Devils ready to lead off in draft
The NHL stage belongs to Ray Shero and the New Jersey Devils. Then it goes right back to George McPhee and the Vegas Golden Knights.
In the wake of Vegas’ expansion draft Wednesday, New Jersey is on the clock with the No. 1 pick of the amateur draft beginning Friday night in Chicago.
“I think it’s been exciting for our franchise, exciting time for our scouts,” Shero, who was hired as New Jersey’s general manager in May 2015, said Thursday. “In addition obviously to the first overall pick, we’ve got the nine other picks, which are going to be very important on Day 2.”
After New Jersey makes its pick, Philadelphia, Dallas, Colorado and Vancouver round out the top five. Then Vegas makes the first pick in franchise history.
The Golden Knights announced two trades Thursday, running their total to 13 selections for this year’s draft. Vegas sent defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk and a 2018 seventh-round draft pick to Carolina for a secondround selection. The Knights also shipped defenseman David Schlemko — taken from the Sharks in the expansion draft — to Montreal for a fifth-round pick in 2019.
Vegas, which selected 30 players in its expansion draft, has three picks in each of the first two rounds. It also has two selections in the fifth and sixth.
“It’s a hard draft,” said McPhee, the franchise’s GM. “Going through it today, it’s been a harder draft than most, so it’s taking some time . ... Three picks, it’s a lot to manage and you really have to focus. When you have one pick in the first round, you’re looking for one guy. When you’ve got three, it’s harder. But it’s a good problem to have.”
The Sharks have the No. 19 pick in the first round. Parting company: Dave Tippett, who was 282257-83 in eight seasons with the Coyotes — winning the NHL’s Coach of the Year award with the team in 2010 — won’t be back for a ninth season behind the bench.
Tippett and the Coyotes mutually agreed to part ways, a move that comes as owner Andrew Barroway revamps the franchise.
Tippett was given a five-year contract extension and was named executive vice president of hockey operations in 2015, but had philosophical differences with Barroway.
“After some thoughtful discussions with Andy, we both agreed that it was best for me to move on,” Tippett said in a statement. Moving on: The Oilers traded forward Jordan Eberle to the Islanders for forward Ryan Strome.
Eberle, 27, is entering the fifth year of a six-year contract worth $36 million. He has scored at least 20 goals in each of the past four seasons.
Strome, 23, was selected fifth overall by the Islanders in 2011. He had 13 goals in 69 games last season and has 45 goals in 258 career games.