NHL Draft at Staples Center

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

I'm going to the first round of the NHL draft tomorrow afternoon and evening at Staples Center. Anyone interested in any updates and observations from me on this event? It's the first one I'll have ever attended.

I'm going with a buddy of mine named Morgan Genser. On Halloween a few years back, we went to a Kings' game as blind referees and Kerry Fraser gave us a thumbs up.

[kevinsmithAZ]

Hi Folks,

I'm going to the first round of the NHL draft tomorrow afternoon and evening at Staples Center. Anyone interested in any updates and observations from me on this event? It's the first one I'll have ever attended.

I'm going with a buddy of mine named Morgan Genser. On Halloween a few years back, we went to a Kings' game as blind referees and Kerry Fraser gave us a thumbs up.

Luke Moffatt used to play roller hockey in Phoenix and from what friends tell me even had a rink in his back yard.. someone to cheer for tomorrow.

[GoalPost87]

Stop by and check out the Reebok booth at the draft!!!

[socalhockey]

Beau Bennett from California a great ice player who also played AAA Roller Hockey for the Anaheim Bulldogs for years has a good chance of being picked either in the first round or early in the second. He will be playing ice hockey for Denver University as a freshman in the Fall after lighting it up this past year in Penticton of the BCHL.

Richard, It would be great if you could get an interview with him.

Good Luck Beau!

[RichardGraham]

Thanks for the heads up, Kevin!

[RichardGraham]

Hi GoalPost87,

Anyhing in particular you'd like me to look for?

[RichardGraham]

Hi socalhockey,

Thanks for the suggestion. I don't have a media pass for this event (I wasn't planning on going until the tickets became available at the last moment), but if I run into Beau, I'll certainly try to talk to him.

[RichardGraham]

Hi Folks,

Here are tonight's results from the 2010 NHL Draft, held at Staples Center, in Los Angeles, along with some of the notes I took as I watched the draft.

PICK TEAM PLAYER DRAFTED
1 Edmonton Oilers Taylor Hall

There were cheers mixed with boos from Kings' fans as Edmonton was announced as getting the first pick.

2 Boston Bruins Tyler Seguin

Right after Seguin was picked, an usher told a female spectator to take down the Pittsburgh Penguins banner that she'd draped over the glass. She was in the second-to-last row of the arena and couldn't have affected the sight line of anyone but the two gentlemen behind her. But, since they weren't Penguins fans, they had a good laugh.

As expected, Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin were the first two players chosen.

3 Florida Panthers Erik Gudbranson

Gulbranson's proud parents were showed on the Jumbotron.

4 Columbus Blue Jackets Ryan Johansen

The video introducing him showed him being stripped of the puck twice... He already needs a new agent.

5 New York Islanders Nino Niederreiter

6 Tampa Bay Lightning Brett Connolly

The only shock I received from this pick was the head-spinning that came when Steve Yzerman was on stage to present Connolly with his Lightning jersey. Stevie Y belongs in Detroit, but as a knowledgeable spectator said, Detroit Red Wings' GM Ken Holland's not going anywhere anytime soon.

7 Carolina Hurricanes Jeff Skinner

After Skinner is chosen, the Jumbotron shows a fan holding up a T-shirt that read: "Red Wings Suck."

8 Atlanta Thrashers Alexander Burmistrov

9 Minnesota Wild Mikael Granlund

Long delay in the proceedings after this pick.

10 New York Rangers Dylan Mcilrath

Louds boos erupt in the audience at the Rangers' name.

11 Dallas Stars Jack Campbell

More boos, but perhaps not as loud.

12 Anaheim Ducks Cam Fowler

Biggest boos yet for L.A.'s closest rival, the Ducks.

13 Phoenix Coyotes from Calgary Brandon Gormley

Keith Gretzky, Wayne's brother, announces the pick.

14 St. Louis Blues Jaden Schwartz

John Davidson announces the pick, and the crowd notices that it is Schwartz's birthday and sing him Happy Birthday.

15 L.A. Kings (from FLA) Derek Forbort

Huge cheers and a lot of excitement for the local fans as they use Florida's pick to take the 6'5" 198-pounder from the USHL National Under 18 team. 6'5"? Watch out, Chara. "Let's Go Kings" chant erupts.

16 St. Louis (from OTT) Vladimir Tarasenko

17 Colorado Avalanche Joey Hishon

18 Nashville Predators Austin Watson

19 Florida Panthers (from LA) Nick Bjugstad

Another tall player, Bjugstad is 6'4" and 188 pounds, and the first high school player to be selected in this year's draft. Bjugstad is the nephew of Scott Bjugstad who played nine NHL seasons.

20 Pittsburgh Penguins Beau Bennett

Huge cheers greeted this selection because Bennet is from Gardena, California, and as an astute IHC reader mentioned, played AAA roller hockey for the Anaheim Bulldogs. On the Jumbotron, Bennett gave props to his favorite coach, El Segundo's Sandy Gasseau.

21 Detroit Red Wings Riley Sheahan

22 Montreal Canadiens (from PHO) Jarred Tinordi

The Canadiens picked former NHL players Mark Tinordi's son.

23 Buffalo Sabres Mark Pysyk

Another long delay in the proceedings after this pick.

24 Chicago Blackhawks (from NJD via ATL) Kevin Hayes

25 Vancouver Canucks (from FLA) Quinton Howden

26 Washington Capitals Evgeny Kuznetsov

27 Phoenix Coyotes (From MON) Mark Visentin

28 San Jose Sharks Charlie Coyle

29 Anaheim Ducks from Philadelphia Emerson Etem

More loud boos (it's Anaheim) and cheers (Etem is from Long Beach, California) greeted this pick. On the subway ride home, I heard another fan say that Etem was picked so low in the first round because "he doesn't pass the puck."

30 New York Islanders (from CHI) Brock Nelson

Overall, the draft was interesting, but with long lulls in the action. The extracurricular events going outside across the street at the Nokia Center did attract a big throng of people as they left the draft proceedings, including the stickhandling contest at the Reebok booth, where fans could try out their skills AND try on some Reebok equipment.

There was also lots of memorabilia and NHL gear to purchase, and the NHL bigwigs were partying at a private event at Katsuya Restaurant. I couldn't believe my Roller Hockey International San Diego Barracudas' jersey didn't gain me entry.

The rest of the draft concludes tomorrow at Staples Center.