ST. PAUL -- Friday night was supposed to be the most unpredictable opening round of the NHL Entry Draft in recent years.
In the end, six familiar names accounted for the top six picks at Xcel Energy Center -- the first surprise came at No. 7 when the Winnipeg Jets selected center Mark Scheifele of the Barrie Colts.
"I definitely anticipate there's going to be a lot of pressure, but I like a little pressure," said Scheifele, Central Scouting's No. 16-rated North American skater. "It makes me play a little better. I remember back in the old days if my coach would tell me there is a scout here to watch me, I'd pull off a big game."
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2011 NHL Entry Draft
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2011 NHL Entry Draft
Nugent-Hopkins leads familiar names at Entry Draft
Saturday, 06.25.2011 / 1:14 AM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
Couturier's selection reinforces Flyers' depth
Saturday, 06.25.2011 / 1:13 AM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
ST. PAUL -- One day after trading two All-Star centers in Jeff Carter and Mike Richards, the Philadelphia Flyers have a pair of youngsters they hope can follow in their highly skilled skates.
Philadelphia acquired Brayden Schenn as part of Thursday's blockbuster deal that sent Richards to Los Angeles, and with the No. 8 pick in Friday's first round of the 2011 Entry Draft -- a pick obtained in the deal that sent Carter to Columbus -- the Flyers selected Drummondville Voltigeurs center Sean Couturier.
After leading the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in scoring with 96 points as a 17-year-old in 2009-10, the 6-foot-4, 197-pound center scored another 96 points, this time in just 58 games -- 10 fewer than the previous season. Couturier also had 3 points in seven games while helping Canada win the silver medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship. He was the only draft-eligible player on the team.
Philadelphia acquired Brayden Schenn as part of Thursday's blockbuster deal that sent Richards to Los Angeles, and with the No. 8 pick in Friday's first round of the 2011 Entry Draft -- a pick obtained in the deal that sent Carter to Columbus -- the Flyers selected Drummondville Voltigeurs center Sean Couturier.
After leading the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League in scoring with 96 points as a 17-year-old in 2009-10, the 6-foot-4, 197-pound center scored another 96 points, this time in just 58 games -- 10 fewer than the previous season. Couturier also had 3 points in seven games while helping Canada win the silver medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship. He was the only draft-eligible player on the team.
Sharks deal Setoguchi to Wild for Burns, picks
Saturday, 06.25.2011 / 12:42 AM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Shawn P. Roarke - NHL.com Senior Managing Editor
ST. PAUL – San Jose GM Doug Wilson saw a fatal flaw in his team and knew he didn’t have the luxury of time to fix it.
So he acted both quickly and decisively at Friday's 2011 Entry Draft at the Xcel Energy Center, shaking up the first day of the draft by trading established young forward Devin Setoguchi, blue-chip prospect Charlie Coyle and a 2011 first-round pick to the host Minnesota Wild for defenseman Brent Burns and a second-round pick in next year's draft.
Wilson said he believes he owed it to his aging team, which reached the Western Conference Finals this season only to lose to Vancouver in six games, to address the need for a top-four defenseman. He contends the 26-year-old Burns is just that guy.
So he acted both quickly and decisively at Friday's 2011 Entry Draft at the Xcel Energy Center, shaking up the first day of the draft by trading established young forward Devin Setoguchi, blue-chip prospect Charlie Coyle and a 2011 first-round pick to the host Minnesota Wild for defenseman Brent Burns and a second-round pick in next year's draft.
Wilson said he believes he owed it to his aging team, which reached the Western Conference Finals this season only to lose to Vancouver in six games, to address the need for a top-four defenseman. He contends the 26-year-old Burns is just that guy.
Caps acquire Brouwer from Hawks
Saturday, 06.25.2011 / 12:05 AM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
NHL.com
Looking for more sandpaper in their lineup, the Washington Capitals acquired forward Troy Brouwer from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a first-round pick.
Brouwer, who turns 26 in August, had 17 goals and 19 assists in 79 games for Chicago in 2010-11. He went 4-4-8 in 19 playoff games last year and helped the Blackhawks win their first Stanley Cup since 1961.
"I'm very excited to join the Washington Capitals organization," Brouwer said in a statement. "They are consistently one of the top teams in the NHL and I look forward to helping them reach the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup."
Brouwer, who turns 26 in August, had 17 goals and 19 assists in 79 games for Chicago in 2010-11. He went 4-4-8 in 19 playoff games last year and helped the Blackhawks win their first Stanley Cup since 1961.
"I'm very excited to join the Washington Capitals organization," Brouwer said in a statement. "They are consistently one of the top teams in the NHL and I look forward to helping them reach the ultimate goal of winning the Stanley Cup."
Six Swedish players selected in draft's first round
Friday, 06.24.2011 / 11:56 PM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
ST. PAUL -- The opening round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft at Xcel Energy Center certainly offered a 'Swede' smell of success on Friday evening.
Among the six players plucked by NHL teams, four were even taken among the top 10 picks.
"I'm not surprised by it," Skelleftea defenseman Adam Larsson told NHL.com. "Gabriel (Landeskog) is like a Canadian guy right now and we know how talented he is. Mika (Zibanejad) is really good also so not surprised by that. We have good coaching in Sweden and Swedish hockey has stepped it up over the last few years."
Over the last 15 years, no fewer than 14 players have been selected each year out of Sweden. No other European country comes close.
Among the six players plucked by NHL teams, four were even taken among the top 10 picks.
"I'm not surprised by it," Skelleftea defenseman Adam Larsson told NHL.com. "Gabriel (Landeskog) is like a Canadian guy right now and we know how talented he is. Mika (Zibanejad) is really good also so not surprised by that. We have good coaching in Sweden and Swedish hockey has stepped it up over the last few years."
Over the last 15 years, no fewer than 14 players have been selected each year out of Sweden. No other European country comes close.
EJ McGuire remembered at Entry Draft
Friday, 06.24.2011 / 11:26 PM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
ST. PAUL -- It was with heavy hearts that the National Hockey League kicked off the 2011 Entry Draft at Xcel Energy Center on Friday.
That's because for the first time in nine years, Central Scouting's longtime executive director EJ McGuire was not there. McGuire, 58, was the architect of many of the innovations Central Scouting pioneered in the past decade to achieve its mandate of providing the League's clubs with the most comprehensive list of draft-eligible prospects each season -- culminating with the draft.
Diagnosed this past December with leiomyoscarcoma, a rare and incurable form of cancer that aggressively attacks the cells that make up the involuntary muscles within the body, McGuire waged a brave five-month battle with the disease before passing away on April 7. His loss was felt this weekend when the Entry Draft was staged in the Twin Cities.
That's because for the first time in nine years, Central Scouting's longtime executive director EJ McGuire was not there. McGuire, 58, was the architect of many of the innovations Central Scouting pioneered in the past decade to achieve its mandate of providing the League's clubs with the most comprehensive list of draft-eligible prospects each season -- culminating with the draft.
Diagnosed this past December with leiomyoscarcoma, a rare and incurable form of cancer that aggressively attacks the cells that make up the involuntary muscles within the body, McGuire waged a brave five-month battle with the disease before passing away on April 7. His loss was felt this weekend when the Entry Draft was staged in the Twin Cities.
Canadians dominate first round of draft
Friday, 06.24.2011 / 11:24 PM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
John Kreiser - NHL.com Columnist
Half of the 30 players taken in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft on Friday are Canadian -- and even more come from the Canadian Hockey League.
In all, 15 players born in Canada were taken in the opening round Friday night. That total doesn't include Sean Couturier, taken No. 8 by Philadelphia, who was born in Phoenix but played for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. It does include Canadian-born Jamie Oleksiak, a defenseman from Northeastern University taken by Dallas with the 14th pick who has dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship; although he's played in under-18 for the United States, he hasn't indicated which country he'll represent internationally.
In all, 15 players born in Canada were taken in the opening round Friday night. That total doesn't include Sean Couturier, taken No. 8 by Philadelphia, who was born in Phoenix but played for Team Canada at the World Junior Championship. It does include Canadian-born Jamie Oleksiak, a defenseman from Northeastern University taken by Dallas with the 14th pick who has dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship; although he's played in under-18 for the United States, he hasn't indicated which country he'll represent internationally.
Jets tab Scheifele in first round
Friday, 06.24.2011 / 10:10 PM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
"At the end of the Winnipeg meeting they said, 'How do you pronounce your last name?'" Scheifele told NHL.com. "So that gave me a feeling, but I didn't want to be crushed if they didn't pick me. I wasn't totally sure."
He's sure now.
The Jets, in their first draft since 1995, selected Scheifele with the seventh pick of the 2011 Entry Draft on Friday.
Which of the top 3 picks is ready for NHL now?
Friday, 06.24.2011 / 9:43 PM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Now that Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is the answer to who's the No. 1 pick of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, next question … will he be able to earn a roster spot with the Edmonton Oilers in his first season?
While Nugent-Hopkins will likely attend training camp, the odds of him sticking are slim. Then again, whenever 'The Nuge' has been challenged, he typically rises to the occasion. He wasn't rated the No. 1 skater in North America by NHL Central Scouting for nothing.
"Personally, I'm ready to play but I know there is a lot of young talented players (in Edmonton) and it might be a little hard for me to make the team," Nugent-Hopkins told NHL.com. "I mean, it's completely up to the coaching staff, so we'll see. Whatever happens, happens, and I'll be happy either way."
While Nugent-Hopkins will likely attend training camp, the odds of him sticking are slim. Then again, whenever 'The Nuge' has been challenged, he typically rises to the occasion. He wasn't rated the No. 1 skater in North America by NHL Central Scouting for nothing.
"Personally, I'm ready to play but I know there is a lot of young talented players (in Edmonton) and it might be a little hard for me to make the team," Nugent-Hopkins told NHL.com. "I mean, it's completely up to the coaching staff, so we'll see. Whatever happens, happens, and I'll be happy either way."
Entry Draft always a time for dealing
Friday, 06.24.2011 / 7:31 PM / 2011 NHL Entry Draft
Brian Compton - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
Each year, the NHL Entry Draft is the place where several veteran players change addresses. With all 30 general managers in the same building at the same time, it's a convenient time for trades to take place.
NHL.com takes a closer look at the deals that have gone down thus far at the 2011 Entry Draft:
The dealing actually started on Thursday, when Philadelphia made a pair of deals. The Flyers sent center Jeff Carter to Columbus in exchange for forward Jakub Voracek and the Blue Jackets' first-round (No. 8) and third-round (No. 68) selections at the 2011 Entry Draft. The Flyers also sent center Mike Richards, their captain, to Los Angeles in exchange for forwards Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds.
NHL.com takes a closer look at the deals that have gone down thus far at the 2011 Entry Draft:
The dealing actually started on Thursday, when Philadelphia made a pair of deals. The Flyers sent center Jeff Carter to Columbus in exchange for forward Jakub Voracek and the Blue Jackets' first-round (No. 8) and third-round (No. 68) selections at the 2011 Entry Draft. The Flyers also sent center Mike Richards, their captain, to Los Angeles in exchange for forwards Brayden Schenn and Wayne Simmonds.
- Full Draft results: Round 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ››
- CSS announces watch list ››
- Look at the Entry Draft by the numbers ››
- U.S. picks from non-traditional places ››
- Preds make Hellberg first goalie picked ››
- Nugent-Hopkins picked No. 1 by Oilers ››
- First round recap pick-by-pick ››
- Are the Top 3 in the Draft NHL ready? ››
- SJ deals Setoguchi to MIN for Burns, picks ››
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