Frederik Andersen of Denmark One of Seven Draft Selections By Carolina on Saturday

Monday, June 28th, 2010

So the Hurricanes had seven draft choices to use Saturday in Los Angeles.

They picked defenseman Justin Faulk of St. Paul, Minn., from the U.S. national developmental program (and a Minnesota-Duluth recruit); defenseman Mark Alt of Cretin-Derham (Minn.) High School (and Minnesota recruit); Harvard defenseman Danny Biega of Montreal; Plymouth Whalers defenseman Austin Levi; left wing Justin Shugg of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and a Windsor Spitfires teammate of No. 1 overall selection Taylor Hall; defenseman Taylor Stahl of Chilliwack of the Western Hockey League; and goalie Frederik Andersen of Herning, Denmark.

Andersen played for Denmark in this spring’s world championships.

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Toronto Maple Leafs Draft Petter Granberg 116th Overall

Monday, June 28th, 2010

The Leafs have drafted Swedish defender Petter Granberg from the Swedish Jr. league with the 116th pick. Granberg was listed as the #21 European prospect by CSB before the draft. He’s 6’2 and 200lbs. Here are some profiles of him: Hockey’s Future, NHL.com and Elite Prospects:

A big and strong stay-at-home defenseman. Granberg plays a very solid defensive game and rarely gets caught out of position. He plays a simple and safe game with the puck. Does not shy away from the rough stuff, but could probably play even more physical. Hockey sense is decent, but Granberg will never be a high-scoring defenseman.

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Day Two Roundup: Minnesota Wild Select Goaltender Johan Gustafsson

Monday, June 28th, 2010

As draft picks were being rattled off in the late rounds of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, there isn’t a lot of activity, other than a few phone calls here and there. Most of the young prospects in the building have already been picked, so a guy like Wild PR man Aaron Sickman doesn’t have a lot to do.

Midway through the sixth round, Sickman was caught off guard when was sitting at the Wild’s draft table, and a young, well-dressed man walked up to his table.

“Hi guys, I’m Johan Gustafsson,” said the Swedish goaltender, who the Wild had just selected with the 159th overall pick.

The whole table was startled, but none moreso than Sickman, who jumped to alert the media and team website that there was another prospect to talk to.

These are the kinds of stories we can tell on Draft Day, because in a few weeks, most of the Wild’s newest members will be names with stats attached to them, as we wait patiently for them to become “NHL-ready.”

Prior to being surprised by Gustafsson, the Wild selected three forwards in the second round on Saturday, giving the Wild four picks in the first two rounds. In the previous three Drafts, the Wild had a grand total of four picks in the first two rounds.

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COYOTES SELECT THREE PLAYERS ON SECOND DAY OF 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT

Monday, June 28th, 2010

Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the team has selected right wing Philip Lane with the 52nd overall pick and center Oscar Lindberg with the 57th overall pick in the second round of the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles. In addition, the Coyotes selected goaltender Louis Domingue with the 138th overall pick in the fifth round of the Entry Draft.

Lindberg, 18, appeared in 30 games for Skelleftea Jr. of the Swedish Junior League last season, recording 14-23-37 and 44 PIM. He led the league in faceoff percentage (60.4%) for the second straight season this year after posting a 63.4 faceoff percentage in 2008-09. The 6-foot, 187-pound Lindberg also appeared in 30 games in the Swedish Elite League last season and collected a goal and an assist.

In 2008-09, Lindberg, a native of Skelleftea, Sweden, registered 14-19-33 and 54 PIM in 38 games with Skelleftea, Jr.

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THN at the NHL Draft: Strong selection of Swedish players in Round 2

Monday, June 28th, 2010

In the 2009 draft, seven elite players were taken from Sweden in the opening round: Victor Hedman, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, David Rundblad, Jacob Josefson, Tim Erixon and Marcus Johansson.

But in 2010, the Swedes were shutout of the opening round. Not that it’s a cause for concern: On Day 2 six players were plucked from Sweden in Round 2 and they bring immense talent to the table that shouldn’t be underestimated.

“People probably figured with the success of the Swedes last year it might be the same thing this year, but I think last year might have been almost a freak of nature with the guys they had – the high, high talent guys – and that’s not taking away from any of the kids who are there this year,” said Todd Woodcroft, a European scout for the Los Angeles Kings based in Sweden.

The second round Swedes have all the potential to make the NHL and each bring their own distinct skillset to the mix:

Oscar Lindberg, C, Phoenix (57th overall): Seventh-ranked European skater by Central Scouting, the versatile Lindberg got a taste of the Elitserien in 2009-10 and should spend all of next season there.
Woodcroft: “A really sharp player. Very good on both sides of the puck. Brought good energy to that team in the elite league. Strong guy, strong character.”

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What They’re Saying About Evgeny Kuznetsov

Monday, June 28th, 2010

What They’re Saying
First Round, 26th overall – Evgeny Kuznetsov, C-LW, Chelyabinsk. Born May 19, 1992 in Chelyabinsk, Russia. 6-foot-0, 172 pounds, shoots left.

Kovalchuk Poised For a Big Payday

Monday, June 28th, 2010

On Thursday, the first day of free agency, the eyes of the sport will be on him.

He’s young, he’s been almost historic as a scorer and he may just be the most sought-after free agent the game has ever seen. There’s even the added intrigue of whether this former No. 1 overall pick will play near his hometown or go elsewhere, like perhaps, a team that makes its home in New Jersey.

No, we’re not talking about you know who. We’re talking about New Jersey Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk.

He may not have the cachet of NBA superstar LeBron James, who will become a free agent on the same day, but Mr. Kovalchuk, at 27, is in a similar position. He has scored 338 career goals and all the active players who have scored more are at least four years older. In his seven full seasons, he’s never finished outside the top 10 in goals scored.

In February, the Devils took a risk and shipped three players and a first-round draft pick to Atlanta for the rights to Mr. Kovalchuk. It was a rental for a superstar player, and now, with unrestricted free agency looming, the Devils will try to sign Mr. Kovalchuk to an extension, though it won’t be easy.

Before the trade from Atlanta, the Thrashers said Mr. Kovalchuk turned down two contact offers—one for 12 years and $101 million and another for seven years and $70 million, which would have given him the highest yearly salary in the NHL…

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Puck Daddy chats with Thrashers’ Burmistrov, Capitals’ Kuznetsov about NHL Draft and their hockey futures

Sunday, June 27th, 2010

Now, here is Kuznetsov, taken by the Capitals:

Q. Was it a surprise for you to be picked in the first round?  Or did you expect it to happen?

KUZNETSOV: Actually no. I was waiting and waiting, and then after about the 20th pick I gave up my hope. I thought I’d have to come back the next day and then Washington picked me. I was waiting to be picked 15th or about there, and then when the 24th pick was traded, and then Chicago picked, I thought ‘That’s it.’ Players I had never heard before were being picked. I thought ‘That’s OK.’ And then the Capitals called my name.

Did you get any hints from teams that they were going to pick you?

Not really. All the teams talked about the same things. They kept saying: ‘Everything is good; you’re a good player; you’re very talented.’ And then none of them picked me but Washington. I remember speaking with Washington at the combine. It was a good talk, but we didn’t talk about hockey at all. We just talked about life in general, that’s all.

What did you feel when George McPhee called your name?

I was so happy. It felt like I dropped a stone from my shoulders. I was just so extremely happy. And then all of a sudden I got nervous. I don’t know why! Until then I was calm. But when my name was announced I just got so very nervous. But then it got better when I went to do interviews. But overall it is such a nice feeling when you have people who believe in you and pick you in the first round.

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McPhee on Kuznetsov: ‘It was unanimous’

Saturday, June 26th, 2010

Moments after drafting Evgeny Kuznetsov with the 26th overall pick, GM George McPhee revealed that he had been willing to trade up as many as 10 spots to nab the player he and his scouts had targeted as their 2010 first round selection.

Turns out he didn’t need to. Kuznetsov was right there when Gary Bettman announced that it was Washington’s turn.

Here’s my story from Staples Center, and here are a few items of interest about the Caps’ newest Russian:

*He can line up at wing or center, though McPhee said the Caps drafted him with the hope he’ll become a play-making pivot.

*He’s listed at 6 foot, 172 pounds (which might be a little generous).

*He scored two goals and notched seven assists as an 18-year-old for Chelyabinsk of the KHL. He really made a name for himself in three international tournaments: world juniors (where he scored two goals in six games with McPhee watching) and two under-18 tournaments in Belarus…..

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Acquisition of Jason Arnott doesn’t take Devils out of Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

Acquisition of Jason Arnott doesn’t take Devils out of Ilya Kovalchuk sweepstakes
Richard Chere The Star Ledger June 19, 2010

Jason Arnott brings size, strength, a powerful shot and experience to the Devils.

The veteran center also brings a $4.5 million salary.

But Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said Arnott’s salary doesn’t take the Devils out of the running to possibly sign both defenseman Paul Martin and winger Ilya Kovalchuk. Both can become unrestricted free agents July 1.

“No. You have to do other things to make room,” the GM said. “We didn’t win. We’re going to have to make some changes. There are going to be some changes that might surprise some people.

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