(upbeat music) Back in the Kintech Studio, Dan Reicho, Satyar Shah, Khunab Central is draft central tonight, the first round of the NHL entry draft on going. This is an important message on behalf of Canadian blood services. Hospital demand for blood products was stable, nearly a decade, but it's now rising quickly. As the population of Canada grows, and ages, there's been an increase in surgeries, and treatments that require blood and plasma. The need is constant, donors are needed now to ensure hospitals remain stocked with life essentials throughout the summer. Please book an appointment today. You can make all the difference to a patient and their family. Book now at blood.ca on the GiveBlood app, or by calling one triple eight to donate. Yes, full first round coverage here of the NHL entry draft, and we have our first surprise of the opening round. The Anaheim Ducks are on the clock in Las Vegas. Do we have the pick? (upbeat music) We'll go to Las Vegas with the pick. Pat Verbeek. - The Anaheim Ducks are proud to select from the Oshawa Generals Beckett Seneca. (crowd cheering) - Beckett Seneca, there had been some reporting that Beckett Seneca was trending towards being the third overall selection, and yeah, Anaheim goes a little bit off the board. They did it a little bit last year with Leo Carlson at two, and here they select six to right winger who's got great hands Beckett Seneca. - So Beckett Seneca is a guy that a lot of people talked about being the player with the most upside in the first round, in terms of a guy that if he fills out his frame, there is a whole other level he might get to that he hasn't shown he can get to yet. So there's a bit of projection there, but if he hits, you're talking about a top five type of caliber player. You'd say Anaheim believes he's that type of player, and has a very good chance of being that. That's why they're taking the him third overall. And I would say to some degree, this is a year where the draft isn't considered quite as top heavy as other years, but that next swatum, there's like six, seven players that are really high quality, and Seneca wasn't on most list for that, but if he could find that in other level as some people saw in his game, he would be considered part of that group. So big swing, a big projection here by the Anaheim Ducks. If they're right, they'll look like geniuses. It's kind of like Elias Patterson back in 2017, where he was viewed as a very talented player, but nobody really thought he would go top five. It was like, hey, 10, 11, but if he hits, he might be one of those types of players, and people thought, hey, the Rangers, six, seven is kind of where he goes. The Canucks took him at five. This could be a kind of similar project. If you're right, you don't feel bad about it. If you're wrong, it's your spare cook and yummy. - Yeah. (laughing) - Very well. - Buried hate. - Yeah, now those guys were more kind of, they were considered more like all around centers. This is a guy that's considered like, there's another level offensively, right? Like in terms of, you know, what he can do, and what type of impact he can make. - Everything you hear about him, the hands, the playmaking, ankle breaker, like he's got a tremendous amount of skill for a large player, right? Six, two, so he's a guy with size, has got hands, has got some offensive talent, but there are some really like still top end players that are still on the board here when it comes to Demodov, Lindstrom, Teajuginla. So it is a little bit surprising to see Anaheim reach here for Beckett Seneca, and even himself, I mean, when they showed him on television, there was a holy bleep when he got selected by the Anaheim Ducks at number three overall. Apparently he wasn't checking Twitter to see some of the reports that came out an hour ago about this being the way things were trending, but-- - Or maybe he didn't believe it. You're like, yeah, yeah, whatever, sure, I'm sure, right? But like, you, I've never seen a player be that stunned. He was taken high. Like never seen a player look at that stunned, even when he was walking up to the podium, the look on his face was like, you know that koala? - Yes. - The stunned koala meme? - I wanted to make a joke about the debate, but I'm gonna stay away from that. (laughing) - Does he look like Biden last night? Is that what we're gonna say? - Do you have any Biden memes that came out today that I was like, yeah, he had that kind of stunned look on his face a little. - Let's stay away from that, 'cause if we badge up, he'll be like, what about Trump? What about him? Both guys look bad, okay? - I just wanted to make a joke, that's all. All right, so back in Santa Fe goes at number three to the Anaheim Ducks. Columbus Bluejack, it's now on the clock. So I wanted to, we're gonna mix in Canucks talk through the draft here. Canucks do not have a first round selection. As we sit-- - Darn it. - Yeah, as we sit here today, you know, shocking reports out of Las Vegas are saying that Patrick Levine is busy, he's getting up to some things. There's a lot of chatter happening on the draft floor, like, that's what happens on the draft floor. But now we know the Canucks are up to something. They've gotten some of their own guys taken care of. What are they now up to, sat? - Well, they'd love to add a big needle moving forward. - Yeah. - They would love to do that, right? And we heard Patrick Levine today when meeting with the media about the Tyler Myers extension and some of the other moves they made and mentioned how Zadorov isn't coming back, at least not before July 1st. He mentioned we are looking at top six caliber players, but it was really interesting him saying, but you never know if a guy is gonna resign with his team. It's a one phone call away for a team to keep their player. And who is he talking about? Pretty clear he's talking about Jake Genssel, which conversation around him has been. The Canucks are interested in him, but Carolina right now is running a hard bargain trying to get him signed. Now they want to get it done by the draft. It is not yet done. I believe part of the reason is if Carolina can't sign him, I think they would like to trade him by tomorrow and perhaps get hopefully a pick, I think they hope for day two tomorrow, but if not, get a pick for another draft down the road. And the question is, if a deal doesn't get done, is Vank were willing to move a draft pick for his rights? That's something to kind of watch here because the deadline hasn't been met with Carolina yet. - Yeah, for signing him by the time. - Signing Jake Genssel and one of the things I wonder about is as much as they've met the eight million, how willing is Carolina to meet the signing bonus desires of Jake Genssel? They're not a team that's given out more than 16 million in a signing bonus money and that went to Sebastian Ajo. - Yeah. - He would probably want 16 million, like 20 million the first two years. - Yes. - We're talking 30, 40 million plus in signing bonus money. Maybe even more, right? Vank Hoover has been willing to give that up is Carolina. And is that a sticking point? 'Cause if that's a sticking point, you might see his rights get traded by tomorrow. - You know, a lot of the buzz has been, Carolina is coming up to Genssel's ask of an eight by eight contract. And even though that seemingly has happened, there's been multiple reports of that, the deal still hasn't gotten done yet. So what's the hold up then? And that's where partially what you're talking about could be playing a factor here. We don't know what's on the mind of Jake Genssel, but we know he's expecting something in the 64 to $65 million range in total money. What are the other factors that are playing here for Jake Genssel and the Canucks? Now, after all the moves they've made have 14 and a half million of cap space, they know they want a big winger, they know they want somebody to play with Elias Pedersen. We've talked about it for so long. Jake Genssel is the best available fit on the free agent market. That's why we keep talking about this player and his links to Vancouver. There have been reports, I think Frank Saravalli mentioned it somewhere today that he still has the Canucks as the favorite to land Jake Genssel. - And one of the things too he mentioned is the Canucks might be willing to go up to 9.5. So if indeed Carolina offered 8.8, eight times eight, that's 64 million in total money. Nine and a half would be like 66 million, so that would beat that offer. Even 9.25 or 9.15 would beat 64 million or get you to 64 million, right? So I think that's where Vancouver, if 8.8 is on the table, they probably have to go slightly above nine. - I've always said the Canucks are going to land Genssel, it's probably going to take the biggest offer on the market for him. All right, the fourth pick in the NHL entry draft was to the Columbus Blue Jackets first pick for new GM Don Waddell. Here they are at the podium. - On behalf of the Columbus Blue Jackets, we want to welcome our great fans, fifth line back in Penn's mechanical and join the draft tonight. With our first overall pick, the only Columbus Blue Jacket player that's had his number retired, first round pick in the 2002 entry level draft, Mr. Rick Nash. (crowd cheering) With the fourth overall selection, the Columbus Blue Jackets are proud to select from the Medicine Hat Tigers, Caden Lindstrom. - That was Rick Nash making the pick, and yes, Caden Lindstrom, the latest off the board, and he goes fourth overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets, a center out of Medicine Hat, player with a ton of talent and Columbus for, as much as there's been a ton of turmoil around that team, and they've definitely not had many results to speak of through their franchise's history. They do have a pretty good young core developing in Columbus right now, and now add another big time player to it. - Yeah, and Caden Lindstrom, man, like I haven't been able to watch as many prospects this year as I normally do because the connects were playing all the way into May this year, but Lindstrom's a guy that I watched quite a bit of tape of, and boy is he fun to watch. He's an absolute monster, he's so mean, he plays hard, he's got a lot of talent. The only issue was the back injury he suffered, which cost him more than half the season. And the questions were, is it the type of injury that's going to hinder him for the rest of his career, or is it just something he can overcome? And obviously Columbus feels pretty good about him overcoming them 'cause he's being selected fourth overall, and if those issues weren't there, you were talking about a guy that may have been talked about going second overall. Wouldn't unseat Macklin's celebration, but I think if you've played a full year and performed the way he showed, he's capable of being. Like yeah, I think you were talking about somebody who probably goes higher than fourth overall. So if he's healthy, this could be an absolute home run pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets. - Adam Fantilly, last year, obviously, another center. So now they've got Caden Lindstrom for a long time, depth through the middle of the ice, high end players through the middle of the ice has been a problem. For the Columbus Blue Jackets, they seem to be solving that problem with their two high draft picks in the last couple of years. And now we have Montreal picking fifth overall, the first Canadian team coming up. And honestly, man, they have some great options here. - Yeah. - They really do. They can draft another defenseman, a really high level defenseman if they want to, or they can take somebody that could have also been the second or third overall pick on pure talent. Ivan Demodov. - Yeah. Ivan Demodov is the name that is, I mean, it's in flashing lights there on the Vegas Strip right now. Been like, hey, do you want to take me? - I think you have to. - It feels similar to Matt Vaymichkoff last year, a little bit. - It does. And I think you kind of have to if you're Montreal. The fact that you're picking five, and that's a type of offensive caliber player around. - And Montreal, for as much as they're going through, their rebuild and everything they've done, Slofkowski, we started to pan out, really had a great end to the season for them. So you're starting to see the size and everything else come together for that player, but they could still use another big-time offensive talent to add to their group. Let's go to Las Vegas. Kent Hughes, GM of the Montreal Canadiens at the podium. (crowd cheering) (speaking in foreign language) To make our 2024 first selection. And please to invite on stage our number one fan, the one and only, Celine Dio. (crowd cheering) Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. (crowd cheering) How good is this? (crowd cheering) (crowd cheering) (crowd cheering) - Good evening, everyone. (crowd cheering) I'm excited. (crowd laughing) I don't even know how I came up. I'm excited. (speaking in foreign language) (crowd cheering) With the fifth overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens are proud to select Ivan Demidov. (crowd cheering) - Well, she knows how to have presents on stage, so she's not the great Celine Dion. With the little bit of pause for effect before announcing Ivan Demidov at number five overall to the Montreal Canadiens. This is a, it feels like, you know, given where they're sitting at in the draft, it feels like a slam dunk selection for Montreal to be able to get Ivan Demidov here. Arguably, the best offensive talent in the draft, or at least right there with Macklin Celebrini, who went number one overall set. - Yeah, and honestly, like, I've never heard a draft pick be announced as gracefully as the one that was just announced by Celine Dion. That was absolutely tremendous. And to get a player like Ivan Demidov, what a win for the Montreal Canadiens. And if you're a Habs fan listening to this right now, like, you should be so excited that your team was able to get this type of player. I know they had hope to win the draft lottery. You're talking about, if you won the lottery and finished with a second pick, like this might be a guy you would've taken. - Yeah. - Or like, that's the caliber of player you were getting here. And he has been compared to-- - There's other years where, you know, he would be a first overall selection. - Yeah. - Given his offensive profile, his offensive talent. You know, elite prospects did, rank him as the best offensive talent in the draft. He's great in transition. You know, he's just, he's got so much about him that pops great vision. And this is a team that kind of needs that, right? Like, yeah, you've got a good developing young core, but do they have that, you know, do they have that potential for a point of game plus type of player? And right now, I mean, I don't know if I see that in the Montreal Canadiens organization, but now they've added that with a super high ceiling prospect that I've endemiced of. - Yeah, absolutely. And he's not a center, but they kind of have a few guys that maybe they feel like can be two-way players for them to have Nick Suzuki, right? - Yep. - Nick Suzuki's known as a two-way type of higher-end centerman. Now you have a guy like Demodov to play with him long-term. - It's a big-time selection for the Montreal Canadiens who did make a move earlier today with the Los Angeles Kings. And that was moving up from 26 overall to the 21st overall selection. There had been some buzz about them selecting the massive six-foot-seven skills-y center Dean Littorno with the 21st overall selection. Should he still be available there? So we'll keep an eye on Montreal. They've been a team that's been rumored to be in on pretty much everything, including Martin Nietzsche and some other things. So we'll see what happens with Montreal, but this is a big selection for them. The other discussion I wanted to get to on the Vancouver Canucks. Sixth overall is coming up next. It's the Utah Hockey Club getting ready to make their first selection since moving over from the Arizona Coyotes. But the news today, I mean, Patrick Levine speaks to media after all of the signings and everything else that they did this week and leading up to the draft. And one of the first things he says is, Janikita Zadora is not gonna remain of Vancouver Canucks. And it's felt like something that was close, but obviously not close enough to bridge that gap and get a deal done, Seth. - Yeah, and I think the Canucks made a very competitive offer. Like I think even if he had signed the deal the Canucks had made, I think a lot of people would have hatched sticker shock. So I don't think the Canucks went into this making an extremely low ball offer or not being serious about this. I think they were and I think they earnestly feel like they put their best foot forward. And even though it was close, it wasn't enough to get a deal done. And if Zadora was going to hold a high line and truly want north of 28 million total money, we're talking five million plus over six years plus. I just don't think Vancouver was willing to go there. But were they willing to go like four, four and a half, four point seven, over five six, potentially. I think that that may have been their limit. But if he wasn't willing to play for that, it just wasn't going to happen, right? I think the Canucks made a really strong effort here, but I don't think they were willing to really go above and beyond. 'Cause I think even the Canucks, I think probably had some reservations about going as far as they did even. - Yeah. - But probably felt like, hey, what we saw on the playoffs, there aren't a lot of guys like him it's worth making that extra push for him, but they got to their limit. - And he was a great fit. I mean, the coach loved him. He was a great fit in the locker room for the Vancouver Canucks. He was an incredible fan favorite. I know there's going to be a lot of Canucks fans that are not happy to hear the news. Austin Langley was asking earlier, is this, you know, one of those things that could be posturing or is Zadora really gone? I mean, I think it's over. You know, once they signed Tyler Myers yesterday, you kind of felt that one of two things wasn't happening. Either Jake Genssel or Nikita Zadorov. I said that on yesterday's show after they signed Tyler Myers, one of those two things is now not happening. Which one of it is it? And so far, we just know that Nikita Zadorov isn't going to be a Vancouver Canucks, but if you're in on Jake Genssel, you've got to keep that money open to make that play if he's going to make it to July 1. - I think the Canucks could have done Zadorov and Genssel still, but they would have been really, essentially the EC minimum guys fill out your roster. And that would have been pretty tight. - So that's the story on Nikita Zadorov. The Utah Hockey Club making their first election as a franchise in the National Hockey League as they move it over from Arizona to Utah and Gary Bettman is on the podium. - To welcome Ashley and Ryan Smith and the state of Utah to the National Hockey League. (audience applauds) - And by the way, it's Ryan's birthday. Happy birthday, Ryan. - We like to give a shout out to all our fans at the Delta Center. We can't express in words how pumped we are to play there in our first game. To make our first selection, Ryan and Ashley Smith. - Can't boo us, we haven't even done anything yet. (audience laughs) - I like it, let's go. All right, now. We're super proud, we're honored to be here. We want to welcome everyone to Utah for many, many years to come. We're super proud for the first election in our franchise's history. For 2020 for a draft, Utah selects. - Teige again, la. (audience applauds) - Yes, the son of Jerome and he hugs his dad right away after getting selected six overall to the Utah Hockey Club. - Teige again, la, one of the biggest risers in this year's draft, headed to the Utah Hockey Club. - Yeah, and historic selection is the first ever draft pick by the Utah Hockey Club now. - Love Ryan Smith there. - Yeah, I wonder what's gonna happen with, are they're going to take the stats from Arizona then? Or are they? - Well, apparently Alex Morello is just handing them back to the NHL after he's basically said, "You know what, screw this Arizona hockey thing." - So I don't know how they're going to go about it, right? - But like this is a really big moment. And Teige again, la was a guy that was even considered potentially as someone who could have gone fifth overall. If I'm a demodof, would have been off the board, it would have been interesting to see if Montreal would have taken Teige again la 'cause they were linked to him as well. And the thing with Teige again la is we, he's one of the younger guys in the draft and he had an incredible year. And we're talking about a player that can score at a high level, has some toughness to his game as well. - The only question is are you bypassing some defensement that might be higher end potentially or more valuable as players, especially if he's a winger and not a center. But I think undoubtedly you're talking about one of the most impactful prospects in this year's draft. - He's got like a little bit of his dad in him in a power game, but more in a modern way as we talked about with Cam Robinson and Shane Malloy over the last two days getting ready for the draft. But one thing that stood out in our conversations that we've had on the show about this player set is you see some skills that are translatable to playoff hockey. And that's hard to sort of project out from a junior level to an NHL level, I know, but there are certain things, certain traits that people look for that Teige again la has that can translate not only to NHL hockey but NHL hockey at the toughest times of the year. And that's, you know, one of the reasons he's been such a big, big riser in this year's draft. - Yeah, huge. And like Austin Langley says, Calgary can't catch a break. They can't get Teige again, let it play for the same organization as-- - Calgary's too busy trying to trade everybody that they weren't ready to trade up to six in order to get Teige again la. - Yeah, and I mean, with Calgary it's interesting because there's a lot of talk about what they might be looking for too and they're a team now that they need so much. And considering some of these forwards are going, Seneca dropped into the top 10, like for Calgary a few spots down like that, they might end up getting a pretty good defenseman that may have not been available earlier. - Calgary is sitting at ninth overall. We still have a couple of picks to go. Before we get there, the Ottawa senators are on the clock followed by the Seattle Kraken and the Calgary Flames. So as we look through the draft so far and some of the names that have come off the board will get to them when we return and we'll figure out where Ottawa's going, where Seattle's going and the next Canadian team on the clock and on the board as well with the Calgary Flames at nine. That's still to come. It is Canucks Central, also known as Draft Central today, but for the first round, we are six picks through here on Sportsnet 650. - Hey, it's Viknas R. Have your say and join me on The People's Show with big takes and even bigger bets, weekdays three to four on Sportsnet 650 or wherever you get your podcasts. (upbeat music) (upbeat music) (speaks in foreign language) The selection aid to the Calgary hitman of the WHL Carter Yakum Chuck. - Some great French right there. - Yakum Chuck. (laughing) - Sound of like me in grade nine French class. Not gonna lie. I can't throw any shade, you know? This would be like one of those things, throwing stones at a glass house. I didn't sound great either when I spoke French. Very little. Jean-Mappelle Daniel. That's it. - Good. - Good contributions there, Dan. A run-on defense been happening here, a little bit in the draft. Well, potentially here from the Ottawa Senators making their selection at number seven with Carter Yakum Chuck out of the Calgary hitman in the WHL, the Seattle Kraken. Also, defense needy in their organization. But Yakum Chuck, a little bit, I wouldn't say off the board, but you know, there is Buoyam, there is Dickinson, Salive, who some people really like, as other defense names. Even Zane Parak, who's regarded as maybe the best offensive defense in the draft, still on the board here, Seth. - Yeah, absolutely. And I think he's a player that depends on who's list you're looking at. I know Sam Konstantino had Yakum Chuck fifth overall, others had, you know, this is where with these defenseman, there was consensus on the tier, but necessarily consensus on how the rank the player's within that tier. - Right. - And I think that's kind of the issue here sometimes you're run into. I mean, I was a little surprised that it was Yakum Chuck ultimately, 'cause you heard a lot about a guy like Zeev Buoyam really rising up the ranks. You heard a lot about Zane Parak, as you mentioned, being so offensively talented. But drafting Yakum Chuck, who, you know, obviously has size, he's six-foot-three. He's tough, he has a physicality, he can score some goals, and he's a righty defenseman. Like, you can understand why they were enthralled by the package. - He's got a lot of tools. Sometimes can be a little bit courageous and wanna make a play, make, uses handles to create some space for himself, and some wonder how that will translate to the NHL. So Yakum Chuck, the latest pick, he goes number seven to the Ottawa Senators. The pick is in for the Seattle Kraken, they step up to the podium in Las Vegas at number eight overall. - And for the Seattle Kraken, I'd like to introduce Matty Deers. (audience cheering) (dramatic music) (motor whirring) - With the eighth overall pick and the 2024 draft, the Seattle Kraken are proud to select from the Spokane Chiefs, Berkeley Caton. (audience cheering) Berkeley Caton is the latest selection coming off the board, and he goes to the Seattle Kraken at eighth overall, the pick made by Matty Deers, who is without a contract, but Seattle's putting him to work, he'd love to see it. - Is that the biggest contribution he's made to that team this year? - So far, yeah, so far this year, yeah, it was a-- - Just kidding. - Bit of a down soft for season. Berkeley Caton center out of the Spokane Chiefs is the latest selection, and kind of surprised, given Seattle, at least looking at their organizational depth chart, certainly could have went for a defenseman here, but that just tells me that they really like Berkeley Caton. - Yeah, obviously, right? And I mean, he's one of those guys that some have very high on their list. I think when we looked at city prospects, I think they had them significantly higher than some of the other people kind of had them. So it's one of those, these drafts, like we mentioned, there isn't necessarily a ton of consensus on all these draft picks, but he's a player that scored a lot this past year. I mean, in the WHO, as an 18 year old, have 54 goals and 116 points. - Yeah. - Like it's a remark, like you're talking about a player who, in his draft year, almost scored a goal per game in the WHO, like it's pretty remarkable how good a year he had with the Spokane Chiefs, and they'd know him from that, from their own backyard. Right in their backyard, and they select from right in their backyard. I know a lot of people have hoped the Canucks would do that a little bit more often with their selections, but he's a really good talent. And it's never a bad thing to add a center into your prospect ranks. He's got some size to him. Seattle, like they're just a weird team right now. They still need a lot of help all over the place. - Yeah, and you're right about Caton. He's got a lot of size. He's got a good hand. If you see his highlight clips, you'll see for the guy, his size, he's got some nice hands. You see some Rick Nash in the way he can handle the puck, and he's pretty fast for a guy his size. I think the criticisms when you read his scouting reports is his edge work a little bit at times, but straight line, he's a fast and formidable skater. - So the Calgary Flames are now on the clock. Craig Conroy has been very busy, and they traded Andrew Mandepane yesterday to the Washington Capitals, adding a second round pick in 2025. They do have a lot of draft capital now. They're at 9th overall. There was talk today about them trading Nazem Caudrey or at least exploring the calls they were getting for Nazem Caudrey who still got a number of years remaining at 7 million on the average annual value. Calgary, like, look, for as much as people say they'd like to turn it around in the not-so-distant future or have a quick turnaround. It looks like a team that's gonna take a while to bring back towards the top of the standings. This is a big pick for them here at 9th overall. - Yeah, it really is, and you kind of wonder where they're going to go here. Do they draft the defenseman? Do they draft a forward? I'd imagine a lot of the forwards have been taken now, and that's not to say that they may not like somebody here, whether it is a Cole Eiserman who can score a lot, right, or Consta Heleneas, too, is considered one of the better centers in this year's draft. But to me right now, you have your pick of the defenseman. - Yeah. - Ziv Buoyam, Zain Parrik, for instance. Even on the higher end, Anton Solayev has not yet been drafted either. You're talking about a six foot seven, 211 pound defenseman out of the KHL as well. Is it too tempting we have this main defenseman in front of you? - It might be, you know, I know in a lot of their trades, you know, even the trade they made with the Canucks to send Elias Lindhollm here, you know, they prioritize getting a defenseman, and they got Hunter Berstevich in that trade. They even got Yanni Yermo in that trade from the Vancouver Canucks. So they also got Kevin Ball in the Markstrom trade. A lot of the moves they made, the TANF trade that they made, they got a defense prospect as well in that one from the Dallas Stars. - For sure, but for me right now, like BPA. - The best players on the board are defense. - Are defensemen. Now everybody's board is different, but I just have a hard time thinking considering we've already had one, two, three, four, five, six forwards taken, that they, I mean, out of their top 10 prospects, I mean, out of their top nine prospects, where they have had, you know, six forwards, seven forwards, I have a hard time believing that, right? - Yeah, it's hard to believe because most draft boards, as you mentioned, off the top today, they had more defenseman in the top 10 than anything else. - Yeah, now they may have pushed forward that way. - And maybe some forwards they like were higher because of the scarcity of the forwards on the higher end this season. But yeah, I think if they're looking to take a forward, I trade down if I'm Calgary. - That would maybe be the play here for the Calgary Flames. We have heard that there are other teams trying to move up into some spots at number 11 San Jose already moved up earlier in the week from 14. So it's going to be an interesting spot here for the Calgary Flames as Craig Conroy has now headed up to the podium. So it looks like they will be making their selection top names on the board, at least from a, you know, from where we sit in some of the draft boards that we've collected together would be Zane Parrick, Ziv Buoyam, Zack Sam Dickinson, as well, and Anton Solaya, of all defenseman. - Let's go to the podium. It's Craig Conroy. - And the Calgary Flames are proud to select at number nine from the Moral Cup Champs, Saginaw Spirit, Zane Parrick. (crowd cheering) - Yeah, there it is. Craig Conroy selecting from the Saginaw Spirit, Zane Parrick. - Okay, very sassy while doing that. - Very sassy, yeah. - Was he sassy about Utah taking Tejig in? Like, bro, that was three picks ago. - He's shaking his head, holding his head. - But he was, you know what, he was very loose. - I'll say that. - Yeah. - Yeah, Conroy was loose. - He's loose. It's, you know, the early stages of a rebuild. He's about, he's got less stress on him than any other GM in the National Hockey League, maybe. - Well, now they're rebuilding to us. They're kind of like, but you know what? Like we said, the defenseman, we're just overwhelming. And as much as there were some big defenseman, you're right. Like if you look at the guys they brought in now, they have obviously Kevin Ball, who has a lot of size, and Solaya would be very intriguing, but they don't really have, yes, I know Hunter Bustaevich is considered a nice prospect and everything, but he's not a surefire. Like he's not a blue chip prospect. He's a good prospect, right? - I'm kind of chuckling a little bit at the comment Bustaevich made after he was traded away from Vancouver that, you know, he didn't really see where he fit on the death chart in Vancouver. Well, there's somebody that's just moved ahead of you on the death chart in Calgary. - Yeah, I think sometimes if kids are worried about the death chart, they're worried about the wrong thing. They're worried about the death chart once you arrive. - Yeah. - Then you can, now I'm not faulting guys for if they can find, it's not like he asked for a trade, but you know, what a fair comment to him, but now he has some real competition. Zayn Parrik is incredibly talented. He's incredibly shifty, he's not quite Quinn Hughes, but I can understand why some people see some similarities to how they play. Obviously Quinn, the way he gracefully skates and the way he can play on his edges. Nobody's him, but offensively, and he might have a better shot already. Like, he's a guy that can wire the puck already for a little bit more size than Quinn. - Yeah, a little bit more size to him, but a super talented player. Defensively, you know, some questions, obviously, but he is competitive because he is considered a competitive player and person. I like this pick for Calgary. I think a ninth overall for you to get a upside defenseman like this. Like, he is a top five talent if he hits, right? So I have no issues with Calgary taking him ninth overall. - Lev Shunov was the first defenseman off the board and he went at two, largely considered the best overall talent at the position, physical gifts, a lot of things like that. Peric, a lot of people consider this to be the best offensive defenseman in the draft. And you saw it during their Memorial Cup run with Saginaw, just how good he can be walking the blue line and doing some of those things. - Now, people are asking us also recap the picks. We'll do this real quick here before we get to 10, 'cause this is a really interesting spot here at 10 with the New Jersey Devils. - So, Macklin Salabrani goes first overall. Artem Lev Shunov, the defenseman out of Belarus, he went second overall to Chicago, played from Michigan State this past year. Beckett Seneca, the big surprise pick, was third overall out of Oshawa in the OHL six-foot-three forward. Fourth overall is Caden Lindstrom, center six-foot-three, 213 pounds out of the WHL. He goes to Columbus, Montreal picks up Ivan Demodov, six-foot-Russian, incredibly talented fifth overall. Tejigin Le, Jeromeigin Le's kid, goes to Utah, with the sixth overall pick, super talented kid as well. Carter Yachemchuk, who is a right-hand defenseman prospect, goes seventh overall to Ottawa. Berkeley, Caden, talented, 5'11" forward, goes to Seattle, and Zane Perrick, just drafted right-hand defenseman, was drafted by the Calgary frames, right-hand der out of the OHL as we just broke down. In New Jersey at 10, some buzz around New Jersey, Dan, that they may have that pick available via trade to Carolina from Martin A. Chas. If a player they don't like is there, it depends on who could be there. Now that's a rumor, right now we haven't heard an announcement. So perhaps they like the player that's there, and I was joking with you and Josh before the show and Ben Baster, and I was like, hey, for all this talk around a top 10 picks getting traded, you know they're not trading any top 10 picks, right? No. You know it's not happening. It never happens. It's not happening. Now there's 30 seconds to go, and perhaps these are really famous last words, but you see what I mean? Yeah. Teams always find a player they like in the top 10. I shouldn't say it never happens. It happened a couple of years ago with Alex to bring it, and the Ottawa Senators didn't work out for them. Oh, it just works out well. But New Jersey, yeah, like Martin A. Chas, the two teams that have been most linked to having the framework of a deal in place here in the first round with Carolina for Martin A. Chas have been the New Jersey Devils who sit at 10 in the Buffalo Sabres who had the 11th pick traded down to number 14. New Jersey is a long thought to be a team maybe looking to add front end talent, I guess. You know, offensive talent. They do have a couple of big time young defenseman in Simon Nemich and David, not David Dierchek. Luke Hughes as, you know, two top end young D prospects that are making their way through to the NHL, but it does look like New Jersey is going to make their pick. They are headed to the podium in Las Vegas with number 10 overall. New Jersey Devils would like to dedicate today's draft to longtime scout Dirk Ram and his family. Dirk spent 30 years with the organization before passing away in April. I'd like to give a shout out to all our great fans back in Jersey at the social base club. Sorry. With our, with this pick, I'd like to introduce Hockey Hall of Famer, Martin Brodure. (crowd cheering) - The New Jersey Devils are proud to select from torpedo Anton Salaya. - Anton Salaya. This really interesting player, if you looked at a bunch of different draft boards and talked to people from different parts of the world here, some people had this guy in the top five. Some people had him in the teens. He ends up at number 10 overall, but another big defenseman that comes off the board here, Seth. - Well, yeah, and you know who he has been comped to? - Who's that? - A certain Russian was not coming back to Vancouver next season. Nikita Zadora, six foot seven left hand defenseman. He can skate really well. He's physical. He's a player that has only scratched the surface of what he's capable of. Considered a player that so far is very green and his development has shown some really nice signs, but they feel like there's a lot more there. And perhaps that's also some of the hesitation for teams above New Jersey here, right? Where it's like, there's some other guys that we might feel like are safer picks. And this is something that has come up and I've heard some people discuss this leading up to the draft that because a lot of these players, you're projecting their talents, there might be a lean towards players that are deemed quote, unquote, a bit more safe. - Yeah. - And that's where Salaya, I think, is real to the epitome of that in this year's draft and why you're seeing him drop because based on projection and talent, if you really believe in it, like you should go higher than this. If he's Nikita Zadora, I mean, that's a nice player, right? But can he be even more? And I think the fact that he's still a player that has a long way to go to get to where he needs to be, that's probably why he dropped down. But I think at 10, this is a terrific type of player to bet on. - Even you just watch a few clips, you see the skating talent and his, it's just remarkable to see a player of that size be able to move with the kind of agility he's able to show at times. So New Jersey gets the big Russian defender, Anton Salaya at number 10 overall. So we will continue with the draft selections. They've just gone to break in Las Vegas. But number 11 on the clock is the San Jose Sharks will be making their second pick of the NHL entry draft. So Martin H.H.A.S didn't get traded. There was a lot of buzz about N.H.A.S. getting traded. Maybe to the New Jersey Devils at 10. Maybe Buffalo is in on it too, they're at 14. So it could still happen. There was a story today after UC Sorrow signed with Nashville. There was a report today that from Pierre Lebron that the big time prospect goalie that Nashville has in their system, Ascarov, they've had teams calling and they said, we want a top five overall pick to get Ascarov. - Like you're not getting that. - And I'm just saying like, do NHL general managers want to make trades? - Well, they like your buddy and your fantasy draft. That's like, oh yeah, sure. I'll trade you, say, Juan Barkley, but you got to give me your two best players. - Yeah, I know it's ridiculous. I mean, goalie values aren't there, they're just not, right? So I mean, he can ask for that all he wants. He's not getting it. - Yes. - And we'll see ultimately what type of pick they get. They might get a first round pick this year, but I would imagine it's a back half of the first pick. - Ascarov was an 11th overall pick. - Yeah, like a couple of years ago. - I don't know if you're getting a top 15 pick. - It's very hard to get a top 15 pick for a little. Even a top 20 pick down. - Yeah. - You know, like I'd be surprised. Once you get into the 20s, that's where teams, 'cause once you get past 20 is like your most drastic, you talk about guys with high grades, it's usually 15 to 20, right? Once you get past that, it's kind of like, you got 30, 40 guys and that goes from like 20 to like 60 where they're not too different, but they're more like second round type of players, right? So once you get into that range, perhaps teams are willing to do so. I think ultimately what we'll see here is at some point, whether it's this offseason or down the road, they'll trade Asgarov. It'll be a first round pick, it'll be a low pick, they'll get a prospect, then they'll talk up the prospect as if it's gonna be a big piece. But I mean, they're dreaming if they were thinking, they're getting, the goalie values aren't there. And as talented as Asgarov is, he hasn't played any HL, like teams haven't seen or believe yet that he can be a number one true talent goaltender. - And, you know, if he truly doesn't wanna play in the AHL, you know, he can easily play a card like, "I don't wanna play in the AHL." And all of a sudden, if a trade request gets out, then Barry Trotts would be in a tough spot. But, you know, for all the names that are out there right now, Martin H.S., Asgarov, some different things happening with the NHL entry draft and some big names on the trade board, none of those have happened as of yet. Every pick has been made by the team that had it going into tonight's draft. We'll keep going through some of the picks. So San Jose is about to step up to make their second pick. They selected Macklin Celabrini with their first overall selection, added it to the Will Smith pick they made last year. And now they can maybe add another big time defense man as, you know, because so many forwards went here in the first 10 picks of the draft, a lot of these highly touted defense men are on the board. Let's go back to the podium in Las Vegas. - The Knights of the OHL, Sam Dickinson. - Sam Dickinson out of London, that pick made by Chris Morehouse, their director of amateur scouting with the San Jose Sharks. So Sam Dickinson added to the Sharks. And, I mean, look, this is a team that needs, needs more on the back end sat moving forward as far as prospects are concerned. - Yeah, and I mean, you're talking about them getting it that's a player, like they, I'm sure what you're gonna hear from San Jose is how they had Sam Dickinson considerably higher on their board. - Yeah. - And I don't think they're gonna be wrong. I don't think they're lying about it either because I would imagine given that they're taking Macklin Celabrini first overall and organizationally that they don't have a ton of defense men that the D men would have ranked very high on their list. - Yeah. - And I'm sure that would have pushed them forwards down, especially I'm sure with like the organizational needs that they have and how they'd be scouting these players. - Might be why they moved up to 11 so that they almost ensured themselves of getting one of the defense men. - Yeah, and they're probably elated. They're probably getting, I mean, I'm sure they'll say he was the guy. - Yes. - I'm not sure he would have been the guy, but I'm sure right now my career is absolutely elated that not only did they get Macklin Celabrini, but I'm sure they were getting a defense man that they probably viewed as a top six eight prospect. - Sam Dickinson out of the London Knights is, look, there are some that think he's got similar gifts to Lev Schunov, who went at second overall. So it's a highly touted prospect, a highly touted D man that has gone to the San Jose Sharks. At number 12 on the board, it will be the Philadelphia Flyers will come back with that pick and more of the first round of the NHL entry draft at Stan Reicho Satiarshan, the Kintech studio on Sportsnet 650. - Hey, it's Jamie Dodd and Thomas Strance. - Get your daily dose of Canucks talk with us weekdays from 12 to two on Sportsnet 650. - Or catch up on demand through your favorite podcast app. (upbeat music) - We're back on Canucks Central, Dan Reicho, Satiarshan. NHL draft coverage brought to you by oxygen, yoga and fitness, not your typical yoga studio. Now we were joking about a lack of trades happening at the NHL entry draft and just as we were doing that, seems as though the Philadelphia Flyers are working on something here. They've got the 12th overall selection and it seems as though a league league representative is running over with a sheet of paper in an envelope, I guess, with trade details on it. - The Philadelphia Flyers might be doing. - Is the facts broken? - Yeah. - They got to run it across. Were they carrier pigeons unavailable? - Did they send a Raven from King's Landing? - No. - No. - Didn't happen. - No. - No Ravens, no King's Landing. - It's funny, I got a text from producer Dom who was in Las Vegas 'cause he's the 32 thoughts producer. He said they took the Flyers graphic off the board and I'm looking at the TV. They clearly did not take the Flyers graphic off the board. Do we have a trade to announce in Las Vegas? - As you can tell, we have a trade. Philadelphia trades pick number 12 in the 2024 NHL draft to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's own first round pick number 13 and Minnesota's own third round pick in 2025, 12 for 13 and a third next year. - The cost to move up one spot, a third round pick in next year's draft. So Minnesota moving up one spot here and we'll see who they select, but an interesting choice here by the Minnesota Wild. - Yeah, very interesting by Minnesota. I mean, I would imagine, again, a lot of defenseman, Zeev Buoyam is available and I wouldn't be shocked at all if that's who they go after here. But we're not talking about a massive trade up, right? - No, this is not a massive trade up. It's from 13 to 12, so. - So it was one spot, right? But it could have be, I would imagine it's one of those defenseman and they probably knew somebody's jumping in to take, probably get that guy. And that's who they wanna take. - And I wouldn't be surprised if it's Zeev Buoyam because of how talented he is and him still being available. - Out of Denver in the NCAA, Buoyam another one of the big offensive defense prospects in this draft. I'm not sure why Bill Garren hasn't made his way up to the podium yet, given he just made the trade. I'm assuming he knows who he wants to select. - Could you imagine? It's like, we got the pick guys and we take it. - They step one complete. - Now let me just like let the clock run out and Philadelphia can select who they want it anyways. - What would be the first time in Minnesota that happened? - Hey, hey, hey. - The Minnesota Vikings famously. - Have your Vikings ever done that their job? - I don't know, happens to the best of us. - Did it happen twice or something? - But yeah. - So just to relay who might be on their board here to move up from 13 to 12. Zeev Buoyam, defender out of Denver in the NCAA. Some of the top forwards that are still on the board here comes to Hellenius Center out of Finland. - Oh, that sounds like a mini pick too, doesn't it? - It definitely sounds like a guy who's gonna be a great two way forward for many years to come. Cole Eiserman is also on the board regarded as maybe the best shot in the draft. - The great placement for Capri soft when he leaves. - And Trevor Connolly, another player that is tabbed in the top 15 in the NHL entry draft here. The Minnesota Wild are making their way to the podium. Bill Garin and company moving up from 13 to 12 and are ready to make the selection. - This place is pretty cool. - Thanks for a great week Vegas. The Minnesota Wild are proud to select from the University of Denver. Zeev Buoyam. - So yes, as we mentioned, Seth, that a run on defense man was going to happen here after Seattle took Berkeley-Catton at number eight. It's been all defense ever since. Zane Parrick to Calgary and then Anton Solia, Sam Dickinson. And here Zeev Buoyam goes to the Minnesota Wild. He was, I guess, the last of the available top tier or top tier-ish defense men on the board. - Yeah, I mean, like we were saying about San Jose, you're going to hear them talk about how they had Dickinson far higher on their board and they feel elated that they were able to draft them. Zeev Buoyam, I'm sure Minnesota is going to say they did not think they would have had any chance of drafting him tonight. There was some talk about him being one of the risers and that he could have been a top five pick. I know we had Cam Robinson on recently. And he really felt like he was going to get picked a lot higher. Others felt the same way about Zeev Buoyam. And, you know, we talked so much about what Macklin Sellebrini did as a 17-year-old in the NCAA. Here's a 17-year-old defenseman who crushed it in the NCAA this season. - Yeah. - Like it's a very rare thing to see. And he's a super talented player and it looks like Minnesota could be coming away with a really big steal. I'm not saying he's the next Charlie McAvoy, but that's just kind of the range car that Charlie McAvoy was taken and you know what he did. - Elite prospects had a quote from a US guy who said Buoyam was one of the two or three best defenseman in college hockey this season as a freshman, which is very difficult to do. You know, we talked to with the other day with Shane Malloy about Tom Villander's first year in the NCAA and while on the overall good, you know, you even still see 20-ish points, which is not bad for a freshman defenseman. You know, it wasn't, it had its ups and downs, right? And that's more of the norm for a freshman. And that's a D+1, not a draft eligible defenseman. So Buoyam has a lot of talent and I'm sure the Minnesota wild, very happy to get him and that's part of the reason. They moved up with Philadelphia to get the player. Philadelphia is next on the clock at 13th overall and they're kind of in on everything, but Matt Vay-Mitchcoff is coming early to Philadelphia so they get a bonus there and you know, they had a great season considering where they were lined up by most of the predictions and now they have the 13th overall selection at another third round pick next year, kind of hard not to like what Daniel Breyer and company have done there. But I would say, you know, a forward is likely on their list given some of the names that are now available. - I mean, I'd really keep an eye on Cole Eiserman here, especially with they had the trade cutter, Gochier and they got a nice player back in return, of course, but it was a defenseman and Jimmy Drysdale, right? And yes, you have Matt Vay-Mitchcoff, of course, but you could use another scoring forward and Cole Eiserman is known as one of the better finishers in this year's draft. And if you're anchoring your forward group with Matt Vay-Mitchcoff on one line and Cole Eiserman on one line and both guys hit, you can solve your winger scoring, you know. - Yeah. - These are your winger scorers long term, right? That can be big time producers. So I wouldn't be surprised if it is Cole Eiserman 'cause if it was a defenseman, it probably would have just taken them there at number 11. - Yeah, I mean, Eiserman was kind of slated to go in this, you know, early team range of the draft, but if you need an elite score, like this is sort of the guy that profiles as that. He's got, by many's estimation, the best shot in the draft. So that's, it's always hard to find guys with the potential score 30 goals in the National Hockey League and Cole Eiserman would be that type of player. It almost feels similar to when the Canucks selected Jonathan like Romaki, it's like hard to find scores and this guy projects to be a scorer in the National Hockey League. - Yeah, and he's one of those guys because of his release, some teams would have had him a lot higher. - Yeah. - You know, and again, every team's list is different, but that goal scoring was going to rate very highly in a lot of teams lists, right? So we'll see where he goes. And for those of them that may wonder, Cole Eiserman is no relation to Steve Eiserman the first time I heard his name, I wondered, but it's spelled E-I-S-E-R-M-A-N and not I, not with the Y, like Eiserman. - Yeah. Shine wearing off GM Steve Eiserman these days. - Cole Eiserman might be the one that's-- - The better Eiserman. - He is the better Eiserman as it stands right now. So it is the Philadelphia Flyers that are on the clock. Again, I haven't seen any players get traded here and this has kind of been the trend at the NHL entry draft in the first round, the last couple of years, Martin H-S names like that, still very much available. It seemed like, you know, H-S has been getting traded for weeks. Eric Tulski, even when he was asked about it more recently by Pierre Le Brun essentially said they've had a lot of talks, even the framework of a deal sort of worked out, but nothing has happened as of yet on that front. - So what other teams that haven't made, you know, would be interested in him right now? Buffalo, is that the team to watch? - Buffalo would be the team to watch. - So if the Sabres don't trade their pick from Martin H-S, is Nachas not going for a first round pick tonight? - Probably not. Like if you were hoping to get a first round pick in this year's draft. - I mean, I know Detroit needs higher end. - Yeah. - Could this be what Detroit is lining up for? - And then give him an eight-year, eight-year, eight-year, $8 million a year contract and whatever Nachas is looking for in a big spot. - Yeah. - And he could play center in Detroit because they don't really have a ton of centermen right now? - Well, the thing is, it's interesting. They have Larkin, then they have Comfor, who's maybe more of a wing than a centerman, right? And then they have Cop, who's probably better on your third line, but they're a big gaping hole as like that true second center. And if you think Martin H-S can be a center, could that be the play that they're trying to make? So I guess I'm looking at Buffalo and Detroit here to see if either of those teams do it, but every pick that goes by now and the later it gets into the day, like is Martin H-S going to be somebody who gets traded for not a pick that goes tonight? - The interesting part too, nothing new on Jake Genssel. As far as we know, Carolina came up to the ballpark of where Jake Genssel was expecting his next contract to be, but nothing has been announced as of yet. The Philadelphia Flyers are stepping up to the podium in Las Vegas, they just traded down from 12 to 13, and it will be Daniel Brier, stepping up to the podium. - We have a special guest to make our selection, proud Philly native and Hall of Fame announcer, boxing announcer, Michael Buffer. (crowd cheering) - I love it, take advantage of Vegas. - It's fantastic. (crowd cheering) - This year's season playoffs and the fantastic seven game world championship Stanley Cup final was a magnificent display of the excitement and talent that is the National Hockey League. (crowd cheering) Now it's an honor for me to be a part of this year's draft and as a born and raised Philadelphia. For me, it is a thrill to announce this next selection for my hometown, Philadelphia Flyers. So ladies and gentlemen, let's get ready to rumble. (crowd cheering) With the 13th pick in the first round, the city of brotherly love, welcomes the Philadelphia Flyers selection, weighing in officially at 187 pounds, standing tall at five feet 11. From the Guelv Storm, he is, Cheee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee. (crowd cheering) - In a way, Michael Buffer, the only one who could have announced that pick in that way also because of our rights agreement. - Yeah. - Is it, yeah, okay, all right, I'm just checking. - All right, just checking. - As long as he said it, I think it's okay. - 'Cause like, they would find out if you said it, and they wouldn't sue you, but they send you, like, an invoice? Like, no kidding, you get an invoice and it'd be, like, from, uh, Buffer's agency, or his lawyers, obedient being voted, whatever, and be like, "On this date, you know, this phrase was said, "and here's the cost for it and pay us it." And like, you have to pay it if you didn't, then you get sued. - Uh, that was, uh, very, very Michael Buffer in the way that he did that. Jet Luchenko is the pick out of the Guelph Storm, a right winger, and this is our first pick that's, uh, at least by most of the draft boards that I've looked at, sat, um, the one that is most off the board to this point of the draft. - Yeah, and he's a guy that may have helped himself the most at the combine. - Right. - Apparently he tested incredibly well. I mean, he's considered a guy that has great character. He works very hard. There's real, real, real toughness to him as well, with how he plays. He's not the biggest player, but considered a really smart hockey player, right? So I think that's where it kind of comes out to with him. Um, I don't know if it's unfair at this stage. I just wondered where Philly was at if they would have looked at a guy like Cole Iserman on his upside. They probably feel like Jet Luchenko can be, you know, a top six center for them. And if they believe he's gonna be a top six center, a right handed guy at that, I can understand the appeal. He's, um, you know, the, the draft prep I've, I've got on him is like, he's, he's kind of a Philly guy in a way, like blue collar. He's gonna work hard. He's got a good motor, you know, is, uh, he's quick and straight lines, uh, good two way guy, you know, like smart player. And, you know, that's, those are nice things to have. Uh, I just would say are, are you shooting for more upside at, at thirteenth overall in the draft? They probably could have moved down even further and still got Jet Luchenko. So that is the pick from Daniel Brier and the Philadelphia Flyers, guys like Cole Iserman, still on the board here as the Buffalo Sabres will be next on the clock. And I guess more eyes on the trade board as well. I mean, Buffalo is one of those teams they've been, for lack of a better term, bad for so long sat that they've got a ton of prospects. They've got a ton of young players already on their roster. It's almost, uh, if you get drafted by the Buffalo Sabres at this point, you, uh, you've got a lot of people to overcome on the depth chart in order to make your way, make your path to the National Hockey League. Yeah, I mean, they have so many guys keyed up that there's some wonder if they're better off or trading for some future draft picks. Yes. And you know, it's kind of like, you know, how many guys can come through your system at the same time and are you better off sequencing things down the road a little bit here? But at the same time, you know, they're getting pretty good draft picks here. Yeah. You know, like you're, you're, they're sitting, uh, high, they were able to trade down. Last year they had a high draft pick where they ended up taking Zach Benson as well, still in the top 15. And when you're in that range, it's kind of hard not to take a guy. Yeah. You know, cause you can get some good players in that top 15 range and they did a good job with Zach Benson. They're in a spot where they can literally take the best player available and they can really shoot for high upside if you really wanted to. Yeah. Cole Eisermann would be maybe that name on the list. Consta Hellenius as well, still available as some of the top forwards on many draft boards here. Buffalo, you know, there's been a lot of talk about them buying out Jeff Skinner. You know, we've talked about this on, on Canucks Central that even if Skinner does end up getting bought out that, um, you know, it doesn't feel like a player that Canucks would have a ton of interest in. Even though, um, you know, that's a player that Jim Rutherford did draft back in his Carolina days. Yeah. I mean, could there be some level of surface interest potentially? I just don't know if that's the guy that they're prioritizing. If let's say though, they add the type of top six guy. Let's say it's not, um, Genssel. Yeah. But they get say to fully type. Would they be more open then to taking a flyer at a Skinner type? Cause he would be the left hand shot. Can you maybe shelter him a little bit? I just don't think they view him as a priority. And I just wonder, does he want to go somewhere where they have envisioned him really being able to break out? Right? It's, uh, it is an interesting one. Now he does have an O move clause. So Buffalo, and we saw Cam Atkinson announced that, or Philadelphia announced that they were buying out Cam Atkinson today. They had to put him on waivers in order to complete that bio. Buffalo is not going to put Jeff Skinner on waivers. So they're going to wait, uh, as long as they can before executing that bio. At least that is the word on why they haven't done it just yet with Skinner. Now I know a lot of our listeners are curious as to what the Canucks are up to sat. Um, obviously they don't have a first round pick. They don't have a second round pick. The focus is more on Monday. They've locked in Teddy Blooger. They've locked in a lot of, you know, the, the guys that they needed to Dakota Joshua and Tyler Myers. But what is going to be the name of the game on Monday? We'll find that out shortly. All right. Let's go to Kevin Adams at the podium. Captain and current head coach Lindy Ruff. Cool. Same stage. He's going to be on with the 14th pick overall. The Buffalo Sabres would like to select from the Finnish men's league. Consta. Hellenius. Lindy Ruff, new coach, uh, got jokes at the podium as well. And he's, uh, made the pick. Consta. He's drafted 14th overall to the Buffalo Sabres. And, you know, it's, uh, you know, he's, I guess been the top center on the board. Really, uh, for, for a while now, sat and, uh, it's, it's taken some times for, for him to get off the board. Yeah. And I mean, if you looked at a lot of the draft rankings, some had him, you know, in that nine, ten range. A lot of them, a lot of people kind of had him in that teen range as well. So I don't think it's unfair for him to be taken where he was. I mean, Konstantino had him at 14 and that's exactly where he ends up getting drafted. He is considered, uh, as like you mentioned, a really smart two-way hockey player. The question I think has kind of come down to what is his ultimate offensive ceiling? Yeah. And that's kind of the same question people have of Luchenko, right? And Luchenko, I'd say, might be a bit more advanced, a bit tougher. And so if you feel like he's going to be physically, I mean, in terms of how he plays in the toughness that he plays with, I can understand perhaps a team like Fiddly saying, "Hey, if we don't believe in Heleneas' ultimate upside, do we think this guy projects better as that type of player?" And I think that's going to be the question with Heleneas here more than anything else. Does he have that offensive upside for him to truly be the type of two-way center that you're taking there at 14? Oh, a finish forward that projects well to play well on both sides of the puck. Never heard of that before. Never. Those guys exist. First time ever. I think one just won the cup. It's another pick by the Buffalo Sabres that they've added to a large stable of prospects. But really, I mean, my question mark here is, where is Martin H.S. going? And I do wonder if Eric Telsky has not played his cards well here on the big trade chip that he has to move in Martin H.S. So we will see how that plays out. I mentioned Sacha Barkov there as a cup winner. We did have some big news out of the four nations face-off today as the first six players were announced for each of Canada, USA, Sweden and Finland. Quinn Hughes, the only canuck, named to a team. He was named to team USA as one of their first six, one of three defensemen already named to that squad with Adam Fox and Charlie McAvoy. Austin Matthews, Matthew Kuchuck and Jack Eichl. But on Sweden, a lack of Elias Petterson sat. And I am curious about it. And hey, recency bias. It was Elias Petterson better than William Nylander or Philip Forsberg or Mika's advantage ad towards the end of the season. Probably not. But at the same time, I don't think it leaves any doubt that Elias Petterson is or isn't going to be on Team Sweden. Come the four nations face-off. Absolutely. But if Elias Petterson would have had the season that everybody had hoped and projected, he probably would have been on this team, right? Now, the thing I will say is he would have been one of the first six. Yeah. The thing I will say, though, is like you see Forzling getting in. That kind of shows you like there was a spot right there because I can understand the advantage ad who has played for Sweden quite a bit. More of a veteran. Same thing with Forsberg, right? Like I understand the forwards because like there are guys that have record to playing for Team Sweden quite a bit. Willie Nylander, of course, as well, right? And I get Hedman. I get Carlson. Both guys have been fixtures for Team Sweden out of respect and leadership and all that. But yeah, I think if Petterson would have had a better finish, he probably gets in there instead of Forsling. It's an interesting debate to have. And as for Canada, McDavid, McKinnon, Marshawne, Point, Kale McCar and Sydney Crosby. Now, you know, this is another one of those things. Like, Brayden Point is going to be on Team Canada no matter what. But it was just one of these names is not quite like the other, even though Brayden Point is an incredible hockey player. I don't mean to diminish him, but it's just like every other one of these guys is already walking into the Hall of Fame. Maybe Brayden Point will, too, as his career goes on. All right, Ian McIntyre is going to join us coming up next. His take on some of the Canucks moves and what we could see ahead of Monday on July 1. And of course, we'll keep bringing you as many picks as we can from Las Vegas. NHL draft coverage here on Canucks Central continuing. And the roar is back at BC Place for the BC Line, 70th season. Get your tickets now at BClines.com. You're listening to Canucks Central. Central.
