NHL’s Draft holds very few surprises
NHL draft unfolds pretty much as scripted, other than a couple of early surprises
The first round of the NHL draft lacked the drama and excitement that comes with a big trade and, to start, it stuck to the expected script.
But after the Buffalo Sabres made Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin the top pick and the Carolina Hurricanes chose Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov second, the Montreal Canadiens answered a need by grabbing Finland’s Jesperi Kotkaniemi third.
“It was probably a little surprise, but I heard they were looking for centres,” said Kotkaniemi, a six-foot-two, 181-pounder. “I hoped that they would choose me and they did, so I’m excited.
“The biggest thing is, it’s a great team. I’m excited to go there.”
The bigger surprise was still to come.
Considered the third-best prospect by many, Czech sniper Filip Zadina was bypassed by the Ottawa Senators, who took Boston University winger Brady Tkachuk fourth, and the Arizona Coyotes, who went with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhound Barrett Hayton in the fifth spot.
The Detroit Red Wings eagerly snapped up Zadina with the sixth pick.
Zadina, who had 44 goals and 82 points this season with the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads, admitted he would remember being ignored by Montreal and Ottawa and use it as extra motivation when he plays those teams in the future.
“Exactly,” said the six-foot, 197-pounder. “I was telling my agent that if they pass on me, I need to fill their net with pucks. I just want to prove to them that they done a bad decision. I’m so glad I’m in Detroit right now. I want to prove to Detroit that they done a good decision.”
“I don’t want to call it that I fall to sixth. It’s a draft. I’m in Detroit, so I don’t care what position. I’m just a Detroit player. I just want prove to Detroit that they done a good decision. I’m just glad I could be here.”
In the only trade of the day, before the draft, the Colorado Avalanche acquired defenceman Brooks Orpik and goalie Philipp Grubauer from the Washington Capitals for a second-round pick on Saturday.
The Senators also made a trade, but it wasn’t Erik Karlsson. Instead, they moved down by sending the 22nd pick to the New York Rangers for the 26th and the 48th, giving them an extra selection on Saturday.
Dahlin was genuinely excited, not just to be picked first overall but because of where he’s going to be calling home.
“It’s amazing,” said Dahlin, a six-foot-two, 185-pounder who has been compared to both Karlsson and former Detroit great Nicklas Lidstrom. “Like, finally, to put on the Buffalo Sabres jersey. I’ve been there twice and I love that city. I can’t wait to get everything started.
“It’s been a long wait,” he added. “You can’t really plan anything, Finally today I can plan my future. I love to call my new town Buffalo.”
Dahlin admitted he was nervous heading into the day, and the prospect of being just the second Swede to ever be picked first. The other was Mats Sundin, by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989.
“There’s a lot of emotions in my body right now, but I can tell I’m proud of myself,” he said. “(Sundin) is a legend in Sweden and the hockey world. It’s kind of weird, but amazing.”
There will be pressure on Dahlin to help lead the Sabres back to respectability, but he said he doesn’t think about it that way.
“The only thing I can do is to bring all I can to that team, to win hockey games,” he said.
Svechnikov, a six-foot-two, 192 pounder, scored 40 goals in 44 games with the Barrie Colts this season. His brother Evgeny is a 21-year old winger with the Detroit Red Wings, but he wasn’t looking to become his teammate.
“I’m happy with Carolina,” said Svechnikov.
“I will try my best. I just want to play in the NHL right now. That’s my dream.”
Kotkaniemi gave a scouting report on himself Habs fans will like.
“I’m mostly a playmaker,” he said. “That’s my thing. But I also have a good shot I need to use a little more. I’m a big guy, I love to go in the corners and battle hard.”
By going fourth, Tkachuk was drafted higher than his brother Matthew (sixth) and father Keith (19th). He’s friends with young Senators Colin White and Logan Brown, as well as defenceman Chris Wideman.
Tkachuk said he wasn’t concerned about the negative headlines concerning the Senators in recent weeks, but rather, he spoke about the team’s “great management” and that he was “super happy” with his visit to Ottawa,
In the next couple of days, he’ll think about whether he’s coming out of school early or staying at Boston University. If it’s the former, he could very well step into the NHL next season.
“It’s obviously a big goal of mine to be in the NHL, but I obviously don’t want to rush it, either,” said Tkachuk. “I’ll talk with them and talk with my parents and see what’s best in the long run.”