12 and 25

So that confirms it. After San Jose's exit from the playoffs last night, we now have the 25th overall pick. I find it rather ironic that the same day we find out we get the 25th overall pick, a former 25th overall pick has departed us for the greener pastures of Russia.

Alexander Perezhogin has signed in Russia for significantly more money than he would have gotten here. It's a shame, too. Perezhogin was a solid player, but was one of Carbo's whipping boys. Despite being one of our better two-way players, he was benched often. The situation with him kind of reminds me of the one with Jan Bulis last year.

Anyway, it will be interesting to see how we use these two picks:

1) Pick 2 players with them and wait the 3-4 years it take those players to develop into something useful.

2) Trade the two picks for a higher pick this year. I am not sure how far we could move up, but I doubt we could get into the top 5. I imagine we could probably move up to 7 or 8.

3) Trade picks for an established NHL player. I really do not think this is likely. The only player we would receive in this trade is one who makes more money than he is worth on a team that does not contend. The pick + Samsonov for Aucoin rumors just won't go away.

4) Trade the picks for someone's 1st round pick NEXT year. It's a a hell of a gamble, but it would be pretty fun to trade these picks to say...Phoenix and hope for the Coyotes get a lottery pick next year.


Finally, here is a rundown of the players who were chosen 12th and 25th overall in the drafts since our last Stanley Cup:

2006 - Bryan Little (12th Atl) and Patrik Berglund (25th Stl)
2005 - Marc Staal (12th NYR) and Andrew Cogliano (25th Edm)
2004 - AJ Thelen (12th Min) and Rob Schremp (25th Edm)
2003 - Hugh Jessiman (12th NYR) and Anthony Stewart (25th Fla)
2002 - Steve Eminger (12th Was) and Cam Ward (25th Car)
2001 - Dan Hamhuis (12th Nas) and Perezhogin
2000 - Alexei Smirnov (12th Ana) and Steve Ott (25th Dal)
1999 - Denis Shvidki (12th Fla) and Mikhail Kuleshov (25th Col)
1998 - Alex Tanguay (12th Col) and Jiri Fischer (25th Det)
1997 - Marian Hossa (12th Ott) and Brenden Morrow (25th Dal)
1996 - Josh Holden (12th Van) and Peter Ratchuk (25th Col)
1995 - Teemu Riihijarvi (12th SJ) and Marc Denis (25th Col)
1994 - Wade Belak (12th Que/Col) and Vadim Sharifijanov (25th NJ)
1993 - Kenny Jonsson (12th Tor) and Kevyn Adams (25th Bos)

ESPN Insider

Ok, so I don't pay ESPN money for access to their "Insider". Unfortunately, my buddy Russell does pay them money for their bullshit "Insider" coverage. Yesterday, when he was over to my place for the NFL Draft, he logged in on my laptop and has continued to stay logged in. Out of curiosity, I perused the Hockey Rumors section that is only available to people who have purchased their ESPN "Insider" coverage. In this section, they basically say that the Canadiens are going to trade their 2 1st round picks this year for established NHL talent.

Obviously, they read Pat Hickey's article and assume that his opinion is gospel. No offense, but Pat Hickey is one of the most anti-American, (google Excited States and Pat Hickey) error-riddled journalists that the Gazette has. After Jack Todd, he is the bottom of the barrel. In case you missed Hickey's article, I will post a link for you here. While I'm on the Pat Hickey hating, I'll also inform you that he was overly quick to ASSUME that Perezhogin is on his way out and that Hickey erroneously reported that #42 has signed with his old Russian squad, Omsk. After a little further investigation, it is obvious that Perezhogin was only offered a contract by Omsk and did not actually SIGN with them. It's this kind of bullshit "journalism" that makes NHLers hate Montreal. No wonder we can't sign any free agents...

Apparently, Pat Hickey believes that he is a good scout when it comes to NHL talent, especially after watching 1 (ONE) game. If this year's draft is as weak as Hickey thinks it is, then how are we going to get established NHL talent for 2 first round picks in such a weak draft?

ESPN should be ashamed that they make people pay money for this sort of useless rumor-mongering bullshit.

I'd like to congratulate the Hamilton Bulldogs for defeating the Rochester Americans in the first round of the Calder Cup playoffs. Props go out to Ryan O'Byrne for scoring his first career AHL goal, which happened to be the game winner and series clincher.

Lastly, I would like to wish Hamilton's Mathieu Biron a happy 27th birthday today.

Oh yea, the answer to yesterday's trivia question is:

Steve Begin of the 2000-2001 St. John Flames
Aaron Downey of the 1998-1999 Providence Bruins