Colorado Avalanche

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Colorado Avalanche

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INS: Mikko Rantanen (Pick 10, TPS, FIN), Anthony John (AJ) Greer (Pick 39, Boston College, H.EAST), Nicolas Meloche (Pick 40, Baie Comeau, QMJHL), Dean-Christophe Beaudin (Pick 71, Royun-Noranda, QMJHL), Andrei Mironov (Pick 101, Dynamo Moscow, RUS), Sergei Boikov (Pick 161, Drummondville, QMJHL), Gustav Olhaver (Pick 191, Rogle. Jr., SWE-JR.), Carl Soderberg (Boston Bruins), Nikita Zadorov (Buffalo Sabres), J.T. Compher (Buffalo Sabres), Mikhail Girgorenko (Buffalo Sabres)

OUTS: Ryan O’Reilly (Buffalo Sabres), Jamie McGinn (Buffalo Sabres)

Adding Soderberg isn’t the worst move, but that meant the end of Ryan O’Reilly in Colorado. The loss of O’Reilly doesn leave a hole, but could Grigorenko soon fill that void? Some solid picks made, but not the best of drafts.

2015 DRAFT RATING: C+

Chicago Blackhawks

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Chicago Blackhawks

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INS: Graham Knott (Pick 54, Niagara, OHL), Dennis Gilbert (Pick 91, Chicago, USHL), Ryan Shea (Pick 121, Boston College HS, HIGH-MA), Radovan Bondra (Pick 152, Kosice, SVK), Ray Radke (Pick 164, Barrie, OHL), Joni Tuulola (Pick 181, HPK, FIN), John Dahlstrom (Pick 211, Frolunda Jr., SWE-JR), Ryan Haggerty (New York Rangers)

OUTS: Antti Raanta (New York Rangers)

Sure, they may have traded Antti Raanta, but he was surplus to requirements, due to the emergence of Scott Darling. Nothing overly lost, nothing overly gained.

2015 DRAFT RATING: C

Carolina Hurricanes

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Carolina Hurricanes

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INS: Noah Hanifin (Pick 5, Boston College, H.East), Sebastian Ahol (Pick 35, Karpat, FIN), Callum Booth (Pick 93, Quebec, QMJHL), Nicolas Roy (Pick 96, Chicoutmi, QMJHL), Luke Stevens (Pick 126, Noble & Greenough, HIGH-MA), Spencer Smallman (Pick 138, Saint John, QMJHL), Jake Massie (Pick 156, Kimball Union, HIGH-NH), David Cotton (Pick 169, Cushing Academy, HIGH-MA), Steven Lorentz (Pick 186, Peterborough, OHL), Eddie Lack (Vancouver Canucks), James Wisniewski (Anaheim Ducks)

OUTS: Anton Khudobin (Anaheim Ducks)

Eddie Lack is a massive improvement on Anton Khudobin and will help Cam Ward in net. Wisniewski is a nice addition to their D, with Hanifin possibly joining him in the NHL next season. Not as much of an impact as other teams, but still a nice enough gain in the draft.

2015 DRAFT RATING: B+

Calgary Flames

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Calgary Flames

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INS: Rasmus Andersson (Pick 53, Barrie, OHL), Oliver Kylington (Pick 60, Farjestad, SWE), Pavel Karnaukhov (Pick 136, Calgary, WHL), Andrew Mangiapane (Pick 166, Barrie, OHL), Riley Bruce (Pick 196, North Bay, OHL), Dougie Hamilton (Boston Bruins)

OUTS: NIL.

No outs and adding another young stud defensemen in Dougie Hamilton to that core, Calgary are nothing but winners in this draft. Only five picks, but that isn’t of any concern, as the Flames are already a young squad.

2015 DRAFT RATING: A-

Buffalo Sabres

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Buffalo Sabres

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INS: Jack Eichel (Pick 2, Boston College, H.EAST), Brendan Guhle (Pick 51, Prince Albert, WHL), William Borgen (Pick 92, Moorhead, HIGH-MN), Devante Stephens (Pick 122, Kelowna, WHL), Giorgio Estephan (Pick 152, Lethbridge, WHL), Ivan Chukarov (Pick 182, Minnesota Wilderness, NAHL), Robin Lehner (Ottawa Senators), David Legwand (Ottawa Senators), Ryan O’Reilly (Colorado Avalanche), Jamie McGinn (Colorado Avalanche)

OUTS: Nikita Zadorov (Colorado Avalanche), Mikhail Grigorenko (Colorado Avalanche), J.T. Compher (Colorado Avalanche)

Buffalo selects Jack Eichel. Those four words, was all Tim Murray needed, to draft the best consolation prize in the National Hockey League. Add to that an actual starting goaltender in Robin Lehner, experienced depth in the middle with Legwand and of course, Ryan O’Reilly, whom Colorado wanted to trade away. Buffalo are more than happy to add him to the potential treasure trove of centres (Ennis, Girgensons, Eichel, Sam Reinhart). Oh, and some winger named Evander Kane. One of the big winners of the draft.

2015 DRAFT RATING: A

Boston Bruins

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Boston Bruins

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INS: Jakub Zboril (Pick 13, Saint John, QMJHL), Jake Debrusk (Pick 14, Swift Current, WHL), Zachary Senyshyn (Pick 15, Sault Ste. Marie, OHL), Brandon Carlo (Pick 37, Tri City, WHL), Jakob Frosbacka-Karlsson (Pick 45, Omaha, USHL), Jeremy Lauzon (52, Royun-Noranda, QMJHL), Daniel Vladar (Pick 75, Kladno, CZEREP2), Jesse Gabrielle (Pick 105, Regina, WHL), Cameron Hughes (Pick 165, Uni. Wisconsin, BIG10), Jack Becker (Pick 195, Mahtomedi, HIGH-MN), Martin Jones (Los Angeles Kings), Colin Miller (Los Angeles Kings)

OUTS: Milan Lucic (Los Angeles Kings), Dougie Hamilton (Calgary Flames), Carl Soderberg (Colorado Avalanche)

Oh dear.. I’m not sure if the rebuild is on in Boston or not. Lucic especially is a bit of a cap dump and Martin Jones should be a credible backup to Tuukka Rask, but Dougie Hamilton? Apparently was offered a big money deal by the Bruins before the trade was made, but, would have probably earned the Bruins more in return, if another franchise signed him as an RFA. They may have drafted okay, but still a sour taste in the mouths of Bruins fans.

2015 DRAFT RATING: D

Arizona Coyotes

2015 NHL Entry Draft – Arizona Coyotes

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INS: Dylan Strome (Pick 3, Erie, OHL), Nicholas Merkley (Pick 30, Kelowna, WHL), Christian Fischer (Pick 32, USA U18, USHL), Kyle Capobianco (Pick 63, Sudbury, OHL), Adin Hill (Pick 76, Portland, WHL), Brendan Warren (Pick 81, USA U18, USHL), Jens Looke (Pick 83, Brynas, SWE), Conor Garland (Pick 123, Moncton, QMJHL), Erik Kallgren (Pick 183, Linkoping Jr., SWE-Jr.), Nicklas Grossmann (Philadelphia Flyers), Chris Pronger (Philadelphia Flyers)

OUTS: Sam Gagner (Philadelphia Flyers)

The Pronger trade. Hmmmm. I guess they pick up Grossmann, who will help them defensively and trade away a player whom they were going to buy out of his contract anyways, so it’s always a good trade in that sense. Dylan Strome will be the future star C of the franchise, but they may not be until three years from time. On the rebuild, but didn’t really do any harm. Besides Chris Pronger.

2015 DRAFT RATING: B-

Anaheim Ducks

2015 NHL Entry Draft Recap – Anaheim Ducks

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INS: Jacob Larsson (Pick 27, Frolunda Jr., SWE.Jr.), Julius Nattinen (Pick 29, JYP 2, FIN 2), Brent Gates (Pick 80, Green Bay, USHL), Deven Sideroff (Pick 84, Kamloops, WHL), Troy Terry (Pick 148, USA U18, USHL), Steven Ruggiero (178, USA U18, USHL), Garrett Metcalf (179, Madison, USHL), Carl Hagelin (New York Rangers), Anton Khudobin (Carolina Hurricanes)

OUTS: Kyle Palmieri (New Jersey Devils), Emerson Etem (New York Rangers), James Wisniewski (Carolina Hurricanes)

The addition of Hagelin for Etem adds a bit more speed in the lineup and it seems he will replace Matt Beleskey in the squad, who looks destined to leave via Free Agency. Wisniewski was an added spare for the playoff run, so trading him for Khudobin is a plus. Khudobin is against John Gibson to play as backup to Frederik Andersen.

2015 DRAFT RATING: B

That Damn Hockey Blog

The NHL Draft becomes a goaltending trade-deadline frenzy

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Another year, another draft. 210 players have taken the next step in their hockey journey, by being selected by a National Hockey League franchise, with dreams of one day playing in the NHL.

However, this year’s draft, not only gave us it’s fair share of surprises in regards to whom gets drafted where, but it also turned into a mini trade-deadline, with a number of goaltenders especially, changing teams and suring up the net’s of several teams.

The Edmonton Oilers did exactly what everyone expected and drafted Connor McDavid (Erie – OHL) first overall. McDavid joins Taylor Hall, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle and Nail Yakupov, in what should be a dynamic top 6. That wasn’t all the Oilers action during the draft. They also sent picks 16 (Matthew Barzal,  Seattle – WHL) and 33 (Mitchell Stephens, Saginaw – OHL) to the New York Islanders, for young defensemen Griffin Reinhart, as well as trading for Eric Gryba, from the Ottawa Senators, for pick 106 (Christian Wolanin, Muskegon – USHL).  These two defensemen are joined by former New York Rangers backup goaltender, Cam Talbot, who was acquired in a trade. This helps the Oilers address some problems they had last season. Their defensive core looks a lot stronger, with Reinhart and Gryba, joining Ference, Oskar Klefblom and Darnell Nurse, with Cam Talbot competing for the starting goalie job, with Ben Scrivens.

Does this mean the Oilers are a playoff contender next season? Well, if Talbot shows his might as a starter, if the defense can stand up and if Connor McDavid proves to be the next big thing, then the Oilers could just surprise.

Dallas gave Kari Lehtonen some much needed help in net, by acquiring the rights to upcoming UFA, Antti Niemi, from the San Jose Sharks, for a 7th Round pick. If he signs, Niemi and Lehtonen become a potential one-two punch in net for the Stars. Lehtonen isn’t the kind of ‘tender who starts 65-70 games and with 2 quality goaltenders sharing the load, it takes the pressure off the other and hopefully adds those 10-15 wins that Lehtonen/backups didn’t have last season. Which only helps the Stars, if Lehtonen’s groin decides to play up again.

Ottawa has an excess of goalies, due to the late season form of Andrew Hammond and Buffalo needed a goaltender to play behind Jack Eichel and Evander Kane. Enter Robin Lehner. Lehner, along with David Legwand, were traded to the Sabres, for pick 21. The Sabres had two picks on the first round, with pick 2 being used to draft Eichel, and the second moved to grab themselves their starter for the near future. Along with Lehner, Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn were acquired from Colorado for Nikita Zadorov, Mikhail Grigorenko, J.T. Compher and Pick 31. Colorado dump a contract they didn’t really want on their books in O’Reilly and Buffalo’s top 6 becomes that much better and younger. O’Reilly, 24, joins Evander Kane, 23, Eichel, Tyler Ennis, 25 and Matt Moulson, 31, in a forward core that could become a very potent top end for years to come.

New York compensated for trading away Cam Talbot, by acquiring Antti Raanta from Chicago. Raanta was the third string behind Corey Crawford and Scott Darling and received forward Ryan Haggerty in exchange. Eddie Lack became the new backup to Cam Ward in Carolina, after moving from Vancouver for a 2015 3rd and 2016 7th, leaving Anton Khudobin to join Anaheim’s goaltending core of Frederik Andersen and John Gibson. The Ducks only giving up spare defensemen James Wisniewski in return.

So what do these trades mean? Well, Devan Dubynk got signed by the Minnesota Wild at a cap hit of $4,333,333 a season for six years, it leaves the best UFA Goalie as Karri Ramo, with Braden Holtby (Washington), Jake Allen (St. Louis) and Jonathan Bernier (Toronto) as the best RFAs, and for a franchise like the San Jose Sharks, this doesn’t leave many options. After trading away the rights to Antti Niemi, this only leaves them with Alex Stalock as a possible starter, with Troy Grosenick as backup. Will this mean, that they make a big money offer at an RFA, or do they make a trade for someone like a John Gibson at Anaheim, who looks like becoming the number three? Only time will tell.

General

Bored Hockey Fan congratulates..

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Bored Hockey Fan congratulates the Manchester Monarchs and the Chicago Blackhawks, for winning the American Hockey League’s Calder Cup and NHL’s Stanley Cup respectively.

Manchester, the AHL affiliate team of the Los Angeles Kings, defeated the Utica Comets (Vancouver’s AHL affiliate) in best of seven series, 4 games to 1, after a 2-1 victory in Game 5. The goals were scored by Kings prospect Adrian Kempe, and defensemen Vincent LaVorde. This is the final season on the Monarchs in the AHL, before they move to the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), starting in the 2015-16 season.

Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Duncan Keith and Patrick Kane scored to earn the Chicago Blackhawks their third Stanley Cup in six years. They defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, securing the Cup for the first time at home, since 1938. With their third Cup victory in six seasons, the Blackhawks could have just become this generation’s version of a dynasty team.