NHL Draft 2005

When: 12 pm today Where: Westin Hotel, Ottawa TV: TSN, RDS, NHL.com The format has been shortened from nine to seven rounds. After Sidney Crosby gets picked by the Penguins at #1, it will be interesting how Jack Johnson, Benoit Pouliot, Bobby Ryan, and Gilbert Brule round out the next picks. Much has been said that these players are so even in skill, and that it really depends on if the team is looking for a defenseman, winger, or center. This is why the Mighty Ducks were shopping around their #2 pick. Also, this draft class has been characterized as top heavy, with much of the skill in the first ten picks, then dropping off significantly after that. So expect the last-second trading of picks, and maybe the Wings will try to move into the top ten. The Red Wings will have the following draft picks, and I'll update the picks as they come in: Round 1, 19th overall - Jakub Kindl, D Round 2, 42nd overall - Justin Abdelkader, LW Round 3, 80th overall - Christofer Lofberg, C Round 4, 103rd overall - Mattias Ritola, C/W Round 5, 132nd overall - Darren Helm, C/LW Round 5, 137th overall - Johan Ryno, W Round 5, 151st overall - Jeff May, D Round 6, 175th overall - Juho Mielonen, D Round 7, 214th overall - Bretton Stamler, D FIRST-ROUND ORDER 1. Pittsburgh - Sidney Crosby, C 2. Anaheim - Bobby Ryan, RW 3. Carolina - Jack Johnson, D 4. Minnesota - Benoit Pouliot, LW 5. Montreal - Carey Price, G 6. Columbus - Gilbert Brule, C 7. Chicago - Jack Skille, LW 8. San Jose (from Atlanta for 12th, 49th, 207th) - Devin Setoguchi, RW 9. Ottawa - Brian Lee, D 10. Vancouver - Luc Bourdon, D 11. Los Angeles - Anze Kopitar, C 12. N.Y. Rangers (from Atlanta for 16th, 41st, originally San Jose's pick) - Marc Staal, D 13. Buffalo - Marek Zagrapan, C 14. Washington - Sasha Pokulok, D 15. N.Y. Islanders - Ryan O'Marra, C 16. Atlanta (from N.Y. Rangers) - Alex Bourret, RW 17. Phoenix - Martin Hanzal, C 18. Nashville - Ryan Parent, D 19. Detroit - Jakub Kindl, D ISS on Kindl:

"Kindl’s adaptation to the North American game has been slower then expected. Although the overall skill set is good, ISS is starting to have trouble keeping him in its Top 10. His inconsistency is a concern and we are bothered by the fact that he picks his spots in terms of physical play. When he decides to turn it up, he is definitely a force, but these instances are becoming more sporadic. His dismissal from the Czech National Junior Team also raises some questions. Although we feel he will become a good NHL defenseman, his consistency will have to improve. Kindl has all of the tools that leave scouts excited."

Hockey's Future on Kindl:

"Kindl has all the tools needed to be a professional player. He has good size, skates well and can handle the puck. The rougher North American game has been an adjustment for him, but he can take and give a hit and has dropped the gloves and has shown that he can throw a pretty decent left. Defensively the more aggressive forechecking schemes used by OHL teams seemed to baffle him at times but he had adjusted to that over the course of the season. His positioning when away from the puck does sometimes lapse. Offensively, Kindl will need another year to show what he can do; power play time was rare on a Ranger team that often used four forwards on the power play. The smaller rinks and the red line pass were areas that he needed time to adjust to as well."

20. Florida (from Philadelphia for 29th and 2nd rounder in 2006) - Kenndal McArdle, LW 21. Toronto - Tuukka Rask, G 22. Boston - Matt Lashoff, D 23. New Jersey - Niklas Bergfors, RW 24. St. Louis - TJ Oshie, C 25. Edmonton - Andrew Cogliano, C 26. Calgary - Matthew Pelech, D 27. Washington (from Colorado for 47th and 52nd) - Joe Finley, D 28. Dallas - Matt Niskanen, D 29. Philadelphia - Steve Downie, RW 30. Tampa Bay - Vladimir Mihalik, D Trade: Jeff O'Neil, Carolina, to Toronto for conditional pick in 2006 Draft Check back for updates