All updates will appear here at the top of the page... I'll be live from the Scotiabank Place through the first round tonight and all day tomorrow.
8:09 PM
Columbus takes Filatov. He could be scary good.
I wouldn’t have traded down to land a couple later picks if I owned a team on an Island.
Talking to him yesterday you could tell he really wants to play in North America next year.
8:06 PM
Five picks in the first hour. This could be a long night...
Columbus is on the clock now and there were rumours that they were looking to deal too. If somebody wants Filatov bad enough, I think he’s there to be had...
If they keep it, Columbus will draft in the top eight for the ninth straight season
And they won’t.
Columbus trades #19 and #67 to Philadelphia for RJ Umberger and #118.
What a great night of trades.. And we’re only at #6
8:00 PM
High drama in the Nation’s Capital as the Leafs take the stage.
Can’t hear much amidst the “Leafs Suck” chant but I did get that the Leafs took Schenn.
I like the kid. A LOT.
Luke had better get used to getting booed by the Ottawa crowd. First of many..
Schenn played with Tyler Myers and roomed with Shea Weber in Kelowna a few years back.
Nice start to the rebuild by trading up to land the player they coveted.
7:54 PM
And we’ve got another trade. Toronto?
If it’s Toronto, are they trading up for Filatov or Schenn?
Come on we’re dying here... Just tell us Gary...
TELL US.
Please?
Isles trade #5 to Toronto for #7 and either #60 this year and the third next year or #68 and Toronto’s second next year. Are the two picks really worth trading out of the top six? Isles must really love somebody not named Nikita or Luke.
7:51
Gary is lurking nearby on the stage during the commercial break. Looks like another deal and I’m standing by my LA-Schenn prediction. Either that or it’s Toronto-McCabe and a swap of picks, which was another rumour earlier in the week.
Nope no trade yet. False alarm – Isles have one minute to go..
Nobody is getting up from the table. That can only mean one thing...
7:46 PM
St. Louis is up and here comes Jarmo.
And here comes Pietrangelo. I’ve heard mixed reviews – some say he’s Pronger-esque, and others have said he’s a little on the soft side.
7:37 PM
Thrashers take Zach Bogosian. He’ll be a huge asset for that franchise that has never actually had a top d-man.
Back to LA quickly, the Kings now have #12, 32, 61, 63, 81 and 88 to come in the first three rounds for those scoring at home. Will there be one more deal to try and land Schenn?
Another trade. Montreal trades #25 and next year’s 2nd for Alex Tanguay and 5th rounder #138.
Got an e-mail on my Blackberry from my brother: “Wow.. They couldn’t have gotten more for Olli? That’s crazy”
I agree.
And I love my Blackberry. If only I could access this site on it...
7:33 PM
So Olli has two years left at $5.25 mil against the cap.
Boynton’s a UFA after this year at $2.95 mil (cap) and Ballard’s hit is 2.275 mil and then he’s an RFA.
I don’t like that trade at all for Florida.
Another trade..
Actually two!
Pick #17 and 2nd rounder in 09 to Los Angeles for Cammalleri and pick #48.
Anaheim trades #12 to LA for #17 and #28.
So LA gets Doughty and then trades Cammalleri, #28 and #48 for #12 and a 2nd next year.
Steep price but LA had the extra picks to spare.
7:31 PM
Atlanta on the clock. Earlier there were rumours of Toronto landing Montreal’s pick and then combining it with #7 to land the third pick. If Sundin does end up Montreal, Fletcher had better come back from Ottawa with something big to appease the masses.
Here comes the first trade...
Jokinen for Ballard, Boynton and the 49th pick overall. WOW.. Are you Jokin’?
7:26 PM
ONE MINUTE WARNING.
They’re keeping the pick. I’m torn between Bogosian and Doughty. I’m glad I’m not making this choice.. I’m guessing Doughty.
And I’m correct. Doughty’s been the target for a while now and even had the Kings landed #1 I think they would have traded down and still taken Doughty at two.
I still think it’s going to take a ton for anyone to trade out of the top 6.
7:22 PM
Now LA is on the clock and this will be interesting. If I was betting I’d say that they’re trying to figure out a way to get Doughty or Bogosian AND Schenn.
Per Ek: Jokinen to Phoenix – for Ballard and a pick? That’s all you get for Jokinen?
Also, Tanguay to Montreal? And Sundin?
*****
7:17 PM
We’re underway and Bettman gets booed. Tough crowd.
Tampa is on the clock. So much suspense.
Lightning have a big contingency up there. I can’t see Barry though.
Here comes Koules to make the selection. So much for letting the management do their job. Wonder if that will be a recurring theme in Tampa.
Tampa selects...
.. Well you already know. I told you 20 minutes ago. Or at least you would have had I been able to post this.
*****
7:15 PM
Cammalleri to Calgary? That one would make sense. Lombardi is holding the key to the top of the first round right now and if he picked up Calgary’s 1st that will give them three picks in each of the first three rounds – and 11 in the top 101.
Barring a trade, by the time San Jose and Pittsburgh head to the podium for the first time, Dean Lombardi will have selected ten players.
*****
7:00 PM
We’re live on TSN.
Lombardi talking to Sutter. Not sure what that’s about yet. Maybe he’s asking if his brother is interested in coaching the Kings next year. I wonder if Lombardi has any regrets for calling up Eric Ersberg.
And there’s already been a trade apparently but no details from James Duthie. Such a tease...
Now I think we’re going through every player whose every been drafted on the video screen. Let’s get back from this commercial break and start this thing.
211 picks to go.
*****
6:57 PM
Melnyk is still talking. I’m going to go out on a limb and call the #1 pick.
The Tampa Bay Lightning Select.... From the Sarnia Sting... STEVEN STAMKOS.
Stamkos has been compared to Yzerman and his favorite player is Joe Sakic. He spoke a lot yesterday about his desire to make his teammates better and to be a complete player.
ISS rated Stamkos #1 among the top 250 in Skating, Puck Handling, Scoring, Playmaking, Puck Protection and Hardest Shot.
Stamkos will be playing the role of Brad Richards in the ‘four-man hockey team’.
*****
6:51 PM
We’ve been without wireless access for a while which has made it a little difficult to update. We’re just going through team introductions now and we’re minutes away from the start of the 08 Draft.
I’ll continue to update here and will post once we’re back up and running.
Sens were just introduced and they get a huge ovation from the capacity crowd.
And the Leafs get booed. Big time.
It’s pretty amazing to see the whole hockey world out on the floor.
Melnyk is introduced. Can’t really hear what he’s saying but the fans seem to like it.
Must. Have. Internet.
What is happening with Sundin? The #2 pick? Sure all the decision makers are just in front of us but we’re still very much disconnected without our connection.
5:16 PM
To start, here's a chart showing picks by team (may not reflect all deals made in the last 24 hrs but is probably 99.4% accurate as of 5:16 EST) and some pictures from the Top Prospects Media Luncheon yesterday..
Drew Doughty
Nikita Filatov
Luke Schenn
Pietrangelo and Stamkos
Kyle Beach
Tyler Myers
Zach Bogosian
Steven Stamkos
Top Prospects
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