June 21, 2012, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders and New York Rangers prepare for 2012 NHL Draft preview for Metro Newspaper in NYC
HOT TOPICS
|
LATEST:
x
JOE SARGENT/NHLI/GETTY IMAGES
Nail Yakupov is the star of a weak 2012 NHL Draft.
The Islanders, Devils and Rangers enter this weekend's NHL Draft
in Pittsburgh sharing a common goal: supplant the Kings as Stanley Cup
Champions.
The three local NHL franchises also share the realization that, unless
the unforeseen takes place in the house that Sidney Crosby built, Nail
Yakupov will not pull their sweaters over his head Friday night.
The Sarnia Sting right wing is seen as the crown jewel of a weak draft
crop. Yakupov finished 2011-12 with 31 goals and 69 points for the OHL
franchise.
He will likely be off the board when the Islanders select at fourth
overall and there is no chance he will be around when the Rangers and
Devils select, unless one or both move up to a top-five spot.
Despite the Oilers' desperate need for defensemen, Edmonton GM Steve
Tambellini may find using the No. 1 overall pick to add another high-end
forward to a young corps that includes Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins irresistible.
If Tambellini passes on Yakupov for Everett Winterhawks defenseman Ryan
Murray, the Sarnia star won't drop past the Canadiens, who have the
third overall pick.
So that should leave Swedish right wing Filip Forsberg, Quebec Remparts
center Mikhail Grigorenko or Yakupov's Sarnia teammate, Alex Galchenyuk,
as the players most likely to hear their names called by Islanders' GM
Garth Snow.
Regardless of whom the eventual selection will be, the onus will be on
the player to contribute to the NHL club immediately as it appears the
Islanders will lose top-line winger P.A. Parenteau in free agency.
Potentially losing a key component in free agency could be something of a
bonding moment for the Islanders and the Devils, who own the No. 29
overall pick after losing to the Kings in the Stanley Cup final.
GM Lou Lamoriello reported that the Devils were going to "keep [the
pick]" when he met with reporters on breakup day at the Prudential
Center last week in response to questions about surrendering the pick.
The NHL had fined the Devils $3 million, rescinded the team's 2011
third-round draft pick and gave the organization its choice of four
years (2011-2015) to forfeit a first-round pick as punishment for Ilya
Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million cap-circumventing contract during
summer 2010.
While the Islanders continue to stockpile prospects and the Devils
rebuild their farm system, the Rangers appear ready to add skill to a
team that finished first overall in the East.
The Rangers have just four picks in the draft, including the No. 28
overall, and the possibility exists that GM Glen Sather will attempt to
parlay the first-round pick and players in a trade to bolster an
offensive attack that scored two or fewer goals in 13 of 20 playoff
games.
Reportedly, the Rangers are among 10 teams, including the Philadelphia
Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Carolina Hurricanes,
who have inquired about Columbus forward Rick Nash's availability.
It should seem to be a no-doubt-about-it decision to deal for one of the
NHL's premier power forwards, but there are very real concerns
pertaining to a trade for Nash.
The 28-year old is coming off of a season in which he played all 82
games. He finished with 30 goals, 59 points and a minus-19 rating, but
his goal and point totals have fallen each of the last four seasons.
Nash has recorded 547 points (289 goals) and a minus-71 rating in 674
regular season games.
He has only competed in one Stanley Cup playoff series, a four-game
sweep at the hands of the Red Wings in the 2009 Western Conference
quarterfinals. Nash finished the series with a goal and three points.
The team that acquires Nash will be on the hook for a contract that
calls for the left wing to earn $46.8 million over the next six seasons.
The contract also has both a no movement clause (through the 2014-15
season) and a no trade clause (2015-16 through 2017-18 seasons).
Then, there is the issue of Columbus GM Scott Howson's asking price for
Nash. Howson was unapologetic on trade deadline day when he told
reporters that the return for Nash "had to be high." He reiterated those
words during a recent interview on the NHL's in-house television
network's nightly wrap-up show.
Howson's demands coupled with Nash's financial cost and declining
productivity may cause rival general managers to use the free agency
period in an attempt to wait the Columbus executive out.
Or they could pass on Nash in favor of Anaheim right wing Bobby Ryan.
The 25-year old Ryan has scored at least 30 goals in each of the last
four seasons, including 31 goals last year. He has three years remaining
on his contract, which has an annual average value of $5.1 million, a
very cap-friendly number.
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for all your offseason and draft news.
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman for all your offseason and draft news.
http://www.metro.us/newyork/sports/article/1146199--local-teams-prepare-for-nhl-draft
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 12:11 PM
<< Home