The big news of the draft for your club involved the three-year contract extension of Patrick Eaves. What was that process like?
I think it was a mutual thing. I think Patrick liked being with us. He liked the guys on the hockey team. He told me before he left that he liked the guys on the hockey team. He fit in perfectly. It was a smooth transition. It was mutual for both of us trying hard to get something done. His agent was very good about understanding some of my budget issues. We got to a point where we both said let's get something done before we get to free agency, which basically starts tomorrow because you can start talking to guys tomorrow. We were very happy to get it done, and I think he's really happy to be back.
How important was it for you to keep that key piece in Anaheim?
The way he fit in with our group, you trade for guys at the trade deadline, and you know they could be rentals. You're taking that chance. If you're trying to win, you have to take those chances. This is one where he fit in really well. He really improved our hockey club and he was really good on the power play. Once he was gone, our power play went into the gutter. It's a good fit for both parties.
Your club made five selections on Day 2 of the NHL Draft. Do you feel you achieved what you set out to accomplish?
Considering the draft and the picks we had, I think we did just fine. Three of the players I knew - I've seen them play - they fit our style of play, which, to me, is very important. We didn't have a lot of left wingers in the system, and now we have more. We added a couple more centermen. You can't ever have enough defensemen and centermen. We're getting deeper and deeper every year.
Your fifth and final pick was goaltender Olle Eriksson Ek. How important was it to select a goaltender in this draft?
We have to rebuild our goalies. We have to rebuild that structure again in goal. We need to start getting prospects back in goal. Once they turn pro, three of four years in you're going to lose them. You can't have them all, so you always have to have someone coming next. It's something we'll keep working on.
