Berard Goes First, But Draft Finishes Second To Trades

Topped by Bryan Berard, it was defense first in Saturday’s NHL draft.

But the Vancouver Canucks stole the thunder of the hopeful amateur players by pulling off a big trade for all-star Alexander Mogilny.

While the first-round picks followed form, the Canucks gave up their first-round pick, plus two players with little NHL experience, to snatch the high-scoring forward from Buffalo.

Mogilny, who scored a league-leading 76 goals in 1992-93 and has 211 goals in a six-year NHL career, moved to Vancouver for center Mike Peca, who has one year of NHL experience, and defenseman Mike Wilson, who has none.

In addition, the teams exchanged draft picks, with Vancouver’s No. 1, 14th overall, going to Buffalo for the Sabres’ fifth-round pick.

With the pick, the Sabres selected Canadian juniors defenseman Jay McKee, one of nine blue-liners picked in the first round in this “Year of the Defenseman.” The Sabres, who had two picks in the opening round, then selected Canadian juniors goaltender Martin Biron with No. 16.

“This was a great opportunity to add some explosiveness to our team,” said Pat Quinn, Vancouver’s president-general manager. “We have reunited two players from what is considered the best young line in hockey.

“I can’t think of two young players that could be more entertaining than Pavel Bure and Alexander Mogilny. Besides winning games with talent, we have to put on a show. We have a new building and we have to make sure people will come.”

Biron was one of four goalies picked in the opening round as defensive-minded NHL teams hoped to find another gem like Martin Brodeur, who helped the New Jersey Devils win the Stanley Cup this year.

With the trade and the loss of Dale Hawerchuk, who signed as a free agent with St. Louis, the Sabres trimmed $5 off their payroll.

“The salary structure is way out of whack,” Sabres general manager John Muckler sais. “The first thing, we had to get that rectified.”

The Maple Leafs, meanwhile, announced the acquisition of veteran defenseman Larry Murphy from Pittsburgh for defenseman Dmitri Mironov and a second-round pick next year.

In another trade, Los Angeles gave Washington two picks for next year’s draft, including its No. 1, for forward Dimitri Khristich and goaltender Byron Dafoe.

By that time, the NHL draft had established a couple of precedents. This was the first time that defensemen had been selected 1-2-3, and the first time since 1974 that a defenseman has been selected No. 1 overall in two consecutive entry drafts. In 1973, Denis Potvin was selected first by the New York Islanders and in 1974 Greg Joly went to the Washington Capitals.

After the Senators went for Berard, the Islanders picked Wade Redden and the Los Angeles Kings seletced Aki-Petteri Berg, as expected.

Berard, a smooth-skating defensemen with great offensive skills, hyad 20 goals and 55 assists last season with the Detroit Jr. Red Wings of the Ontario Hockey League.

“There will be pressure, but I handle pressure pretty well. I think I play better, so hopefully it will be to my advantage ,” said Berard, the third American in the 33-year history of the draft to be the overall No. 1 pick.

Brian Lawton was a No. 1 pick in 1983 and Mike Modano in 1988, both by the Minnesota North Stars.

Berard said it was important for him to be the top pick.

“That was a goal in my mind since I was young, to be the first player to be selected in the draft. I am just relieved and happy.”

Redden, more of a stay-at-home defenseman than Berard, was selected from Brandon of the Western Hockey League, one of nine players picked in the first round from the WHL.

He was just as excited as Berard.

“I guess when you are drafted this high, the team has a lot of plans for you,” Redden said. “Hopefully, I can make them happy.”

Berg, a big, hard-hitting defensmen, became the highest drafted player from Finland. Teemu Selanne was the previous highest drafted player from Finland when taken 10th by Winnipeg in 1988.

Washington and Boston each had two picks in the first round. The New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Vancouver Canucks had none.

With their picks, the Capitals went for Canadian juniors left wing Brad Church and Finnish center Mikka Elomo. The Bruins picked Canadian juniors defenseman Kyle McLaren and defenseman Sean Brown, also from the Canadian junior ranks.

Along with the nine defensemen and four goalies, the first round featured six centers, including Petr Sykora, the only pro in the lot, among 13 forwards. The Czech star, who played last season for Detroit of the International Hockey League, was picked No. 18 by New Jersey.

Four Spokane Chiefs were drafted. Hartford selected defenseman Hugh Hamilton in the fifth round (113th pick), Colorado chose right wing John Cirjak in the sixth round (155th pick), Tampa Bay picked center Joe Cardarelli in the eighth round(186th) and Florida nabbed goaltender David Lemanowicz in the ninth round (218th)

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