2005 Draft Order

[#96 0]

Ohh and good points, Chadd. Hockey ending in Pitt is a forgone conclusion at this point I think. Like death, it's only a matter of time...tick, tick, tick.

I would like to see Winnipeg get a franchise again. Maybe Winnipeg Penguins???

[vivaotravez12 0]

I was actually right with picking Pitt for Crosby....like someone said, he'll play out whatever he is signed to...he won't pull a Lindros, he's not that idiotic or arrogant. But, whichever comes first, the Penguins extinction or his contract being over, he'll end up in a much better market. At least he didn't end up with the Rangers...

Where do you think Bobby Ryan will end up? I know it won't happen, but I hope he's around at the 20th pick, or the Flyers move up in the draft. He wouldn't be a big gamble for the Flyers to fill their vacant big d-man spot.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Toronto could be really hurt by this draft.

Montreal gets 5th pick

Ottawa gets 9th

Buffalo 13th

Boston doesn't pick high, but has a ton of cap room.

Difficult division, especially since Ottawa and Montreal are already young teams.

[Chadd 916]

Ohh and good points, Chadd. Hockey ending in Pitt is a forgone conclusion at this point I think. Like death, it's only a matter of time...tick, tick, tick.

I would like to see Winnipeg get a franchise again. Maybe Winnipeg Penguins???

The only way Winnipeg gets a team is if there is another round (or two) of expansion. The city just built a new arena that only seats 15k, too small for a new NHL building.

Wow Rangers with 3 balls got picked 16th. Shows you the inefficacy of the system. And FL, they already don't know what hockey is down there, and those guys are getting a pick that low. Ouch.

Florida really took one in the pants, I feel bad for them and their fans.

[mickz 107]

I really hope Vancouver will still get a chance on Brule with the 10th pick. However I expect Brule to go anywhere from 2nd-5th.

[Eazy_b97 1]

It really sucks when you know that both Florida and the Rangers would have finished bottom 5 and been guarenteed a top 5 pick. Royally screwed, but without being biased I do feel worse for FL not only because they have an even lower pick, but they actually tried to do things the right way. I still think the Rangers and true Ranger fans got screwed, but they only began to do things right at the tail end of late season.

Florida and NYR had a shot at making the playoffs had their been a season. The team Chem in NYR would've been much better than in years past. They were still, after dumping those guys, in better position than Pitts, Wsh, Car, Buff and I think they would've battled with Fl, Mon, NYI, and ATL for the 7/8 position. In the East your looking at around 5 teams finishing below. I think the Rangers lost about 2-3 spots by not having the season played, draft wise at least. Florida did get killed in this draft.

[jay 1]

Keep in mind Florida will get to pick again at 32 after Tampa's two picks so its not a total suck.

[jrhky36 1]

well i'm happy that detroit finally got a first round pick. it has been a long time since they had one.

crosby not goingto florida could be a good thing if mike keenan is still coaching there.

i agree with the afore mentioned comments about pitt. the league propped them and buff up for some time. bettman talked about competiviness in the league, but does the fact that the league hs helped both teams compromise that? and does the league now have a hidden agenda? i would have said yes if the rangers got the first pick. could pitts have gotten the first pick so mario could "groom" crosby to be the "face" of the new nhl? but lets all remember that crosby has not played a single shift in the nhl. only time will tell. these are just thoughts i was wondering about.

[JR Boucicaut 3799]

Not to mention the PIT/WAS rivalry has taken on a new meaning.

[DarkStar50 679]

Hey

#1. I'm glad Crosby stayed on the east coast. West Coast games at 10:30 EST starts would have been killer for the face of the NHL in eastern Canada/US.

#2. I'm glad he is in my division. In metro NYC I can watch NYR, NYI, and NJD on local cable. Sid the Kid will be on TV alot in my area.

#3. As someone who has watched the rise and fall of the Rangers and the rise and fall of the Rangers since 1968, I'm glad the Broadway Blueshirts don't get the chance to ruin him. Down the road, Crosby in Montreal would be pretty cool. Too bad he won't get to strut his stuff in the Forum. That would be "old time hockey" at its finest!

[2048 0]

Man... Crosby in the burgh hurts. I can't imagine a less appealing place for him to end up from a league standpoint.

Actually, it's not so bad. ESPN loves taking pot shots at the Rangers and he'll play em 7 times a year. Additionally, the NHL wants to keep all of its franchises afloat and pittsburgh's the one most in need of help right now. Just what the NHL wanted...maybe?

[twistoffate19 0]

Florida really took one in the pants, I feel bad for them and their fans.

Florida has fans? lol

[Eazy_b97 1]

I have to disagree with you easy. The Rangers really starting from scratch would have been brutal this year. Sure, they would have signed a few guys, but it would have been a long season. Either way, we will see how they fare this year and that should be good indication. Coming into last season though, most ranger fans agreed it would be god awful though. Which is expected after you dump a bunch of failing stars and bring a bunch of kids in mixed with a few vets. Most had little experience together.

Worked out well for SJ

They still hadve Jagr, they signed Nylander, and they would've filled their holes. There would've been alot of young kids, but their team, as it stood, was not worse than the teams I mentioned. It would've depended on their chemisty, but I couldn't see them being worse than Pitts and Wsh. Their division is getting weaker, with Philly improving, but NJ and NYI struggling.

[DarkStar50 679]

BTW,

Glen Sather could screw up a two car parade down a one-way street!! I am very glad Crosby doesn't get mixed up with Slats. Face it, anybody could have patted Gretzky on the shoulder in the 80's to "get out there." Throw in Messier, Coffey, Kurri, Anderson, Lowe, Fuhr, Moog, and all the rest, they made Sather look like a genius. Talk about "riding on the coat-tails", it couldn't get any better than being the "coach" of Edmonton in the 80's.

Sid and 66 is an awesome combo. What's not to like? The NHL needs a quick short term success story and if this is it, that's fine with me.

[Eazy_b97 1]

I am wondering if this will spark Pitts to go a little harder after some of their rumoured UFAs. I mean Lemieux - Crosby - Kovy, followed by Recchi - Malkin - Zhamnov doesn't look too bad at all.

[DarkStar50 679]

Easy,

Don't underestimate NJD. Brodeur is still in nets, in prime of his career. Larry Robinson is back behind the pine. He has so many Cup rings as player and coach that he has instant R-E-S-P-E-C-T from his team. Lamoriello probably handed the new CBA to Bettman and OK'd it! He will definitely not be getting outfoxed in the "new NHL." He will build a team to be reckoned with. Always has, always will.

[Eazy_b97 1]

Easy,

Don't underestimate NJD. Brodeur is still in nets, in prime of his career. Larry Robinson is back behind the pine. He has so many Cup rings as player and coach that he has instant R-E-S-P-E-C-T from his team. Lamoriello probably handed the new CBA to Bettman and OK'd it! He will definitely not be getting outfoxed in the "new NHL." He will build a team to be reckoned with. Always has, always will.

They aren't they heavyweights they were 3-4 years ago. They can make their move in the playoffs with Brodeur and their system, but looking at scenarios last year, I find it hard to put them as a dominant force in the East. Factor in both NYI and NJ are NYR rivalries, which tend to always be difficult regardless of the "standings." I just don't believe NYR would've been THAT bad at all. Not on a WSH, Pitts level like last year.

[jay 1]

Man... Crosby in the burgh hurts.  I can't imagine a less appealing place for him to end up from a league standpoint.

Actually, it's not so bad. ESPN loves taking pot shots at the Rangers and he'll play em 7 times a year. Additionally, the NHL wants to keep all of its franchises afloat and pittsburgh's the one most in need of help right now. Just what the NHL wanted...maybe?

Normally that would make a ton of sense but in this case I really think Crosby to a large market team would have made a huge difference for an NHL desperate to win back fan interest. Only time will tell though...

[2048 0]

I thought like that a while ago, Jay, but then I figured that no one really cares what happens in NYC. We all like to think that hte world revolves around us, but it doesn't. As long as he gets decent exposure nationally, the NHL benefits.

That said, there's more people not from NYCwho pass through NYC than any other city in the country per square mile (LA might give it a run). Scrwe it, I'm pissed about 16 and trying to rationalize how the NHL couldn't pull an NBA.

[Tanner23 0]

I really hope Vancouver will still get a chance on Brule with the 10th pick.  However I expect Brule to go anywhere from 2nd-5th.

Ya that would be awsome to get brule but the 10th overall pick that is a steal for the canucks

[mickz 107]

I really hope Vancouver will still get a chance on Brule with the 10th pick.  However I expect Brule to go anywhere from 2nd-5th.

Ya that would be awsome to get brule but the 10th overall pick that is a steal for the canucks

I don't really think the Canucks will try to trade up either. I don't see them parting with any of their 'core players.' On the other hand, Naslund and Bertuzzi's situations remain up in the air so you may never know what the Canucks will pull tomorrow night.

[#94 3]

I was sitting with Bobby Ryan watching the lottery and the top 5 teams were revealed...

More or less, he was not happy. He would like to go to Anaheim, but doesn't see that happening. He hates Carolina and isn't very fond of Minnesota because he and O'Sullivan have some kind of beef with each other.

He wanted to go to Philly, obviously.

Let me give you guys a little inside scoop...

If Carolina takes Bobby, look for a trade between the Canes and Flyers: Canes get Stefan Ruzicka and Robert Eche in exchange for Bobby...

[EBondo 233]

I was sitting with Bobby Ryan watching the lottery and the top 5 teams were revealed...

More or less, he was not happy. He would like to go to Anaheim, but doesn't see that happening. He hates Carolina and isn't very fond of Minnesota because he and O'Sullivan have some kind of beef with each other.

He wanted to go to Philly, obviously.

Let me give you guys a little inside scoop...

If Carolina takes Bobby, look for a trade between the Canes and Flyers: Canes get Stefan Ruzicka and Robert Eche in exchange for Bobby...

I want to see Bobby in Philly...I know him personally, and I have played hockey with him a couple times...I would love to see him in Philly, or Montreal. I was also reading in the paper that Carolina and Philly have had the most trades in the NHL lately...so I could see that happen. Bobby to Philly? I'm lovin the sound of it :D .

[Eazy_b97 1]

I find the trade to be a little odd. I could see Richards and the #19 for Ryan or maybe just Richards, but the fact they just got Gerber makes getting Eche seem like a non-factor. Who would Philly have start?

I guess we'll find out in a week.

[Chadd 916]

I find the trade to be a little odd. I could see Richards and the #19 for Ryan or maybe just Richards, but the fact they just got Gerber makes getting Eche seem like a non-factor. Who would Philly have start?

I guess we'll find out in a week.

The Flyers have a lot of players they could move but until Nittimaki proves he can play at the NHL level, Esche isn't going anywhere. Especially considering he wasn't paid that highly for an NHL starter.