Draft Day has finally arrived.
Tonight, all 30 General Managers will gather in Buffalo, New York and select the next generation of NHL stars. 30 young hockey players from around the world will hear their name called and in the process, live out a life long dream.
It’s one of the most important days on the league calendar as the decisions made today will set the course for the future of every franchise.
And while the draft picks are the focus of the next few days, it’s the potential for significant roster shake-ups that has everyone buzzing. Perhaps more than any other year, the rumour mill seems to be churning as GM’s look for ways to prepare themselves not only for the 2016-2017 season but also for next year’s expansion draft.
There are some big names floating around heading into this weekend which could make for an exciting couple days.
For now, things seem quiet for the Ottawa Senators.
They seem more than content to select 12th and while Dorion has talked to teams about the possibility of moving up, the price is obviously too high at the moment.
With that 12th pick, Ottawa is confident they’ll get a good player. Whether it’s a defenceman like Jake Bean or Jakob Chychrun or a forward like Tyson Jost or Logan Brown, the Senators are leaving Buffalo with a top prospect.
In addition to that first round selection, Ottawa will also pick in Round 2 (42nd), Round 3 (80th), Round 4 (103rd), Round 5 (133rd) and Round 6 (163rd).
If you’re just starting your Draft research today, head over to Bob McKenzie’s final rankings as a great place to start.
Beyond the draft picks, Dorion will also use this weekend to connect with some of the team’s free agents. They got one RFA contract done yesterday in Buddy Robinson and could get another locked up this weekend with Cody Ceci. At the same time, the window to talk to unrestricted free agents opens tomorrow.
Busy days ahead for the new General Manager.
As always, I’ll update the site with any rumours or news I hear throughout the day.
Let the Draft Day madness begin!
