So Edmonton actually took Yakupov. Apparently the offers for the top pick were not impressive, so they took the best player available. A sensible choice, except for their glaring weakness on defense, easily filled in a defense-rich first round. They didn't end up taking a defenseman until the top of round four, which was slightly surprising, especially given some of the prospects still available in round two.
Edmonton did end up taking Michigan Tech's incoming freshman Jujhar Khaira in the third round, making him the highest drafted Tech player since David Weninger was chosen by the Washington Capitals in round three in 1996. With the addition of Khaira and Jamie Phillips, taken in round seven by the Winnipeg Jets, to New Jersey Devils prospect Blake Pietila, Tech will have three players who have been drafted on the team for the first time since the 1998-99 season (the trio of Mat Snesrud, Paul Cabana, and Weninger).
Ryan Murray went second to the Columbus Blue Jackets, giving them someone to play alongside Jack Johnson in the near future. Perhaps the most shocking thing with this pick is the rumor that the New York Islanders offered their entire draft to Columbus for this pick, conditional upon whether Nail Yakupov was available at 2, or perhaps not, depending on who you talk to. Shocking that the Islanders, look more towards ownership than at GM Garth Snow for this stroke of genius, would offer such a package for the second pick in a draft, and that Columbus would turn it down. The Blue Jackets would have still got a great prospect at pick #4 and would've been able to patch the holes of organizational depth within an afternoon. As for the Islanders, if you like a prospect enough to offer your entire draft for him, why not offer it to the Oilers at the one, instead of the Blue Jackets at two? I would find it hard to believe that the Oilers would turn that offer down, as they would have gotten a glut of prospects, including the defenseman they need at four, and could've moved those picks in a package to pick up NHL ready talent. Straight out of the Book Of Milbury, GM edition. Similar, if not identical to the Book Of Charles Wang, "How not to run an NHL franchise".
Interesting to see the Penguins stock the goalie cupboard this weekend, taking Soo Greyhounds' Matt Murray in the third round and Boston University bound Sean Maguire in the fourth. I wouldn't necessarily see this as the Pens being down on Marc-Andre Fleury after that abysmal playoff this past season. Both prospects will need time in junior/college and likely the AHL before being ready for the next step. Murray was progressing well as the starter on a defensively-challenged Greyhounds team, then the trade for Jack Campbell happened and it seemed to shake up the young goalie, who didn't really regain his early season form. He'll be given the reins again to start the season in the Sault, who have tried to improve their defense this summer, but I wouldn't expect that Murray's numbers this season would accurately reflect his talents.
I touched on Tom Wilson and "Boo" Nieves in the pre-draft blog. Wilson went to the Washington Capitals, and he'll mesh well regardless of who out of the Caps' talent he plays with. Nieves was taken at the end of the second round to the Rangers. After some time under Red Berenson, he should round into one heck of a pro.
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