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While coming up with this next list, we came to one of two conclusions:
1.) NHL scouts know what they're doing.
2.) First-round draft picks get more chances to succeed in the NHL than other draft picks.
One way or another, the league is dominated by players who were selected in the first round.
We went through every roster of every team in the league and added up every player by the round they were drafted in. These aren't necessarily the players that were drafted by this team mind you. This is simply a listing of players and what round they were drafted in (Example: Sidney Crosby and Gary Roberts each count as a first-round draft pick for the Penguins even through Roberts was drafted by the Flames.)
(Note: This chart was based on the roster of each team from when it played its last game of the past season. Players on injured reserve are counted as are minor league call-ups for playoff teams such as the Rangers and Red Wings.)
Round1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th*-UTeamAnaheim1013012310003Atlanta7323000230x02Boston663201321004Buffalo782322200000Calgary1134022111004Carolina1023212200103Chicago912012113002Colorado862141512001Columbus733210110010Dallas7103211301001Detroit486222801204Edmonton1163200210003Florida1164000002202Los Angeles621312100007Minnesota733201221012Round1st2nd3rd4th5th6th7th8th9th10th11th*-UTeamMontreal882022322005Nashville840122201015New Jersey583001200005NY Islanders775422210005NY Rangers1075220131003Ottawa1241502010002Philadelphia1502211011106Phoenix814021101003Pittsburgh1322310020003St. Louis1062223123002San Jose931211100002Tampa Bay331415031006Toronto721232312002Vancouver932020111005Washington1022412110002Totals (805)255128775538425230286391Percentages31.715.99.66.84.75.26.53.73.50.70.411.3*-Undrafted. (Writing "Undrafted" wouldn't actually fit on this table.)A few notes about this list:
-Ironically enough, the worst team in the league (Tampa Bay) and the best (Detroit) have the fewest amount of first-round picks on their rosters.
-Is anyone else surprised by the fact there are more undrafted players in the league than anyone picked in the third round or higher?
-Just further proof the Penguins need to pick up a draft pick in the first three rounds for this weekend.
TODAY'S EVGENI MALKIN RUMOR BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE TORONTO STAR
We're really beginning to hate the draft.
Today's rumor involving Evgeni Malkin has ties to his country, Russia. Rick Westhead of the Toronto Star quoted an anonymous "high-ranking" official with the new Continental Hockey League in Russia as saying an offer of $12.5 million (U.S. dollars) could be made for Malkin's services next season.
The hypothetical deal would make him the highest paid player in the world and all money would be tax free.
The best line in the article:
"The executive said a $12.5 million offer to Malkin 'is not crazy' but conceded, 'it's on the edge of crazy.'"
We don't know what to say at this point in regards to Evgeni Malkin.
In other news, our friends' dek hockey team, Cobra Kai Dek Hockey is prepared to offer him a $45 per game (U.S. dollars) deal that would make him the highest-paid dek hockey player in all of Murrysville. While his deal would be subject to Franklin Regional's school district taxes, his referee fee would be paid for each and every game.
MALKIN TO CALIFORNIA -- REST IN PEACE
(We heard this song last night and really felt like using it in a headline sort of.)
A few notes on the ridiculous Evgeni Malkin to the Kings rumor:
-Los Angeles general manager Dean Lombardi completely denied it.
-Kings owner Tim Leiweke "congratulated" Lombardi on pulling the trade.
-TSN's Bob McKenzie blew rumor out of the water.
-So did Eric Duhatschek of the Toronto Globe and Mail. According to him, the Penguins and Malkin's agent are supposed to meet later today about a contract extension.
-Senators general manager Bryan Murray jokingly asked a Penguins official if he could get in on the Malkin sweepstakes.
-Evgeni Malkin's agent wants him to shut up.
-The Kings need to hang onto that pick.
-Bruce Garrioch -1.
ON THE RADIO
That's Regina Spektor's "On The Radio." Her music is a bit of a guilty pleasure for us.
Anyway, that's a less than smooth segue way for us to tell you we'll be uh... on the radio... today with Guy Junker and Eddy Crow of ESPN Radio 1250 at roughly 10:50 a.m. Click here to listen online. We imagine that hot Jeff Taffe to Florida for Olli Jokinen rumor might come up.
To balance out that Regina Spektor song, here's Slayers' "Raining Blood:"
EMPTY NETTER ASSISTS
Penguins
-As it is right now, the Penguins' scouts won't be too busy for the early part of the draft.
-You better stay used to all those Mellon logos at the Penguins' arena.
-It looks like the Wheeling Nailers are still looking for a head coach. (Kudos to Jonathan Bombulie of the Wilkes-Barre Citizens Voice with the find.)
-The Nailers will have a free agent tryout camp Aug. 8-10 at Iceoplex at Southpointe. Click here for more information. (.pdf document).
Atlantic Division
-Sportsnet is reporting the Flyers signed restricted free agent forward Jeff Carter to a three-year deal.
-The NHL is seeking the legal authority to end Madison Square Garden's ownership of the Rangers. This is all stemming from a dispute between the team and the league over who can control the team's Web site. Hopefully the NHL can do away with poor ownership groups like MSG and bring in more people with stable funding like William "Boots" Del Biaggio or John Spano... Wait...
Northeast Division
-The Maple Leafs acquired forward Jamal Mayers from the Blues for a third-round draft pick. The Penguins were rumored to be interested in acquiring Mayers in exchange for Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Austin Lemieux, Ray Shero's car, Michel Therrien's pink tie, Phil Bourque, that whistle Jeff Jimerson plays before singing the national anthem, the Penguins' next 32 first-round draft picks and a case of Fiji Water autographed by Gary Roberts. We think.
Southeast Division
-The Hurricanes signed defenseman Tim Gleason to a four-year contract.
-Carolina also acquired the negotiating rights of goon Darcy Hordichuk from the Predators for a conditional fifth-round draft pick.
-Thrashers general manager Don Waddell denied he promoted John Anderson, their head coach at their AHL affiliate in Chicago, to the same position with Atlanta.
Central Division
-That ridiculous lawsuit against the Red Wings over fans throwing octopuses on the ice was thrown out.
-A Red Wings fan avoided jail time in Denver after he was cited for throwing an octopus on the ice during an Avalanche game.
Northwest Division
-Vancouver general manager Mike Gillis said he is not actively pursuing a trade that would deal twin forwards Daniel or Henrik Sedin.
-The Canucks named former player Stan Smyl their director of collegiate scouting and former North Stars forward Dave Gagner the director of player development. Gagner is the father of Edmonton forward Sam Gagner.
Pacific Division
-Another Bruce Garrioch masterpiece was blown up yesterday. Sharks general manager Doug Wilson called a report by Garrioch that claimed defenseman Brian Campbell told San Jose he would not be returning "tremendously false."
-Don't expect Ducks defenseman Scott Niedermayer or forward Teemu Selanne to announced a decision on retirement before this weekend.
-Former Canucks general manager Dave Nonis is expected to join the Ducks in an advisory role.
Patrick Division
-Here's a profile on draft prospect Jared Staal who has brothers we hear:
-That "The Love Guru" movie we've all been bombarded with through promotions and commercials the last few months or so? It stinks.
First Published June 20, 2008 7:15 am
