The NHL’s Entry Draft will begin June 25, and the focus is upon the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins, who hold the top two picks in the first round.
Canadian Junior stars Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin are considered the top two prospects in this year’s draft but it’s anyone’s guess as to which order they’ll be selected.
Central Scouting ranked Seguin as the top overall prospect but other rankings have made Hall the better player. Both however are considered “can’t-miss” prospects expected to make their NHL debuts next season.
What could be a factor in determining which one goes first overall is their position. Hall plays left wing while Seguin is a center.
It’s widely believed the Oilers, with the first overall pick, could select Hall, who starred with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, leading all playoff scorers as the Spitfires won this year’s OHL championship.
That’s led to speculation the Bruins, already deep at center and in need of scoring wingers, were trying to “flip” picks with the Oilers in hopes of drafting Hall.
Swapping of picks isn’t an unusual occurrence but those moves usually happen in the later rounds, and the dealing of picks in the top five rarely happens.
While there’ll likely remain lots of media and blogosphere talk about possible big-time moves of the top picks, don’t be surprised if the teams retain their first-round selections.
The general managers of both clubs have denied such talks have taken place but that probably won’t quell the rumor mill leading up to the draft.
Of course, if the Oilers select Seguin that’ll make things much easier for Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli. Don't expect him to trade his pick or select someone else if the Oilers take Hall. He’ll select Seguin and look at other means of addressing their depth on the wing.
Chiarelli recently told reporters he’s only received one good offer for the second overall pick, which he acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Phil Kessel trade last September, but maintains he has no intention of trading it.
He also dismissed a ridiculous internet rumor which had him moving the pick to Ottawa for Senators center Jason Spezza, saying he’s had no contact with Senators GM Bryan Murray.
If Chiarelli moves a first-round pick it’ll probably be the 15th overall or perhaps the Leafs' first round pick in 2011, which he also got in the Kessel deal.
• Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson recently denied rumors he was willing to entertain offers for his first-round pick, which is fourth overall.
That hasn’t quieted speculation he’d do so for the right price -- either a veteran puck-moving defenseman or depth at center -- but one suspects that asking price will be expensive, probably too expensive for most teams to do.
• Four teams lacking picks in this year’s draft are the Maple Leafs, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers, having dealt them away in trades over the last two years.
The front offices of the Flames, Devils and Flyers aren’t expected to try to pursue a first-rounder. Flames GM Darryl Sutter recently told the Calgary Herald he’s looking to move up in the draft but not for a first-rounder, preferring instead to land a pick in the second round.
Leafs general manager Brian Burke, however, is believed seeking either a first-round pick and/or a quality young NHL player.
Rumors had him offering veteran blueliner Tomas Kaberle to the Blue Jackets for the fourth overall pick but reports out of Columbus suggest that’s not going to happen unless Burke sweetens the pot by adding young blueliner Luke Schenn or prospect forward Nazim Kadri, two youngsters he’s probably unwilling to part with.
