right wing Height, weight: 6-3, 176 Team: Karpat (Junior A Finland) Jones, who posted 56 points in 61 games with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League last season, fell to the Predators when top forwards Nathan MacKinnon, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Drouin went 1-2-3 to Colorado, Florida and Tampa Bay. Numbers: 45 games, 23 goals, 35 assists He’s a player with major marketing potential in addition to major talent. Position: Defense His father, former NBA player Popeye Jones, is from Dresden, Tenn. Seth grew up playing in the Dallas area while his father played for the Mavericks. Height, weight: 5-11, 161 Teemu Kivihalme Picked: Fifth round, 140th overall Team: Burnsville High School (Minnesota) Numbers: 25 games, nine goals, 21 assists Emil Pettersson Picked: Sixth round, 155th overall Position: Center Height, weight: 6-1, 158 Team: Timra (Swedent) Numbers: 44 games, 13 goals, 31 assists Tommy Veilleux Picked: Sixth round, 171st overall Position: Left Wing Height, weight: 6-0, 188 Team: Victoriaville (QMJHL) Numbers: 66 games, 11 goals, 17 assists, 129 penalty minutes Wade Murphy Picked: Seventh round, 185th overall Position: Right wing Height, weight: 5-11, 176 Team: Penticton Vees (British Columbia Hockey League) Numbers: 50 games, 23 goals, 47 assists Janne Juvonen Picked: Seventh round, 203rd overall Position: Goaltender Height, weight: 6-1, 183 Team: Peliitat (Finnish second league) Numbers: 17 games, 3.18 goals against average, .902 save percentage Also: The Predators traded their sixth-round pick (112th overall) to St. Louis for the Blues' seventh-round pick (203) this year and St. Louis' fourth-round pick in 2014. Tennessean LOADED: 07.01.2013 683249 Nashville Predators Nashville Predators pick Seth Jones fourth in NHL draft His father, former NBA player Popeye Jones, is from Dresden, Tenn. Seth grew up playing in the Dallas area while his father played for the Mavericks. He has been a major national story for the last few years as an AfricanAmerican who spurned basketball and ventured into hockey in a nontraditional market. Josh Cooper “It’s pretty awesome, growing up 2½ hours from Nashville, one of those untraditional hockey markets,” Popeye Jones said. “I think the people in Nashville have really caught on to the Predators and really support them well, so my family will get to go see him play a lot.” The Tennessean Tennessean LOADED: 07.01.2013 Jun. 30, 2013 11:19 PM NEWARK, N.J. — Predators general manager David Poile spoke from shock. As he sat with a gaggle of reporters inside Prudential Center after Nashville selected defenseman Seth Jones with the No. 4 pick in the NHL draft, the normally understated Poile took a moment to crow about his newest asset. “I wish we had the No. 1 pick then I can’t say ‘I can’t believe the player was there,’ ” Poile said. “We had Seth Jones rated No. 1. He’s just a terrific player.” The Predators went into the draft hoping to add a dynamic forward. Instead, the selection of Jones, the top player in the draft according to multiple rankings, gave them yet another blueline game-changer. It also shortened their offseason checklist. Nashville can now focus on adding the top-six forward it desperately needs — a player with punch and stature — via trade or free agency. Jones has a tantalizing mix of size, skating, defensive ability and offensive ability. He has been compared to former Norris Trophy winners Rob Blake and Scott Niedermayer. There was already some talk that the 6-foot-4, 205-pound native of Plano, Texas, could play with captain Shea Weber next season. Weber and Roman Josi were penciled in as the top defensive pairing, but Jones provides an interesting and dynamic option to put with Weber. “You got one of the best guys in the league to play with,” Predators assistant coach Phil Housley said of Weber. “He’ll be a great mentor because you don’t have to push Seth along. He can learn from one of the best. That’s invaluable as far as that experience part.” One offseason ago, Nashville lost an American-born defenseman — Ryan Suter — to free agency. Now they have a new one in the 18-year-old Jones, who could add more size and power than the 6-foot-1 Suter. “I think I can be a solid defenseman, produce a little bit offensively as well,” Jones said. “I know people say it takes time for defensemen to really grow in the league and a couple of years at least, so hopefully I can prove that theory wrong.” Most importantly for the Predators: their defensive pairs aren’t set only for next season, but also they’re set for the next several years. The 27-year-old Weber has 13 years left on his contract. Kevin Klein, 28, has five years left. Victor Bartley, 25, has three years left. Josi, 23, has seven years left. “It looks like a defense that could stay together for a lot of years,” Poile said. If the Predators put Jones with Weber, there could be a slight issue in that both blueliners play the right side. Housley downplayed the potential for a problem, saying Jones could shift to the left side if needed. “Would we like him to play on his strong side? Yeah. But he’s very mobile. He can skate, pivot well,” Housley said. “I think it’s going to be good because he’s on his strong side when he pivots to the outside as a righthander. “But I think you see those two guys on the power play, and I’m like, ‘Who are you going to defend?’ That’s one of the elements that Seth Jones brings.” Jones, who posted 56 points in 61 games with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League last season, fell to the Predators when forwards Nathan MacKinnon, Aleksander Barkov and Jonathan Drouin went 1-2-3 to Colorado, Florida and Tampa Bay. He’s a player with major marketing potential in addition to major talent. 683250 Nashville Predators Hometown: Forssa, Finland Team: HPK (Junior A Finland) Nashville Predators draft picks at a glance Numbers: 37 games, 1.86 goals against average, .933 save percentage SAKU MAENALANEN Jun. 30, 2013 Picked: Fifth round, 125th overall Josh Cooper Position: Right wing Height, weight: 6-3, 176 The Tennessean Hometown: Kemi, Finland Team: Karpat (Junior A Finland) SETH JONES Numbers: 45 games, 23 goals, 35 assists Drafted: 1st round, 4th overall TEEMU KIVIHALME Position: Defense Picked: Fifth round, 140th overall Age: 18 Position: Defense Height, weight: 5-11, 161 Birthplace: Plano, Texas Hometown: Cloquet, Minn. Ht., wt.: 6-foot-4, 205 pounds Team: Burnsville High School (Minn.) Team: Portland Winterhawks (Western Hockey League) Numbers: 25 games, nine goals, 21 assists Numbers and notes: Played in 61 games with the Winterhawks with 56 points (14 goals, 42 assists), plus-46. … Captained Team USA to a gold medal in the 2013 World Junior championship, posting one goal and six assists in seven tournament games. … Top North American skater in the draft, according to the NHL’s central scouting bureau. EMIL PETTERSSON Where he fits: Considered NHL-ready and probably will play next season in Nashville. The Predators indicated he could pair with Shea Weber, but he likely will start lower in the lineup. Considered a complete defenseman with size, speed, skating ability and offensive and defensive leanings. Picked: Sixth round, 155th overall Position: Center Height, weight: 6-1, 158 Hometown: Sundsvall, Sweden Team: Timra (Sweden) Numbers: 44 games, 13 goals, 31 assists Cons: A defenseman’s development can take a long time and be uneven. Also, he fell pretty far from a player who was the consensus No. 1 pick a few weeks ago. There’s some belief that he maybe doesn’t have enough of a mean streak for the position. TOMMY VEILLEUX Predators assistant coach Phil Housley, who coached Jones at the World Juniors: “I think he’s built for the NHL. He’s mobile, he can skate it out of trouble, he has a great stick, he can make a good first pass, and he can lead the rush. He’s going to create offense back there through broken plays in transition. He has excellent vision.” Hometown: St. George, Quebec NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr: “Seth has always risen to any challenge that’s been put in front of him. He makes his mistakes, but we can see how he learns from the mistakes. And whenever he’s challenged in big games, he rises to the occasion.” WADE MURPHY TSN analyst Bob McKenzie: “He is an impressive blend of size, strength, skating, skill, and an ability to dominate both offensively and physically.” Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia JONATHAN-ISMAEL DIABY • Picked: Third round, 64th overall Position: Defense Height, weight: 6-5, 223 Hometown: Montreal Team: Victoriaville (Quebec Major Junior Hockey League) Numbers: 67 games, four goals, 22 assists, 117 penalty minutes FELIX GIRARD Picked: Fourth round, 95th overall Position: Center Height, weight: 5-11, 190 Hometown: Quebec Picked: Sixth round, 171st overall Position: Left wing Height, weight: 6-0, 188 Team: Victoriaville (QMJHL) Numbers: 66 games, 11 goals, 17 assists, 129 penalty minutes Picked: Seventh round, 185th overall Position: Right wing Height, weight: 5-11, 176 Team: Penticton Vees (British Columbia Hockey League) Numbers: 50 games, 23 goals, 47 assists JANNE JUVONEN Picked: Seventh round, 203rd overall Position: Goaltender Height, weight: 6-1, 183 Hometown: Kiihtelysvaara, Finland Team: Peliitat (Finnish second league) Numbers: 17 games, 3.18 goals against average, .902 save percentage Note: The Predators did not have a second-round pick. They traded what ended up being the 34th overall pick to Montreal last season as part of a deal for Andrei Kostitsyn. Team: Baie-Comeau (QMJHL) Trade: The Predators traded a fourth-round pick (112th overall) to St. Louis for a seventh-round pick (203rd) this year and fourth-round pick in 2014. Numbers: 58 games, 23 goals, 38 assists Tennessean LOADED: 07.01.2013 JUUSE SAROS Picked: Fourth round, 99th overall Position: Goaltender Height, weight: 5-10, 178 683251 Nashville Predators Defenseman too good for Preds to pass up with first pick “After the first three, I felt like it was never going to come,” Jones said. “But I'm happy now and wouldn't have it any other way. “… To play in the League, the NHL next year? I think I have the potential to play in the NHL next year, but nothing is guaranteed in this line of work.” That much was obvious in his selection. Sunday, June 30, 2013 at 2:50pm By David Boclair The Nashville Predators did not fill their number-one need with their first pick in the NHL draft Sunday at Newark, N.J. They did, however, get their number-one player. After weeks of speculation about the opportunity to add an offensive superstar, the Predators drafted defenseman Seth Jones fourth overall. The NHL’s Central Scouting Service had Jones, the son of former Murray State and NBA basketball player Popeye Jones, as the top prospect. Likewise, general manager David Poile said the 6-foot-4, 205-pounder sat atop Nashville’s list “all year long.” “We were thrilled that he was there at four,” Nashville’s Chief Amateur Scout Jeff Kealty said. “He’s a terrific defenseman and a world-class player that can do it all, both offensively and defensively. … We’re thrilled to add him to our core that we have on defense. We feel like we have a real bright future there.” Ronald "Popeye'' Jones was a three-sport star at Dresden High (1986-88). He was named TSSAA Class A Mr. Basketball in 1988, the school's only winner of the award. As a pitcher, he got the save in the 1987 state baseball tournament championship game at Greer Stadium, which remains Dresden High's only state championship in any sport. After Murray State, he played 11 seasons in the NBA. He currently is an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets. “Well, I'm competitive,” Seth Jones said. “I have a competitive nature and I get that from my parents. Yeah, you definitely want to prove [the first three teams] wrong and you definitely want to show them why they should have picked you. That's not my only goal next year, but it's definitely on my list.” Jones was the youngest member of Team USA’s junior national team, which won the World Junior Championships early this season. He also was captain of the 2012 under-18 team which won World Championship gold for the second consecutive year. With the Portland Winterhawks, he was the Western Hockey League’s highest scoring defenseman with 56 points (14 goals, 42 assists) in 61 games, the rookie of the year and the top prospect. “I've always played [defense],” Jones said. “I don't know why. I liked it a little better than forward. I think you can see and read the play a little bit more. It's not always go, go, go, kind of like a forward. But yeah, I kind of like seeing the play develop in a defense sense.” The first three picks were all forwards. Nathan MacKinnon went first overall to the Colorado Avalanche. Alexsander Barkov was second to Florida and Tampa Bay took Jonathan Drouin with the third pick. Presumably, the Predators started the day with the idea that one of those players would be their choice. Instead, they got a player they believe is a difference-maker at a position where the franchise hopes to maintain its reputation built on current captain and two-time Norris Trophy finalist Shea Weber and his former partner Ryan Suter, a Norris Trophy finalist this year with Minnesota. ‘I'd be lying if I said I wasn't thinking about going to those teams, but at the same time I'm excited to be a Predator,’ Jones said. “Obviously Shea Weber is there. He's a great player, and they have a lot of other great players, and I'm happy to be a part of the organization.” Nashville finished 29th in the goals scored during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season with an average of 2.27 per contest, which barely exceeded the franchise’s all-time worst of 2.23 set in 2002-03. Only once in the last six seasons have the Predators finished among the top half of the league in goals scored. Still, Poile said early last week that if Jones was available when they picked, he and his scouts would not hesitate to take him. Nashville City Paper LOADED: 07.01.2013 683252 New Jersey Devils With Big Trade for Schneider, Devils Prepare for Life After Brodeur By JEFF Z. KLEIN Published: June 30, 2013 NEWARK — Sunday was a wild day for the Devils. They hosted the N.H.L. draft amid new, troubling questions of financial instability and a possible ownership change. Cory Schneider, 27, compiled a. 927 save percentage in five seasons with the Canucks, the highest mark among goalies who have played more than 95 games. But in the end, the blockbuster trade they made — their first-round choice, ninth over all, for Vancouver goalie Cory Schneider — overshadowed everything else. “We have a trade to announce — I think you’re going to want to hear this,” N.H.L. Commissioner Gary Bettman told a packed Prudential Center, where Devils fans had been showering Bettman with boos. They quieted down to hear him announce the deal, and then erupted in a thunderous cheer, with some boos mixed in, as they tried to absorb what it all meant. Schneider, 27, compiled a .927 save percentage in five seasons with the Canucks, the highest mark among goalies who have played more than 95 games. Schneider, who said he was stunned by the deal, becomes the heir apparent to the 20-season veteran Martin Brodeur. The Canucks used the pick to select center Bo Horvat. The move by General Manager Lou Lamoriello changed Sunday’s conversation about the Devils, which until then had been about longstanding financial troubles that appear to have worsened in recent weeks. According to reports confirmed by sources close to the situation, the Devils’ majority owner, Jeff Vanderbeek, is in talks with Andrew Barroway, a Pennsylvania-based lawyer, to sell as much as a majority share of the team. The talks come as the Devils’ debts have mounted to tens of millions of dollars, and, as first reported by Forbes.com, Vanderbeek missed a recent loan repayment deadline. Last week, the N.H.L. Players’ Association distributed a memo after paychecks arrived late to some Devils players, informing its membership that Barroway had lent the club $30 million to help meet payroll and that the situation was stable, at least for the moment. But debt was not the message the Devils, or the N.H.L., wanted to send Sunday. “We have long stopped responding to all the speculation,” Bettman said when asked about the latest reports. “Most of it’s wrong.” Lamoriello suggested that the deal for Schneider, whose contract has two seasons and $8 million remaining, showed that business was proceeding as usual. “I’m not getting into anything that has to do with our organization, but I think that if we notice what we did today, it’s an indication that we’re pushing forward,” Lamoriello said. Those include efforts to bring back the mainstays Patrik Elias and David Clarkson. Before the draft, the 41-year-old Brodeur, whose son Anthony the Devils selected in the seventh round, said the Schneider trade had caught him by surprise. “I didn’t expect that,” he said. “But I think the Devils organization made a great trade. I’m not going to play forever.” Lamoriello echoed that, saying of Schneider: “I think we’re getting the goaltender not only of the present, but of the future. Marty is still the No. 1 goaltender, there’s no question there. There’s just a question of how much he can play to keep on top of his game.” In Vancouver, Schneider was involved in a two-season-long soap opera in which he and Roberto Luongo battled to be the No. 1 goalie. Luongo has long sought to be traded from Vancouver, but his large contract has made it hard for General Manager Mike Gillis to move him. Schneider said he was shocked to learn he was the one being traded. “I was hoping to spend the rest of my career in Vancouver,” he told the Canadian network TSN. “Unfortunately, it came down to this. I’ll be leaving a great hockey city in Vancouver, but I’m looking forward to going to New Jersey.” Luongo declined interview requests but said in a statement to TSN: “I’m shocked. I have to let this sink in and figure out what I’m going to do.” No one seemed to be happy about the trade except Lamoriello and the Devils, whose financial troubles did not stop them from making the biggest splash on draft day. SLAP SHOTS Dave Bolland, who scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for Chicago, was traded to Toronto for the 51st and 117th picks and a fourth-round selection in 2014. New York Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683253 New Jersey Devils Devils Work a Trade So They Can Select Brodeur’s Son By JEFF Z. KLEIN NEWARK — Martin Brodeur added another accomplishment to his distinguished Devils career Sunday: stepping to the podium at the Prudential Center and announcing the selection of his son Anthony at the N.H.L. draft. The Devils traded to be in position to choose Brodeur, an 18-year-old goalie who logged a .923 save percentage for Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Minnesota last season. They took him in the seventh round, with the 208th pick of the 211-pick draft. In exchange, the Devils gave the Los Angeles Kings a pick in the seventh round in 2015. “It was definitely a surprise,” said Anthony, who was born less than three weeks before his father won his first Stanley Cup with the Devils in 1995. “I didn’t really know if it was going to happen.” The 41-year-old Martin Brodeur, who was drafted by the Devils 20th over all in 1990, said: ”He’s a little bit like me, but he’s definitely got a little more modern goalie type. Those stacked-pad saves are pretty old school.” Anthony is expected to play next season for Gatineau of the Quebec junior league. New York Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683254 New Jersey Devils NHL draft 2013: Devils pick defenseman Steven Santini with 42nd pick in second round Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger on June 30, 2013 at 6:47 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 9:33 PM The Devils traded the 39th overall pick in the NHL entry draft to the Phoenix Coyotes for the 42nd and 73rd selections. They used the 42nd pick to take defenseman Steven Santini from the under-18 USHL developmental program. Santini, who is 6-2, 208 pounds, had no goals with 13 assists in 56 games last season. He was plus-16 with 42 penalty minutes. "I'm just a big, physical defenseman. I'm a good skater, a two-way guy. I get up and down the ice pretty quick." Santini said. "I'm not a big point-getter, but I'm a very good shutdown guy. I'm very responsible, very reliable. The shutdown role is something I embraced." Although he was a Rangers fans, Santini spoke of watching Scott Stevens. "He was definitely someone I kind of looked up to and really liked when I was younger," Santini said. "They've had a lot of good players. I'm excited to be here." He was aware that the Devils were interested. "I knew they had interest in me," Santini said. "I interviewed well at the combine. Once I saw there were some trades going around I didn't know what was going to happen but I knew they were interested in me so I knew it was a possibility." Santini spoke about being a Rangers fan. "That changed 20 minutes ago," he said with a smile. He was born in Bronxville, N.Y, and grew up in Mahopec, N.Y. Santini is committed to attending Boston College. "I grew up playing in Brewster (NY) since I was three or four. I wanted to play in the NHL. I wanted to get drafted," he said. "To hear my name today was a pretty unbelievable feeling. "There's a lot of work between now and when I play in the NHL but this is a good first step." He knows the metropolitan area well. "New York sports fans are the best. I know that firsthand," he said. "So I'm very happy to hopefully one day have the opportunity to play in New Jersey... If one day I can play for the Devils I'll be right near home." With the 73rd overall pick (third round), the Devils chose 18-year-old Kingston (OHL) center Ryan Kujawinski. Kujawinski, 6-2, 205-pounds, is from Iroquois Falls, Ontario. He had 17-3148 in 66 games last season. He had 40 penalty minutes and was minus-12. With the 100th overall pick (fourth round), the Devils chose Miles Wood, a 6-2, 180-pound left winger from Noble & Greenbough High in Massachusetts. He is committed to playing at Brown University. Myles Bell, a Kelowna (WHL) defenseman who was moved to forward because of his offensive ability, was taken by the Devils 160th overall. Born in Calgary, the 6-0, 214-pound Bell had 38 goals and 55 assists (93 points) last season for Kelowna. Former Devils goalie Sean Burke's son, Brendan, was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes. Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 683255 New Jersey Devils Former Boston College teammate Peter Harrold texted Schneider soon after the trade was announced. NHL draft 2013: Newest Devils goalie Cory Schneider learned of trade on TV Asked to look into a crystal ball to predict what will happen with the Devils' goaltending this season, Schneider said: "I'm still in a spot where I have to prove I can do this over 60-70 games." Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger The Devils traded the 39th overall pick (second round) to the Phoenix Coyotes for the 42nd and 73rd overall selections. Those are second-round and third-round picks. June 30, 2013 at 6:16 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 7:55 PM New Devils goalie Cory Schneider, acquired today in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks for the ninth overall pick in the NHL entry draft, knows Martin Brodeur will be a tough act to follow in New Jersey. For now, Schneider is thrilled to be Brodeur's partner. “I’ve been a huge fan of Marty Brodeur," Schneider told The Star-Ledger. "I started watching him when he first came into the league. For a guy like me to have played with, first, Roberto Luongo and now to get a chance to play with Marty Brodeur, a lot of goalies would kill for that opportunity to learn from those two guys. “I really haven’t heard how they plan to use us. Working with the best goalie who ever played the game can be nothing good for me. I’m excited to meet him and I’ll try to learn as much as I can from him. I don’t think I’ve ever met him in person.” As for eventually replacing a future Hall of Famer... “I don’t think you’re ever going to replace Marty Brodeur after what he’s done for that organization," Schneider said. "He’s just an iconic member of the Devils and hockey. I just hope to create my own identity. I’m not trying to be Marty Brodeur. I’m trying to be myself and just play the game I know how to play, do the best I can a nd hopefully bring a Stanley Cup back to New Jersey.” Schneider said he found out about the trade when a friend from TSN in Canada texted him and said to turn the TV to the draft. “I found out right as it happened," he said. "I got a text from somebody with TSN and he asked if I heard. I said no. I flipped over to the draft just as they were announcing a trade was being made. So I kind of saw it live. “I got a call quickly thereafter from (Canucks GM) Mike Gillis talling me the bad news from their end. Right after that I got a call from Lou Lamoriello that they acquired me. I had mixed emotions. I spent nine years in that organization, but at the same time I’m excited to move on and join a classy organization like the New Jersey Devils.” It came as something of a surprise, even though the Canucks had stated they wanted to move either Schneider or Luongo. “There were some rumors that I was going to be traded but I don't think you really expect it until it happens," Schneider said. "It seems like it all developed pretty quickly. I wasn’t aware New Jersey was in the hunt and trying to get me. That came as a pleasant surprise. I’m excited to come back east and play for an organization like the Devils.” He feels the Devils can be Stanley Cup contenders. “Of course. Any time you’re only a year removed from going to the Stanley Cup Finals, you obviously have a lot of good pieces in place," he said. "There is a reason the Devils made the playoffs forever up until this season. Lou Lamoriello runs a great organization, always trying to contend and make shrewd moves. Hopefully this will be another shrewd move and one that gets us back in the playoffs.” Schneider had to deal with the knowledge that the Canucks were listening to offers for their two goalies. "Roberto made it real easy on me. We really got along. We had a good friendship and he was supporting me as best he could," Schneider said. "He knew what was best for me, which is why he agreed to be moved. Unfortunately the parameters of the CBA changed and they were kind of forced to change plans. We're both relieved it's finally resolved. "I'm not sure how it's going to work with him in Vancouver and how he's going to respond to coming back. But knowing him, he's going to be a great goalie no matter where he plays." Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 683256 New Jersey Devils NHL draft 2013: Devils trade first-round pick to Canucks for goalie Cory Schneider Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger June 30, 2013 at 4:07 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 7:55 PM The Devils acquired a successor for goalie Martin Brodeur today when they traded the ninth overall pick in the NHL entry draft to the Vancouver Canucks for 27-year-old Cory Schneider. Schneider was 17-9-4 with five shutouts for the Canucks last season with a 2.11 goals-against average and .927 save percentage. He is 6-2, 195 pounds and went to Boston College. Brodeur still has a year remaining on his contract, so he will form a goalie tandem with Schneider. Schneider, from Salem, Mass., has two years remaining on his contract at $4 million each before he's eligible to become a free agent. The trade likely will mean the end of Johan Hedberg's career with the Devils. General manager Lou Lamoriello said last week the team did not expect to buy out the contract of any player this year before the July 5 compliance buyout deadline, but that now looks like a strong possibility. Hedberg has one year remaining on his contract ($1.4 million). He has a no-trade clause. "Today's decision was made after a thorough review of our options and in the interest of improving this team long-term through the draft and development of players," Canucks GM Mike Gillis said in a statement. "We appreciate the high level of professionalism and conduct both Cory and Roberto (Luongo) have shown while continuing to help this team be competitive. I would like to personally thank Cory for his contributions to our team and wish him the very best and a bright future." The deal was apparently completed Saturday night, but Schneider was not told. When Gillis made it known he'd be willing to trade Schneider, four teams were interested. They included the Devils, Blue Jackets, Flames and Oilers. Gillis would preferred to trade Roberto Luongo, but his huge contract (nine years left in a 12-year deal with a $5.3 million cap hit) scared teams off. Schneider was teammates with Devils center Stephen Gionta and defenseman Peter Harrold for two seasons at Boston College 2004-05 and 2005-06. "I think he is a great goalie and can have an impact on any team he plays for. I played with him at BC. He is a good guy and it will be nice to play with him again," Gionta said. Stefan Matteau, the Devils' first-round pick in 2012, may be the team's last first-rounder until 2015. Penalized by the NHL for the first Ilya Kovalchuk contract during the summer of 2010, the Devils do not have a first-round pick next year unless they make a deal with another club. Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 683257 New Jersey Devils NHL draft 2013: Devils have ninth overall pick at Prudential Center Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger June 30, 2013 at 2:33 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 4:04 PM The 2013 NHL entry draft has begun at Prudential Center in Newark. Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek welcomed everyone to the event. Then, there were boos as Gov. Chris Christie delivered a video message. Commissioner Gary Bettman was booed loudly and jeered as he welcomed everyone to the draft. With the first overall pick, the Colorado Avalanche chose Nathan MacKinnon, center for Halifax. Patrick Roy was on stage for the pick and heard "Marty's better" chants. “Nathan is a far more power ful skater than (John Tavares) is, or was at the same age,” Central Scouting's Dan Marr said. “He is very unique in that aspect. I actually think that during the course of the year his physical development was visible. Nathan gained weight and got stronger during the course of the season.” Florida Panthers selected Finnish/Russian center Aleksander Barkov with the second pick. “Barkov is a strong, two-way centerman and his hockey sense is phenomenal because he has the patience on the play," Marr said. "He sees the ice and makes the good reads. He can deliver the passes. They’re timely and they’re on the tape. And he has a decent finishing touch himself. He’s a very unselfish centerman. He likes to move the puck around and distribute the puck. And there is his work ethic. He shows up and comes to play every day. “Everybody wants high skills and low maintenance. This is a player that has high skills and zero maintenance.” Tampa Bay took left winger Jonathan Drouin (Halifax) with the third pick. Portland defenseman Seth Jones was finally taken fourth by the Nashville Predators. Central Scouting's Dan Marr before the start of the draft: “I’m not going to be surprised at any of the top three or four players who could go No. 1. That order is just completely up in the air and it’s going to be a difficult choice for teams. But it will be a great one for their franchises.” The Carolina Hurricanes took Swedish center Elias Lindholm with the fifth pick. With the sixth overall pick, the Calgary Flames chose Ottawa 67s center Sean Monahan. “I think I’m NHL ready right now, but a hard summer of training and getting stronger is really going to help me make that jump and become and impact player. That’s my goal next year,” Monahan said. Prospect Darnell Nurse on Monahan: “He’s one of the best two-way centers in our league (OHL). He does it every night. He played on a team this year which wasn’t that great and he was able to shine on a nightly basis. When you look at guys in our league in our draft year, he was probably the hardest to play against.” Nurse, a defenseman from Sault Ste. Marie, was picked seventh overall by the Edmonton Oilers. The Buffalo Sabres took defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen eighth. The Devils traded the ninth overall pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Vancouver Canucks goalie Corey Schneider. Schneider, 27, was 17-9-4 for the Canucks last season with a 2.11 goalsagainst average and .927 save percentage. He is 6-2, 195 pounds and went to Boston College. Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 683258 New Jersey Devils NHL draft 2013: Devils' Martin Brodeur worried about team finances and free agency Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger June 30, 2013 at 1:25 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 8:05 PM Devils goalie Martin Brodeur said he is concerned that owner Jeff Vanderbeek’s financial problems and the instability of the franchise will have a negative impact on trying to bring in outside free agents. Speaking at Prudential Center today before the NHL entry draft, Brodeur said the finacial issues will likely impact free agents such Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus and David Clarkson less than others. “You have to be concerned,” Brodeur said. “Not financially or anything, but the direction of the team when you have stuff that is up in the air. I don’t know anything about what is going on, but there is still information out there about us having difficulties once again. “We’re going through free agency. We have our own guys to sign and you try to help the team out by (signing) some more. When you have an organization that doesn’t look too stable, it’s kind of a tough thing. I think it might hurt us at one point. It shouldn’t, because everything will be fine eventually. Others teams have had to go through the same thing, but it’s not a good thing.” Free agents might not want to sign long-term deals with the Devils. “It’s one thing when you’re part of the family,” Brodeur said. “I’m part of the family. I trust everything that is going to happen. But for somebody from the outside who sees that two or three years have been chaotic all the time, what do you do? Already it’s not like we’re a hugely attractive market for free agents. We’re not the Rangers. We’re not the Flyers. We’re not Montreal or Toronto. So we need everything we can. That’s why all these things that happen are not fun for our team.” What about the impact on a longtime Devil like Elias or someone like Clarkson? “I think they understand more. I’m sure Lou was able to have conversations with them. (Lamoriello) knows what’s going on," Brodeur suggested. "He’s the only one who knows how it’s going to get fixed. I don’t think it’s a problem for our guys. It’s the new ones. You have to be positive about where you’re going.” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, in a conversation with The Star-Ledger, would not get into details about the possible restructuring of the Devils' ownership. "Lots has been speculated over the last year, much of it inaccurate," Bettman said. "If and when we have something to share, we'll make an announcement." Bettman did say the franchise is stable and at no risk of being moved. Brodeur is attending the draft because his son, Anthony, could be picked. “He was a little nervous this morning but this is an exciting day,” Brodeur said. “We laugh. At 14 years old we start our careers. He’s away from home by himself in Minnesota (at Shattuck- St. Mary's) and now it comes to this point and maybe get drafted. I’m happy for him. Hopefully it works out.” I asked Brodeur if this brought back memories from when he was drafted by the Devils. “(Anthony) was asking me questions about the draft and I totally forgot how things worked,” Brodeur said. “It brings back good memories. This is the start of something. My father always told me: ‘All right, you’re the No. 1 pick for them. You become a number. It doesn’t matter what you do or did. It’s from now on how you impress the organization.’ “You put your foot somewhere. From there it’s up to you to try to move up and achieve your goal.” Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 683259 New Jersey Devils NHL Draft 2013: Devils looking for a pick who will make immediate impact Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger on June 30, 2013 at 6:00 AM, updated June 30, 2013 at 6:09 AM fill the holes (on defense) are Jon Merrill, Eric Gelinas and Alexander Urbom." Merrill, the Devils’ first pick (38th overall) in 2010, may be ready for the NHL now. "I have to hope so, from what I saw in the American League and what I know of him as a player," Conte said. "But to say that, it’s all on him to be physically and mentally prepared. As far as skating and thinking skills, he’s ready. But it is a unique personality that succeeds in this league under the pressure. Not everybody wants to be out there." The days in which the Devils would draft a player with the intention of seeing him in the NHL three or four years down the road are long gone. And what about left winger Reid Boucher (99th overall in 2011)? Boucher is coming off a prolific junior season in which he scored 62 goals in 68 games for Sarnia (OHL) and then three goals in 11 AHL games with Albany. When the entry draft takes place at the Prudential Center this afternoon, general manager Lou Lamoriello and his staff must find a prospect in the first round capable of making an immediate impact. "I’d like to be more patient with him," Conte said. "He’s spectacular, but it’s not up to me. Players pick the team, not coaches, scouts or anybody else. They do it with performance. Simply put, the Devils have holes to fill. "The way he scores goals, it does translate from junior to the NHL. The way he shoots the puck, it doesn’t matter if you’re Marty (Brodeur) or (an amateur goalie)." "Of course we do. We didn’t make the playoffs," said David Conte, the Devils’ vice president of hockey operations. "We can make excuses. We can point to Marty (Brodeur) being hurt, Kovy (Ilya Kovalchuk) being hurt, a lot of things. The bottom line is we didn’t qualify for the playoffs, and there are reasons for that." Barring a trade, the Devils will have the ninth and 39th overall picks in the opening two rounds. They will not have a third-round selection, which they traded to the Minnesota Wild last year for Marek Zidlicky. They also will have selections in the fourth and sixth rounds, but they traded their fifth-round pick for Andrei Loktionov and their seventh-round pick for Alexei Ponikarovsky. On paper, the draft is deep enough for the Devils to get some immediate help. "A lot of people are comparing it to the draft year with Zach Parise and all those guys. I don’t quite see it the same as that," Conte said. "I think it’s a very good draft. No question. When you look back at a draft, it can be appealing on the potential, but the potential is not always realized. I’m just trying to get the best player and not be worried about whether it’s a good draft or a bad draft." Lamoriello, who told The Star-Ledger he likely will not buy out the contracts of any players this summer, must decide which of his own free agents to keep and which outside free agents to sign. The GM is also optimistic about the draft. The Devils believe Stefan Matteau, the club’s first pick (29th overall) last year, is capable of making an impact in 2013-14. They aren’t overly worried about the fact the big winger was disciplined and released by his junior team in April. "(Mattias) Tedenby and (Jacob) Josefson are the answers immediately. Personally, I think they are excellent," Conte said. "It’s a little bit about their belief in themselves and people’s belief in them." Then there is defenseman Adam Larsson, the Devils’ first pick (fourth overall) in 2011. Coach Pete DeBoer lost faith in him last season, but he could be ready to dominate if given a chance. It will make two out of three years in which the Devils have had a pick in the top nine. Perhaps the pressure is on. "Not really. It just makes it more important," Conte said. "It’s obviously easier. The fact is at nine, you’re not going to get the guy who is second or third on your list. If you’re picking 19th, you might get a guy who is 10th on your list. "If you’re picking ninth (as the Devils are), you might get a guy that is sixth, if you’re lucky. In all likelihood, it will probably be closer to seven, eight or nine. We will get somebody out of a group of players we want. There is no doubt about it." "It’s one of the better drafts from our scouting perspective," Lamoriello said. There is also no doubt that they need that player to make an impact right now. So where are the holes that can be filled immediately? Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 The Devils never did replace Parise, who signed with Minnesota last summer. Hunter Shinkaruk, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound forward from Medicine Hat (WHL) is said to be a potential Parise. He had 86 points (37 goals) in 64 games last season. Then there is London (OHL) center Max Domi, the son of former NHL tough guy Tie Domi. A very different player from his dad, Max has managed Type 1 diabetes and played well enough to be rated among the top 20 nongoalie prospects from North America. If the Devils have a shot at either Darnell Nurse of Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) or Rasmus Ristolainen of TPS (Sweden), they might be inclined to grab a defenseman. Both are 6-foot-4 and near 200 pounds. "Sometimes you feel one guy is a little better defenseman than another guy is a forward. He may be better by 2 percent, but we might want a forward," Conte said. "That comes into play at this stage. If you are picking where we were picking last year, at 29th, it doesn’t come into play. You just take who you think is the best guy. "I'm just trying to get the best player and not be worried about whether it's a good draft or a bad draft." - David Conte, Devils V.P. of hockey ops The Devils need to find the one prospect who can step in and help in 201314. "There is one player we’re going to draft that is a candidate to improve the team immediately and fill the holes," Conte said. "The rest are going to fill those holes in two or three years. Two if you are lucky. The players who will 683260 New Jersey Devils Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek may sell team David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger June 29, 2013 at 8:51 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 1:24 AM New Jersey Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek is in talks with an investment group led by attorney Andrew Barroway to obtain a significant influx of capital and possibly cede Vanderbeek’s controlling interest in the team, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations. The talks are continuing and it remains unclear whether Vanderbeek will maintain control of the hockey team and its parent company, Devils Arena Entertainment. The people who spoke requested anonymity because the deal is governed by a confidentiality agreement. The people also said there are no plans to move the team out of Newark, though they stressed the deal, first reported by Forbes.com, is very much in flux. The news comes at an auspicious time for the Devils as the team prepares to host the National Hockey League’s annual draft today at the Prudential Center. Vanderbeek declined to comment on the talks during a press conference Saturday announcing the NHL’s donation of 30 trees to the Newark arena. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who was also at the press conference, was likewise mum. "We are not going to confirm or deny that," he said when asked about the talks. "If we have something to announce, we’ll announce it." This is not the first time investors have been brought to the table to help keep the financially strapped franchise afloat, only to have a deal fall through at the last minute. In January, Vanderbeek, with the help of a loan from the NHL, negotiated a restructuring of the Devils’ debt, estimated at $190 million, and bought out longtime partners Brick City LLC. The move bought Vanderbeek, a former Wall Street trader, some time, but the team’s financial situation was hampered by a lockout that cut the season short. It also did not help the bottom line that the Devils did not make the playoffs this year after almost winning the Stanley Cup last season. In February, the Devils hammered out a new deal with Newark to share revenue at the arena, which has been a source of contention between Vanderbeek and the city since its opening in 2007. Rumors have circulated for weeks that Vanderbeek had missed a payment to creditors and was looking for investors to help fill the gap. Since purchasing a controlling interest in the team in 2004, Vanderbeek has been the public face of the Devils. He was one of the biggest proponents of moving the team to Newark and building the Prudential Center. Since then "The Rock" has been a popular venue for sports and entertainment and has driven major development in Newark’s downtown. Barroway, 47, is a Pennsylvania-based securities attorney. He specialized in bringing class-action shareholder lawsuits against publicly held companies, according to a report in Phillymag.com. In 2006, he led a group of investors to bid on the Philadelphia 76ers. Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 683261 New Jersey Devils NHL Draft 2013: Devils looking for a pick who will make immediate impact Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger Merrill, the Devils’ first pick (38th overall) in 2010, may be ready for the NHL now. "I have to hope so, from what I saw in the American League and what I know of him as a player," Conte said. "But to say that, it’s all on him to be physically and mentally prepared. As far as skating and thinking skills, he’s ready. But it is a unique personality that succeeds in this league under the pressure. Not everybody wants to be out there." June 30, 2013 at 6:00 AM, updated June 30, 2013 at 6:09 AM And what about left winger Reid Boucher (99th overall in 2011)? Boucher is coming off a prolific junior season in which he scored 62 goals in 68 games for Sarnia (OHL) and then three goals in 11 AHL games with Albany. The days in which the Devils would draft a player with the intention of seeing him in the NHL three or four years down the road are long gone. "I’d like to be more patient with him," Conte said. "He’s spectacular, but it’s not up to me. Players pick the team, not coaches, scouts or anybody else. They do it with performance. When the entry draft takes place at the Prudential Center this afternoon, general manager Lou Lamoriello and his staff must find a prospect in the first round capable of making an immediate impact. Simply put, the Devils have holes to fill. "Of course we do. We didn’t make the playoffs," said David Conte, the Devils’ vice president of hockey operations. "We can make excuses. We can point to Marty (Brodeur) being hurt, Kovy (Ilya Kovalchuk) being hurt, a lot of things. The bottom line is we didn’t qualify for the playoffs, and there are reasons for that." Barring a trade, the Devils will have the ninth and 39th overall picks in the opening two rounds. They will not have a third-round selection, which they traded to the Minnesota Wild last year for Marek Zidlicky. They also will have selections in the fourth and sixth rounds, but they traded their fifth-round pick for Andrei Loktionov and their seventh-round pick for Alexei Ponikarovsky. On paper, the draft is deep enough for the Devils to get some immediate help. "A lot of people are comparing it to the draft year with Zach Parise and all those guys. I don’t quite see it the same as that," Conte said. "I think it’s a very good draft. No question. When you look back at a draft, it can be appealing on the potential, but the potential is not always realized. I’m just trying to get the best player and not be worried about whether it’s a good draft or a bad draft." Lamoriello, who told The Star-Ledger he likely will not buy out the contracts of any players this summer, must decide which of his own free agents to keep and which outside free agents to sign. The GM is also optimistic about the draft. "It’s one of the better drafts from our scouting perspective," Lamoriello said. So where are the holes that can be filled immediately? The Devils never did replace Parise, who signed with Minnesota last summer. Hunter Shinkaruk, a 5-foot-11, 175-pound forward from Medicine Hat (WHL) is said to be a potential Parise. He had 86 points (37 goals) in 64 games last season. Then there is London (OHL) center Max Domi, the son of former NHL tough guy Tie Domi. A very different player from his dad, Max has managed Type 1 diabetes and played well enough to be rated among the top 20 nongoalie prospects from North America. If the Devils have a shot at either Darnell Nurse of Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) or Rasmus Ristolainen of TPS (Sweden), they might be inclined to grab a defenseman. Both are 6-foot-4 and near 200 pounds. "Sometimes you feel one guy is a little better defenseman than another guy is a forward. He may be better by 2 percent, but we might want a forward," Conte said. "That comes into play at this stage. If you are picking where we were picking last year, at 29th, it doesn’t come into play. You just take who you think is the best guy. The Devils need to find the one prospect who can step in and help in 201314. "There is one player we’re going to draft that is a candidate to improve the team immediately and fill the holes," Conte said. "The rest are going to fill those holes in two or three years. Two if you are lucky. The players who will fill the holes (on defense) are Jon Merrill, Eric Gelinas and Alexander Urbom." "The way he scores goals, it does translate from junior to the NHL. The way he shoots the puck, it doesn’t matter if you’re Marty (Brodeur) or (an amateur goalie)." The Devils believe Stefan Matteau, the club’s first pick (29th overall) last year, is capable of making an impact in 2013-14. They aren’t overly worried about the fact the big winger was disciplined and released by his junior team in April. "(Mattias) Tedenby and (Jacob) Josefson are the answers immediately. Personally, I think they are excellent," Conte said. "It’s a little bit about their belief in themselves and people’s belief in them." Then there is defenseman Adam Larsson, the Devils’ first pick (fourth overall) in 2011. Coach Pete DeBoer lost faith in him last season, but he could be ready to dominate if given a chance. It will make two out of three years in which the Devils have had a pick in the top nine. Perhaps the pressure is on. "Not really. It just makes it more important," Conte said. "It’s obviously easier. The fact is at nine, you’re not going to get the guy who is second or third on your list. If you’re picking 19th, you might get a guy who is 10th on your list. "If you’re picking ninth (as the Devils are), you might get a guy that is sixth, if you’re lucky. In all likelihood, it will probably be closer to seven, eight or nine. We will get somebody out of a group of players we want. There is no doubt about it." There is also no doubt that they need that player to make an impact right now. Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 683262 New Jersey Devils NHL draft 2013: Devils take Anthony Brodeur in seventh round Rich Chere/The Star-Ledger June 30, 2013 at 10:56 PM, updated June 30, 2013 at 11:10 PM The call came from Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello late in the sixth round of today's NHL entry draft at Prudential Center. Although the Devils did not have a pick in the seventh and final round because they used it to get Alexei Ponikarovsky from the Winnipeg Jets, Lamoriello revealed to Martin Brodeur that he had made a trade with the Los Angeles Kings. Giving up a seventh-round pick in 2015, it allowed the Devils to draft Brodeur’s 18-year-old son, Anthony, 208th overall. And it was dad who came down from a team suite to announce the pick on stage. “It was a great moment,” the elder Brodeur said. “He’s worked so hard the last four years away at school. To be able to get drafted, and to be drafted in New Jersey by New Jersey, we couldn’t ask for a better time.” The 5-10, 177-pound Anthony is also a goalie. After a standout season ay Shattuck -St. Mary’s prep school in Faribault, Minn., he will play junior hockey for the Gatineau Olympiques next season. “It was awesome. I can’t say it any other way,” Anthony said. “I’m speechless. Being in New Jersey around my family and friends, and having him surprise me and say it in front of everybody was pretty cool. “It’s surreal. I’ve grown up watching the Devils, cheering on the Devils, cheering on my dad. So being in this jersey in this arena is awesome.” For a time, it appeared the feel-good moment might not happen. “As the day went on it was definitely more nerve-racking,” Anthony said. “At the start I was all right. I wasn’t expecting to go in the first few rounds anyway, but going on it got pretty nerve-racking. Especially at the end.” Asked if there is now pressure to follow his dad, Anthony said: "I'm trying to create my own way. I'm not trying to be Martin Brodeur's son. There is pressure obviously, but I'm trying to do my own thing." And how about the pressure on the 41-year-old goalie? Brodeur joked that he is feeling it already. “Twice in a day. I have (Cory) Schneider now," Brodeur said of the newlyacquired goalie. Maybe it’s a sign." Star Ledger LOADED: 07.01.2013 683263 New Jersey Devils Devils draft pick capsules Tom Gulitti Monday, July 1, 2013 The Record Second round No. 42: Steve Santini, D, 6-2/207, U.S. under-18 team (USHL). Big, stay-athome defenseman. Headed to Boston College in fall. Third round No. 73: Ryan Kujawinski, C, 6-2/204, Kingston (OHL). Big, strong, two-way center, plays under former Devil Doug Gilmour in Kingston. Fourth round No. 100: Miles Wood, LW, 6-1/160, Noble and Greenough School (Dedham, Mass.). Son of former NHLer Randy Wood. Headed to Brown University. Sixth round No. 160: Myles Bell, LW, 6-0/210, Kelowna (WHL). Scored 38 goals in 2012-13 after being shifted from defense to left wing. Has a heavy shot. Seventh round No. 208: Anthony Brodeur, G, 5-10/177, Shattuck-St. Mary’s School (Faribault, Minn.). Martin Brodeur’s son likely needs more seasoning at the college level. Bergen Record LOADED: 07.01.2013 683264 New Jersey Devils Another Brodeur on the Devils Monday, July 1, 2013 TOM GULITTI STAFF WRITER The Record NEWARK – It was a whirlwind 2013 draft day for Devils goaltender Martin Brodeur at Prudential Center. First, he watched from a luxury suite beside his oldest son, Anthony, and backup Johan Hedberg as NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced the Devils had traded the ninth pick overall to Vancouver for goaltender Cory Schneider, who will now become Brodeur’s heir apparent. The day ended with the Devils pulling off a trade for the 208th pick – fourth from last in the final round – and then Martin Brodeur had the thrill of announcing that the team had drafted his son, also a goaltender. "It was a great moment," Martin Brodeur said. "Anthony’s worked so hard in the last four years away at school. To be able to get drafted, drafted in New Jersey, for New Jersey, you couldn’t ask for a better time." The Devils gave up a seventh-round pick in 2015 to get the pick to take Anthony, who went 21-5-2 with a 2.48 goals-against average and .923 save percentage this past season with Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Faribault, Minn. Anthony Brodeur will play major junior next season with Gatineau of the QMJHL. "It was awesome," Anthony said of his father calling his name. "I can’t say it any other way. I’m speechless. It was a pretty cool experience being in New Jersey around all my family and friends and having him say it in front of everybody." Anthony, who was born during the Devils’ run to their first Stanley Cup in 1995, said it was "kind of" a surprise when the team made the trade and director of scouting David Conte announced his dad would be making the pick. "I didn’t know it was going to happen," Anthony said. "But I figured if it was going to happen he was going to say something, announce it." Martin Brodeur said the Devils told him, "I think our fans deserve for you to announce his name." Now, Anthony Brodeur has his own Devils jersey with his name on it – that his father didn’t have to pay for. "It’s surreal," Anthony said. When the elder Brodeur, 41, was asked if he was feeling the younger Brodeur looking to take his job, he joked, "Twice in one day. I’ve got Schneider now." Martin Brodeur said he’s looking forward to battling for playing time with the 27-year-old Schneider next season. "I think for the future of the organization it’s the best move," the NHL’s alltime leader in wins and shutouts said. "Cory is one of the top five goalies, in my mind, in the NHL. [It’s] a chance for him to get away from the chaos of Vancouver. I’m not going to play forever. I think it’s great that I’m going to be able to play with him. I’m definitely going to try to push him and get my ice time as much as I can while I’m still able to play. Definitely, he’s the future of the organization.’’ Brodeur is entering the final season of his contract, but has said it’s not definite that he’ll retire when it’s over. And he still sees himself at the Devils’ No. 1 goalie. "In my mind, I am," he said. "He’s going to have to fight me for it." Brodeur said he and Hedberg were shocked when the trade for Schneider was announced. "That trade in the first round definitely came as a shock to a lot of people," he said. Bergen Record LOADED: 07.01.2013 683265 New Jersey Devils Devils acquire Cory Schneider as heir apparent for Marty Brodeur Sunday June 30, 2013, 11:56 PM TOM GULITTI The Devils have a minor problem with 40-year-old Johan Hedberg, the backup goaltender the past three seasons, under contract for one more season at $1.4 million. Hedberg, who was watching the draft at Prudential Center alongside Brodeur when the trade was announced, has a no-trade clause. Lamoriello said he hasn’t had a chance to speak with Brodeur or Hedberg yet about the trade. Lamoriello said he had “no thoughts” on whether using a compliance buyout on Hedberg is an option. STAFF WRITER “I’m going to sit down with Heddy and talk to him and just see where we’re at,” Lamoriello said. The Record Bergen Record LOADED: 07.01.2013 NEWARK – The Devils took a big step toward their life after Martin Brodeur on Sunday in a move that surprised many in Prudential Center. When it came time for the Devils to make their first-round pick in the NHL Draft, at No. 9 overall, there was no movement from the team’s draft table at first and then came the announcement from commissioner Gary Bettman. The fans stopped booing Bettman long enough to hear him say the Devils had traded their pick to the Vancouver Canucks for 27-year-old goaltender Cory Schneider. That turned the boos directed at Bettman to cheers for the Devils as the question of who would eventually succeed the 41-year-old Brodeur was finally answered. “I think we’re getting a goaltender not only of the present, but of the future,” Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said. “Certainly Marty is at a point where he can’t play the way he played as far as the number of games he’s played, and this man has proven to be a No. 1 goaltender and we feel great about it. I’ve spoken to him and he’s just excited to come here and work with Marty.” Schneider found out about the trade the way many fans did. “Basically on TV,” he said. Schneider was at his home in Boston when a friend who works for TSN Network in Canada texted him to turn on the draft. “I was watching the draft and heard I had been traded,” Schneider said. “[Canucks GM] Mike Gillis called a little after that.” Schneider spoke with Lamoriello on the phone after that. “It’s exciting to come to a great organization like the Devils that have been good for 20 years,” Schneider said. “I’m from the East, so it’s nice to come to a team closer to home.” Gillis had been trying to trade goaltender Roberto Luongo for a year, but was unable to find any takers for his contract, which has 10 years and nearly $57 million remaining. Word that Schneider might be moved instead first surfaced Saturday, but Schneider said he hadn’t talked to anyone with the Canucks, “since the end of the season.” Calgary and Edmonton reportedly expressed interest, but Gillis wanted a steeper price to trade Schneider within the division. Schneider went 17-9-4 last season with a 2.11 goals against average and .927 save percentage and five shutouts in 30 games. He goes from sharing the goaltending duties with Luongo to being Brodeur’s heir apparent. Brodeur, the NHL’s all-time leader in wins and shutouts, has one year left on this contract, but has said he isn’t sure that will be his final season. Schneider, who has two seasons left on his contract at $4 million each, said he is looking forward to working with Brodeur. “Growing up in the East, I’ve followed Marty’s career for a long time and I’ve still been following him now,” he said. “To get to play with Marty and Lu [Roberto Luongo], you can’t ask for more than that.” Lamoriello said Brodeur is “still a No. 1 goaltender.” "It’s just a question of how much he can play to keep at the top of his game,” he said. “The backto-back games, and certainly with the Olympic year coming where there’s going to be a condensed schedule it will be, I don’t want to say difficult, but this gives us that transition that we feel we would have loved to have gotten maybe a year ago if it was possible.” 683266 New Jersey Devils Devils trade No. 9 pick at NHL draft to Canucks for goalie Cory Schneider By Pat Leonard / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013, 10:06 PM The Devils stole the show in their own house early in the 2013 NHL draft Sunday afternoon, shocking the Prudential Center by trading their ninth overall pick to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for established goaltender Cory Schneider. The crowd at the surprisingly-filled Newark arena erupted with cheers in response to the move by Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello. Future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur, 41, and backup Johan Hedberg, 40, are both nearing the end of their careers, so adding Schneider, 27, fills a major need for the future. But it also creates an immediate goaltending controversy, since as Lamoriello said later Sunday, Brodeur is “still a number one goalie." “We’ll see how Marty is, how long he wants to play,” the Devils GM said, when asked how the trade affects Brodeur’s situation. “We know he’s had conversations (about) making a transition. At some time we have to do it. I’m sure all of us have to do it at some time." The transition to Schneider as Jersey’s goalie of the future is inevitable, though Lamoriello - who hadn’t spoken to Brodeur nearly five hours after the trade was announced - tried to downplay how much the deal may affect the Devils’ mainstay. “If you know Marty, Marty doesn’t need anyone to push him,” Lamoriello said. “Marty doesn’t compete against anyone. He competes against himself. He’s an elite athlete with tremendous pride and a team player. I don’t worry about Marty looking over his shoulder or anything like that. Marty’s too much of a professional, and he’ll help Cory as much as anyone will." The Devils also drafted Bronxville, N.Y., native Steven Santini, a 6-2, 207pound local defenseman from the U.S. under-18 development program, with the 42nd overall selection (second round). Earlier Sunday, the Islanders dealt former first-round pick and winger Nino Niederreiter, 20, to the Minnesota Wild for established winger Cal Clutterbuck, 25, and the 70th pick in the draft (third round), as first reported by Newsday. That came hours after the Rangers started the day with a minor deal seeking defensive depth, acquiring 6-5, 220-pound defenseman Justin Falk from the Wild in exchange for minor-league forward Benn Ferriero and a 2014 sixth-round pick. Canadian-born center Nathan MacKinnon went first overall as expected to the Colorado Avalanche, followed by a surprise second selection, Finnish center Sasha Barkov, by the Florida Panthers. Canadian center Jonathan Drouin went third to the Tampa Bay Lightning. ALL IN THE FAMILY The Devils traded for the L.A. Kings' 208th overall pick in the final, seventh round and drafted Brodeur's son, Anthony, also a goaltender, with Martin Brodeur making the announcement of the selection himself. New York Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683267 New Jersey Devils Devs secure Marty’s heir By LARRY BROOKS Last Updated: 4:26 AM, July 1, 2013 Posted: 12:44 AM, July 1, 2013 It was a Lou-Lou. That’s what the trade announced at yesterday’s Entry Draft in New Jersey was, that’s for sure, in which general manager Lou Lamoriello and the Devils acquired their goaltender of the near future in exchange for the ninth overall pick, who might have been part of a distant future. Cory Schneider, who spent the last couple of years in a twilight zone environment in Vancouver as part of an unwieldy goaltending tandem with Roberto Luongo, is coming east to team up with 41-year-old Martin Brodeur, who is entering the final season of his contract and perhaps of his incomparable career. CORY SCHNEIDER Will back up Brodeur. Thus, the 27-year-old Schneider — who has only two years remaining on his contract at $4 million per before he can become a free agent — becomes the Man Who Would Replace the Icon. That, though, is not the tag he wants to wear on his Devils uniform. “What Marty has done is in its own world,” Schneider told The Post in a telephone interview. “I want to forge my own identity in New Jersey and let my play stand on its own. “I had a lot of pressure in Vancouver as the goalie who was going to try and succeed Roberto Luongo, so I’m more or less accustomed to this type of thing. But again, I’m just going to focus on being the best I can be and not attempt to duplicate someone who can’t be duplicated.” Lamoriello made it clear there will be no goaltender controversy with the Devils, not with Brodeur ensconced as the franchise standard-bearer. “Marty is still the No. 1 goaltender, there is no question about that,” the GM said. “The question is how much he can play to be at the top of his game. “Certainly Marty can’t play the same number of games he used to. But Marty [isn’t going to be] competing against anyone. He competes against himself. “He’s not going to be looking over his shoulder.” Schneider said he was both “excited and stunned.” But after waiting two seasons to become a No. 1, he will have to wait some more. “That hasn’t crossed my mind, to be honest,” Schneider said. “I haven’t had the chance to talk to Lou Lamoriello about the plan for this season. “I’m excited to take on this new challenge and help the Devils win.” “I think for the future of the organization, it’s the best move. Brodeur, who was in attendance with his son, Anthony, a goaltender from Shattuck-St. Mary’s later drafted by the Devils in the seventh round, was happy with the deal. “I think Cory is one of the top five goalies in the league, in my mind in the NHL, and I think a chance for him to get away with the chaotic times in Vancouver,” Brodeur said. “I’m not going to play forever, I know that. I think it’s great that I will be able to play with him. I’m definitely going to try to push him and get my ice time as much as I can while I’m still able to play. Definitely he is the future of the organization.” Incumbent 40-year-old backup Johan Hedberg, who faltered when Brodeur went down with a back injury last season, has one year remaining on his deal at $1.4 million. It is possible the Devils will use an amnesty buyout on the goaltender. “Free agency and other things could be impaired because of restrictions the general manager might have,” said the No. 1 who wears No. 30. This obviously was not one of those things. Schneider, a Massachusetts native who played for Boston College and is a candidate for the U.S. Olympic team, went 17-9-4 with a .927 save percentage and 2.11 goals-against average last year for the Canucks, starting the last two games of the team’s first-round sweep by the Sharks. He recorded a 20-8-1 record two years ago with a .937 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against while starting three times in Vancouver’s five-game first-round defeat to the Kings. The situation in Vancouver had grown untenable, with Schneider obviously ready to take over as the team’s No. 1, but Canucks GM Mike Gillis was unable to get what he deemed a satisfactory return for Luongo, whose front-loaded contract runs through 2021-22. And as it developed, it is Luongo who winds up staying in Vancouver. And while Schneider got out, he still doesn’t have his own net ... at least for now. New York Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683268 New Jersey Devils Devs draft Brodeur’s son By DAVID SATRIANO Last Updated: 4:26 AM, July 1, 2013 Posted: 1:21 AM, July 1, 2013 Martin Brodeur’s career is in its twilight, but that doesn’t mean there will never be a Brodeur in a Devils uniform again. With the NHL Draft winding down yesterday, the Devils traded for the 208th pick from the Kings in exchange for a seventh round pick in 2015. When Brodeur surprised the crowd and took the stage to announce the pick, he announced the Devils had drafted his son, Anthony. “A great moment,” the elder Brodeur said. “I think Anthony has worked so hard for the last four years. To be able to get drafted in New Jersey for New Jersey, you couldn’t ask for a better team.” The younger Brodeur, a 5-foot-11, 177-pound goaltender from Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep in Minnesota, will be playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season. He is still a ways away from the NHL, but last night was one he won’t ever forget. “Speechless,” Anthony, 18, said. “Being in New Jersey around all my family and friends and having [his father] surprise me and say my name in front of everybody was pretty cool.” “It’s surreal. Growing up watching the Devils, cheering on the Devils, cheering on my dad. Being in this jersey right now and being in this arena and everything, it’s awesome.” Anthony knows he will always be compared to his father, one of the greatest goalies of all time who owns the most wins and shutouts in NHL history. “I’m trying to create my own way. I’m not trying to be Martin Brodeur’s son,” he said. “There’s pressure, obviously, but I am trying to do my own thing. ” New York Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683269 New York Islanders Islanders Make Deal With Wild Before Selecting a Defenseman in the First Round By ALLAN KREDA NEWARK — The Islanders were busy early on Sunday at the N.H.L draft at the Prudential Center. Before selecting defenseman Ryan Pulock 15th over all, they dealt Nino Niederreiter to the Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck, a former junior linemate of Islanders leading scorer John Tavares. The Islanders also received the 70th pick in Sunday’s draft from the Wild. Clutterbuck, 25, scored a career-best 19 goals in 2010-11 but is considered more of a physical player that a high-powered scorer. Clutterbuck, who played his entire career with the Wild since joining them as a 20-year-old during the 2007-08 season, had 62 goals, 48 assists and 337 penalty minutes in 346 games with Minnesota. The Islanders will need to re-signed Clutterbuck, who becomes a free agent Friday. “He’s a good player who helps us right away,” Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said. Clutterbuck was a third-round selection by the Wild in 2006. A native of Welland, Ontario, he played for the Toronto St. Michael’s Majors and Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League, where he was a teammate of Tavares for two seasons. Clutterbuck scored 35 goals each of two seasons playing alongside Tavares with Oshawa. The 20-year-old Niederreiter, the fifth overall pick by the Islanders three years ago, spent the 2012-13 season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League, where he had 28 goals and 22 assists. He scored only one goal in 55 games for the Islanders in 2011-12, his last season in the N.H.L. Pulock, who played for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League the past three seasons, is best known for his hard slap shot. Pulock, 6-foot and 210 pounds, had 14 goals and 45 points for the Wheat Kings to finish tied for the team points lead. His offensive production also helped him generate 19 goals and 60 points in 2011-12 and 42 points in 2010-11. “My defensive game is coming along,” Pulock said. “I feel that I am not too far from being N.H.L.-ready. I look forward to battling against bigger guys and I’m really happy to start my career in New York.” New York Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683270 New York Islanders Rangers’ First Pick Is One With Ties to the Islanders By JEFF Z. KLEIN NEWARK — The Rangers did not make a selection until the third round of Sunday’s N.H.L. draft at the Prudential Center, and when they finally did, they chose somebody whose father and brother played for the Islanders. The Rangers chose Adam Tambellini, a 6-foot-2 center, with the 65th overall pick. Tambellini, who scored 65 points in 52 games for Surrey Eagles of the Junior A British Columbia league last season, who will play for the University of North Dakota next fall. Tambellini’s father is Steve Tambellini, who played for the Islanders from 1978 to 1981, and Tambellini’s older brother, Jeff, played for the Isles from 2005 to 2010. Was he at all conflicted by joining the archrival Rangers? “I always looked up to my brother, and I thought it was cool that he played in New York City,” Tambellini said, perhaps deliberately conflating Long Island with the city for diplomatic purposes. “I couldn’t be happier with the way it worked out for me to be in New York City. It’s a dream come true.” The Eagles were league champions last season, and North Dakota Coach Dave Hakstol gave a positive scouting report on Tambellini. “This year, in his first year out of high school, Adam was a key player on the best team in the B.C.H.L.,” Hakstol said. “He’s really talented, and the offensive side of his game is outstanding. Where he’s excited to keep working and improving is to become that reliable, responsible two-way forward, and he’s going to be in great position to do that.” The rest of the Rangers picks on Sunday were Pavel Buchenivich, a pointa-game left winger with the Cherepovets junior team in Russia, taken 75th over all. At No. 80 they chose another left winger, Anthony Duclair, who scored 50 points in 55 games with the Quebec Remparts. At No. 110, the Rangers took Ryan Graves a 6- 4 defenseman with Prince Edward Island of the Quebec league. And at No. 170 they selected Mackenzie Skapski, a goalie with Kootenay of the British Columbia league. The Rangers started the day by trading the minor league forward Benn Ferreiro and a sixth-round pick in 2014 to Minnesota for the hulking defenseman Justin Falk. The 6- 5, 220-pound Falk, 24, had 3 assists and 40 penalty minutes in 36 games with the Wild last season and has played in a 108 regular-season and 4 playoff games over four seasons. He has fought 12 times in those games, and seems to be the type of big, intimidating defenseman the Rangers have lacked in recent seasons. New York Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683271 New York Islanders Isles trade Nino Niederreiter to Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck Originally published: June 30, 2013 4:07 PM Updated: June 30, 2013 9:23 PM By ARTHUR STAPLE NEWARK - The Islanders did not have a top-five draft pick Sunday, but they still made a move at the beginning of the draft, trading disgruntled prospect Nino Niederreiter to the Minnesota Wild for agitating forward Cal Clutterbuck. Clutterbuck, 25, a junior teammate of John Tavares, led the NHL in hits from 2008-11. He was a fan favorite in five seasons with the Wild and hopes to bring the same edge to his new team. "I just try to bring an element that not many other people can bring," said Clutterbuck, who is a restricted free agent and knew he was likely to be dealt Sunday. "I'm going to help [the Islanders] succeed any way I can." Niederreiter was the No. 5 pick in the 2010 draft and came to the club in 2011-12 with loads of promise, but things soured in his rookie season. Niederreiter had only one point in 56 games and grew disenchanted with his role. When Niederreiter wasn't called up from Bridgeport for the abbreviated 2013 season training camp in January, his agent publicly demanded a trade. That left general manager Garth Snow working this offseason to unload the big wing. Snow offered Niederreiter to the Kings for goaltender Jonathan Bernier and ultimately settled on a smaller return, also receiving Minnesota's third-round pick Sunday. "We got a good young player that's established in the NHL," Snow said. "We love the element of grit and he obviously has had success putting the puck in the net and creating offense. He brings immediate help and we're happy about the trade." So was Niederreiter, who was looking for a fresh start. "I didn't have a strong year [in 2011-12]," he said. "I didn't get the chance I was hoping for and then I didn't get invited to camp, but I knew I had to work as hard as I can. I never really heard anything from the team, so I was just a little bit disappointed about that. I wanted to see if they still wanted me and stuff. Now I got a new opportunity and I'm very excited about it." The Islanders soon may rid themselves of a much longer- standing issue, too. After failing to deal away Rick DiPietro's contract on draft day, Snow may have a decision on whether to buy him out in the next day or two. If the Isles decide to buy out the remaining eight years of DiPietro's deal, Newsday has learned it would be a compliance buyout, meaning the $1.5 million the Isles will owe DiPietro per year over the next 16 years would not count against the team's salary cap. The Isles still are in the market for a goaltender, with the team letting Evgeni Nabokov hit the open market Friday. "We're obviously going to have to make an addition at that position," Snow said. "We'll see how the next few weeks play out." Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683272 New York Islanders Islanders take defenseman Ryan Pulock with first pick Published: June 30, 2013 10:21 PM By ARTHUR STAPLE NEWARK - The Islanders drafted defenseman Ryan Pulock with the 15th pick Sunday, continuing the trend of recent seasons of spending high picks on defensemen out of the Western Hockey League. With Travis Hamonic, who played for Brandon of the WHL as Pulock does, and Griffin Reinhart, the No. 4 pick last year out of the WHL's Edmonton squad, the Isles figured it was worth another shot at a top defenseman to add to their growing haul of prospects at that position. Pulock, though, is a more offensively gifted defenseman than most in the Isles' system, with 14 goals and 31 assists this past season for Brandon. "He's a good young defenseman, can create offense, plays the game the right way, plays hard in front of his net," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said. 'We just really love his offensive flair." Pulock, who turns 19 on Oct. 6, hoped he would have a real chance to fight for an NHL job within a couple of seasons. He said his father, David, is a lifelong Islanders fan to boot. "They're a team that had a lot of great seasons in the past, some tough parts and now they're really coming on," Ryan Pulock said. The Isles did turn away from defense for their remaining picks, going with three former teammates in rounds three and four. With the 70th pick the Isles acquired from the Wild Sunday, the Isles took goaltender Eamon McAdam of Waterloo in the USHL; McAdam, a Pennsylvania native, is headed to Penn State in the fall. Six picks later, the Isles took forward Taylor Cammarata, the USHL player of the year at Waterloo last season. The 5-6 speedster is headed to the University of Minnesota. And in the fourth round, the Isles took another goaltender, Stephon Williams, who left Waterloo a year ago for Minnesota State-Mankato. The final picks were Swedish center Viktor Crus Rydberg at No. 136, center Alan Quine from Belleville of the OHL at No. 166, and defenseman Kyle Burroughs of Regina in the WHL at No. 196. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683273 New York Rangers Rangers’ First Pick Is One With Ties to the Islanders By JEFF Z. KLEIN NEWARK — The Rangers did not make a selection until the third round of Sunday’s N.H.L. draft at the Prudential Center, and when they finally did, they chose somebody whose father and brother played for the Islanders. The Rangers chose Adam Tambellini, a 6-foot-2 center, with the 65th overall pick. Tambellini, who scored 65 points in 52 games for Surrey Eagles of the Junior A British Columbia league last season, who will play for the University of North Dakota next fall. Tambellini’s father is Steve Tambellini, who played for the Islanders from 1978 to 1981, and Tambellini’s older brother, Jeff, played for the Isles from 2005 to 2010. Was he at all conflicted by joining the archrival Rangers? “I always looked up to my brother, and I thought it was cool that he played in New York City,” Tambellini said, perhaps deliberately conflating Long Island with the city for diplomatic purposes. “I couldn’t be happier with the way it worked out for me to be in New York City. It’s a dream come true.” The Eagles were league champions last season, and North Dakota Coach Dave Hakstol gave a positive scouting report on Tambellini. “This year, in his first year out of high school, Adam was a key player on the best team in the B.C.H.L.,” Hakstol said. “He’s really talented, and the offensive side of his game is outstanding. Where he’s excited to keep working and improving is to become that reliable, responsible two-way forward, and he’s going to be in great position to do that.” The rest of the Rangers picks on Sunday were Pavel Buchenivich, a pointa-game left winger with the Cherepovets junior team in Russia, taken 75th over all. At No. 80 they chose another left winger, Anthony Duclair, who scored 50 points in 55 games with the Quebec Remparts. At No. 110, the Rangers took Ryan Graves a 6- 4 defenseman with Prince Edward Island of the Quebec league. And at No. 170 they selected Mackenzie Skapski, a goalie with Kootenay of the British Columbia league. The Rangers started the day by trading the minor league forward Benn Ferreiro and a sixth-round pick in 2014 to Minnesota for the hulking defenseman Justin Falk. The 6- 5, 220-pound Falk, 24, had 3 assists and 40 penalty minutes in 36 games with the Wild last season and has played in a 108 regular-season and 4 playoff games over four seasons. He has fought 12 times in those games, and seems to be the type of big, intimidating defenseman the Rangers have lacked in recent seasons. New York Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683274 New York Rangers NY Rangers acquired defenseman Justin Falk for 2014 sixth-round pick and forward Benn Ferriero in early draft-day trade BY Pat Leonard The Rangers swung a deal with the Minnesota Wild late Sunday morning before the NHL draft even began in Newark, acquiring 6-5, 220-pound defenseman Justin Falk in exchange for minor-league forward Benn Ferriero and a 2014 sixth-round pick. The trade essentially was Falk for the draft pick, but the Rangers also had to get rid of an expiring contract, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. That’s because adding Falk would have given New York 51 roster players – one above the 50-man limit. So they included Ferriero in the deal, as well. RANGERS OPT NOT TO BUY OUT RICHARDS' CONTRACT THIS SUMMER Falk, 24, has one goal and 14 assists in 108 career regular season games – and no points in four playoff games – during parts of four seasons with the Wild after being selected in the fourth round of the 2007 draft (110th overall). Falk is a restricted free agent who carried a modest $825,000 cap hit last season. The Rangers are trying to add defensive depth but also could be – or should be, at least – looking to free cap space, since retaining Brad Richards has left them with only about $12 million to re-sign restricted free agents Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello, and unrestricted free agent Ryane Clowe. Of course, they’d like money then to pursue options outside of their organization, also. That is one reason why the Rangers could listen to offers for players such as defenseman Michael Del Zotto (one year remaining at $2.55 million) and center Brian Boyle ($1.7 million) if teams come knocking. Del Zotto, however, also is part of that current defensive depth and could benefit under new coach Alain Vigneault, who mentioned specifically at his introduction on June 21 that he feels there is more opportunity for Rangers defensemen to join the rush. At his best, Del Zotto takes advantage of open ice and thrives with his passing and playmaking during surges and counterattacks. New York Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683275 New York Rangers Ulf Samuelsson to join Alain Vigneault’s coaching staff with NY Rangers By Pat Leonard / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013, 9:23 PM Ulf Samuelsson, here as an assistant with Phoenix, will be on Alain Vinault's bench next season as an assistant with the Rangers. The Rangers made more news behind their bench than on it during draft day in Newark, as Alain Vigneault’s coaching staff began to round into form. The Blueshirts will hire two-time Stanley Cup winning defenseman Ulf Samuelsson as an assistant coach, the Daily News has confirmed. Samuelsson, a former Ranger was most recently was head coach of Modo in the Swedish Elite League, as an assistant coach. Meanwhile, Newell Brown, an assistant of Vigneault’s the past three seasons in Vancouver, has emerged as the favorite to coach the Rangers’ power play, the Daily News has learned. Samuelsson, 49, was an assistant coach in 2005-06 with the Rangers’ AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, then moved on to the NHL and coached as an assistant with the Phoenix Coyotes from 2006 through 2011. He joined Modo in his native Sweden in May 2011 but left after one season. “What Ulfie was (as a player) was a hardnosed, competitive, son-of-a-‘B’. When he’s on your side, you just loved ‘em,” said Ray Ferraro, Samuelsson’s Rangers teammate in 1995-96 who now works as a TSN analyst. “As a coach, he is extremely hardworking, and very, very diligent about trying to be better. So he’s not just saying, ‘Hey, I was an NHL defenseman and I know how to coach.’ He's always looking to improve. That’s why he went to Modo - to learn more.” Samuelsson played 17 physical seasons in the NHL, winning the Cup in 1991 and 1992 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His contract with the Rangers is not finalized yet, so the team will not comment until his hiring is official. Brown, meanwhile, is expected to be asked to improve the Rangers’ power play after leading the Canucks’ man advantage to NHL ranks of first overall, fourth overall and 22nd overall in the past three seasons, respectively. At the draft, the Rangers had no picks until the third round, since they previously had surrendered their first- and second-round selections in trades for Rick Nash and Ryane Clowe, respectively. But they had three picks in the third round and used them all on forwards, beginning with North Dakota center Adam Tambellini (6-2, 169 pounds) at No. 65. He is the son of Steve Tambellini, the former Edmonton Oilers general manager who played for the Islanders and Devils, and the brother of Jeff Tambellini, another ex-Isle. Adam Tambellini posted 14 goals and 26 points in 16 games finishing his most recent season with the Surrey Eagles of the British Columbia Hockey League. At 75, the Rangers took 6-1, 176-pound forward Pavel Buchnevick of the Russian junior league - the 34th ranked prospect in the entire draft who slipped due to scouting reports citing need for increased strength and intensity. Then at 80, they picked 5-11, 180-pound left wing Anthony Duclair from the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Rangers began the day by swinging a deal with the Minnesota Wild for defensive depth, acquiring 6-5, 220-pound defenseman Justin Falk in exchange for minor-league forward Benn Ferriero and a 2014 sixth-round pick. New York Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683276 New York Rangers Samuelsson named as assistant coach By LARRY BROOKS Last Updated: 3:44 AM, July 1, 2013 Posted: 1:21 AM, July 1, 2013 Ulf Samuelsson is returning to New York. The one-time Blueshirts defenseman is joining Alain Vigneault’s staff as an assistant coach and is expected to be on the job today when the Rangers’ prospects’ camp opens. Samuelsson, who spent the last two seasons as head coach of Modo Hockey of the Swedish Elite League following four seasons as assistant coach of the Coyotes and one year as assistant of the AHL Wolf Pack, will be responsible for overseeing the defense. Vigneault, who met with Samuelsson the past two days, is expected to name an additional assistant who would be responsible for the power play. That could be Newell Brown, who had that responsibility on Vigneault’s staff in Vancouver. Samuelsson, known as one of the meanest hombres around during his 16year NHL career, spent nearly four seasons with the Rangers from 1995-96 through late 1998-99, arriving in the regrettable deal with Pittsburgh in which Sergei Zubov and Petr Nedved went to the Penguins in exchange for Samuelsson and Luc Robitaille. * The Blueshirts added much-needed depth to the blue line by acquiring 24year-old Justin Falk from the Wild in exchange for a sixth-round pick in next year’s draft and the rights to AHL winger Benn Ferreiro. Falk, who is not to be confused with Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk, is a 6-foot-5, 220-pounder who is more finesse-oriented than physically inclined. A left-hand shot, Falk is a restricted free agent who is owed a fairly healthy qualifying offer of $866,250. He recorded three points (all assists) in 36 games last year for Minnesota and has 15 career points (1-14) in 108 NHL matches. “I’m beyond excited for this new chapter with [the Rangers],” Falk posted on his Twitter account. “Looking forward to everything that’s ahead in front of the Ranger faithful.” Accounting for the projected signings of Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan, Carl Hagelin, Mats Zuccarello and Falk, the Blueshirts appear to have just more than $1.5 million of space with which to work going forward into the free agency period that opens on Friday. New York Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683277 New York Rangers Rangers' draft pick capsules Andrew Gross Monday, July 1, 2013 The Record Third round No. 65: Adam Tambellini, C, 6-2, 169, Surrey (BCHL). The son of former Oiler GM and Islander Steve Tambellini is headed to North Dakota for college hockey. No. 75: Pavel Buchnevich, LW, 6-1, 176, Cherepovets 2 (Russia Jr.): The slick skater has two more seasons left on his KHL contract, so he'll remain in Russia. No. 80: Anthony Duclair, LW, 5-11, 177, Quebec (QMJHL): Coming off an up-and-down second junior hockey season, in part because of an ankle injury. Fourth round No. 110: Ryan Graves, D, 6-4, 220, Prince Edward Island (QMJHL): A stayat-home defenseman who is getting stronger with his physical play Sixth round No. 170: Mackenzie Skapski, G, 6-2, 186, Kootenay (WHL): Rebounded after a poor start with a solid second half of the season under former Rangers minor-league coach Ryan McGill. Bergen Record LOADED: 07.01.2013 683278 New York Rangers Rangers acquire D Justin Falk from Wild, pursue Ulf Samuelsson as assistant coach Sunday June 30, 2013, 11:49 PM ANDREW GROSS STAFF WRITER The Record NEWARK – For nearly four hours Sunday, the Rangers’ brass watched as the other 29 NHL teams conducted the first two rounds of the NHL Draft at Prudential Center. Instead, the more interesting news was acquiring Wild defenseman Justin Falk for minor-league forward Benn Ferriero and a sixth-round pick in 2014 and being on the verge of hiring former defenseman Ulf Samuelsson as an assistant coach. “I think he can play in the top six,” Rangers director of player personnel Gordie Clark said of Falk, 24. “The element he brings is if he doesn’t make it as a sixth and he’s a seventh [defenseman], we really haven’t had a seventh or eighth that, when there’s an injury, they can move up.” The Rangers had sent their first-round pick to the Blue Jackets in the Rick Nash deal and their second-rounder to the Sharks for rental Ryane Clowe. Clark said the deals were worth it, even if it made Sunday’s draft a bit frustrating. “I had never sat there and watched so much talent just walk through the tables to the podium,” said Clark, who ran his sixth draft for the organization. The Rangers entered the draft looking to add defense and goaltending depth. Instead, they took a trio of forwards in the third round, including Adam Tambellini, the son of former Islanders and Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini, before taking defenseman Ryan Graves — no relation to Rangers’ great Adam Graves – in the fourth round, and goalie Mackenzie Skapski in the sixth round. “I couldn’t really put it into words,” said Tambellini, whose brother, Jeff, also played in the NHL, of being drafted. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound center, who had 14 goals and 13 assists in 16 games for Surrey (British Columbia Hockey League), will play college hockey at North Dakota, and Clark said he might need all four years to develop fully. The Rangers also selected left wings Pavel Buchnevich and Anthony Duclair in the third round. Clark compared Buchnevich’s style to a fellow Russian, the late Alexei Cherepanov, who was picked 17th overall by the Rangers in 2007, but died during a KHL game the following year. The Rangers announced before the draft they had acquired Falk. “He’s a young guy who’s improving, we think he’s a real good fit,” said assistant GM Jim Schoenfeld, adding he believes a team must have nine NHL-ready defensemen in order to have a successful playoff run. “It’s a first step. I don’t know if you ever have too many.” The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Falk, has who had one goal, 14 assists and 100 penalty minutes in 108 games with the Wild after making his NHL debut on March 19, 2010. Falk was originally selected 110th overall in the 2007 draft. Falk, who will be a restricted free agent come Friday, had a one-way contract worth $825,000 in 2013 so the Rangers must extend him a qualifying offer of $866,250. The Rangers were working to finalize the contract details on Samuelsson’s contract, and he is expected to be at the Madison Square Garden Training Center today as the team opens its five-day prospect camp. Among those expected at the prospect camp are former first-round picks J.T. Miller, who had two goals and two assists in 26 games for the Rangers but is recovering from an injured left wrist, and defensemen Dylan McIlrath and Brady Skjei. Samuelsson was a Coyotes assistant from 2006-11 and spent the past two seasons as Modo’s head coach in the Swedish Elite League. He also served rin the Rangers’ organization as a Hartford (AHL) assistant in 200506. The rest of Alain Vigneault’s staff – which will include goalie coach Benoit Allaire, now serving under his third Rangers coach after John Tortorella and Tom Renney – is expected to be announced this week. Bergen Record LOADED: 07.01.2013 683279 New York Rangers Rangers trade for Minnesota Wild's Justin Falk Originally published: June 30, 2013 1:45 PM Updated: June 30, 2013 8:46 PM By STEVE ZIPAY NEWARK -- Before the doors even opened at Prudential Center for the NHL draft, the Rangers had made a trade for a physical defenseman and were putting the finishing touches on a deal for an assistant coach. Justin Falk, a 6-5, 220-pound blueliner, was acquired from the Wild for Benn Ferriero and a sixth-round pick in 2014. Falk, 24, who has played in 108 NHL games since being selected in the fourth round of the 2007 draft, has a goal, 14 assists and 100 penalty minutes. Falk, born in Snowflake, Alberta, is a "first step'' in adding defensive depth, said assistant general manager Jim Schoenfeld, who is eager to see him in training camp. Falk told the Rangers' website: "I have the confidence in my ability to shut down elite players in this league." Meanwhile, the Rangers are expected to complete a contract with former defenseman Ulf Samuelsson to join coach Alain Vigneault's staff. Samuelsson, 49, was an assistant with the Phoenix Coyotes for six seasons before serving as head coach of MoDo in Sweden last season. He played for the Rangers for four seasons, as well as the Whalers, Penguins, Red Wings and Flyers. Vigneault, who was at the draft, will add another assistant, most likely Newell Brown, who ran the power play in Vancouver. Samuelsson is expected to be in Westchester when the Rangers open their weeklong prospect development camp Monday. The top names among the 21 forwards, 10 defensemen and three goalies are J.T. Miller, 20, who played 26 games with the Rangers before being shut down with an injured wrist; right wings Christian Thomas and Michael St. Croix; last year's top pick, defenseman Brady Skjei, and former firstrounder Dylan McIlrath, who injured his knee in camp last year. Two other AHL forwards are expected to get a look in training camp in September: right wings Marek Hrivik and Josh Nicholls. The Dolan family owns controlling interests in the Rangers, Madison Square Garden and Cablevision. Cablevision owns Newsday. Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683280 New York Rangers Rangers choose center Adam Tambellini with their first pick Originally published: June 30, 2013 10:46 PM Updated: June 30, 2013 10:51 PM By STEVE ZIPAY NEWARK -- With no picks until the third round of the NHL draft, veteran amateur talent evaluator Gordie Clark was losing his patience. "I had just never sat there and watched so much talent just walk through the tables to the podium," the Rangers' director of player personnel said. When the time came, with the 65th and 75th picks, "we wanted to take a chance," he said. Referring to center Adam Tambellini and Russian winger Pavel Buchnevich, "We got some speed and skill." Tambellini, 18, is a lanky pivot from the British Columbia Hockey League, which produced Ottawa's Kyle Turris. He is the son of Steve, who was chosen 15th overall by the Islanders in 1978 and played two years on Long Island, including the Stanley Cup season of 1980. Adam's brother, Jeff, also played for the Islanders. The youngest Tambellini is 6-2, 170 pounds and has committed to the University of North Dakota. In 52 BCHL games, he notched 36 goals and 30 assists and was ranked 42nd among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. "Tambellini's a good skater," said Clark, "and Buchnevich reminds me of [Alexei] Cherepanov." That's high praise. Cherepanov, who led the Russian juniors to medals in three world championship tournaments, was drafted 17th overall by the Rangers in 2007, but died at 19 after collapsing on the bench during a regular season game in the KHL. In Tambellini's case, bloodlines make a difference. "There's no question," said Clark, who in 2009 drafted Ryan Bourque, son of Bruins defenseman Ray. "I think a lot of Steve Tambellini. I remember watching his other son, he was shorter and faster, this one taller and more of a playmaker. Both of them have Steve's shot. They have NHL shots. He needs to put a little weight on and he'll have time to do that at North Dakota. It's kind of like [Carl] Hagelin. We projected he might be there four years, and he came out all right. North Dakota's put a bunch of players in the NHL." The Rangers spoke to Tambellini several times during the season, and the draft day advice that he got from his dad and brother was simple: "It's a once in a lifetime thing, it's out of your control, just sit back and have fun." Tambellini just finished his second season in the BCHL, beginning with the Vernon Vipers and ending with the Surrey Eagles via a trade. "He's very smart for his age," Vipers coach Jason Williamson told the Vancouver Province, "and anytime he gets the puck on the offensive side of the red line he's very dangerous. His shot, his release are at an NHL level already, so once he packs on a few more pounds it's going to be quite scary." Asked to describe his assets, Tambellini said he's an "offensive center. I shoot the puck as much as possible, [but] I have to get stronger . . . North Dakota produces some pretty good players, so I'd like to join the list. I don't have a specific timetable." Newsday LOADED: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683281 New York Rangers Rangers acquire Falk (not Faulk) 30 June 2013, 3:06 pm by Carp NEW YORK, June 30, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Justin Falk from Minnesota in exchange for forward Benn Ferriero and a sixth round pick (originally Columbus’) in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Falk, 24, registered three assists and 40 penalty minutes in 36 games with the Minnesota Wild last season. He posted a plus or even rating in 27 of his 36 contests, and skated in his 100th career NHL game on March 27 against Phoenix. Falk also skated in four playoff contests, making his NHL playoff debut on May 3 at Chicago in Game 2 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal series. The 6-5, 220-pounder has skated in 108 career regular season contests over four seasons with Minnesota, registering one goal and 14 assists for 15 points, along with 100 penalty minutes. He established career-highs in games played (47) and penalty minutes (54) during the 2011-12 season. Falk notched his first career NHL goal with a power play tally on January 24, 2012, at Colorado. He finished the 2011-12 season ranked fourth on the Wild with 78 hits, and ranked eighth among NHL rookies with 78 blocked shots. Falk made his NHL debut on March 19, 2010, at Columbus, and registered his first career NHL point with an assist on October 19, 2010, against Vancouver. The Snowflake, Manitoba native has also skated in 189 American Hockey League (AHL) contests over three seasons with the Houston Aeros, registering six goals and 20 assists for 26 points, along with 172 penalty minutes. Falk established AHL career-highs in assists (11), points (14), shots on goal (72), and plus/minus rating (plus-16), and tied his AHL career-high in goals (three) in 2010-11. His plus-16 rating led the Aeros that season. Prior to turning professional, Falk captured the 2008 Memorial Cup as a member of the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Spokane Chiefs. He was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star team after registering two points (one goal, one assist) and a plus-four rating in four tournament contests. Falk was originally selected by Minnesota as a fourth round choice, 110th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Ferriero, 26, tallied one assist in four games with the Rangers last season. He was acquired by the Rangers from Pittsburgh in exchange for Chad Kolarik on January 24. Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683282 New York Rangers Rangers’ draft summary; prospects camp runs Monday-Friday The Lakeville, Minnesota native was originally the Rangers’ first round choice, 28th overall, in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. The players are scheduled to appear on-ice at the following times: Monday, July 1 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM; 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM 01 July 2013, 1:37 am by Carp Tuesday, July 2 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 3 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM NEW YORK, June 30, 2013 – New York Rangers President and General Manager Glen Sather announced today that the club will hold the 2013 Prospect Development Camp, Monday, July 1st – Friday, July 5th, at Madison Square Garden Training Center. The camp will bring together several of the team’s top prospects, including J.T. Miller, Christian Thomas, Michael St. Croix, Brady Skjei, and Dylan McIlrath. Miller, 20, split last season between the Rangers and the Connecticut Whale of the American Hockey League (AHL). He made his NHL debut on February 5 at New Jersey, and registered his first career NHL point with a two-goal performance two days later on February 7 against the New York Islanders. He became the first Ranger, rookie or otherwise, to register a multi-goal game in his Madison Square Garden debut since Chris Kontos on January 3, 1983, and the youngest Ranger to tally a multi-goal game since Alex Kovalev on December 27, 1992. In 26 games with the Rangers, Miller recorded two goals and two assists, including his first career NHL assist on February 21 at Ottawa. He also registered eight goals and 15 assists for 23 points, along with 29 penalty minutes in 42 AHL games with Connecticut. Miller represented the Whale at the AHL All-Star Game on January 28, and finished the season ranked third among team rookies in assists, tied for third in points and ranked fourth in goals. The East Palestine, Ohio native represented the USA at the 2013 World Junior Championship, leading the gold medal-winning team with seven assists and tying for first with nine points. Miller was originally the Rangers’ first round choice, 15th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Thomas, 21, registered 19 goals and 16 assists for 35 points, along with 15 penalty minutes in 73 games with Connecticut. He ranked third on the team in goals and shots on goal (148), fourth in power play goals (five), and tied for fourth in points. He also led all Connecticut rookies in goals and points, and ranked second in assists. His 19 goals tied for seventh among AHL rookies. In addition, Thomas made his NHL debut with the Rangers on February 23 at Montreal, registering two shots and three hits in the contest. The Toronto, Ontario native was originally the Rangers’ second round choice, 40th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. St. Croix, 20, established postseason career-highs with 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points, along with 14 penalty minutes in 22 playoff games with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He led the team and ranked third in the WHL in playoff points, and ranked second in the league in playoff goals to help Edmonton advance to the Ed Chynoweth Cup Final. During the regular season, St. Croix registered 37 goals and 55 assists for 92 points, along with 36 penalty minutes and a plus-30 rating in 72 games. He led the team in points, and ranked second in goals and assists. He also ranked seventh in the WHL in points, tied for ninth in assists, and 16th in goals. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native was originally the Rangers’ fourth round choice, 106th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. McIlrath, 21, registered five assists, 125 penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating in 45 games with Connecticut (AHL) last season. He tied for sixth on the team in plus/minus rating and ranked third in penalty minutes. McIlrath recorded his first career professional point with an assist, and tied his single-game career-high with a plus-three rating on January 15 at Portland. He also posted a career-high, two assists on March 24 against Binghamton. The Winnipeg, Manitoba native was originally the Rangers’ first round choice, 10th overall, in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Skjei, 19, tallied one goal and two assists for three points, along with 14 penalty minutes in 36 games with the University of Minnesota of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) last season. He registered his first career collegiate point with an assist, and added a power play goal in a 7-1 victory on October 13 against Michigan State. Skjei made his collegiate debut on October 6 against Lethbridge. Thursday, July 4 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM Friday, July 5 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM Rockland Journal News: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683283 Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators draft Curtis Lazar with No. 17 pick by Ken Warren on June 30, 2013 “It’s great he’s coming back,” said Lazar. Lazar isn’t getting ahead of himself and wants to see where he stands alongside pro players before suggesting whether he could make the unlikely jump to the NHL for the 2013-14 season. “The draft year is behind us now, I can get on with my career, get some guidance from the organization,” he said. “I haven’t played with pro guys, but I want to be there (in the NHL) as soon as I can. My goal is to make it as difficult as I can for them to send me back to junior.” Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 07.01.2013 NEWARK, N.J. — A big fight raised Curtis Lazar’s stock in the eyes of National Hockey League scouts. A bad flight delayed his arrival here for the biggest day of his life. Yet when the Ottawa Senators chose the 18-year-old Edmonton Oil Kings centre with their 17th overall selection at Sunday’s NHL entry draft, the first thing Lazar thought about was all the people who helped him along the way to his big moment at the Prudential Center. “Absolute shock,” said Lazar, speaking a mile a minute when asked about the reaction to hearing his name called by Senators assistant general manager Tim Murray. “There’s no other way to put it. You forget to breathe, it’s so exciting. You get up to the stage and you think about all the people that helped you get to this point. And then, before you know it, it’s over.” The Senators were surprised Lazar, a native of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, was available. Lazar, 5-11 and 193 pounds, scored 38 goals and 23 assists with Edmonton during the 2012-13 season and scouts rave about his shot, competitiveness and ability to find open spaces on the ice. He scored nine goals and two assists in 22 playoff games with the Oil Kings. While he has had some bouts of inconsistency, Lazar made a mark when he fought Darnell Nurse – selected seventh overall by the Edmonton Oilers Sunday – in the Canadian Hockey League’s Top Prospects game. “I wanted to leave an impression, but I didn’t know what it would be,” said Lazar, who claimed every team he talked to during interviews mentioned the dust-up. “It’s kind of a funny story. During the morning of the pre-game skate, he was looking for someone to fight and then I saw the way things were going during the game and it was time to do something. Darnell is a good friend of mine, but if I have to step up for my teammates, I will do it. I’m not the biggest guy by any means, but it shows I will do anything to win.” Heading into the draft, The Hockey News had Lazar rated ninth overall. The International Scouting Service rated him 12th. Senators general manager Bryan Murray says Lazar’s determination stood out. “We had him rated as a good player, very competitive, a point getter, a guy who fits in with real character and the effort he puts in every night tells us that he has a chance to be a very good pro,” Murray said. Senators scout George Fargher says Lazar has the potential to develop into a player like New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan. “He’s a great character kid, a real solid player, we hope he can be a second line guy,” said Fargher. “He’s a gritty player, a two-way guy (sound offensively and defensively), who can score goals and (perhaps) be a potential leader on the team in the later years.” Lazar has never been to Ottawa before and he’s excited to get rolling at the Senators development camp next week. He had also never been to the New York City/New Jersey area before and he might have wondered whether he would ever get here. Lazar flew from the west to Toronto on Thursday and boarded a connecting flight to New York Thursday evening. Due to weather issues, however, the flight circled New York twice before heading back to Toronto. He eventually made it here late Friday, trying to take in all the sights and sounds without getting too anxious about what was about to come. He’s pumped about the challenge and pressure of eventually playing in a Canadian city. Lazar, who was surrounded by his parents, his girlfriend, his two brothers and sister, and an aunt and an uncle, isn’t overly familiar with the Senators lineup. Except, that is, for captain Daniel Alfredsson. 683284 Ottawa Senators MacLean a happy man at the draft by Ken Warren on June 30, 2013 NEW JERSEY – Ottawa Senators coach Paul MacLean was all smiles on the draft floor Sunday. And why not? MacLean now knows captain Daniel Alflredsson will be back to lead the Senators into the 2014-15 season and he’s confident that his long-term future behind in the bench is secure. At this point, MacLean isn’t overly concerned about getting a new deal done immediately – he’s under contract for the 2013-14 season – acknowledging that “we have other priorities right now.” However, he can’t help but notice that Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers and Dave Tippett of the Phoenix Coyotes have secured five-year contracts. As the reigning Jack Adams Trophy winner, MacLean couldn’t be in a better bargaining position once talks with general manager Bryan Murray get more serious. As for Alfredsson’s return, MacLean says it’s difficult to explain all the intangibles he brings to the team, but he suggests that the club’s ability to survive and even thrive without five regulars for extended periods last season was due to the presence of Alfredsson and fellow leaders Chris Phillips, Sergei Gonchar and Chris Neil. While MacLean is largely an outsider to the draft day proceedings – he arrived in New York on Thursday and took a keen interest in the scouts’ sometimes heated discussions on Friday and Saturday – he has a deep respect for the work they put in. As a ready example, he says the importance of drafting quality players showed up throughout the 2013 season, when the club was forced to reach down to Binghamton of the American Hockey League for replacements again and again due to injuries. Mika Zibanejad, the Senators sixth overall selection in 2011, established himself as an NHL player following Jason Spezza’s injury. Jean-Gabriel Pageau, selected 96th overall in 2011, was a surprise hero late in the regular season and in the playoffs. Defensively, Patrick Wiercioch (42nd overall in 2008) and Eric Gryba (68th overall in 2006) proved they can be everyday NHL defencemen. If MacLean has any regrets, one month after the Senators elimination from the playoffs, it’s that they they paid “too much respect” to the Penguins, ultimately losing the Eastern Conference semifinal in five games. Ottawa Citizen LOADED: 07.01.2013 683285 Ottawa Senators "I spent Thursday and pretty much all of Friday in Toronto, but I made it here and it was well worth it." Curtis Lazar with No. 17 pick in NHL entry draft Now, Lazar can look forward to his first trip to Ottawa for development camp, which starts Wednesday. By Bruce Garrioch "It's a dream come true just being here and sharing this experience, but also going to a good organization like Ottawa," he said. "I've never been to Ottawa before, so I'm looking forward to doing that." ,Ottawa Sun First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 05:06 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 08:45 PM EDT And, Ottawa fans are looking forward to seeing him. CURTIS LAZAR NEWARK, N.J. - Curtis Lazar wanted to leave a lasting impression at the Canadian Hockey League's top prospects game in Halifax in January. Position: C/RW So he dropped the gloves with Darnell Nurse. Ht: 6-foot No, the Edmonton Oil Kings centre didn't score a victory when he went toeto-toe with the 6-foot-5 Nurse, who was chosen No. 7 by the Edmonton Oilers in Sunday's NHL entry draft. But the 6-foot Lazar wanted to make sure he was noticed and did a pretty good job. Wt: 190 Showing the group of NHL scouts watching he wasn't afraid to do anything to help his team win paid dividends as he rose up the rankings and was selected No. 17 overall by the Senators at the Prudential Center. Age: 18 Team: Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) 2012-13: 72 GP, 38-23-61 Pts, 47 PIM LAZAR'S FAVOURITES NHL team: Vancouver Canucks "I wanted to leave an impression. I didn't know what that was going to entail," said an excited Lazar, wearing his new Ottawa jersey. "Obviously, that was me fighting Darnell Nurse. NHL player: Ryan Getzlaf "Obviously, it's something that worked because pretty much every team at the (NHL) combine (earlier this month) brought that up in our meetings. I'm willing to do that dirty (work) and I'm also able to put the puck in the net." Goal celebration: "Fist pump" Lazar, a Salmon Arm, B.C native, had a hard time hiding his joy as he arrived in the media room after being selected by the Senators. He wasn't invited to Ottawa earlier this month and wasn't sure about the team's interest. Movie: Happy Gilmore "They're a Canadian team. That's something (GM) Bryan Murray talked about -- if I can handle the pressure (of playing in Canada). I'm looking forward to that as well," said Lazar. Website: YouTube Not only is Lazar, 18, a willing competitor, he's described as strong at both ends of the ice and finished with 38 goals and 23 assists in 72 games. The way he described his game was music to coach Paul MacLean's ears. Sport (other than hockey): Baseball "I play a 200-foot game," said Lazar. "I take care of the defensive zone before I go on the offence. I try to be strong in all areas and my goal is to be as complete as I can. Murray said the scouts liked Lazar and discussed the possibility of moving back from No. 17 to get him. "We had him rated as a good player," said Murray. "He's very competitive, a point-getter, a guy that fits in with real character. The effort that he puts in every night shows us that he has a chance to be a very good pro." George Fargher, the club's Western scout, saw a lot of Lazar during the season and was impressed. "Curtis is a really great character," said Fargher. "He's a good skater, solid kid and strong on his skates. He plays a good two-way game and he can also score goals. We hope he has a chance to be a second-line guy. "This kid has a chance to be a player like Ryan Callahan from the Rangers. That type of guy. Gritty, two-way player that can score goals and a potential leader on the team." The Senators caught Lazar by surprise. "Absolute shock. You forget to breathe. It's almost that exciting," said Lazar. "You get up on the stage and you just think about all the people that helped you get to this point. "Before you know it, it's over, but I'm really happy." Lazar had a nightmarish time getting here. He was on a flight from Toronto Thursday that circled the Newark airport and then returned to Hogtown. "I was (nervous). My dad was probably hoping I didn't make it so he could go on stage," said Lazar with a laugh. "We flew around (the airport) for a couple of hours and then decided to go back to Toronto. Hockey hero: Joe Sakic Video game: NHL TV show: Entourage Actor: Mark Wahlberg Pump-up song: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem Superhero: Batman Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.01.2013 683286 Ottawa Senators Ottawa Senators start contract talks with captain Daniel Alfredsson's agent J.P. Barry By Bruce Garrioch ,Ottawa Sun First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 04:33 PM EDT | Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 11:27 PM EDT NEWARK, N.J. - The Senators have started talks contract talks with captain Daniel Alfredsson. They’d like to have him sign on the dotted line quickly. With the Senators captain set to become a unrestricted free agent Friday, GM Bryan Murray and Alfredsson’s agent J.P. Barry sat down for a long discussion at the club’s Manhattan hotel to get negotiations under way. It didn’t produce a deal and the two sides have to work to do. The Senators are in a tricky position with their 40-year-old captain. They want him to return with a salary in the $4-to-$4.5 million range and, yes, Alfredsson could command as much as $6 million on the open market. Alfredsson wants to finish his career in Ottawa. Now, Barry and Murray need to find a way to get a deal done that works for both sides. The discussion was characterized as good, but there is a bridge to gap to get a deal done. Free agency is different this year. Teams are allowed to have unrestricted players visit their cities. Alfredsson is in Sweden but if he does go to market there’s going to be interest, which means the Senators need to get a deal done. The Senators don’t want Alfredsson to get to market when free agency opens because they know teams like Boston, Detroit and San Jose will make calls. A league executive suggested as many as six teams would show interest. If any of those teams offer a contract, they could be used as leverage in negotiations. Barry and Murray both agreed to hold more discussions this week to try to get a deal in place. It doesn’t make sense for Alfredsson to play anywhere else. His priority is to play in Ottawa but both sides will have to work hard this week to get a deal that makes sense. Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.01.2013 683287 Ottawa Senators 2012-13 Stats: 67 GP 3 G, 12 A, 59 PIM C Vincent Dunn Ottawa Senators wrap up NHL entry draft with seven new members of organization Fifth round, No. 138 overall Gatineau Olympiques Birthplace: Hull By Bruce Garrioch ,Ottawa Sun First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 11:56 PM EDT | Updated: Monday, July 01, 2013 12:05 AM EDT Size: 5-foot-11, 172 lbs 2012-13 stats: 53 GP, 25 G, 27 A, 98 PIM RW Chris Leblanc The Senators wore wide smiles as they left the draft table late Sunday. South Shore, EJHL They’ll find out down the road if they made the right choices. Sixth round, No. 161 overall The Senators continued to re-stock the shelves by choosing five forwards with their seven selections in Sunday’s NHL entry draft. They also chose a goalie and defencemen before wrapping up at the Prudential Center. Birthplace: Winthrop, Mass. “We’re always happy about the draft,” said player personnel director Pierre Dorion. “It wasn’t the deepest of drafts, but we feel it’s a good draft. We got assets. A lot of these guys are projects. “We feel we have to work on certain things but I think overall we’re happy with what we did - especially the first two picks. We know we have some good goalies, but (it's good) getting another goalie and a player like (Curtis) Lazar.” The Senators will now return home to prepare for development camp next week at the Canadian Tire Centre. TALKING TO ALFIE: Senators GM Bryan Murray confirmed he met with captain Daniel Alfredsson’s agent J.P. Barry Saturday night for 45 minutes. They talked about one- and two-year deals. The two sides agreed they talk again this week. They exchanged numbers and have to get back to each other. WHO THEY GOT RW/C Curtis Lazar Edmonton Oil Kings First round, No. 17 overall Birthplace: Salmon Arm, B.C. Size: 6-foot, 190 lbs 2012-13 stats: 72 GP, 38 G, 23 A, 47 PIM G Marcus Hogberg Linkoping, Sweden Third round, No. 78 overall Birthplace: Orebro, Sweden Size: 6-foot-4, 194 lbs 2012-13 Stats: 23 GP, 2.41 GAA .917 SV% RW Tobias Lindberg Fourth round, No. 102 overall Djurgarden Jr., Sweden Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden Size: 6-foot-3, 200 lbs 2012-13 Stats: 14 GP 9 G, 12 A, 12 PIM D Ben Harpur Fourth round, No. 108 overall Guelph Storm (OHL) Birthplace: Hamilton Size: 6-foot-5, 210 lbs Size: 6-foot-3, 195 lbs 2012-13 stats: 44 GP, 13 G, 20 A, 38 PIM C Quentin Shore University of Denver Sixth round, No. 168 overall Birthplace: Denver, Col Size: 6-foot-2, 189 2012-13 stats: 39 GP, 10 G, 9 A, 22 PIM Ottawa Sun LOADED: 07.01.2013 683288 Philadelphia Flyers Defensemen Luca Sbisa, the last Flyers defenseman chosen in the first round before Sunday, made the team in 2008 after being drafted that June. Flyers take 6-6 defenseman with their top pick International Scouting Services called Morin an "intriguing" prospect who "could be a stud if he puts it all together" but noted that he "isn't as physically imposing or dominant as he should be to the outside." Gallery: Flyers take 6-6 defenseman with their top pick Morin said he also idolized Sidney Crosby while growing up. He was reminded that Crosby was despised by Philadelphia fans. Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer Posted: Monday, July 1, 2013, 3:01 AM NEWARK, N.J. - The Flyers bypassed two much higher-rated defensemen Sunday when they selected towering Sam Morin with the 11th overall pick in the first round of the NHL draft at the Prudential Center. They made the right choice, Morin said. "I'm going to be a very great player," Morin said after he became just the fourth defenseman the Flyers had chosen in the first round since 1988. If the late-blooming, 6-foot-6, 202-pounder's talent matches his confidence, he will be a star. "I've got a really hard shot. I'm tough. I can fight anyone," the Montreal native said. Morin is raw but emerging. Known as a rugged, stay-at-home defenseman, he improved his offense with Rimouski Oceanic as the season progressed in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, helping him climb the draft charts. He returned from a broken collarbone and had seven points in six playoff games last season. "Plays tough. Plays mean," said Chris Pronger, who did some scouting for the Flyers this season. International Scouting Services had Morin ranked as the draft's 32d-best prospect, well behind defensemen Nikita Zadorov (rated No. 8) and Ryan Pulock (No. 14). Central Scouting had him ranked as the 23d North American skater, up from No. 76 at midseason. "They're all good players, but this is just a guy we liked better," said general manager Paul Holmgren, whose team drafted mobile defenseman Robert Hagg in the second round (41st overall). Hagg actually was rated at No. 31, one slot ahead of Morin, by International Scouting Services. Morin said it was a "perfect match" being picked by the Flyers. "I'm rough, and they like tough guys." Said Holmgren: "He has tremendous size, and for a big guy, he moves around very well. He's got a good stick, and his puck skills have continued to get better." A lefthanded shooter, Morin said he was thrilled to be in the same organization with Pronger, the future Hall of Famer whose career was ended by a concussion. Pronger was working with the Flyers' brass at the draft, and he shook Morin's hand at the podium. Pronger has always been his idol, Morin said. Morin, who will turn 18 on July 12, said it was amazing "just being in Philadelphia with Chris Pronger, a guy I want to play like, a tough guy, a two-way defenseman." Added Morin: "I like Chris Pronger, but I'm Sam Morin. I will play my game." Morin, who had 30 of his friends and relatives travel from Quebec to attend the draft, said his goal is to make the Flyers out of training camp. While that seems far-fetched - defensemen generally take a while to develop forwards Sean Couturier and Scott Laughton earned roster spots in the last two camps after being drafted in the first round. "I want to make noise," Morin said when asked about his first training camp. ". . . I'm not going there to watch skating." Holmgren said Morin would have a learning curve. "It'd be a stretch to say he's [NHL-] ready," he said. "But you can't draft for readiness. By his long-term projections, our guys liked him." "When I play against him, I'm going to be tough on him like I am every player on the ice," he said. This year, Morin had four goals, 14 assists, and 117 penalty minutes in 46 games. He had a plus-10 rating. Pronger said he liked Morin's makeup but kidded that the youngster does not yet have the sarcastic bite that he perfected. "We'll teach him that," Pronger cracked. "That's an acquired trait." Breakaways. Next year's draft will be held in Philadelphia for the first time. It will go back to a two-day format and will be held June 27-28. . . . Free agency starts Friday, and teams can begin talking to prospective free agents on Wednesday. Those free agents who were compliance buyouts are already allowed to talk with teams. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683289 Philadelphia Flyers NHL Draft 2013: Philadelphia Flyers select Robert Hagg with No. 41 pick Travis Hughes, SBNation Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013, 6:51 PM With the 41st pick in the 2013 NHL Draft, the Philadelphia Flyers have selected another defenseman, Robert Hagg from Modo's junior club in Sweden. Hagg was projected as a late first round pick in most end-ofseason rankings, so the Flyers are getting good value for their mid secondrounder here. Here's how International Scouting Service describes Hagg's game: The stereotypical big and mobile Swedish defender of this draft, Hagg is already very good but still shows a lot of need for technical development. This is something that works more in his favor than against him, but he does fall under the category of a project pick. He can be a very explosive skater, he is poised and confident around the puck and loves to rush up ice with it. He moves the puck effectively and can be very dangerous from the point with his shot. Hagg continues to develop well but will require 3-4 more years of technical development before a true read on just how good he can be will be clear. As with first-rounder Samuel Morin, I worry about the Flyers taking a "project pick" who could take a substantial amount of time to develop into an NHL talent. They've never been a team that develops defensemen well, but with both Hagg and Morin, they have two young talents with great upside. Let's just hope they allow them both the time to develop. A 1995 kid, Hagg weighs in at 6'2, 204 pounds. I wouldn't hate to see him make the jump to the Swedish Elite League, playing against some grown men in arguably the world's second-best league, before making the jump to North America. But we'll see what Modo has in mind for him, and of course what the Flyers have in mind for him. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683290 Philadelphia Flyers "You have to love the enthusiasm," he said with a faint smile. "That's one thing that was special with the kid in his interview" with the Flyers. "He has a lot of that going for him." Inside the Flyers: Flyers cast their lot with slow-developing defensemen Pryor politely declined when asked whether Morin reminded him of any current NHL defensemen. Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer "Let the kid be his own player," he said. Posted: Monday, July 1, 2013, 1:08 AM Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 NEWARK, N.J. - In case you hadn't noticed, the Flyers haven't had much success in drafting quality defensemen over most of the last four decades. With that in mind - and with the knowledge that in today's salary-cap world you need to draft well (Hello, Chicago) to be an NHL powerhouse - the Flyers tried to bolster their aging, injury-prone blue line during Sunday's seven-round crapshoot at the Prudential Center. For the first time in franchise history, the Flyers used their first- and secondround picks on defensemen, selecting Sam Morin and Robert Hagg. Unlike Seth Jones, they aren't regarded as franchise defensemen, and they didn't have the same buildup as defensemen Darnell Nurse and Rasmus Ristolainen. But that trio was off the board when the Flyers selected at No. 11, so general manager Paul Holmgren and his staff picked what they hoped were the best leftovers. Since the 1967 draft, the Flyers had chosen defensemen with their first two picks three times, but they weren't in the top two rounds - as they were Sunday. The real outcome of Sunday's draft won't be known for a while because defensemen take much longer to develop than forwards, but at least the Flyers addressed one of their biggest needs. Turns out it was by accident. During a break in the fourth round, Holmgren said it was a coincidence that the Flyers chose defensemen with their first two picks. He said the best players available just happened to be defensemen. Pundits on Twitter were upset that Holmgren & Co. picked Morin over higher-rated defensemen Nikita Zadorov and Ryan Pulock, and because they chose Hagg over the more highly touted Steven Santini, a defenseman who went to New Jersey with the next pick of the second round. But no one really knows. Did anyone know that 6-foot-9, 255-pound Zdeno Chara would develop into the NHL's most imposing defenseman when he was chosen in the 1996 draft? Of course not. That's why he wasn't selected until the third round - 56th overall - by the New York Islanders. "It's a very inexact science," said Chris Pryor, the Flyers' director of hockey operations. Morin, scouted by former Flyer Simon Nolet, is intriguing because of his size and physicality - and because of the way his game has vastly improved in the last year. Scouts say he reads plays well, has good puck skills, and is ultracompetitive. Maybe he won't be the second coming of his idol, Chris Pronger, but his confidence level is off the charts and he seems willing to work hard to polish his weaknesses. "Our guys liked Morin from the start - unless one of the top five became available," one Flyers source said. That said, Holmgren conceded he talked to Edmonton, presumably about dealing up to No. 7, the pick the Oilers used to nab Nurse. "But I wouldn't say we were ever real close," Holmgren said. Four of the Flyers' six selections were used on defensemen. They figure to scatter to different junior leagues, different schools. "It'll be a work in progress," Pryor said, "but we think there's a lot of upside." Pryor was informed that Morin, who realistically will return to juniors next season, said he hopes to earn a spot with the Flyers in training camp. Just the words Pryor wanted to hear. 683291 Philadelphia Flyers The Flyers have rarely missed in the first round, especially with players from Quebec. There is a famous story about Quebec-based scout Simon Nolet jumping up and down 7 years ago for a player named Claude Giroux. Choosing Morin a motion for the defense Sean Couturier, Simon Gagne and Giroux are just a few of the players Nolet has pushed to draft recently. FRANK SERAVALLI, Daily News Staff Writer seravaf@phillynews.com "Simon Nolet and Todd Hearty spent a lot of time following Sam around," Holmgren said. "They're very excited that we were able to draft him." Posted: Monday, July 1, 2013, 12:18 AM NEWARK, N.J. - It was a moment of pure ecstasy, uncontrollable excitement, happiness and a tinge of nerves. By the time Sam Morin had finished hugging his parents, waving to his entourage of 30 in the crowd, and making his way to the stage at Prudential Center, he shook his idol Chris Pronger's hand and was at a loss for words. "I just said hi," Morin said with his thick, Quebec accent. "Just to meet him is very special. It was the best moment of my life." Scouting for the Flyers in one of the deepest drafts for defensemen in recent memory, Pronger introduced himself to Morin and congratulated him 20 years after experiencing the same thrill. "I should have said, 'Keep your head up, kid,' " Pronger joked. That's because critics were already questioning Morin as the Flyers' 11th overall selection yesterday, saying the 6-6 monster defender was taken too early with too many good names left on the board. Morin was the 23rdranked North American skater, according to NHL Central Scouting, not even accounting for European talent. Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren wasn't buying any of that - he watched Morin play personally. No player in the Top 50 shot up the rankings as quickly as Morin did since the middle of last season. "Samuel has come a long way in a short period of time," Holmgren said. "He's ultracompetitive. He skates well. He's got great range, obviously. Pretty good understanding of the game. And his puck skills have gotten so much better in not a long period of time. "I think he's a very good prospect. He's got a chance to really blossom over the next year or 2." For the Flyers, yesterday's seven-round marathon - crammed into 1 day for the first time in 6 years because of the 119-day lockout - was about restocking a barren defensive cupboard. Four of the Flyers' six picks were defensemen. And the Flyers have high hopes for Morin. The 17-year-old isn't known as an offensive defenseman, but his late-season point surge is what helped push him up the rankings. Morin finished with 16 points in 46 regular-season games with Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He missed the final month of the season with a fractured collarbone but rebounded to net six points in seven playoff games. Morin then went to Sochi, Russia, and helped Canada to a gold medal at the Under-17 World Championships. Some consider Morin to be the prototypical Flyer. He had 117 penalty minutes in just 46 games. "I think it's the perfect match," Morin said. "I'm tough and they like tough guys. I'm tough. I can fight anyone. I think I'm more of a defensive defenseman, but I'm working on my offensive side. I have a very hard shot. I think for my size, I skate pretty well. But I want to improve that, too." Morin, who hails from a town of 4,700 near Quebec City, grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan. He said some say he reminds them of Ivan Drago from "Rocky IV." "He's a big, strong kid," Pronger said. "Plays tough. Plays mean. Good feet for a big man. I wouldn't characterize him as a power-play quarterback. That being said, nothing beats a good outlet pass that helps the transition game and allows you to get on the attack faster. "The maturation process from where he was at the beginning of the year to where he's been trending intrigued a lot of the scouts and people that have been watching him." Morin said he needs to add weight this summer. He is currently 210 pounds but would like to get to 230 or even 240, noting that he's "always growing." Holmgren said he would "hate to put the Pronger tag" on Morin, a player Morin said he modeled his game after long before he knew he'd become a Flyer. He was interviewed by 29 of the NHL's 30 teams at the combine in Toronto last month. "I want him to be his own man," Pronger said. "He can take pieces from a lot of different players and become a more complete player." The Flyers' last two first-round picks, Couturier (No. 8 in 2011) and Scott Laughton (No. 21 in 2012), were in the Opening Night lineups just months after being drafted. Holmgren said he thinks it's a stretch to think Morin will do the same, given the Flyers' expensive logjam ahead of Morin and the fact that defensemen usually just take longer to develop. But, Holmgren said he "will never say never." The point of drafting a defenseman, though, is for the Flyers to have patience with his development, something Holmgren acknowledged. "I'm going to go to camp and I want to make noise," Morin said. "I don't mind another season in the 'Q,' but I'm going to go to camp and compete and do everything I can. I'm not going to come to camp just to watch skating." Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683292 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers' next big moves will wait FRANK SERAVALLI, Daily News Staff Writer seravaf@phillynews.com Posted: Monday, July 1, 2013, 12:18 AM the seventh-ranked European skater, being selected late in the first round before he slid to the Flyers at No. 41. Hagg, 18, is known as a "project pick," with kinks to work out, but his upside is solid. He already has a half-season playing against men in the Swedish Elite League. "He's one of the guys we had in the group that we were hoping would still be there when we selected," Holmgren said. "We were happy to snap him up. Robert has good size, he moves good. We like his overall game." Local roundup NEWARK, N.J. - Last week, Paul Holmgren predicted "a lot of funny things" would happen beginning at the NHL draft, with the salary cap shrinking nearly $6 million next season. Doylestown native Eamon McAdam, a goalie from Team Comcast's "AAA" program, was drafted by the New York Islanders in the third round (70th overall). Holmgren might not be wrong. But yesterday's seriously hyped draft day was just about as unexciting as one of the Flyers' final games last season. McAdam, 18, finished off his third season with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks ranked as the sixth-best North American-born goaltending prospect. He will attend Penn State in the fall, in time for the Big Ten's inaugural hockey season. "At the draft, sometimes you get locked into just drafting," Holmgren said. "There's still 4 or 5 days before free agency starts, so there's plenty of time for lots of action around the league." Holmgren said the Flyers' 11th overall pick generated a ton of interest in the deep first-round draft class. "We had quite a few calls to move down," Holmgren said. "We had identified two or three players and Samuel [Morin] was one of them. Once we knew he was going to be there, we had no intention of moving back." Otherwise, Holmgren spent most of his time at the draft chatting with Edmonton general manager Craig MacTavish. The Oilers are interested in adding Braydon Coburn, and it appears an offer remains on the table, but Holmgren wasn't willing to pull the trigger yesterday. Coburn, 28, has 3 years left on his deal at $4.5 million per season. He is perhaps the Flyers' best puck-carrier, but also their most-sought defenseman on a roster that needs to shave spending. A source close to Coburn told the Daily News that his camp had not been contacted about any trade as of last night. Coburn has a limited no-trade clause in which he had to submit a list of suitable destinations to the Flyers last July 1. That list has not been updated. If the Flyers were to work out a trade with a team on his list, he would not need to be notified in advance of a deal. "We bounced around a lot of ideas, but I wouldn't say we were ever close," Holmgren said. MacTavish told reporters that you "generally default to no deal vs. doing a bad deal." When asked if the Flyers will to continue to shed salary, after clearing off $12.16 million through compliance buyouts of Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov last week, Holmgren said: "We may." Perhaps the most interesting nugget of the weekend came on Saturday, with the news that free-agent forward Vinny Lecavalier and agent Kent Hughes met with the Flyers' brass. Lecavalier, 33, was bought out from his deal by Tampa Bay on Thursday. He is due to earn $32 million over the next 14 years, nearly $9 million more than the Flyers paid to have Bryzgalov play elsewhere. Lecavalier is about to cash in twice, since he has become the hot-ticket free agent in a barren market. Sources say Lecavalier, who posted 0.82 pointsper-game over the last four seasons, could bring in as much as $20 million over 4 years. Free agency opens Friday at noon. Lecavalier, who is believed to desire a non-pressure-packed market, can clearly help any team. But where do the Flyers stand in that mix? "I have no idea," Holmgren said. "We met Saturday night. I thought it went well. But who knows?" Lecavalier's camp also met with Montreal, Dallas, St. Louis, Anaheim, Detroit and Toronto. He's no Hagg Holmgren seemed thrilled with the Flyers' second-round selection of Swedish defenseman Robert Hagg. Some observers possibly saw Hagg, Fourteen picks later, Winnipeg nabbed Downingtown native Jimmy Lodge at 84th overall. Lodge, 18 and a lifelong Flyers fan, posted 67 points in 64 games with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit. He's likely to report back to Saginaw next season. Two other players of local interest went undrafted: John Stevens and Steven Duda. Stevens, the son of former Flyers coach John Stevens, trained locally with Team Comcast before moving on to Dubuque (USHL). He was the 182nd-ranked North American skater. Steven Duda, from Warrington, played for the Philadelphia Revolution junior team and Saint John (QMJHL), but slid out of Central Scouting's final rankings. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683293 Philadelphia Flyers No boos for McNabb's 18-year-old nephew TOM MAHON, Daily News Staff Writer mahont@phillynews.com Posted: Monday, July 1, 2013, 12:18 AM DONOVAN McNABB will probably remember it as the draft in which he wasn't booed. Yesterday, the former Eagles quarterback was on the Prudential Center floor in Newark, N.J., for the NHL draft to see his nephew, Darnell Nurse, selected as the No. 7 overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers. Hours before, a proud McNabb posted a photo of himself and the 18-yearold Nurse, all dressed up and ready to go to the draft. "Memorable Day, God is Good," McNabb tweeted along with the pic. McNabb also posted a photo of Nurse and other family members with the tweet, "Family is everything. Big Day NHL DRAFT." What a difference 14 years makes. In 1999, on NFL Draft Day in New York, McNabb was booed by a contingent of Eagles fans after he was selected No. 2 overall behind quarterback Tim Couch. The raucous fans were lobbying for the Birds to pick Texas running back Ricky Williams, who was taken three picks later by the Saints. Yesterday, Nurse referred to that boo-filled day by taking a good-natured shot at his uncle. "We're even, because he went higher than me, but I didn't get booed at my draft," Nurse said. Good line, kid. And don't worry about the booing, you're sure to get your share. Especially on your first visit to the Wells Fargo Center. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683294 Philadelphia Flyers NHL Draft: Flyers select Morin POSTED: Sunday, June 30, 2013, 4:31 PM Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer NEWARK, N.J. _With the 11th overall pick in the NHL draft Sunday, the Flyers selected Sam Morin, a raw but talented 6-foot-6 200-pound defenseman. The Flyers bypassed Ryan Pulock (100 mph slapper) and 6-5, 228-pound Nikita Zadorov, two defensmen rated much higher. Morin was rated No. 32 by International Scouting Services. He is a stay-athome defender. The 17-year-old Montreal native was the fourth defenseman to be drafted by the Flyers in the first round since 1988 _ and the first since Luca Sbisa in 2008. In the second round (41st overall), the Flyers selected defenseman Robert Haag, a mobile 6-2, 204-pound defenseman from Sweden. He was actually ranked one slot higher, at No. 31, by the International Scouting Services. Colorado used the first pick to select center Nathan MacKinnon at the Prudential Center in Newark. MacKinnon figures to be a high-quality player, but i tt says here the Avs will regret not taking defenseman Seth Jones, who has the tools to be a franchise player. In a stunner, Florida selected center Aleksander Barbov No. 2. He was the fifth-rated prospect by the International Hockey Service. Tampa Bay took Jonathan Drouin at No. 3 before Jones went to Nashville at No. 4. That means the Preds have Shea Weber and Jones _ who was rated No. 1 by Central Scouting _ on their blue line. That just doesn't seem fair. Edmonton drafted defenseman Darnell Nurse, Donovan McNabb's nephew, at No. 7. Nurse was high on the Flyers' wish list. We will have updates here throughout the day and night. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683295 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers' second pick could need time to develop Zach Helfand, Inquirer Staff Writer Posted: Monday, July 1, 2013, 1:08 AM NEWARK, N.J. - Many analysts had ranked Robert Hagg higher than fellow defenseman Sam Morin, but the Flyers called Morin's name with the 11th pick of the NHL draft. So Hagg waited. Hagg thought he would likely go in the first round, but that round came and went. So Hagg waited longer. His wait ended in the second round when the Flyers took the defenseman from Uppsala, Sweden, with the 41st overall pick. Now it's the Flyers' turn to be patient: By Hagg's own admission, he needs a couple of years of seasoning in Sweden. For the first time ever, the Flyers selected defensemen with their first- and second-round picks in the draft. But Morin and Hagg will follow vastly different paths to the NHL. Morin expects to compete for a roster spot immediately. Hagg said he would return to the Modo organization in Sweden. The next two years there, he said, will be "really important for me if I go on to play in the NHL or not even play at all." International Scouting Services ranked Hagg 31st, one spot ahead of Morin. Central Scouting ranks North American skaters and European skaters separately but had both players rated similarly. At 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, the 18-year-old Hagg feels comfortable with the puck on his stick and already has a professional-level shot. But, ISS says, he still must undergo plenty of technical development. As the picks went by and his name wasn't called, Hagg said he was a little surprised. "But it's just a number," he said. "I'm just happy to be in a good organization like the Flyers." Informed of Hagg's plans to develop in Sweden for the next few years, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said he was not concerned. "Maybe he's realistic," Holmgren said. The Flyers took Tyrell Goulbourne, a left winger, in the third round. Goulbourne had 36 fights in the last two years and reminds Holmgren of Flyers center Zac Rinaldo. "Our scouts call him Z-2," Holmgren said. The Flyers took two more defensemen - Terrance Amorosa in the fifth round and David Drake in the seventh - along with goaltender Merrick Madsen in the sixth round. Eamon McAdam, a Penn State goalie from Perkasie, was drafted 70th overall by the New York Islanders. Philadelphia Inquirer / Daily News LOADED: 07.01.2013 683296 Philadelphia Flyers Top pick Morin eyes Pronger-like role Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 6:04 pm | Updated: 9:44 pm, Sun Jun 30, 2013. Wayne Fish Staff writer Posted on June 30, 2013 The Swede believes he needs a couple more years of seasoning back in his native country before attempting a jump to the NHL. “I’m going to the training camp, do my best and see what happens,’’ Hagg said. “I know the Flyers play pretty tough. I know Peter Forsberg played there a couple years. I will talk to him and see what he has to say about the Flyers. “I need a couple more years in Sweden before I come over here. One or two years.’’ Hagg said he’s good when he has the puck a lot. He likes to use his shot. He always looked up to Swedish immortal Nick Lidstrom. Draft headed to Philly NEWARK -- For the better part of two years, the Flyers have been looking for someone to replace Chris Pronger. And then, with the 11th pick in Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft at the Prudential Center, they find a kid who not only plays like the injured defenseman but even looks a bit like him. Then, believe it or not, Samuel Morin’s first words to the media are: “He (Pronger) is my favorite player. He is a guy I want to play like, a tough guy, a leader, a two-way defenseman.’’ While Morin was ranked only 23rd among North American skaters and 32nd by the International Scouting Service, the Flyers thought enough of the 6foot-6, 200-pound native of Quebec to take him at such a high spot in the draft. Pronger was a bit flattered to hear that the kid -- who doesn’t turn 18 until July 12 -- models his game after the inactive defenseman. Because he now scouts for the Flyers, Pronger no doubt had some influence on the team’s decision to go in this direction. “It’s an honor anytime someone wants to emulate the way you play, appreciates the way you play and looks up to you,’’ Pronger said. “He plays tough, he plays mean, good feet for a big man. He practices hard. “But he’s going to be his own player. He’s going to create his own image.’’ Is he as sarcastic as Pronger? Pronger grinned. “We’ll teach him that.’’ The Flyers could have gone for two higher-ranked defensemen -- Nikita Zadorov or Ryan Pulock -- but thought enough of Morin to go with him. Two things might have lowered Morin’s stock a bit in the scouts’ eyes: He suffered a broken collarbone during the season and he also concentrated on defense, rather than try to put up gaudy offensive numbers. The Flyers took those things into account. “Samuel has come a long way in a short period of time,’’ GM Paul Holmgren said. “He’s ultra-competitive, great range. His puck skills have just gotten so much better.’’ Pronger agreed. “There’s a lot to work on but the maturation process from the beginning of the year to where he’s been trending intrigued a lot of the scouts,’’ Pronger said. The scouting report on Morin says he has a hard shot, can fight. That should get him to fit into the Flyer mold quite nicely. Pronger, who played at 6-6 himself, says mobility for a big man is critical. “Normally at 18, you’re awkward, gangly,’’ Pronger said. “When you can move at that age, it’s a pretty important piece.’’ Morin was reminded the Flyers have had a good record at developing young French players, such as Simon Gagne and Claude Giroux. “I think maybe they like the way French-Quebec guys play,’’ Morin suggested. “Is it a coincidence? I don’t know.’’ In the second round, the Flyers took Swedish defenseman Robert Hagg. Hagg was a Flyers target from a ways back. “He was one we had in a group in the second round,’’ Holmgren said. “Robert has good size, he’s good with the puck. We like his overall game.’’ Next year, Philadelphia will host its first NHL Entry Draft. It will be interesting if local hockey fans fill the Wells Fargo Center. New Jersey got a pretty good crowd for the first couple rounds but the building emptied quickly by the third round. It looks like the NHL will go back to a two-day format next year. It was one day this year because of the lockout-delayed schedule. Burlington County Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683297 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers draft: Will Flyers sit at No. 11, or move up? Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 5:00 am | Updated: 6:54 am, Sun Jun 30, 2013. By Wayne Fish Staff Writer This might be hockey’s ultimate version of Catch-22: The Flyers, who head into Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft (3 p.m. on NBCSN)at the Prudential Center slotted at No. 11, would love to move up and get a shot at a bona fide defenseman like Darnell Nurse, who’s been rated by some experts as high as No. 5. But to do that, it would take more than draft picks. Roster players, specifically young roster players, would have to be included in the deal and general manager Paul Holmgren appears loathe to do that. Asked the other day if youngsters like Sean Couturier and Brayden Schenn still have “untouchable’’ attached to their names, Holmgren’s response was a simple “yeah.’’ That doesn’t mean Holmgren wouldn’t turn around and try something big, like he did two years when he shocked the hockey world by trading Jeff Carter to Columbus (prior to draft day) for the No. 8 pick plus Jake Voracek to secure Couturier. Nurse, the nephew of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, is said to have a lot of raw ability. How soon he makes it to the NHL remains to be seen. But the Flyers realize their defense has some age on it, plus a growing list of nagging injuries. By the end of last season, they were without Braydon Coburn, Andrej Meszaros and Nick Grossmann. Holmgren has watched Nurse play and came away with a good scouting report. “I’ve seen Darnell play a few times and he’s a hard-nosed kid,’’ Holmgren said. “He’s still probably like 6-foot-4 and I’d venture to guess he weighs like 210 pounds. “When you watch him play – he’s still a lot of elbows and knees, but he’s a rugged hard-nosed player that can fight pretty good with a puck and he continues to get better. But I have no idea if he’ll be there at our pick.’’ On the other hand, Holmgren could just sit still and hope that a talented kid like defenseman Risto Ristolainen falls in his lap at No. 11. After all, this is said to be perhaps the deepest draft since 2003, when the Flyers took both Carter and Mike Richards. “Well it’s certainly one of the better ones probably in the last couple of years in terms of overall depth,’’ Holmgren said. “Compared to ‘03, it would be difficult now because you look back at those players and there were a lot of impact players from that draft. So, that’s probably for future debate.’’ That said, Holmgren knows his chances of landing a quality player are better at, say, No. 5 than No. 11. “We probably have to be prepared to do anything if the right thing comes up,’’ he said. “I think every day there’s more and more talk from around the league. I know I’ve talked to more guys in the last few days, so I know there’s certainly potential for movement of picks. Up, down, I think some teams are looking to trade their picks for the right player. “I like where we’re at. I think we’re going to get a good player at 11. I mean if you can move higher, then you know, to get into the guys you really like, that you think are probably franchise players, you probably got to get up in the top four.” Holmgren believes there will be a lot of movement because of the compliance buyouts. The Flyers have already parted ways with Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov. Tampa Bay said good-bye to Vinny Lecavalier. “I think there’s going to be lots of funny stuff happening in the next 10 days,’’ Holmgren said on Wednesday, “leading up to July 5. “There’s potential for lots of things to happen because of the buyout, potential buyouts which might become another point. It’s a very competitive league and we’re all trying to do what the Blackhawks just did.’’ Burlington County Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683298 Philadelphia Flyers Short shots Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 8:55 pm | Updated: 9:35 pm, Sun Jun 30, 2013. Holmgren said he might try to clear more salary before the start of free agency July 5. The Flyers have already freed up more than $11 million in cap space by parting ways with Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov. ... According to Holmgren, the Flyers had no interest in Vancouver goaltender Cory Schneider, who was sent to New Jersey in exchange for the Devils’ overall No. 9 draft pick. ... Holmgren disclosed he did have some trade talks with Edmonton GM Craig MacTavish but nothing materialized. Wayne Fish Staff writer Delaware County Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 Flyers make defense top priority NEWARK — Knowing your weaknesses can be half the battle to getting stronger. For only the fourth time in franchise history, the Flyers used their first two draft picks on defensemen at Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft. It’s no secret the Flyers’ backline needs some work, and even though both No. 1 pick Samuel Morin and No. 2 selection Robert Hagg are probably a year or two away from the NHL, their acquisition bodes well for an organization that most likely will still need help in this area down the road. General manager Paul Holmgren had acknowledged before the draft that defense was an area of particular interest. Kimmo Timonen is in his last year and, aside from 23-year-old Luke Schenn, there’s a lot of mileage on the rest of the group, which includes Braydon Coburn, Nick Grossmann and Andrej Meszaros. If Morin and Hagg pan out, the Flyers will be working from a position of strength as the other aforementioned gentlemen exit the building. In this salary cap hockey world, there’s an even greater premium on developing your own talent, rather than taking chances on risky imports. Say what you will about Morin’s “physical over finesse’’ style, the Flyers are at least paying attention to defense. “Obviously, you have young players that you develop who come in and are ready to play, they’re cheaper,’’ Holmgren said. “So the more you have, the better off you’re going to be. “I think in this salary cap world, it’s nice to be able to add a couple of your young players to your lineup every year. You just keep turning it over. “A couple years ago, we added a few, and last year we had long looks at a couple players. This year, I wouldn’t be surprised if we were able to add a couple young players to our team and just run with them.’’ Lecavalier meeting Holmgren confirmed that he had a meeting with Vinny Lecavalier, recently the victim of a compliance buyout in Tampa Bay. Of course, there are at least eight other NHL teams in the Lecavalier sweepstakes. Asked what he thought his chances were of landing the former Lightning star, Holmgren replied: “I have no idea. We met with Vinny, and I thought it went well. But who knows?’’ The Lightning were on the hook for $7.7 million against the cap on Lecavalier’s contract for the next seven years before the buyout. What sort of numbers he commands with his next team is conjecture. Top of draft no surprise Overall in the draft, there were a few surprises, including defenseman Seth Jones falling all the way to No. 4, where he went to the Nashville Predators. “I wasn’t really surprised where they were going to end up,’’ Holmgren said. “I think the players that went in the top six we thought were going to go in the top six (led by No. 1 Nathan MacKinnon). “Maybe not in the order we all thought but we weren’t surprised by it.’’ Flyers quiet on trades Although there was a lot of speculation the Flyers might try to trade up, nothing really materialized. “We had quite a few calls to move back (trade down in the draft) but we were able to identify two or three players, and Samuel (Morin) was one of them. Once we knew he was there, we had no intention of moving back.’’ 683299 Philadelphia Flyers NHL Draft: Flyers hope Sam Morin will pack defensive punch And some guys like to squish them. Asked about Morin’s reputation as a defensive fighter, Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said, “It’s still in the rules.” True enough. Sunday, June 30, 2013 “But that’s not the big part of his game,” Holmgren added. “I think he’s going to be a very good defender. He’ll move the puck and get it out of trouble.” By ROB PARENT Perhaps it’s a sign of his toughness that Morin really started to catch the scouts’ eyes after his injury last season. NEWARK, N.J. — Desperately needing to infuse their ranks with viable defensemen, the Flyers did just that Sunday with their first two draft picks, and in true team fashion, made sure they got a real fighter in the process. “He came back from his collar-bone injury and his game took off,” Holmgren said. “He went to another level. ... His long-term projection was as good as anybody else in the draft that we could (still) pick.” In selecting Samuel Morin with the 11th overall pick in the first round, the Flyers got a guy dubbed by the International Scouting Service as the 32nd rated player. But hey, who believes what the judges say when you know you’ve just gotten a potential movie star? Holmgren said the Flyers also had 6-5, 221-pound Russian defender Nikita Zadorov “right there” with Morin. Ryan Pulock, a defender with much of an offensive bent, might also have been under consideration for the Flyers at the No. 11 spot, though Holmgren claimed his drafting table wasn’t kicking around defensive possibilities only. The kid who is still filling out at 6-6½ feet and 210 pounds said he was thrilled to be greeted on the Prudential Center stage by his idol, Chris Pronger, and was told he even looked like a young Pronger, who was drafted 20 years earlier to the day. Pulock went at No. 15 to the New York Islanders; Zadorov went to Buffalo at 16. While proud to admit he’d always modeled his game on Pronger’s, Morin did stop short of agreeing with the opinion that he was a mirror image of his idol. “I don’t think so,” Morin said. “More (like) the Russian guy in ‘Rocky.’ A lot of people say I look like him. ... Yeah, (Ivan) Drago.” A Drago from Lac-Beauport, Quebec? Da. Hopefully, Morin can defend the middle a bit better than that other big tall spiky-blonde haired dude from the appropriately panned 1985 film “Rocky IV.” “(It’s exciting) just to be at same table with Chris Pronger,” Morin said. “He’s a guy I always liked, a tough guy and leader and two-way defenseman. I like Chris Pronger but I am Samuel Morin. Chris Pronger was a superstar in the NHL. I don’t know if I would be like him, but for sure I’ll (try).” Morin may have been a little shocked to see the former Flyers captain on the stage with other team officials greeting him. “I had to say hi to him,” Morin said. “But I didn’t know what to say.” Pronger has been slowly recovering from a concussion that has brought his career to all but an official end. With teens like Morin and second-round selection Robert Hagg, however, he’s expected to earn his money as an organizational tutor. “You want to see how they can compete,” Pronger said. “How they make players pay a price. Whether it be standing in front or going in the corner, whatever the case it may be.” As for Morin, who turns 18 next month and is deemed by the judges to be at least two years away from being NHL worthy, Pronger was upbeat. “He has a lot to work on as most players do,” Pronger said. “But the maturation process from where he was at the beginning of the year to where he is trending, it intrigued a lot of scouts. Add that with the toughness factor and the way he plays the game.” And you have a young Pronger who looks like Ivan Drago? Not bad, even if early scouting reports on Morin weren’t exactly glowing. Despite a broken collar bone that limited his second season with Rimouski of the Quebec junior ranks to 46 games, Morin doubled his point total in 2012-13 over the prior season. He scored four goals and registered 16 points, but seemed to get better after the injury. He scored seven points in six QMJHL playoff games, then was considered one of Team Canada’s best defensemen on its Under-18 IIHF World Championship team. As Pronger said, Morin is not a guy “that’s going to be a power play quarterback.” But the kid claims he’s made great strides in his offensive game and has “the best shot on my team.” “I think he has to continue to work on his speed and his quickness; as a big man you can never be quick enough,” Pronger said. “You have to catch all the water bugs out there.” Holmgren would not comment on the speculation that he tried to move up from that 11 spot to get to Darnell Nurse. As it turned out, Donovan McNabb’s nephew wound up going to Edmonton at No. 7. Holmgren preferred to talk about the guy he took four picks later. “He has tremendous size, and for a big guy he moves around extremely well,” Holmgren said. “He’s got a good stick and his puck skills are going to continue to get better.” Though the size part wasn’t as impressive, Holmgren feels Hagg was a real find at No. 41 overall. “He’s another guy that’s got good puck skills,” Holmgren said. Told that Hagg figured he would need two more years in the Swedish Elite League to prepare him to play in Philly, Holmgren added, “Maybe he’s realistic, I don’t know.” Hagg said he felt he needed to grow in all facets of his game. “I need to be more consistent, play on a higher level every day,” Hagg said. “I can play at a high level for a couple of games, and then be down under the ground.” Following those first two picks, the Flyers stayed on familiar ground. In the third round, they took a 5-11, 195-pound grinding center in Tyrell Goulbourne who probably won’t score a lot anywhere but likes to mix it up with the gloves off. Then they went for defense again in the fifth round, taking an 18-year-old New Hampshire prep school junior defenseman named Terrance Amorosa. In Round 6 at 162 overall, they took another New Hampshire preppie, this one a 6-4 goalie in Merrick Madsen. Just one pick after that another tall goalie went, Brendan Burke, the son of former Flyers goalie Sean Burke. For a final pick, the Flyers took a stringbean defender in David Drake. Delaware County Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683300 Philadelphia Flyers McCaffery: Sam Morin could be the bully that Broad Street needs “I think it’s the perfect match,” Morin said. “I’m tough and they like tough guys and they want me.” Morin has heard that he bears a resemblance both to Pronger and “the Russian guy who fought Rocky.” Chris Pronger with a knockout punch. The perfect match indeed. Sunday, June 30, 2013 By Jack McCaffery NEWARK, N.J. — Even before becoming the Flyers’ first-round draft choice Sunday, Samuel Morin had a working knowledge of the great city of Philadelphia. Such as? “I like history, and I know his name, he was the first president of the United States, and I just can’t think if it right now,” the French-Canadian defenseman said. “And also, Rocky Balboa.” Those two wild men. So what did the Flyers think they were selecting in the first round of the draft after Morin had collected four goals and 117 penalty minutes for Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL? Were they looking for someone who could analyze the particulars of the Revolutionary War, or someone who would be willing to start another, on the ice, whenever necessary? At 6-foot-6, 203 pounds, Morin can do plenty around a blue line, among them making radar guns overheat with his left-handed shot, preventing goals and endeavoring to make like Chris Pronger, his longtime hockey hero. All of that might occur at the big-league level, or it might not. But if the Flyers achieved nothing else in the first draft round, their swagger level had ballooned. “I’m tough,” Morin said. “I’ll fight anyone.” The Flyers lost more often than they won last season. That meant they needed plenty. They needed scorers, defenders and a goaltender who did not create a stir with his every bizarre postgame syllable. But they needed some of what Morin projected Sunday, too: toughness. He won’t be 18 until July 12, which means he might not even make Peter Laviolette’s varsity next season. In fact, Paul Holmgren acknowledged, “it would be a stretch to say he is ready.” But if Morin doesn’t achieve, and quickly, it is even money that no one will be more surprised than him. “I think I will come and compete at the camp, and do everything for the team, to be sure,” he said. “And we will see. I wouldn’t mind having another season in the ‘Q’. But for sure, I will be going there to compete and I will do everything to make the team.” He has already overachieved, at least by the thin standards established by the draftniks and scouting services, who figured him to be available roughly 20 picks later in the first round. But the Flyers have had success in scouting Quebec, and confidently selected Morin, who strolled onto the Prudential Center stage with his shirt tail out. And who was to say that he did not belong? If it were strictly up to the know-it-alls with the stopwatches, there wouldn’t be a need for a draft at all, for they could just submit their rankings and have the league distribute the players accordingly. Holmgren, though, saw something extra in Morin, something different, something that the statistics sheets camouflaged. That would include an ability to punch, a skill once prized ... and a skill that can be, should be, valuable still. “It’s still in the rules,” the general manager said, with just the proper pinch of defiance. “That’s not the big part of his game. I think he is going to be a very good defender that is good with the puck and can get you out of trouble at the end of the day. And he is very competitive. We all watched the playoffs. It is still very, very competitive. And big guys that are competitive, I think, have an advantage, especially if they can get around the ice good.” The Flyers have been blistered for not identifying, developing and winning with their own defensemen. So Sunday, they took Morin in the first round, 6-2, 204-pound Robert Hagg in the second. The message: On defense, they are trending big, and they will spend many dollars, each with a portrait of old what’s-his-name, to become more rugged. Nor do they care whose feelings or noses are bruised in the process. Delaware County Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683301 Philadelphia Flyers With so much uncertain, might as well mock the NHL draft Sunday, June 30, 2013 By ROB PARENT NEWARK, N.J. — What, a mock draft for the NHL? Not even the great, allknowing Mike Mayock’s smarter and cooler brother could do something worthwhile with that. Picking what hockey team takes whatever hockey teen is anyone’s guess, especially this year, when an anticipated mass selloff of high contracts via compliance buyouts might spur a flurry of trade activity when the draft kicks off today at 3 at Prudential Center. So from this vantage point, here’s another best guess of how that draft’s first round will go. Call it a mock “mock draft” ... 1. Colorado Avalanche to Florida Panthers: In their first draft together as Real Fantasy Bosses, former Colorado Avalanche stars Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy have fun playing the management game. The guys were honest (brutally so in Roy’s case) players, but now they get to be professionally dishonest because, well, that’s what the job calls for. So after Honest Joe spent the past week talking up Nathan MacKinnon as a No. 1 overall choice, and talking down the idea of taking his friend Popeye Jones’ kid, defensive prospect Seth Jones, he does the right thing by everyone. He trades the No. 1 overall pick to Florida, which takes MacKinnon, who at 17 is a year away at most from lighting it up as a scoring center. 2. Florida Panthers to Colorado Avalanche: This pick goes to the Avs, which of course use it to take Seth Jones ... keeping everyone happy in Colorado’s new extended family. 3. Tampa Bay Lightning: Having cut $10 million man Vinny Lecavalier from the salary cap, GM Steve Yzerman does the logical thing and replaces that spot with a 17-year-old Russian kid from Finland named Aleksander Barkov, who projects to be a point-per-game scorer at center even if he doesn’t know what country he should play for at the Olympics. As for the money he’s saving, Stevie Y decides to spread it around for free agents who might have at least some knowledge of keeping the puck out of the Lightning net. 4. Nashville Predators: Holding on valiantly to the intimidating defensive presence everyone else wants in Shea Weber, and at only $20,000 or so per minute during the season, Preds GM David Poile shocks the crowd by smiling when he takes the podium. Then he shocks everyone some more by taking Rasmus Ristolainen ... essentially an 18-year-old Weber wannabe. 5. Carolina Hurricanes to FLYERS: Continuing a long tradition that dates back 20 years, ’Canes GM Jim Rutherford consults with former colleague and lifelong friend Paul Holmgren to see if he can help him out. The result is the ’Canes trade down to No. 11, handing the No. 5 pick to the Flyers in exchange for the No. 11 and the rights to Sami Kapanen and Keith Primeau. The NHL quickly voids the deal, so Rutherford takes Braydon Coburn instead. Holmgren also agrees to send Carolina a late-round pick that the Flyers don’t want to use because they want to leave the draft early, then throws in a box of cigars for Jimmy. With that, Bob Clarke steps up to announce the Flyers’ pick, but he forgets the kid’s name. So Holmgren takes the mic in front of red-faced model of impatience Gary Bettman and announces Darnell Nurse is the Flyers’ new D-man. A piercing scream goes up from the crowd at Prudential Center, and the Philadelphia media quickly hone in on the source of the noise. It’s Donovan McNabb, better known as Darnell Nurse’s uncle, who is waving a white towel and yelling his support for the kid. Unfortunately, Uncle Don then gets sick at his seat. 6. Calgary Flames: Still seeking to recover from trading longtime star Jarome Iginla and then seeing their Saddledome washed away in a flood, the Flames throw out their draft plans and are still wondering why top CHL prospect Jonathan Drouin is available at No. 6. They take him, and all seems well in Rodeoland. 7. Edmonton Oilers: Having failed on several fronts to make trades in order to free up the money for a long-term contract for Sam Gagner, Oilers GM Craig MacTavish takes Valeri Nichushkin, who is projected as a 6-4 guy who likes to run over people at his wing position. The Oilers need to get a little more physical. 8. Buffalo Sabres: The Sabres, who never have a clue when it comes to drafting, developing and actually holding onto scoring talent, try again by getting Sean Monahan. 9. New Jersey Devils: Lou Lamoriello, privy to the rumors that some company is about to take majority ownership of the Devils, decides he needs a name player to keep The Kingdom of Lou as his own. So he takes Tie Domi’s kid. The attendees at Prudential Center, most of whom are given seats as compensation for helping to park cars before the draft, go crazy and anticipate a fight to break out right then and there. But aside from being the same size as his pugilistic pug of a dad, Max Domi is actually a small, skilled player. Lou figures he’ll score a lot of goals ... and if Devils fans don’t know any better, well, so what? 10. Dallas Stars: Spending all their time trying to acquire old guys with high salaries through trades and pending free agent signings, the Stars call out Elias Lindholm on a whim. He is apparently a highly rated center. Then they get back to the phones. 11. FLYERS to Carolina Hurricanes: NOW it’s Jimmy’s turn. So he calls Paul Holmgren to ask for suggestions, then orders up a plate of Hunter Shinkaruk. Despite the stinky name, this forward will wind up to be the steal of the 2013 draft. At least he will be when all the Canadian media soothsayers tweet that he is. 12. Phoenix Coyotes: Some guy who says he represents the Coyotes is about to announce his selection when Bettman stops him. The NHL commish wipes his brow, shakes his head with an odd grin, then promptly announces he’s moving the pick to Seattle, and, oh yeah, the team is going with the pick. The now declared Seattle franchise takes a defenseman named Samuel Morin because he’s 6-foot-6, and the people of Seattle are used to basketball players. With that, Bettman then goes back to the mic and declares the 2013 draft, which began at 3 p.m., is suddenly suspended. Apparently, NBC has decided to lock out all its union personnel after consulting with NHL officials on how to run an entire draft in seven hours. What a perfect way to wrap up the season that never was. Delaware County Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683302 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers' Paul Holmgren and Co. already negotiating Sunday, June 30, 2013 By ROB PARENT NEWARK, N.J. — There is always more excitement inside the building than out when it comes to the NHL Draft, and that’s especially true this year since it’s being held in Newark, N.J. Much of the excitement Saturday night, however, was coming from across the river in Midtown Manhattan, where many NHL execs were gathered to discuss player movement in one way or another. Reportedly, that included the Flyers. Despite plans to stay home until today, general manager Paul Holmgren, chief exec Peter Luukko and company were said to be heading to New York to join the bidding for Vincent Lecavalier, the longtime Tampa Bay Lightning star center that is now a pending unrestricted free agent via a compliance buyout. The Flyers would be one of several teams or more who would possibly offer up bidding packages to Lecavalier’s representatives. Meanwhile, the Flyers have reportedly floated Braydon Coburn’s name as potential trade bait as they continue to work on freeing up salary cap space for a free-agency season that Holmgren says will be wide open. “I think there’s going to be lots of funny stuff happening in the next 10 days or 9 days, leading up to July 5,” he said Wednesday. “It’s a very competitive league and we’re all trying to do what the Blackhawks just did.” That would be win a Stanley Cup, not buy one. Meanwhile, a kid named Seth Jones will have that same Cup dream dancing in his head at Prudential Center today for a draft that won’t start until 3 o’clock in the afternoon — Happy Hour in Newark. According to Joe Sakic, now dressing himself up as the executive star in charge of the Colorado Avalanche, he’d be perfectly happy drafting Nathan MacKinnon, projected as a dominant center who indeed dominated the Quebec junior ranks playoffs this spring. The only caveat to that is that there are still a lot of people who think Sakic is blowing smoke when it comes to MacKinnon, and that Sakic’s little buddy Jones will be Colorado’s selection. Why? Because Seth Jones is the 18-year-old son of former NBA player Ronald “Popeye” Jones, who while a member of the Denver Nuggets made contact with Sakic. So eventually did his three sons, Justin, Seth and Caleb make real contact with the game of hockey after sitting rinkside to watch Sakic, new Avalanche coach Patrick Roy and the rest of the Avs win the Cup in 2001. “That was kind of the moment I can remember I wanted to be a hockey player, and eventually raise the Cup one day,” Seth Jones said at a prospects luncheon Friday afternoon in nearby Weehawken. So now shouldn’t it be expected that Sakic make Jones’ dreams come true ... especially when Jones happens to be the top-rated player in the draft according to many a hockey draft geek? “No, not at all,” Jones said. “No. 1 is special, but at the same time, there are a lot of great players who haven’t been No. 1 and they went on to have great careers.” Jones has drawn comparisons to premier physical defenders with an offensive touch ... a guy like Chris Pronger, for example. “It’s pretty cool to be put in that category,” Jones said. “I’m at a loss for words for anybody to say that.” If Jones, who cut his teeth playing for two years in the U.S. National Team Developmental Program, isn’t taken by the Avalanche, then the draft will turn instantly intriguing for the Flyers. For as vacant as their organization is when it comes to defensive prospects, they’d love to get Jones or another defender much like him, Darnell Nurse. It’s just that selecting at No. 11, it would be awfully difficult to move up far enough to get those guys. “He’s a big guy, obviously,” Holmgren said of the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Jones. “He has a lot of range in his game. He’s a great skater. He’s good with the puck. I wouldn’t call him physically dominating in terms of hitting, but he dominates with his stick and his hockey sense.” Jones might have 10 or 15 pounds on him, but Nurse is every bit 6-4, too, and is working to add bulk to a presence which already can intimidate. “As a player I’d like to fashion my game after Shea Weber,” Nurse said. “He has a lot of impact, not only in the defensive zone but in the offensive zone, and he just keeps it simple.” This is not a Draft Day that would seem to go off as simple as it should. Those so-called “amnesty buyouts” and changing budgets are conspiring to produce a lot of trade talk, and positioning for the start of the free agency period July 5. The Flyers, having already dispatched Danny Briere and Ilya Bryzgalov and their combined annual cap hits of nearly $12.2 million via compliance buyouts, could fall into that. With the amnesty buyouts, coupled with the four-year, $21 million contract Holmgren made official with defensive free agent Mark Streit this weekend, the Flyers were $4.2 million below the anticipated $64.3 million cap. Perhaps they’re trying to clear Coburn’s $4.5 million lot in order to try to free up enough space to bid for Lecavalier or make some other grand move. And maybe not. If they don’t make a trading move that influences their current selection spot, they could be looking at a nice consolation draft prize on defense. Perhaps they could get Ryan Pulock and his 100 mph shot, or ready-now physical defender Rasmus Ristolainen or even hulking Russian defender Nikita Zadorov. “I think that you have to have an open mind,” Holmgren said. “Eleven is a good spot. I think we’re going to get a good player, but if we can move up the food chain and get what we agree is a better prospect, you’ve got to look at it if it makes sense.” Delaware County Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683303 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers select D Samuel Morin with 11th pick Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 4:15 pm NEWARK, N.J. – Never mind the uncertainty about when he would be selected or which team would draft him. Forget the fact that he was up on stage in front of 30 of his closest friends and family – and the thousands of fans who packed the Prudential Center. Samuel Morin, the 17-year-old defenseman whom the Flyers selected with their 11th overall pick in Sunday’s 2013 draft, was most anxious and excited to meet Chris Pronger, the player he grew up idolizing (see story). “I just said hi,” he said, blushing. “I didn’t know what to say! I just said hi.” Even with players still available that they’d previously expressed interest in (Ryan Pulock, for one), the Flyers elected to draft the 6-foot-6 and 202pound Morin, a stay-at-home defenseman known for having impressive reach and good skating skills despite his large size. It was a pick that came as a surprise to everyone but Morin himself, who is from a small town outside Quebec City. His agent had alerted him to the fact that the Flyers were keen on him and liked the idea of drafting him early, despite the fact that he was ranked 23rd in the final Central Scouting report. But Morin is very much a Flyers-type player. He’s big, he’s mean, he’s physical and he isn’t afraid to fight (he had 117 penalty minutes in 46 games playing for Rimouski Oceanic of the QMJHL last year). Sounds a bit like that aforementioned Flyers defenseman whom he grew up admiring, doesn’t it? “Yeah, yeah, like Chris Pronger,” he said. “But I am Samuel Morin. I will play my game.” Morin’s game doesn’t exactly fit the bill of the Flyers’ specific needs right now. Though he’s working on his offensive upside, he’s far from a powerplay quarterback. That’s OK – he’s likely a few seasons away from playing with the big club. Defensemen take time to develop. “I’m more a defensive defenseman,” he said. “But the second half of this season, I had a lot more offensive upside. I got an injury (he broke his collarbone in January), but I came back and had seven points in six games [in the playoffs]. I’ve got a very hard shot. I’m tough. I can fight anyone. It’s that.” What the Flyers were most drawn to about him, though, Pronger – here as part of the Flyers’ draft team – had to demonstrate with his hands. “How he’s been trending,” Pronger said, taking his hand and mimicking a plane during takeoff, “intrigued a lot of the scouts.” There are some who worry that Pulock, the WHL defenseman who was ranked 12th and picked 15th, has already peaked. The way the Flyers see it, the manner in which Morin returned from his injury, as well as how he stood out during Canada’s U18 IIHF World Championship victory, prove he certainly hasn’t. Morin will attend the Flyers’ prospect camp later this summer, and will likely get an invitation to training camp as the season approaches. He’s far from a lock to make the team’s opening-day roster, but he isn’t at all discouraged by the odds being stacked against him. “I think I’m ready to compete at the game,” he said. “I will do everything to make the team for sure. We will see. I don’t mind to spend next season in the [QMJHL], but at the camp, I will compete and do everything for making the team.” He added, “I’m not going to the camp just to watch the others skating. I want to make the team.” There are definitely some things he has to work on before he does, however, in addition to adding another 20 or so pounds to his frame. “As a big man, he’s got to continue to work on his feet, his quickness, mobility,” Pronger said. “As a big man, you can never be quick enough, trying to catch all the little waterbugs running around out there. “I think recognizing that quick first pass, puck skills, handling the puck. Those are all things young kids need to work on, especially when you’re that big and playing with an edge.” Morin has never been to Philadelphia. His knowledge of the city is limited to a vague understanding of its history, admiration of Bobby Clarke and the fact that he looks a lot like Ivan Drago from the movie “Rocky.” That said, he can already tell the city is a place he’ll fit in. “I think it’s the perfect match,” Morin said. “I’m tough, and they like tough guys.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683304 Philadelphia Flyers Outside first round, Flyers own poor draft history Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 10:00 am NEW YORK -- Redemption is a strong word. In the Flyers' case, as it pertains to the draft, it’s long overdue. Sunday’s NHL Draft in Newark, N.J., is one of the best ever (see story). And it offers the Flyers a chance to start on the path of redemption -- and to start finding more NHL talent in later rounds. Historically, the Flyers have done well in the first round despite drafting fairly low –- a consequence of going deep most playoff years. In the last 13 drafts alone, going back to 2000, the Flyers have had 12 firstround picks. Ten have or are playing in the NHL, although just two of those -- Claude Giroux and Sean Couturier -- are currently with the team. But the point is that their first-round picks always make the roster. The problem has been that they have drafted poorly from the second round on. First off, the club often uses its second-round picks as trade bait. Yet even when the Flyers have kept them around, their turnover rate for those picks becoming actual NHL players is terrible. Since 1995, their best second-round player who made it to the NHL has been Andreas Nodl, now playing for the Carolina Hurricanes. Which means they have “zero” second-round picks playing in orange and black. That’s unacceptable. Their true bright spot is last year’s second-round pick -- goalie Anthony Stolarz. Looking at the Flyers’ picks from third round through seventh since 2000, they have just four drafted players who are active and playing regular minutes on an NHL roster, but only one player on their own roster -- Zac Rinaldo: · Rinaldo – 2009 (6th round, 178th overall); · Colin Fraser – 2003 (3rd, 67th) with Los Angeles; · Patrick Sharp – 2001 (3rd, 95th) with Chicago and · Dennis Seidenberg – 2001 (6th, 172) with Boston A few late-rounds picks have given them some relief here. Eric Wellwood (2009, 6th, 172nd) and Oliver Lauridsen (2009, 7th, 196th) have provided the Flyers with some call-up minutes, as has Marc-Andre Bourdon (2008, 3rd, 67th), whose career has been jeopardized by postconcussion syndrome. That’s it. If an NHL prospect is going to make it, he’ll generally hit the big-league roster within four or five years. Otherwise, he’s destined to become a career minor leaguer. The most common exceptions are goaltenders. Of course, the Flyers have not any goalie-drafting success in over a decade. The most-recent Flyers-drafted goaltender to start a game in the NHL was Roman Cechmanek, who was already 29 years old by the time he was taken in the 6th round of the 2000 draft. Incredibly, “Checko” -- not Bernie Parent -- still holds the Flyers’ all-time record for goals against average (50+ games) at 1.96, even though he was regarded by teammates as a head case who once walked off the ice during a playoff game in Ottawa to protest how Bill Barber’s team was playing in front of him. All that aside, players from the 2009 draft forward are still developing, if you go by the four- or five-year rule. Yet the undeniable fact is that the Flyers, as an organization, have been woefully inadequate in their drafts since the 1990s outside of the first round and need to start producing NHL players on their roster. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683305 Philadelphia Flyers 2013 draft loaded with defensemen for Flyers Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 9:00 am NEW YORK -- This is one of those years in the National Hockey League where the amateur draft is truly top-loaded at one position. And it ain’t forwards. It’s defense. Sunday’s draft at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. could see as many as 10 defensemen taken in the first round and a fair number in the second round, as well. “Looking at all the mock drafts, there are a lot of defensemen around,” said Chris Pryor, the Flyers’ director of hockey operations. “It’s a pretty good year for defense. “Whether you look early or you look late, there are a lot of defensemen. It’s a pretty good year from a defenseman’s standpoint.” NHL Central Scouting ranked Portland defenseman Seth Jones as the top North American prospect, even though he may not be the No. 1 overall pick by the Colorado Avalanche. The guy pushing him for that honor is Halifax center Nathan Mackinnon. Jones could easily end up as the No. 2 pick by Florida. The Calgary Flames (No. 6) are so hot to get the No. 1 overall pick. They’ve offered all three of their first-round selections to the Avs so they can pluck Jones. They have also tried to work a deal with the Flyers but it hasn’t succeeded (see story). Five of Central Scouting’s top-12 ranked players are defensemen. “People like to throw out 2003 draft, and since I’ve been scouting, that is really the only one I have to compare it to,” Pryor said. “That was so good because of the depth. It’s probably not fair to compare them, but it is a deep draft. It will be fun to look at this draft five years from now.” That 2003 draft produced Shea Weber, Ryan Suter, Matt Carle, Braydon Coburn, Dion Phaneuf, Brent Seabrook, Dustin Byfuglien, Tobias Enstrom and Marc Stuart on defense. The forwards? Eric Staal, Thomas Vanek, Nathan Horton, Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Dustin Brown, Ryan Kesler, and of course, Mike Richards and Jeff Carter. The Flyers would love to get into the top five but they’re picking at No. 11, which is a bit far down, and they don’t have a lot of assets or even picks to work with. Overall, they have six picks through seven rounds. There is talk the Flyers could also trade their pick, although a number of scouts in the organization believe this is one year when the Flyers need to utilize their top pick and select a defenseman, given how thin they are at that position. “I think we will get a good player with the first pick,” general manager Paul Holmgren said. “Whether he can make an impact right away, I don’t know.” The Flyers are always good for a surprise at the draft. Here’s one out-ofleft-field option that sources say the Flyers are considering: goalie Zach Fucale, a guy the Devils are seriously considering with their No. 9 pick. Doesn’t matter that the last goalie drafted by the Flyers who played any minutes was Roman Cechmanek. Or that Anthony Stolarz, last summer’s excellent pick, is slated to be their guy of the future. “You have a lot of scenarios that you run through in mock drafts, so you generally have a pretty good idea,” Holmgren said. “But I guarantee you there will be at least one player that's taken before we pick that we didn't think would go there and that all of a sudden throws things into a little bit of a change of dynamic.” Holmgren said earlier in the week that the team would be stockpiling some goalies, so don’t be blindsided if the Flyers ignore a logical at defense and take a goalie with their highest pick. How many impact players does Holmgren see in that first round? “I don’t know what number would be a crop, but I would say there are at least a half dozen or more,” Holmgren said. Given how far down the Flyers are, it’s tough to say who might be on the board. One defenseman, Brandon’s Ryan Pulock, is a guy the Flyers projected to still be around when they choose, and they have great interest in him. His stock, however, has been rising, and he has a cannon of a shot - easily the best of any defenseman in the draft -- which means he could be gone. Some tab him as the best overall defenseman behind Jones. Jones, incidentally, is simply amazing to watch. To see how he controls the game, how he skates, how he is all over the ice, is almost like watching clips of a young Bobby Orr with the Oshawa Generals. The Flyers also like Sault Ste. Marie’s Darnell Nurse, whose uncle is Donovan McNabb. Rasmus Ristolainen, who plays for TPS in Finland, is considered the top European defenseman, and another player the Flyers have interest in. One player to keep an eye on is London, Ont., defenseman Nikita Zadorov. He’s a little rough around the edges, but the Flyers genuinely lilke him. The top forward who has caught the Flyers' attention is Russian right wing Valeri Nichushkin who plays for Chelyabinsk. “There’s a lot of good players out there,” Pryor said. “Early in the first round, a lot of good players and many of them all over that first round. “It’s a different thing than it once was about guys coming in to play right away. Different circumstances now. Young guys are coming in right now and playing. I think there are a few guys in that first round who teams are going to give an opportunity to play right away.” The Flyers always seem to make noise at the draft with a trade. Holmgren predicted “a lot of crazy things” might go down because of the impact coming with players bought out. People expect the Flyers will do something. They almost always do. “Ah ... pressure! There's potential for lots of things to happen because of the potential buyouts, which might be coming down the pike,” Holmgren said. “It's a very competitive league and we're all trying to do what the Blackhawks just did.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683306 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers exit 2013 draft with four defensemen Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 10:45 pm NEWARK, N.J. -- Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren emphatically denies he was on a mission Sunday to restock his depleted defensive depth at the NHL draft. That’s exactly what he did, however, at Prudential Center, as the club diversified itself with big, mean, Pronger-like, 17-year-old Quebec product Samuel Morin and 18-year-old puck mover in Robert Hagg. Morin, who goes 6-foot-6, went No. 11, and Haag was their secondrounder (No. 41). The last time the Flyers chose two blueliners as their first two picks in the draft was 1994, when they plucked Artem Anisimov in the third round and Adam Magarrell in the fourth. They had no higher picks that year. WHL. He’s an older player, too, at age 19. Goulbourne was not present at the draft. “That little guy reminds people of Zac Rinaldo -- an energy guy who plays with enthusiasm and brings that element,” Pryor said. “The other kids are going to school and got a lot of time [to develop]. They will play a year or two of junior and then have college after that. Those guys will be a work in progress, but they have an upside.” The start of the draft saw Portland defenseman Seth Jones slip farther than anyone expected. Colorado wasn’t kidding when it said it would bypass Jones and pluck Halifax forward Nathan MacKinnon with its top pick; the Avs did just that. That wasn’t surprising. What was, however, was Jones falling to fourth-overall before being selected by Nashville, which lost Ryan Suter to free agency last summer. How about the Predators new look on the blue line: Shea Weber and Jones? No one thought it was possible Jones would slip that far. “Not really [surprised]," Holmgren said. “At the top of the draft, there were a lot of good players. With the players who went in the top six, they were [the] ones we thought would go but not necessarily in that order.” Florida, picking second, surprised everyone with Finnish center Aleksander Barkov. Jones literally fell into Preds general manager David Poile’s lap. In all, the Flyers chose four defensemen, a forward and a goalie with their six picks – they had no fourth-round pick. “I’ll try to make, in a good way, those teams regret not taking me,” Jones said. “It was a chance to strengthen that part of our organization,” said Chris Pryor, director of hockey operations. “We leaned more on defensemen because it was side-by-side with forwards and defensemen. But these guys are good players.” When Carolina took Swedish center Elias Lindholm at No. 5 and Calgary grabbed Ottawa forward Sean Monahan at No. 6, it significantly raised the prospects of the Flyers getting a defensemen they wanted. Of course, then came another surprise when the Buffalo Sabres took fleet-footed defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen from TPS Finland with the eighth pick. Ristolainen would have been the Flyers pick had he been available. Their third defenseman came in the fifth round with 19-year-old JohnTerrance Amorosa No. 132), from Holderness Prep School in New Hampshire. He plans to play for Sioux City in the USHL next fall. The Flyers last pick in the 7th round (No. 192) was also a D-man -- David Drake from Des Moines in the USHL. Though Holmgren talked about getting two goalies, he got just one, Merrick Madsen from Proctor Academy in New Hampshire, in the sixth round (No. 162). Madsen had a 3.20 goals against and .908 save percentage in 20 games and has committed to Harvard for the fall of 2014. The Flyers have had success over the years drafting from the QMJHL with players such as Simon Gagne, Alexandre Picard, Claude Giroux, and Sean Couturier. They hope Morin follows in their footsteps. Simon Nolet is the Flyers lead scout there in the Province of Quebec. Nolet’s partner, Todd Hearty, also scouted Morin. “Samuel has come a long way in a short time,” Holmgren said of Nolet’s latest find, Morin. “He is ultra-competitive. For a guy that big, he skates awful well. "He has great range, obviously, and a pretty good understanding of the game. His puck skills have gotten so much better in not a very long period of time. “I think he is a very good prospect with the chance to really blossom over the last year or two.” Haag was projected as a late first-rounder or early second. “He’s one of the guys we had in a group in the second round. We were hoping [would] be there and were happy to snap him up,” Holmgren said. “Robert has good size, moves good, and moves the puck well." Haag captained Modo in Sweden this season. “There was nothing special to me, I just tried to be myself,” Haag said. “I tried to be a leader on the ice and be myself in what I can do.” Haag was brutally honest in admitting he had no feel whatsoever that he’d be coming to the Flyers based on one interview and seemed bothered that he had fallen so far down the ladder. NHL Central Registry had Haag ranked the eighth-best European prospect. It wouldn’t be a Flyers draft if they didn’t get some kind of agitator, and they found just that in third-round pick (No. 72) Tyrell Goulbourne, a 5-11, 195pound forward, who racked up 135 penalty minutes this past season in the Still, the Flyers had options open to them when their pick arrived at No. 11 and went with Morin, who projects to be two years away from the NHL. “I'm never going to say never … I think that's a stretch [that he will play now],” Holmgren said. “We'll get a look at him next week with some of our other young kids when they come into town. “We'll see. But my opinion right now, I'd say it's a stretch. It's not to take anything away from him. We think he's a very good prospect for the Flyers for the future.” Loose pucks Chris Pronger, looking much healthier than the last time we saw him months ago in Philadelphia, was at the draft table. He watches a lot of video to offer advice on prospects (see story). … Flyers chairman Ed Snider was on the floor, a place he usually is never seen. Then again, the Devils don’t have the kind of luxury boxes other arenas have for club owners. That said, no one could remember the last time Snider attended an NHL Draft. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683307 Philadelphia Flyers Hagg surprised but happy to be drafted by Flyers Staff Writer June 30, 2013, 10:15 pm NEWARK, N.J. -- The Flyers took two defensemen with their first two draft picks for the first time since 1994 on Sunday, but the two they selected couldn’t be more different. With their first-round pick (11th overall) they took Samuel Morin, a big, tough stay-at-home defenseman with his sights set on making the NHL right away (see story). But in the second round, they called Robert Hagg’s name with the 41st selection. Hagg, an 18-year-old from Uppsala, Sweden, is a more mobile, puckmoving blueliner. And, arguably, a much more realistic one, too. “I need to play more before I go to the NHL,” Hagg said. “I need a couple more years in Sweden before I come over here. But say in two years in MODO, and after that, we’ll see, maybe I can come to play in the NHL.” Hagg, at 6-foot-2 and 201 pounds, already believes he has the necessary size to compete at the NHL level. He knows he’s got a good shot and that he’s at his best when he’s carrying the puck. He also knows exactly what his biggest problem is. “I need to be more consistent,” he said. “Play on the highest level every game. Because now, I can play in a high level maybe two games and after that maybe be down under the ground for a couple games. I need to be more consistent.” Consistency is the biggest knock against Hagg, who split his season between MODO's Elitserien and U20 Super Elite league team, where he was captain. He was actually rated just a bit higher than the Flyers’ firstround pick, Morin. Plenty of mock drafts and rankings suggested he could have been selected in the late first round (Central Scouting listed him as the eighth-best international skater). In fact, Hagg even seemed a bit surprised he remained available for so long Sunday. He was certainly shocked when the Flyers picked him. “Yeah, I got a little bit surprised,” he said. “I only talked to them once at the combine. So when they called my name I got a little surprised, but I’m really happy to get the Flyers. I look up a lot of them, their season, that’s a pretty good team. I’ll go to their camp and do my best and let’s see what happens after that.” Hagg admitted he knows “nothing” about Philadelphia, and will rely on former Flyer Peter Forsberg to bring him up to speed on the organization. While he’s obviously watched a lot of hockey, he’s never had a favorite NHL team before. “No, I never have,” he said. “When I was younger, I always would look at Swedish players, so I looked at a lot of Detroit and Vancouver and Colorado, of course. And Philadelphia, when Peter [Forsberg] was there.” Despite his rather stoic and quiet demeanor, Hagg considers himself a leader. He is generally regarded as a solid all-around player, a guy who can play in all situations and has a real shot of succeeding at the next level. And he isn’t at all dismayed by getting drafted later than he’d hoped. “It’s just a number,” he said. “So of course I got a little surprised. But I’m just happy to be in a good organization like the Flyers.” Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683308 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers draft defenseman Robert Hagg in 2nd round Jun. 30, 2013 7:14 PM Randy Miller Courier-Post Staff NEWARK — The Flyers went into Sunday’s NHL Draft saying they would select the best players on their board regardless of position, yet used their two picks on strengthening their biggest organizational weakness - defense. After using their first-round pick on 6-foot-6 defenseman Sam Morin, the Flyers might have gotten a steal in the second round taking 18-year-old Swedish defenseman Robert Hagg with the 41st-overall pick. “They only talked to me once, at the combine, so when they called my name I got a little bit surprised,” Hagg said. “I’m really happy to get picked by the Flyers.” A 6-foot-2, 203 pounder with a left-handed shot, Hagg had been projected as a potential first-round draft pick and didn’t put much thought into falling down the draft board. “Yeah, well it’s just a number,” Hagg said. “I’m just happy to be in the organization like the Flyers. I’m gonna take the opportunity to take a jersey on that team.” “He’s capable or being dominating at times and as he develops his game, he could find himself in a top pairing playing in multiple situations,” Craig Button, a scout for Canadian television station TSN, wrote in a draft profile for tsn.ca. Hagg was ranked the 12th best prospect in the draft by The Hockey News, the 31st best prospect by International Scouting and the eight-best European skater by Central Scouting. Hagg spent last season playing for Modo Hockey’s Under 20 and Swedish Elite teams. He had 11 goals, 24 points and 28 penalty minutes in 28 games for the Under 20 team, 1 assist in 27 games for the elite team while being coached by former Flyers defenseman Ulf Samuelsson. He also represented Sweden in the World Juniors and scored a goal and 4 points in 5 games. “I need a couple years in Sweden before I come over here, but in two years, when I’m done with Modo, we’ll see what happens,” Hagg said. According to Eliteprospects.com, Hagg is “a very all-round two-way defenseman. Hagg is capable of playing a pure defensive role, logging big minutes on the penalty kill, as well as contributing offensively and being valuable in power play situations. Furthermore, Hagg has good size and strength, very good vision, a heavy release and is also a mobile defenseman. Some consistency issues, although Hagg usually makes smarter plays while playing in the big league, rather than in the juniors. Lots of potential.” Courier-Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683309 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers' pick Morin idolized Pronger Jun. 30, 2013 9:40 PM Dave Isaac Courier-Post Staff NEWARK — When the Flyers’ scouting team met this week in preparation of the draft, injured defenseman Chris Pronger was also at the table adding his input. Now wearing glasses and a suit instead of a helmet and jersey, Pronger also joined management on the stage when the Flyers selected defenseman Sam Morin, of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic, with the 11th pick. The 17-year-old, 6-foot-6 behemoth was on another planet. The LacBeauport, Quebec native grew up in Montreal idolizing Pronger. “I like Chris Pronger, but I’m Sam Morin,” the newest Flyer said. “Chris Pronger was a superstar in the NHL. … I don’t know if I’ll be like him, but for sure it’s a good comparison.” One reporter even suggested Morin looks like Pronger. “Not him, but the Russian guy from ‘Rocky,’” Morin said. “People say I look like him.” Ivan Drago? “Yeah, Drago.” Morin is a 206-pound blueliner who had four goals, 14 assists and 117 penalty minutes in 46 games this season. The left-handed shot missed time with an upper-body injury. He was on Canada’s U18 World Championship team and had two assists in seven games in the tournament. “Big strong kid,” Pronger said. “Plays tough. Plays mean.” Morin says he’s encouraged by the fact that Sean Couturier and Scott Laughton, the Flyers’ most recent first-round picks, played in the NHL the season following their selection. “I want to make the team (this year) for sure,” Morin said. “I will give all I have and if I don’t make it, it’s not a problem. I’ll give it all I have.” The Flyers will hope that Morin can become a homegrown player that makes it all the way to a successful NHL career. They haven’t had many players like that in their recent draft history and general manager Paul Holmgren knows it. “I hear that all the time from Mr. Snider,” Holmgren said this week. “He’s always telling me we’ve never drafted a top defenseman.” Morin was ranked 23rd among North American skaters by central scouting and had 30 friends and family members drive down from Montreal to watch him walk up on stage and shake hands with his idol. “Oh yeah,” said a beaming Morin. “Big hands.” Courier-Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683310 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers put the accent on 'D' Although the cat has been out of the bag for nearly a year, the NHL officially announced that Philadelphia will host the 2014 draft. The event will go back to being across two days, June 228. Dave Isaac “We are truly excited,” Comcast-Spectacor President Peter Luukko said. “This is further testament that Philadelphia truly is a hockey town.” What a thrill for not just hockey fans in our region, but for the entire city of Philadelphia to have hosted a successful Winter Classic in 2012, the upcoming 2014 NCAA Frozen Four next April followed by the 2014 NHL Entry Draft in June.” Courier-Post Staff Nurse upstages Uncle Donovan Jul. 1, 2013 1:26 AM NEWARK — Taking a break from sitting at the Flyers’ table, general manager Paul Holmgren met with reporters during the fourth round of Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft, the only round in which the Flyers didn’t have a pick. For only the fourth time in team history, the Flyers used both of their first two picks on defensemen. In 1976, a year after the Flyers drafted Holmgren, it was Mark Suzor and Drew Callander, two players who didn’t amount to much in the NHL. In 2013, it’s Sam Morin and Robert Hagg, blueliners the Flyers hope can be a big part of their future. A reason the Flyers started this year’s draft by nabbing two defensemen is the same reason for a lot of things they’ve done recently: the salary cap. “Obviously to have young players that you have developed and (are) ready to play, they’re cheaper,” Holmgren said. “The more you have, the better off you’re gonna be.” The Flyers considered trading back from their spot at No. 11, but when the 6-foot-6 behemouth was still available, Holmgren said it was an easy decision to take Morin. Hagg, a Swede picked 41st overall, was appearing in some mock drafts in the first round and the Flyers were happy he slipped to them. The Flyers think the 6-foot-2, 193-pound defenseman can become special because of his size, skating and ability to play the puck. Hagg idolizes former Flyer and countryman Peter Forsberg and talked to him about Philadelphia, but he expected to be drafted by someone else. He had only had one conversation with the Flyers at the combine. “He’s one of the guys we had in a group in the second round we were hoping would fall to us,” Holmgren said. “Obviously when he was there, we were happy to snatch him up.” Aside from defensemen, the Flyers picked up some muscle in the third round, although Tyrell Goulbourne probably wasn’t expecting it. The 5-foot11, 170-pound winger wasn’t even in Newark for the draft. Goulbourne fought 36 times in the last two regular seasons for the Kelowna Rockets. Holmgren called him “Z2” as in Zac Rinaldo 2.0. “OH MY GOD!” he tweeted in all caps. “What an honor!!” When the Flyers were on the board again in the fifth round, they took highschool defenseman Terrance Amerosa, a late-bloomer from Montreal who played in a New Hampshire prep school last season and will play in the USHL next season. In the sixth round, they selected Merrick Madsen, a 6foot-4 goalie. To round out the Flyers’ night, director of hockey operations Chris Pryor called the name of David Drake, a 6-foot-3 USHL defenseman. “I think if you ask any team how they think they came out of the draft, they’d say they’re very happy like we are,” Pryor said. “We’ve got a lot of kids we were hoping would be available when we picked and we were lucky enough that they were.” Flyers optimistic about Vinny The night before the draft, Holmgren and Flyers coach Peter Laviolette took the train to New York to meet with unrestricted free agent Vincent Lecavalier, then returned to Philly and took the bus to Newark Sunday morning with the rest of management. The meeting was so productive, sources told the Courier-Post, that the Flyers apparently believe they may be finalists for his services. “I thought it went well,” Holmgren said. “Who knows?” Flyers to host 2014 draft Defenseman Darnell Nurse was selected seventh overall by the Edmonton Oilers. His uncle, former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, was giving him advice through the process leading up to the draft. Nurse, 18, had a zinger for his uncle. “Yeah, we’re even,” Nurse said, “because he went higher than me, but I didn’t get booed at my draft, so we’re even.” Courier-Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683311 Philadelphia Flyers "At 16, I didn't have a hard shot, but I practiced a lot and (now) I have the best shot on my team and one of the best in my league," he said. Hulking defenseman Morin could become Pronger for Flyers Morin’s goal is to make a big impression at the Flyers’ prospect camp next week, then take part in their NHL training camp come September and earn an NHL roster spot. Jul. 1, 2013 1:21 AM “I want to make noise,” he said. “I want to make the team, for sure. This year.” Randy Miller | Courier-Post Staff Playing another season of junior is much more likely, Flyers director of hockey operations Chris Pryor said. NEWARK — Standing center stage with his girlfriend, parents, grandfather and more than two dozen other family and friends cheering from the Prudential Center stands, Sam Morin threw a Flyers jersey over his head and onto his broad shoulders for the first time with a nervous smile. “There’s no rush,” Pryor said. “I love the enthusiasm. That’s one thing that was special about the kid with his interview. You like that part of it. I guess you never know, but realistically he’s on a good path and in a good situation.” Being the Flyers’ first-round pick in Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft was the best day of his young life, yet the 17-year-old French Canadian was anxious posing for pictures with his hockey idol up there with him. NHL ready or not, Morin already seems to know a little about what the Flyers are all about. He’d never heard of Bernie Parent, but talked about hearing what a great leader Bobby Clarke was and how the Flyers are his kind of franchise because they usually play with grit. The Flyers’ long search to find the next Chris Pronger might have ended with the selection of Morin, a huge 6-foot-6 defenseman who spent the last two seasons playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League for the Rimouski Oceanic. “I’d hate to put that (Pronger) stamp on the kid, but he’s a guy we really like,” Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren said. “He’s come a long way in the last little while.” Being in the presence of his hero for the first time after being picked 11th overall, Morin was too in awe other than to say hello to Pronger, a shelved 6-foot-5 star defenseman who has transformed from being Flyers captain to unofficially retired due to prolonged concussion symptoms to now being a scouting adviser for Holmgren. “Just to be on the same stage with Chris Pronger, a guy I want to be like ... a tough guy, a leader and a two-way defenseman, is very special,” Morin said with a thick French accent. Minus the great NHL resume, Morin seems to have some Pronger in him. Pronger is a future Hall of Famer with far superior offensive skills, yet both are huge defenseman with shutdown ability. Pronger used to fight all the tough guys in his younger days and Morin says he’ll fight anyone. “He’s a big man who plays tough and mean,” Pronger said. “Obviously, there’s still a lot to work on, as most players do, but the maturation process from where he was at the beginning of the year to where he’s been trending intrigued a lot of our scouts.” The Flyers passed on Ryan Pulock, a Western Hockey League defenseman with a 100-mph shot, to nab Morin. Ranked the 20th best draft prospect by The Hockey News and the 23rd best North American skater by Central Scouting, Morin had been projected to be a late first- or early second-round pick until ending his 2012-13 season with a terrific showing in the QMJHL playoffs and for Team Canada’s gold medal team in the Under18 World Championships. “We had quite a few calls to move back (in the draft),” Holmgren said. “We identified two or three players and Samuel was one of them. Once we knew he was going to be there, we had no intentions of moving back.” Badly in need of beefing up their organizational defensive depth, the Flyers picked another defenseman in the second round, selecting Robert Hagg of Sweden 41st overall. “In the salary cap world, it’s nice to add a couple players like that every year,” Holmgren said. “You just keep turning over.” The Flyers are hopeful Morin can develop into something special ... something close to Pronger. Told by a reporter that he resembles Pronger, Morin laughed and said that he hears he looks like Ivan Drago, the fictional Russian boxer that Rocky Balboa fought in “Rocky IV.” Like Pronger, Morin already appears to have a sense of humor. When telling reporters he's much taller than his 6-foot father and 5-foot-7 mother, he joked, "I don't know where I'm from. I gotta talk to my mom, I think!" His offense picked up this season, as he went from no goals and eight points in 62 games as a rookie in juniors in 2011-12 to four goals and 16 points in 46 regular-season games this season, plus a goal and seven points in six playoff games. “I think it’s the perfect match,” he said. “I’m tough and they like tough guys.” Courier-Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683312 Philadelphia Flyers Flyers 2013 Entry Draft capsules Dave Isaac Jun. 30, 2013 11:45 PM FLYERS DRAFT CAPSULES SAM MORIN, defenseman 1st round, 11th overall ... turns 18 on July 12 ... 6-6, 202 pounds ... Ranked 20th-best prospect by The Hockey News, 23rd-best North American skating prospect by Central Scouting ... Born in Lac-Beauport, Quebec, but grew up in Montreal ... Shoots left ... Tough defensive-minded blueliner with some offensive upside who likes to hit and fight. ... Played last two seasons with Rimouski in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League ... Had four goals and 12 assists in 46 games last season with 117 penalty minutes ... An upper-body injury in January put him on the shelf for the rest of the season ... Compared to Chris Pronger, his favorite player growing up, because of his size. ROBERT HAGG, defenseman 2nd round, 41st overall ... age 18 ... 6-2, 204 pounds ... Ranked 8th best European skater by Central Scouting ... Native of Uppsala, Sweden. ... Two-way defenseman with offensive upside. ... Dominated offensively in the Sweden junior leagues. He played last season for Modo Hockey’s SuperElit and Elite league teams. For the SuperElit team, he had 11 goals, 24 points in 28 games. For the Elite team, he had 1 assist in 27 games playing for coach Ulf Samuelsson, a former Flyers blueliner. He’s likely to play in Sweden at least one more season. TYRELL GOULBOURNE , center/left wing 3rd round, 71st overall ... age 19 ... 5-10, 191 pounds ... Ranked 151st North American skater prospect by Central Scouting ... Native of Edmonton. ... Shoots left ... Physical forward with minimal offensive upside who played parts of the last four seasons in the Western Hockey League for the Kelowna Rockets. In 145 career WHL games, he had 21 goals, 43 points and 271 penalty minutes. He’s fought 36 times in the last two regular seasons. Last season, he had 14 goals, 27 points and 135 penalty minutes in 64 games. ... Flyers GM Paul Holmgren compares him to scrappy forward Zac Rinaldo, calling him “Z2.” TERRANCE AMOROSA, defenseman 5th round, 132nd overall ... age 18 ... 6-1, 185 pounds ... Was not among ranked the top 210 North American skaters by Central Scouting ... Shoots left ... Native of Kirkland, Quebec, a suburb of Montreal. ... Played for Holderness School in a New Hampshire prep league last season. .... Plans to play in the USHL next season. ... Honor roll student at Holderness School. His first name is John, but he goes by his middle name. MERRICK MADSEN, goaltender 6th round, 162nd overall ... age 17 ... 6-4, 177 pounds ... Ranked 26th best North American goalie prospect by Central Scouting ... Catches left ... Native of Preston, Idaho. Committed to Harvard, but will play at least one year for Des Moines of the USHL ... Butterfly goalie who played for Proctor Academy in the USHL last season, posting a 3.22 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. DAVID DRAKE, defenseman 7th round, 192nd overall ... age 18 ... 6-3, 155 pounds ... Was not among ranked the top 210 North American skaters by Central Scouting... Native of Naperville, IL ... After playing Midget Majors with the Chicago Fury, Drake was called up to the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers last season. ... In 12 games with Des Moines he had one goal and six penalty minutes. Courier-Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683313 Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix Coyotes select center Max Domi with 12th overall pick By Sarah McLellan azcentral sports Sun Jun 30, 2013 1:49 PM The Coyotes felt little attachment to their first selection in Sunday’s NHL draft in New Jersey because, with a first round as deep as this one, even a later pick would surely be an impact player. But instead of trading down, something management considered, the Coyotes held onto their 12th overall pick and selected center Max Domi – the son of former NHLer Tie Domi who played parts of three seasons with the original Winnipeg Jets. This is the third straight draft that the Coyotes have selected the son of a former player (Henrik Samuelsson in 2012 and Connor Murphy in 2011). Domi, a native of Toronto, has been in the Ontario Hockey League with London for the past two seasons and led the Knights in scoring with 39 goals and 87 points in 64 games in 2012-13. At 5-foot-9 and 197 pounds, Domi isn’t a replica of his dad, who was a gritty depth forward with enforcer responsibilities. He’s been touted for his skill, vision and hockey IQ and was ranked the 19th-best prospect by NHL Central Scouting. Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.01.2013 683314 Phoenix Coyotes Phoenix Coyotes on the verge of re-signing goalie Mike Smith By Sarah McLellan azcentral sports Sun Jun 30, 2013 9:53 AM As the unrest off the ice reaches a crescendo, the on-ice decisions continue to fall in the Coyotes’ favor. Goalie Mike Smith is poised to become the latest to recommit to the team amid this uncertainty as he’s agreed to a six-year contract in principle with the Coyotes pending league approval, according to a source close to the negotiations. The deal is expected to be finalized Sunday and carries an annual average value of $5.67 million, meaning total value is slightly more than $34 million. That puts Smith among the top-10 highest-paid goalies as he’ll make slightly more than Detroit’s Jimmy Howard and the New York Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist but less than Nashville’s Pekka Rinne and Los Angeles’ Jonathan Quick. Communication between Smith’s camp and the Coyotes had been regular since the season ended, but negotiations accelerated after coach Dave Tippett re-signed. Once that contract was announced, General Manager Don Maloney said both sides knew where they were at in negotiations and it was just a matter of finding out if they could bridge that gap. Smith would have been an unrestricted free agent Friday if he wasn’t able to agree to a contract with the Coyotes. He was expected to become the main attraction in a shallow free agent pool, especially among goalies, and it would have been interesting to see how much interest he garnered. Smith had an average season once the lockout ended, posting a .930 save percentage and 2.21 goals-against average. That was a noticeable drop from his first full season as a No.1 when he had a .910 save percentage and 2.58 goals-against average and was a huge helping hand in the Coyotes’ trek to the Western Conference finals. But Smith made it clear coaching, teammates and the chance to win would also factor into his decision. “I’m not gonna be selfish with this whole situation and demand this stupid contract that we’re not going to be able to build a team around,” he previously said. “I believe you don’t put all your eggs in one basket. There are good players that make a lot of money, and I think I deserve a fair contract. “By any means I’m not expecting to hit a home run. I’d like to be on a winning team for a lot of years, and that comes with a little bit of give and take here and there whether it’s with your contract or whatever that is. All that comes into play.” Arizona Republic LOADED: 07.01.2013 683315 Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins’ deal with Letang held up; team won’t guarantee he won’t be traded next summer Rob Rossi season. The next closest club would be Washington at about $22.3 million for winger Alex Ovechkin, center Nicklas Backstrom and defenseman Mike Green. Shero reiterated Saturday that he preferred to build around Crosby and Malkin — each former MVPs and scoring champions — and Letang, whose point-per-game average has increased the last three seasons. Shero believes Letang's best days are ahead, and Penguins coaches are confident that Letang will continue to improve defensively. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Letang has scored 44 goals and produced 209 points in 385 regular-season games. He also has recorded 47 points in 80 Stanley Cup playoff games, a .588 per-game average when competition turns toughest. NEWARK, N.J. — The Penguins' up-and-down negotiations with defenseman Kris Letang continued Sunday. The Penguins also believe Letang is suited for an expanded leadership role, which will begin with a full-on mentoring of Simon Despres, who occasionally played with Letang during his rookie season. Framework of the potential deal's length (eight years) and finances ($58 million total) were agreed upon, but there was haggling over Letang's push for a verbal agreement the Penguins will not trade him next summer, multiple sources told the Tribune-Review. The Penguins balked at that request. The NHL labor contract does not allow for revisions to existing deals. Letang's current contract, which does not include a limited- or no-movement clause, is set to expire July 1, 2014. Penguins general manager Ray Shero declined to get into specifics of talks with agent Kent Hughes but said discussions will continue Monday. “Later (Saturday night) is when it turned a little more positive,” Shero said. “(Sunday morning) trying to wrap things up, we were still not there yet. “We'll get back at it and see if we can close a couple of gaps here and there. Hopefully that will be the case.” Hughes said of the negotiations: “We're still working on it.” Framework of the proposal calls for Letang to count $7.25 million annually against the salary cap on a maximum-length contract for eight years. Only Nashville's Shea Weber ($7.86 million) and Minnesota's Ryan Suter ($7.54 million) would have higher cap hits among NHL defensemen. Letang, 26, has aspired to be in the cap-hit neighborhood of Weber and Suter since those players agreed to their long-term contracts last summer. Letang would not receive a full no-movement clause — a concession the Penguins require to pay him more than $7 million annually on a max-level term. Instead, Letang would receive a limited-movement clause, which would free the Penguins to trade him to one of 15 approved clubs at some time during the contract. Shero proposed two structures for Letang's new contract Saturday. The other was for a four-year deal at $30 million (total), and it would include a full no-movement clause. Had the sides not moved close to a deal, the Penguins would have shopped Letang aggressively on the Entry Draft floor. Shero previously had heard from interested clubs, including Montreal, San Jose and Philadelphia, and he chatted at the Entry Draft with general managers from Los Angeles and Vancouver. The NHL labor contract does not permit the signing of a contract until Friday, when the new season officially begins. The Penguins originally had shown no desire to have Letang count more than $7 million against their future salary cap allotments. Letang, anticipating a league-wide cap increase in his free-agent summer, initially had sights set on an annual value closer to $8 million. The cap is set for $64.3 million next season, but with at least $3.3 billion in projected revenue by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, the Penguins are among many clubs confident the cap will increase significantly in years after next season. On their new contracts, centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin would combine to count no more than 28.3 percent against the Penguins' future cap allotments if the cap increases. Malkin, who agreed to an eight-year contract earlier this month, will count $9.5 million against future caps. Crosby, set to begin Year 1 of a 12-year deal, brings an $8.7 million cap hit. At about $25.5 million for Malkin, Crosby and Letang, the Penguins would have the most cap commitment to three players starting in the 2014-15 Tribune Review LOADED: 07.01.2013 683316 Pittsburgh Penguins Kovacevic: Will Penguins ever prioritize youth? Look, I loved getting Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow and Douglas Murray and didn't care about age. No regrets there. The Penguins had a team they felt could win the Cup, and Shero went for broke. But therein lie the problems: 1. They didn't win the Cup. By Dejan Kovacevic Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Call it golden timing, call it great irony, but it shouldn't escape notice that on the same day Ray Shero kept the Penguins' scouts idle for three hours and 58 minutes at the NHL Draft, he also set aside $58 million for No. 58, agreeing with Kris Letang on the tentative framework of a new eight-year contract. Yeah, even at the one event all year that's focused on the future, this franchise was still about the now. It's always about the now. Understand, please, that's not a criticism of a Letang extension. Far from it. He's 26, he's a legit Norris Trophy finalist, a rare talent, a relentless worker and a vital part of the Penguins' core now and into the future. It's a big price, with an annual cap hit of $7.25 million, but a fair one compared to his elite peers. But what comes next? When does all that cost, in money and picks and cap room, come due? When do the Penguins return to being a team on the rise as opposed to one in the NHL's rear-view mirror? Ask me, and it had better be right now. Set aside the immediate implications. It's easy to see that a Letang extension essentially shows Pascal Dupuis the door. Maybe Matt Cooke, too. So cast ahead, instead, to 2014-15, when the Evgeni Malkin and Letang extensions would take effect. Once you subtract Malkin ($9.5 million), Sidney Crosby ($8.7 million), Letang ($7.25 million), Marc-Andre Fleury ($5 million), Paul Martin ($5 million), James Neal ($5 million) and Chris Kunitz ($3.85 million) from the ledger, there's only $25.7 million left for the other 18 players under a projected cap of $70 million. That'll buy you a whole lot of Joe Vitale. Sure, it'll be sad if Dupuis and Cooke go, and it'll make the Penguins a weaker team. But the trajectory of this organization has to change sometime, and this window is it. Crosby, Malkin and Letang could be together for eight years, accounting for a cap hit of roughly $25 million on players all older than 25, all of whom have missed significant time to injury, all with varying degrees of concussion history. That doesn't worry you? Making matters more ominous, scouting director Jay Heinbuck's recent drafts have been duds. Other than first-rounders Beau Bennett and Simon Despres, the only player close to contributing at the NHL level from the past six classes is a single spare-part defenseman, Robert Bortuzzo. That's ridiculous. It's on Shero, too. Nothing stops him from adding picks at the same pace he sends them out. Might mean swapping Tyler Kennedy for a secondrounder, then trading up to No. 44 overall, as Shero did Sunday to spare his scouts waiting until the third round. Might mean applying heat to some vets, as top pick Tristan Jarry is sure to do with Fleury in goal. But it's better to do anything than, say, dump off Ben Lovejoy to the Ducks for a fifth-rounder only to see him this week sign a three-year, $3.3 million deal to stay there. More youth is needed. For that matter, more usage of youth is needed. It's wonderful that Dan Bylsma declared after the playoffs that Bennett will be a top-six forward and Despres a top-four defensemen next season. It's just too bad pretty much everyone else saw they could have been that this past season. And if they had been, Shero might not have felt moved to pad the roster. 2. They already were the NHL's oldest team, then raised their average age to 29.5 with those trades. 3. They essentially did go for broke, at least in the future tense, by sending out Sunday's first-rounder and the first-rounder two years ago, Joe Morrow. That's a blow to any system, no matter the core. That's why, much as it's nice to keep Letang, I also would have been fine had Shero traded Letang for prospects and/or picks and applying all that money elsewhere. Maybe some other day. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.01.2013 683317 Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins’ 1st pick in draft thinks big By Rob Rossi NEWARK, N.J. — Marc-Andre Fleury has some competition. At least, that is the plan by Tristan Jarry, a goalie selected by the Penguins in Round 2 of the NHL Entry Draft at Prudential Center on Sunday. “I want to push for a job, just like he's pushing for his own job,― Jarry said. “I think that's great, the healthy competition with one another. It's just whatever you've got to do to get the job you've got to do.― A self-described, hybrid-style goalie whose strength is handling the puck, Jarry clearly impressed Penguins scouts. Originally, the Penguins were not to pick until Round 3 because of inseason trades for wingers Jarome Iginla and defenseman Douglas Murray, but general manager Ray Shero acquired the 50th overall selection from San Jose in exchange for right winger Tyler Kennedy. A third-line staple for the Penguins since 2007, Kennedy was a restricted free agent and due a qualifying offer that would have kept his salary at $2 million. Considering he began the Stanley Cup playoffs as a healthy scratch, Kennedy was worth moving for the second-round pick Shero said he coveted. “He's done a great job here for us, helped us win a Stanley Cup,― Shero said. “Where he's at in his career, he probably needed a change — and we didn't have a first or second pick. “We did that for both us and for Tyler.― Shero sent the 50th and 89th picks to Columbus for the 44th selection, which the Penguins used on Jarry. “I thought I'd go a little later, to be honest,― Jarry said of his selection. Jarry, 18, figures to grow somewhat into his 6-foot-2, 181-pound frame. He went 26-9-1 with a 2.03 goals-against average and .921 save percentage over the past three seasons with Edmonton of the Western Hockey League. He is no threat to supplant Fleury as the franchise goalie next season. However, management wants Fleury to make changes — specifically, his mental preparation — and put together a solid Stanley Cup playoff for the first time since the Penguins won the Cup in 2009. If not, Fleury is no lock to return for the final year of his contract in 2015-16. Backup goalie Tomas Vokoun is signed only for next season. The Penguins selected a center, Jake Guentzel, with the 77th overall pick. Their other picks: defenseman Ryan Segalla (119th); defenseman Dane Birks (164th); center Blaine Byron (179th); and winger Troy Josephs (209th). Tribune Review LOADED: 07.01.2013 683318 Pittsburgh Penguins Dupuis, Penguins not close to reaching deal By Rob Rossi NEWARK, N.J. — Pascal Dupuis has not ruled out re-signing with the Penguins. However, negotiations between his agent, Allan Walsh, and Penguins general manager Ray Shero — though ongoing — have not moved the sides close to a new contract. Dupuis, a top-line right winger for center Sidney Crosby, is one of seven Penguins players set to become unrestricted free agents Friday. Those players can begin interviewing with other clubs Wednesday. Walsh and Shero met in person several times during the NHL Entry Draft weekend, including at Prudential Center on Sunday. Shero said Dupuis is “a player I'd like to keep.” He added that possible deals with any of the impending free agents would not be impacted by attempts to sign defenseman Kris Letang to a long-term contract or the recent agreement with left winger Chris Kunitz. Montreal is a strong contender to land Dupuis if he leaves the Penguins. Coach Michel Therrien is a fan of Dupuis dating to their days together with the Penguins. The Canadiens have Dupuis high on their list of free-agent targets. Dupuis is French Canadian. • Winger Craig Adams remains the Penguins' other top target to prevent from testing the market. Adams' agent, Neil Sheehy, said he believed a deal with the Penguins was likely before Friday. • Talks with left winger Matt Cooke have not broken off, but the Penguins do not believe they can keep Cooke and Dupuis. The club views forward Jussi Jokinen, acquired at the trade deadline, as a possible replacement for either Cooke or Dupuis. Cooke has been a staple as a third left winger since signing with the Penguins in July 2008. Cooke and Dupuis each are seeking deals at least three years in length. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.01.2013 683319 Pittsburgh Penguins Canucks draft Cheswick’s Liberati in 7th round By Bill Beckner Jr. Defenseman Miles Liberati, a Cheswick native, became the first Alle-Kiski area hockey player drafted by an NHL team since Plum's R.J. Umberger in 2001 when he was picked in the seventh round Sunday night by the Vancouver Canucks. Liberati, who attended Central Catholic, played in 42 games for the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights. He had three goals and six assists, and was a plus-5. Liberati (6-0, 195), 18, was selected in the third round of the 2011 OHL Draft after playing at a Canadian prep school. Umberger, 31, who plays for the Columbus Blue Jackets, also was drafted by the Canucks, as the 16th overall pick. Tribune Review LOADED: 07.01.2013 683320 Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins choose goalie Tristan Jarry in NHL draft June 30, 2013 7:04 pm By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette NEWARK, N.J. -- The Penguins' first choice in the 2013 NHL draft is goalie Tristan Jarry. He was taken 44th overall, after the Penguins sent picks No. 50 -- acquired from San Jose for right winger Tyler Kennedy a few hours earlier -- and 89 to Columbus. Jarry is 6 feet 1 inch, 178 pounds and had an 18-7 record, 1.61 goalsagainst average and .936 save percentage in 27 appearances with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. The Penguins are now scheduled to have one choice each in Rounds 3, 4, 6 and 7. Post Gazette LOADED: 07.01.2013 683321 Pittsburgh Penguins Penguins trade Kennedy to San Jose for 2nd-round draft pick June 30, 2013 3:02 pm By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette NEWARK, N.J. -- The Penguins have traded right winger Tyler Kennedy to San Jose for a second-round draft choice. He is scheduled to be a restricted free agent Friday. The choice will be the 50th in the draft that begins today, the Penguins' highest. Their next will come in the third round, 77th overall. Post Gazette LOADED: 07.01.2013 683322 Pittsburgh Penguins The Penguins' 2013 draft picks July 1, 2013 12:33 am By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Tristan JARRY Claimed: Second round, 44th overall. Position: Goalie. Height: 6 feet 1. Weight: 178 pounds. 2012-13 stats: 18-7, 1.61 goals-against average, .936 save percentage in 27 games with Edmonton (Western Hockey League). Jake GUENTZEL Claimed: Third round, 77th overall. Position: Center. Height: 5 feet 9. Weight: 153 pounds. 2012-13 stats: 29 goals, 44 assists in 60 games with Sioux City (United States Hockey League). Ryan SEGALLA Claimed: Fourth round, 119th overall. Position: Defense. Height: 6 feet 1. Weight: 194 pounds. 2012-13 stats: 10 goals, 8 assists in 28 games with Salisbury (Conn.) High School. Dane BIRKS Claimed: Sixth round, 164th overall. Position: Defense. Height: 6 feet 3. Weight: 190 pounds. 2012-13 stats: 5 goals, 15 assists in 52 games with Merritt (British Columbia Junior Hockey League). Blaine BYRON Claimed: Sixth round, 179th overall. Position: Center. Height: 5 feet 11. Weight: 163 pounds. 2012-13 stats: 12 goals, 40 assists in 51 games with Smith Falls (CCHL). Troy JOSEPHS Claimed: Seventh round, 209th overall. Position: Left wing. Height: 5 feet 11. Weight: 176 pounds. 2012-13 stats: 17 goals, 20 assists in 42 games with St. Michael's (Ontario Junior Hockey League). Post Gazette LOADED: 07.01.2013 683323 Pittsburgh Penguins Jarry is reputed to have good lateral movement, as well as a good glove and outstanding athleticism, but conceded that he was picked a little earlier than he had anticipated. Kris Letang close to signing eight-year deal with Penguins "I thought I'd go a little later, to be honest, with all the great goalies in the draft and all the great players," he said. July 1, 2013 12:16 am Perhaps he shouldn't have been, though, since the Penguins had made it clear he had a prominent place on their radar. By Dave Molinari / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette NEWARK, N.J. -- Penguins general manager Ray Shero said numerous times in recent weeks how difficult -- if not impossible -- it would be to replace defenseman Kris Letang. "I talked to them a couple of times, once at the combine and a couple of times on the phone before that," he said. "And my agency was telling me they had quite an interest." It looks now as if he probably won't have to. Jarry said he considers his puck-handling ability to be one of his greatest strengths, and that he admires Montreal goalie Carey Price. The Penguins' current go-to goalie, Marc-Andre Fleury, does not share either of those traits. Although there still are some details to work out, the Penguins and Letang appear to be close to settling on a long-term deal. They used their third-rounder, acquired from Dallas in the Brenden Morrow trade, on a speedy and skilled, but undersized, center Jake Guentzel. "We're still working on it with his agent [Kent Hughes]," Shero said as the NHL draft at Prudential Center was winding down Sunday night. "We'll get together, maybe, sometime a little later [today] to try to see if we can work through a couple of things." He is 5 feet 9, 153 pounds, but had 29 goals and 44 assists in 60 games with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League in 2012-13 and was honored as the league's top rookie. He will attend Nebraska-Omaha. A bit earlier, Hughes had confirmed that there was "not yet" an agreement. Post Gazette LOADED: 07.01.2013 The contract, when finalized, is expected to cover eight years and be worth $58 million. If neither the term nor the total value changes, the deal will carry a salary-cap hit of $7.25 million. A four-year agreement that would carry a slightly higher cap hit also was believed to be on the table Sunday. Shero declined to say precisely what remains to be resolved, but said "it usually comes down to the money and the term" rather than issues such as no-trade clauses. Letang's deal is expected to include at least a limited one of those. Per the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, his new contract can't be signed before Friday, even if everything is worked out. Letang's current contract, which has a cap hit of $3.5 million, runs through the 2013-14 season. His new agreement, if finalized, won't have an immediate impact. But it could give Shero a few headaches once it kicks in because, with Letang's new deal factored in, the Penguins have about $49 million committed to just eight players for 2014-15. The salary-cap ceiling for that season hasn't been set, but preliminary projections are that it likely will rise to about $70 million. Shero spent a little time with Allan Walsh, who represents Pascal Dupuis, Sunday night, and continues to try to reach agreements with Dupuis, Matt Cooke and Craig Adams. All will become unrestricted free agents if not signed by July 5. Dupuis, the Penguins' first-line right winger, has the most leverage of the three and might be the toughest to retain. "He's an important piece to our team that I'd like to have back, but the money and the term have to fit both parties," Shero said. "We'd like to have him back, if at all possible." The Penguins made their first move of the day minutes before the draft began, sending right winger Tyler Kennedy to San Jose for a second-round draft choice, the 50th overall selection. Shero said several teams expressed interest in Kennedy, but the Sharks "had the best second-round pick to offer." Kennedy, 26, had six goals and five assists in 46 games during the justconcluded season. He is scheduled to be a restricted free agent Friday unless the Sharks extend him a $2 million qualifying offer. The Penguins subsequently traded the San Jose choice and a third-rounder to Columbus for the 44th selection, which they used on goalie Tristan Jarry. Jarry is 6 feet 1, 178 pounds and had an 18-7 record, 1.61 goals-against average and .936 save percentage in 27 appearances with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. "We really like this goaltender," Shero said. 683324 San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks trade up in first round to select defenseman Mirco Mueller By Curtis Pashelka Posted: 06/30/2013 02:27:28 PM PDT Updated: 06/30/2013 06:47:50 PM PDT SAN JOSE -- The Sharks selected Mirco Mueller with the 18th overall pick in the first round of Sunday's NHL Draft in Newark, N.J., trading up two spots to pick the smooth-skating defenseman. The Sharks owned the No. 20 pick in the first round but traded that spot and the No. 58 pick in the second round to Detroit to move to No. 18 and select Mueller, who played for Switzerland at both the 2013 under-18 and under20 World Junior Championships. Thought of as an athletic and offensive-minded defenseman, the 6-foot-3, 176-pound Mueller had six goals and 25 assists in 63 games for the Everett (Wash.) Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. Mueller was ranked ninth among North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings before Sunday's draft. Everett is coached by former Sharks coach Kevin Constantine. Considering their depth at defense, the Sharks likely will not need to have Mueller in a San Jose uniform this upcoming season. Although his skating ability may be close to NHL-ready, he wants to become a well-rounded defenseman and "get more physicality into my game, to get sort of nastier around the net in our own end," Mueller said. "Play hard and be tough to play against." Mueller's skating ability and offensive prowess has drawn comparisons to defenseman Roman Josi, another Swiss player, of the Nashville Predators. Mueller himself said he would like to be similar to Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith. "He's a really good skater, and I think that's a big part of my game, too," Mueller said of Keith. "I really look up to him and try to learn from him." Mueller was the fourth defenseman from the WHL taken, after Seth Jones at No. 4 to Nashville, Josh Morrissey at No. 13 to Winnipeg and Ryan Pulock at No. 15 to the New York Islanders. It's the first time the Sharks have selected a defenseman in the first round since they took Nick Petrecki in the first round in 2007. Mueller moved from Switzerland to the U.S. after he was selected by Everett in the 2012 Canadian Hockey League import draft. "It made it easy for me to get adjusted to the American game and the lifestyle," Mueller said. "That was really good for me, and I'm really thankful for that." The trade with Detroit was the second of the day for the Sharks, who traded another one of their three second-round picks to acquire Tyler Kennedy from Pittsburgh. With their one second round selection at No. 49, the Sharks chose winger Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau of Baie-Comeau of the Quebec Major Junior League. Paquin-Boudreau, who is listed at 5-10 and 167 pounds, scored 22 goals with 41 assists in 67 games this past season. In 18 playoff games, he had nine goals and nine assists as Baie-Comeau made the QMJHL finals against Halifax. After a trade with Chicago to move back in the draft, the Sharks selected Swedish goalie Fredrik Bergvik in the fourth round with the 117th pick, then in the fifth round picked up American defensemen Michael Brodzinski at No. 141 and Gage Ausmus at No. 151. San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683325 San Jose Sharks San Jose Sharks trade second-round pick to Pittsburgh Penguins By Curtis Pashelka Posted: 06/30/2013 12:10:40 PM PDT Updated: 06/30/2013 04:42:10 PM PDT SAN JOSE -- Forward Tyler Kennedy is eager to become a member of the Sharks but is still at a loss as to why things did not work out with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Sharks traded their second-round pick at No. 50 overall in Sunday's NHL draft to the Penguins for Kennedy, a sixth-year winger who is set to become a restricted free agent Tuesday. Kennedy, 26, had six goals and five assists in 46 games for Pittsburgh this season, and had two goals and three assists in nine playoff games. The Penguins played 15 playoff games and reached the Eastern Conference final before they were swept by Boston in four games. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound Kennedy, who made $2 million this season with the Penguins, said he had a feeling his career with Pittsburgh was ending after his exit meeting with the team's management. "I thought I had a great playoff, and I'm kind of stumped. I'm really kind of lost why they didn't play me more," Kennedy said Sunday. "I think I'm a great player, and I'm not sure. You'd have to ask them, I really don't know." In 372 NHL games, all with Pittsburgh, Kennedy, a native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has 76 goals and 92 assists and 181 penalty minutes. He scored a career-high 21 goals in 2010-11. In 76 career playoff games, he has 12 goals, 15 assists and won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009. "I've been in quite a few playoff games, and I know how to win in the playoffs," Kennedy said. "I think I'm a pretty confident player going into the playoffs, I've been there before and I know what It takes to win, and I know what I have to do to do try and help the team." Kennedy's only connection to the Sharks is being teammates with Andrew Desjardins with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League. "It's going to be very interesting," Kennedy said of joining the Sharks. "It does happen over a career, and you have to know how to experience it. It's part of being a pro and wherever you go, just try and be an impact player and do your best." San Jose Mercury News: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683326 San Jose Sharks Sharks select defenseman in first round Staff report June 30, 2013, 2:00 pm The Sharks used the 18th overall pick on defenseman Mirco Mueller, who had six goals and 25 assists in 63 games with Everett last season. The San Jose Sharks chose 6-foot-3 inch, 184-pound defenseman Mirco Mueller with the 18th overall selection in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft on Sunday in Newark, NJ. Mueller, 18, the ninth-ranked North American skater (third among defensemen) according to NHL Central Scouting, had six goals and 25 assists for 31 points and 57 penalty minutes in 63 games with the WHL’s Everett Silvertips this past season, his first in North America. He is a lefthanded shot. “It’s awesome for me being a part of the Sharks organization. I’m really happy, it’s a great day for me,” said Mueller via conference call. The Sharks traded up to select Mueller, a native of Switzerland, sending the 20th overall pick and a second round pick (58th overall, previously acquired as part of the trade for Douglas Murray) to the Detroit Red Wings. It was a steep price to pay to move up just two spots, but Sharks management must have thought that Mueller was not going to be there with the 20th pick. The Columbus Blue Jackets chose 19th overall. Mueller was asked to describe his game. “I play a simple game. I think I’m a puck-moving defenseman. I try to make plays from my own end, and just try to get the forwards some time and make them better,” he said. According to NHL Central Scouting: "There isn't any situation that he doesn't play through or play well through. His hockey sense, read and anticipation and the way he reacts to the play, are great … he's so quick." What does Mueller need to work on? “I would say to get more physicality in my game, and get nastier around the net and my own end,” he said. “Play hard, and be tough to play against. I’m really working on that.” He added he’d like to gain weight, something he said he’s already done this summer. TSN in Canada compared Mueller to current Sharks defenseman MarcEdouard Vlasic. Mueller himself said he admires Chicago’s All-Star defenseman, Duncan Keith. “He’s a really good skater, and that’s a big part of my game, too, is skating. I really look up to him and try to learn from him,” Mueller said. In the second round, the Sharks chose scoring winger Gabryel Boudreau from Baia-Comeau of the QMJHL. In 67 games, the 5-foot-11, 167-pound Boudreau had 22 goals and 41 assists for 63 points. He was the 52ndranked North American skater, according to NHL Central Scouting. “I’m more of an offensive player,” Boudreau said. “I’m a good shooter, good goal-scorer, good passer, I’m good around the net and I read the play very well. That’s more of my game.” Boudreau, a Quebec native, said he would like to get “bigger and stronger,” and needs to continue to work on the defensive aspects of the game. He’s never been to California, but is anxious to visit. “I’m so happy, and so excited. It’s a crazy day, it’s a wonderful day, and I’m so excited to be a part of the Sharks,” he said. The Sharks chose Swedish goaltender Patrik Bergvik in the fourth round; American-born defensemen Michael Brodzinski and Gage Ausmus in the fifth round; American center Jacob Jackson in the seventh round; and Russian left wing Emil Galimov in the seventh round. They did not have a pick in the third round or sixth round. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683327 San Jose Sharks Sharks acquire Kennedy from Pittsburgh Staff report June 30, 2013, 12:00 pm The San Jose Sharks acquired forward Tyler Kennedy from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a second round pick in Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft in Newark, NJ. Kennedy, 26, is a pending restricted free agent. In 46 games with the Penguins last season, the five-foot-11, 183-pounder had six goals and five assists for 11 points and 19 penalty minutes. He just completed a two-year, $4 million contract. On a conference call with San Jose media after the trade, Kennedy said he had yet to speak with Sharks general manager Doug Wilson. The trade occurred shortly before the start of the annual draft at the Prudential Center, home of the New Jersey Devils. Kennedy indicated he’d like to ink a deal with the Sharks, though. “Obviously, I’d love to agree to something with San Jose,” Kennedy said. “They’re a great organization, but I’m not really sure of anything yet. I still have to talk to my agent about stuff like that. Obviously, I’d like to go there and play there for a long time. We’ll see what happens here.” Kennedy, who could fit in nicely with the Sharks as a third line winger with center Joe Pavelski, spent each of his first six NHL seasons with the Penguins, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2004. He was a member of Pittsburgh’s 2009 Stanley Cup championship squad. “I think I’m an energy guy, and bring a lot of energy to the ice,” he said. “I think I’ve got a good skill set, and I try to finish my checks when I can.” The trade wasn’t surprising to Kennedy, who was a healthy scratch in six of the Penguins’ 15 playoff games. He said he had a feeling that he would be on the move after his exit meeting with Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero after the season. He was perplexed that he wasn’t regularly in the lineup for the Penguins, who were swept by Boston in the Eastern Conference finals. Kennedy played in just two games in that series. “I’m not really sure. I thought I had a great playoff, and I’m kind of stumped,” said Kennedy, who had two goals and three assists in nine playoff games. “I’m really kind of lost why they didn’t play me more.” In 372 career NHL games, Kennedy has 76 goals and 92 assists for 168 points and 181 penalty minutes. He has already appeared in 76 playoff games, with 27 points (12g, 15a). "Tyler is a highly-competitive forward who plays with speed and has a history of scoring big goals," said GM Doug Wilson in a team press release. "He has played in a lot of playoff games over the last past [six] seasons, won a Stanley Cup, and we think he fits in perfectly with our group and how we want to play the game." Kennedy said: “I think I’m a pretty confident player going into the playoffs. I’ve been there before, I know what it takes to win, and I know what I have to do to try and help the team.” The Penguins and Sharks didn’t play one another in the lockout-shortened 2013 season, but Kennedy is familiar with San Jose’s club. “I think it’s a great team. I’ve watched highlights, and they have a lot of good leaders – Joe Thornton, [Patrick] Marleau, guys like that. They’re great players around the league. I’m just going to try and come in, play my game, and do whatever they ask me.” Adding Kennedy, who will likely command a little more than $2 million annually, means the Sharks may have to move salary in order to retain TJ Galiardi, also a pending RFA. According to CapGeek.com, the Sharks are just $3.57 under the $64.3 million cap with 19 players signed. That does not include rookie Tomas Hertl, who could make the team out of training camp and would earn $1.35 at the NHL level. Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683328 San Jose Sharks Sharks notes: Wrapping up the draft Kevin Kurz June 30, 2013, 9:15 pm Surrendering a second round pick to move up just two places in the first round in order to choose defenseman Mirco Mueller wasn’t a difficult decision to make, general manager Doug Wilson said on a conference call shortly after the conclusion of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft in Newark, NJ. “He was targeted right in that area,” Wilson said. “He’s a kid that’s going to be a very good NHL player for a long time. … Our sense was he was going to go at any second. You’d rather get the player that you want, than miss him by one or two.” Sharks scouting director Tim Burke was asked about the organization’s level of concern that Mueller would not be around by the 20th overall pick, which is where the Sharks were slotted to select before a trade with Detroit gave them the 18th choice. “It was enough. It was thinning out pretty quick in that area. We tried to go up a little bit before and we couldn’t, so we tried to inch up there,” Burke said. “It was getting risky.” According to Burke, the Sharks weren’t necessarily targeting a defenseman with their first pick; rather, they planned to take the best player available. The club had a list of “four or five players” it hoped to select, some of them defensemen, and some of them forwards. Sharks scouts saw Mueller two seasons ago in Europe, and much more this past season in the WHL with Everett (Washington). Burke, who made it clear that Mueller, 18, will not yet be ready for the NHL in 2013-14, listed the defenseman’s attributes. “His reach, his range, his skating ability, he can play all ends of the rink. He gets the play started, and he kills a lot of plays. He plays in all situations. We have a lot of good reports on him, and the support level (from the Sharks’ scouting staff) was really good for him.” Burke relayed that the Sharks’ staff was impressed with Mueller's interview at the draft combine. “He interviews like he plays. He’s very respectful, and he does his job. He’s not flamboyant. You know what you’re going to get. He’s very coachable and does what the team needs. He doesn’t go out of his outside of his boundaries in any way. He was impressive.” *** After trading away two of their three second round picks they had at the start of the day, San Jose used its remaining second rounder (49th overall) on forward Gabryel Boudreau from the Quebec League. Here’s Burke’s take on the scoring winger: “He’s one of those wingers that does a lot of things that centers do, where he shows up in a lot of different parts of the rink, not just a straight up-anddown, north-south player,” Burke said. “He has north-south in his game, but he has a high degree of creativity in his game, also.” Did it become more important to find an offensive prospect after taking a defenseman in the first round? “It worked out that way. It gives you a little bit of balance, which is never bad,” Burke said. *** Although it only recently became public knowledge that the Pittsburgh Penguins were putting Tyler Kennedy on the trading block, Wilson said that the Sharks had the forward on their radar for “probably close to a year,” and they’ve been trying to get him for “quite a while.” “He’s a guy that, for us, fits us perfectly with how we want to play and the type of ingredients he brings in filling out our top nine,” Wilson said. “He can go up and down, plays with an edge, can certainly score goals, and that’s the type of player we’ve been looking for – not only for additional scoring, but to maintain the identity we tried to build with our team the last year, in particular.” Barring any major transactions, the Sharks are not expected to be active when free agency opens on Friday, July 5. The club still has to sign pending restricted free agents Kennedy and TJ Galiardi. “We’ve added several players in the last little while, and it starts with Raffi Torres, if you’re talking about our forward group. Signing Raffi and having him back, Tomas Hertl coming over is a big thing for us, getting Tyler, and the decision we’ll have to make on Burns in the next little while – I think you’ve seen how our group is coming together,” Wilson said. *** According to CapGeek.com, the Sharks have just $3.57 million in salary cap space with 19 players signed. That does not include Galiardi, Kennedy, a backup goalie, or Hertl, who would make $1.35 million should be make the NHL roster. San Jose still has Marty Havlat, of course, who recently had major pelvic surgery and who carries a $5 million salary and cap hit. Wilson was asked if it’s now safe to assume Havlat will begin the season on long term injured reserve, potentially giving the Sharks flexibility under the reduced $64.3 million cap. “There is no timeline for him to return, so without sharing everything, I think you’re assumption is probably not wrong,” Wilson said. “But, time will tell.” Kevin Kurz Comcast SportsNet.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683329 St Louis Blues Blues meet with free-agent Lecavalier 13 hours ago By Jeremy Rutherford The Blues have expressed interest in free-agent Vincent Lecavalier, and at the very least the veteran center is showing that he's willing to listen to the team's pitch. The Post-Dispatch has confirmed a TSN report that the Blues were one of several clubs to meet with Lecavalier Saturday in New York. The others, according to a report on ESPN.com, were Philadelphia, Toronto, Dallas, Montreal, Washington and Boston. Since his surprise compliance buyout in Tampa Bay was announced last week, Lecavalier has been the headline name of the upcoming free-agency period, which begins July 5. Lecavalier, 33, can't sign with a club until then, but he is allowed to meet with teams. Detroit and perhaps a few others were on the schedule for Sunday. The Blues are in the market for a center but early indications were that the club would target a third- or fourth liner, and they probably still will. But Lecavalier's sudden availability may have altered the team's thinking because he is type of player that the lineup is missing. Lecavalier, who was the No. 1 overall pick by Tampa Bay in 1998, has 383 goals and 874 points in 1,037 games. His 491 assists are more than the combined total of the four current Blues' centers (342). The 6-foot-4, 208-pound Lecavalier, who has a left-handed shot, combined for 92 goals and 200 points in 2006-07 and '07-08. He is certainly not that type of player anymore — a step slower by most accounts — but he has netted at least 20 goals and 49 points in each full season since '07-08. In the lockout-shortened '12-13 season, he posted 10 goals and 32 points in 39 games. Lecavalier's buyout in Tampa Bay was less about a drop in performance and far more about the Lightning's ability to free up finances. The center had a salary-cap hit of $7.7 million for the next seven years on his original 11-year, $85 million contract. By using one of the team's compliance buyouts, Tampa Bay can pay Lecavalier just two-thirds of the remaining money they owe him ($32 million) over the next 14 years, and under the rules of the new collective bargaining agreement, it will not count against the salary cap. Many teams, like the Blues, believe that Lecavalier can help. New Dallas general manager Jim Nill, a longtime assistant to Ken Holland in Detroit, told the Dallas Morning News Saturday that his club made a strong pitch for Lecavalier. "We made it clear to him that we're interested in him, that we think he would be a good fit on our team, and that we believe he can help us get to where we want to go,'' Nill told the Morning News. "I think what's most important is we shared our vision of where we think this team can be.'' Blues general manager Doug Armstrong did not return a text message from the Post-Dispatch regarding Saturday's face-to-face meeting. Lecavalier's camp is expected to continue doing its homework over the next week before making a decision on where the veteran center will continue his career. "We have been reached out to by a number of teams, easily a dozen or more," Kent Hughes, Lecavalier's agent, told ESPN.com a few days ago. "This is the beginning of the process in trying to understand the various situations and trying to narrow it down." St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.01.2013 683330 St Louis Blues Blues draft capsules 4 hours ago By Jeremy Rutherford 2nd round Thomas Vannelli (No. 47 overall) Position: Defenseman Age: 18 Team: Minnetonka (Minn.) High School, United States Development Program Shoots: Right Height: 6-2 Weight: 165 Ranked: 44th among North American skaters 2012-13 stats: Minnetonka — 25 games, eight goals, 23 assists; USNP — 14 games, one goal, one assist Scouting report: Great mobility, excellent stick-handler, protects the puck well and can skate out of danger. He is vulnerable to big forwards and needs to bulk up. Source: Thelastwordonsports.com William Carrier (No. 57 overall) Position: Left winger Age: 18 Team: Cape Breton (QMJHL) Shoots: Left Height: 6-2 Weight: 198 Ranked: 18th among North American skaters 2012-13 stats: 34 games, 16 goals, 26 assists Scouting report: Exploded out of the gate with 40 points in first 24 games before slumping and suffering a serious ankle injury. He won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2012 IIHF U-18 World Championships. Source: Thelastwordonsports.com 4th round Zach Pochiro (No. 112 overall) Position: Right winger, center Age: 19 Team: Prince George Shoots: WHL Height: 6-2 Weight: 168 Ranked: 173rd among North American skaters 2012-13 stats: 65 games, 15 goals, 24 assists Scouting report: Pochiro was born in St. Louis, moved to Las Vegas when he was a year old. He is a scrappy player who had six fights with Prince George in 2012-13. 6th round Santeri Saari (No. 173 overall) Position: Defenseman Age: 18 Team: Jokerit Jr (Finland Jr.) Shoots: Left Height: 6-2 Weight: 191 Ranked: 116th among European skaters 2012-13 stats: 46 games, five goals, 18 assists Jeremy Rutherford St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.01.2013 683331 St Louis Blues Blues make small haul at NHL draft 4 hours ago By Jeremy Rutherford If the Blues wanted, they could have driven their 2013 NHL draft class back to St. Louis, all in the same sedan. After starting out Sunday with six amateur selections, the club made two trades that dropped the class down to only four prospects, the fewest for the organization since 1983, when it didn’t attend the draft because of ownership issues. But as one might expect, the Blues were high on their foursome, including one player who will be making a homecoming of sorts when he does make his first trip back to St. Louis. The Blues selected defenseman Thomas Vannelli, left winger William Carrier, defenseman Santeri Saari and center-winger Zach Pochiro, who was born in St. Louis but moved with his family to Las Vegas when he was a year old. The club started Sunday with six picks but did not have a first-round choice after trading it to Calgary in the trade for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester last April. The indications were that the team would not move up into the first round, and that didn’t change. “We really had to be patient at the table,” said Blues director of amateur scouting Bill Armstrong, “and keep reminding ourselves to be patient and wait for it to come to us and we did …we were patient.” Finally, in the second round, at pick No. 47, the Blues heard their name and, in turn, they called the name of Vannelli. Vannelli, 18, is a puck-moving defenseman from Minnetonka (Minn.) High School and the United States Development Program. “An offensive defenseman,” said Vannelli, who compared his game to Edmonton’s Justin Schultz. “I like to move the puck to my forwards and join the rush. I’m always thinking offense, but I’m responsible in my own zone, too.” Armstrong said that Vannelli, who is 6-foot-2 and 165 pounds, has top-four potential on the blue line. “He’s a skinny kid who’s got a lot of room to grow with some strength,” Armstrong said. “He’s far away from the National Hockey League right now, but he’s got anywhere from three to four years of school in front of him. We really liked the way that he came on and he played for the U.S. team. We thought he played to make a difference and we were really happy and excited to get him.” The Blues weren’t scheduled to pick again until No. 83 overall in the third round, but in a trade with Edmonton, the club acquired No. 57 overall in the second round in exchange for No. 83 and two fourth-round picks (Nos. 94 and 113). Armstrong used the additional second-round pick on Carrier, a left winger who plays for Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. “He was a super sleeper for us,” Armstrong said. “He was injured a majority of the year. He’s got some real good poise, he’s got some real good offensive ability, so we’re pretty excited and we think he can be a top-six forward.” Carrier is perhaps considered a sleeper because he missed the second half of the season in the QMJHL with a serious injury to his right ankle. He erupted for 40 points in his first 24 games, but then suffered what was originally diagnosed as a high-ankle sprain and turned out to be a torn tendon. A rehab process that lasted 12 months cost him the remaining 34 games of the season. “I was in the corner doing a battle,” Carrier said. “The ankle just popped out. Kind of bad luck. I had a rough year with the injury, so getting drafted in the second round was a dream come true.” Carrier said that his ankle is 100 percent and the Blues are confident of that, too. “We’re not worried about it,” Armstrong said. “We did a lot of research about the kid. He didn’t play the second half of the season and we went back and watched some tape and went through our scouts and just really did a thorough job on him. When you’re picking at that point and he’s still on the board, we wanted to go after him and make sure that we got him.” Asked if three picks was a lot to get another second-round pick, Armstrong replied: “Yes and no. We were looking for a top-six player and we were willing to give it up.” After the trade with Edmonton, the Blues were without a fourth-round pick, but they made a second deal Sunday to acquire one. They received the 112th overall pick from Nashville, sending the Predators their seventhround selection (No. 203) and a fourth-round pick in 2014. They used the fourth-round pick on Pochiro, 19, a forward who plays for Prince George of the Western Hockey League. He had 15 goals and 24 assists in 65 games in 2012-13 and led his club with 105 penalty minutes. “I play physical, I’ll fight, I’ll block shots and offensively I think I have some skill to my game that makes me unique,” Pochiro said. “I’m a two-way player.” Pochiro is also a fan of St. Louis sports teams. “My mom and dad worked at the Casino Queen, and something happened to that, so they ended up shipping out to Vegas,” Pochiro said. “My favorite teams are the Rams, the Cardinals and the Blues. My dad was a big fan of Brett Hull and Brendan Shanahan. I live and breathe St. Louis. You can look at my room. It’s so emotional to be St. Louis out of all the teams.” The Blues used their final pick on Saari, a defenseman who played for Jokerit Jr. in Finland last season. St Louis Post Dispatch LOADED: 07.01.2013 683332 St Louis Blues They used that pick on winger William Carrier, who played for Cape Breton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Blues make deals to move up in draft Despite battling an ankle injury, Carrier (6-1, 198) still finished the season as his team's leading scorer with 16 goals and 42 points in 34 games. Published: June 30, 2013 Updated 7 minutes ago "He's a super-sleeper. He's a wild card for us," Armstrong said. "We really dug deep on him and he was a little bit of a puzzle because he didn't play much this season because of the injury. Doug really went after some picks and put something together so we could go get him. By NORM SANDERS — Belleville News-Democrat "He can skate, he can score and has some great vision." After sitting out the first round of the NHL Draft on Sunday because of the Jay Bouwmeester trade, St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong pursued two trades to move up a bit higher than scheduled. "He really worked," said Bill Armstrong, the Blues' Director of Amateur Scouting. "He put some stuff together for us and it was a combination of our scouts wanting players and him being creative and finding a way to get those players at the right time of the draft." The deals left the Blues with only four picks, their lowest since 1993 when they sat out the draft entirely while ownership was feuding with the NHL over the sale of the franchise. The last time they drafted four players was 1979. Bill Armstrong said Carrier was also hurt a bit draft-wise since he played on a below average team. "He's certainly someone that we kept track of over the years in the Quebec League," Armstrong said. "We did our research and we're very happy that we got him." The Blues swapped picks again and moved up into the fourth round, this time taking St. Louis native Zach Pochiro. The Blues sent their seventhround pick in 2013 and a fourth-rounder in 2014 to the Nashville Predators for the Preds' fourth-round pick this year. A rugged forward who isn't afraid to drop the gloves, Pochiro (6-1, 161) had 15 goals and 39 points in 65 games last season for Prince George in the Western Hockey League. The Blues' highest pick was in the second-round (47th overall) and they used it to select Minnesota high school defenseman Tommy Vannelli. Before signing with Prince George, Pochiro had 18 goals, 34 points and 154 penalty minutes in 52 games with Wichita Falls in the North American Hockey League. Vannelli (6-foot-2, 165 pounds) is a University of Minnesota recruit who joined the U.S. National Team Development Program after his senior season. He grew up in Las Vegas and also has played previously with the Los Angeles Junior Kings. He played for the U.S. squad at the 2013 under-18 tournament, helping the team to a silver medal finish. "When we met with him, he loved the Blues since that's where he was originally from," Armstrong said. "He plays the game hard from start to finish and gets his nose dirty and has some ability to score, too. Vannelli had eight goals and 31 points in 25 games for Minnetonka (Minn.) High. Most scouting reports like his skating and puck-moving skills, but also say he needs to add more muscle and strength. "He can play wing and play center, but he's just a competitor. We had scouts on our staff that just raving about this guy." "We just kind of waited and he came to us, so we're excited," Bill Armstrong said. "We think he could be a top-four defenseman; he's got the size and the skating and he's got the shot to score. He's very raw, he's a few years away and he is going to take some time to get there." Vannelli said the Blues showed a lot of interest during the NHL Draft combine. The team has pursued many players from Minnesota and current Blues David Backes and T.J. Oshie both played high school hockey there. The Blues also used the first overall pick in 2006 on another Minnesota native and University of Minnesota recruit, defenseman Erik Johnson. "I interviewed with them a few times pretty much in depth, so in the back of my mind I knew it was a possibility," Vannelli said. "I was hearing late first or early second round, so I landed pretty much where I expected. But to hear my named called was still a really good feeling." Vannelli felt he benefited from his recent international experience. "It was good going with the U.S. program, the coaching staff and the players I was with definitely pushed my game to another level," said Vannelli, who played in one game with the U.S. team during his high school season. "In the back of my head I knew it was an opportunity, but it was still a little bit of a surprise when they called me (back)." Vannelli, a finalist for the prestigious Mr. Hockey award in Minnesota, said the offensive side of his game is a particular strength. "I'm an offensive defenseman, moving the puck and joining the rush,," he said. "Right now I'm rounding out the defensive side of my game." Vannelli said his career hockey highlight thus far is playing with the U.S. squad at the world championships in Russia earlier this year. "We were excited with the way that he played at the world championships," Armstrong said. "He came out of a Minnesota high school, so it was great to see him in that environment with 15,000 people in Russia. He also got to play in that championship game." After drafting Vannelli, the Blues dealt three picks (their third-round pick and two fourth-rounders) to Edmonton for an additional second round pick at No. 57 overall. The Blues' last pick was in the sixth round was Finnish defenseman Sentari Saari (6-2, 192). Saari had five goals and 23 points in 46 games for the Jokerit under-20 squad in Finland and also played briefly for Jokerit Finish Elite League squad. He came highly recommended from Blues scout and Finland native Ville Siren. "He knows that area very well and felt that this would be a great pick," Armstrong said. Belleville News-Democrat LOADED: 07.01.2013 683333 Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning select winger Drouin with third pick By Erik Erlendsson Published: June 30, 2013 NEWARK, N.J. - The Tampa Bay Lightning used the third overall selection Sunday to pick dynamic winger Jonathan Drouin at the NHL Entry Draft. Drouin was named the MVP of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this season as well as the top player in Canadian junior hockey. The 18year-old helped lead Halifax to the Memorial Cup Championship in May. Voted the best playmaker available in the draft, Drouin figures at some point to play on a line with center Steven Stamkos, which seems to be a perfect match. "Oh for sure, (Drouin) would set him up all night and day, all day long,'' according to NHL Central Scouting Director Don Marr said. "Anyone that gets to play alongside Jonathan Drouin really appreciates him, and there will be guys who want to play with him.'' The Colorado Avalanche selected Drouin's teammate, Nathan MacKinnon, with the first overall pick while Florida chose Finnish center Aleksander Barkov with the second overall pick. That left Tampa Bay with the enviable opportunity to choose between top ranked defenseman Seth Jones or Drouin, but went with the slick offensive player over the potential top two defenseman. "He's a dynamic offensive player, a combination goal scorer and playmaker,'' Lightning director of scouting Al Murray said before the draft. "Terrific skater, not blazing speed, but above average speed with tremendous agility and quickness, which allows him to take the puck down either wall and cut diagonally across the top. He's got a lot of confidence in his own ability, but he might be as good of a playmaker as there is in the draft.'' Drouin finished last season with 41 goals and 64 assists in 49 games with Halifax. He was also a top two line player for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship in January. Tampa Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683334 Tampa Bay Lightning Bolts notes: Lecavalier meets suitors By Erik Erlendsson Published: June 30, 2013 NEWARK, N.J. - While the NHL draft proved the main topic of the weekend, former Lightning captain Vinny Lecavalier turned out to be a popular figure throughout the weekend. Lecavalier, who was bought out of the final seven years of his contract by Tampa Bay on Thursday, is now an unrestricted free agent. Though he cannot sign a contract until free agency begins Friday, he is permitted to speak with teams. So Lecavalier flew to New York to spend time with agent Kent Hughes and met with more than a handful of teams including Anaheim, Detroit, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington, St. Louis, Calgary, Toronto, Boston and Montreal among others. There are additional teams that also reached out to express interest, and Lecavalier and is expected to narrow the choices early in the week. The 33-year-old returned to his home in Montreal on Sunday to mull over the options, narrow the choices and ultimately make a decision on what team he will play for after spending 14 season with Tampa Bay. Seeing the attention was no surprise to Tampa Bay head coach Jon Cooper. "I said, when all this buyout goes through, the line to get Vinny will be the longest, and deservedly so,'' Cooper said. No blue line picks Tampa Bay failed to select a defenseman with any of their six picks, which wasn't exactly by design. But with college free agent Andrej Sustr, 2011 first-round pick Slater Koekkoek, 2011 draftees Dylan Blujus and Jake Dotchin along with Nikita Nestorov, Luke Witkowski, Dmitry Korobov and Artem Sergeen in the fold, there is not an internal sense of urgency to go off their scouting list just to select a defenseman. "We think we are very deep, actually, in defensemen,'' Lightning scouting director Al Murray said. "We have a lot of good, young prospects. ... So we don't see a shortage, we don't see a lack of depth. In the draft you do like to balance your positioning out a little bit so you don't wind up going short down the road. But at this point we feel comfortable (prospect wise) in all three forward positions, on defense as well as in goal.'' Big-time coach Playing under Hall of Fame goaltender Patrick Roy can be intimidating. But Lightning second-round pick Adam Erne enjoyed the opportunity, playing two seasons under Roy - who is now the head coach in Colorado with Quebec in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. "It's tough, he's a great guy and a great coach, but he is tough on you, he's really intense, but I can't say enough good things about him," Erne said. Coaching addition The Lightning have spent draft week interviewing potential assistant coaching prospects to add to Cooper's staff, which already has added veteran coach Rick Bowness as an associate coach. Steve Thomas is expected to be retained and serve as the team's eye in the sky from the pressbox. The contracts for goaltender coach Frantz Jean and video coach Nigel Kirwan expired at midnight Sunday, but both are expected to be retained. That means whatever coach is added, and it is expected to be somebody with NHL experience, will serve on the bench alongside Cooper and Bowness. "Something will go down here, soon,'' Cooper said. "We have a great group of guys, and I'm looking to add not subtract.'' Nuts and Bolts The Lightning will announce today that they have sent out qualifying offers to their restricted free agents, a list that includes D Brendan Mikkelson, G Pat Nagle, RW J.T. Brown and RW Benoit Pouliot. General manager Steve Yzerman did not say who would be receiving their qualifying offers, but did confirm an earlier report that Mikkelson will not be retained and will become an unrestricted free agent. ... Tampa Bay will hold their prospect camp, which will include top-two picks Jonathan Drouin and Erne, starting Saturday in Brandon. ... Next year's draft will be held June 27-28 at Wachovia Center in Philadelphia. ... The Lightning announced Thursday RW Mike Angelidis has been re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract. Angelidis was captain of Tampa Bay's farm team in Syracuse this past season. Tampa Tribune LOADED: 07.01.2013 683335 Tampa Bay Lightning Leafs acquire Dave Bolland from Blackhawks DAVID SHOALTS Published Sunday, Jun. 30 2013, 6:48 PM EDT Last updated Sunday, Jun. 30 2013, 8:09 PM EDT One week after he scored the winning goal in the Stanley Cup final, Dave Bolland was punted from the Chicago Blackhawks to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Leafs general manager David Nonis sent three draft picks to the Blackhawks, 51 and 117 this year a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL entry draft, for Bolland, 27, in a move that gives him some depth at centre. Bolland is not the No. 1 centre Nonis is still looking for but he is a solid defensive player and has one year left on his contract at $3.375-million. With centre Tyler Bozak headed to unrestricted free agency this week, adding Bolland gives Nonis more options. He could let Bozak go elsewhere and start the season with Nazem Kadri, Mikhail Grabovski, Bolland and Jay McClement as the Leafs centres. Or, if Nonis thinks he can land a No. 1 centre in another trade or as a free agent (Vincent Lecavalier is a longshot), he could give a compliance buyout to Grabovski, who is not head coach Randy Carlyle’s kind of player. Grabovski has four years left on his contract for a total of $21-million, so a buyout would cost the Leafs $14-million over eight years Bolland was not surprised at the trade. Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman has to get pending free agents Brian Bickell, Ray Emery, Marcus Kruger and Nick Leddy signed, among others, and Bickell is due for a big raise. So Bolland’s name was in the trade talk leading up to the draft. “I had heard the trade rumours,” Bolland told TSN. “So I knew something might happen.” Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683336 Tampa Bay Lightning Lightning takes Drouin No. 3 in NHL draft Even so, Cooper said of Drouin, "I'm fairly sure he is going to jump the curve a little sooner than others. His hockey IQ is off the charts. So when you have that in your repertoire, usually you can advance a little bit quicker than some others." Not that anyone is guaranteeing Drouin a Lightning roster spot. Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer Sunday, June 30, 2013 4:30am "Steve (Yzerman) has been very clear he's not going to rush anybody," Murray said. "But he's not going to hold anyone back, either." Lightning draft picks Jonathan Drouin NEWARK, N.J. — Outside looking in, the decision the Lightning had to make at Sunday's draft was as epic as it was unexpected. Round (overall): 1 (3) Should it take Jonathan Drouin, the super-skilled, play-making left wing who last season was MVP of the Canadian junior leagues, or defenseman Seth Jones, whom NHL Central Scouting ranked as the No. 1 North American skater and seemed to fall right into Tampa Bay's lap? Position: Left wing In the end, though, the decision at the Prudential Center — taking Drouin, 18, with the No. 3 overall pick — was relatively simple, general manager Steve Yzerman said. Need to know: MVP of junior Quebec league with 41 goals, 105 points in 49 games last season for Halifax. … Friends with Lightning C Alex Killorn. "We know they were both excellent prospects," he said. "We simply rated Jonathan ahead of Seth." Round (overall): 2 (33) The pick gives the Lightning a player many believe is the draft's most dynamic and who had 41 goals and 105 points in 49 games last season for Halifax of the Quebec league. Even the usually understated Yzerman acknowledged that Drouin's vision of the ice and passing ability might eventually earn him a spot on a line with center Steven Stamkos. "His hockey sense, his skill, his competitiveness, we like all his tools," Yzerman said. Said Al Murray, Tampa Bay's director of amateur scouting, "There's nothing offensively that he can't do as far as play-making, goal scoring, beating people one-on-one. He has a special compete level and a special skill set you very rarely see come along." That said, the debate about whether Jones should have been the pick will rage until the players establish their NHL bona fides. Jones, 18, is 6 feet 4 and 205 pounds, with puck-moving skills and an offensive sensibility that led to 14 goals and 56 points in 68 games last season for Portland of the junior Western league. Age: 18 Height/weight: 5-11; 190 Adam Erne Position: Left wing Age: 18 Height/weight: 6-1; 210 Need to know: Led Quebec of junior Quebec league with 72 points, 44 assists in 68 games last season. … Big hitter who had 67 penalty minutes. Kristers Gudlevskis Round (overall): 5 (124) Position: Goalie Age: 20 Height/weight: 6-4; 190 Need to know: Athletic player with 2.09 GAA and .927 save percentage in 56 games for Riga of the Russian junior league. … Had 2.22 GAA and .925 save percentage in four games for Latvia at the world championship. Henri Ikonen Jones, the son of former NBA player Popeye Jones, also was plus-46. Round (overall): 6 (154) For the Lightning, without a legitimate puck-moving defenseman since Dan Boyle was traded in July 2008, Jones would seem difficult to pass up. Position: Left wing Age: 19 And Yzerman said, "We really like Seth Jones. But when you're rating players, you've got to rate somebody one, somebody two, somebody three. We had Jonathan just ahead of Seth." As interesting as the pick is how the Lightning came to be in that position. Height/weight: 6-0; 198 Need to know: A special-teams expert, had 22 goals, 51 points in 61 games last season for Kingston of junior Ontario league. As expected, the Avalanche, drafting first, took center Nathan MacKinnon, Drouin's Halifax teammate. But instead of taking Jones at No. 2, as many believed they would, the Panthers took Finnish center Aleksander Barkov. Saku Salminen "We actually had discussed that (scenario)," Murray said. "Steve was very good. He went through every single opportunity that could have possibly come our way. We were prepared for all situations, and we got the player we thought was best." Position: Center Jones went to the Predators one pick later, at No. 4. Need to know: Not a lot of skill but plays a physical game. … Played only 29 games in Finland last season because of a back injury. Drouin certainly does not lack confidence. Asked about playing in Tampa next season, he said, "For sure, I want to step in. I'm pretty confident about that." About perhaps playing next to Stamkos, he said, "Obviously, for sure. Steven is a finisher. Everyone knows that." At 5 feet 11 and 190 pounds, Drouin admitted he must get stronger and has modified his diet to include more grains and fish. And Lightning coach Jon Cooper reminded that even Stamkos did not make the smoothest transition from juniors to the NHL. Round (overall): 7 (184) Age: 18 Height/weight: 6-3; 187 Joel Vermin Round (overall): 7 (186) Position: Right wing Age: 21 Height/weight: 5-11; 192 Need to know: Had 13 goals, 35 points in 47 games last season for Bern in Switzerland. … One year left on Swiss contract. Tampa Bay Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683337 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leafs get players, prospects and a new approach: Cox By: Damien Cox Published on Sun Jun 30 2013 If Dave Bolland had been a Maple Leaf two months ago, he’d have been on the ice in those fateful minutes in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins as precisely the kind of player the Leafs lacked in sufficient supply to defend that infamous lead. As it was, he remained a Chicago Blackhawk to the end of the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, and as such put the dagger in the heart of the Bruins anyway. For the Leafs, better late than never, one supposes. Bolland’s acquisition on draft day by GM Dave Nonis is clear evidence that Nonis and head coach Randy Carlyle are precisely on the same page when it comes to the type of team both want to put on the ice, and that’s good. You already knew that when Nonis brought in Frazer McLaren at Carlyle’s suggestion last season to make the Leafs tougher and moved out a group of unproductive veterans. Now, adding a centre with sandpaper who can do for Carlyle what Samuel Pahlsson did in 2007 for that Carlyle-coached Anaheim team that won it all is more proof. Given that Brian Burke and Ron Wilson never were on the same wavelength, this is a step forward for the organization. The acquisition of Bolland during one of the most interesting drafts in recent memory — kudos to Florida for being gutsy with that No. 2 pick — was also the latest move from Nonis in the post-season that suggests he may be able to do something that has eluded previous Leaf GMs, and that’s use futures and prospects to get immediate help without totally abandoning stocking the talent cupboard for down the road. So Jonathan Bernier was acquired for backup goalie Ben Scrivens, a good young winger in Matt Frattin and a second-round pick in either 2014 or 2015. Bolland became a Leaf for three picks, basically a second-rounder and two fourths. But while those players were added, and the picks do add up, Nonis took care not to touch his first-rounder, and so still added a prime prospect in monster centre Frederic Gauthier, precisely the position at which the Leafs very much need depth. It’s a pretty simple concept for any Leaf GM; trade the kids and picks you want, but keep the first-rounders coming. There have just been too many years in the past two decades when the Leafs haven’t been picking at all in the first round, and that has always put the team in the position of being too thin on the depth chart and then forced to deal away more first-rounders to get better quickly. Now, you add Gauthier to a Burke-drafted prospect list that includes Morgan Rielly, Matt Finn, Stuart Percy, Tyler Biggs and Josh Leivo, and you have some of the best prospect depth the Leafs have cobbled together in years. Compare that to what New Jersey had to do on draft day. With no successor in sight for Martin Brodeur, the Devils had to acquire Cory Schneider from Vancouver for the ninth overall pick, a pick the rebuilding Devils really couldn’t afford to sacrifice. Weak drafting in the first round and the acquisition costs of Ilya Kovalchuk, both in trade and NHL penalties for an illegal contract, have hindered Jersey’s prospect list. But the Devs needed a goalie, and ended up making the kind of trade the Leafs have made so often over the years (see Toskala, Vesa and Raycroft, Andrew). The challenges for Nonis, meanwhile, are now twofold. First, with about $16 million (U.S.) to spend on about 10 players, he’s still got to re-do Bernier’s deal and find the cash to either re-sign Tyler Bozak or somebody who can play the role Bozak plays as Phil Kessel’s centre. Spending a chunk to lure David Clarkson looks unlikely now without moving more money first. Second, the Leaf GM now manages a payroll that has Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and Bolland all set to become unrestricted free agents after next season. That could get tricky. Still, Nonis has clearly benefitted by Burke’s much-criticized determination not to add any of those messy, long-term contracts that have really tied the hands of other NHL executives. Nonis had the flexibility to add Bernier and Bolland — two players with Cup rings — while other teams are cutting costs to hit next season’s reduced salary cap figure. The Leaf hockey boss would like to have had one or both of that pair two months ago. But given that he’s only been doing the job himself for a little more than six months, his team-building marks so far are solid as a good young team continues to grow. Toronto Star LOADED: 07.01.2013 683338 Toronto Maple Leafs Maple Leafs acquire Dave Bolland from Blackhawks By: Kevin McGran Sports reporter, Published on Sun Jun 30 2013 NEWARK, N.J.—Moments after Dave Bolland scored the game-winning goal last week to clinch the Stanley Cup for the Chicago Blackhawks, his destiny was sealed. The Leafs had been after Bolland for some time. Leafs GM Dave Nonis texted a congratulatory message to Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman and resumed talks for Bolland. Those talks came to fruition at the draft on Sunday, with the Leafs sending three picks for the gritty 27-year-old who may find himself playing a bigger role with the Leafs than he ever had as a third- and fourth-liner with the Blackhawks. “I’m excited to put on a Maple Leafs jersey in front of ACC fans. Pretty much lost for words,” said the Mimico native, shortly after the deal was announced. “I’m sad to leave Chicago. You always want to play in one city all your career. But it’s a business. “But it’s great to come back to where my whole hockey career began.” Bolland’s cellphone went just as crazy with family and friends wishing him well in Toronto as it did when he scored the Cup-winning goal. “It’s been crazy,” said Bolland. “Scoring the goal and now this.” Nonis, too, was gleeful. Although Tyler Bozak’s future with the team — he’s an unrestricted free agent come Friday — may be cloudier. “He’s a Randy Carlyle type of player,” Nonis said of Bolland. “He can play up and down the lineup. He’s got skill. He can play with real good players. He’s got grit and can play against real good players.” Bolland has been a winner wherever he’s been. He won the Memorial Cup as a member of the London Knights. He won a world junior title with Team Canada. And he’s been a big part of two Stanley Cup championships with the Blackhawks. “He does have that pedigree,” said Nonis “Part of that is being in the right place, part of that is being the right type of player. Usually, if you’re on multiple championship teams, it’s because you provide something.” The Leafs sent picks 51 and 177 in Sunday’s draft to Chicago as well as a fourth-rounder next season for Bolland. |He has one year left on a contract that will pay him $3.375 million (all figures U.S.) next year. He had seven goals and seven assists in 35 games this season. “One of the positives of the deal is that he has a fairly cap-friendly number,” said Nonis. “It works well for us. We still have some flexibility to move pieces around.” Bolland certainly provides tons of grit and hard work. But Nonis is looking beyond his body of work in the NHL, noting that his numbers in junior hockey were spectacular. Bolland had 57 goals and 73 assists in 2005-06, his last year in junior. He managed 37 goals in 2003-04 an 34 in 2004-05, playing with the likes of Corey Perry. He then fit into a support role in Chicago, playing behind Jonathan Toews, Patrick Sharp and Michal Handzus. “I think that’s where he’s been slotted,” said Nonis. “If you look at his junior numbers, they’re exceptional. Randy (Carlyle) won’t pigeon-hole him as a third-line centre. He’ll use him in all areas. “He’ll probably be put in a more prominent role with us than he was in Chicago.” That has to make Bozak uncomfortable. Talks with Bozak’s camp continue, but the two sides remain $1 million to $1.5 million apart on an annual basis. “We wouldn’t rule out signing Tyler at all,” said Nonis. “We have things we can do to make room. Bozak is an important part to our team. If we can find a way to get him signed, we will. Nothing has changed in that regard.” Nonis said he was working on other deals — especially one that would open up some cap space — but didn’t expect anything else to come to fruition for a day or two. Between adding goalie Jonathan Bernier and now Bolland, Nonis has addressed two of his main concerns. “It’s a start,” said Nonis. “We think there are more things we hope to do. Whether we can before now and September remains to be seen. We’ll try to remain active,” said Nonis. “We feel if we get everybody signed, we’ll be in a perfectly good position to start the season. “It doesn’t mean we’re not going to shore up other areas. From our standpoint, we’re not incredibly deep down the middle. That’s why it was important to get him.” At 27, Bolland is right around the same age as the core of players who got the Leafs back to the playoffs last season. Bolland is well aware of the optimism surrounding the Leafs. “It’s a team that never quits,” said Bolland. “They have some young talent in (Nazem) Kadri and the goalies. It’s one team that’s coming up. “Hopefully we can do the same thing we did here (in Chicago).” Toronto Star LOADED: 07.01.2013 683339 Toronto Maple Leafs NHL draft: Maple Leafs beat Canadiens to Frederik Gauthier By: Kevin McGran Published on Sun Jun 30 2013 NEWARK, N.J.—Leafs GM Dave Nonis said he was prepared to move up in the first round or move out of it for the right price. But he thought Frederik Gauthier and another player, believed to be Anthony Mantha, would be around at No. 21 and decided to stay put. Mantha went 20th to Detroit. If body language means anything, Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin was visibly upset, scratching Gauthier’s name off his list after the Leafs took him. Montreal picked American forward Michael McCarron four spots later. Colorado surprised no one by taking Nathan MacKinnon first overall. “This is unbelievable,” said MacKinnon, a standout from the Halifax Mooseheads. “This is a moment I’ve dreamt of for the majority of my life. It finally came true.” The Avs had already announced they would not take local defenceman Seth Jones with the pick, but didn’t tell the rest of the prospects their plans. “I found out when you guys found out,” said MacKinnon. “They didn’t tell me.” As for how it felt to be on stage: “I blanked out a little bit.” The true surprise was at No. 2, when Florida took Finland’s Aleksander Barkov. Jonathan Drouin went third to Tampa, which really likes undersized French-Canadian snipers. Jones — the No. 1-ranked North American skater — fell to fourth to Nashville, a team that knows how to develop defencemen, including Shea Weber. “I wasn’t surprised with what they’ve been saying the last couple of days,” said Jones. “Anything could have happened. They could have traded the pick. You don’t know where you’re going until you hear your name. Whether I’m first, fourth, second round, I’m still going to try to make the team.” <bullet>The sons of three ex-Leafs all went in the first round: Max Domi (son of Tie) 12th to Phoenix, Kerby Rychel (Warren) 19th to Columbus and Anthony Mantha (Moe) 20th to Detroit. “He was pretty pumped, an emotional guy obviously,” Max Domi said of his dad, Tie. “He’s very happy. He had a long successful career in the NHL and he wishes that for me. It’s definitely a big step. It’s awesome. He’s a big fan. He’s a big reason I’m who I am today.” The crowd at the Prudential Center provided some levity early in the evening. When Patrick Roy went on stage to announce Colorado’s pick, they instantly started chanting “Marty’s Better” in homage to Devils goalie Martin Brodeur. And the crowd repeatedly booed NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, sometimes so loud it was difficult to hear some of his announcements. The Rangers and the Wild — who signed Zach Parise last summer — were also roundly booed. Toronto Star LOADED: 07.01.2013 683340 Toronto Maple Leafs Leafs draft huge centre Frederik Gauthier By Terry Koshan First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 05:38 PM EDT Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 07:47 PM EDT The Maple Leafs didn’t go off the board with their first-round pick in the 2013 National Hockey League entry draft. The Leafs had centre Frederik Gauthier in their sights for a while, so it was not a surprise when they picked him 21st overall. At 6-foot-5 and 214 pounds, Gauthier has developed into a fine defensive forward for the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. If he develops properly and one day cracks the Leafs roster, he is projected as a shutdown centre. Gauthier has drawn comparisons to both Ryan Kesler and Jordan Staal. “When he was still there, we were very happy to select him,” Leafs general manager David Nonis said. “There’s no timetable but we’re going to do everything we can to fast-track that.” Gauthier had 60 points (22 goals and 38 assists) in 62 games for the Oceanic last season and was plus-22. Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.01.2013 683341 Toronto Maple Leafs Leafs to pick best of rest with 21st spot By Terry Koshan First posted: Saturday, June 29, 2013 11:17 PM EDT Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 01:43 PM EDT Dave Morrison’s philosophy for the National Hockey League draft is fairly straight-forward and it rarely wavers. The Maple Leafs, barring a last-minute trade, will make the 21st selection in the draft on Sunday afternoon at the Prudential Center. “It might be three years before he is ready to step into your lineup, and in three years, a lot can happen,” Morrison, the Leafs’ director of amateur scouting, said in an interview on Saturday. “That’s why you always take the best available player. We would like to get a particular type of player, and if we can we will, but we really have not strayed from that philosophy and we are not going to (on Sunday).” Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.01.2013 683342 Toronto Maple Leafs Leafs won't rush first-round pick Gauthier “You have to adapt to be that kind of player,” he said. “I learned that in Quebec (a league that is producing bigger-sized prospects and doing well at the Memorial Cup). It was a big adjustment for me from Midget Triple A. It was a big part of my life. I’m going to take what I learned and take it to Toronto.” ROUND BY ROUND By Lance Hornby First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 11:35 PM EDT Updated: Monday, July 01, 2013 01:39 AM EDT NEWARK, N.J. — - Frederik Gauthier wants to personally thank Sidney Crosby for a fateful phone call that helped change his hockey career. If the Maple Leafs are spot on with their No. 1 pick, Gauthier will one day get that chance in the faceoff circle, lining up against the Pittsburgh Penguin superstar. When the 6-foot-5 Gauthier was in a bind about attending Harvard University or playing for the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic one summer ago, Crosby called the Gauthier home near Montreal to urge Gauthier to pick his old junior team. Round 1 (21st overall) Frederik Gauthier, C Big, bodied centre Leafs have craved for too long. Still raw, but strong twoway player with upside. Round 2 (Pick traded to Chicago for Dave Bolland) Round 3 (82nd overall) Carter Verhaeghe, C Another work-in-progress centre made big strides in solid season with Niagara Ice Dogs. Decent on the draw, skating a concern. Round 4 (Pick traded to Chicago for Dave Bolland) “It was a surprise,” Gauthier laughed of the day the phone rang. “I’m sure that doesn’t happen every day. My Mom was the one who picked up the phone. She was surprised, too. Round 6 (172nd overall) “He told me how great it was when he was there and the whole experience it was. After this year, I can say he was right. In the end, maybe I wasn’t ready to go to university yet.” Not ranked by Central Scouting at mid-season, jumped to ninth goalie at draft time. What it meant was the big centre missed a year of junior eligibility, but stayed close to home and received a solid grounding from Rimouski general manager and ex-NHLer Philippe Boucher and coach Serge Beausoleil. Gauthier played on Canada’s Under 18 team that won the gold medal and kept developing as a two-way force that climbed the NHL scouting charts. Andreas Johnson, RW The big question is whether he meets Toronto’s new rock ’em, sock ’em philosophy. He nearly crushed a reporter’s fingers with a firm handshake, but some observers say he doesn’t play abrasive in all on-ice situations. “He doesn’t shy away,” countered Toronto GM Dave Nonis. “He goes into the tough areas. I haven’t seen him fight and I’m not saying he won’t, but he doesn’t shy away. And when you’re that big and built that thick (more than 210 pounds and still growing) you probably feel very comfortable going where you want. “There is probably a lot of developmental work that goes into a player like that. A lot of parts of his game need work and that’s up to us now.” Gauthier planned to attend the Leafs prospect camp in a couple of weeks, give it his best shot at the rookie camp in September, but knows he’s likely going back to compensate for his lost year. When Toronto’s attempts to move up in the top 10 picks on Sunday began to fizzle, it took Gauthier at 21, its highest French-Canadian forward since Vince Damphousse went sixth in 1986. The Leafs kept their interest in him fairly quiet, other than conducting an interview at the NHL draft combine a few weeks ago. But Nonis assured the Leafs’ Quebec area scouts and the top brass “have been around him a fair bit” this year and that he was a hit during the oneon-one interview. “You never know when talking to a player whether an answer is coming from within or from a page they studied. This kid is a pretty genuine and that’s obvious when you talk to him.” Gauthier had some big goals on the world stage, but Nonis kept insisting it was his two-way game that attracted the Leafs. “He fills a need for us. I don’t expect we’ll see him shortly, but he’s come a long way in a short amount of time. He was playing midget hockey not too long ago. We’ll try to get him going in the right direction. Someone asked me how long it would take for him? As long as it takes. There won’t be any rushing these players. We want to do a good job of being as deep as we can be so we can keep the players until they’re ready to come with us.” Gauthier said his game is modelled after Jordan Staal, but didn’t disagree he’s going to have to get a little meaner in coming years. Antoine Bibeau, G Round 7 (202nd overall) Scored 54 points in 42 games with his Swedish Jr. team, Frolunda. Scouting reports tout his speed. Toronto Sun LOADED: 07.01.2013 683343 Toronto Maple Leafs Leafs keep busy at NHL draft with Dave Bolland trade Michael Traikos | 13/06/30 Last Updated: 13/06/30 9:54 PM ET NEWARK, N.J. — The shopping is not complete. But after picking up a goaltender last week and a third-line centre at Sunday’s NHL Entry Draft, Dave Nonis’ cart is getting pretty full. Blackhawks trade Dave Bolland to Leafs for draft picks “It’s a start,” said the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager. That is an understatement. In Jonathan Bernier, Toronto finally has a goaltender that can push James Reimer for playing time. And in David Bolland, whom the Leafs acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks for a second- and sixth-round pick in this year’s draft and a fourth-round pick next year, they have depth down the middle. While Nonis would not say what other holes need filling — a top-four defenceman and a bottom-six winger would help — there should be an opportunity to pick up a few more impulse items when free agency opens on July 5. “I think he can play up and down the lineup. He’s got enough skill that he can play with real good players; he’s got enough grit that he can play against really good players. I think he’s going to be given a very significant role with us.” Bolland, who scored seven goals and 14 points in 35 games, is in the final year of a contract that will pay him US$3.375-million. Nonis said he will likely slot in on the third line, leaving Nazem Kadri and Mikhail Grabovski as the top-two centres and Jay McClement as the fourth-line centre. Of course, Nonis has not ruled out bringing back unrestricted free agent Tyler Bozak and confirmed that the team had been one of several teams that spoke with bought-out centre Vincent Lecavalier on the weekend. But with only 12 players under contract and US$16-million available under the cap — Toronto has to re-sign restricted free agents Bernier, Kadri, Cody Franson and Carl Gunnarsson — the team still also has to be smart in how it spends its money. “One of the positives of the [Bolland contract] is he’s got a fairly good cap friendly number. It works well with us,” said Nonis. “We still have some flexibility where we can move some pieces around and again having him at U$3.3-million isn’t an issue if you can get the value out of him.” With Toronto’s second-round pick, Chicago selected Swedish defenceman Carl Dahlstrom. The Leafs selected Niagara Ice Dogs centre Carter Verhaeghe in the third round (No. 82), Swiss winger Fabrice Herzog in the fifth round (No. 142), P.E.I. goaltender Antoine Bibeau in the sixth round (No. 172) and Swedish forward Andreas Johnson in the seventh round (No. 202). National Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 “We think there are some more things we hope to do,” said Nonis. “Whether we can accomplish that between now and September remains to be seen. But we’re going to try and remain to be active.” For now, the Leafs GM is content with the additions he has been able to make so far in this off-season. The goaltending and centre positions had been perceived as areas of weaknesses. And while the team is still without a top-flight No. 1 centre or a legitimate No. 1 goaltender, there is depth where there was not any before and even more on the way. With the 21st overall pick, the Leafs selected 6-foot-5 centre Frederik Gauthier, who scored 60 points in 62 games with Rimouski in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last season. The 18-year-old, who models his game after Jordan Staal, was ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the eighth-best North American skater. “No disrespect to wingers, because you need quality wingers to win and we think we have some of the best in [Phil] Kessel, [Joffrey] Lupul and [James] van Riemsdyk, but if you look at championship teams they’re generally build down the middle,” said Nonis. “We’re comfortable with our goaltending, our backend prospects are very good. We’re a little thin down the middle.” To play in the ACC in front of Toronto fans where I grew up … I’m really excited. I’m at a loss for words That is quickly changing. Bolland, whom the Leafs were able to acquire because of Chicago’s cap concerns — the team also traded Michael Frolik to the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday — was not surprised to be on the move. And though the native of Mimico, Ont., said he was sad to leave Chicago, he was also excited to return to where his hockey career began. “To play in the ACC in front of Toronto fans where I grew up … I’m really excited. I’m at a loss for words,” Bolland said in a conference call. “You can see they’ve got some young talent with [Nazem] Kadri and the goaltenders. I think it’s going to be great. I think this is one team like the Blackhawks team that’s coming up and is going to do great things. Hopefully like we did here.” Nonis called Bolland, who hoisted the Stanley Cup for the second time in his career after scoring the championship-clinching goal less than a week ago, a Randy Carlyle “type of player.” And though it is unclear whether he will get a bigger offensive role than he played with the Blackhawks, the 27year-old should provide much-needed experience for a Leafs team that had the second-youngest roster last season. “He does have that pedigree,” said Nonis. “Part of having all those banners and Cups is being in the right place and part of it is being the right type of person. Usually if you’re on multiple championship teams it’s because you provide something. 683344 Washington Capitals Vincent Lecavalier ‘fits into our puzzle’, Adam Oates says By Katie Carrera, Published: July 1, 2013 at 12:43 amE-mail the writer Count the Washington Capitals among the numerous teams interested in impending unrestricted free agent Vincent Lecavalier. Coach Adam Oates met with the veteran center on Saturday to explain why Washington would be a good destination for him. “He fits into our puzzle,” said Oates, who worked with Lecavalier during the 2009-10 season as an assistant coach in Tampa Bay. “I think that’s an important thing and I said that to him. ‘You’re in a unique situation. You get to choose where you want to go make sure you choose a puzzle that fits.’ ” Last week, when the Lightning announced that it would use a compliance buyout on Lecavalier, the captain and long-time face of the franchise, he instantly became the most sought-after player in this year’s crop of free agents. The list of teams that reportedly met with Lecavalier this weekend include Washington, Philadelphia, Montreal, Dallas, St. Louis, Detroit, Calgary, Toronto, Boston and Anaheim. “Vinny’s a guy that, one of the things I really respected about him is, he wanted to play against the best players every night,” Oates. “He wanted the responsibility of playing against their best D, every night, handling that pressure, game in and game out. I think he’s a guy that, the day happens when we go four rounds, he’s a guy that will be standing there at the end of four rounds. I think that’s why a lot of teams are after him.” Tampa Bay opted to buy Lecavalier out of the remaining seven years on his previous 11-year, $85 million contract that carried an annual salary cap hit of $7.7 million. While the buyout won’t count against the salary cap, the Lightning will pay him a little more than $32 million over the next 14 years. After 14 seasons in Tampa Bay, Lecavalier is suddenly looking for a team that he could close out his career with. Oates knows that there’s always some shock when players are unexpectedly forced to change organizations for the first time and that was part of what they discussed. “He’s been Mr. Tampa Bay Lightning. We talked a little bit about that yesterday because how was he feeling about that? It’s an emotional time when you get traded, bought out, have to move the first time, especially when you’ve done what he’s done for that franchise. He’s got to turn the page and be professional and he is a very classy guy, professional, a good hockey player. And he’d fit in great with us.” Lecavalier, 33, is reportedly looking for a long-term contract that would take him to the end of his career. ESPN’s Pierre LeBrun reported that the target is believed to be four or five years with an average value of $5 million. It’s unclear whether the Capitals would be willing to give Lecavalier that term, which is the same as what Mike Ribeiro is targeting. Ribeiro, who provided long-sought center depth for the Capitals during the lockoutshortened season, is expected to test the free agent market and it appears unlikely that he will re-sign in Washington. An elite playmaker with size, Lecavalier would certainly boost Washington’s depth at center and add an amount of skill that is often difficult to find in free agency. At this stage, though, it’s tough to tell whether the Capitals are a true contender for his services given the amount of interest. “Adam talked to him and we’ll see where it goes. Adam likes him a lot,” General Manager George McPhee said Sunday. “Just wanted to have a conversation with him. Adam knows him, I think he wanted to know more about us.” Washington Post LOADED: 07.01.2013 683345 Washington Capitals Vincent Lecavalier on Capitals’ radar in free agency By Marc Lancaster The Washington Times Sunday, June 30, 2013 The Capitals are hardly alone in their pursuit of Vincent Lecavalier, but they can hope their coach’s prior work with the biggest name on the free-agent market pays dividends. Capitals brass met Saturday with Lecavalier, who will officially hit the open market Friday after the Tampa Bay Lightning bought out his contract last week. Lecavalier was the face of the Lightning franchise, spending 14 seasons in Tampa Bay, and his sudden availability has teams lining up for a shot at the veteran center. Washington coach Adam Oates was among those making the Capitals’ sales pitch, he confirmed to reporters Sunday at the NHL draft in Newark, N.J. “He’s in a unique situation, obviously, from our collective bargaining agreement, and obviously a lot of teams are talking to him,” Oates said of Lecavalier. “You really just talk and provide information and answer any questions he might have.” Oates played against Lecavalier in his last six seasons on the ice, and he served as an assistant coach with the Lightning in 2009-10.That’s the relationship the Capitals would like to use to their advantage. “Vinny’s a guy that, one of the things I really respected about him, he wanted to play against the best players every night,” Oates told reporters. “He wanted the responsibility of playing against their best D every night, handling that pressure, game-in and game-out. I think he’s a guy that, if the day happens when we go four rounds, he’ll be a guy that would be standing there at the end of four rounds. That’s why a lot of teams are after him.” Lecavalier’s availability could impact the market for Mike Ribeiro, who is an unrestricted free agent after excelling for the Capitals last season. He has said he would like to stay in Washington, but he wants a long-term deal to do so. Capitals general manager George McPhee said last week he would wait until the draft was over to delve into Ribeiro’s situation. However the offseason shakes out, there’s no doubt the Capitals would be a better team next winter if they can find a way to have one of those two 33year-olds centering a line. “Obviously [Ribeiro] played for us last year and we all love him and if it works out, great,” Oates said. “If it doesn’t, it’s part of the business and we all have to turn that page and we respect that.” Washington Times LOADED: 07.01.2013 683346 Winnipeg Jets Jets pick up Frolik, Lodge and Lipon in third round By: Gary Lawless and Ed Tait NEWARK – The Winnipeg Jets continue to stock their prospect cupboard here at the NHL Draft. The Jets have acquired winger Michael Frolik from the Chicago Blackhawks for 2013 third round draft pick (74th) and 2013 fifth round draft pick (134th). The 25-year-old Frolik is a two-time 20-goal scorer in the NHL and scored three goals and seven assists in the Blackhawks recent run to the Stanley Cup. Frolik is from the Czech Republic and has one year left on his contract that will pay him $1.9 million this year. Frolik will add some skill to the Jets' forward group and will immediately be slated in on the right wing to go with centre Ollie Jokinen and left wing Evander Kane. The Jets used their first pick of the third round, 84th overall – acquired from the Washington Capitals earlier – to select Saginaw Spirit forward Jimmy Lodge. A 6-1 centre still putting on pounds, he had 28 goals and 39 assists in 64 games this year. He was ranked 64th by The Hockey News heading into the draft. With their second pick, 91st overall, the Jets selected Kamloops Blazers right winger J.C. Lipon, who had 36 goals and 53 assists in 61 games this year Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.01.2013 683347 Winnipeg Jets Jets go for Petan in second round By: Ed Tait NEWARK, NJ – The Winnipeg Jets hope they’ve found some offensive pop with their first of three picks in the second round of the NHL Draft. The Jets used their pick, 43rd overall, to grab Portland Winterhawks centre Nicholas Petan – a high-scoring forward who some had pegged to go late in the first round. Petan may be small at 5-8, 163, but he can definitely score: his 120 points (46 goals, 74 assists) tied for the Western Hockey League lead with Winnipegger and fellow linemate Brendan Leipsic this past season. "It’s a real honour," said Petan. "Sitting there you don’t know what’s going to happen and then to hear your name called… I’m just so excited to be a part of the organization. "I’m a smaller guy, but I use my size to my advantage. I’m a two-way centreman who likes to play defence just as much as I like to play offence. I like to be creative and use my skill and my smarts to my advantage." Petan’s 2012-13 season with Portland came up short in the Memorial Cup final, but teamed with Ty Rattie and Brendan Leipsic, a Winnipegger, the line was one of the most-dominant in the CHL this year. "The biggest thing I learned (from playing with Rattie and Leipsic) is it doesn’t matter how good you are, you’ve got to work hard to make things happen out there," said Petan. "It doesn’t matter how tall you are, how big you are, you’ve got to make things happen." The Jets spoke with Petan once at the combine – by comparison firstrounder Joshua Morrissey had four interviews with the team – but his skill clearly jumped out at the team’s brass. As for the questions about his size? "I’ve overcome it at every level," he said. "And I’m looking forward to the challenge next in my life." The Jets then used their second pick in the second round, 59th overall, to select goaltender Eric Comrie of the Tri-City Americans. Comrie, an Edmonton product, was 20-14-3 with a 2.92 goals against average and .915 save percentage this past year. They then traded their last pick of the second round, 61st overall, to the Washington Capitals for the 84th, 114th and 127th pick. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.01.2013 683348 Winnipeg Jets Jets snag Morrissey in first pick "It’s unbelievable. You grow up watching Hockey Night in Canada or whatever it is and seeing the passion where I’m from in Canada, it’s something I’ve always wanted. I’ve always wanted to go to a passionate city that has passionate fans and I definitely got my wish." Morrissey will attend the team’s prospect camp in July as well as the Young Stars tournament in September before heading to main Jets’ camp. By: Ed Tait NEWARK, NJ – He shook hands, slapped backs and then slipped into his new Winnipeg Jets jersey and baseball hat. And, to be honest, the moment was better than Joshua Morrissey could have ever dreamed. "It was wild," said the Morrissey after being plucked 13th overall in Sunday’s NHL Draft. "I’ve imagined it a million times, maybe more. It was better than I could have ever imagined, to be honest. Standing up there… I’m in a rink with tons of people, thousands of people, and it really just felt like I was in my own world and how amazing it was. It’s something I’ll never forget." Other voices on Morrissey (courtesy NHL.com) "He's got a physical presence and everyone knows to be aware of him on the ice," Button said. "The foundation of Josh's game is skating. He has excellent quickness and agility, and has really strong balance. It's very hard for anyone to take advantage of him because he's such a good skater. He also has excellent puck skills, always looking to make a really good play." – Craig Button "Josh is a solid, top-end defenseman who plays a lot of minutes every night. He has a well-established skill set on both the offensive and defensive side of the puck and can play in all situations. He's a great competitor with a great work ethic, and is a leader on our hockey club." – Prince Albert head coach Steve Young --"He's a dynamic skater and reaches top speed quickly with good offensive hockey sense," Marr said. "He's willing to battle and doesn't get intimidated, but still needs to physically mature in order to handle one-on-one situations. He gives a good two-way effort, logs a lot of ice time and has a lot of responsibilities." -- Dan Marr, the director of NHL Central Scouting The Jets, once again on draft day, raised a few eyebrows taking Morrissey – a smooth-skating 5-11, 182-pound defenceman with the Prince Albert Raiders – as many mock drafts had him going late in the first round. But he was interviewed by 27 NHL teams and four times by the Jets. "They were just really good guys and we got along really well," said Morrissey. "They had a lot of good things to say and it seemed that as we talked, things just clicked. So, I definitely left there feeling pretty good." Some factors that obviously impressed the Jets: Working with former Jet defenceman Dave Manson in Prince Albert, Morrissey put up good numbers with the Raiders, scoring 15 goals and adding 32 assists in 70 games. He was paired with Darnell Nurse as the top defensive pair for Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Under-18 tournament last summer. He was the WHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year, maintaining a 92.4 per cent average. He’s been compared to Niklas Kronwall and Gary Suter, said he modeled his game after Krist Letang. "I’m a two-way defenceman with offensive upside," said Morrissey. "I like compete hard and I think my biggest assets are my skating and my hockey sense. "My offensive side has really come. I’ve been working on my defensive game, but my offensive game has really flourished and really become better and better as time has gone on here. I want to keep getting better in all things, but that’s probably the biggest thing for me so far." A Calgary native, Morrissey said he is thrilled to be staying relatively close to home and going to a hockey-crazed market. "I’d like to be in (the NHL) as soon as possible," he said. "I’m going to go to camp this year and do everything I can to make them not send me home or give them the toughest decision. Obviously, that’s a pretty hard thing to do. I’ll just go and work really hard this offseason and see where it takes me." The Jets have three picks in the second round, with their selection coming 43rd overall followed by the 59th and 61st selection. Overall, Winnipeg has 10 selections in the 2013 draft, tied for most with Buffalo, Los Angeles and Nashville. The Colorado Avalanche, as expected, grabbed Halifax Mooseheads forward Nathan MacKinnon first overall, with Alexsander Barkov, a Finnish centre, going to the Florida Panthers at second. The top five was rounded out by Jonathan Drouin going third to Tampa, Seth Jones fourth to Nashville and Elias Lindholm fifth to Carolina. Grandview's Ryan Pulock was taken 15th overall by the New York Islanders, prompting him to tweet, "Gonna be hard to fall asleep tonight, better then Christmas Eve as a young boy! #NHLDraft2013" The Jets took Nic Petan, C, Portland, with their first second round pick. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.01.2013 683349 Winnipeg Jets Jets fans gather for draft day By: Oliver Sagchau Posted: 2:18 PM | Comments: 0 | Last Modified: 3:56 PM | Updates Over 400 people gathered at the Shark Club to watch the Nayional Hockey League's annual draft. Jets players Mark Stuart and James Wright mingled with fans, taking pictures and signing autographs. Winnipeg Jets jerseys were scattered throughout the bar. Patrons were glued to the TVs in hopes of seeing the Jets draft some good players. As the drafting started, fans in the bar booed NHL commissioner Gary Bettman as he opened the ceremony. The noise in the bar periodically died down as teams announced their picks, and then get deafening as fans react to the decisions playing out on TV. Jets season ticket holder Brad Barnes said this is his first draft party. He's said the event is a great way to celebrate. "It's a great atmosphere," Barnes said. When Bettman announced a trade by Vancouver and New Jersey for the ninth spot in exchange for Corey Schneider, the bar erupted in boos. The bar was relatively muted when the Jets announced Joshua Morrissey as their first pick. Fan Mark Joss said the choice was a surprise for him, but at the same time he didn't know who to expect for the pick. "(Morrissey) is like a ghost," he said. Still, he said he was happy with the selection. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.01.2013 683350 Winnipeg Jets Burmistrov departure rumours amp up before draft By: Ed Tait NEWARK, NJ – The Winnipeg Jets will be busy at the Prudential Center this afternoon with 10 picks in the seven-round NHL Draft. But as the teams have gathered on the floor of the arena, already rumours are swirling about one of their own – Russian website championat.com is quoting Alex Burmistrov’s agent as saying his client is close to a deal with Ak Bars of the KHL. Earlier this month Burmistrov’s agent denied any interest in the KHL, but the rumour comes on a day when the Jets are attempting to use whatever assets they have – including three picks in the second round – to possibly move up in the draft from their spot at 13 in the first round. The Jets’ allotment of 10 picks is tied for the most in the draft with Buffalo, Los Angeles and Nashville. Winnipeg Free Press LOADED 07.01.2013 683351 Winnipeg Jets Winnipeg Jets take defenceman Josh Morrissey with 13th overall pick of NHL entry draft By Ken Wiebe ,Winnipeg Sun First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 03:37 PM CDT | Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 07:56 PM CDT NEWARK, N.J.— The Winnipeg Jets selected defenceman Josh Morrissey with the 13th pick of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. Morrissey, who shoots left, had 15 goals and 47 points in 70 games with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League last season. “I’m a two-way defenceman with an offensive upside,” said Morrissey, who met with the Jets on four occasionas leading up to the draft. “All of my meetings with the Jets went amazing. It’s definitely a pretty cool experience. “I like to compete hard and my biggest assets are my skating and my hockey sense. A player that I admire or try to pattern my game after is Kris Letang.” Letang was a Norris Trophy candidate with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season, so if Morrissey can follow a similar career path, the Jets will be thrilled. Just like it was with 2011 first rounder Mark Scheifele, Morrissey is considered a bit of an off-the-board selection at 13, as he was ranked 21st in the final International Scouting Service ranking. “My agent (Gerry Johansson) told me I would be in that range, I had seen a lot of different rankings,” said Morrissey, who grew up in Calgary and was a Flames fan. “It was a pretty unbelievable feeling when I heard my name called.” While it may be a coincidence, there is a connection to the original Jets as well, since bruising blue-liner Dave Manson is Morrissey’s head coach. Just one pick before the Jets stepped to the podium, the Phoenix Coyotes chose London Knights forward Max Domi and a source said the Jets tried to trade up to pick the son of former Jet Tie Domi. In the second round, the Jets picked slick forward Nic Petan of the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. Petan tied for the Western Hockey League scoring title this season with Winnipegger and linemate Brendan Leipsic, racking up 120 points and helping his team reach the Memorial Cup final. “It’s a real honour, I’m thrilled to be part of the organization,” said Petan. “I’m a two-way centre who plays defence as much as I play offence but likes to be creative. I use my smarts and my skill to my advantage.” Petan is listed at 5-foot-8 and weighs 163 points and has battled the undersized level throughout his hockey career. “I definitely use my size as motivation out there,” said Petan. “It doesn’t matter how tall you are or how big you are, you’ve got to make things happen and work hard.” The Jets selected goalie Eric Comrie of the Tri-City Americans with the 59th pick and sent the 61st pick to the Washington Capitals for the 84th, 114th and 127th picks. The Jets also made a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks to add depth, sending third (74th) and seventh (134th) round picks for forward Michael Frolik. Frolik, 25, is a former first round pick and had three goals and 10 points in 45 games this season before adding three goals and 10 points in 23 playoff games. Brandon Wheat Kings captain Ryan Pulock was the first Manitoban chosen, going 15th overall to the New York Islanders. Pulock, who hails from Grandview, joins fellow defenceman and small-town Manitoba product Travis Hamonic of St. Malo in the Islanders’ organization. “I really feel like I’m not too far out,” said Pulock, when asked how close he is to making the jump to the NHL. “I have the skills to be able to play, it’s just a matter of getting that much stronger and being able to battle against the bigger guys who play in the NHL.” The second Manitoban chosen was Winnipegger Madison Bowey, a defenceman with the Kelowna Rockets who went 53rd to the Capitals. Some mock drafts and rankings had Bowey going late in the first round, so he might end up being a steal for the Capitals. The Colorado Avalanche stood by their word and selected Nathan MacKinnon of the Halifax Mooseheads with the first overall selection. The Florida Panthers turned a few heads by taking Finnish centre Sasha Barkov second overall, Jonathan Drouin went to the Tampa Bay Lightning at three and defenceman Seth Jones dipped to fourth overall and went to the Nashville Predators. Swedish forward Elias Lindholm went to the Carolina Hurricanes, centre Sean Monahan of the Ottawa 67s went to the Calgary Flames, Soo Greyhounds defenceman Darnell Nurse to the Edmonton Oilers, Finnish blue-liner Rasmus Ristolainen to the Buffalo Sabres. The Vancouver Canucks made a big splash, sending former Manitoba Moose goalie Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth overall pick. With the ninth pick, the Canucks chose forward Bo Horvat of the Knights and rounding out the Top-10 was Russian forward Valeri Nichushkin. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.01.2013 683352 Winnipeg Jets Jets acquire Frolik from Hawks in draft day deal By Ken Wiebe ,Winnipeg Sun First posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 11:38 PM CDT | Updated: Sunday, June 30, 2013 11:45 PM CDT NEWARK, N.J. -- Michael Frolik got a not-so-subtle reminder of how quickly one's professional situation can change. On Friday, the versatile forward was part of a parade celebrating the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory and now he's a member of the Winnipeg Jets. Frolik, 25, was acquired by the Jets for a pair of picks at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft at the Prudential Center on Sunday. "Obviously, I was shocked and surprised," Frolik said by phone from Chicago on Sunday afternoon, shortly after hearing the news. "It's crazy. It's a business and you can't do anything about it. I just have to deal with it. "I'm looking for a good opportunity. It should hopefully be good for me." For the record, capturing the Stanley Cup was all it's cracked up to be. "It's hard to put it into words," said Frolik. "It was a great finish and it was really fun year. All year, we didn't lose that many games. The ending was an unbelievable feeling." Frolik was originally a first round pick (10th overall) of the Florida Panthers in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Twice he's scored 21 goals, but he's evolved his game to become more of a checker and penalty-killing specialist the past few seasons. "My first few years, I played on the first two lines in Florida and played on the power play," said Frolik, who calls Jets goalie Ondrej Pavelec one of his closest friends. "I came to Chicago and it wasn't easy, they have so many offensive players. It was a different role but I can play both roles." Jets general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff said Frolik could compete for a spot among the Top-6 forwards, but wasn't going to stop his search to upgrade either. "He's someone who is a really good penalty killer, he works extremely hard and you saw how he played in the Stanley Cup playoffs," said Cheveldayoff. "That's when he does play his best. He's someone that really competes and I know he'll be looking for an expanded role with our group." Frolik has one year remaining on a contract that carries a cap hit of $2.33 million and has 61 goals and 151 points in 349 NHL games. Cheveldayoff said he inquired about centre David Bolland, who was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday after scoring the Stanley Cupclinching goal, but the talks didn't really develop. Winnipeg Sun LOADED 07.01.2013 683353 Vancouver Canucks Canucks turn an embarrassment of riches in net into a flat-out embarrassment. By Jason Botchford, The Province June 30, 2013 7:34 PM games. This, even though Schneider wasn't yet fully recovered from a groin injury. Luongo labelled it a wasted season, and at 34 years old, you wonder how many he has left. He felt slighted in the playoffs and it wasn't the first time. In 2010, the Canucks fired goalie coach Ian Clarke, and it took Luongo some time to get over that one. He even, reportedly, contemplated asking for a trade. That's not going to help now. Decades from now, when people are recounting the Vancouver Canucks history, this will be one of the days they remember. The Canucks have been trying to trade Luongo for a year. Whether it's fondly or not, remains to be seen. Sums it up perfectly. Much of that will depend on Roberto Luongo, the deposed starter whose Canucks career was resurrected in the latest, and most-bizarre chapter of the Vancouver goaltending saga. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.01.2013 Of this, there can be no debate: The Canucks turned an embarrassment of riches in their net into a flat-out embarrassment. Oh, this is a mess. A big one. Now, we wait to see how willing Luongo is to clean it up. Luongo turned down interview requests Sunday, still trying to collect his bearings at his home in Florida after shock rained down on him. Turns out, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini was the rainmaker. Aquilini arrived in Florida sometime before the draft in an attempt to repair the burned bridge between Luongo and the Canucks. Having the owner fly across the continent to tell a player that he hasn't been traded is an unprecedented move. Even in the world of the Luongo Circus, which has been ongoing in Vancouver for years, this one stands out like an Miss Universe pageant with nothing but bearded ladies. Aquilini told Luongo the Canucks were making a U-turn on their goalies moments before Cory Schneider was traded. It was not news Luongo easily embraced. When he left Vancouver in April, he left it believing he would never play here again. He left saying this was Cory's team now. And he left believing the he'd be playing out the rest of his contract, which has nine years left, in some other city. Learning he's the chosen one all over again in the Lower Mainland may have been like learning Florida had traded him to Vancouver back in 2006 in the first place. Then, he said he felt shocked, saddened, betrayed and, finally excited. The Canucks can only hope he gets all the way to feeling excited again. Even Schneider wasn't sure Sunday that Luongo would be coming back to Vancouver, despite the trade that sent Schneider to the New Jersey Devils for the ninth overall pick. "You have to keep in mind how he felt about this, where he's at and whether he's comfortable assuming the role that he's had," Schneider said. "That's something you have to ask him. "But after (Sunday), anything can happen. You come to expect that." Luongo met with his agent, Gilles Lupien, to discuss his options. He doesn't have many. Basically, he can report to the Canucks for training camp or risk being suspended without pay. "He's been a resilient guy," Schneider said. "He's been a resilient guy. He's been through a lot. He's been counted out. He's been knocked down and he always gets back up. "I don't know what his intentions are, or his mindset right now, but having worked with him for three years now, I just know he's a great goalie. "Whether that's in Vancouver or anywhere else. I think he's going to play his hardest and be his best, and that's what everyone expects out of him." The past year was the most difficult of Luongo's career. He was relegated to being the backup and was benched for Schneider in the final two playoff As Luongo tweeted late Sunday: "#NOtradeclause" 683354 Vancouver Canucks Canucks 2nd pick: Calgary's Shinkaruk puts others first, whether it's flood victims or teammates "I was six when he left Vancouver and our house was on a hill," recalled Cassels. "With Markus Naslund, Ed Jovanovski, Todd Bertuzzi, those are some fond memories and pretty cool to meet guys like that." Staff Report The elder Cassels lives in Columbus and coached in the ECHL and the younger Cassels did have two interviews with the Canucks, so the selection is not a shocker. A two-way centre who's defensively responsible and a good penalty killer, Cassels can put up some numbers and adds to the Canucks growing prospect depth down the middle. NEWARK, N.J. — Brett Fagerheim knows what kind of player and what kind of person the Vancouver Canucks acquired Sunday by selecting left winger Hunter Shinkaruk with the 24th selection in the NHL draft. "I guess I'm a third-line projection and it's a process but this is a step," he said. "I have a bit of my dad's hands and I take some of his hockey sense into my game. If I'm doing something wrong, he's not afraid to give me a call from Columbus. It's all surreal right now and I'm just glad to be a Canuck. When recent racing floodwaters ravaged and destroyed countless Calgary homes and reduced neighbourhoods to disaster zones, Fagerheim and Shinkaruk did whatever they could to help troubled neighbours and complete strangers. They cleaned homes hit hard by the raging Bow and Elblow rivers, moved furniture, hauled away rubble from the destruction. No taking it easy or daydreaming about draft day for Shinkaruk. "He puts everybody else ahead of himself," said Fargerheim. "He doesn't talk about himself and he understands the game, but he also understands about teamwork. The floods happened so quickly and were so devastating and we felt so fortunate that we weren't affected that Hunter wanted us to help out. And our parents were helping by cooking for those people who were affected and still had to work." Shinkaruk's family lives on a hill above Elbow Park and all it took was one look at the mind-numbing mess below to lend a helping hand. "It puts everything into perspective," said Shinkaruk. "A natural disaster can really take a lot from you and I wanted to volunteer. People were devastated and if my family had been affected, I know other people would have helped us. I'm just happy the people of Calgary really came together." Motivation at any level has never been a problem for Shinkaruk. While the Calgary native was surprisingly passed over by the Flames with the 23rd pick, the fact the Medicine Hat Tigers captain scored 86 goals during the last two WHL seasons and slid 10 spots in most rankings, has only cranked up his drive. It was the same when he slipped and went 14th overall in the WHL draft. "I love to compete and battle and win pucks all over the ice and it's probably my favourite part of the game," said the 5-foot-10, 181 pound winger. "I can't wait for camp and show them they made the right choice. I was a little nervous and was ranked higher, but if you told me 10 years ago I'd get drafted in the first round, I would have probably laughed. It's a huge honour and worth the wait. "I think I'm a player who has the ability to step in and play right away." With a lack of franchise depth at left wing, new Canucks coach John Tortorella is preaching more bite and vowing to play the kids, so opportunity is more than knocking at the door for Shinkaruk. It's a necessity with the salary cap ceiling falling to $64.3 million US and the need to quickly integrate players on entry-level contracts. Shinkaruk knows first-round pick Bo Horvat because they're represented by the same agency and he also has ties to the Lower Mainland. When Billy Copeland put together an elite spring league team called the West Coast Selects in pee wee and bantam, Shinkaruk got a call and stayed in Langley with his uncle. And being the captain in Medicine Hat meant meeting former Tigers star Trevor Linden and understanding what it meant to follow in his footsteps in that city. "Pretty surreal right now, the same junior team and now same NHL team," said Shinkaruk. "He was a great player, but the main thing a great person. He helps out the community and realized he had to help out the younger guys and handled himself with pride and respect. I think it's something I can take on." The Canucks didn't have a second-round pick, surrendering it to Dallas in the Derek Roy trade, and drafted Oshawa Generals centre Cole Cassels in the third round. The son of former Canucks centre Andrew Cassels, the 6foot, 178 pounder had 15 goals and 43 points in 64 OHL games. With his dad logging 1,015 NHL games with Montreal, Hartford, Calgary, Vancouver, Columbus and Washington, he packed a lot and saw a lot and was a dressing room regular around the Canucks. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683355 Vancouver Canucks Gallagher: Luongo can still make it work with Canucks BY TONY GALLAGHER, THE PROVINCE Much will be written with respect to the relationship between the Vancouver Canucks and their new again No. 1 goaltender Roberto Luongo. There's no question that will need some smoothing over. But for there to be any significant trouble, Luongo would have to totally desert the professionalism that has been such a hit with his fans and brought him to the point where he would now be more ready than ever to win a Cup, even if he might not be on a team quite capable of turning that trick. Yes, there have been some remarks made by both sides that made it look like this relationship might have been over, but then there are some facts as well. Consider this team is paying him $64 million and paying a price in the bargain given they will have a hit to their cap once he retires, a provision that wasn't there when the deal was signed. He's had a couple of seasons when he's been paid $10 million U.S. and he hasn't played as well as he might have liked in crucial situations although there have also been times when he's been worth every penny. There is also the small matter of his contract. Let's be clear here: one of the reasons he's still in Vancouver is because his contract is such that virtually every team was turned off, or as Canucks GM Mike Gillis put it Sunday afternoon, "there's simply no money in the system," to absorb such a deal. Luongo himself has said his contract sucks and while it's nowhere near one of the worst in the league given all the really bad ones, this is a year when moving a rich contract even of a good player is particularly difficult because of the falling cap. Seriously, it's not like they didn't try to give him a fresh start. In returning here, he comes back as the martyred prince, his new found maturity and humor almost certainly making him more popular than he's even been in this town which is saying something. He is poised to end his career in Vancouver as one of the most popular players in Canuck history if things go as well as they might. Luongo further knows there's every possibility he will have a motivated, energized team in front of him. There's also a possibility things could go south and new coach John Tortorella may not go well but if it does, this team might find it has a lot more in the tank than they ever believed. Further, the new coach is unlikely to leave him in goal on those nights when he doesn't have it, something Alain Vigneault used to do to him on a regular basis. AV consistently roasted him when he was struggling and the team in front of him had quit. It was something that ruined his statistics on a regular basis and embarrassed him and while you might think he was a big AV fan, he was largely indifferent to the old Vancouver mentor. Ever since Cory Schneider became a major player on the scene, Luongo has grown as a person in so many ways that the two will almost always be great friends because they've both been able to help each other so much. Luongo was a mountain of talent Schneider wanted to challenge himself against and he succeeded beyond anyone's expectations. Schneider brought to Luongo a massive maturity that was hard to ignore and learn from. They were great for each other and both are stronger players and people as a result of spending the time together that they did. If Luongo can get over the shock of having to come back to some place he felt he was leaving, he should be mentally and physically equipped to be as good as he's ever been for at least three or four more years and perhaps more. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683356 Vancouver Canucks Botchford: Back to you, Lu By Jason Botchford, The Province June 30, 2013 After spending a year trying to trade the goalie with the contract that sucks, the Canucks are back on Team Lu again, in a story that has flip flopped more often than a Sea World performance in the past three years. Of course they are. Hopefully, they’ve sent Luongo a card with lots of hearts and a dozen roses. Because late Saturday when they consumated the blockbuster with the Devils, they still had not talked to Luongo, who thought he was packing up from Vancouver for the last time in April. The Canucks were backed into an unbelievable corner because they were unwilling to use a compliance buyout on Luongo’s contract and had waited so long to make a decision on their goalie. It left them little choice but to trade Schneider, and suddenly all that patience and time they had been preaching was run dry. And in the end, what they got was a top-ten pick, which doesn’t exactly dovetail into the “win now” angle they’ve been pushing for years. More troubling, there were reports the Edmonton Oilers were offering more, but the Canucks refused to trade within their division. That is a fascinating decision, because GM Mike Gillis had always held he was pragmatic enough to trade in the Canucks division. That was when there were six divisions, not four. In the end, the Canucks swapped Schneider for Bo Horvat, and it should leave people wondering what they could have got if they traded him a year ago. How about two years ago? Colorado traded the rights to Semyon Varlamov for a first (11th overall) and a second. Ben Bishop was traded for Cory Conacher and 4th. And, more recently, Jonathan Bernier was dealt for Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens and a second-round pick. Schneider is better right now than all of them, and has a sky-high upside, with a shot at being an elite goalie for years. That’s why the Canucks were bent on dealing Luongo. Even in May, I asked Gillis if Luongo was coming back. His response: “Not likely.” The Canucks had moved on and so had Luongo, who put his penthouse up for sale, after a season he admitted to me he felt was wasted. It was a season he was relegated to the backup role and one in which the team decided to start an injured player over him in the playoffs. You remember what he said then? This is Cory’s team. Not anymore. Things changed when it became clear ownership was not willing to pay the $27 million it was going to cost to buyout Luongo, a worst-case scenario which was started to look like reality. The Canucks had held to the belief teams would claim Luongo if they put him on waivers, but when how realistic was that when teams wouldn’t even part with a pick for him? Gillis exhausted every option until finally coming to terms with the reality they couldn’t off load his contract, which has nine years left. Now, we wait. Not only for Horvat, the centre the Canucks chose with the No. 9 overall pick, to develop, but for Roberto Luongo. He did not expect to come back last year, but did. He spent the season as the backup and after starting the first two playoff games, was benched for the injured Schneider. Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683357 Vancouver Canucks Canucks fans shocked at trading away of promising goalie Cory Schneider "The Canucks just don’t want to deal with Luongo and his huge contract, that’s all there is to it." Fans Jeff Brotherston, 22, and Brennan Wong, 23, however, continued to be optimistic about the team’s performance despite Schneider’s departure. Both are happy that Luongo gets to stay. By Ian Austin and Sarah Taguiam, The Province June 30, 2013 7:00 PM Vancouver Canucks traded goalie Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils at the NHL draft, so they could select London Knights forward Bo Horvat with the 9th overall pick. In a surprise ending to a yearlong goalie soap opera, the Vancouver Canucks have traded goaltender Cory Schneider for a first-round draft pick. The Canucks tried for an entire season to trade goalie mentor Roberto Luongo and his massive contract, but ultimately it was his younger protege Schneider who was moved to New Jersey. The NHL club used Schneider to land the first of two cherished first-round picks — number nine overall — and snatched two centres in what is seen as a talent-rich draft year. "You don’t know what to say or think," a shell-shocked Schneider told TSN. "I’m sort of speechless. "[Luongo] wasn’t that great during the playoffs probably because there was talk of booting him ... but he’s our goalie, he’s part of the family," Wong said. "I believe Luongo will do well now that he knows we want to keep him," Brotherston agreed. "I think the Canucks will be on fire this season." Jeff Lailey, 24, said he was definitely not a big fan of the trade. "Luongo collapsed in the last games of the season and Schneider is a more solid player," he said. "Even if they have a plan, I'm not sure if it's a very good one." Vern Atkinson gasped when he heard news about the trade. "It's odd that they traded Schneider instead of Luongo when there seems to be a new focus on getting younger blood with the new coach. "But then, I guess even Luongo's older, we should just continue supporting him and the team. After all, the playoffs weren't all his fault." "It’s nice to have a resolution - to finally move on." Luongo was silent about the trade until 6:35 p.m. Sunday when he excited his many fans with the ambiguous tweet: "#NOtradeclause" on his Twitter account -- @strombone1. Schneider’s trade brought Vancouver Bo Horvat from the Ontario Hockey League’s London Knights, a husky centre who scored 33 goals in 2012-13. The hashtag was retweeted almost 2,200 times in a matter of 15 minutes. He’s listed as 6-foot tall, 206 pounds, the type of stocky skill centre that is hard to find. Schneider praised Roberto Luongo, his friend and mentor, after a year of rumours that it was Luongo destined to be traded away from a Stanley Cup contender. "He was so supportive and helpful," said Schneider. "I hope he can come here and be the goalie that we know he can be." Schneider was counting his lucky stars to now join Martin Brodeur, along with Luongo often considered the goaltender of his generation. "He’s probably the best goalie to play the game," Schneider said of his new goalie mentor, Brodeur. "They’ve had a lot of success the last 20 years." The loss in goalie depth gained the team two first-round picks, so the Canucks also selected high-scoring centre Hunter Shinkaruk, who’s potted 86 goals the last two seasons with Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League. Shinkaruk, 18, shoots left and will bulk up from his listed 5-foot-10 and 181 pounds. Schneider had been slated to take over the crease in Vancouver, but the Canucks’ inability to off-load Luongo — and his contract — appears to have been the decisive factor in dealing away Schneider. "Today’s decision was made after a thorough review of our options and in the interest of improving this team long-term through the draft and development of players," said Canucks GM Mike Gillis in a statement. "We appreciate the high level of professionalism and conduct both Cory and Roberto have shown while continuing to help this team be competitive. "I would like to personally thank Cory for his contributions to our team and wish him the very best and a bright future." But some fans on the streets of Vancouver didn’t share Gillis’ enthusiasm. Ria Kartana, 23, said she couldn’t believe the news. "I’m shocked because in the past it’s been all about Luongo being traded," Kartana said. "I don’t think it’s a very good move but ... maybe they have a plan and we just don’t know what it is." Justin Turner, 25, was equally surprised about the trade but said that "it’s probably all about the money." Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683358 Vancouver Canucks Kuzma: Gillis had no choice but to trade Schneider By Ben Kuzma, The Province June 30, 2013 5:41 PM NEWARK, N.J. — Mike Gillis had some explaining to do even before trading Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday for ninth overall pick in the NHL draft, which he turned into centre Bo Horvat. The Vancouver Canucks general manager had to convince ownership that taking more than a year trying to move Roberto Luongo — and the mammoth nine years and $40.5 million US remaining on his contract — meant he had exhausted every option. A buyout was not an option for Francesco Aquilini, who has spent to the cap ceiling only to be bitterly disappointed with back-to-back first round playoff exits. Gillis had to reduce the two-headed goalie monster that was eating up $9.3 million cap space. He had to move the stopper with more affordable market value and retain the veteran, who has ridden an emotional rollercoaster and even offered to move on. He has to reach out to Luongo to make it all good because the re-appointed starter did state over and over again: "This is Cory's team." Schneider had no idea he was being traded Sunday until Gillis called him from the draft floor to tell him Luongo was staying and he wasn't. "The contract affected this and we had to deal with this in a business-like manner," said Gillis, who has yet to talk to Luongo, but has talked to his agent, Gilles Lupien. "I think Roberto is a professional and an outstanding person and an elite goaltender. I expect him being one of the front-runners for the Sochi Olympics. "Based on all of those features, I don't expect there to be a problem." Moving into the top 10 Sunday to get a highly-touted centre and then landing left winger Hunter Shinkaruk at No. 24 with the cupboard bare in that position are prudent moves. And with John Tortorella's track record of playing the kids, Horvat could be on the fast track after the London Knights centre was the OHL playoff's most valuable player. Same for Shinkaruk, who had 89 goals the last two WHL seasons. The Canucks were rumoured to be asking more from Edmonton than the No. 7 pick in a Schneider swap, which the Oilers turned into defenceman Darnell Nurse. In retrospect, Gillis said he didn't know what he really could have done differently to move Luongo. "We felt we could get into the top 10 today and we had an established player with a no-trade and we had a changing landscape with a lockout and a new collective bargaining agreement," added Gillis. "If I had a crystal ball, would we have done things differently or earlier — I don't know. Maybe. I don't have one. If you have one, let me know." Gillis said Schneider thanked the organization for all the assistance it gave him in Vancouver. But it was still a shocker. "It was pretty stunning," Schneider told TSN. "I was speechless. You don't know how to react or what to say, but I'm excited about the opportunity. You're always in the (trade) mix and fair game, but I always thought I was going to spend the rest of my career there when I signed my extension. But circumstances changed and the cap changed the dynamics." Keeping Luongo means the Canucks can be more confident in Eddie Lack and Joacim Eriksson competing for the back-up position because Luongo logged 68 games in 2009-10 and is 34, not 44. Schneider, 27, played a career-high 33 in 2011-12 which could have forced the Canucks to find a veteran presence next season with Lack coming off hip surgery and Eriksson untested against NHL competition. Joe Cannata is the other goaltender under contract. Schneider went 17-9-4 in the lockout-shortened season before sustaining a groin strain April 22 in a 3-1 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. However, when Luongo lost the first two games of the Western Conference quarterfinal series against the San Jose Sharks, it was somewhat surprising that Schneider got the call because his injury was kept quiet. He was yanked in Game 3 after allowing five goals on 28 shots, but did respond with a 43-save performance in Game 4 as the Canucks lost in overtime to be swept aside. "It was a strange year in general with the lockout and shortened season and nothing really felt normal, but through all this Lou was great," added Luongo. "It's nice to have a resolution and I hope he can come back to Vancouver and be the goalie we all know he can be. We talked a little bit today and he's been a true professional through this whole thing." Strange season is an understatement. Even stranger trying to move Luongo. With the New York Islanders expected to let Evgeni Nabokov flee to unrestricted free agency, Luongo could have returned to a team that drafted him and be the big draw in Brooklyn. The trade had been broached in theory and could have been done under the right circumstances. The Islanders would have got a bonafide starter in exchange for the Canucks acquiring Rick DiPietro's massive contract and then buying it out — If the Islanders also sent at least a roster player their way. Buying out DiPietro's at $1.5 million over 16 years and Keith Ballard at $2.6 million over two years would be too tough for Aquilini to swallow. And buying out Luongo wasn't going to work either. "I don't think you want to buy out players for $25 million and it's not something we want to do," added Gillis. "We looked at all of our alternatives and what move was viable. I think it's worked out. The goalie market is different and really challenging and much more difficult than other positions." Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683359 Vancouver Canucks Over to you Lu, Canucks trade Cory Schneider for Bo Horvat June 30, 2013. 1:31 pm • Section: The White Towel Posted by: Jason Botchford It may be a poisoned marriage, but Roberto Luongo and the Vancouver Canucks are stuck together after Cory Schneider was traded to the New Jersey Devils. After spending a year trying to trade the goalie with the contract that sucks, the Canucks are back on Team Lu again, in a story that has flip flopped more often than a Sea World performance in three years. Of course they are. Hopefully, they’ve sent Luongo a card with lots of hearts and a dozen roses. Because late Saturday when they consumated the blockbuster with the Devils, they still had not talked to Luongo, who thought he was packing up from Vancouver for the last time in April. The Canucks were backed into an unbelievable corner because they were unwilling to use a compliance buyout on Luongo’s contract and had waited so long to make a decision on their goalies. It left them little choice but to trade Schneider, and suddenly all that patience and time they had been preaching was run dry, turned to desperation. In the end, what they got was a top-ten pick, which doesn’t exactly dovetail into the “win now” angle they’ve been pushing for years. More troubling, there were reports the Edmonton Oilers were offering more, but the Canucks refused to trade within their division. That is a fascinating decision, because GM Mike Gillis had always held he was pragmatic enough to trade in the Canucks division. That was when there were six divisions, not four. Seems, the Canucks thought they’d be cutting their own throats by presenting Schneider to the Oilers. The Canucks swapped Schneider for London Knights centre Bo Horvat, and it should leave people wondering what they could have got if they traded him a year ago. How about two years ago? This is going to be a tough sell here, to a fan base which was led to believe Schneider, 27, was a blossoming star who was going to be the bedrock of this team moving forward. Now, he’s been traded for Cody Hodgson’s replacement. Colorado traded the rights to Semyon Varlamov for a first (11th overall) and a second. Ben Bishop was traded for Cory Conacher and 4th. And, just recently, Jonathan Bernier was dealt for Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens and a second-round pick. Schneider is better right now than all of them, and has a sky-high upside, with a shot at being an elite goalie through his prime. That’s why the Canucks were so bent on dealing Luongo who is 34. Even in May, I asked Gillis if Luongo was coming back. His response: “Not likely.” The Canucks had moved on and so had Luongo, who put his penthouse up for sale, after a season he admitted to me he felt was wasted. It was a season he was relegated to the backup role and one in which the team decided to start an injured player over him in the playoffs. That hurt. You remember what he said then? This is Cory’s team. Not anymore. The Canucks will pin some of the blame on a clause in the new CBA, orchestrated by Brian Burke to penalize teams who signed players to longterm, cap-circumventing deals. If, say, a team had traded for Luongo now, and he didn’t play the last three years of his deal, they’d get hit with a $1,650,667 cap penalty during those final three years. But things really changed when it became clear Canucks ownership was not willing to pay the $27 million it was going to cost to buyout Luongo, a worst-case scenario, which, this week, it looked like the only option left. The Canucks had held to the belief teams would claim Luongo if they put him on waivers, but how realistic was that when teams wouldn’t even part with a pick for him? Gillis exhausted every option on a Luongo deal until finally coming to terms with the reality he couldn’t off load his contract, which has nine years left. So, it’s about-face time. Wonder how that kiss-and-makeup session is going to go? Can they even reach each other over the burned bridges? All of it, of course, could have been avoided. If the Canucks had set a deadline to deal Luongo last summer, he either would have been gone or they could have moved on to trying to get the most out of a Schneider deal. The two goalies also could have been labelled co-No. 1′s this past year, avoiding the bad feelings which developed by the end of the season. Now, we wait. Not only for Horvat, the centre the Canucks chose with the No. 9 overall pick, to develop, but for Roberto Luongo. He did not expect to come back last year, but did. He spent the season as the backup and after starting the first two playoff games, was benched for the injured Schneider. He has always been professional, and now the Canucks hope that continues. What choice do they have? Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683360 Vancouver Canucks Schneider was never convinced the Canucks would be able to deal Luongo’s contract June 30, 2013. 7:54 pm • Section: The White Towel Posted by: Jason Botchford Even though Cory Schneider was told for a year he was the guy the Canucks were moving forward with in net, he never stopped thinking he could be the one traded. It seems Schneider and his agent Mike Liut were not sure the Canucks were going to be able to pull off the Roberto Luongo trade. Oh how right they were. This despite the fact the team kept telling Schneider he was going to be the goalie of the future. “That was the belief up until yesterday,” Schneider said. “They had been saying it for year to you guys, and to me when I’d seen them, the few times I had. “They were pretty consistent in that “But in the back of my and my agent’s minds, we sort of knew what the situation was and what it may end up coming to, in terms of backsliding assets and what was best for the team “This (trading Schneider instead of Luongo) was always on the table. “I think my agent, Mike Liut, and I, when we signed the extension last year, told them ‘Hey, we’re not sure you guys are going to be able to make this trade with Roberto, so we’re fully aware that Cory is still in play here.’ “We understood that, and it’s part of the risk you take, signing a contract without a no movement clause “Whether or not you think it’s going to happen, it’s always a possibility.” Still, Schneider admitted he was shocked when he got the news he had been traded to the New Jersey Devils. With time, he began to get more excited about it, and relieved the situation in Vancouver was over, even if he has a new one to deal with in Jersey. He was asked if he’d like to go through his Canucks experience again. “Probably not,” he answered. “I don’t think it was as bad as people made it out to be. It wasn’t like it was something that took over our team in any way. It was something that Roberto and I had to deal with. “We’re both professionals. We get along. And we enjoy each other. So, it wasn’t as hard for us as it was for some other people. “But I think ideally, you want clarification and a defined role on your team.” Schneider said he wasn’t sure what Luongo will do next and admitted he doesn’t know if Luongo will play in Vancouver. “He’s been prepared to move on for about a year now, and to have that taken away, you have to re-adjust, and that’s not easy to do,” Schneider said. “He’s been through all this before. I’m just hoping that he can get the best situation he can. “And he can keeping playing well, and be the goalie we all know he can be.” Vancouver Province: LOADED: 07.01.2013 683361 Vancouver Canucks Duhatschek: Will Luongo be able to reconnect with Canucks? ERIC DUHATSCHEK The Globe and Mail Published Sunday, Jun. 30 2013, 11:36 PM EDT complicated for him – and at least get him into an organization that minimizes the drama at every turn, thanks to their buttoned-down general manager, Lou Lamoriello. The more pressing question for Canucks Nation, is how long will it take Luongo to get his head around the fact that he is back in Vancouver after having cut ties, emotionally and otherwise, with the city and his teammates? The Canucks had planned to dispatch owner Francesco Aquilini to patch things up with Luongo in person. Probably a dozen roses and a rueful, footshuffling apology won’t get it done. About the only saving grace for the Canucks is that Luongo possesses one of the steadiest and most phlegmatic personalities in the game. Thomas Wolfe once said you can’t go home again. But what if you never left? In the merry world of the Vancouver Canucks, where their goaltending soap opera was a daily distraction last season, a development worthy of As the World Turns occurred Sunday during the NHL’s annual entry draft. After more than a year of trying, Canucks general manager Mike Gillis finally found a home for one of his excess goaltenders. But instead of trading away Roberto Luongo, who’d been practically run out of town on a rail, the plot took a fresh twist. Ultimately, it was Cory Schneider moving elsewhere and Luongo back in the team’s good graces as the old/new No. 1. No, you really can’t make this stuff up. Luongo put his condo up for sale during the playoffs as the Canucks were swept out of the first round by the San Jose Sharks. Recently, he was tweeting hilariously about new coach John Tortorella after Tortorella was hired to replace Alain Vigneault. Luckily for Luongo, the NHL’s collective agreement would not permit him to follow through on a promise he made via social media – that he would be willing to stay in Vancouver and be the backup and play for free if they would just let him sit in at every Tortorella press conference. Well, Luongo will be closer to Tortorella’s postgame insights than he originally thought. Unless he decides to breach the 12-year, $64-million (all currency U.S.) contract he signed with the Canucks in 2010, a contract that made him virtually untradeable, he is back to where he was two years ago, or before Schneider emerged as a younger, cheaper option as the team’s No. 1 goaltender. Gillis had opportunities to trade Luongo a year ago, but wanted value in exchange for a player he viewed as one of the organization’s top assets. No other NHL team saw it the same way, or at least, none would meet Gillis’s asking price. Then came the NHL lockout, a revamped collective agreement, a shrinking salary cap and suddenly the market for Luongo went from lukewarm to ice cold. If nothing else, Gillis is a pragmatist. When Luongo proved to be untradeable and the Canucks determined they didn’t want to pay the $27.047-million that it would have cost to buy out the nine remaining years of his contract, it meant Schneider had to go. In the end, for Schneider, the New Jersey Devils surrendered a first-round pick, ninth overall, to the Canucks. Vancouver selected London Knights centre Bo Horvat, putting a piece into a development pipeline that had gone virtually bone dry. Was it enough? Who knows? The Canucks received inquiries from both the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames for Schneider, but elected to move him out of the conference, so that if he evolves into a Vézina Trophy-winning goaltender, it will happen much further from view. Instead of teaming up with the goalie who backstopped Canada to the 2010 Olympic gold medal, Luongo, Schneider will now partner the goalie who backstopped Canada to the 2002 Olympic gold medal, 41-year-old Martin Brodeur. Brodeur is planning to play at least one more season, so Schneider may have to wait some more to become the team’s pure, de facto No. 1. But he is moving closer to his Boston home and that may make life less Throughout the lunacy of last season, when every question after every game focused on the team’s goaltending, Luongo handled the daily circus with humour and professionalism. Luongo rarely lost his cool. He didn’t do media one night in Edmonton after being hung out to dry in the team’s season-ending game; and he didn’t say anything inflammatory after Vigneault switched to Schneider two games into the San Jose series after Luongo gave them two excellent starts. If anyone can emotionally reconnect with what he thought of as his exteam, it is Luongo. The Canucks are clinging to the idea that they can win with this core group, even as their Stanley Cup window closes. Tortorella is a coaching hire designed to win in the here and now; Luongo is still a viable goalie, but nearing his 35th birthday; and the Sedin twins are a year away from unrestricted free agency. What fun. What a frolic. Too bad the NHL doesn’t hand out silverware to the teams with the best story lines. The Canucks would be champions every year. Globe And Mail LOADED: 07.01.2013 683362 Websites ESPN / 2013 draft: Highs, lows, what-have-yous By Scott Burnside | ESPN.com NEWARK, N.J. -- Talk about a blur of humanity. Shortly after 3 p.m. ET Sunday, the Colorado Avalanche made good on their word to pick Halifax star Nathan MacKinnon with the first pick of the NHL draft, and some seven hours later the Chicago Blackhawks closed the draft circle by selecting Robin Press of Sweden with the 211th and final pick, bringing to an end the league's annual feast of hockey's "what-if and what might be." Not long after the lockout ended with the league and its players agreeing to a 48-game schedule, it was decided that the draft -- normally a two-day event with the first round held on Friday night and the remaining six rounds the following day -- would be jammed into one frenzied day at the Prudential Center. As always, it was a day that began with wild rumors and speculation about mega-deals and ended with something less exciting unfolding. That said, it was an important day on a number of fronts for a number of teams. Here's a look at those teams that stepped forward and those that stepped in something else, or maybe stepped in a different direction altogether: The Devils have been tempting fate the last two or three years as they have entrusted their goaltending to aging future Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur, the winningest goalie of all time, and Johan Hedberg. It worked out fine in 2012 when the Devils advanced to the Stanley Cup finals, but not so well this past season after Brodeur suffered an injury and Hedberg wasn't able to answer the bell, contributing to a finish out of the playoffs for the Devils. On Sunday, GM Lou Lamoriello answered the oft-asked question about the heir apparent to the Brodeur throne by acquiring Cory Schneider from the Vancouver Canucks for the ninth overall pick. The Canucks turned down offers that might have been more lucrative from teams in the West, preferring to send Schneider to the East. The deal makes for a crowded crease in New Jersey, where both Hedberg and Brodeur have another year on their contracts. Each has a no-trade clause, although Hedberg does not have a no-move clause. We ran into Hedberg, one of the game's classiest performers, and he said he was standing with Brodeur when the trade was announced and both were a little shocked. Still, if there's a goaltender that has the personality to allow for a seamless transition, it's Schneider. He has handled the ups and downs of the goaltending controversy in Vancouver with good humor. Not sure what becomes of Hedberg, though one would hope the Devils move to buy him out of his final year so he could try to find employment elsewhere. One final note on the Devils: Loved the humanity of the moment when, late in the seventh and final round, the Devils -- who did not have a seventhround pick -- traded for the Los Angeles Kings' last pick. With the 208th pick, the Devils selected Anthony Brodeur, son of Martin and also a netminder. It was Brodeur who had the honor of calling his son's name. Doesn't get much better than that. CAROLINA HURRICANES After adding a No. 1 (or is that 1A?) goalie in Jonathan Bernier before the end of the Stanley Cup finals, the Maple Leafs added some championship pedigree in the form of Blackhawks center Dave Bolland. Bolland scored the Cup-winning goal for the Blackhawks in the final minute of Game 6 against the Boston Bruins, 17 seconds after Bryan Bickell had tied the game. It was his second championship with Chicago. Injuries and a shifting lineup combined to reduce Bolland's role from 2010, when he had eight goals and 16 points in 22 games during the Hawks' championship run. The center is entering the final year of his contract, with a cap hit of $3.375 million, but Toronto GM Dave Nonis is expecting more from Bolland. And it's hard to imagine that Bolland won't click with hard-nosed Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. Lots of discussion about whether the Hurricanes might end up trading the fifth overall pick, but they didn't and GM Jim Rutherford seemed quite content to have added another highly skilled two-way center to his roster in Elias Lindholm. Lindholm has been playing in the Swedish Elite League and had 30 points in 48 games last season. Rutherford wouldn't say Lindholm, who can also play the wing, is a lock to make the Canes out of training camp, but he did say Lindholm will be given every opportunity to show he belongs in the NHL. He will join an impressive group of centers in Carolina that includes Eric Staal, Jordan Staal, Jiri Tlusty and Tuomo Ruutu. As for Eric Staal, Rutherford said the Canes' captain is on schedule, if not a little bit ahead, in his rehab from a serious knee injury suffered at the World Championships. He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp and could be cleared to take part in the Canadian Olympic team orientation camp in late August in Calgary, assuming he is among the invitees. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS NEW YORK ISLANDERS The Bolland deal -- along with a deal that sent Michael Frolik to the Winnipeg Jets -- netted three draft picks and opened up enough room for GM Stan Bowman to take care of his primary offseason priority. The Blackhawks announced Sunday evening that they signed playoff dynamo Bryan Bickell to a four-year deal worth $16 million. While Chicago loses a certain amount of grit in Bolland and Frolik was an extremely effective penalty killer, this shedding of bodies in no way resembles the gutting of the lineup that followed the 2010 Cup win -- especially when weighed against the ability to keep Bickell in the fold long-term. Playing mostly on a line with playoff MVP Patrick Kane and captain Jonathan Toews at the end of the finals, Bickell had nine goals and eight assists in 23 postseason games, including the tying goal late in Game 6. When you trade a fifth overall pick who is not yet 21 years old for a mucker who's never scored 20 goals, it might meet some needs, but it also speaks to a grand failure to either identify young talent properly prior to a draft or develop it properly so that it becomes a useful asset post-draft. By sending Nino Niederreiter to the Minnesota Wild for Cal Clutterbuck, the Islanders threw in the towel on the fifth overall pick in 2010 after he played just 64 NHL games. Maybe it was necessary, maybe Niederreiter is a lost cause, and maybe the gritty Clutterbuck helps take the emerging Isles another step forward. But either way, it's an admission of failure. Isles GM Garth Snow would not say whether there'd been a breakdown of the relationship between the player and the team, but he did say if there was it was not on the team's side, which is more than a bit convenient. What will be interesting to see is whether the Wild, already stockpiling young talent with the likes of Charlie Coyle, Mikael Granlund, Jonas Brodin and Jason Zucker, can resuscitate Niederreiter's career. If so, the Wild look to come out far ahead on this transaction. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS NASHVILLE PREDATORS GM David Poile has established a well-defined template for building his squads, and it all starts on the back end, from the goal out. Although the goaltending has been solid with Pekka Rinne, the Preds' defensive depth has taken a hit in recent years with the departures of Dan Hamhuis and Ryan Suter. The Preds never recovered from Suter's departure via free agency and missed the playoffs. But after locking up emerging young defenseman Roman Josi to a long-term deal, Poile was shocked -pleasantly so -- to find Seth Jones available at the fourth spot. Poile made no bones about the fact the Predators had Jones at the top of their draft list, and Jones fills a significant need. In one fell swoop, Nashville reestablished its bread and butter -- assuming Jones is anywhere near as good as people imagine he'll be. "Well, I think I can be a solid defenseman, produce a little bit offensively as well," Jones told reporters. "I know people say it takes time for defensemen to really grow in the league, a couple years at least, so hopefully I can prove that theory wrong." NEW JERSEY DEVILS VANCOUVER CANUCKS So, after all that, after a year of trying in vain to move netminder Roberto Luongo, after anointing Cory Schneider the team's goaltender of the future, the Canucks took a knee on Sunday and dealt Schneider to New Jersey for the ninth overall pick, which the Canucks used on Bo Horvat, a sturdy center from London. Now maybe you can turn the clock back two years and Luongo will slide back into the starter's role and forget -- a la Bobby Ewing - the past year, when he had been supplanted by Schneider and prepared himself to move on to another team. Luongo is a big boy and he's going to be well-paid, but there will need to be some fence-mending from both GM Mike Gillis and new coach John Tortorella. With the first slump Luongo endures next season, all of this will be revisited, and questions asked of Luongo's head space. That's no way for a team looking to rebound after two embarrassing first-round exits to do business. Gillis said Sunday he hadn't spoken to Luongo but that he expected to and that he didn't anticipate there being any issues. If there were issues, they would address them. Gillis confirmed that owner Francesco Aquilini was en route to Florida to talk to Luongo personally. Meanwhile, the Canucks helped restock their shelves with two first-round picks, Horvat and another skilled forward in Hunter Shinkarunk at the 24th spot. Gillis said he was still taking calls on defenseman Alexander Edler, although the cap relief from the Schneider trade might negate the need to trade Edler. Nonetheless, simply clearing out a goaltending backlog is merely step one in a process that may require many more steps for a team that two years ago was one win from a Stanley Cup championship. Had he a crystal ball he might have done things differently, Gillis told reporters. "I don't have one. If you have one, let me know." COLORADO AVALANCHE To debate the merits of taking Nathan MacKinnon over defenseman Seth Jones a few hours after the draft is a pointless endeavor. That said, this is going to be one of the more fascinating draft decisions to watch unfold, moving far beyond the Taylor Hall/Tyler Seguin debate of a couple years ago. But credit new Avs coach Patrick Roy and new hockey head man Joe Sakic, who came out early and declared their intention to take the Halifax star with the first overall pick. Roy said later that there was never any real thought given to trading the pick. It's pretty much been universal praise for MacKinnon, who has yet to turn 18. The key now will be nurturing MacKinnon amid sky-high expectations from a fan base starved for an Avs return to prominence. Still, with Gabriel Landeskog, Matt Duchene and MacKinnon, the Avalanche have stockpiled an impressive cadre of offensive talent. Time will tell whether they should have tossed a franchise defenseman like Jones into the mix when they had the opportunity. BOSTON BRUINS Although center Tyler Seguin was in play, the Bruins did not make a move during draft weekend with the former second overall pick. But GM Peter Chiarelli was brutally honest about the state of Seguin's focus and where it needs to be, and that's on hockey. That's it. "He needs to be a better pro," Chiarelli told reporters Sunday. We talked to a number of scouts before the draft who were incredulous the Bruins might have considered trading Seguin to move into the top 10. The question now is whether Seguin can show Chiarelli and coach Claude Julien that he gets it and whether, in turn, Julien entrusts Seguin with more responsibility. As is the case every year, there were lots of familial connections among the 211 players drafted. But we couldn't have been more pleased for Phoenix Coyotes goaltending coach Sean Burke, whose son, Brendan, was selected by the Coyotes with the 163rd pick. We ran into Burke on the way into the draft and he was pretty excited for his son's big day. The elder Burke recently agreed to help out with Canada's junior program of excellence, a way of giving back to a junior program in which he was part of once upon a time. His son, by the way, was born in Scottsdale, Ariz., and has played the last two years with Portland of the Western Hockey League, where he was an impressive 24-5-1 last season. ESPN LOADED: 07.01.2013 683363 Websites ESPN / Even a day later, Schneider move surprises By Pierre LeBrun | ESPN.com NEWARK, N.J. -- The hockey world was alerted to Cory Schneider’s availability on Saturday morning. What nobody saw coming, however, was where he ended up. The New Jersey Devils swooped in and acquired the Vancouver Canucks netminder without almost anybody in each inner circle having a remote clue. "I found out about 10 minutes before the trade was announced," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said, laughing. Well, that’s Devils GM Lou Lamoriello, right? The deal was actually consumed between the clubs Saturday night, but Lamoriello was adamant that not a word of it leak, and the Canucks of course complied. Part of the fear, I think, for Lamoriello was that if the deal had gotten out overnight, Devils fans might not attend the draft knowing the team no longer had a first-round pick. So it was silence until NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stepped to the podium and announced that the Devils had dealt the ninth overall pick for Schneider, an announcement that drew huge cheers from a partisan crowd that understood the Devils had finally found their heir apparent to Martin Brodeur. All weekend long, the talk was that the Edmonton Oilers were zeroing in on Schneider, and indeed sources told ESPN.com that the Oilers and Canucks met at Vancouver’s hotel on Friday night to discuss the parameters of a possible deal. But the asking price was always too high for Edmonton’s liking: the Oilers’ first-round pick (the seventh overall) plus a prospect and a player to be named. Higher asking price for trading within a division was the Canucks’ thinking. And you can see that. The Philadelphia Flyers nibbled early on Schneider but didn’t go far down that path. The Calgary Flames got a call, as well, but they didn’t want to give up the No. 6 overall pick as part of a deal. The Columbus Blue Jackets, at the time unsure they could sign Sergei Bobrovsky, also danced a little with Vancouver on Schneider. But, in the end, it was New Jersey winning out. Some Canucks fans didn’t seem impressed on Twitter that their team got only a draft pick for Schneider, but it was interesting to see the reaction of rival GMs after Vancouver selected center Bo Horvat with that pick. if he waived it, but Vancouver’s opportunity to trade him without clearance is gone. Elsewhere • Another player who didn’t move was Tyler Seguin, who was put on the trade market this weekend by the Boston Bruins. The decision by Nathan Horton to leave the Bruins and head to free agency certainly is part of the reason Seguin wasn't moved, but truth be told, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli still kept listening on Seguin even after he found out about Horton. And while it’s most likely Chiarelli won’t move Seguin now, I wouldn’t close the door on it. The Bruins are disappointed with Seguin in his lack of maturity and focus. If Seguin is still a Bruin come September, there will be an onus on him to become a better pro. • The New York Rangers were shopping the rights to pending UFA winger Ryane Clowe on Sunday. The Rangers actually really like the player but the decision to not buy out Brad Richards has left them with next to no cap room and certainly not enough to re-sign Clowe, who is headed to the open market. • The Blue Jackets were very close to re-signing goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, a deal that could have been completed as soon as Monday. But what a wild weekend it appeared to be for the Jackets. For starters, they took trade calls from other teams on Bobrovsky when it wasn’t clear if they would ever be able to close the gap in contract talks. Meanwhile, sources confirm that the Jackets spoke to the Buffalo Sabres about Ryan Miller, Vancouver about Schneider and even checked in Saturday night with the Phoenix Coyotes on Mike Smith, the latter out of reach after agreeing to terms with Phoenix on a six-year deal worth $5.667 million a season. In the end, unless the Bobrovsky deal falls part, they finally got their Vezina Trophy winner back, which is the best solution of all. • The Winnipeg Jets were interested in both Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik and ended up with the latter, while Toronto got the former. Good pickup by the Jets in Frolik, who came into his own this season as a top penalty-killer with the Chicago Blackhawks and played a nice role on the Cup champs. I don’t mind Bolland in Toronto, either. The kid has jam and fills a hole at center. • Panthers GM Dale Tallon isn’t afraid of making big deals and he certainly tried this weekend, sources confirming that he phoned the Colorado Avalanche a few times and asked about acquiring the first overall pick while also keeping the No. 2 pick. In other words, draft 1-2. Imagine that. But the Avs’ response, according to sources, was an astronomical return and it never went anywhere. Avs coach and vice president of hockey operations Patrick Roy told ESPN.com right after drafting Nathan Mackinnon that nothing ever really came close to make the team think about moving the top pick. • The Kris Letang extension was still not completed as Sunday came and went. The sides are close on an eight-year, $58 million deal, but there remain a few snags to iron out. “We’re still working on it,” Pens GM Ray Shero said. What you can criticize the Canucks for, of course, is how they handled the Roberto Luongo’s trade efforts in the past year. In retrospect, which is always easy in the media business, they should have accepted either an offer from the Florida Panthers or the Toronto Maple Leafs at the draft in Pittsburgh a year ago. • The Vincent Lecavalier courtship continued Sunday with the UFA center meeting with Detroit and Calgary, a day after meeting with the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia, Montreal, Toronto, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues and Boston. Three other clubs called after the fact Sunday to express their interest, putting the list at a dozen teams. This was not the original plan. The Lecavalier camp, led by agent Kent Hughes, had hoped to dwindle the list down by Sunday afternoon. That’s still going to happen, but over the next few days instead. The asking price continues to evolve. It’s going to take $4-5 million a season and 4-6 years to get Lecavalier to sign with you. The longtime Tampa Bay Lightning star went back home Sunday and digested all the information he took in, hoping to start making decisions on which teams are front-runners. The Habs, by the way, had owner Geoff Molson, GM Marc Bergevin and coach Michel Therrien in their meeting with the hometown boy. Now they have a disgruntled and confused Luongo on their hands, although the decision by Canucks owner Francisco Aquilini to fly to South Florida and meet Luongo at his doorstep was a good first step in trying to massage the situation. It’s going to need more massaging to convince Luongo that he wants to go back into the Canucks’ goal. • The Los Angeles Kings made some progress with pending UFA blue-liner Rob Scuderi over the weekend, although there’s still no deal. Speaking of the Kings, kudos to GM Dean Lombardi for sending his seventh-round pick to mentor Lou Lamoriello so he could draft Martin Brodeur’s son, Anthony, also a goalie. Touching moment as Marty himself announced the deal. "Going to be a really good player, high-end two-way center, we were really high on him as well," one GM said. It’s believed the Carolina Hurricanes, meanwhile, actually debated taking Horvat with the fifth overall pick. They took Elias Lindholm instead. Point being, before anyone carves up Vancouver for the trade, let’s see how Horvat plays out as a prospect. The Canucks were also listening all weekend on defenseman Alexander Edler. The Montreal Canadiens, Detroit Red Wings and Anaheim Ducks inquired Sunday, with the Wings making an offer and the Habs drawing up a possible package. But nothing got close, really. Edler’s no-trade clause on his $30 million, six-year contract extension kicked in at midnight Sunday, so that came and went without him moving. I supposed he could still be moved • The San Jose Sharks acquired Tyler Kennedy. The Sharks were debating between Kennedy and the Minnesota Wild’s Cal Clutterbuck (later dealt to the New York Islanders) but like Kennedy a bit better. It’s a solid pick-up by GM Doug Wilson, who added some speed and grit in Kennedy, a good third-liner. • Flyers GM Paul Holmgren and Oilers GM Craig MacTavish were back and forth, back and forth, back and forth in talking on the floor during the draft. It’s believed Flyers blue-liner Braydon Coburn was the main topic of conversation. It’s a conversation that may continue into the week. • UFA forward Danny Briere has drawn interest from 15 teams and the expectation is that his camp, led by Pat Brisson, will shorten that list with Briere to 4-5 teams by Tuesday. If you look at Briere’s playoff production, there should indeed be a lot of interest. This guy is clutch performer with a huge heart. Oh, and it's going to be a very busy week leading up to Friday's opening of free agency. ESPN LOADED: 07.01.2013 683364 Websites ESPN / Bryan Bickell gets 4-year deal By Scott Powers | ESPNChicago.com The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed forward Bryan Bickell to a four-year contract on Sunday, the team announced. Bickell will make $16 million over the four seasons, a source told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun. Bickell will receive $2 million plus a $1 million bonus next season, $4 million in 2014-15 and $4.5 million in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. "It feels good," Bickell said on ChicagoBlackhawks.com. "We got it done. I feel like Chicago is like a second home. I got drafted here. You can't beat the city, the fans and the team. I'm happy to be back. It's an awesome feeling." The 27-year-old Bickell was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5. He elevated his stock after producing nine goals and eight assists during the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup run. He had nine goals and 14 assists in 48 regular-season games in 2013. "We have a great core of guys and we won two Cups in four years and there's going to be many more to come," he said after Chicago won the Stanley Cup Monday in Boston. "And I'm willing to do it because it's fun and winning is fun." Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said after the season that resigning Bickell was a priority for the organization. Bickell was drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2004 draft. He has 40 goals and 50 assists in 220 regular-season games with the Blackhawks since the 2006-07 season. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ESPN LOADED: 07.01.2013 683365 Websites ESPN / Bryan Bickell gets 4-year deal Updated: June 30, 2013, 9:52 PM ET By Scott Powers | ESPNChicago.com The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed forward Bryan Bickell to a four-year contract on Sunday, the team announced. Bickell will make $16 million over the four seasons, a source told ESPN.com's Pierre LeBrun. Bickell will receive $2 million plus a $1 million bonus next season, $4 million in 2014-15 and $4.5 million in the 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons. "It feels good," Bickell said on ChicagoBlackhawks.com. "We got it done. I feel like Chicago is like a second home. I got drafted here. You can't beat the city, the fans and the team. I'm happy to be back. It's an awesome feeling." The 27-year-old Bickell was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 5. He elevated his stock after producing nine goals and eight assists during the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup run. He had nine goals and 14 assists in 48 regular-season games in 2013. "We have a great core of guys and we won two Cups in four years and there's going to be many more to come," he said after Chicago won the Stanley Cup Monday in Boston. "And I'm willing to do it because it's fun and winning is fun." Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman said after the season that resigning Bickell was a priority for the organization. Bickell was drafted by the Blackhawks in the second round of the 2004 draft. He has 40 goals and 50 assists in 220 regular-season games with the Blackhawks since the 2006-07 season. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report ESPN LOADED: 07.01.2013 683366 Websites ESPN / Sources: Kris Letang close to deal Updated: June 30, 2013, 2:46 PM ET By Pierre LeBrun | ESPN.com NEWARK, N.J. -- The Pittsburgh Penguins and star defenseman Kris Letang were close to agreeing on an eight-year, $58 million contract extension Sunday just before the NHL entry draft, sources told ESPN.com. Letang's agent, Kent Hughes, and Penguins general manager Ray Shero still had to convene at the Prudential Center, where the draft is being hosted, to iron out the final details, sources said. "The deal is not done yet; we are still working on it," a Penguins source told ESPN.com. But unless there are unforeseen, last-minute obstacles, it will be an eightyear extension paying him on average $7.25 million a year and containing a limited no-trade clause. Letang still has one more year left on his current deal paying him $3.5 million. The new deal would kick in for the 2014-15 season. On Thursday, Letang rejected a $56 million, eight-year offer from the Penguins, leading to speculation the Penguins might trade him. But the two sides reconvened over the last few days here at the draft and managed to bridge the gap. ESPN LOADED: 07.01.2013 683367 Websites ESPN / Letang, Pens talk; Lecavalier makes rounds By Pierre LeBrun | ESPN.com NEWARK, N.J. – Quick updates on two big-name situations: Kris Letang’s camp and the Pittsburgh Penguins had more dialogue Saturday night, both sides still committed to figuring something out. Not sure whether they’ll be able to, but they continue to talk. On the Vincent Lecavalier front, meanwhile, these are the teams he met with Saturday: the Dallas Stars, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues and Boston Bruins. Lecavalier was slated to meet with the Detroit Red Wings and Calgary Flames on Sunday morning. The Vancouver Canucks might also be interested. ESPN LOADED: 07.01.2013 683368 Websites FOXSports.com / Lightning take winger Jonathan Drouin with No. 3 pick ERIN BROWN | NEWARK, N.J. — It came down to rankings. Faced with the unexpected predicament of choosing between a potential franchise defenseman in Seth Jones or dynamic scoring machine Jonathan Drouin, Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Steve Yzerman went with the latter. "I didn't really expect to, but in the past couple days we were hearing rumblings of that possibility and that we'd have to make a decision," Yzerman said. "Every team has their own list. We all look for different things. What we like in Jonathan Drouin, his hockey sense, we really liked his competitiveness, skill, level of skating. We liked everything about his game. We liked Seth Jones, too." With the third overall pick in the draft, the Lightning opted to add another spark plug to its potent offense, adding Drouin, the CHL's reigning player of the year. After the Colorado Avalanche selected Nathan MacKinnon, Drouin's teammate from the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and the Florida Panthers chose Finland's Aleksander Barkov, Drouin's nerves kicked in. He didn't have to wait long, though. "It was pretty nerve-racking," Drouin said. "Obviously you're sitting there with your family. The first two picks are going. Tampa was a team I wanted to go to, and when Steve [Yzerman] said my name, it was probably the best feeling ever." Yzerman acknowledges defense is particularly troublesome for the Lightning. Tampa Bay ranked 26th in goals against last season, giving up an average of 3.06 per game. But in building for the future, he wanted to stick with the best-player-available mentality. "When you're rating players, you have to rate somebody one, somebody two, somebody three," Yzerman said. "We had Jonathan ahead of Seth." The Lightning viewed Drouin's skill set as too good to pass up. Scouts have compared the winger to Pavel Datsyuk and Joe Sakic, citing his puckhandling, vision and hockey sense as elite. Those characteristics showed this past season as Drouin, who appeared in 49 games, registered 105 points. "Joe was a great player. I don't compare myself to Joe, really," Drouin said. "We'll see ... Maybe in 20 years." Drouin sees himself as more of a Claude Giroux-type, although Yzerman sees some similarities with his former rival. "To me, Joe Sakic really darted and really shot the puck, an explosive wrist shot off the rush," Yzerman said. "I see Jonathan more as a playmaker pulling up looking for guys coming late. There are some similarities. The build is very similar." The real temptation in adding Drouin, though, comes in the idea of pairing the 18-year-old with former 60-goal scorer Steven Stamkos. "Coaches will ultimately decide where guys play," Yzerman said. "Certainly, the way he plays, his style of play, you would think he could potentially complement playing on a line with Stammer." It may require time before that pairing comes to fruition. Although other teams rated Drouin as NHL ready, the Lightning are in no rush to force Drouin into their lineup. Even Drouin suggests he might need a little time, mainly to add weight to his 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame. He's already working on that through training and diet and has added about four pounds in the past two to three weeks. Still, he is excited about the opportunity he'll get in playing with one of the league's top offenses, especially the prospect of playing with Stamkos. "You can't ask for a better guy to finish and put the puck in the net," Drouin said of Stamkos. "I don't know what they're expecting. I'll just try to make the team there." FOXSports.com LOADED: 07.01.2013 683369 Websites NBCSports.com / Lamoriello insists Brodeur is still a No. 1 goalie Joe Yerdon NEWARK — When the New Jersey Devils traded for Cory Schneider this afternoon, the first question asked was: What about Martin Brodeur? Well, Devils GM Lou Lamoriello is standing by the face of his franchise. “Marty is still a number one goalie,” he said about the 41 year-old future Hall of Famer. What about Schneider? Lou’s a big fan as well. “I think we’re getting a goaltender not only of the present but of the future. Certainly Marty is at a point where he can’t play the way he played, as far as the number of games he played,” he explained. “This young man has proven to be a No. 1 goaltender. We feel great about it. I’ve spoken to him and he’s just excited to come here and work with Marty.” When it came to making his decision to deal for Schneider, Lamoriello made it very plain. “This is something we were able to do. This was something in the best interest of our franchise and we made a decision to do it.” Oddly enough, Lamoriello says he hasn’t had a chance to talk with Brodeur as he was busy working on the floor at the draft. With Brodeur and Schneider set to battle for time in goal next season, it brings up the possibility of Schneider pushing Brodeur to be even better in goal. Lamoriello says that’s the furthest thing from the truth. “If you know Marty, Marty doesn’t need anyone to push him. Marty doesn’t compete against anyone. He competes against himself,” he said. “He’s an elite athlete with tremendous pride. A team player. I don’t want to go over Marty looking over his shoulder. He’s a tremendous professional. He’ll help Cory out as much as possible.” As for veteran backup Johan Hedberg, Lamoriello said he’ll sit down with him and discuss their future. He has one year left on his deal with New Jersey and a $1.4 million cap hit. At 28 years-old, the question here is whether Schneider actually needs more help at this point in his career. The Devils may not think they have issues in goal now, but they’re going to have a lot more questions moving ahead. NBCSports.com / LOADED: 07.01.2013 683370 Websites NBCSports.com / Caps letting Ribeiro go to market Mike Halford Jun 30, 2013, 10:20 PM EDT Mike Ribeiro‘s time in the nation’s capital will be brief. The Capitals have informed the pending UFA he won’t be given a new deal, according to RDS’ Renaud Lavoie. The news comes after Ribeiro spent just one lockout-shortened season in Washington, after being acquired at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Ribeiro, 33, did enjoy a tremendous 2013 campaign, scoring 49 points in 48 games as the Caps won the Southeast Division. He finished tied for 11th in NHL scoring (with Anaheim’s Ryan Getzlaf and Detroit’s Pavel Datsyuk) and finished just seven points back of teammate Alex Ovechkin, who captured the Hart Trophy as league MVP. The former Canadien and Star will see his five-year, $25 million deal expire on July 5. It became evident in early June that talks between Washington and Ribeiro were stalling — coming off one of the finest seasons of his 12-year career, he was likely looking for a payday. The Caps, meanwhile, are about $5.5 million away from the salary cap ceiling, and still need to get deals done with RFAs Marcus Johansson and Karl Alzner. NBCSports.com / LOADED: 07.01.2013 683371 Websites NBCSports.com / NHL draft stats: Recapping the first round Jason Brough Jun 30, 2013, 7:36 PM EDT O Canada: 17 Canadian-born players were chosen, by far the most of any country. The United States was second, with four. (Sweden 2; Russia 2; Finland 2; Austria 2; Switzerland 1) Highest climber: Philadelphia selected Samuel Morin with its 11th pick. The Rimouski defenseman was ranked 76th among North American skaters at the mid-term by NHL Central Scouting. His final ranking was 23rd. Longest faller: Vancouver got Hunter Shinkaruk with its 24th pick. The highscoring Medicine Hat forward went into the draft ranked sixth among North American skaters. Size matters: 22 of the 30 selections were listed at six feet or taller. The biggest, in terms of weight, was Montreal pick Michael McCarron, a 6-foot5, 228-pound winger. Position breakdown: 21 forwards, nine defensemen, no goalies. NBCSports.com / LOADED: 07.01.2013 683372 Websites USA TODAY / Devils acquire Cory Schneider from Canucks Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports 10:47 p.m. EDT June 30, 2013 NEWARK - The New Jersey Devils seemingly found their heir apparent to Martin Brodeur and got their fans stirred up on draft day by giving up the ninth pick in the draft to the Vancouver Canucks for goaltender Cory Schneider. "He is a goaltender not only for the present but the future," Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said. Lamoriello stressed that the move wasn't being made to to push out Brodeur. "Marty is still the No. 1 goalie; there's no question." he said. The Canucks used the pick to draft Bo Horvat, a center from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis wanted to trade goalie Roberto Luongo, but the length of his contract made that difficult. Schneider, 27, has two years remaining on a deal paying an average of $4 million a season. Now the Devils have a replacement for Brodeur, 41. "Today's decision was made after a thorough review of our options and in the interest of improving this team long term through the draft and development of players," Gillis said in a statement. "We appreciate the high level of professionalism and conduct both Cory and Roberto have shown while continuing to help this team be competitive." The Florida Panthers were interested in Luongo but were not willing to part with significant assets. That was true of other suitors. Other teams made moves that helped them: -Columbus Blue Jackets President John Davidson said he felt very good about his negotiations with goalie Sergei Bobrovsky, meaning he was close to a new deal. -The Chicago Blackhawks re-signed Bryan Bickell for four years at an average of $4 million a season. To ease their salary-cap situation, the Blackhawks traded Dave Bolland to the Toronto Maple Leafs and Michael Frolik to the Winnipeg Jets for draft picks. -Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher believes he got a player with as much potential as the top players in this draft when he acquired winger Nino Niederreiter, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2010 draft, from the New York Islanders. He had 22 goals this season in the American Hockey League. In return, the Islanders picked up Cal Clutterbuck, one of the toughest hitters in the NHL, and a draft pick. -The Carolina Hurricanes acquired defenseman Andrej Sekera from the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Jamie McBain and a second-round pick. -The San Jose Sharks acquired forward Tyler Kennedy from the Pittsburgh Penguins for a draft pick. USA TODAY LOADED: 07.01.2013 683373 Websites USA TODAY / Blackhawks re-sign Bryan Bickell, trade Dave Bolland Mike Brehm, USA TODAY Sports 11:50 p.m. EDT June 30, 2013 When the Chicago Blackhawks quickly announced the trades of Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik during Sunday's draft, it became clear what was coming next. The Blackhawks soon after announced that they had reached terms on a four-year contract with winger Bryan Bickell. He'll average $4 million a year. "I feel like Chicago is a second home," Bickell told chicagoblackhawks.com Bolland had scored the Stanley Cup-clinching for the Blackhawks less than a week ago in Game 6 against the Boston Bruins. It came 17 seconds after Bickell had tied the game with a little more than a minute left. Bickell, who would have been one of the top players available had he gone to free agency on Friday, had taken a step forward this postseason with a big playoffs. Move into the top six, he scored nine goals, tied with Patrick Kane for team best, and 17 points, ranked fifth overall. DRAFT: MacKinnon first, Jones makes history "Don't forget that he played well in the regular season as well," general manager Stan Bowman said. With a big bump in pay from $600,000 this past season, Bickell knows he'll be under pressure to produce. "I feel like I can bring that every night," he said. "I know what it takes now and what they want and hopefully, I can just bring it." Bowman also made the trades with an eye on some of the organization's youngsters, such as Brandon Pirri. "I have to create some room for them to play," he said. Bolland, a Toronto native, was dealt to the Maple Leafs and Frolik went to the Winnipeg Jets, both for draft picks. Bolland had been one of the eight holdovers from the 2010 Stanley Cup team that was dismantled because of salary cap concerns. "It's unfortunate," said Bickell, who played on that 2010 team, but not enough to get his name on the Cup. "I've know (Bolland) for a long time. He's been a big part of these Cup runs that we've had." Contributing: Kevin Allen in Newark USA TODAY LOADED: 07.01.2013 683374 Websites USA TODAY / Seth Jones' selection by Predators is history-making Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports 9:58 p.m. EDT June 30, 2013 NEWARK — On Jan. 18, 1958, Willie O'Ree played for the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens to become the first black player in NHL history. Fifty-five years later, O'Ree was at the Prudential Center to shake the hand of defenseman Seth Jones when he became the first African American to be a top-five pick in an NHL draft. "I'm still alive to see this, and I'm thrilled," said O'Ree, now 77. Jones was ranked No. 1 by some NHL teams, but he ended up going fourth to the Nashville Predators. The Colorado Avalanche selected center Nathan MacKinnon No. 1, and the Florida Panthers took Finnish center Alexander Barkov No. 2. The Tampa Bay Lightning used the third overall pick to take Jonathan Druin, MacKinnon's linemate with Halifax of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. "We had Jones rated No. 1," said Predators general manager David Poile. "This is a franchise-type player." Jones is the son of former NBA player Ronald "Popeye" Jones. He grew up playing his youth hockey in Colorado and Texas. The elder Jones said he really wasn't concerned how high his son was drafted. "But he is kind of like me, so he probably wanted to go No. 1," Popeye Jones said. "But it didn't work out." Popeye Jones is from Dresden, Tenn., and played college basketball at Murray State. He still owns a house in Tennessee. He said the historical significance of an African American being drafted this high hasn't "soaked in." "But I've always said (what) if guys like Lebron James, Dwyane Wade or Alan Iverson had put on skates when they were four or five. I wonder what kind of hockey player you would get," Popeye said. Poile said a unique set of circumstances led to the Predators landing Jones, not the least of which was the fact that the four highest-rated players all have the potential to become stars. The Avalanche's perspective also might have changed after Patrick Roy was hired as coach. Roy coached in the Quebec league and is very familiar with MacKinnon. "MacKinnon was fabulous in the Memorial Cup and that's when things started to change," Poile said. It also didn't help Jones' situation that the Panthers, picking No. 2, had a need for a premium young center. "Any four of us could have been No. 1," MacKinnon said. "Seth is a very special player. He's going to have an unbelievable career in Nashville. I think that's clear … Obviously maybe in another draft, Seth would have been No. 1, or maybe even in this draft." The Predators traditionally like to have their prospects start their careers in the American Hockey League, but Poile said Jones will be given every opportunity to make the team next September. It is plausible that Jones eventually would end up playing with star Shea Weber. The Predators view him as a possible replacement for Ryan Suter, who was lost to free agency last summer. "I think I can be a solid defenseman, produce a little bit offensively, as well," Jones said. "I know people say it takes time for defensemen to really grow in the league, a couple years at least, so hopefully I can prove that theory wrong." Jones, one of three Americans taken in the first round, has been compared to five-time All-Star Chris Pronger. "How good would it be if that turned out," Poile said. He was asked about Jones' chances of making the 2014 U.S. Olympic team. "They're improving," said Poile, named the USA's GM this weekend. USA TODAY LOADED: 07.01.2013 683375 Websites YAHOO SPORTS / 2013 NHL draft: Seth Jones drops into perfect position with the Predators Nicholas J. Cotsonika NEWARK, N.J. — They found each other underneath the stands of the hockey/basketball arena. Seth Jones, the son, the NHL draft pick, waded through the crowd in his new hat and jersey. Popeye Jones, the father, the former NBA player, waited in his dark suit. The Predators couldn't believe it when Seth Jones was still available at fourth overall. (USA Today)“What’s up?” the son said, a blank look on his face. The father hugged his son, patting the logo on the jersey. Both smiled. Both talked. Then the father put his arm around his son and led him down the hall for a private word, ahead of the TV cameras trailing them, away from the hype and hubbub. No, Seth Jones did not go to the Colorado Avalanche, did not become the first black player drafted No. 1 overall, did not become the first American to go first since 2007, the fairytale scenario. He did not go to the Florida Panthers second overall or the Tampa Bay Lightning third overall, either. NHL Central Scouting’s top-ranked North American skater – a 6-foot-4, puck-moving defenseman – slipped to the Nashville Predators fourth overall. It was a draft-day shocker, along with the trade of Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils, making Roberto Luongo the Vancouver Canucks’ No. 1 goalie again, and the trade of Dave Bolland to the Toronto Maple Leafs, dumping the guy who scored the Chicago Blackhawks’ Stanley Cup winner less than a week earlier. “I know how competitive he is,” said Popeye Jones, now an assistant coach with the Brooklyn Nets. “He’s kind of like me. He probably wanted to go [No. 1]. But hey, it didn’t work. It’s fine.” The thing is, it might turn out to be much more than fine. It might turn out to be a perfect fit. Seth Jones is joining a franchise run by David Poile, the general manager of the U.S. Olympic hockey team. He is joining a franchise that usually makes the playoffs and struggled this season after losing free agent Ryan Suter – the player he will essentially replace. He is joining a franchise that has an elite defenseman in Shea Weber, from whom he can learn and with whom he might partner. He is joining a franchise that hired assistant coach Phil Housley, a former NHL defenseman and Jones’ head coach when Team USA won gold at world juniors. He is going to Nashville, about 2-1/2 hours from Dresden, Tenn., where his father grew up, his father still owns a house and his grandmother still lives. He is going to Music City. “I love country, to be honest,” he said. “I listen to it a lot.” This is no sad song. “Yeah, well, I’m competitive,” he said when asked if he had something to prove to Colorado, Florida and Tampa Bay. “I have a competitive nature. I get that from my parents. You definitely want to prove them wrong, and you definitely want to show them why they should have picked you. That’s not my only goal next year, but it’s definitely on my list.” Seth Jones seemed destined for Denver. He fell in love with hockey there while his father played for the Nuggets, skating for the first time on a pond, jumping into street games on a suburban cul-de-sac, attending Game 7 of the 2001 final when the Avalanche beat the Devils to win the Cup. In a draft scene that few had anticipated, three forwards were picked ahead of Jones. (Reuters)Popeye Jones had once picked the brain of Avs captain Joe Sakic about getting his son involved in the sport. It seemed natural that Avs exec Joe Sakic would pick Seth Jones now. Preds GM Poile said when the Avs won the draft lottery, he was “99 percent sure” they would take Jones. “That made perfect, perfect sense,” he said. But then the Avs hired Patrick Roy as their head coach and vice-president of hockey operations. Roy had coached in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and he had seen Nathan MacKinnon up close. MacKinnon had starred against Jones in the Memorial Cup, too. The Avs signaled for days that they would take a forward first overall. Some thought they were bluffing. Some thought they were trying to trade the pick so they could take Jones a little lower. Even Jones wasn’t sure. “You don’t know where you’re going until you hear your name – or you don’t hear your name,” he said. They took MacKinnon. “It definitely sounded too good to be true, and it turned out that way,” Jones said. “I’m not …” He paused, searching for the right word. “Unhappy that they didn’t choose me,” he continued. “That was their decision, and that’s what they thought would be best for their organization. You’ve got to respect that.” Then the Panthers took Aleksander Barkov, and the Lightning took Jonathan Drouin. Poile couldn’t believe it. Most draft experts had these four in their top four, but not in this order. “Nobody had this order,” Poile said. Housley couldn’t believe it. “We knew we were going to get a player,” he said. “But to get Seth Jones, I mean, you can’t find players like this on the back end.” Though teams are wary of using the No. 1 overall pick on defensemen, perhaps contributing to Jones’ fall, the Predators had Jones atop their list. They now have an elite goaltender in Pekka Rinne, an elite defenseman in Weber, a replacement for Suter and several other studs on a deep defense. Though they have work to do up front, Poile acquired prospect Filip Forsberg at the trade deadline. He will explore free agency and might now have the assets to make a move. “I wish we had the No. 1 pick,” Poile said, smiling. “Then I wouldn’t have to say I can’t believe the player was there.” Fourth? Fine. Popeye Jones went 41st in the 1992 NBA draft. He wasn’t invited to the event. He was just happy to have his name called. It didn’t matter. He joined the Dallas Mavericks and found a mentor in Derek Harper, watching him, working out with him, learning how to be a pro. Seth Jones, who already has learned from watching NBA players like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd, can learn from Weber. “I’m probably more excited than him because I understand in professional sports you want a guy like that,” Popeye Jones said. “You want to see him every day. You want to actually sit by him. You want to go to dinner with him. You want to go to his house. You want to see what makes him so successful.” It remains to be seen whether Seth Jones will make the Predators in 201314, let alone whether he will play with Weber. But Poile said he will be given a chance to make the team, and Housley will be there to help him. Jones is motivated to make an immediate impact. “People say it takes time for defensemen to really grow in the league, a couple years at least,” Jones said. “Hopefully I can prove that theory wrong.” Don’t worry about that blank look. Housley said Jones has the attitude and personality to handle the transition to the NHL, the highs and lows, the grind. The son of a professional athlete and coach, he was a calming influence for Team USA. You never knew if he was ahead or behind. “At the world juniors, he’d make a mistake,” Housley said. “He’d come to the bench. I’d look down, and it was like nothing. He didn’t get frustrated. He was ready for his next shift.” Time for his next step. YAHOO.COM LOADED: 07.01.2013
