Stamkos No. 1
Steven Stamkos was selected with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night.
The Lightning made no secret how much they liked the speedy, offensive-minded 18-year-old forward from suburban Toronto and chose him just minutes after they went onto the draft clock.
Tampa Bay, coming off an NHL-low, 31-win season, had the first pick in the draft for the second time. The Lightning chose Vincent Lecavalier No. 1 in 1998.
Lightning general manager Jay Feaster has been so impressed with Stamkos that he already has him penciled in as his second-line center for the upcoming season. Rated the top prospect by NHL Central Scouting, Stamkos is listed at 6-foot and 183 pounds. He produced 197 points (100 goals and 97 assists) in 124 games over two seasons with Sarnia of the Ontario Hockey League.
The draft then followed what many had predicted – plenty of defensemen being drafted and lots of trades, too.
Calgary completed two deals, trading center Alex Tanguay to Montreal for the Canadiens’ first-round pick (25th) this year, and their second-round pick next year. The Flames then acquired Los Angeles Kings center Mike Cammalleri in a trade involving three teams.
Calgary sent its first-round pick, No. 17, to Los Angeles. The Kings then dealt that pick and the 28th selection to Anaheim for the Ducks’ first-rounder, No. 12 overall.
Phoenix acquired Florida Panthers captain Olli Jokinen for defensemen Keith Ballard and Nick Boynton and the 49th pick in this year’s draft.
Columbus acquired Flyers forward R.J. Umberger and Philadelphia’s fourth-round pick (118th), for the Blue Jackets’ second of two first-round picks (No. 19) and their third-rounder (No. 67).
After Stamkos, four straight defensemen were selected to round out the top five. The Kings took Drew Doughty from Guelph of the OHL with the second pick, and Atlanta followed with the selection of another blue-liner – Zach Bogosian from Peterborough of the OHL – at No. 3.
St. Louis selected Alex Pietrangelo from Niagara of the OHL with the fourth pick, and the Toronto Maple Leafs completed a complicated deal with the New York Islanders, moving up two spots from No. 7 to pick Luke Schenn, who played for Kelowna of the Western Hockey League.
Columbus, with the sixth pick, took a chance and chose top-ranked European prospect Nikita Filatov. NHL teams have shied away from Russians in fear they might not play in North America because of the lack of a transfer agreement.
Filatov, however, has vowed he’ll play in the NHL, and even committed to playing in the Canadian Junior Hockey League if he didn’t make an NHL roster.
The Islanders traded the No. 7 pick to Nashville, allowing the Predators to select Boston University center Colin Wilson. Phoenix took Danish-born forward Mikkel Boedker, who played for Kitchener (OHL) at No. 9.
Vancouver rounded out the top 10 by selecting center Cody Hodgson from Brampton (OHL).
No Spokane Chiefs were selected Friday. The draft continues today.
Thrashers hire Anderson
After coaching in the minors for 13 seasons – and winning five championships – John Anderson finally landed an NHL job when the Atlanta Thrashers announced him as the fourth coach in franchise history.
Anderson led the Thrashers’ top affiliate, the Chicago Wolves, to the American Hockey League title this season.
Canadiens eye Sundin
The Montreal Canadiens received permission from the Maple Leafs to speak with Toronto captain Mats Sundin, who becomes an unrestricted free agent July 1.