The dust has settled on the 2013 NHL Draft, and the teams and scouts have returned home for some well-deserved time off.
It was an eventful day that saw 211 prospects join NHL organizations and eight players switch teams in 16 trades.
Each team arrived at Prudential Center with a plan in place and certain goals it wanted to accomplish. Here's a quick look at all 30 teams, what it was thought they would do, and what they left New Jersey with:
The thought: They've invested heavily in young forwards recently, but with a draft deep in skilled forwards, would they look for another? Or would one of the rich crop of young blueliners be too much to pass on?
The results: The Ducks got a little of both. With their first-round pick they selected solid two-way blueliner Shea Theodore from the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League, and in the second round got skilled Danish forward Nick Sorensen, who got stuck in a numbers crunch in 2012-13 with Quebec in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Finnish center Miro Aaltonen could turn into a steal in the sixth round if he recovers from a broken ankle.
The thought: Rumors swirled surrounding Tyler Seguin being a chip to get the Bruins back into the first round, but nothing came of those reported talks. With no immediate needs at the NHL level and no obvious deficiencies in the prospect pipeline, the Bruins could look to take the best player available with each of their six picks.
The results: Their first pick was Swedish defenseman Linus Arnesson, who spent most of the season with Djurgarden's top-level team in Sweden, also played for Sweden at the 2013 IIHF World Junior Championship and is a prospect to watch. Fourth-round pick center Ryan Fitzgerald will be watched closely -- he'll start at Boston College in the fall.
The thought: With two first-round picks and five in the top 69, the Sabres had a raft of options to fast-forward their rebuilding plan. There also was the option of looking to move forward Thomas Vanek and/or goaltender Ryan Miller to further sweeten any attempts to trade up, or acquire more NHL-ready assets.
The results: Buffalo held onto Vanek and Miller, and rather than move up, the Sabres stayed put and made a League-high 11 selections Sunday. They added a pair of behemoths on defense with their two first-round picks in 6-foot-4 Finnish blueliner Rasmus Ristolainen and 6-5 Russian Nikita Zadorov. They added another defenseman, Jamie McBain, along with a second-round pick, from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for defenseman Andrej Sekera. General manager Darcy Regier talked about building a bigger team and he did that at the draft -- eight of the 11 players they picked are at least 6-feet tall, and they were all at least 180 pounds.
The thought: With three first-round picks, it was thought the Flames would try to move up from No. 6 to land one of the big-four prospects. With the departures of Jarome Iginla, Jay Bouwmeester and Miikka Kiprusoff, the Flames had lots of holes to fill.
The result: The Flames kept all three first-round picks and used them to restock their forward depth, starting with strong, two-way center Sean Monahan at No. 6. Emile Poirier was considered a reach at No. 22, but scouts said he raised his level in the second half of the season. They netted a Calgary native at No. 28 in Morgan Klimchuk. Third-round pick Keegan Kanzig is a big, nasty, 6-7 blueliner. Fifth-round pick Eric Roy, a defenseman with the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League, has a high upside. Of their eight picks, they selected four forwards and four defensemen -- but no goalie, which was a bit of a surprise.
The thought: A team that's struggled defensively the last few seasons would use the fifth pick on one of the rich crop of nearly NHL-ready defensemen. There also were reports GM Jim Rutherford could use that pick as part of a trade for more immediate help.
The results: The Hurricanes kept the fifth pick and made a bit of a surprise with Swedish center Elias Lindholm. They added the defenseman they needed, sending McBain and a second-round pick to the Sabres for Sekera, who had 12 points in 32 games in 2012-13. Third-round pick Brett Pesce had a promising freshman season at the University of New Hampshire and was NHL Central Scouting's highest-rated NCAA player.
The thought: With five picks and a prospect pipeline with no real deficiencies, the Blackhawks could look to add the best player available regardless of position when their name came up.
The results: The Blackhawks had a productive day in securing their present and building for the future. Trades of Dave Bolland and Michael Frolik landed the Hawks picks in the second, third, fourth and fifth rounds. The Hawks stayed local with a few of the picks, selecting Chicago resident Ryan Hartman, an agitating forward from the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League, in the first round and U.S. National Team Development Program center John Hayden, who was born in Chicago, in the third round. The Bolland and Frolik trades also opened enough salary cap space for the team to sign forward Bryan Bickell to a new four-year contract.
The thought: The Avalanche spent the days leading into the draft saying that the team would take Halifax Mooseheads center Nathan MacKinnon with the first pick, but at the same time said they were entertaining trade offers for the top spot. So would the Avs go through with the MacKinnon pick? Or was it all a smokescreen to find a trade partner desperate to move up?
The result: The Avs stuck to the script and took MacKinnon at No. 1. Second-round pick Chris Bigras, a defenseman with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League, was expected to go in the first round. Goaltender Spencer Martin, taken in the third round, is 6-2 and could develop into a solid player.
The thought: Much like Calgary, the Blue Jackets had three first-round picks and a desire to move up. But would they be able to find a partner?
The results: The Blue Jackets kept the three picks and used general manager Jarmo Kekalainen's knowledge of European prospects to bolster their forward depth. Swedish center Alexander Wennberg and Slovakian center Marko Dano sandwiched Windsor forward Kerby Rychel in the first round. The Jackets then picked up second- and third-round picks from the Penguins to slide back a few spots in the second round. With the third-round pick the Jackets could end up with the steal of the draft in Danish forward Oliver Bjorkstrand from the Portland Winterhawks. Bjorkstrand led all first-year WHL players with 31 goals and 63 points in 65 games, but measures in at 5-10 and 166 pounds.
The thought: Would new GM Jim Nill hang onto a bunch of early-round picks? Or would he use them to try to move up? The Stars had a few needs, mostly at center, one of the draft's deeper positions.
The results: The Stars kept all their picks and added high-risk/high-reward Russian forward Valeri Nichushkin at No. 10. NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb said the only reason Nichushkin wasn't the top-rated European skater was a lack of consistency. At No. 29, Guelph Storm forward Jason Dickinson is a goal scorer who just needs to get stronger. Second-round pick goalie Philippe Desrosiers turned heads at the 2013 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, backstopping Canada to a gold medal with a 0.80 goals-against average and .970 save percentage.
The thought: With a number of young defensemen ready to graduate from junior hockey to the American Hockey League, adding some blueliners to the early end of the prospect pipeline was a possibility.
The result: The Red Wings picked up an extra second-round pick from the San Jose Sharks to move back two spots, and at No. 20 selected Val-d'Or Foreurs forward Anthony Mantha, the only Canadian Hockey League draft prospect to score 50 goals. Second-round pick Zack Nastasiuk is a rising talent who showed a strong all-round game in 2012-13 with Owen Sound in the OHL. With the extra second-round pick from the Sharks, they picked up Guelph Storm left wing Tyler Bertuzzi -- nephew of Red Wings forward Todd Bertuzzi -- in the second round.
The thought: GM Craig MacTavish said he didn't envision moving the seventh pick, but they were among the teams rumored to be the most active, with the No. 7 spot reportedly in play.
The results: The Oilers held onto the seventh pick and chose Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman Darnell Nurse, Central Scouting's No. 2-ranked North American blueliner and a big, strong, nasty player who it's easy to envision starting next season in a prominent spot on the Oilers' blue line. The Oilers moved back twice in the second round and picked up a pair of third-round selections, which they used on talented Russian forwards Bogdan Yakimov and Anton Slepyshev. At 6-5 and 202 pounds, Yakimov is an enticing project.
The thought: GM Dale Tallon told NHL.com at the Scouting Combine he wanted a player who could help the Panthers immediately, and with the No. 2 selection in the deepest draft in a decade, he certainly was going to get that player.
The results: The Panthers pulled a bit of a shocker picking Finnish center Aleksander Barkov at No. 2, ahead of defenseman Seth Jones, but Tallon said he wanted to make the Panthers bigger and better down the middle. If Barkov's shoulder is 100 percent -- he had March surgery and has yet to be cleared to shoot pucks -- he should compete for a spot on the Panthers' second line. Second-round pick defenseman Ian McCoshen is a few years away, but is big, skilled and physical. Fifth-round pick Christopher Clapperton is 5-9, but is a talented playmaker that can fill the net.
The thought: The Kings didn't have a first-round pick -- No. 27 went to Columbus last season for Jeff Carter -- but they had 10 in all, giving GM Dean Lombardi a chance to move back into the first round if he could find a willing partner.
The result: Baie-Comeau forward Valentin Zykov was No. 7 on Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, but when he was still available in the second round, the Kings sent three picks to the Oilers to move up from No. 57 to No. 37. Zykov was named the Canadian Hockey League's best rookie after leading all first-year players with 40 goals in 2012-13. Fourth-round pick Hudson Fasching is a talented, mature power forward who will develop at the University of Minnesota. Fifth-round pick goaltender Patrik Bartosak was the top goalie in the CHL.
The thought: The Wild didn't have a first-round pick, but did have eight selections, starting with No. 46 in the second round. The biggest organizational need was a young goalie following the departure of Matt Hackett, who went to the Sabres as part of the Jason Pominville deal.
The results: The Wild added a first-round pick by acquiring forward Nino Niederreiter, the fifth pick of the 2010 draft, from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Cal Clutterbuck and a third-round pick. Four of their seven picks Sunday were defensemen, starting with second-rounder Gustav Olofsson. They did address the goaltender position, selecting Rouyn-Noranda's Alexandre Belanger in the seventh round.
The thought: GM Marc Bergevin was armed with six picks in the first three rounds and an open mind. There were no glaring needs, but with so many strong prospects, moving up from No. 25 certainly was an option.
The result: The Canadiens made one minor trade, sending their 2013 seventh-round pick to Florida for a seventh-rounder in 2014. The Canadiens used those six high picks to get bigger and stronger -- four of the picks stood 6-1 or taller, topped by right wing Michael McCarron, a 6-5, 228-pound right wing with the USNTDP who is committed to Western Michigan University next season. Zachary Fucale, the draft's top-rated goaltending prospect, dropped into their laps in the second round. Another second-round pick, Finnish forward Artturi Lehkonen, is a solid two-way player with great hands. Third-round pick Sven Andrighetto is on the small side, but a strong scorer, and at age 20 can jump right into the American Hockey League in 2013-14.
The thought: The Predators desperately need a dynamic offensive performer, and with the fourth pick, they were sure to get a player who conceivably could step right into their lineup. And with 10 picks in all, tied for the most in the League, the Predators were poised to really pump up their prospect base.
The results: The Predators didn't get a forward at No. 4, but five years from now, they might end up with the best player in the draft in defenseman Seth Jones. They never found the forward they needed, but they got nastier on the back end with 6-5 Victoriaville blueliner Jonathan Ismael-Diaby, a third-round pick. Fourth-round pick Juuse Saros was rated the best European goalie in the draft.
The thought: The draft hosts entered the day with four selections -- No. 9 in the first round, and then one pick each in the second, fourth and sixth rounds. The best forward available was the most likely use of the ninth pick.
The result: The Devils flipped the draft on its ear by sending the ninth pick to the Vancouver Canucks for goaltender Cory Schneider, who eventually will replace Martin Brodeur. They picked up a third-round pick from the Phoenix Coyotes for sliding back three spots in the second round and picked defenseman Steven Santini, the best blueliner at the World Under-18 Championship. The Devils also ended the draft on a high, sending a 2015 seventh-round pick to the Kings for a seventh-round pick in 2013 and picking goalie Anthony Brodeur -- Martin's son.
The thought: After using all seven of their 2012 picks on defensemen, it appeared likely the Islanders would opt for a skilled winger who could develop into a solid top-six player. A young goaltender in the later rounds also would be an option.
The results: The Islanders got the forward they needed in Cal Clutterbuck in a trade with the Wild that saw 2010 first-round pick Nino Niederreiter leave the organization. At No. 15, the Islanders opted for yet another defenseman, Ryan Pulock from the Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL. Waterloo goalie Eamon McAdam was picked with the third-round pick acquired from the Wild in the Clutterbuck deal. McAdam's teammate and fellow third-round pick Taylor Cammarata is only 5-7, but he's a fearless offensive dynamo.
The thought: With no picks in the first two rounds, the Rangers would have to wait a while, or get creative to move up. Picking the best forward available -- preferably a winger -- probably was going to be the best option.
The results: The Rangers got good value for their picks. Russian left wing Pavel Buchnevich, the second of three third-round picks, was highly regarded for his skill. The third third-round pick, left wing Anthony Duclair, got a good hockey education from Patrick Roy the past two seasons with the Quebec Remparts.
The thought: Ottawa GM Bryan Murray hoped to find a way to move up into the top 10, but said in no instance could he see moving back. Assistant GM Tim Murray said if the Senators stayed at No. 17, the pick likely would be a forward.
The results: The Senators couldn't find a partner to trade up with, and stayed true to their word at 17, picking versatile Edmonton Oil Kings forward Curtis Lazar. Third-round pick Marcus Hoberg is a 6-4 Swedish goalie. Fifth-round pick Vincent Dunn was a point-per-game scorer with Val-d'Or in the QMJHL.
The thought: A beat-up defense needed help right away and in the future, so the thought would be Philadelphia would look that way. GM Paul Holmgren never has been one to sit tight at the draft, so rumors swirled that he could look to use the No. 11 pick to move up, or as part of a trade for an established NHL player -- Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks, a southern New Jersey native, is a name perennially linked to Philadelphia.
The result: Holmgren said he took a bunch of calls for the top pick, but the chance to select 6-6 Rimouski Oceanic defenseman Samuel Morin was too much to pass on. Swedish blueliner Robert Hagg could turn out to be a steal in the second round. Holmgren called third-round pick Tyrell Goulbourne, a left wing from the Kelowna Rockets, "Z2," a reference to instigator Zac Rinaldo.
The thought: The Coyotes would be looking for offensive skill at No. 12, and with four of the first 75 picks, the chance was there to add to the prospect pipeline.
The results: Selecting Max Domi adds other-worldly offensive skill, but he likely won't be NHL-ready for at least another season or two. Chicoutimi center Laurent Dauphin in the second round was a nice selection, and PEI center Yan-Pavel Laplante, if healthy from a shoulder injury that limited him to 18 games, could be a steal with the first pick of the third round. In the sixth round the Coyotes picked Portland goalie Brendan Burke, son of assistant to the GM and goalie coach Sean Burke.
The thought: Trades for Jarome Iginla and Douglas Murray meant the Penguins didn't have picks in the first or second rounds. The team has shown a penchant for drafting defensemen, and with a draft rich in talented blueliners, there was no reason to think they would move from that trend.
The results: A pre-draft trade of forward Tyler Kennedy to the San Jose Sharks netted the Penguins a second-round pick, which the team then traded to the Edmonton Oilers, along with a third-round pick, to move up from No. 50 to 44 in the second round and pick Edmonton Oil Kings goalie Tristan Jarry, Central Scouting's third-rated North American goalie. They took a pair of defensemen in later rounds, both headed to NCAA hockey in the fall -- fourth-round pick Ryan Segalla (Connecticut) and fifth-rounder Dane Birks (Michigan Tech).
The thought: With four picks in the top two rounds, including three in the second round, GM Doug Wilson said he thought he'd have the opportunity to be active. Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau aren't getting any younger, so finding skilled forwards could be an option.
The results: Wilson was active, all right. One second-round pick went to the Penguins before the draft started for veteran forward Tyler Kennedy. Another went to the Red Wings to allow the Sharks to move up from No. 20 in the first round to No. 18 to pick Swiss defenseman Mirco Mueller. With the only second-rounder they kept, the Sharks picked Baie-Comeau left wing Gabryel Paquin-Boudreau.
The thought: GM Doug Armstrong didn't enter the draft with a first-round pick -- the No. 22 selection belonged to Calgary from the Jay Bouwmeester trade -- but thought it would be possible to move up.
The results: Armstrong couldn't get into the first round, but was able to pick up an additional second-round pick to grab Cape Breton Screaming Eagles left wing William Carrier, a solid two-way player who also can score, at No. 57. With their first pick, at No. 47, the Blues picked 6-2 high school defenseman Thomas Vannelli, who is committed to the University of Minnesota next season.
The thought: The Lightning were looking for an impact player, likely a forward, and that need became even greater when the team announced it would be buying out Vincent Lecavalier's contract.
The results: Tampa got the forward it needed at No. 3 with Halifax left wing Jonathan Drouin, who had 105 points in 49 games in 2012-13, and was named MVP of the QMJHL and the CHL's player of the year. At No. 33, Quebec left wing Adam Erne is a mature power forward who can skate well and is built like a wrecking ball (6-foot, 210 pounds).
The thought: Coming off their first appearance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs in nine years, the belief was the Maple Leafs would look to add to their pool of young forwards, especially at center.
The results: The Maple Leafs got better up the middle in the present and in the future. In the first round, Rimouski product Fredrik Gauthier is a big, strong, speedy center lauded for an outstanding two-way game. Later, they sent second- and fourth-round picks in 2013 and a fourth-rounder in 2014 to the Blackhawks for Dave Bolland, who last week scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal.
The thought: With six picks, the Canucks firmly were believed to be in best-player-available mode as they look to replenish a prospect pool that soon will have to start replacing some aging core players. And then there was solving their goalie situation.
The results: Well, the Canucks certainly solved the goalie issue, but not in the way anyone expected -- sending Cory Schneider to the Devils for the ninth pick while holding onto Roberto Luongo and the nine years left on his contract. At No. 9 the Canucks picked London Knights center Bo Horvat, considered by many to be the best faceoff man in this year's draft class, as well as a potential 30-goal scorer. At No. 24 they added talented but undersized scoring whiz Hunter Shinkaruk, who was Central Scouting's sixth-rated North American skater. In the fourth round they picked Belleville Bulls defenseman Jordan Subban, the youngest of three hockey-playing Subban brothers.
The thought: Addressing their depth at forward likely was going to be the team's path, but GM George McPhee said he wasn't married to picking players at any particular position, and said he would evaluate any and all trade offers that came his way.
The results: First-round pick Andre Burakovsky showed well with Malmo's top team in Sweden. Second-round defenseman Madison Bowey comes from the same Kelowna team that has produced a number of recent top-end blueliners, from Shea Weber and Duncan Keith to Luke Schenn and Tyler Myers. The Caps then traded a trio of picks to the Winnipeg Jets for an extra second-round pick, which they used on 6-3 left wing Zachary Sanford, who can skate well but will need time to develop the rest of his game. He'll play in the USHL in 2013-14, and then move to Boston College the following season.
The thought: With 10 picks in all, including six in the first three rounds, the Jets would have ample opportunities to stockpile prospects, or use those picks to move up or add more NHL-ready talent.
The results: The Jets got help for today and the future. They sent third- and fifth-round picks to the Blackhawks for Michael Frolik, who emerged as a speedy penalty killer. They recouped those picks by sending a second-round pick to the Capitals for a trio of later-round selections, and still ended up making 10 picks. Joshua Morrissey at No. 13 is smart and offensively skilled. In the second round, center Nicolas Petan had a 100-point season, but needs to get bigger. Fellow second-round pick, Tri-City goalie Eric Comrie, was No. 2 on Central Scouting's list despite missing most of the season with a hip injury. Third-round pick J.C. Lipon, 20, had 89 points in 2012-13 with Kamloops of the WHL and could jump into a top-six role in the AHL in 2013-14.
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