So, who else is ready for the draft? My excitment for the NHL is huge, cause of obvious reasons. This will be the first year I ever watch an NHL Draft, and it will be on Versus.
I'm ready. Hoping my Blue Jackets...do...something... Really, anything would do. Move down, move up, move a player, something's gotta give.
So when you are drafting in the NHL, how deep are the drafts typically? Like in the NFL, for the first 3 rounds, you are looking for starters. Or NBA draft, typically after top 5-10 players, you are just looking for role players. Like once you get to the 2nd-3rd round, are you looking for guys that will be 3rd or 4th line guys maybe some point in their career or what?
The NHL draft is an entry level draft. This means you can be sent down to the teams minor league. Blackhawks minor teams are the AHL Rockford Icehogs and the ECHL Toleydo Walleye. Most players will be sent to the minors, but the first round is an exception.
I think the NHL draft is closer to the NFL draft in terms of producing talent in the later rounds than the NBA. I would even go as far as saying the NHL is the best at producing talent in the later rounds because of the awesome minor league system. Late round guys have the opportunity to develop without the pressure to perform on the main stage. I hope the Canucks draft a defenseman, their defense is pretty old and aside from Edler they don't really have many young guys back there.
How many guys do minor league teams possess? Do teams own the rights of every player on the team like baseball or is it similar to the NBDL, where you just have some of your guys on the team?
Choco I completely agree. Later picks become huge developmen projects and a lot come out from it. Tr Blackhawks just signed a third round draft pick that they drafted in 08. Minor league teams have a lot more players than the NHL. They have two way contracts with the minor team and the NHL team. For example, Bryan Bickell played for Rockford and then was called up to Chicago for some of the playoffs.
I think each team has its own AHL affiliate, so like baseball(?) each team has their own minor league team.
What time does the draft start tomorrow? Don't want to miss the beginning. I really, really hope that Edmonton takes Seguin first so the Bruins can land Hall. I actually think that Edmonton might go with Seguin, I feel as though they need a playmaking center a little more than a sniper on the wing.
Im pretty sure it starts at 8 Central time. You might want to check your TV Guide and NHL.com for confermation. I take it your a Bruins fan? If not, whatever. Welcome anyways! Glad to see more hockey fans joining the forums. I wounder what the Hawks will do with their two first round picks. Move up? Draft two? Move down? Trade? Im excited.
The problem with being a fan of the best American hockey team, is that the draft just isnt important. Its not like we are so bad that a Crosby, Kane, Ovechiken and Towes just fall in our lap. We have to wait untell the 6th or 7th rounds to get guys like Dats or Zetterberg.
Sorry, are you talking about the Blackhawks? We did win the Stanly Cup, and we are the worlds best hockey team.