Top Free Agents

Free agency is just days away and rumours are starting to swirl around who's going where. So it's time to break down the free agency market and see who's available and where they may possibly land.

Forwards:


Zach Parise

Likely the biggest name on the market this season. Chances are Parise will not resign with the New Jersey Devils. While Parise wants to remain loyal to his team it's looking like the financial trouble the Devils may be facing could scare him away. Parise is a complete package any team that is able to afford his price tag will instantly be made better. He never takes a shift off and was a born leader, leading the Devils to within 2 wins of a Stanley Cup. He's a brilliant forward who can put the puck in the net, forecheck hard and never disappoints on defence either.

The three teams in the front running are: Pittsburgh, Detroit and Minnesota. With Sidney Crosby rumoured to have agreed to a 12 year contract with the Penguins there is rumour Parise will be joining him in Pittsburgh as the two are good friends.


Alexander Semin
Semin is a hit and miss player, sometimes he's on fire and other times it's like he's not even on the ice. The Capitals and Semin have virtually parted ways so he will not be returning to his old team. There was some talk he might head over to the KHL but if he can get a team to throw him a large contract he will likely stay. Semin plays a very good offensive game but not a good defensive game. When the Capitals were firing on all cylinders Semin fit in and became one of the top scorers in the league. When the Capitals turned to a more defensive style he struggled and found himself on the bench more often than not.

He would benefit most by going to a team that needs scoring, perhaps the Montreal Canadiens.


Dustin Penner

When the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup they had to give up certain players because they could no longer afford them. Just the same the Kings may have to start unloading some players one of them may be Penner. He's a curious case as he has the size, speed, skill and strength to be a successful NHL player but he scored just 7 goals all regular season. But despite his lack of success during the regular season Penner was a major contributor during the Kings Stanley Cup run much like he was for Anaheim in 2007.

After winning the cup in 2007 he signed by the Oilers but did not succeed in Edmonton. This time around he won't get signed for big money but might find a spot with the Calgary Flames. But if Penner doesn't mind taking a pay cut he could stay with the Kings.


Shane Doan
It would be shocking and painful for Coyotes fans not to see their captain back in the desert next season. He is the heart and soul of the team, the coyotes go as Doan goes and he was a major reason they made it all the way to the Western Conference Finals. But at 36 Doan is going to want to make a run at a Stanley Cup and may want to play in a market that is more hockey friendly.

He's a solid goal scorer (reaching the 30 goal mark twice) and a natural leader. If the Devils are unable to retain Parise look for them to take a hard run at Doan.


Brad Boyes
It wouldn't be a good post if it didn't have some sort of tie to the Sabres. Boyes is a player who puzzles me. He's got all the skill and scoring ability yet he is a 4th line player who rarely contributes to the success of the Sabres. Boyes would likely benefit from a change in scenery (and a new coach).

Right now he is dead weight for the Sabres and hopefully will not be resigned. He can still score some goals and would be a solid 20 goal scorer for a team that needs a little scoring boost for their back end. Look for him to meet with the Wild.

Defence


Ryan Suter
Like Parise, Suter is the biggest free agent defenceman available right now.
Suter showed great poise and was huge for the Predators all season including during their playoff run. Right now all eyes are on him so the ball is in his court he will likely head to a team that will utilize him as a number one defenceman.

Look for the Dallas Stars to pursue Suter and offer him a contract.


Bryan Allen
Allen is ranked or regarded as high as Suter but he is a solid defenceman that many teams could benefit from. He doesn't produce a lot of goals but he plays a steady defensive game.

If the Stars are unable to land Suter, look for them to pursue Allen.


Justin Shultz

If you have not heard of Justin Shultz stop reading this article and kindly stop calling yourself a hockey fan. Right now this kid is the hottest name around. Just about 29 teams are looking at. Shultz is playing the Brad Richards card having teams come to him instead of him going to them. The thing about him is he hasn't even played a game in the NHL as he is just coming out of the University of Wisconsin.

Whatever team does end up with the "highly ranked" prospect who skipped the draft will likely end up over paying due to how much interest there reportedly is. He will be a hit or miss prospect that will hopefully perform well for whatever team courts him.

The short list is down to 5 teams including: Toronto, Vancouver, New York Rangers, Edmonton and Ottawa.


Hal Gill
Hal Gill is a player I have always loved to watch play, right from his days in Toronto. Although he suffered an injury that cut his season short he still saw an improvement in his goals and point production this year with Nashville. He is expected to make a full recovery over the off season and be ready for training camp.

Look for the Predators to retain Gill, especially if they lose Suter. Note Hal Gill resigned a 2 year deal with the Predators worth $4 million.

Matt Carle
While Carle will test the free agency markets he will still keep a foot in the door with the Flyers. A very solid defenceman who will be sought after during free agency. But I wouldn't expect him to leave the Flyers.

Goalies:


Cory Schneider
Technically Cory Schneider is not a real free agent and the Canucks have to intention of letting him walk and he will be their starter next season. Schneider single out played world class goaltender Roberto Luongo for the starting job and as a result chased the veteran out of town.


With Scneider between the pipes the Canucks have a bright future and a clean slate, they can put all this Luongo drama behind them and run with the young goalie who has a bright future.

Note- Cory Schneider agreed to a 3 year deal worth $12 million with the Canucks. 


Martin Biron
Biron is one of the most valuable back up goalies in the league. If a teams starter goes down to injury Biron is more than able to step right in and carry the work load of the starter. He spent last season in New York backing up the king Henrik Lundqvist and while his stats are no where close to the starter he was still a very solid back up goalie.

The Rangers would like to maintain Biron's services next for next season, but if they don't offer him some decent money 29 other teams would be more than willing to give the 34 year old a shot.


Martin Brodeur
If Brodeur decides that he is able to come back and play another season in the NHL the New Jersey Devils would gladly welcome him back. His performance last season taking the Devils to within 2 games of a Stanley Cup didn't hurt his cause either. Although Brodeur is 40 now he has not slowed down much and can still outplay young goalies, just when you think he's getting old he makes an amazing save out of no where.

It is unlikely Brodeur will part ways with the Devils as he has played with them his hole career, so it's just a matter of time before he resigns with them to end off his career.


Scott Clemmensen
With such a dry goaltending market this off season Clemmensen may be able to find a team that wouldn't ordinarily need his services. He played in just 25 games last season and as a result his Goals Against Average was a little high, but it will likely come down with some more consistent playing time.

Clemmensen would be a solid cheap back up for any team especially a team who has a starter who is shaky or goes down to injury.

More interesting free agents to keep an eye out for: Ryan Smyth, Teemu Selanne, Jaromir Jagr, Ray Whitney and Paul Gaustad.

Also be on the lookout for deals the involve Rick Nash and Bobby Ryan.

Tune in July 1st to see where some of the big name free agents are heading.

2012 HHOF Inductees

Apart from winning the Stanley Cup one of the great honours for a hockey player is to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame after they retire from the great game. Forever having you name etched into the Hall of Fame for generations of people to see, being known as a legend and a hero to young hockey fans. For 4 players their dreams came true on Tuesday: Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Adam Oates and Pavel Bure were all elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Mats Sundin
Let's start with a guy I actually got to see play. Growing up in Toronto everything is about the Leafs so when I began watching hockey I fell in love with Sundin. I loved the way he played the game and to me as a little kid he was a fantastic captain, and a true captain. Perhaps an ever rarer feat is getting voted into the Hall as a first timer, Sundin was voted into the Hall in his first eligible year. He retired after the 2008-2009 season and becomes the first player to end his career as a Canuck and be inducted into the Hall. While Sundin failed to raise Lord Stanley he was a legendary Toronto Maple Leafs. He played 13 seasons with the buds and was the captain from 1997-2008. He still holds franchise records in goals (420), assists by a forward (567) and total points (987). Despite failing to win a Stanley Cup, Sundin was the face of the Leafs franchise and a beloved captain.

"I think you have to be part of the Toronto Maple Leafs to understand the importance of the team for the city of Toronto," Sundin said. "It took a little while to learn that and also to understand the pressure to be a Toronto Maple Leafs player and coach and management, to live with that. The whole city lives and breathes the Toronto Maple Leafs. The longer you're there, you appreciate it more and you understand it's bigger than just trying to be a player. It was certainly the best time of my life.

While his NHL career was not overly successful (not Stanley Cup) he made up for it with his International play. He played 14 tournaments for team Sweden and won a gold medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics. Sundin was also the first European player to be drafted first overall in 1989 by Quebec and was the first Swedish player to record 1000 points.

He played 18 seasons in the NHL and tallied 564 goals, 785 assists and 1,349 points in 1,346 games. Sundin also had the pleasure of seeing his jersey #13 raised to the rafters of the ACC and honoured by the Toronto Maple Leafs. It will be a long while before the Leafs have another captain like Sundin. Sundin may go down as one of the best players to play that never won a Stanley Cup.

Joe Sakic

Perhaps one of the greatest players to ever lace up the skates. Sakic won just about every major awards a hockey player can, including 2 Stanley Cups (1996, 2001), the Hart Trophy, the Conn Smythe trophy, the Lady Byng trophy and an Olympic Gold medal in 2002. He played all 20 NHL seasons with the Quebec Nordics/Colorado Avalanche franchise and still holds the franchise records for: goals (625), Assists (1,016) and points (1,641).

Like Sundin, Sakic was also a first year eligible nominee, but was considered a shoo-in by many. In addition to his two Stanley Cup wins, Sakic won the World Junior Championships, the World Championships, the World Cup and an Olympic Gold Medal.

In his 20 seasons with the Avalanche organization Sakic captained the team for 16 seasons and his the 2nd longest serving captain in NHL history. Sakic had an amazing and historic run in the NHL, and is very worthy of his election into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Adam Oates
Being elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame is a huge honour for any player, so you have to think Oates was having  a pretty good day when he got the call from the Hall. But if you can imagine his day got even better as he was also named the head coach of the Washington Capitals. Not a bad day eh?

"Obviously it's a fantastic day," Oates said. "I don't know if that has ever happened before.  I gotta go out and play lotto."

Oates has never won a Stanley Cup, he came close mere months ago as an assistant coach with the New Jersey Devils but will now have the opportunity to do so with Alexander Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals.

Oates had a 19 year NHL career which saw him split time between the Red Wings, Bruins, Capitals, Flyers, Ducks and Oilers. He was known for his passing skills and credits his parents for teaching him to be an unselfish athlete so he was able to develop the willingness to pass. Oates finished his career 6th all time in the NHL with 1,079 assists in addition to his assists he added 341 goals for 1,420 points.

One of the things NHL scouts look for in a prospect is size, in Oates draft year he wasn't very big and was passed on in the NHL. Instead he went to the NCAA were he won a NCAA division 1 championship in 1985.

"I was kind of a late-bloomer," Oates said. "When the scouts look at the draft, they look at the big kids. I was a small kid, a late-bloomer that slipped through the cracks. It allowed me to go to college, and then came that second wave of guys that got signed. I got to play 19 years in this League, and I'm very fortunate."

Pavel Bure

After defecting with his family Bure joined the Vancouver Canucks and won the Calder trophy in 1992. He was limited to just 12 NHL seasons due to knee injuries but Bure made the most of his time in the NHL. Scoring 60 goals twice and scoring (59 and 58) in two other seasons in his 702 NHL games. He averaged 36.7 goals per season and was able to record 779 points.

One man who played a part in three of the inductees careers Pat Quinn was quite proud:

"It's just incredible, really," Quinn said. "Having been around Pavel and Mats, and then also Joe on the Canadian teams, it's been such a privilege for me as a coach and hockey person. I watched them perform at such high levels all the time. I watched Pavel grow as a 20-year-old and become one of the brightest starts in the game. Mats was truly one of the great captains. With Joe, he was just spectacular in 2002. He was such a privilege to be around. He was a key leader for us. We wouldn't have a gold medal but for his accomplishments. "I am proud today. It's a good day for me as well."

Congratulations to Mats Sundin, Joe Sakic, Adam Oates and Pavel Bure. These four men now have their names permanently engraved in history at the Hockey Hall of Fame. I look forward to seeing these legendary players in the Hall next time I'm there.

Trading Places

With the draft complete and free agency right around the corner teams are starting to get active on the trading block. 2 major moves have already taken place: Toronto Maple Leafs traded Luke Schenn to the Flyers in exchange for James van Riemsdyk. The Pittsburgh Penguins also made a major splash at the draft when they sent Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for Brandon Sutter, Brian Dumoulin and the 8th overall pick in the draft which was used to select Derrick Pouliot.

Luke Schenn trade:

The Toronto Maple Leafs under the reign of Brian Burke once again failed to make the playoffs last season something GM Burke has said himself is not good enough. Next season could be Burke's last chance to get the Leafs to the postseason, so many were expecting him to make some major trades. He's already made 2 moves and free agency hasn't even begun yet: Trading Luke Schenn to the Flyers and sending the rights to Jonas Gustavsson to the Winnipeg Jets.

After the Leafs drafted Morgan Reilly with their pick in the first round, many speculated the pick made current Leafs defenceman Luke Schenn expendable. There has been speculation since the beginning of last season that Schenn's days in Toronto may have been numbered. He's a solid defenceman but was just unable to flourish with the buds. Burke managed to pull off a trade that will unite the Schenn brothers in Philadelphia and give the Leafs a exciting young player.

Van Riemsdyk brings a big physical aspect to the Leafs who were lacking in toughness in their top 6. At 6"3 203 pounds he will be a force to be reckoned with and isn't afraid to use his size when needs it. He's a big forward who can play centre when needed and most importantly can put the puck in the net, he just wasn't able to flourish with the Flyers. He is a former 2nd overall draft pick (2007) so he has the skill and potential that the Leafs are looking for. The only problem is the baggage he brings: He tends to be injury prone. He missed the majority of last season with a concussion, he suffered a rib cartilage injury, a hip injury and I believe he needs foot surgery to fully repair a broken bone in his foot. But he is big tough forward who isn't afraid to block shots, the exact player Brian Burke is after.

Jordan Staal trade:


The Jordan Staal trade was something that was going to happen sooner or later, the Penguins chose sooner. Less than 24 hours after Staal turned down a 10 year $60 million contract the Pens had worked out a deal that would send Jordan to play alongside his brother Eric in Carolina, something that was important for both brothers. Jordan had come out and said he wanted to play with his brother and he got his wish.

Due to the skill on the Penguins roster (Crosby and Malkin) Staal was doomed to spend his entire career as a 3rd line centre, but he is much better than a 3rd line centre and deserves a chance to be a number one or number 2 centre. He will likely fill the 2nd line centre role in Carolina behind his brother Eric who is the number one centre.

Jordan completed his 6th season in the NHL and with the Penguins and set career highs in assists (25) and points (50) despite only playing in 62 games. He has already won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins and will now have an opportunity to win a Cup alongside his brother.

One other trade:


One of the more interesting trades in regards that it came out of no where was the Dallas Stars trading Mike Ribeiro to the Washington Capitals in exchange for Cody Eakin and a draft pick. A odd trade, Ribeiro has been on the trading block for the last 2 seasons but no one has bitten, while Eakin is thought to be an unproven prospect. Only time will tell who got the better deal.

2012 NHL Draft First Round

The NHL Entry Draft took place on Friday night in Pittsburgh and it was everything fans could have wanted. There were trades, unsuspected draft picks and lots of boo's from the Penguins fans. In all honesty what could be better than moms crying tears of happiness and proud fathers hugging their sons after getting drafted? One things for sure this is a night these young kids will never forget!

So time to break down the first round draft picks:

1. Edmonton Oilers- Nail Yakupov

This was a bit of a strange pick for the Oilers, honestly they didn't need another forward. They already have Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Jordan Eberle. But with their 3rd straight first overall pick the Edmonton Oilers selected Sarnia Sting forward Nail Yakupov. There's no question Yakupov is a star player who wouldn't have fallen out of the top 5 but many including myself thought the Oilers would go in the direction of a defenceman. It will be interesting to see if the Oilers will be able to make the playoffs with exuberance of forwards or will fall just short after not fixing up their back end.

2. Columbus Blue Jackets- Ryan Murray
The defenceman many thought the Oilers would be thinking about ends up going to the Blue Jackets. Good draft pick by the Blue Jackets but maybe a bit of a sad thing for Murray. Jokes immediately surfaced on twitter on how long it would take before Murray demanded a trade out of Columbus. Murray is hands down the best defenceman this draft had to offer.

3. Montreal Canadiens- Alex Galchenyuk
This could easily be the best pick from the entire draft, despite missing all but 2 games this season Galchenyuk has a lot of upside. If he had been healthy the entire season many believe he could have challenged Yakupov for the first overall pick, but due to the injury he dropped down to 6 on most rankings. Solid pick by the Canadiens by selecting Galchenyuk

4. New York Islanders- Griffen Reinhart
This pick really surprised, not that Reinhart isn't a very skilled player but him going 4th overall is a bit much in my opinion. Many including myself had him down around 12th (possibly going to Buffalo) so him going 4th was a bit of a shock to the system. Reinhart is a solid player and the 3rd member of his family to enter in the NHL and by far the highest pick of the family. He's got a fantastic shot and can hopefully help the Islanders finally get over the hump.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs- Morgan Rielly
This pick surprised a lot of people as the Leafs didn't need a defenceman they needed a forward, and at 5th in the draft there is a plethora of forwards available to choose. But Burke true to character surprised and frustrated "Leafsnation" by draft Rielly. But the angle the fans should be looking at: Does Luke Schenn now become expendable? It's well documented that the Leafs are in the Luongo sweepstakes Luke Schenn would be a solid bargaining tool. The Leafs got a solid 2 way defenceman who much like Phaneuf likes to skate with the puck.

6. Anaheim Ducks- Hampus Lindholm
Lindholm had the best conditioning of all the draft picks, but I really don't know much about Lindholm.  But I do know in The Hockey Writers Mock Draft we had him going at 23, so this was a shock. But obviously the Ducks saw something no one else did. Lindholm will need some time to adjust and learn the North American style of hockey.

7. Minnesota Wild- Matthew Dumba
Another solid defenceman taken in the top 10. Many thought Burke may go after Dumba who has great agility and speed.

8. Pittsburgh Penguins- Derrick Pouliot
One of the best defenceman in the draft. He is one of the most complete players available who has amazing strength.  Pouliot will likely need a few more years to develop but once he does, look out!

9. Winnipeg Jets- Jacob Trouba
In all likely hood Trouba's game will likely become a more defencive style in the NHL, but he has the opportunity to put up some offencive numbers to boot. He's a solid 2 way defenceman who skates smoothly and has all the defencive skills ready to become an NHL blueliner. Solid pick by the Jets with lots of potential.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning- Slater Koekkoek
This pick was complete surprise and came out of no where, in the rankings and the Mock Draft we had Koekkoek going as low as 21st, so to see him in the top 10 was shocking. But he is a truly gifted offensive player. Koekkoek had his junior season cut short due to a shoulder injury but is in no means a liability, he's a very coachable kid and makes himself a student of the game. He is likely several years away as he still needs to learn to play a complete defencive game.

11. Washington Capitals- Filip Forsberg
Forsberg dropping out of the top 10 was a huge surprise many had him as high as third overall. But he is one of arguably the most complete forwards in the draft and offers a huge bonus by being able to play both centre and wing. Forsberg is practically the complete package, he's big, tough, has excellent hockey IQ and has excellent puck handling skills. The Capitals got a steal at 11.

12. Buffalo Sabres- Mikhail Grigorenko

My favorite pick from the entire first round, couldn't be happier the Sabres were able to get Grigorenko  and they didn't have to move up to get him either. Many including myself thought he would be off the board by the time the Sabres got their pick at 12, but he was almost the perfect player for the Sabres. In every draft preview I did (that was Sabres related) I suggested the Sabres trading picks and a player to move up and get their hands on Grigorenko. He's a big solid centre who should be able to step right into the NHL as early as next season and could one day become the Sabres number 1 centre. The Sabres could have stopped drafting right here and I would have been perfectly happy.


13. Dallas Stars- Radek Faksa
A solid centre but likely 2-3 years away from a permanent stay in the NHL. Quite surprised he was still available at 13th overall but will turn into a solid centre in a couple of years only thing lacking is his size.

14. Buffalo Sabres- Zemgus Girgensons
Another first round pick for the Sabres and yet another centre. What did the Buffalo Sabres need going into the draft/free agency? Centres especially one that can turn into a number centre. While Girgensons likely won't become a number one centre he would be a perfect fit on the second or third line in Buffalo. Unlike Grigorenko, Girgensons still needs some time to develop and grow into his 6 foot 2 198 pound frame and possible get bigger. But another solid pick from Buffalo.

15. Ottawa Senators- Cody Ceci
This ones tough as I really wanted the Sabres to go after him at 12th and really really wanted them to go after Ceci at 14th but they didn't really need a defenceman. So the Senators got one of the best defenceman in the draft. Cody Ceci will turn into a solid defenceman and may be ready to step into the NHL as early as October. All I can say is I am slightly jealous the Senators got Ceci.

16. Washington Capitals- Thomas Wilson
Yet another team that was able to nab 2 first round draft picks, so with their second pick the Capitals went after Thomas Wilson. I am a little surprised Wilson went as high as he did as he was ranked near the bottom 5 in the first round, but teams can always use a little more grit. Wilson strikes me as a typical 3rd line centre, likes to play a rough physical game but is more than capable of putting up solid offencive numbers when paired will skilled line mates. The closest comparison to Wilson would be Boston Bruins Milan Lucic, if he develops into even half the player Lucic is the Capitals may have discovered a very solid 3rd liner.

17. San Jose Sharks- Tomas Hertl
I don't have much to say about Hertl as most of the rankings/mock drafts I looked at didn't have him going in the first round. But he looks to be another solid centre, in a draft filled with defenceman it is tough to pick a centre. He will still need some time to develop his game and improve his skating but he should turn into a solid NHL player.

18. Chicago Blackhawks- Teuvo Teravainen
Teravainen is an exceptional talent who proved in his rookie season that he is up to the task of being a top player. He will need more time to develop his game and become more mature, it would benefit him to come over to North America to adjust to the type of game played in the NHL.


19. Tampa Bay Lightning- Andrei Vasilevski
The top goalie taken in the draft, and one of the best. Vasilevski made a name for himself in the World Juniors when he played for Russian and finished the tournament for a 2.01 GAA and .953 Save percentage. He's a very athletic goalie and has amazing hockey IQ and will surely be the starter in the future for the Russia Junior team. He will need time to develop his game (as most goaltenders do) but could turn into the next Lightning starter in a few years.

20. Philadelphia Flyers- Scott Laughton
Laughton is one of the most complete centres in the draft and had the potential to move up in the draft. He will likely develop into a power forward, he's exceptional in the face off circles. He has the potential to be a point per game type of player as he showed at the U-18 tournament.

21. Calgary Flames- Mark Jankowski
This was a very strange draft pick as the Flames actually traded down to acquire this pick and then take a player completely off the board. This is a high gamble pick for the flames as Jankowski is still in high school and is just 17! But despite being such a young kid, he plays with the puck like a seasoned veteran.

22. Pittsburgh Penguins- Olli Maatta
I am extremely surprised that Maatta fell this far as he was ranked just outside the top 10 (15ht). Have you heard of Erik Karlsson? Well this guy could turn into a clone of Karlsson as a solid 2 way defenceman. His strengths come through mainly in his skating and passing but he showed this season in the OHL that he is able to score goals and put points on the board.

23. Florida Panthers- Michael Matheson
Another pick that was "off the board". Matheson likely wont make an impact with the Panthers right away as he is commited to Boston College for his future. Despite him not being that well known he has the potential to become a solid player.

24. Boston Bruins- Malcolm Subban

Adding more feul to the Habs vs Bruins rivalry, like they needed anymore? The Bruins have drafted P.K Subban's little brother Malcolm, and he is no longer just P.Ks little brother. Once Malcolm does make it to the NHL (could be a few years) watching him and his brother battle it out will be quite something to watch. But Malcolm has one up on P.K as he was drafted much higher than his older brother. But with whats unfolding in Boston, the Bruins may need a backup for Tukka Rask.

25. St. Louis Blues- Jordan Schmaltz
Another unknown pick who came out of nowhere, Schmaltz like several other players in the draft is coming out of the USHL. Schmaltz is thought of as a "project" player, a high risk that may not turn out.  He is committed to the University of North Dakota. Will be interesting to see his development in the next few years.

26. Vancouver Canucks- Brendan Gaunce
Another pick that I am very surprised fell this low as I was looking into him potentially going to the Sabres at 12th overall. He led his Belleville Bulls with 68 points and has the potential to become a power forward.

27. Phoenix Coyotes- Henrik Samuelsson
Samuelsson's got people attention with his play in the WHL and at the WJC. His draft rose dramatically and ultimately got him into the first round.

28. New York Rangers- Brady Skjei
Skjei is an imposing defenseman who continued to grow this season and has been climbing the charts as well. For a big player, Skjei is tremendously mobile and his high-end skating ability allows him to work in transition and handle incoming forechecks. He’s still got a raw skill-set and is learning how to use his size effectively, but the Minnesota commit has an enticing skill-set that projects well at the NHL level. At this point, Skjei has to be considered to be the 2012 edition of the NTDP’s Connor Murphy, and we’ll see how he plays over the coming months as he makes a final push up the charts.”


29. New Jersey Devils- Stefan Matteau
Matteau is thought of to be one of the safer picks in the draft and because of that he was taken in the first round. But he is a very skilled two way player.


30. Los Angeles Kings- Tanner Pearson
This may have been the most shocking player that got drafted in the first round, he went from an "Unknown" to a first round draft pick. It was tough for Pearson who broke his leg right before the start of the playoffs, but he did enough in the regular season to convince the Kings he was worth the Gamble.


This draft has been one of the most unpredictable drafts of late, even inside the top 5 there was little parody. Some had Yakupov 1st while others had Murray going 1st. Some had Grigorenko in the top 5 and some had Griffen Reinhart outside the top 10. But each team seemed to have their own rankings. 


Trades


Pittsburgh Penguins dealt Jordan Staal to Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for 2012 first round pick, prospect Brandon Sutter and Brian Dumoulin.
This was a big trade and pretty much a crucial move by the Penguins. After Jordan Staal turned down a 10 year 60 million dollar deal it was clear he wasn't keen on stay long term with the Penguins as a third line centre. To be honest he is too good to be a third line centre and deserves a chance to be a 2nd or 1st line centre and opportunity he will get with the Hurricanes. 
This move will give Jordan and his brother Eric a chance to play together which is exactly what they wanted. 


Washington Capitals dealt Semyon Varlamov to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for their first pick in 2012 and their 2nd round pick in 2013

Calgary trades their 14th pick to Buffalo in exchange for Buffalo's 21st pick in round 1 and their 42nd pick in the 2nd round


Tampa Bay deal Kyle Quincey to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for the Wings first round pick and Sebastien Piche.

Top 10 Draft Picks in Sabres History

Original article found on The Hockey Writers

With the draft just days away, everyone is hoping to discover the next star.  Let’s take a look back at the best Sabres draft picks of all time.

10. Taro Tsujimoto

Imagine watching the draft and hearing the GM of your favorite team call out the name of a player that you not only had never heard of, but later discovered that he didn’t even exist! In the 11th round of the 1974 NHL Entry Draft the Buffalo Sabres selected Taro Tsujimoto, a name that General Manager Punch Imlach found in a local phone book. Imlach was supposedly fed up with the slow pace of the draft and decided to have a little fun, drafting  the fictitious Tsujimoto, a centre from the Japanese Hockey League. The NHL saw no issue with the Sabres 183 draft pick and deemed it legal. It wasn’t until training camp started that Imlach came clean about the phoney draft pick and it was deemed an “invalid claim”. Today Tsujimoto’s name can still be found as a draft pick in the Sabres media guide. 

9. Alexander Mogilny 

Many assume the nickname “Alexander the Great” belongs exclusively to Capitals sniperAlexander Ovechkin, but there was another Russian by the name of Alex who carried the nickname.  Alexander Mogilny was the Sabres’ 89th pick in 1988. Mogilny got the attention of the club after his play with the Soviet Union where he centred a line between fellow NHL stars Sergei Federov and Pavel Bure. In 1992, Mogilny ended up tied for the NHL led in goals with 76 goals in just 77 games, including a performance that saw him score 50 goals in 46 games. He racked up 211 Goals and 444 points while wearing the blue and gold .

8. Danny Gare

Hanging from the rafters at  First Niagara Centre is Sabres jersey number 18. That jersey belonged to Danny Gare, the  29th pick in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. The 5’9″ scrappy right-winger had quite the career in Buffalo, becoming a 2 time all-star, recording two 50 goal seasons, leading the league in goals with 56 (1980), holding the record for most game tying goals as a Sabre (21)  and holding the record for most goals by a Sabres right-winger (267). Gare would go on to record 267 goals and 500 points with the Blue and Gold and have his number 18 retired by the Buffalo Sabres.

7. Thomas Vanek

Fan favorite Thomas Vanek was drafted  5th overall by Buffalo in the  2003. He has proven to be a strong influence and was given the position of Alternate

(Icon SMI)

Captain last season, signifying his leadership on the team. In 7 seasons, he has never scored less than 20 goals. His best season was 2006-2007, when he scored 43 goals and added 41 assists for 84 points while playing in all 82 games. With 2 years still remaining on his contract with the Sabres, Vanek has already scored more goals than “Alexander the Great” (230) and is well on his way to passing the accolades of Danny Gare. Maybe by the time the sun sets on Vanek’s career his number 26 will be hanging from the rafters.

6. Pierre Turgeuron

In 1987 the Sabres held the first over pick in the NHL Entry Draft.  With that pick they would select the legendary Pierre Turgeon. It did not take long for the young rookie to make his impact on the Sabres, finishing his rookie season with a respectable 42 points and helping the Sabres get back into the playoffs for the first time in 3 years. He followed up his rookie season with a dazzling 88 point season in 1988-1989 and followed that up with a jaw dropping 106 points and an All-Star game appearance in 1990. Following a 79 point season with the Sabres in 1991, he was traded to the New York Islanders in the deal that brought Pat  LaFontaine to the Sabres.

5. Dave Andreychuck 

Legendary winger Dave Andreychuck got his career started in Buffalo after being drafted by the Sabres in1982. He played 11 seasons with the Sabres before being traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1993.  Andreychuck scored 368 goals and added 436 assists for 804 points during his stay in Buffalo and trails only Gilbert Perreault and Rick Martin on the Sabres all time goal scoring list.   He’s still regarded as one of the most underrated players in the club’s history. Andreychuck holds franchise records for most goals in 1 game (5), Most power play goals (160) and most points by a left-winger (804) he is also 2nd all time in assists and points by a Sabre.

4. Ryan Miller

Anytime you can get a goalie of Miller’s caliber at 138th overall, you know you’ve made a smart draft pick. While at Michigan State University, Miller became the second goalie in history to win the Hobey Baker Award (2001) and set a new NCAA record with 26 shutouts. Remarkably there were 16 goalies drafted before Miller in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft yet only 3 of them have seen significant playing time in the NHL. While Miller has his critics he is arguably the 4th best player selected in the 2001 draft behind the Sedin twins and Henrik Zetterberg.

Mille holds the record for most career wins as a Sabre (252) and for the most wins in a single season (41), he also joins Rangers Goalie Henrik Lundqvist as the only two goalies to record 7 straight 30+ win seasons. Add a Vezina trophy and an Olympic silver medal to that list and the Sabres have themselves their franchise goaltender.

3. Rick Martin

Martin was part of the “French Connection” line along with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert. The Sabres took Martin 5th overall in the 1971 NHL Draft.  He still holds the franchise records for most hat-tricks, 40 goal seasons (5), most consecutive 40 goal seasons, 50 goal seasons (2) and 4 goal games. He was selected to play in 7 consecutive All-Star games. Martin’s number (along with his “French Connection” line mates) (7) was retired by the Sabres and his name can be found in the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame.

2. Mike Ramsey

Every hockey fan in the world has heard about the Miracle on Ice.  What they might not know is the Sabres’ 11th overall draft pick i  1979, Mike Ramsey, was the youngest member of that Olympic team. Ramsey had one of the more successful careers of the Olympians from 1980, turning himself into a stay-at-home defenseman during his time with the Sabres. He was named to the All-Star game 4 times and served as the Sabres captain for the 1991 season.

1. Gilbert Perreault

He’s the best known Sabre and regarded as one of the most gifted and skillful players ever. The famous “French Connection” line claimed him for their centre.  His entire NHL career was played wearing aBuffalosweater. From Perreault’s Calder-winning rookie season to his first retirement, he was a Sabres legend.  In fact he was the “original Sabre,” becoming the franchise’s first ever draft choice.

Perreault ended eleven of his seventeen seasons with playoff appearances.  He racked up 512 goals, 814 assists for 1326 career points and was the 6th leading scorer in NHL history by the time he retired. To this day he is still the franchise leader in goals (512), assists (814), points (1326), game winning goals, regular season games played (1191), most points in a single game (7) and shots on net, he was also asked to play in 9 All-Star games.
The Buffalo Sabres retired his number 11 and Perreault was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Perreault and his “French connection” helped put the Sabres on the map.

Only time will tell if the Sabres are able to draft another “Gem” in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

NHL Awards Preview

At the dawn of every NHL season comes the NHL awards which are handed out to the best players, coaches, goalies, defenseman and forwards. Wednesday will be the official big show for the awards so in honour of tonight's award show it's time to preview it and give you my selections on who should win each award.

Now just like the NHL Draft I am not a huge fan of the award show, it's not that I don't like honouring players who had kick butt seasons, it's more the fact that much like the draft the award show becomes long and boring. The NHL often finds themselves trying to hard to make it entertaining thus making it more boring. So I will skip over all the comedians un-funny jokes and puns, the girls in ridiculously short dresses and the celebrities that are making appearances and get right down to the meat and potatoes, the actual awards.

The Hart Trophy
Nominees- Henrik Lundqvist, Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos
Who I pick to win: Evgeni Malkin

Seriously how could Evgeni Malkin not win the Hart trophy after single handedly carrying the Penguins this year while Crosby was hurt. Malkin proved a lot of critics wrong including myself and showed that he is the real deal. Without Malkin's standout play the Penguins would not have been in the playoffs, he is the epitome of what the Hart trophy is about a teams MVP. Without an MVP a team can not excel, without Malkin the Penguins would not have excelled.

Sure Stamkos is an exciting flashy player who scored 60 goals, but did his team make the playoffs because of his goal scoring/play? No, the Lightning failed to make the playoffs despite the success Stamkos had. Malkin scored 50 goals and had over 100 points and his team still made the playoffs in large part due to his play. Which is why Malkin should be leaving the awards show with the Hart Trophy.

Vezina Trophy
Nominees- Henrik Lundqvist, Pekka Renne and Jonathan Quick
Who I pick to win: Jonathan Quick
I can't figure out why but I really fell in love with Quick's game this season, and not just during the playoffs but the whole season. After watching him for the last couple of seasons, I knew he was bound to have a breakout year very soon and apparently it was this year.
The only hitch between Quick leaving with a Vezina trophy was the amazing year Henrik Lundqvist had for the Rangers. He became 1 of only 2 goalies to have 7 straight 30 win seasons and backstopped his team to first place in the Eastern Conference.

But when looking for the Vezina winner you need to look over their body of work during the regular season: Quick led the league with 10 shutouts, finished second with a 1.95 Goals Against Average and finished 5th with a .929 Save Percentage. Not to mention he was in net for 35 of the Kings 40 wins this season and helped carry them for the majority of the season when they couldn't score.


James Norris Trophy
Nominees- Zdeno Chara, Erik Karlsson and Shea Weber
Who I pick to win: Zdeno Chara
Out of all the categories or awards this year this one is the closest. By definition the Norris Trophy is handed out to the defenseman who demonstrated the best over-all game. Meaning his play in both his defensive end and in the opponents end.

Sure Karlsson had a heck of a season from an offensive standpoint (19 goals and 59 assists) but for my liking he was to offensive and didn't show enough all around game effort.

Zdeno Chara has always been a solid consistent player and a nightmare to play against. He scored 12 goals this season and added 40 assists all while averaging 25 minutes of ice time. He also led the Bruins with 166 hits. Add the fact he's been nominated for this award 4 times and won it once before, he easily becomes one of the most consistent defenceman in the league.

So I'm handing this one to Zdeno Chara but just barely over Karlsson


Calder Trophy
Nominees- Adam Henrique, Gabriel Landeskog and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
Who I pick to win: Gabriel Landeskog
Anytime a rookie can account for 25% of the goals a team scored and help them win an extra 11 games you know he's the real deal. Landeskog scored 22 goals and put up a huge 52 points while playing all 82 games and finishing with a plus-20.


Lady Byng Trophy
Nominees- Brian Campbell, Jordan Eberle and Matt Moulson
Who I pick to win: Jordan Eberle
Anytime a player manages just 12 penalty minutes all season you know he plays the game the right way. Sure he may get a rep for being soft, but when you score the type of highlight goals Eberle is capable off, his team is glad he's on the ice more than in the box.


Frank J Selke Trophy
Nominees- David Backes, Patrice Bergeron and Pavel Datsyuk
Who I pick to win: Pavel Datsyuk
Can anyone other than Datsyuk win this award, the guy is a beast. He can do things on the ice other players can only dream of. If he's nominated just give the award to him.


Jack Adams Award
Nominees- Ken Hitchcock, Paul MaClean and John Tortorella
Who I pick to win: Ken Hitchock
What Hitchcock was able to do by transforming the Blues into a playoffs team is remarkable in itself.


Bill Masterton Trophy

Nominees- Daniel Alfredsson, Joffrey Lupul and Max Pacioretty 
Who I pick to win: Joffrey Lupul
It's about time a Leaf won something right?
But in all seriousness the way Lupul was able to bounce back from his serious back injuries from his days with the Ducks to turn into a Leafs superstar is remarkable. Lupul deserves this award full fledged.



Ted Lindsay Award
Nominees- Henrik Lundqvist, Evgeni Malkin and Steven Stamkos
Who I pick to win: Evgeni Malkin
This season helped establish the fact that Malkin is the best player on planet earth, he should take home trophies for every category he is nominated for. Yes he's that good.


Bridgestone Messier Leadership Award
Nominees- Dustin Brown, Ryan Callahan and Shane Doan
Who I pick to win: Dustin Brown




NHL Foundation Award
Nominees- Mike Fisher, John Michael Liles and Matt Moulson
Who I pick to win: Mike Fisher


General Manager of the Year Award
Nominees- Doug Armstrong, David Poile and Dale Tallon
Who I pick to win: Doug Armstrong.


William M. Jennings Trophy
Winners Brian Elliott and Jaroslov Halak


Maurice Richard Trohpy
Winner- Steven Stamkos


Art Ross Trophy
Winner- Evgeni Malkin

Eastern Conference Draft Preview

The NHL Entry Draft is just days away and as a follow up to my post from Monday: North East Division Draft Preview, it's time to preview the Eastern Conference for the upcoming draft. Some of the players from teams I wrote about on Monday will change teams, while others will stay the same.

So without further a due my Eastern Conference Draft Preview:

*Please note, I am not mixing trades into this preview. Several teams are considering trading up or down in the draft. So each pick is based on the team drafting a player their team needs at their current draft spot*

Montreal Canadiens- 3rd overall pick will select Alex Galchenyuk

If not for a season plagued by injuries Galchenyuk could have seriously challenged Sarnia Sting teammate Nail Yakupov for the first overall pick. Despite his injuries many are pegging Galchenyuk to be the best long term solution for a team in the draft. He possess all the skill to be a first overall draft choice and could turn out big for the Canadiens who need a much more positive season to save their franchises' image.

New York Islanders- 4th overall pick will select Ryan Murray
Ryan Murray is the best defenseman available in this years draft, yet he may fall out of the top 3 and if that happens the Islanders will be more than happy to give him a jersey and cap on stage in Pittsburgh. Murray has the potential to be a franchise player much like John Tavares and could be ready to step into the NHL as early as next season. He possess leadership and has experience playing against NHLers and which will help his transition to the NHL be as simple as possible. The Islanders need help on the back end which is why, if Murray is available they will draft him.

Toronto Maple Leafs- 5th overall pick will select Filip Forsberg
Brian Burke wants to get his hands on the first overall pick and has been in talks with Edmonton to acquire the pick. Edmonton wants a top notch defenseman, is Burke willing to give up what Edmonton is asking? The answer, probably not. So the Leafs will end up keeping and drafting with the 5th pick. The Leafs biggest need (outside of goaltending) is a number one centre (what team doesn't need one of those?) Forsberg is ranked as arguably the 2nd best forward in the draft behind Yakupov, so he may not be available at 5 but if he is the Leafs should snag him up.  He's a big tall forward who has the ability to play centre and could set up the Leafs for the long term.

Carolina Hurricans- 8th overall pick will select Teuvo Teravainen
Teravainen is a hit or miss player but right now the chance of him teaming up with Eric Staal and or Jeff Skinner is making the risk seem worthwhile to the Hurricanes. He's ranked 2nd out of all European players in the draft and excels on the bigger ice playing surfaces, so it will be interesting to see him adapt to the smaller ice.

Winnipeg Jets- 9th overall pick will select Jacob Trouba
The return of the Jets was a highlight for many hockey fans this season, and right now it doesn't matter what the Jets do they will still have the support of their fans. But if they want to have a better chance of making the playoffs they should select shutdown defenseman Jacob Trouba. But the Jets will have to wait at least 2 years before seeing Trouba in the NHL as he has committed to the University of Michigan. But if Trouba is given time to properly develop he could turn into a very solid player for the Jets.

Tampa Bay Lightning- 10th overall pick will select Griffen Reinhart
Reinhart was a part of the Edmonton Oil Kings who won the WHL Championship and next season he will be an even bigger part of the Oil Kings. He's a big (6'3" 207)tough defenseman who has hockey in his blood. Following in the footsteps of his older brother and father, many are saying Griffen could be the best Reinhart yet and he will likely be drafted highest.

Washington Capitals- 11th overall pick will select Radek Faksa
The Capitals don't need a defenseman, they need a big tall forward and Faksa fits the build. At 6'3" he fits the build of Jaromir Jagr, while he doesn't possess the same skill assets of Jagr, Faksa is still a solid pick. Faksa would fit in perfectly to fill the void as a 2nd line centre for the Caps.

Buffalo Sabres- 12th overall pick will select Cody Ceci

The Sabres are in a tricky place in the draft. On one hand they have 2 picks in the first round and 4 in the first 44, but on the other they sit just outside the top 10 and players they're looking at (Faksa, Reinhart) may be gone by the time Buffalo gets to the mic. Although the Sabres don't necessarily need a defenseman, if Ceci is available at 12 overall he should not be passed up.
Ceci of all players has flown up the draft charts, at the beginning of the season he wasn't even pegged to go in the first round, now he's pegged to go somewhere just outside of the top 10. Ceci would be a perfect fit on the back end matched with Tyler Myers and quarter backing the power play. Best part about Ceci is he could step into the NHL at the start of next season, which is what the Sabres are looking for.

Ottawa Senators- 15th overall pick will select Sebastian Collberg
The Senators have had great success drafting Swedish players, and will likely take another swedish player in Collberg. Many are expecting Collberg to turn into a solid 2nd line scoring threat in the NHL.

Washington Capitals- 16th overall pick will select Derrick Pouliot
Pouliot is one of the most uncertain picks in the draft, some reports have him going inside the top 10 while others have him dropping to 20th-25th. So what better place to pick Pouliot then in the middle. The Capitals don't need a defenseman right now, but they will certainly need one in the future which is why they should select Pouliot who is likely 3 years away from a full time stint in the NHL. With the benefit of 2 picks in the first round the Capitals can use one of the picks to draft for the future or take a risk.

Tampa Bay Lightning- 19th overall pick will select Tom Wilson
Once teams start getting near the top 20 in drafting there is less planing behind the picks and more of a mindset of taking "the best player available". At the 19th pick (the Lightning's 2nd) the best player available may just be the beast Tom Wilson. Wilson comes in at 6'4" 200 pounds and has the size and skill to step right into the NHL, he's not afraid to steamroll over players and drop the mitts when he has too. He excels when he plays alongside top players (like Stamkos). He is being compared to Boston Bruins power forward and heavy hitter Milan Lucic. With his skill, size and grit it wouldn't be a shock to see him go just before the top 20.

Philadelphia Flyers- 20th overall pick will select Hampus Lindholm
Much like Cody Ceci, Lindholm has improved his draft ranking over the past season, he's made quite the push and is now expected to go in the top 20. He's a solid defenseman who has an offensive instinct but will need to "bulk up" before stepping in the NHL. He's a solid pick who should be ready to go in a couple of years.

Buffalo Sabres- 21st overall pick will select Zemgus Girgensons
With their first pick in round 1 the Sabres selected a defenseman so look for them to select a forward with their second pick. Girgensons is the type of player you want on your team, he's got a rock solid work ethic and is a two-way forward with a shot that leaves goalies guessing. Only draw back is his prior commitment to the University of Vermont which will keep him out of the Sabres line up for at least 2 years.

Pittsburgh Penguins- 22nd overall pick will select Colton Sissons

When looking at a first glance picking 22nd out of 30 teams kind of seems like getting the short straw, but when looking back in draft history several solid players (that have turned into household names) were taken with the 22nd pick. Edmonton Oilers Jordan Eberle and Flyers Claude Giroux are two of the more noteworthy 22nd picks. While the Penguins don't need anymore star players (Crosby, Malkin, Neal) and they don't need any defenseman (drafted 2 last year) they are in need of a solid role player. One of the players who is a boarder line superstar but falls back to a role player on the Penguins is Jordan Staal. But the Penguins are trying to trade Staal, so Sissons could come in and fill his spot.

Florida Panthers- 23rd overall pick will select Brady Skjei
One of the best parts about the draft is the opportunity to stifle an opposing teams draft pick. Teams that are drafting after the Panther really want to get their hands on Skjei, so it would be perfect for the Panther to pick him up and find out why other organisations want him. Skjei is ranked as the best skater in this years draft, put him with another smooth skating player and watch the two of them make some magic.

Boston Bruins- 24th overall pick will select Nicholas Kerdiles
Kerdiles is the wild card pick in the draft, some rankings have him in the top 20 while others don't even have him in the first round. But Kerdiles is a solid face-off man and has the potential to turn into a solid 2nd line player.

New York Rangers- 28th overall pick will select Dalton Thrower
Chances are we're not going to see Thrower in the NHL as a high scoring defenseman, thats just not the way he plays. He's more of a rugged tough player who plays bigger than his size indicates, at only 6 feet tall Thrower is small for a tough defenseman by NHL's standards today so he'll have to rely on his smooth skating and heavy hitting to land him a spot in the NHL.

New Jersey Devils- 29th overall pick will select Malcolm Subban 
Contrary to popular belief the Devils are deciding to keep their 29th pick in this years draft instead of forfeiting it. Subban is the younger brother of Canadiens P.K Subban.
While it is rare for a goalie to be taken in the first round Subban may be worth the pick as he is the best goalie in this years draft. The Devils may be in need of a goaltender in a couple years when the legendary Martin Brodeur retires. Subban will have some big shoes to fill but if he's anything like his brother he'll be up for the challenge.

So there you have it folks my Easter Conference Draft Preview. I don't have any magic potion nor do I profess to know exactly who will be drafted by each team, this is just a guess based on each teams needs and the players that are available. Don't agree with my picks leave a comment below.

North East Division Draft Preview

The Montreal Canadiens have the third overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft so with the third overall pick the Montreal Canadiens are likely to take Alex Galchenyuk from the Sarnia Sting.
If it had not been for the injuries that plagued his season many think Galchenyuk could have legitimately challenged Nail Yakupov for the first overall pick. There will be a major risk factor for the Habs who would be drafting Gahchenyuk based on his play from 2 seasons ago, but he could pan out.

The Toronto Maple Leafs went from playoff contenders early in the season to a team that debated "Failing for Nail", while the Leafs didn't exactly end up with the first overall pick they did end up with the 5th overall pick. While there are talks they will trade that pick and Luke Schenn to Edmonton to get their hands on Yakupov, let's just assume for this article that they will keep the 5th overall pick. So with the fifth overall pick the most likely of targets for the Leafs is Mikhail Grigorenko from the Quebec City Remparts in QMJHL. Whether people agree or not Grigorenko's work ethic has come into question and has severely hurt his drat stock. He has all the ability and skill to potentially go first overall but has almost no chance of going first overall. He has fallen victim to another player bit by the Russian Stereotype.  If the Canadiens or another team end up taking Galchenyuk than expect Leafs GM Brian Burke to select Mikhail Grigorenko.

The Buffalo Sabres had a ruff season, entering the year with high expectations and ending the year by narrowly missing the 8th and final playoff spot. But the Sabres are in a great spot having 4 of the first 44 picks in the draft including 2 in the first round. But the Sabres need to draft for today not the future, which is why the Sabres should draft Cody Ceci of the Ottawa 67's. Ceci's stock has risen over the past OHL season and is now just outside the top 10 instead of possibly going in the 2nd round. Ceci already has the size and skill to play in the NHL and could see ice time for the Sabres next season. He would be perfect for quarterbacking the Sabres power play who could use a kick in the butt after their performance last season. Ceci and Tyler Myers moving the puck together could be quite something to watch next season. It would also give the Sabres the tallest blue line in the NHL with an average of 6'3".

The Ottawa Senators had an amazing season pretty much the polar opposite of the Season the Sabres had. At the beginning of the year no one expected the Senators to go anywhere, in fact they were pegged to finish 15th in the Eastern Conference. But the Senators were able to make the playoffs and  took the first place New York Rangers to 7 games. As a result of their season the Senators have the 15th pick in the Draft. With the 15th pick the Senators should draft Sebastian Collberg from the Swedish elite league. The Senators have a knack for drafting swedish super stars (Alfredsson, Karlsson) so Collberg could turn into yet another swedish success story in the nations Capital. He has a flare of excitement in his game and could help bring out fans with his flashy style. Only hesitation with Collberg is he will likely need 3-4 years to develop into a solid scoring threat.

The Boston Bruins were expected by many to repeat as the Stanley Cup champions, but with what happened in the locker room (Tim Thomas) and some key injuries the Bruins were eliminated in the first round of playoffs. A tough place for a team to be in: on one hand you're happy you made the playoffs but due to the early exit you get a late draft pick. As a result the Bruins have the 24th pick in the draft and should select, Nicholas Kerdiles from the USHL. The Bruins were able to snag away Dougie Hamilton from last years draft, so they don't need another defenceman. When a team doesn't need a defenceman and doesn't really need a goaltender they are likely to choose a forward. While Kerdiles is the wild card in this draft expected to either go just outside the top 20 or wait for the second round. He's a very good face-off man and has the potential to be a solid 2nd line centre for the Bruins, if it had not been for his performance at the U-18 championship he would likely not be on the first round radar. 

This was just a fun little post about the draft, the North Eastern division is the division I know the most about so it was easier to throw a piece together about them. I will have more draft pieces coming out this week. But for those that know me they know I am not a huge fan of the draft, considering these kids haven't played an NHL game yet and may not pan out they're given far too much attention. This is the first year I am really paying much attention to the draft, so bear with me guys.