Well, that was fun.
The Nashville Predators stole the show at the 2014 NHL Draft will a trade that happened, and one that didn’t, and by the way… they also picked up some offensive talent to stock the cupboard in Milwaukee in the upcoming seasons.
The rumors had been flying hot and heavy all day Friday, and frankly I didn’t buy many of them… which is almost always a sign that something is going to happen. David Poile is pretty good a holding his cards close to the vest and the James Neal for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Splaing trade was kept VERY quiet, right up until the time it went down, as Winnipeg went on the clock for the 9th pick.
The shockwaves reverberated throughout Pred Nation… this one was a surprise for a fanbase just getting used to change on a consistent basis. Hornqvist and Spaling are fan favorites in Smashville, hard working, get your nose dirty, not afraid to take punishment type of players. A certain section of the fanbase was screaming for change, and change they have gotten.
The Predators then went on the clock and selected Swiss forward Kevin Fiala from the Swedish elite League at the 11 spot. One of Nashville’s strengths that hasn’t been impacted by the recent coaching change is scouting… especially European scouting and Fiala was very high on the Preds draft list. Fiala, who doesn’t turn 18 until July 26th, is a smallish player but he does possess what scouts call a high end skillset. He has significant international experience, even playing alongside Roman Josi and Simon Moser for the Swiss IIHF World Championship team. ) Saturday dawned with the Twitterverse exploding with news that Ottawa Senator Jason Spezza rejected a trade to Nashville. It had already been well reported that Spezza wants out of the Canadian capital and that he had a list of 10 teams he would not authorize a trade to. Nashville is supposedly on that list. What isn’t clear is if the trade for Neal was the offer for Spezza. Ottawa GM Bryan Murray, clearly frustrated at the events, threw his captain under the bus in going public with the rejection and the relationship between the two is quite evidently fractured.
Not too much later the Predators were on the clock for the first of their two second round picks, for the first time in a long time, selected a Russian-born player in Vladislav Kamenev, a 6’2… winger with tremendous offensive potential. The 17 year old (he turns 18 in August) played for former NHL coach Mike Keenan in the KHL for Magnitogorsk last season. He was also team captain for Russia in last year’s U18 championships, posting seven points in five games. Kamenev plays a two-way, fairly physical game and is known as a great passer.
The fun continued as the Predators traded down their second of their two second round picks, sending pick number 46 to San Jose for their 51st pick and a fourth rounder in next year’s draft. With 51, the Predators reverted to type, going back to the blueline and to the USNTDP, selecting Jack Dougherty. Dougherty was part of the gold medal winning U18 team, posting two goals and two assists in the championship run. He is known as a solid powerplay quarterback with real hockey IQ and a big body that he needs to put some bulk on. He is committed to attend the University of Wisconsin this September.
The Preds went back to the offensive side with their third round pick, trading up to the 62nd overall position, selecting Kelowna Rockets forward Justin Kirkland. Another 17 yr old, he posted 48 points with the Rockets last season and has what some scouts call “limitless potential.… 6’2… and 175 pounds, he certainly has some filling out to do. The Preds traded their 72nd and 102nd picks in this draft to move up to this slot.
Three more selections round out the Predators 2014 class. In the 4th round, Swedish forward Viktor Arvidsson, in the 5th, Finnish defenseman Joonas Lyytinen and the Predators final pick, Aaron Irving, a defenseman from the Edmonton Oil Kings.
All in all, a dramatic weekend and a successful draft for the Predators. You will see most of these picks at the upcoming Development Camp at Bridgestone Arena.
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