You can find all the news and notes from the NHL Draft in Los Angeles, California right here in this blog. I will update as events unfold so please continue to refresh throughout the night.
I will list trades as they happen, picks as they happen and any other news I can fit in.
So here we go…
ROUND 1 – PICK 1
EDMONTON OILERS
TAYLOR HALL – LW – Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Ranked #1 prospect by Central Scouting, The Hockey News, McKeen’s Draft Guide, etc.
REACTION: No surprise here as Hall goes #1 overall.
ROUND 1 – PICK 2
BOSTON BRUINS (via Toronto)
TYLER SEGUIN – C – Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Ranked #1 prospect by International Scouting and #2 by just about everyone else.
REACTION: Seguin might actually prove to be the better player in 4-5 years.
ROUND 1 – PICK 3
FLORIDA PANTHERS
ERIK GUDBRANSON – D – Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Ranked #1 defensive prospect by Central Scouting, and #6 overall prospect by ISS.
REACTION: Gudbranson should be a stud on the Panthers blueline for a long time.
ROUND 1 – PICK 4
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
RYAN JOHANSEN – C – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Ranked #17 overall prospect by ISS, #10 by Central Scouting and #12 by The Hockey News.
REACTION: Johansen is a reach here and Columbus could’ve traded down and still got him.
ROUND 1 – PICK 5
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
NINO NIEDERREITER – LW – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
Ranked #9 prospect by ISS, #8 prospect by The Hockey News and #12 by Central Scouting.
REACTION: Nino must’ve been the Isles’ guy because, like Johansen, this is a shocker.
DRAFT CHOICE
ROUND 1 – PICK 6
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING
BRETT CONNOLLY – LW – Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Ranked #4 prospect by The Hockey News, #11 by ISS and #7 by McKeen’s Hockey.
REACTION: Despite his injury history, the Lightning think Connolly is a can’t-miss.
ROUND 1 – PICK 7
CAROLINA HURRICANES
JEFF SKINNER– C – Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Ranked #12 by McKeen’s Hockey, #15 by ISS and #25 by The Hockey News.
REACTION: Skinner’s stock has risen since December but this high? Whew.
ROUND 1 – PICK 8
ATLANTA THRASHERS
ALEXANDER BURMISTROV– C – Barrie Colts (OHL)
Ranked #6 by The Hockey News, #11 by Central Scouting and #12 by ISS.
REACTION: Well, the one Russian without the “Russian Factor” is off the board.
ROUND 1 – PICK 9
MINNESOTA WILD
MIKAEL GRANLUND – C – HIFK Finland
Ranked #10 overall by The Hockey News, #14 by ISS and #12 by hockeyprospect.com.
REACTION: Granlund is a great pick and could be ready to play in the NHL this season.
ROUND 1 – PICK 10
NEW YORK RANGERS
DYLAN McILRATH – D – Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Ranked #15 overall prospect by McKeen’s Hockey, #26 by The Hockey News and #38 by ISS.
REACTION: The Rangers got the biggest punisher in the draft. A bit of a reach, though.
DRAFT CHOICE
ROUND 1 – PICK 11
DALLAS STARS
JACK CAMPBELL – G – US National Development Program
Ranked #1 goaltending prospect by ISS, Central Scouting and countless others.
REACTION: The Stars absolutely needed to take Campbell here. Period.
ROUND 1 – PICK 12
ANAHEIM DUCKS
CAM FOWLER – D – Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
Ranked #1 defensive prospect by The Hockey News and by ISS.
REACTION: The Ducks will be sending Christmas cards to teams who picked from 3 to 11.
ROUND 1 – PICK 13
PHOENIX COYOTES
BRANDON GORMLEY – D – Moncton Wildcats (QMHL)
Ranked #2 defensive prospect by The Hockey News, ISS and #3 by Central Scouting.
REACTION: The Coyotes are yet another beneficiary of teams reaching for their picks early.
ROUND 1 – PICK 14
ST. LOUIS BLUES
JADEN SCWARTZ – C – Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Ranked #18 prospect by ISS, #28 by Central Scouting and #30 by The Hockey News.
REACTION: Interesting choice here by STL. Yet another reach.
TO LOS ANGELES: #15 overall
TO FLORIDA: #19 overall and #56 overall
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ROUND 1 – PICK 15
LOS ANGELES KINGS (via Florida, via Boston)
DEREK FORBORT – D – US National Development Program
Ranked #1 American defensive prospect by ISS, Central Scouting and The Hockey News.
REACTION: Forbort is a beast at 6’5″. Doughty & Forbort are the Kings blueline of the future.
TO OTTAWA: #16 overall
TO ST. LOUIS: David Rundblad
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ROUND 1 – PICK 16
ST. LOUIS BLUES (via Ottawa)
VLADIMIR TARASENKO – RW – Novosibirsk Siber (KHL)
Ranked #1 Russian prospect by ISS, hockeyprospect.com and #4 overall by THN.
REACTION: The Blues traded up so it must be confirmed he’ll play in North America.
ROUND 1 – PICK 17
COLORADO AVALANCHE
JOEY HISHON – C – Owen Sound Attack
Ranked #34 prospect by ISS, #38 by hockeyprospect.com and #39 by The Hockey News.
REACTION: Hishon is a HUGE reach here as he’s not even in Central Scouting’s top 30.
DRAFT CHOICE
ROUND 1 – PICK 18
NASHVILLE PREDATORS
AUSTIN WATSON – RW – Peterborough Petes
Ranked #8 prospect by ISS and #15 by The Hockey News.
REACTION: If it wasn’t Etem, it had to be Watson. He’ll be a great fit in Nashville.
ROUND 1 – PICK 19
FLORIDA PANTHERS (via Los Angeles)
NICK BJUGSTAD – C – Blaine High School
Ranked #1 high school prospect by ISS, Central Scouting and The Hockey News.
REACTION: Minnesota’s Mr. Hockey will try to go be Mr. Hockey in Florida.
ROUND 1 – PICK 20
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
BEAU BENNETT – RW – Pentincton (PCHL)
Ranked #25 prospect by ISS and #35 by The Hockey News.
REACTION: Absolutely stunned that Bennett was drafted before fellow-CA kid Etem.
DETROIT RED WINGS
RILEY SHEAHAN – C – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA)
Ranked #13 prospect by ISS, #19 by The Hockey News and #26 by McKeen’s Hockey.
REACTION: Detroit drafts a solid player to add to their solid organization. They’ll be patient with him and that’s best for his career anyway.
TO MONTREAL: #22 overall
TO PHOENIX: #27 overall and #57th overall
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MONTREAL CANADIENS (via Phoenix)
JARRED TINORDI – D – Notre Dame Fighting Irish (NCAA)
Ranked #22 overall prospect by The Hockey News, #26 by ISS and #25 by McKeen’s Hockey.
REACTION: At 6’6″, Tinordi is a monster and will be intimidating on the Habs blueline.
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ROUND 1 – PICK 23
BUFFALO SABRES
MARK PYSYK – D – Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Ranked #16 overall prospect by McKeen’s Hockey, The Hockey News and ISS.
REACTION: A solid two-way blueliner on a terrible junior team should flourish in Buffalo.
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CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS
KEVIN HAYES – D – Nobles High School
Ranked #39 overall prospect by ISS, #42 by McKeen’s Hockey and #44 by The Hockey News.
REACTION: Chicago holds an early 2nd round pick so picking Hayes this high is curious.
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TO FLORIDA: #25 overall, Steve Bernier and Michael Grabner
TO PHOENIX: Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich
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FLORIDA PANTHERS (via Vancouver)
QUINTON HOWDEN – LW – Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
Ranked #20 overall prospect by ISS, #23 by The Hockey News and #37 by McKeen’s Hockey.
REACTION: Florida uses their 3rd 1st round pick to get a solid two-way forward.
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WASHINGTON CAPITALS
EVGENY KUZNETSOV – LW – Chel(WHL)
Ranked #11 overall prospect by McKeen’s Hockey, #18 by The Hockey News and #19 by ISS.
REACTION: The Caps are one of the few teams who will benefit from the “Russian Factor.”
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