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Draft Preview 2009
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
ALL GROWN UP
Like most teenagers, Victor Hedman likes to watch movies, specifically edge-of-your-seat thrillers. “There’s a tension,” he said. “You don’t know what’s going to happen.” The same could be said for Hedman, the 18-year-old Swedish defenseman who has towered over his peers both physically and metaphorically. Measuring in at nearly 6-foot-7 and 220 pounds, Hedman has opened eyes and dropped jaws across the international hockey world with both his size and skating ability, drawing comparisons to a bigger Nicklas Lidstrom or a nicer Chris Pronger. The teen has spent the past two seasons playing against men twice his age in the Swedish Eliteserien, the country’s best league, and didn’t look out of place. “Hedman is a very mature young man with a pretty complete game,” said one NHL GM. “He may not be a bruising defenseman,…
2009 DRAFT ORDER
The Islanders won the draft lottery and will pick first overall June 26. The Cup winner and finalist slide to the No. 30 and 29 slots. 1. N.Y. Islanders 2. Tampa Bay 3. Colorado 4. Atlanta 5. Los Angeles 6. Phoenix 7. Toronto 8. Dallas 9. Ottawa 10. Edmonton 11. Nashville 12. Minnesota 13. Buffalo 14. Florida 15. Anaheim 16. Columbus 17. St. Louis 18. Montreal 19. N.Y. Rangers 20. Carolina 21. Phx (from Cgy) 22. Philadelphia 23. Pittsburgh 24. Chicago 25. Vancouver* 26. New Jersey* 27. Washington* 28. Detroit* 29. Boston* 30. NYI (from SJ)*…
FROM ‘CAN’T MISS’ TO ‘CAN’T PLAY’
If Prince were to write a song about the 1999 NHL draft, he’d call it, When GMs Cry. “Oh, Christ,” said then-Ottawa GM Marshall Johnston when asked if he remembered the lone superstar chosen that year, Henrik Zetterberg, went 210th overall to Detroit. “Yeah. Yeah, I sure do. And probably like a lot of the other guys on the floor, we made mistakes.” Johnston actually made out like a bandit, nabbing Martin Havlat with the 26th pick. And, Zetterberg aside, 10 years on it doesn’t look like too many mistakes were made on the draft floor; it’s just that not too many of the kids drafted met expectations. Looking back, maybe GMs had an inkling something was amiss. The first overall pick was traded three times and the top four picks moved a…
NHL TEAM REPORTS
ANAHEIM DUCKS GETTING READY FOR TRANSITION Time in Anaheim growing short for two-headed defense monster BY DAN WOOD Atandem of defensemen nearly unparalleled in NHL history – Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger – went a long way toward producing a Stanley Cup championship in 2007, but it’s unlikely the Ducks will enjoy the luxury of having both blueliners next season. Niedermayer is eligible for unrestricted free agency and, once again, has not committed to continuing his career beyond the 2009 playoffs. Pronger has one year remaining on his contract, at $6.25 million, and figures to be one of the biggest names on the trading block during the off-season. Ducks GM Bob Murray will try to retain both defensemen, particularly if Niedermayer will return for less than the $6.75 million he made this season. Francois Beauchemin is another wild…
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