NHL draft on Saturday

[The Hegemo]

Pittsburgh will obviously be picking Crosby first.

Who do you want your team to pick?

Columbus really needs some more prospects on D. I'd love to see them take Jack Johnson from the USNDTP, but I suspect he'll be long gone by the #6 pick. The idea of picking Marc Staal is growing on me. He may be somewhat overrated because of his brother, but it sounds like he could develop into a quality NHL defenseman.

I'd love to see them use later picks on Paul Stastny from Denver (because his dad was one of my favorite players ever, and Paul looked to have a lot of skill during the Frozen Four) or Tom Fritsche from OSU (because I watched him play all last season -- kid's got some offensive skill and we've already got his brother).

As for Ottawa, I've kind of reached the point of not caring what they do during the draft. They have the potential to win it all now, so who they draft just doesn't excite me that much. I'm far more interested in what the current players can do in May.

[Patas]

I'm excited about the NHL, Hell Yeah!!! I'm a huge Capitals fan and there is something I don't quite understand. The capitals won the draft lottery in 2005 with the 2nd or third worse record. And in this draft they have like the 15th pick. I thought there was some rule that the none of the three worst teams could have worse than the 3rd pick. Am I missing something shouldn't the Capitals be picking at least in the third spot or did they trade the pick away at some point?

[Jonathan]

I really, really, reeeeally want the Canes to take Johnson at No. 3. He should be the type of defenseman that the originization hasn't had since the Whalers traded away Chris Pronger.

However, it worries me that Anaheim is actively shopping the No. 2 pick. And I'm pretty sure that anyone who moves up to No. 2 is going to do so to pick Johnson. Which means that we'll probably take Benoit Pouliot at 3. Which I'm fine with...in a non-Crosby year, he has the talent to be a No. 1 pick, so you can't turn your nose up at that. And a Staal-Ladd-Pouliot line has the potential to be something very special in a few years.

But we need the help on defence. And given that he has the last name of Staal, and that TSN has said that "one NHL team sees him as one of the five best prospects in the draft, right alongside Johnson as the top defenceman." (hmm, wonder who that could be?), it wouldn't surprise me in the least if the Canes took Marc Staal. Which would be a tad high for him, in my opinion.

So...hoping for Johnson, expecting Pouliot, resigned to Staal.


As for the Leafs, I feel the same way about their draft that Hegemo feels about the Sens'. I'm more worried about what the Canes are going to do on Draft Day.

[Turbo Ninja]

I'm excited about the NHL, Hell Yeah!!! I'm a huge Capitals fan and there is something I don't quite understand. The capitals won the draft lottery in 2005 with the 2nd or third worse record. And in this draft they have like the 15th pick. I thought there was some rule that the none of the three worst teams could have worse than the 3rd pick. Am I missing something shouldn't the Capitals be picking at least in the third spot or did they trade the pick away at some point?

Check out this story (http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/feature.asp?fid=7314) for an explanation, or read on...

The NHL decided that it would not be fair for this year's draft to be held in the same order as last year's because those teams - Washington, Pittsburgh, Chicago, Columbus, etc - were already compensated for their poor performance in 2003/04. Since there was no 2004/05 season, this year's draft order was determined differently from the usual way where the order pretty much reflects the point standings in reverse with a lottery to determine the final order among teams that don't qualify for the playoffs.

For tomorrow's draft, each team had a shot at the #1 overall pick. Actually, each team started with three shots at #1 in the form of ping-pong balls in the hopper. For every playoff appearance or #1 overall pick over the last three years, a ball was taken out of the hopper but every team was guaranteed at least one ball/chance at getting the first pick.

[euro60]

The NHL draft? :::yawn:::

Football camps are opening up, now there's something to talk about :D

[The_Deacon]

What the hell is the NHL???? ,,,,,,and if those folks would just close the windows, there won't be such a draft!!!

[rcc94]

Big surprise - Sidney Crosby was taken as the number 1 pick.

You can watch at http://www.nhl.com.

[rcc94]

I really, really, reeeeally want the Canes to take Johnson at No. 3.
And your wish is granted. So will he play at Michigan?

(I didn't make it to the Ale House, instead am watching online.)

[The Hegemo]

I actually went to the Jackets' draft party, got there at 11:15, people were already lined up halfway down the block. Got in around 11:50 but it was packed, nowhere to sit. I only live five minutes from the arena, so I figured, screw it, I'll just go home and listen on the radio.

But yes, the Canes got the guy I wanted :(

I don't know yet how I feel about the Jackets picking Brule. He sounds like a pretty good little player with an edge...I just really hoped for a d-man in the first round. I'm going to need some time to warm up to this.

[Artpunchehorse]

I actually went to the Jackets' draft party, got there at 11:15, people were already lined up halfway down the block. Got in around 11:50 but it was packed, nowhere to sit. I only live five minutes from the arena, so I figured, screw it, I'll just go home and listen on the radio.

But yes, the Canes got the guy I wanted :(

I don't know yet how I feel about the Jackets picking Brule. He sounds like a pretty good little player with an edge...I just really hoped for a d-man in the first round. I'm going to need some time to warm up to this.

Here's my problem with the Blue Jackets. As someone that is getting ready to get a sports marketing degree, it is my opinion they should of been named the Ohio Blue Jackets. For me, when you put Columbus before the team name it just reminds me of THE Ohio State University, which I can't stand. The arrogance of putting THE in front of your school name makes me want to vomit.

Yeah, I know that no one asked for my opinion but I don't care and I think that people from Cleveland, Cincy, Dayton, etc. will tell you the same thing

[Jonathan]

And your wish is granted. So will he play at Michigan?

(I didn't make it to the Ale House, instead am watching online.)
Man, am I glad the Canes got Johnson. Do I think he'll play at Michigan? Not sure. Don't really care if he spends a year or two in Ann Arbor. If he feels like he's ready for the NHL, he'll sign the contract. If he doesn't think he's ready yet, he'll go to U of M for some more seasoning. Either way, the Canes have his draft rights.

With drafting Johnson and the trade for Mike Commodore on Friday, the Canes significantly improved their major area of weakness.

[shivui]

trade for commodore? why have i not heard this?
i need to find a better outlet than espn.

[The Hegemo]

With drafting Johnson and the trade for Mike Commodore on Friday, the Canes significantly improved their major area of weakness.

Yeah, but then the Jackets traded Derrick Walser to the Canes and re-weakened your defense in one fell swoop :p

[Jonathan]

trade for commodore? why have i not heard this?
i need to find a better outlet than espn.
www.tsn.ca

It's still owned by ESPN, though

[crank-e]

Here's my problem with the Blue Jackets. As someone that is getting ready to get a sports marketing degree, it is my opinion they should of been named the Ohio Blue Jackets.

Here's my problem with the Blue Jackets, and the Canes, and 90% of the expansion teams from the past 10-ish years: Want to know why we weren't watching hockey this past year? Cuz some jackass who thought hockey was just like basketball set up shop in places where practically no one could give a rats ass. Hockey is the sport of the great white north-ie places where it f'n SNOWS! Not the beach, not the desert, and not the capital of Ohio (and yeah, I know it snows in Ohio).

The NHL desperately needs to start killing off teams like the Blue Jackets, every team south of the Mason Dixon line, and probably half of the Far West squads as well (Ducks, Kings, PHX). Which would bring the league back to respectable standing among those who still give a shit. So some new fans won't be able to go to a Thrashers game and have to settle for Avs vs. 'Nucks on cable-cry me a river!

Regardless, prepare to hear "Wings Win Cup!!" next June.

[sabos_glasses]

I don't know much about hockey, but I thought it was mostly Canadian teams that were struggling for revenue...maybe not, just what I thought.

[crank-e]

All but a handful of the teams are struggling.
Canada (I'm talking to you Edmonton!) perhaps more so because of their smaller population, years of dominance by non-Canadian squads (hats off to the Flames for busting that up), or their fans not willing to buy tickets to watch them play teams like the Blue Jackets.

[GQuagmire]

Here's my problem with the Blue Jackets, and the Canes, and 90% of the expansion teams from the past 10-ish years: Want to know why we weren't watching hockey this past year? Cuz some jackass who thought hockey was just like basketball set up shop in places where practically no one could give a rats ass. Hockey is the sport of the great white north-ie places where it f'n SNOWS! Not the beach, not the desert, and not the capital of Ohio (and yeah, I know it snows in Ohio).

The NHL desperately needs to start killing off teams like the Blue Jackets, every team south of the Mason Dixon line, and probably half of the Far West squads as well (Ducks, Kings, PHX). Which would bring the league back to respectable standing among those who still give a shit. So some new fans won't be able to go to a Thrashers game and have to settle for Avs vs. 'Nucks on cable-cry me a river!

Regardless, prepare to hear "Wings Win Cup!!" next June.

While I agree with you that some franchises in "non-hockey markets" need to fold, your inclusion of Columbus in this is way off base. Their attendance is very good...and always has been. Better than the majority of clubs.

[rcc94]

I like having a team here in Raleigh. We don't have any other major league professional sports teams within a 2 hour radius (although some may think ACC basketball is). We also like to distance ourselves from Charlotte, so while there's limited support for the Panthers, I hear almost nothing about the Bobcats.

Our attendance had been just under the league average and is better than when the team was in Hartford.

Besides, it's just part of Canada's ploy to take over the Triangle. The arena is the RBC Center. (RBC=Royal Bank of Canada)

[Jonathan]

Here's my problem with the Blue Jackets, and the Canes, and 90% of the expansion teams from the past 10-ish years: Want to know why we weren't watching hockey this past year? Cuz some jackass who thought hockey was just like basketball set up shop in places where practically no one could give a rats ass. Hockey is the sport of the great white north-ie places where it f'n SNOWS! Not the beach, not the desert, and not the capital of Ohio (and yeah, I know it snows in Ohio).

The NHL desperately needs to start killing off teams like the Blue Jackets, every team south of the Mason Dixon line, and probably half of the Far West squads as well (Ducks, Kings, PHX). Which would bring the league back to respectable standing among those who still give a shit. So some new fans won't be able to go to a Thrashers game and have to settle for Avs vs. 'Nucks on cable-cry me a river!

Of all the stupid things I've read on the WOXY boards, that takes the cake. Congratulations! It takes a special kind of dumb to make the most idiotic post in WOXY history.

Asinine statements like "Hockey is the sport of the great white north-ie places where it f'n SNOWS!" are why people have such a poor opinion of hockey fans in general, thinking of them as a closed society, not accepting people who didn't grow up with the sport.

I grew up in Cincinnati. I grew up a hockey fan. And whenever I went to a Hurricanes game in the first few years, I would have people sitting next to me asking questions about what was going on. I was happy to answer all their questions, no matter how silly they might have been. Do you know why? Because I believe that everybody, regardless of location, deserves the opportunity to become a hockey fan.

And it's safe to say that when you write "Some jackass who thought hockey was just like basketball set up shop in places where practically no one could give a rats ass," you have never been to a hockey game in any of the markets you derided. Because if you had, you'd know that plenty of people give a rats ass in the south, and the west, about hockey. And let me let you in on a little secret - most of the people in the northeast and upper midwest don't give a shit about hockey, either. It really is an acquired taste - so why the fuck would you want to keep anybody else from acquiring it?

Regardless, prepare to hear "Wings Win Cup!!" next June.

Well hell, now that I read that, all the garbage you spewed makes sense. Only a douchebag Red Wings fan would spout that crap.

By the way...Detroit is not Hockeytown. At least 1,000 towns in Canada, plus Minneapolis and Boston have a better claim to that title.

[shivui]

i was waiting for someone to bust up the columbus trash talking. they had a tremendous sell out streak that lasted a very long time. with nothing else but ohio state football to compete, it's a great location and ohio has been a somewhat overlooked home to many hockey fans. cincinnati has had many teams and unless i'm mistaken still has rights to one in the AHL (fingers crossed that syracuse moves). and in case no one noticed, ohio has produced some NHL veterans (no superstars) but even so... brian holzinger, ian moran. i'm positive there's at least one more current NHLer, but my memory fails me.

isn't phoenix one of the fastest growing cities in the country? whew better pull out of there quick.

[The Hegemo]

Well, gee Mr. McConnell, I realize that the Blue Jackets have played to 90% capacity and had an 83-game sellout streak even though the team sucked, and 90% season ticket renewal even during the lockout. And yes, I realize that amateur hockey in Columbus has exploded and all sorts of high schools are adding teams and even though the number of ice sheets has tripled, they're still booked solid all the time. And yes, Nationwide Arena is a first-class facility and has anchored all sorts of new residential and commercial development, and that players love it because it's the only NHL arena with an attached practice rink. And yeah, the Jackets do have a great core of young exciting players like Nash, Zherdev, Leclaire, Picard and now Brule. And yes, the fans did line up down the block just to get in and watch the draft on TV on Saturday...

But, jeez, some guy on the internet says Columbus shouldn't have an NHL team. And he's a Wings fan. So I'm afraid you're just going to have to close up shop, Mr. McConnell.

[crank-e]

My previous post/bash...
Exaggerated? Probably. Passionate? Definitely. Completely unfounded? Nope.

Here's what I'm getting at:
I'm all about hockey anywhere and everywhere. If it was plausible to put a squad in every city and village in North America, I'd say do it. The new teams that have come into the league in the past decade have been great for getting new fans and increasing competiveness. I loved seeing the Canes and Lightning making their run to the Cup! I love watching players like Gugierre (Ducks keeper, who I never would have seen play otherwise) in the Finals.

But if it comes down to less teams (mostly those based on shorter lengths of tradition), perhaps even playing a shorter season -OR- putting even more teams in places like Omaha or Biloxi, further draining the league of resources which result in NO HOCKEY... guess what? Columbus and the other new boots teams gets the axe!

Don't take it personal; I feel for ya.

[shivui]

the point is, which the hegemo explained perfectly, that columbus wouldn't get the axe. with the exception of poor performance in the standings, they've done well.

speaking of high schools adding teams, the one i graduated from did just years after i was done. needless to say i'm still quite bitter. we used to sit around at lunch and talk about trying to get one there. we'd laugh and say it'd never happen. shame, i would've played in a second. that's little ole stephen t badin in crummy ole hamilton(!).

[crank-e]

the point is, which the hegemo explained perfectly, that columbus wouldn't get the axe. with the exception of poor performance in the standings, they've done well.


We'll see how many tickets the Jackets sell x-years from now when they still haven't been to the playoffs. ;)
Kinda what's going on in Boston. They've got years of tradition-and playoff wins on their side-and no one shows up.

Thing is, it's a done deal. They won't scrap any team before the league, as a whole, compeltely folds. When it's all said and done, this better be the best season the NHL has ever had.. or else!

[shivui]

this upcoming season?
i'm under the impression that everyone understands this won't be that great of a season (fan attendance wise) and that it's going to take years of work to repair the damage. i read rumblings that the cap might end up being a few mil lower than what's been projected due to reduced league income.

no one's expecting a quick fix. the new NHL's a work in progress.

[crank-e]

Totally agree w/ you there. I just hope the sponsors and tv give them that time.

"Best season ever" = Labor contracts and office meetings are over. It's time to drop the puck! I believe it is now solely on the players to perform at their best and have the most exciting, 7-game Finals season EVER, making us all forget the past season that was not.

Let the game speak for itself-that's what sells tickets.

[Jonathan]

"Best season ever" = Labor contracts and office meetings are over. It's time to drop the puck! I believe it is now solely on the players to perform at their best and have the most exciting, 7-game Finals season EVER, making us all forget the past season that was not.

Let the game speak for itself-that's what sells tickets.

I'll second that.

[wileE]

I'll second that.
Third.

Let's hope the ice opens up with the rule changes.