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Arpon Basu

First-round hopefuls have bond spanning the ages

Saturday, 06.20.2015 / 3:00 AM / 2015 NHL Draft

Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor

Lawson Crouse says he isn't a big talker on the ice; when he does say something it tends to be on the sarcastic side. It's a trait he's had since his earliest days in skates.

Now a highly regarded power forward for the Kingston Frontenacs and a top prospect for the 2015 NHL Draft, Crouse said one of the earliest examples came as a 6-year-old trying out for the Brantford (Ontario) Regional Selects spring team. He said between sessions he was watching other players when one skated over and asked him why he wasn't on the ice.

"He asked me if I made the team because I wasn't trying out and I just said, 'Mind your own beeswax,' " Crouse said.

Kylington among top Swedish defensemen for draft

Saturday, 06.20.2015 / 3:00 AM / 2015 NHL Draft

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

Sweden has emerged as a hotbed for producing top NHL talent on defense in recent years.

The percentage of European-born and -trained players selected at the 2014 NHL Draft was the highest it has been in more than a decade. Leading the way was a heavy dose of Swedish standouts; 27 of the 66 European players picked last year were Swedes, and of that group 12 were defensemen.

When the 2015 NHL Draft is held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., three more names will be added to that list, and likely in the early portions: Gabriel Carlsson of Linkoping's junior team; Jacob Larsson of Frolunda's junior team; and Oliver Kylington of AIK in the Swedish Hockey League.

They're the top three defensemen on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of European skaters, and rank in the top six among all European skaters.

Bruins' Sweeney set to make mark in first draft as GM

Friday, 06.19.2015 / 4:26 PM / 2015 NHL Draft

Kristen Nelson - NHL.com Correspondent

New Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney has been busy since his promotion on May 20.

While making a multitude of phone calls and learning as much as he can from other GMs around the NHL, Sweeney has had about a month to prepare for the 2015 NHL Draft, which will be held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.

The first round is June 26 (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports); rounds 2-7 will be June 27 (10 a.m. ET; NHLN, TVA Sports).

Slated for the No. 14 pick, Sweeney said Friday he is comfortable with the Bruins' spot in the first round given the depth of the draft pool. However, Sweeney said they have discussed moving up or dropping back in position for the first round.

"I'm going to look at every option. I'm not really going to turn down anything," Sweeney said. "I think this situation I'm in now, I have to have my ears wide open."

Flyers view 2015 NHL Draft as critical moment

Friday, 06.19.2015 / 2:38 PM / 2015 NHL Draft

NHL.com

Philadelphia Flyers general manager Ron Hextall said Friday he sees the 2015 NHL Draft as an important point in his tenure.

The Flyers have 10 picks at the draft, including No. 7 and No. 29 in the first round.

The 2015 draft will be held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. The first round is June 26 (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVA Sports); rounds 2-7 are June 27 (10 a.m. ET; NHLN, TVA Sports).

"This is a very critical draft for us," Hextall said Friday in a video on the Flyers website. "I think one of the more critical drafts in years. We've got to hit. We have to hit here. We do have a lot of picks and we have some holes to fill. We need to keep young players coming. So this is a critical point for us, that's for sure."

Strome, Marner top centers after McDavid, Eichel

Friday, 06.19.2015 / 3:00 AM / 2015 NHL Draft

Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer

Erie Otters center Connor McDavid and Boston University center Jack Eichel are expected to be the top two picks at the 2015 NHL Draft, which will be held June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.

Each has been regarded as a generational-type player capable of turning around any franchise.

The real debate begins after McDavid and Eichel come off the board. Many believe the next-best center in the 2015 draft is Erie's Dylan Strome or Mitchell Marner of the London Knights. They finished first and second, respectively, in the Ontario Hockey League scoring race this season.

"The team selecting there has a choice of a potential top-line center [Strome] or highly skilled forward [Marner]," NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "You've got choices to what's going to fit into the philosophy you have of an NHL player. If you want to argue who is going to be the best down the road, they are both going to be good in their roles based on their talent because they are different type forwards."

Here are NHL.com's top 10 centers eligible for the 2015 NHL Draft (positions provided by NHL Central Scouting):

Barzal bounces back from injury, could be top-10 pick

Friday, 06.19.2015 / 3:00 AM / 2015 NHL Draft

Joe Yerdon - NHL.com Correspondent

Center Mathew Barzal of the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League still will end up being one of the top picks at the 2015 NHL Draft despite missing a large portion of his season because of a freak injury.

Barzal sustained a broken kneecap during an off-ice incident in early November.

"I was horsing around in the dressing room," Barzal said. "We were just having fun; he's one of my best buddies that did it. We were wrestling and I tripped in the dressing room. The worst thing was it was after a 17-hour bus ride to Saskatchewan. We get there ready for a good road trip and first practice in some tiny arena. It was not fun."

Barzal returned Jan. 23; the 28 games he missed didn't hurt him in the opinions of NHL scouts.

Flames GM weighs possibilities as draft approaches

Thursday, 06.18.2015 / 7:18 PM / 2015 NHL Draft

Aaron Vickers - NHL.com Correspondent

CALGARY -- Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving has seen his popularity spike as the 2015 NHL Draft gets closer.

The Flames own the No. 15 pick; it's one of their four selections in the first two rounds, six in the first three rounds and nine overall. Treliving said Thursday that Calgary has been active in advance of the draft, scheduled for June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla.

"Obviously we've become popular in the sense we've got picks," Treliving said. "When you look at this year's draft, it's unique in the sense you have six teams without a first-round pick. That's a lot of teams without a first-round pick. Subsequently, you have a number of teams without a second. When you come in with three seconds, you become a little bit more popular."

Avalanche open to trading first-round draft pick

Thursday, 06.18.2015 / 4:05 PM / 2015 NHL Draft

Rick Sadowski  -  NHL.com Correspondent

DENVER -- Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said Thursday he would consider trading the No. 10 pick in the 2015 NHL Draft.

"We wouldn't rule anything out," Sakic said. "When you get to the draft, a lot of things happen, a lot of different opportunities. If any opportunity comes, whether you're going up or down, we'd have to look at that for sure. But if we stay at 10, we'll be content at 10."

Barring a trade, the Avalanche will have six selections in the June 26-27 draft at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. They have a top-10 pick for the fourth time since arriving to Denver in 1995.

Sabres face tough decisions after likely pick of Eichel

Thursday, 06.18.2015 / 3:02 PM / 2015 NHL Draft

Joe Yerdon - NHL.com Correspondent

BUFFALO -- The Buffalo Sabres have one decision to make that figures to be easy at the 2015 NHL Draft, but the rest is up for debate.

General manager Tim Murray spoke Thursday about what the Sabres' plans are after they likely select Boston University center Jack Eichel with the No. 2 pick at the draft at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla., next week. The Sabres also have a second first-round pick (No. 21) and two selections in the second round (Nos. 31 and 51).

"If you've been through enough drafts, you can read a draft," Murray said. "I want to sit there at the table and I want to see which way the draft is going, and a lot of drafts a certain [defenseman] starts to fall. We may pick up on that and move up from 21 for a certain guy. In past drafts, goaltenders have not been a high priority in the first round. At 21 we may have a decision to make on a guy there, and the way the draft has gone or depending on who's left on the board or what position is left on the board, we may feel we can get that same guy at 31.

"It's reading the draft as the draft's going on, it's not reading the draft today. We have a fair idea where a lot of the players are going to go today, but you have to sit at that table and kind of read the tea leaves and catch the direction of where it's going."

Order of selection for the 2015 NHL Draft

Thursday, 06.18.2015 / 3:00 PM / 2015 NHL Draft

NHL Public Relations

NEW YORK -- The National Hockey League announced today the order of selection for the 2015 NHL Draft, June 26-27 at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. The first round will be conducted on Friday, June 26 and broadcast live by NBCSN in the United States and Sportsnet and TVA in Canada, beginning at 7 p.m., ET. Rounds 2-7 will be held on Saturday, June 27, beginning at 10 a.m., ET, with NHL Network providing live coverage to viewers throughout North America.

Visit NHL.com/draft for comprehensive Draft coverage, including prospect profiles, scouting reports, rankings and video.

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