Corey Tropp has signed with the Buffalo Sabres, forgoing his final season at Michigan State.
Tropp, who led the Spartans with 20 goals and 42 points in 37 games last season, is the third player this offseason to leave the team with eligibility remaining.
Jeff Petry and Andrew Rowe also signed pro contracts.
“Obviously, we are going to miss a player of Corey’s caliber in the lineup,” Michigan State coach Rick Comley said in a statement. “This, though, is the reality of college hockey — good players are leaving school after their sophomore and junior seasons. We wish him the best as he pursues his dream to play professional hockey.”
Tropp was a fifth-round pick of the Sabres in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
He was suspended by the team for the final part of the 2008-09 season after slashing Michigan’s Steve Kampfer, a penalty that resulted in two game disqualifications.
Bethel didn’t have to look far for its next men’s hockey coach.
Charlie Burggraf, the Royals’ women’s hockey coach, is moving over to lead the men’s program.
He replaces Joel Johnson, who became an assistant coach with the Minnesota women’s program.
Burggraf led the Bethel women’s team to a 37-51-9 record in four seasons. He was named the MIAC coach of the year in 2009.
“I am excited to have Charlie move into this position,” Bethel athletic director Bob Bjorklund said in a statement. “He has established himself as a valued and respected member of the athletic department. He has done a remarkable job in creating a culture of success within his team, and he has made a mark on the Bethel community with his devoted effort and charismatic spirit.”
Burggraf played for North Dakota from 1975 to 1979, scoring 52 goals and 154 points.
Denver has promoted Steve Miller to associate head coach.
Miller has been an assistant to coach George Gwozdecky for the last 19 seasons, three at Miami and 16 at Denver.
“Steve Miller has been a trusted friend and confidante for 19 years,” Gwozdecky said in a statement. “He is recognized as one of the finest recruiters, coaches and teachers in all of college hockey. Steve is highly respected by our former players as well as many of our rivals. He is a major reason that the Pioneer hockey program continues to contend for championships every season and is truly deserving of this opportunity and title.”
In 2009, Miller was the winner of the Terry Flanagan Award, an honor given by the American Hockey Coaches Association to recognize an assistant coach’s career body of work.
Dr. G. Steven Larson has been named the new commissioner of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association, the league office announced Friday. Larson succeeds Terry Brand as the fourth commissioner in league history.
“I am very honored and excited to be part of the MCHA,” Larson said in an MCHA press release. “All of my dealings with the institutions and administrative staff have been extremely positive. The dedication and enthusiasm of all concerned is very apparent.”
Larson has served since 2006 as the executive director/commissioner of the Northern Athletics Conference, a multisport D-III conference which includes MCHA members Marian, Milwaukee School of Engineering and Concordia (Wis.) Before his current position, Larson spent 11 years as the executive director/commissioner of the Lake Michigan Conference while also serving in Madison, Wis., as the athletics director at Edgewood College.
“The passion for hockey and the welfare of the student-athletes jumps out at you!” Larson said. “The emphasis on both the academic and athletic success of the student-athletes reflects positively on all of the MCHA institutions and the NCAA.”
“Steve Larson is an excellent choice as the new commissioner for the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association,” said Jeff Docking, president of Adrian College and current presidential contact for the league. “He is very familiar with our member institutions, he has considerable experience in working with the NCAA and he clearly understands the priority and importance of academics for all student athletes in our conference.”
Larson is currently president of the NCAA Division III Commissioners Association, is on the executive committee and is a past president of the National Association of Division III Athletic Administrators, and has served on numerous committees with the NCAA, including the NCAA D-III Men’s Basketball and Baseball National Committees.
Prior to his move to an administrative role, Larson was a college coach and was named to the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2009. He led his teams to a 362-216 record in 20 consecutive winning seasons at Edgewood and has the distinction of having led teams to national tournaments in the NSCAA, NAIA and NCAA.
“The MCHA has positioned itself to take the next step forward in terms of competitiveness on a national basis, as Adrian College reached as high as the top-four in the national rankings and, along with Marian University, competed favorably with other nationally ranked teams,” Larson said. “Thanks to the dedication and leadership of the directors of athletics, President Docking, Dan Harris – the original president and founder of the league, the MCHA staff, and the coaches, the future is very bright for the MCHA. I look forward to working with all concerned to take the MCHA to the next level.”
“The MCHA is growing and improving quickly and Steve Larson is the individual that can move us quickly to higher levels of excellence,” Docking said. “I am delighted that he has accepted this position and will be available to guide our league for many years to come.”
The official film of the 2010 Frozen Four will make its television premiere at 8 p.m. Wednesday on NHL Network.
Narrated by Hall of Fame announcer Mike Emrick, the video includes behind-the-scenes access at Ford Field, where Boston College beat Wisconsin for the national championship.
The final stops along the road to Tampa will look pretty familiar.
The 2012 NCAA men’s regionals have been set, with Bridgeport, Conn.; Worcester, Mass.; Green Bay, Wis.; and St. Paul, Minn., being the four sites.
All have hosted regionals in recent years; Bridgeport and Green Bay will host two years in a row, including 2011. It also continues a trend of regionals going to buildings that are both off campus and feature NHL-sized rinks.
The winners from those four regionals will advance to the Frozen Four at St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla.
The West Regional will be at the Xcel Energy Center as opposed to the smaller, on-campus Mariucci Arena, a Minnesota spokesperson said Monday.
The Xcel Center hosted the West Regional last season, but without Minnesota in the field, it drew an average of only 7,232 in the 18,064-seat venue that is also set to host the 2011 Frozen Four. The WCHA Final Five a week earlier in the same building claimed an average attendance of 14,307 over five games.
2012 will be the fourth straight season the Twin Cities have hosted a part of the NCAA postseason. Minnesota drew a regional at Mariucci Arena in 2009.
Green Bay’s Resch Center also hosted a Midwest Regional in 2006, with an average attendance of 7,973 over two days in the approximately 8,800-capacity building, bolstered by the presence of Wisconsin.
Fairfield and Yale are co-hosting the East Regional at Bridgeport Arena at Harbor Yard, which averaged 12,717 over two days in the 2009 tournament.
Holy Cross will host the Northeast Regional at Worcester’s 14,800-seat DCU Center, site of a 2010 regional that drew an average of 6,313 over two days.
The three games at DCU Center, formerly known as the Centrum Centre, will give it 39 NCAA tournament games, which will tie the Broadmoor World Arena for first in NCAA hockey history.
The regionals are scheduled for March 23-25, 2012. 2011 regionals are scheduled for Bridgeport (East); Manchester, N.H. (Northeast); Green Bay (Midwest); and St. Louis (West).
The NCAA has not held or scheduled a regional on campus or on Olympic-sized ice since the 2009 event at Mariucci Arena.
LOS ANGELES — The following college players or recruits were chosen in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft:
(I) = Incoming Recruit (*) = No Longer With Team
Round One
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
14 St. Louis Jaden Schwartz, C (I) Colorado College (WCHA)
15 Los Angeles Derek Forbort, D (I) North Dakota (WCHA)
19 Florida Nick Bjugstad, C (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
20 Pittsburgh Beau Bennett, RW (I) Denver (WCHA)
21 Detroit Riley Sheahan, C Notre Dame (CCHA)
24 Chicago Kevin Hayes, RW (I) Boston College (HEA)
28 San Jose Charlie Coyle, C/RW (I) Boston University (HEA)
30 New York Islanders Brock Nelson, C (I) North Dakota (WCHA)
Round Two
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
31 Edmonton Tyler Pitlick, C Minnesota State (WCHA) (*)
37 Carolina Justin Faulk, D (I) Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
38 New Jersey Jonathon Merrill, D (I) Michigan (CCHA)
50 Florida Connor Brickley, C (I '11) Vermont (HEA)
53 Carolina Mark Alt, D (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
54 Chicago Justin Holl, D (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
59 Minnesota Jason Zucker, LW (I) Denver (WCHA)
60 Chicago Stephen Johns, D (I) Notre Dame (CCHA)
Round Three
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
67 Carolina Danny Biega, D Harvard (ECAC)
69 Florida Joe Basaraba, RW (I) Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
74 St. Louis Max Gardiner, C (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
77 Dallas Alexander Guptill, LW (I) Michigan (CCHA)
80 Pittsburgh Brian Rust, RW (I) Notre Dame (CCHA)
82 New York Islanders Jason Clark, C/LW (I) Wisconsin (WCHA)
88 San Jose Max Gaede, RW (I '11) Minnesota State (WCHA)
Round Four
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
92 Florida Sam Brittain, G (I '11) Denver (WCHA)
103 Calgary John Ramage, D Wisconsin (WCHA)
108 Calgary Bill Arnold, C (I) Boston College (HEA)
113 Montreal Mark MacMillan, F (I '11) North Dakota (WCHA)
114 New Jersey Joe Faust, D (I) Wisconsin (WCHA)
115 Vancouver Patrick McNally, D (I '11) Harvard (ECAC)
118 Tampa Bay James Mullin, C/RW (I '11) Miami (CCHA)
Round Five
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
122 Anaheim Christopher Wagner, RW (I) Colgate (ECAC)
123 Florida Zach Hyman, C (I) Michigan (CCHA)
127 San Jose Cody Ferriero, C (I) Boston College (HEA)
135 Boston Justin Florek, LW Northern Michigan (CCHA)
136 San Jose Isaac MacLeod, D (I) Boston College (HEA)
140 Pittsburgh Kenny Agostino, LW (I '11) Yale (ECAC)
142 Washington Caleb Herbert, C (I) Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
148 Los Angeles Kevin Gravel, D (I) St. Cloud State (WCHA)
149 Philadelphia Michael Parks, RW (I) North Dakota (WCHA)
150 Atlanta Yasin Cisse, RW (I) Boston University (HEA)
Round Six
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
156 Tampa Bay Brendan O'Donnell, C (I) North Dakota (WCHA)
160 Atlanta Tanner Lane, F (I '12) Nebraska-Omaha (WCHA)
165 Boston Zane Gothberg, G (I '12) North Dakota (WCHA)
168 Nashville Anthony Bitetto, D (I) Northeastern (HEA)
177 Anaheim Kevin Lind, D (I) Notre Dame (CCHA)
179 Philadelphia Nicholas Luukko, D (I) Vermont (HEA)
180 Chicago Nick Mattson, D (I '11) North Dakota (WCHA)
Round Seven
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
183 Florida R.J. Boyd, D (I) Sacred Heart (AHA)
184 Columbus Martin Ouellette, G (I) Maine (HEA)
185 New York Islanders Cody Rosen, G Clarkson (ECAC)
188 San Jose Lee Moffie, D Michigan (CCHA)
192 Anaheim Brett Perlini, RW Michigan State (CCHA)
196 Ottawa Bryce Aneloski, D (I) Nebraska-Omaha (WCHA)
197 Colorado Luke Moffatt, C (I) Michigan (CCHA)
199 Atlanta Peter Stoykewych, D (I) Colorado College (WCHA)
200 San Jose Christopher Crane, RW (I) Ohio State (CCHA)
201 Detroit Benjamin Marshall, D (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
202 Edmonton Kellen Jones, F (I) Quinnipiac (ECAC)
203 Buffalo Christian Isackson, RW (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
210 Boston Zach Trotman, D Lake Superior State (CCHA)
MONTREAL, Que. — The following college players or recruits were chosen in the National Hockey League’s 2009 entry draft:
(I) = Incoming Recruit (*) = No Longer With Team
Round One
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
16 Minnesota Nick Leddy, D (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
18 Montreal Louie Leblanc, F (I) Harvard (ECAC)
19 New York Rangers Chris Kreider, F (I 2010) Boston College (HEA)
22 Vancouver Jordan Schroeder, F Minnesota (WCHA)
26 Anaheim Kyle Palmieri, F (I) Notre Dame (CCHA)
28 Chicago Dylan Olsen, D (I) Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
Round Two
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
36 Phoenix Chris Brown, F (I) Michigan (CCHA)
38 Dallas Alex Chiasson, F (I) Boston University (HEA)
41 Nashville Zach Budish, F (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
43 San Jose William Wrenn, D (I) Denver (WCHA)
44 Florida Drew Shore, F (I) Denver (WCHA)
51 Carolina Brian Dumoulin, F (I) Boston College (HEA)
56 Columbus Kevin Lynch, F (I) Michigan (CCHA)
59 Chicago Brandon Pirri, F (I) Rensselaer (ECAC)
Round Three
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
63 Pittsburgh Ben Hanowski, F (I) St. Cloud (WCHA)
67 Florida Josh Birkholz, F (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
69 Dallas Reilly Smith, F (I) Miami (CCHA)
71 Edmonton Troy Hesketh, D (I 2011) Hamline (MIAC)
79 Montreal Mac Bennett, D (I 2010) Michigan (CCHA)
83 Vancouver Kevin Connauton, D Western Michigan (CCHA)
89 Chicago Daniel Delisle, F (I) Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
91 Phoenix Michael Lee, G (I) St. Cloud (WCHA)
Round Four
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
98 Nashville Craig Smith, F (I) Wisconsin (WCHA)
99 Edmonton Kyle Bigos, D (I) Merrimack (HEA)
100 Ottawa Chris Wideman, D Miami (CCHA)
110 Nashville Nick Oliver, F (I) St. Cloud (WCHA)
113 Vancouver Jeremy Price, F (I) Colgate (ECAC)
114 New Jersey Seth Helgeson, F (I) Minnesota (WCHA)
115 Washington Patrick Wey, F (I) Boston College (HEA)
116 Minnesota Alexander Fallstrom, F (I) Harvard (ECAC)
Round Five
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
123 Pittsburgh Alex Velischek, D (I) Providence (HEA)
124 Colorado Kieran Millan, G Boston University (HEA)
128 Toronto Eric Knodel D (I 2011) New Hampshire (HEA)
134 Buffalo Mark Adams, D (I 2010) Providence (HEA)
135 Florida Corban Knight, F (I) North Dakota (WCHA)
137 Columbus Thomas Larkin, D (I) Colgate (ECAC)
138 Florida Wade Megan, F (I) Boston University (HEA)
144 New Jersey Derek Rodwell, F (I 2010) North Dakota (WCHA)
146 Ottawa Jeff Costello, F (I) Notre Dame (CCHA)
150 Detroit Nick Jensen, D (I 2010) St. Cloud (WCHA)
Round Six
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
152 New York Islanders Anders Lee, F (I 2010) Notre Dame (CCHA)
158 Toronto Jerry D'Amigo, F (I) Rensselaer (ECAC)
159 Dallas Curtis McKenzie, F (I) Miami (CCHA)
164 Buffalo Connor Knapp, G Miami (CCHA)
169 Montreal Dustin Walsh, F (I) Dartmouth (ECAC)
173 Vancouver Joe Cannata, G Merrimack (HEA)
177 Chicago David Pacan, F (I) Vermont (HEA)
Round Seven
Pick NHL Team Name, Pos School (Conference)
182 Minnesota Erik Haula, F (I 2010) Minnesota (WCHA)
183 Tampa Bay Kirill Gotovets, F (I 2010)Cornell (ECAC)
184 Columbus Gus Young, D (I 2010) Yale (ECAC)
190 Ottawa Brad Peltz, F (I 2010) Yale (ECAC)
191 Ottawa Michael Sdao, D (I) Princeton (ECAC)
192 Nashville Cameron Reid, F (I 2010) St. Cloud State (WCHA)
195 Chicago Paul Phillips, D (I) Denver (WCHA)
196 Philadelphia Oliver Lauridsen, D St. Cloud (WCHA)
198 Los Angeles Nic Dowd, F (I 2010) St. Cloud (WCHA)
199 Montreal Michael Cichy, F (I) North Dakota (WCHA)
202 St. Louis Maxwell Tardy, F (I 2010) Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA)
203 Atlanta Jordan Samuels-Thomas, F (I) Bowling Green (CCHA)
206 Boston Ben Sexton, F (I 2010) Clarkson (ECAC)
The Carolina Hurricanes swept up three college players in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft: Justin Faulk (Minnesota-Duluth), Mark Alt (Minnesota) and Danny Biega (Harvard). The three have a lot in common: They’re all defensemen, all committed to the NCAA, and all have family members that are tied to the world of sports.
Biega’s brothers play at Harvard (Alex was drafted 147th overall by Buffalo in 2006), and Alt’s father, John, was a pro football player for the Kansas City Chiefs. But Faulk was the college kid who got picked up first in Saturday’s second round, 37th overall.
Faulk caught the eye of the Hurricanes earlier than expected as he was sitting 56th on Central Scouting’s final list even though Biega was higher at 46th and Alt at 37th (the latter were drafted 67th and 53rd, respectively).
The 6-foot, 196-pound defenseman has a cousin, Marco Peluso, who was a Bulldogs skater from 2002 to 2005, which influenced him to like Duluth at a young age. He credits his mother, Gail, for the success he’s had in his hockey career thus far because she did everything possible to help him live out his dream.
“My mom started having me skate when I was 3 years old,” Faulk said. “I have an older brother David who is 22, a few years older than me, and [even though he never played in college or was drafted], I grew up kind of watching him. I actually didn’t start playing hockey until I was 6 years old and I watched him all the time and he got me into it.”
Faulk grew up in South St. Paul, Minn., the same place that produced former NHLer Phil Housley, the defenseman known to be one of the state’s best players of all time.
The 18-year-old came from the U.S. National Team Development Program, where he scored 33 points (21 goals, 12 assists) in 60 games last season, leading the team with 14 power-play goals as a defenseman. At 17, Faulk was the youngest player invited to the World Junior selection camp during the winter, and he also collected a gold medal at the 2010 Under-18 World Championships in Belarus in April.
They may not have been blood relatives, but the brotherhood and memories Faulk formed with his USA teammates will last a lifetime.
“I think I’ll miss the group of guys I was with,” he said. “The 22 guys there were my best friends for two years there. We had fun; it was kind of like a brotherhood. We’ll be friends for life.
The NTDP boys (12 of whom were drafted this year) hung out all the time and still stay in touch. They even handed out a few superlatives at the end of the year to each other as well.
“I got Most Likely To Be a Zamboni Driver,” Faulk said. “I think I got that because a lot of the guys just know I love to be around the rink and hang out. I love hockey and that’s just kind of the way I am as a person.
“But memory-wise, winning the gold medal in Belarus this past spring was definitely one of the best memories. We dreamed of that for the last two years as a team. That was our goal from day one. It was just great.”
Another dream of Faulk’s has been to play hockey at Minnesota-Duluth, and he can check that off his list this fall.
“I’m really excited to get up to Duluth in September,” he said. “I actually dreamed of going to Duluth pretty much my whole life, and when I got the chance to go there I was really excited. I think it will be a fun year because we’re going to have a good team. I know all but one of the freshmen coming in this year. I’ve met them all at one point or another, so it’s pretty nice.”
Faulk will jump from one team to another, and in a few years, he hopes to take another leap into the pros and make a new family in Carolina.
“I’m very excited about Carolina,” Faulk said. “I think they have a great organization, a lot of prospects coming up too. I think we’re going to have a great team in a few years. So I’m pretty excited getting drafted by them.”
The NHL bloodlines ran deep in this year’s draft; 29 draftees had relatives who have played on the ice, and there were other prospects with relations to various pro and college sports.
Whether athletic ability and interest is inherited genetically or just emotionally, most everyone involved in the field can agree on how important it is to have people around you that believe in each other and work together toward a common goal.
You can’t get far by yourself in the sports world, and for those young athletes like Faulk whose dreams are coming true, they may be beginning to realize that one of the best parts of life is when your family becomes your friends and your friends become your family.
College hockey’s celebrated opening day of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft was followed by a solid performance in the Draft’s conclusion on Saturday. Eight players with college ties were selected in the second round, giving college hockey a grand total of 17 collegians selected in the top two rounds.
After closing Friday’s opening round with a flurry of collegians making their way to the stage, Saturday’s opening round also opened with a college player, though one that needs an asterisk. Tyler Pitlick, who played last season for Minnesota State, was selected by Edmonton with the 31st overall pick. Pitlick though, has decided to leave the Mavericks next year to play for Medicine Hat in the WHL.
Thus, the first player picked that will be skating on college ice in the fall was Justin Faulk, who played last year for the U.S. National Team Development Program. He was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes with the 37th overall pick. Faulk, who will play for Minnesota-Duluth in the fall, was selected one slot higher than his former NTDP teammate and future Michigan Wolverine, Jon Merrill.
“I for sure thought [Merrill] was going to go earlier than me,” said Faulk. “He was one of my good friends on the team so it was fun [to be selected together].”
Faulk says heading to Duluth is a dream come true, even if it’s not for a full four-year career.
“I’ve pretty much dreamed of going to Duluth my whole life,” Faulk said. “When I got the chance to go there I was really excited. I think it will be a fun year.”
Many besides just Faulk thought that Merrill would be a player with high value, possibly even an opening round pick. In fact, seven collegians ranked below Merrill in the Central Scouting rankings were selected ahead of him during Friday’s opening round. That didn’t bother the defenseman though, who is now headed to New Jersey after being selected 38th overall.
“Obviously, you hope to go as high as you can and be the best you can be,” said Merrill. “But I’m just happy to be here at the Draft and get drafted at all. It’s unbelievable.”
Possibly the most difficult thing for a top prospect that does not get picked in the opening round is the wait. For the last four years, the opening round of the Draft has been conducted as a standalone event, making for an overnight wait for those who don’t walk to the podium during the opening round.
Merrill wasn’t bothered at all, saying that he went to the beach house he and his family are staying at and grilled some burgers.
“It wasn’t tough,” said Merrill. “I was just so happy to be here and overwhelmed with the fact that I was even here. It’s amazing just to be here.”
The fourth player with college ties selected on Saturday was Connor Brickley, who is committed to attend Vermont in the fall of 2011. He was picked by Florida as the 50th selection overall.
“Whatever team wanted to select me, whatever team wanted me, is where I was going to go,” said Brickley, second cousin of former Boston Bruin Andy Brickley. “I’m a little excited about where I was right now, what round, but either way, either round, I’m still excited.”
Four more collegians heard their names called in Saturday’s second round, including a pair of future Minnesota Gophers in Mark Alt (53rd overall to Carolina) and Justin Holl (54th overall to Chicago), who were picked back-to-back.
Similar to Friday’s opening round, Saturday’s second round closed with collegians being selected. Denver freshman-to-be Jason Zucker was chosen with the second to last pick (59th overall) by the Minnesota Wild and the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks tabbed Stephen Johns, who will play for Notre Dame in the fall, with the 60th and final pick of the second round.
The records continued to build for USA Hockey on Saturday in the second round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
After a record 11 American players were taken during the first round of the draft on day one, the Americans had an additional 10 players selected in the second round. The 21 players over the first two rounds tied the all-time two-round record for Americans set in 2007 in Columbus.
Of those 21 players, eight have roots to the National Team Development Program, an arm of USA Hockey. This past year, USA Hockey won both the World Junior Championship and the World Under-18 Championship.
All told, there were 59 Americans taken in the draft, three short of the record 62 that were taken in 2007.
Brickley on the Fast Track to Success
Connor Brickley, who was selected in the second round Saturday, 50th overall by the Florida Panthers, was listed by the NHL as planning to attend Vermont in the fall of 2011. That path to college hockey, though, will be fast tracked, according to the Burlington Free Press.
Brickley is working to complete his studies and enroll at Vermont this fall, which would be a boon to a Catamounts program that finished eighth in the Hockey East regular season last year but upset New Hampshire in the opening round of the playoffs to advance to the TD Garden for the second time in three seasons.
The 6-foot-1 Brickley is known for his speed, something that would be a welcome addition at Vermont.
“Connor’s highly motivated, never takes a shift off and is combative,” said Jack Barzee of NHL Central Scouting. Barzee said he was positive Brickley would be selected by the third round. “Everybody on our staff has seen this kid and they all like him.”
Vermont coach Kevin Sneddon couldn’t provide commentary on Brickley as NCAA rules prohibit coaches from talking about players who have not yet signed a National Letter of Intent, according to Vermont’s sports information department.
Merrill Remained Cool Overnight
Nobody enjoys having his stock value fall during the NHL Entry Draft. But for Jon Merrill, who will attend Michigan next year after having played for the NTDP last season, he took things surprisingly well.
Merrill watched seven college players ranked lower than him by Central Scouting march to the stage during Friday’s first round. By the end of the night, Merrill was the top collegian not to have been drafted.
The young 18-year-old didn’t fret, though.
“[Friday] was really crazy,” said Merrill. “I was out [in downtown Los Angeles] all day. I’m staying out in Venice Beach so I just stayed out here all day. After the draft I just went back and grilled some burgers and hung out at the beach.
“I slept amazing. Venice Beach is awesome. Not too bad at all.”
Now that’s he’s NHL property, after begin selected by New Jersey with the 38th overall selection, the celebration will be pretty similar.
“I’ve gotta go right back to the beach,” he said. “Hang out some more out there. Grill some more burgers, for sure.”
Goaltender, Nets: Hockey and Soccer Find Similar Fans
The World Cup game between Ghana and the United States, though disappointing for the good guys, stole a bit of the show from the NHL Draft on Saturday. The game kicked off in the middle of the third round at 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time and plenty in the press box were following the soccer game as closely as the draft.
Though difficult to identify, three NHL Draft choices were wearing their team’s swag as they sipped soda at the nearby Yard House restaurant watching the U.S. soccer game. Two actually had the wherewithal to actually return to their hotel rooms and switch into U.S. soccer jerseys. Their perfectly clean and newly-received draft hat, though, remained on their heads.
Brotherly Love
Possibly the feel-good brother-brother story of the NHL Draft belonged to the Hayes family. After Kevin Hayes, a freshman-to-be at Boston College, was selected in the first round on the draft on Friday by Chicago, his brother was dealt to the Blackhawks on Saturday.
Jimmy Hayes, who will be a junior at BC, was drafted 60th overall in 2008 by Toronto, but the Maple Leafs shifted his rights to Chicago on Saturday in exchange for the 43rd overall selection. The Leafs picked Bradley Ross with the newly-acquired second-round pick.
The trade, though, could mean a brother-brother combo for the defending Stanley Cup champs some day.
“It’s what brothers would dream of,” said the elder Jimmy Hayes, who was on hand Friday night when his brother became a first-round draft pick. “The only [brothers] I’ve seen do it is the Sedin twins and they look like they have a great time out there.”
If anything, the potential brother duo will keep family members from having to play favorites if the two ever had to meet on opposing clubs.
“Now they don’t have to root against anybody,” said Jimmy. “We can play at BC together and hopefully then in the NHL.”
To the Twin Cities We Go
While this year marked the first time that the NHL draft ever made it to California, next year the event will head to a city with a deep hockey culture.
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft will take place at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. It will be just the second time the draft will be held in Minnesota.
The 1989 NHL Entry Draft was held at the Metropolitan Sports Center in Bloomington, Minn. Matt Sundin, who went on to be a standout player, was the No. 1 overall selection of the Quebec Nordiques, which later became the Colorado Avalanche. Sundin played four seasons for the Nordiques before playing 13 years with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sundin finished his career in 2009 playing for the Vancouver Canucks.
Next year’s NHL Entry Draft will be the second major hockey event held at the Xcel Energy Center after, of course, the 2011 Frozen Four, which will be held there in April.
Bowdoin is turning to a former Polar Bears player to lead its women’s hockey team.
Marissa O’Neil has been named the team’s head coach, replacing Stacy Wilson, who stepped down in May.
O’Neil helped the Polar Bears to a pair of NESCAC Championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances as a player from 2001 to 2005. She coached Williams last season.
“We are excited to have Marissa returning to Bowdoin,” Bowdoin athletic director Jeff Ward said in a statement. “She left as one of the best athletes in Bowdoin history and we’ve watched her coaching career blossom with pride. After she interviewed, it was clear that she has become an exceptional coach. She was the unanimous choice of the committee to lead our women’s hockey program.”
Concordia (Minn.) has fired women’s coach Corey “Ace” Gregg after he was dismissed from a select camp.
Gregg was working at a camp for 15-year-old girls when he was released for “inappropriate behavior,” Barry Ford, the president of hockey operations for Minnesota Hockey, told the Fargo (N.D.) Forum.
Ford told the newspaper that an incident took place between Gregg and an adult female counselor at the camp on June 15. None of the campers was involved, Ford said.
Concordia fired Gregg six days later.
“We all make mistakes and we all suffer consequences from poor choices, but you never like to see it happen among people that you’ve gotten to know and become close with, but we’ve got an obligation to look out for the best interest of our student-athletes and the reputation of our program,” Concordia athletic director Larry Papenfuss told the Forum. “It was on those grounds that the decision was made.”
Assistant coach Joe Vannett has taken over on an interim basis.
The Boston trolley operator at the wheel in a trolley-car crash involving three Boston College players in April has been suspended indefinitely as a result of the incident, the Boston Globe reported.
The newspaper also reported that Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority officials were pursuing perjury charges against Edwin Dieujuste, the operator, for testimony he gave in a hearing about the crash.
The report paints a different picture than what was originally put forth after the April 24 crash.
Goaltender Parker Milner and defenseman Philip Samuelsson and Patrick Wey faced charges of being a minor in possession of alcohol following the crash, TheBostonChannel.com reported at the time.
The three were reported to be among seven in a Jeep Cherokee in Brighton, Mass. The trolley operator reported that the car’s driver, 19-year-old Jane Stanton, pulled in front of the trolley and tried to make a U-turn, causing the collision.
Now, the Globe reported, investigators say the operator was driving 35 mph at the time of the crash. The speed limit at the scene for trolleys is 10 mph.
Still, all of the occupants of the Jeep were held accountable for a $500 open container violation, the newspaper reported.
“The student athletes are not blameless,” Boston College spokesperson Jack Dunn told the Globe. “While we’re pleased to hear that their account appears to be validated by the investigation, they still face university sanctions for underage drinking.”
What could be a better birthday present than getting picked in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft? Not much, for a young hockey player at least. Jaden Schwartz is the 18-year-old birthday boy who got his wish Friday when his name was called 14th overall by the St. Louis Blues.
The Melfort, Saskatchewan, native, who will be attending Colorado College in the fall, was the first collegian drafted. It was somewhat of a surprise since he was sitting in the 28th spot in the Central Scouting rankings, below eight other NCAA-committed players.
Jaden Schwartz will join his brother, Rylan, at Colorado College in the fall (photo: USHL Images).
“It’s a very special moment for me and my family,” Schwartz said with a big grin on his face. “Waiting up there, hopefully getting picked in the first round. I didn’t know where I was going to go, and my heart was racing. It’s my birthday, so it’s a very special gift for me. I couldn’t be happier to be going to an organization like St. Louis.
“I know the rankings at the end of the day are just predictions; you can’t let it bother you. You never know what’s going to happen. I think there are a few surprises already in the draft. If I’m one of them, then so be it. It’s a number at the end of the day, and I’m looking forward to the hard work and the fun work I have to put in to make it to the NHL.”
Our lives are made up of a few defining moments, and the Schwartz family sure knows that. Friday was a good one, but in December 2008, a life-altering moment occurred when Jaden’s older sister, Mandi, a Yale hockey player, was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
Schwartz’s parents were able to make it to the Staples Center, as well as his brother, aunt, uncle, and family friends. Mandi, however, is back in Regina, Saskatchewan, with her fiance and grandmother.
“She’s going to go to Seattle for a bone marrow transplant soon, so she couldn’t make it out to LA with us,” Jaden Schwartz said. “She’s doing chemotherapy right now. I want to say hello to her because I know she’s watching. We’ll see her soon, and she means a lot to every single one of us in the draft, and this is for her.”
The Schwartzes grew up a tight-knit clan, bound together with love for each other and a common passion for hockey.
“My family had a huge passion for the game,” Schwartz said. “I started playing right away, watching my brother and sister play hockey, and I wanted to join them. They are a big part of the reason why I play hockey and where I am today.”
Growing up, Schwartz and his two older siblings always played street hockey and mini sticks in the basement. Their father, Rick, would build an ice skating rink in the backyard, and they’d always be out there.
“Behind in our backyard, and out on the pond every day, whether it was 20 below or 30 below, we’d be out there dressed up,” Schwartz said. “So that is one of the biggest memories as a kid. Going down to the rinks in Saskatchewan were big memories for us, too.”
Schwartz most recently played for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. The league’s forward of the year captured the scoring title with 83 points (33 goals, 50 assists) in 60 games. That’s the most points by a USHL player since Thomas Vanek, and Schwartz is the youngest player to lead the USHL in scoring since 1983.
But hockey accolades aside, education is also an important factor in the Schwartz household. Jaden’s brother, Rylan, just completed his freshman year at Colorado College, and Mandi is enrolled at Yale.
“Education is important to me,” the modest 5-foot-10, 180-pounder said. “My parents are big on education, so that was a big reason why I’m going [the NCAA route] too. Hockey is going to end one day for everyone, so it’s always good to have an education there, too.”
The Schwartzes took a family trip to Colorado a few years ago because Rick wanted to introduce them to the WCHA and college hockey in general.
“I felt like I fit in there at Colorado College,” Schwartz said. “I liked everything about it. I think they need a young, small guy like me with my vision. The biggest thing to work on is my strength. I feel like in development, college hockey is very, very good. I wanted to make sure I had time to develop. I trusted the coaching staff. I liked the intensity of the way they play, and the training is going to help. And I like the speed of college hockey, as well.”
He added, “I actually didn’t see a college game before I went to Colorado College. Growing up in Canada, you don’t get to see the college side of the game. I was very happy I got to do that and see both sides. I felt like it was the best choice for me.”
It’s hard for anyone to know exactly what the Schwartzes are going through unless you’ve been though it yourself, but the hockey community across the nation has played an active role in helping support the family in their time of need. Doctors said Mandi has until September to find a stem cell donor, and the media is getting the word out.
“I think the support really, really helps,” Schwartz said. “With Mandi going through that, it’s always tough. My parents’ moods kind of reflect on how Mandi’s doing, and that kind of reflects on me and my brother’s moods, too. So it’s tough. When you have that support there and everyone’s helping out and doing fundraisers, and all the swabs of people involved to sign up for the registry to find a match, that’s helping. With the Ukranian, German, and Russian background we have, it’s pretty tough to find the right donor. But with more and more people, there is a better chance. It’s going to pay off. It means a lot to us what everyone’s doing.”
The unfortunate circumstances have clouded the Schwartzes’ minds with worry and fear, but also hope. Your family makes you who you are on the inside and out, and sometimes sticking together can be one of the best remedies.
“She just means the world to me,” Schwartz said. “She’s the best sister I could ask for. She’s been close to me her whole life. It’s not easy not having her here. But I know she’s very proud; I’ll give her a call tonight.”
As Schwartz’s 18th birthday came to a close as a new member of the Blues organization, there wasn’t much more to wish for when blowing out those candles. Well, on the other hand, maybe there is one thing.
“Today was definitely something special for me,” he said. “But the biggest birthday gift would really be for my sister getting through this bad time and living a long life ahead of her.”
There were plenty of names tossed around as to which collegian would be the first to walk to the podium in the opening round of Friday’s NHL Entry Draft. But it was the less thought of birthday boy, Jaden Schwartz, who got his ultimate wish.
Schwartz, who will play next season at Colorado College and originally ranked 28th by NHL Central Scouting, surpassed a number of higher-ranked collegiate players to emerge as the 14th overall selection by the St. Louis Blues.
Jaden Schwartz is headed to Colorado College in the fall (photo: USHL Images).
He led a near-banner day for college hockey as nine incoming or current college hockey players were first-round selections. That total is just two shy of 2007, when 11 players with collegiate ties were selected in the opening round.
It was a bittersweet moment for the top selection, Schwartz, who celebrated his 18th birthday on Friday. Schwartz’s sister, Mandi, has a story that is perhaps better known that her brother’s. Mandi is battling leukemia, and the story became a national one recently as the Yale player searches for a bone marrow donor.
“It’s a very special moment for me and my family,” said Schwartz. “Mandi’s back in Regina in the hospital. I just want to say hello to her and that we’ll see her soon. She means a lot to us.”
The jump in the rankings was a bit of a shock to most — including Schwartz, who said he wasn’t really prepared to hear his name called when it was.
“I wouldn’t say I was 100 percent ready,” said Schwartz. “I was waiting and waiting. There were a lot of predictions and I was just hoping for a first-round birthday gift.”
Schwartz was the first U.S. college player to reach the stage but he wasn’t the top American. Goaltender Jack Campbell, who had committed to play at Michigan before changing his mind and heading to Major Junior, was the top American player selected, going to the Dallas Stars with the 10th pick. Cam Fowler, who many thought could be a top-five selection, dropped all the way to 12th when Anaheim selected him.
Though lower that many hoped the first collegian would be picked, not surprisingly, Schwartz’s selection opened the floodgates for collegians.
Immediately after Schwartz, North Dakota freshman-to-be Derek Forbort, the highest-ranked collegiate skater according to Central Scouting, was selected by the home team, the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings, in fact, traded up to get Forbort, swapping picks with Florida to move from 19 to 15.
After Forbort, college hit its superfecta with four straight selections from 19 through 22. Minnesota freshman-to-be Nick Bjugstad, who many thought would be the top collegian, was picked 19th by Florida. Beau Bennett, who will play for Denver in the fall, was selected by Pittsburgh with the 20th pick. Notre Dame’s Riley Sheahan was picked 21st by Detroit and his future teammate Jarred Tinordi, originally ranked 38th by Central Scouting, made a huge jump to No. 22, going to Montreal.
“It’s an honor for sure,” said Bennett, who was selected by the Penguins in his home state of California. “To share this with my family in California is unbelievable.”
Boston College recruit Kevin Hayes went to Stanley Cup champion Chicago at No. 24 (photo: Melissa Wade).
Bennett was able to meet who he hopes is one of his future teammates and his idol, Sidney Crosby.
“That was awesome,” said Bennett. “You watch this guy win a gold medal for Canada and now you’re meeting him and going to the same organization as him.”
Notre Dame’s incoming freshman Tinordi, who made the largest leap among collegians on Friday, said he was overwhelmed with the selection.
“I don’t really know what to say. It’s probably the best moment of my life, so it’s pretty exciting,” said Tinordi. “I made a visit [to Montreal] and I thought that went very well. Talking to my advisors, I knew they were very interested.”
Three additional collegians made their way to the stage before the day ended as Boston College freshman-to-be Kevin Hayes was selected by Chicago with the 24th pick, Boston University incoming freshman Charlie Coyle went 28th to San Jose and Brock Nelson closed out the opening round as the 30th selection of the New York Islanders.
Now the question will turn to how long these players will last. Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson, who has significant stake with two first-round picks in Sheahan and Tinordi, said he doesn’t mind a player leaving early if he’s ready to go.
“I’m extremely excited for both of them going to two Original Six franchises,” said Jackson. “The draft is only the first step for them getting there. They have a lot of work to do to prepare themselves to play at the National Hockey League level.
“If they’re ready [to move to the NHL], I’m good with it. I hate to see guys sign early if they’re going to go play in the American League for several years. It really hurts college hockey. College hockey as done such a great job in the last 15, 20 years as far as developing professional hockey players. The more we dilute it the less we’re going to be developing players. So I hope the National Hockey League works with us to try to make sure we keep the best players there until they’re ready. When they’re ready, nobody in college hockey is going to hold them back if they’re ready to step in and play.”
There was a lot of tension on Friday night at the Staples Center for the 2010 NHL Entry Draft when name after name was called and neither a collegiate player’s — or any American’s for that matter — name was to be heard.
But by evening’s end, there were plenty of high fives among the college hockey and USA Hockey communities.
“It was an exciting day, obviously,” said Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “The neat part for us is that it’s such a wide, varied background in programs and places that these kids came from.”
The wait may have been a nervous one, but Johannson felt certainly that it was worth it.
“To me, it seemed like teams targeted guys they really liked instead of the old ‘best player available’ adage,” Johannson. “It seemed like teams were filling specific needs and you just knew as the draft continued on some of these kids would meet some of those teams’ needs.”
College hockey placed nine players on the podium in the opening round, just two short of the 2007 record of 11. Eleven American players were drafted, eclipsing the record of 10 set in both 2006 and 2007.
“It’s great [to be back on the upswing],” said Johannson. “It’s exciting for our program. It’s exciting for the players involved with it.
“From a college hockey perspective, it’s an exciting day in that so many of these kids that will be playing college hockey next year were high-round picks today.”
Long Wait for American Fowler
The person who probably stressed the most on Friday was American Cam Fowler, who plays for Windsor in the OHL. He was thought by many to possibly go as high as No. 3 but he continuously dropped, and was finally picked up by Anaheim with the 12th selection.
“You know, the wait, no matter what you’re doing, the wait is always hard,” said Fowler. “When you have high expectations for yourself and people are saying certain things and it doesn’t end up working out, it’s tough.
“But I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. I think I came to a great organization who was excited to have me. At the end of the day, that’s all that really matters. You want somebody that’s confident in you and somebody that’s happy to have you aboard.”
In the End, the Beginning was Predictable
So much was made of which player would be taken No. 1 overall. Both Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin were considered similarly strong players. The question was what did Edmonton, which held the No. 1 overall pick, want.
Most knew that Boston, which held the second pick, was high on Hall. The Bruins, already deep at the center position, would’ve liked to have the crafty winger over Seguin. Some thought that the Oilers might use that as leverage for a trade with Boston. But in the end, both clubs held their picks.
Once Hall was selected by Edmonton, the name “SEGUIN” was sewed in gold letters on the back of the Bruins’ spoked “B” sweater.
“I wasn’t surprised or disappointed,” said Seguin. “I think I just came in here really with an open mind. I didn’t have any expectations. I think everyone has their own opinion.
“We’ve seen it all year with whatever scouting service there may be. You know, Edmonton decided to select Hall first overall, and good for him. He deserves it. And I’m happy to be a Bruin.”
Top Collegians Will Still Have to Wait
Though Friday was a great day for college hockey, it wasn’t necessarily the one that some of the players who will be walking college campuses next fall wanted.
Among those is Michigan incoming freshman Jonathon Merrill. Merrill, who was tabbed by Central Scouting as 21st among North American skaters, certainly knew he’d be a borderline first rounder. But what might be most difficult is watching Riley Sheahan (22nd by Central Scouting), Charlie Coyle (24th), Brock Nelson (25th), Kevin Hayes (26th), Jaden Schwartz (28th), Beau Bennett (32nd) and Jarred Tinordi (38th) all go ahead of him.
His wait won’t be too long, though, as all players, coaches and staffs will report back to the Staples Center for the second through seventh rounds of the draft at 10 a.m. Pacific (1 p.m. Eastern) Saturday.
Saturday’s draft coverage in the United States will shift from Versus to NHL Network.
Just hours away from the NHL Entry Draft, pretty much every pundit is trying to make his or her prediction as to which prospect will be selected by which team. This writer will admit, that’s something I’ve never been very good at, but that doesn’t in any way provide good reasoning for why I won’t try once again.
Minnesota recruit Nick Bjugstad could go in the top 10 (photo: Jim Rosvold).
Call it a lack of ambition, lack of deep knowledge or just lack of desire to be wrong 30 times, but this man will make just 10 selections. That said, they’re the top 10 and likely, when the draft’s first day is over, these are the teams, the players and the picks that people will be talking about.
So here goes. Time to see how near or how far to reality I can come. Please, no parimutuel wagering here. There’s no exacta, trifecta or superfecta bets available. The only ones gambling here are the following 10 teams on the selections they make.
So let’s get started.
1. Edmonton
The Oilers can be considered to be in an advantageous or a vulnerable spot. With the first overall selection, you’d think there’s no way that a team can go wrong. But in a year when there are two valid No. 1 picks available in the draft, there’s always the concern that you’ll make the wrong pick. The Oilers, truthfully, need everything. So whether they take Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin, Edmonton will get a player that will make a difference. Which is perfect, unless the player it doesn’t pick turns out to be twice the player. Best of luck, Edmonton.
Selection: Taylor Hall, LW, Windsor (OHL)
2. Boston
The Bruins know that they want Hall, but it’s not any sort of guarantee that he’ll be available. At this point, he’s the player that makes the most sense. The Bruins are center-heavy, something that got worse on Tuesday when they traded for Florida’s Greg Campbell, and are desperate for a dynamic winger that can help improve the offense. That said, it’s hard to believe that the Bruins are going to sell the farm in order to move up to the No. 1 slot to get their man. There will be plenty of players on the table should they try, including Marc Savard and two ex-collegians Tim Thomas and Blake Wheeler. I just have a hard time believing it will happen.
Selection: Tyler Seguin, C, Plymouth (OHL)
3. Florida
The Panthers’ new management has already been active, trading away former third overall choice Nathan Horton for Boston defenseman Dennis Wideman and the 15th overall choice in the first round. But reinforcement along the blue line is a must given that the Panthers ended last season with four rookie blueliners. With Cam Fowler available after the Oilers and Bruins take the draft’s top players, it would be a shock if they didn’t nab the 6-foot-2 blueliner.
Selection: Cam Fowler, D, Windsor (OHL)
4. Columbus
One of the Blue Jackets’ biggest needs is a talented, goal-scoring center. Unfortunately, that’s not what either Central Scouting or the International Scouting Service has up and ready in the selection order. That will likely mean that the Blue Jackets need to make a move off the board and grab a player that maybe isn’t ready for prime time. Not sure how that will suit this club that has plenty of pipeline talent but not enough on the roster to translate to success.
Selection: Alex Burmistrov (RUS), C, Barrie (OHL)
5. New York Islanders
This is the 10-year anniversary of what may be the Islanders’ worst draft ever, when GM Mike Milbury passed over a heaping of talented players to grab Boston University’s Rick DiPietro. Don’t expect GM Garth Snow to let pass any talented forward to slow woes in net in this draft. One reason is that there simply isn’t the same talented netminder on the board early in this draft. The other is that the team is much more in need of a talented winger or a physical defenseman.
Selection: Brett Connolly, RW, Prince George (WHL)
6. Tampa Bay
Though the Lightning could use some help at almost any position except goaltending, there’s enough cash tied up at the forward position in Steve Stamkos and Vinny Lecavalier that defense might become the top priority in the opening round. There is the outside chance that Fowler could be available and if so, he’s a lock. But if not, look for the Canadian blueliner Eric Gudbranson, who missed part of this season with both a knee injury and mono, to be the Lightning’s target.
Selection: Eric Gudbranson, D, Kingston (OHL)
7. Carolina
2009-10 was a disappointing season for the Hurricanes after reaching the conference finals a year prior. At the trade deadline, though, many of Carolina’s key players were shipped in return for draft picks, leaving the Canes with 11 picks this weekend. At this point, you have to feel like Carolina will play a numbers game and select the top available player. There’s a possibility of trading away the pick, although with it being the team’s only first-round selection, that would be surprising.
By the time we get to the eighth selection in this year’s draft, it becomes a crap shoot. Atlanta, as almost every team we’ve mentioned thus far, has massive needs. This is a team with plenty of free agents, so the progress in discussion come draft day may dictate its decision.
Selection: Brandon Gormley, D, Moncton (QMJHL)
9. Minnesota
The Wild’s need is simple — find a player who can score. Drafting at No. 9 isn’t likely going to bring a short-term solution, but the ability to grab a quality forward is something that will do for the time being. Developing players is something this team has proven it’s willing to do, selecting Nick Leddy a year ago (even though it ended up trading Mr. Hockey to Chicago earlier this season). In my opinion, though, this could be the best shot for a collegian to go in the top 10.
Selection: Nick Bjugstad, C, Blaine (Minn. High School)
10. New York Rangers
The Rangers’ painful end to the regular season, in which they missed the playoffs on the final day, is probably a little to fresh in the team’s head. But with one of the highest cap impacts from payroll in the NHL, today isn’t really a worry for the Rangers. This is a team that will likely be looking two to three (or more) years down the road when it selects.
Selection: Mikael Granlund (FIN), C, KIFK (Finland Elite League)
