Which teams made the biggest splash at the NHL draft?
BUFFALO – After two days at the NHL draft, here are the 10 teams that made the biggest splash:
1. Detroit Red Wings: The buzz around the draft is that the Red Wings may be the favorite to land Steven Stamkos if he tests the free-agent marketplace. The Red Wings bought their ticket to the Stamkos Sweepstakes by dumping retired center Pavel Datsyuk’s $7.5 million cap hit with the Arizona Coyotes.
As happy as the Coyotes were to land defenseman Jakob Chychrun with the first-rounder Detroit gave them, the Red Wings are the big winner in the Datsyuk trade because they only moved down four spots (from No. 16 to No. 20) to get it done. Plus, the Red Wings landed a second-round pick in the deal. The other teams willing to take the Datsyuk contract wanted the Red Wings to pay a more.
2. Calgary Flames: The acquisition of goalie Brian Elliott is the perfect marriage for both the player and the team. Elliott finally has the opportunity to be a No. 1 goalie, and the Flames have a goalie known for consistency. If the Flames had quality goaltending last season, they could have challenged for a playoff spot. The average NHL save percentage is .916, and Elliott has been above that for four of the past five seasons.
Offensive-minded defenseman Adam Fox was a steal for Calgary at No. 66.
Red Wings have become a favorite in Steven Stamkos sweepstakes
3. Philadelphia Flyers: GM Ron Hextall made 10 picks in seven rounds, and the consensus seemed to be the Flyers had two strong days at the draft table.
The key player is Russian center German Rubtsov. “Think of a dogged determined center,” said TSN.ca draft expert Craig Button.
How much offense will he create? “Lots,” Button said. “He’s not (Pavel) Datsyuk. But he’s a purposeful, dog-on-the-bone competitor. Smart. Smart. Smart.”
The Flyers also used a second-round pick to grab Quebec Major Junior Hockey League standout Pascal Laberge who was projected to go in the first round. He’s a skater and a scorer. They also added Western Hockey League’s Carter Hart, one of the top two goalies in the draft.
4. Arizona Coyotes: With their two first-round picks, the Coyotes chose an electrifying young center in USA Hockey National Team Development program player Clayton Keller, and Jakob Chychrun who is likely play in their top four defenseman within three years.
They also traded for Tampa Bay prospect Anthony DeAngelo, picked 19thoverall, in 2014. He could be ready for the NHL by the end of next season. He’s a skilled defenseman.
5. Montreal Canadiens: If you are a goaltending-dependent team, you want to be hard to play against. The Canadiens certainly accomplished that by acquiring prickly Andrew Shaw from the Chicago Blackhawks for two second-round picks. It was a fair price for a player who is fearless when driving the net. The Canadiens had difficulty getting to the net last season.
Plus, the Canadiens drafted Mikhail Sergachev, an all-around defenseman who could be a top pairing performer in a few seasons. The Habs showed good value with all of their picks.
NHL draft: Live chat, analysis and commentary
6. Buffalo Sabres: GM Tim Murray landed the veteran defenseman he wanted in Dmitry Kulikov and then drafted Alex Nylander in the first round
Nylander’s brother William plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and their father Michael Nylander was a long-time NHL player. Alex Nylander is an elite offensive player.
7. Winnipeg Jets: With the No. 2 pick, the Jets drafted Finnish winger Patrik Laine who seems to have an Alex Ovechkin-like scoring ability. Then they traded up to take 6-7 defenseman Logan Stanley who has good mobility for such a giant athlete.
8. Edmonton Oilers: First round pick Jesse Puljujarvi, a dashing skater, is probably a perfect complement for center Connor McDavid.
Their second-round pick, Tyler Benson, a left wing, and third-round pick Markus Niemelainen, a defenseman, were ranked near the end of the first round on some lists. Niemelainen is 6-5 and skates like the wind.
9. Toronto Maple Leafs: They drafted the world's best 18-year-old player in Auston Matthews. Coach Mike Babcock called him a championship-style center.
10. New York Islanders: Landing Kieffer Bellows with the 19th pick is a high value acquisition. Bellows was probably the second-best goal scorer available in the draft. He scored 50 goals this season for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. In the U.S. program, his scoring numbers compare with Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews. In other years, Bellows might have been a top 10 draft selection.