2009 NHL DRAFT

Hey! I finally remembered that I have one of these. I thought it would be cool to get back on that proverbial "horse" while posting a blog on the the 2009 NHL Draft's 1st Round up to when the Wild picks. The picks, my reactions, my thoughts and some rumors will be the highlights....here we go....

6:13- The Draft begins from the Bell Center or for those of you in Canada...Le Bell Centre'....The New York Islanders have the first overall pick...several ways they can go...The obvious pick is John Tavares, a very talented prospect...in fact the most talented we have seen since Sid the Kid...they also like Matt Duchene another forward.....I bet they take Tavares

6:18- New York (Islanders) are up....they take...Tavares...No surprise here...he has waited 5 years since he was first identified as a possible 1st overall pick...he is the real deal and the Islanders get a great player here....the Islanders needed him and he will be a great addition to a team that already has some young talent...The thought of him on the same line with Kyle Okposo is scary...they can now compete publicity wise with the Capitals and Penguins...great pick, Tampa Bay is up next

sidenote: The Wild have been in on a few rumors...possibly being in on the Danny Heatley sweepstakes as well as Phil Kessel...wait to see how active new GM Chuck Fletcher will be...Pronger to Philly, how the hell are they going to get that under the cap? We will see...

6:25- Tampa Bay should pick the next big D in the league Hedman....and they do...He is 6 foot almost 7 and has a better all around game then Pronger has at his age...speaking of Pronger...He is the most prepared for the NHL and should step in and be Tampa's number 1 D-man next year...another smart and great pick for the Lightning, Minnesota Wild foe...the Colorado Avalanche are up next

6:31 -Colorado should pick Duchene here and I am sure they will...so far the Draft is falling like most had thought it would...Duchene was a huge Avs fan growing up...this pick makes a lot of sense and of the 3 top guys...The Wild can at least handle playing against him as apposed to Hedman and Tavares...disgusting that the Ducks have 2 First Round picks

6:38- Avs follow the "plan"...they select Duchene...Atlanta is up next...waiting for the wave of "Trades" to get going....Duchene is a HUGE Avs Rube...he is stoked...good for him...Also, when will Toronto's Brian Burke get going?

sidenote: Star Tribune Reporter Michael Russo is reporting that AWOL Peter Kalus is returning to the Wild for next season....more on that at http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/wildblog/

6:45- Atlanta ready to pick...Toronto is hoping they do not take Schenn...his older brother is already on Toronto...Atlanta picks the young and raw Power Forward Evander Kane...He was fun to watch at this past Winter's World Classic Tournament...He was cut before the tournament...went all the way back to his team then got called back to help Canada out later in the tournament...great kid, Los Angeles is up next...this pick could be up for a trade...we will see

6:54 Brian Burke is ticked off...he needs a hug...The Kings take his guy in Brayden Schenn...I think he will become a good Power Forward for the Kings for years to come...scary to think about the Kings with Schenn and Dustin Brown in their lineup, Wayne Gretzky and the bankrupt Coyotes are next

sidenote: Why does every team have to thank the host city? Do they expect to be pen pals after they leave? Would they not be welcome back? Also,

7:00 Phoenix takes something called Oliver Ekman-Larsson, another big Swedish Defenseman...I know nothing about him...people on TV like it...whatever, Toronto is next...I am going with Jared Cowen

7:10 Let the Booing begin, Brian Burke is at the Podium...He takes the guy Ottawa wanted two picks after them...Nazem Kadri, he is a gifted offensive player...not really a Brian Burke "sized" guy but should be a crafty player for the Leafs...LETS START TRADING TEAMS.....BORING...not really

7:17 Dallas is up...as per my continuing "boycott" of all things Stars....all I will say is they pick Forward Scott Glennie...Ottawa next...3 away from the Wild's pick

sidenote: Still waiting to see if guys like Vinny, Heatley, Phil and others are dealt...it will all start I believe with Tampa and what they do with Vinny...everyone else will play catch up if/when something happens...

7:25 Ottawa, with Heatley still...take a big D-man in Jared Cowen...Ottawa took a small Defenseman last year and now they take a big one...Ottawa is building a solid D core for years to come, Edmonton is next followed by Nashville and then Minnesota

7:32 Edmonton is up and I expect them to take the Swedish forward Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, which would make the 3rd Sweed taken in the top 10 picks...and they do take M-P-Svensson...he is a fast and skilled forward that stands over 6 feet tall...I do think that both Edmonton and Colorado, two teams in the Wild's Division, got great picks for their teams in the future...Nashville is next, they love taking American players...could it be Schroeder from the Gophers?

sidenote: The Pronger trade opens the door and all but guarantees that Jay Bouwmeester will be going to either Vancouver or Calgary...Vancouver will be pretty good if they land both Bouwmeester and Gaborik this summer...

7:44 So down the line, Nashville should never allow a goal...they take Ryan Ellis...a small but GREAT Defenseman who is a proven WINNER...another great pick from Nashville...much impressed and a steal at number 11...and now the Wild are on the clock and Schroeder is still there...I expect them to take him or trade down...Good Luck Chuck...cheesy I know...

7:49 Flethcer is taking some calls for the pick...looks like they made a trade with the New York Islanders....if so, I hope we get a 2nd round pick out of this...here are the details...Wild trade pick 12 to the Islanders for picks 16, 77 and 182...more time to wait

7:53 Islanders take a Defeneman, Calvin DeHaan...we will see if this gamble pays off but I believe Buffalo...who has the next pick, will take Schroeder or the Ducks at 15...anyway...its about re-stocking the bare cupboard from the last regime and this is a start....

sidenote: It is the first time in a long time...1990's I believe...that an American was not taken in the top 10

8:02 Sabres do not take Schroeder, they do take one of the nastiest and physical players in the Draft in Zach Kassian...he is a big kid that like to fight...something that the Sabres needed

8:09 Florida is up and they take Dmitry Kulikov, who has fallen a bit in this Draft...you just have to worry about the Russian factor...will he sign a big deal in Russia or an entry deal in the NHL or can he even get out of his current deal to play in the NHL, we will see but he is a very offensive and physical D-man....could be a steal here years down the road...Ducks then the Wild are "scheduled" to pick after that

8:15 Ducks up for the first of their two 1st round Draft picks...the extra was included in the Pronger deal earlier tonight...they need a another Defenseman now...is that where they go...NOPE...Center Peter Holland...so the Wild are again on the clock with Schroeder still there

8:20 It appears Chuck is ready to pick his first player in his new tenure...they are going to pick...WELL, they did take a kid from Minnesota...Nick Leddy is the pick instead of Schroeder...Leddy is a very offensive Defenseman however a bit undersized...we will see if pans out but none the less...the Rubes got a player from Minnesota into the system...I have never agreed with that take...I don't care where the player is from as long as he can help us win...I think there were better players they could have developed or picked over Leddy but I trust Chuck and what he is doing so we will see what happens...I do love though that Chuck was not one of those that "thanked" the city...

Thats it for me...time to try and be a social being and interact with other humans out on a Friday night....it was fun and talk to you soon...well, sooner than the last post I had =)