If there were any doubt that a lot of NHL players had their eyes on the future, a look at Twitter on Friday night was more than enough to dispel questions.
Current players and some of the 30 teens selected in the opening round of the 2012 NHL Draft took to Twitter to welcome new teammates or celebrate being chosen.
U.S. National Team Development Program defenseman Jacob Trouba, taken by Winnipeg with the ninth choice, was excited to be heading north of the border.
This is an awesome feeling! So glad to be a part of the @NHLJets, the city of Winnipeg, and the @NHL. Some of the best fans in the league!
2012 NHL DRAFT
Oilers grab Yakupov with No. 1 pick
By Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff WriterWith the first pick in the 2012 NHL Draft, the Edmonton Oilers selected 18-year-old right wing Nail Yakupov, making him the first Russian-born player chosen No. 1 overall since Alex Ovechkin in 2004. READ MORE ›
Another player excited to be chosen was defenseman Morgan Rielly, who went No. 5 to Toronto.
Thank you very much for the tweets. I love the support and can't explain how honored I am to be a leaf. #dreamcometrue
He got a warm welcome from future teammates John-Michael Liles, Colby Armstrong and Jake Gardiner.
Congrats to Morgan rielly...welcome to a fantastic organization! #NHLDraft #hardworkpaysoff
Congrats to Morgan Rielly. Gonna look good in the blue and white. #congrats #Leafs
Congrats to Morgan Reilly for joining the Leafs organization. #nhldraft
And Griffin Reinhart, son of former NHL defenseman Paul Reinhart, is excited to be heading to the New York Islanders, who made him the fourth player chosen.
Thank you so much for the support! Especially the @EdmOilKings go everything so far. And thank you to @NYIslanders organization. Means a lot
Players picked on Friday weren't the only ones tweeting. Taylor Hall, the first player picked in the 2010 NHL Draft, wasted little time welcoming new Edmonton teammate Nail Yakupov, taken by the Oilers with the first pick Friday.
Welcome Nail Yakupov to Edmonton!
Two Blue Jackets veterans -- R.J. Umberger and James Wisniewski -- were on hand at the team's draft party at Nationwide Arena in Columbus to watch the team take defenseman Ryan Murray with the No. 2 pick.
Congrats to Ryan Murray, should be a great fit with the #cbj. Thanks to all the fans who showed up for the #nhldraft party
Congrats to Ryan Murray. Looking forward to playin with, and gettin to know ya. #CBJ #JTB
The Montreal-Boston rivalry figures to add some spice after the Bruins drafted goaltender Malcolm Subban -- whose brother P.K. is a defenseman with the Canadiens. Boston center Tyler Seguin sent congratulations to his new teammate via big brother.
@PKSubban1 congrats your brother for me. Looking forward to seeing him in our logo. Ur never allowed to put it on tho
And Dustin Brown, captain of the newly crowned Stanley Cup-champion Los Angeles Kings, had words of advice for Tanner Pearson (@tannerpearson14), taken with the 30th and final pick in the opening round.
Congrats to @lakings draft pick Tanner Pearson. Enjoy it tonight, work starts tomorrow
