NHLEVERYTHING

Last night was the first night of the NHL Draft featuring just the first round.

Surprises: As projected, Austin Matthews got drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs and Patrick lane got picked secondly by the Winnipeg Jets. The third overall pick was a bit of a surprise that most fans didn’t expect. The Columbus Blue Jackets picked Pierre- Luc Dubois with third overall pick of the draft. Jesse Puljujarvi, a Finland prospect was projected to go third overall but instead they took Dubois, who played in the QMJHL. (Quebec Mayor Junior Hockey League) He was then selected fourth overall by the Edmonton Oilers.

What We Learned:

Blues Have Chosen Allen as Starter

In the first round of the NHL Draft, it was announced that the Blues traded Brian Elliot to the Calgary Flames for their second round pick (No.35) and a conditional pick in the 2018 Draft. The Flames have been looking for a starting goaltender for a while and they found one. Karri Ramo will likely be the back up for Elliot. Despite Elliot going 23-8-6 with a 2.07 GAA (Goals Against Average) and a .930 SV%, the Blues decided to stay with the younger Jake Allen. Elliot was also a big help in the playoffs and a mayor reason the Blues got as far as they did.

Red Wings Are Trying To Improve

In the first round of the NHL Draft, it was announced that the Detriot Red Wings had traded Pavel Datsyuk and the 16th pick of the draft to the Arizona Coyotes for the 20th pick, the 59th pick and Joe Vitale, a bottom six forward who only played one game this season because of  concussion-related issue and a fractured orbital bone. Datsyuk won’t be playing next season. Instead, he will be playing in the KHL to be closer to his family who live in Russia. Datsyuk has one year one his contract which is worth $7.5 million per year. This frees up salary-cap space for the Red Wings to sign some big name free agents. This should help them improve and hopefully get past the first round as they have made three straight first round exits, one after being defeated by Boston and the other two by Tampa Bay. Ken Holland will have a busy offseason this year.

 

 

In the NHL Awards, the general managers voted for Las Vegas to be it’s expansion team and will start playing in the 2017-2018 season.They will be in the pacific division which is in the western conference. All home games will be played at T-Mobile Arena which opened on April 6th 2016. Already, more than 14,000 season tickets have been sold and all luxury seats have been sold. Bill Foley (Owner Of The Las Vegas Team) said: “he expects 85 to 90 percent of the crowds to be season-ticket holders.” Each team will have to get rid of one player for the expansion draft. All players with No Movement clauses must be protected. At the end of the expansion draft, Las Vegas (no team name or logo yet) must have fourteen forwards, nine defenseman and three goaltenders.

 

The Maple Leafs gave up the last pick of the first round in 2016 and a 2017 second rounder for Frederick Anderson. He and John Gibson had been fighting for the starting role and both all free agents this year. Anderson got the majority of the starts between the two young goaltenders. In 2015-2016, Anderson posted a 2.30 GAA and a .919 SV%. Considering general manager Bob Murray is still trying to get a consistent left winger who can play some first line time and he still has to sign Hampus Lindholm and Cam Fowler who are the core of Anaheim’s defense, this was the right move for Anaheim. Anderson is excited to get an opportunity to be in a starter role. He recently signed a five year contract with his new team. The Ducks are now trying to find a backup for Gibson who can play 25-30 games a year.

The Chicago Blackhawks have signed head coach Joel Quenneville to a three year extension. Quenneville has been successful in his time as head coach as he’s in his eighth year as head coach of the Blackhawks. He has 781 career and is one win behind Al Arbour with 782 wins and can tie with him for second place on the career win list if the Hawks can beat the Predators on Tuesday Night. This is what he said about the contract. “We’re happy,” Quenneville said after Chicago’s morning skate. “We’re in a great spot here. I want to thank Rocky John and Stan. It’s been a fun time here and we have  a fun situation going on here. It’s a good stretch here and I look forward to try to continue on.”

Carey Price has recently once again been injured against the Rangers after recovering from a lower body injury. The injury is too his right leg and he will be out for at least a week. Price didn’t play in the third period. In the second, his right leg felt weird especially when moving around the crease. He stopped 22 out of 23 shots (in the first two periods) then, Mike Condon came in and stopped all 11 shots. (in the third period) Habs fans will be hoping that Price will recover soon. The Canadians have called up Dustin Tokarski from St. John in he AHL to be Condon’s backup.”Goalies know how goalies move, and you can tell when a guy obviously isn’t 100 percent or something happened and he got hit,” Condon said after the game. “I saw what happened and started getting my mind mentally ready. You’ve always got to be ready at the drop of a hat, because you never know when that moment can come.”

The Flames have signed defenseman Marc Giordano to a six year, $40.5 million dollar deal. Last season Giordano got 48 points in 61 games before getting injured. Giordano probably would of been one of the Norris Trophy Finalists if he hadn’t been injured. With the addition of Dougie Hamilton, Marc Giordano being healthy and as long as T.J. Brodie and Dennis Wideman play as well or almost as well as last season the Flames could have one of the defenses in the league.

The Anaheim Ducks have signed former Ranger Carl Hagelin to a 4 year, $16 million dollar contract. Hagelin is a speedy player and should be a good second liner for the Ducks. Hagelin should help the Ducks in the playoffs. Hagelin is expected to have a 15-25 goal season with the Ducks. Ducks fans are hoping that Hagelin can help the Ducks in the regular season and the playoffs.

In the 2015-2016 season the Anaheim Ducks and the Colorado Avalanche will have new alternate jerseys. The Ducks have brought back the old mighty duck logo. The Avalanche jersey has a c for Colorado in the middle of an mountain/avalanche. The new alternate jerseys are awesome upgrades!

     

The New York Rangers have signed former LA King Jarret Stoll to a one year $800K contract. Stoll was recently arrested for drug charges. The Rangers are giving Stoll a chance. Stoll is a good faceoff man and a good penalty killer.

The 27 Year old St. Louis Blues Center Jori Lehtera is out 6-8 weeks after having a successful ankle surgery. Lehtera has been a good second line center for the Blues in the 2014-2015 season. He has made excellent chemistry with linemate right wing Vladimir Tarasenko. Blues fans will be hoping that Lehtera heals before the start of the season.