USA TODAY Sports NHL columnist Kevin Allen ranks the teams that helped themselves the most at this year's NHL draft through trades or selections:
1. Carolina Hurricanes: The acquisition of Jordan Staal is a game-changer for the Hurricanes, particularly if GM Jim Rutherford, one of the league's most skilled horse traders, can add more pieces after July 1. The Eric Staal-Jordan Staal center combination gives the team a new identity, a re-energizing, fresh look. Roughly two-thirds of the time, one of the Staals will be on the ice for Carolina. Also, keep an eye on Carolina's second-round pick, Phil Di Giuseppe of the University of Michigan, as a possible sleeper. He was considered a first-rounder by several teams.
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: Knowing that he was likely to lose Jordan Staal through free agency in 2013, GM Ray Shero was proactive. Brandon Sutter fills Staal's spot on the third line. He may not have Staal's offensive potential, but Sutter can be a 20-goal scorer and gritty defensive force. More important, the Penguins made moves at the draft that cleared enough cap space to make them a factor in the pursuit of free agents Zach Parise or Ryan Suter. Parise could be a perfect winger for Sidney Crosby. Suter could be the top-pairing defenseman they need.
3. Philadelphia Flyers: Paul Holmgren might be the league's most underrated general manager. He's aggressive, thorough, always exploring options to improve his team. Landing Luke Schenn, 22, a strong, physical defenseman, seems like the right move for a team that doesn't know when, or if, Chris Pronger will play again. Trading Sergei Bobrovsky opens up a roster spot to add a veteran goalie. Given Ilya Bryzgalov's streaky nature, an older goalie seems like a better choice as backup. The Flyers' first-round pick, Scott Laughton, is said to be a safe bet to play in the league. Holmgren has also talked to the Anaheim Ducks about Bobby Ryan.
4. Toronto Maple Leafs: GM Brian Burke wanted to add a potential impact player to his top six forwards and seemingly has done that with the acquisition of James van Riemsdyk. There's some risk here because he has a six-year contract and $4.25 million cap hit, and he hasn't had a full breakout season. But if van Riemsdyk can stay healthy, he could become a 30-goal scorer on the wing. He has speed and size. It's hard not to like Toronto's first two picks: Morgan Rielly and Matthew Finn. O'Rielly could have been the No. 1 pick if he had stayed healthy this season. Finn was considered a first-round talent and the Maple Leafs landed him at No. 35.
5. New York Islanders: The addition of Lubomir Visnovsky seems like a perfect fit for a team that needed more skill on the blue line. He's an offensive-minded defenseman with the ability to get the puck smoothly to his forwards. He will help the team next season, while first-round pick, defenseman Griffin Reinhart, taken No. 4, could be a fixture for a decade or more. Second-round pick, Finland's Ville Pokka, could also have high value
6. Washington Capitals: It was luck that allowed Filip Forsberg to fall to the Capitals at the 11th pick. Some teams had him ranked in the top five. GM George McPhee also plugged a hole at center with the addition of veteran Mike Ribeiro. He might not be a full-package center, but he is an offensive catalyst. He has averaged about 47 assists a season over his six seasons in Dallas. He is still potentially a 20-goal scorer. McPhee's selection of 6-4 Tom Wilson is intriguing. He was a physical force with the Plymouth (Mich.) Whalers. McPhee could envision Wilson being a factor in a playoff series in a few years. The Los Angeles Kings had a few of those guys when they won the Stanley Cup this spring.
7. Buffalo Sabres: At a time when many teams are looking for quality young centers, GM Darcy Regier made a draft-day deal with the Calgary Flames that allowed him to draft both Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons. They were two of the better centers in this year's draft.
8. Winnipeg Jets: With their first pick, they took U.S. National Team Development Program defenseman Jacob Trouba, who could be a cross between Dion Phaneuf and Adam Foote. With their second pick, they claimed Lukas Sutter. You are always headed in the right direction if you draft a Sutter. That's a precept that should guide most NHL teams.
9. Phoenix Coyotes: In re-acquiring defenseman Zbynek Michalek, the Coyotes regain a player who seems born to play in coach Dave Tippett's system. When he played in Phoenix before, he was a defensive force. He didn't fit as well in Pittsburgh's system. The Coyotes also used a first-round pick to add feisty Henrik Samuelsson, who grew up in Arizona.
10. Dallas Stars: Radek Faksa was a quality first-round selection and Swedish defenseman Ludwig Bystrom could be a second-round sleeper. The Stars like Cody Eakin, whom they obtained in the Ribeiro deal.
11. Chicago Blackhawks: You have to admire the all-in philosophy of taking smallish Finland forward Teuvo Teravainen with the 18th overall selection. He could be the most exciting player in the draft.
12. Columbus Blue Jackets: Their top pick, Ryan Murray, could be for this organization what Scott Niedermayer was to the New Jersey Devils in his years there. Columbus landed goalie Oscar Dansk in the second round, and he could have been a first-rounder.
13. Edmonton Oilers: GM Steve Tambellini resisted the temptation to trade the No. 1 pick, and claimed Nail Yakupov, who could be a 30- to 40-goal star. The Oilers now have a stable of offensive Thoroughbreds.
14. Montreal Canadiens: Early reviews suggest GM Marc Bergevin did well in his first draft. The team's top choice, Alex Galchenyuk, could be a Ron Francis-style center. Picking up Sebastian Collberg in the second round was like adding another first-rounder.
15. Nashville Predators: The Predators gave up their first-round pick in the acquisition of Paul Gaustad, but GM David Poile maneuvered last week to land two second-round picks in exchange for Anders Lindback. With those picks, the Predators landed Pontus Aberg and Colton Sissons, both of whom could have gone at the bottom of the first round.
Entertainment Plaza - TV, Movies, Sports, Music
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99
Babe Of The Month
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99/babeofthemonth.html
Hunk Of The Month
http://members.shaw.ca/almosthuman99/babeofthemonthman.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment