NHL Draft:
- Here’s a closer look at the the three players who are battling it out to be drafted No. 1 Friday evening in Montreal and seven others who have NHL scouts drooling.
- As the hours tick down on the biggest moment of his young hockey life, John Tavares admits to being flattered by Brian Burke’s attempts to make him a Maple Leaf.
- This weekend’s NHL entry draft in Montreal is widely considered to feature the strongest, deepest pool of talent teams have had to choose from in six years and the Red Wings like their chances of landing a future impact player.
- Long an advocate of selecting the best player available, Boston has used recent drafts to stuff its pipeline with talented young forwards. For that reason, they’re considering adding defensemen during this weekend’s draft at Montreal.
- The Penguins are prepared to wait awhile before making their first choice in the NHL entry draft tonight at the Bell Centre.
- Last June, 211 players were picked in the NHL draft, but UND’s Mike Cichy was not one of them.
- For the Devils, the NHL entry draft always has been about assets.
- Size matters. It matters to Carolina Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford, who wants to find some size in today’s draft.
- Best player available is what Dallas plans for its highest pick since 1996.
- Incoming University of Denver freshman Drew Shore, a Denver native, is one of a handful of Front Range players expected to be selected in the two-day NHL draft, which begins tonight.
- With only five picks in this year’s draft, it’s doubtful the Blues have enough to move up in the first round.
- Like a playwright plotting out the second act in his mind, Lightning general manager Brian Lawton has gone through every scenario that could take place as the stage is set for tonight’s first round of the NHL entry draft.
- Tonight in Montreal, Brayden Schenn and Scott Glennie hit prime time before a national audience as the 18-year-old Wheat King linemates are both expected to be selected in the first round
Primary needs of Canada’s six NHL teams in the NHL draft tonight.
Trade Rumors:
- Offer for Kaberle gets Leafs GM attention and he says possible deal is a good starting point for negotiations with all five interested parties. Sticking with the Leafs, might Ryane Clowe and Brayden Schenn be with Toronto by the end of the weekend?
- Eric Duhatachek suggests that Tavares, Hedman et al may not be the only big names finding themselves with a new team by the end of the weekend
- While it’s the Islanders under the spotlight tonight making the long-anticipated top pick in the NHL draft, the Rangers still have the chance to swoop in and make a sizable splash of their own.
- Second biggest day in NHL for player moves. Dany Heatley very well could have a new employer before tonight is over. Unrestricted free agent Jay Bouwmeester could be part of a trade-and-sign scenario.
Free Agency:
- Apparently one of the reasons why the Blackhawks and Martin Havlat haven’t yet agreed on a new contract is the length of the deal.
- What is Kessels’s worth? With all the other big name free agents is he being lost in the shuffle?
- Of all the names been propelled through the jet-engine of the National Hockey League’s pre-draft rumour mill, none was bigger Thursday than Vancouver Canuck goalie Roberto Luongo.
- Barring a sudden development, it appears Calgary Flames forward Mike Cammalleri will not sign a new contract with the club and will put his services on the open market
- The Penguins would like to re-sign Ruslan Fedotenko. Fedotenko seems interested in returning.
Everything Else:
- The future of the Phoenix Coyotes remains in limbo, but several players believe the bankrupt NHL team will stay in Arizona.
- The Wild vows to be an up-tempo, attacking, let-defensemen-roam-free team next season. Jacques Lemaire , who ran a structured, disciplined system during his eight seasons as the Wild’s coach, doesn’t buy it. Not for one second.
- The sale of the Montreal Canadiens to the Molson family continues to raise questions, with many believing the sale process happened too quickly.
- Promotion-relegation gives Canada chance to increase presence on NHL map. Interesting concept.
- A November regular-season game at Olympic Stadium in Montreal will likely replace a second New Year’s Day outdoor game at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium.
- The newly appointed Canadian Olympic men’s hockey coach sat down with The Globe’s Eric Duhatschek for five questions.
Minor Hockey:
- After leaving his hometown of Hillsborough, New Jersey for the better part of the last three years, Anthony Jacaruso is coming back.
- The owners of the Iowa Chops minor-league hockey team have asked for permission to sell the franchise and return a significant amount of the proceeds from the sale to Polk County.
- There are hockey moms. And then there are Chippewa Falls hockey moms. Given the last few weeks of ice time at the Chippewa Area Ice Arena, there’s a big difference.
