New Jersey Devils

2015 NHL Entry Draft – New Jersey Devils

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INS: Pavel Zacha (Pick 6, Sarnia, OHL), MacKenzie Blackwood (Pick 42, Barrie, OHL), Blake Speers (Pick 67, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Colton White (Pick 97, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Brett Seney (Pick 157, Merrimack, H-EAST), Kyle Palmieri (Anaheim Ducks)

OUTS: NIL

Palmieri will add something to the Devils lineup and didn’t need to give up much to get him. Zacha not only becomes something scarce in New Jersey by being a forward prospect. He’s also the only Czech player under the age of 33 in the squad.

2015 DRAFT RATING: B-

Nashville Predators

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Nashville Predators

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INS: Yakov Trenin (Pick 55, Gatineau, QMJHL), Thomas Novak (Pick 85, Waterloo, USHL), Anthony Richard (Pick 100, Val d’Or, QMJHL), Alexandre Carrier (Pick 115, Gatineau, QMJHL), Karel Vejmelka (Pick 145, Pardubice Jr., CZREP-JR.), Tyler May (Pick 175, Harvard U., ECAC), Evan Smith (Pick 205, Austin, NAHL)

OUTS: NIL

Nashville were possibly more focused on signing all of their potential Free Agents, then doing any moves at the draft. Nothing overly exciting from the Preds.

2015 DRAFT RATING: C

Montreal Canadiens

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Montreal Canadiens

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INS: Noah Juulsen (Pick 26, Everett, WHL), Lukas Vejdemo (Pick 87, Djurgarden Jr., SWE-JR.), Matthew Bradley (Pick 131, Medicine Hat, WHL), Simon Bourque (Pick 177, Rimouski, QMJHL), Jeremiah Addison (Pick 207, Ottawa, OHL)

OUTS: NIL

Again, nothing overly out of the ordinary. Another team that went to the draft to just draft and head back to Montreal.

215 DRAFT RATING: C

Minnesota Wild

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Minnesota Wild

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INS: Joel Eriksson Ek (Pick 20, Farjestad, SWE), Jordan Grenway (Pick 50, USA U18, USHL), Ales Stezka (Pick 111, Liberec. Jr., CZREP-JR.), Kinill Kaprizov (Pick 135, Novokunetsk, RUS), Nicholas Boka (Pick 171, USA U18, USHL), Gustav Bouramman (Pick 201, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Jack Sadek (Pick 204, Lakeville North, HIGH-MN)

OUTS: NIL

Didn’t lose anyone on their roster, which is good. But, didn’t really do anything outside of the normal.Went, drafted, went home.

2015 DRAFT RATING: C

Los Angeles Kings

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Los Angeles Kings

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INS: Erik Cernak (Pick 43, Kosice, SVK), Alexander Dergachyov (Pick 74, SKA St. Petersburg 2, RUS-JR.), Austin Wagner (Pick 99, Regina, WHL), Matt Schmalz (Pick 134, Sudbury, OHL), Chaz Redknapp (Pick 187, Victoria, WHL), Matt Roy (Pick 194, Michigan Tech., WCHA), Milan Lucic (Boston Bruins)

OUTS: Martin Jones (Boston Bruins), Colin Miller (Boston Bruins)

Lost their backup goaltender to Jonathan Quick in Martin Jones, but gained Boston’s Power Forward star in Lucic. Lucic will add toughness to a Kings lineup, which already has Captain Dustin Brown. The Kings are starting to make a habit of their backups becoming potential starters in this league, so losing Jones just means the next guy comes up.

2015 DRAFT RATING: B-

Florida Panthers

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Florida Panthers

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INS: Lawson Crouse (Pick 11, Kingston, OHL), Samuel Montembeault (Pick 77, Blaine-Boisbriand, QMJHL), Thomas Schemitsch (Pick 88, Owen Sound, OHL), Denis Malgin (Pick 102, Zurich, SUI), Karch Bachman (Pick 132, Culver Academy, HIGH-IN), Christopher Wilkie (Pick 162, Tri-City, USHL), Patrick Shea (Pick 192, Kimball Union, HIGH-NH), Ryan Bednard (Pick 206, Johnstown, NAHL)

OUTS: NIL

Traded Zach Hyman to the Leafs for Greg McKegg before the draft, but that is neither here or there. Nothing lost and drafted a very good forward in Crouse. A nice winger for the likes of Huberdeau or Barkov down the track.

2015 DRAFT RATING: B-

Edmonton Oilers

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Edmonton Oilers

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INS: Connor McDavid (Pick 1, Erie, OHL), Caleb Jones (Pick 117, USA U18, USHL), Ethan Bear (Pick 124, Seattle, WHL), John Marino (Pick 154, South Shore, USPHL PRE.), Miroslav Svoboda (Pick 208, Trinec Jr., CZREP-JR.), Ziyat Paigin (Pick 209, Kazan, RUS), Griffin Reinhart (New York Islanders), Cam Talbot (New York Rangers), Eric Gryba (Ottawa Senators), Brad Ross (Toronto Maple Leafs)

OUTS: Martin Marincin (Toronto Maple Leafs), Travis Ewanyk (Ottawa Senators)

Many thought that the draft lottery may have been a bit on the rigged side, when they won the #1 pick, which they used to draft Connor McDavid. But, there’s no arguing that the Oilers didn’t do well during the draft. Not only did they draft McDavid, but picking up Griffin Reinhart for two spare draft picks to replace Marincin, Eric Gryba adds a bit of experience at the back end and Cam Talbot comes in to be the starting Goalie. Not as good as draft as Buffalo, but I somehow think that Oilers fans won’t be complaining.

2015 DRAFT RATING: A-

Detroit Red Wings

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Detroit Red Wings

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INS: Evgeny Svechnikov (Pick 19, Cape Breton, WHL), Vili Saarijavi (Pick 73, Green Bay, USHL), Joren van Pottelberghe (Pick 100, Linkoping U18, SWE-JR U18), Chase Pearson (Pick 140, Youngstown, USHL), Patrick Holway (Pick 170, Boston Advantage U18-FS-TIAAA, USMAAAE), Adam Marsh (Pick 200, Saint John, QMJHL)

OUTS: NIL

Detroit do what they always do. Draft well. No players lost, as they look to gain big in Free Agency.

2015 DRAFT RATING: C+

Dallas Stars

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Dallas Stars

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INS: Denis Guryanov (Pick 12, Togliatti 2, RUS-JR.), Roope Hintz (Pick 49, Ilves, FIN), Chris Martenet (Pick 103, London, OHL), Joseph Cecconi (Pick 133, Muskegon, USHL), Markus Ruusu (Pick 163, JYP JR. FIN-JR.), Antti Niemi (San Jose Sharks)

OUTS: NIL

Finally! After years of preaching for decent help for Kari Lehtonen, Jim Nill only trades away a seventh round pick for the rights to Antti Niemi form San Jose. The two-headed Finnish Goalie monster in Dallas looks to be a menacing shot-stopper.

2015 DRAFT RATING: B-

Columbus Blue Jackets

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Columbus Blue Jackets

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INS: Zach Werenski (Pick 8, Uni. Michigan, BIG10), Gabriel Carlsson (Pick 29, Linkoping Jr., SWE-JR.), Paul Bittner (Pick 38, Portland, WHL), Kevin Stenlund (Pick 58, HV 71 JR., SWE-JR.), Keegan Kolesar (Pick 69, Seattle, WHL), Sam Ruopp (Pick 129, Prince George, WHL), Veeti Vainio (Pick 141, Blues Jr., FIN-JR.), Vladislav Gavrikov (Pick 159, Yaroslavl, RUS), Markus Nutivaara (Pick 189, Karpat, FIN)

OUTS: NIL

Didn’t lose anyone, but gained a future star D in Werenski.

2015 DRAFT RATING: B