Live blog... NHL Draft Day 2 - Tambellini on Brodziak trade!
Jason Gregor
June 27 2009 08:10AM

8:05 a.m. MST
Day two doesn't have the same build up as day one, so I wouldn't be surprised to see more trades today.
And just like that the Day starts with a bang. And it is a piss in your cornflakes day for Oiler fans.
The Flames have acquired the rights to Jay Bouwmeester for Jordan Leopold and a 3rd pick. When the Flames sign him, they will have to trade some big contract away, and that would seem to be either Regehr or Phaneuf. We will watch with interest.
8:12 a.m MST
Six minutes in and we already have seven picks, it's amazing how much faster it goes. Landon Ferraro goes 32nd to the Detroit Red Wings, a big relief after sitting here for four hours yesterday without hearing his name called.
With the 40th pick the Oilers take another Swede, Anton Lander a 6'0" 194 pounder. Here is the scouting report on him.
"Great two-way player, plays as both a center and left wing, has decent faceoff skills as a center. A gifted playmaker, but also with some ability to score, will be known more for his passing skills however. Good gritty and physical player in the J20 in Sweden, battles well in the corners. Plays with great emotion and comes to play day in and day out, however this competitiveness has led to him taking unnecessary penalties at times. Hasn't adjusted to playing with men in the Elitserien yet, but they may happen over the course of the 08-09 season."
There is lots of talk on the floor about what this Flames deal means. Early speculation is that Dion Phaneuf could be dealt. The Flames don't have the cap space to keep Bouwmeester, Phaneuf and Regehr so one of them will move.
8:24 a.m. MST
The St. Louis Blues take Beaumont boy Brett Ponich, a 6'7" 210 pound giant. He is tough and physical D-man playing for the Portland Winterhawks. His stock kept rising all year and he is projected to be a solid D-man in a few years, as long as he improves his foot speed.
Darryl Sutter is now working the phones. You wonder how long he will wait to make a deal, because everyone knows he can't keep all three D-men. If the Human Rake can get you two players, and two first rounders, what do you think Phaneuf will attract?
8:38 a.m. MST
Round two is already over. This will be over quickly.
More on Lander. He played with MPS in Timra, and was his centreman. He's been the captain of the under 18 national team, and is very competitive. He admits he needs to improve his skating to play in the NHL, but like MPS, he will play in Timra again this coming season before heading over to North America.
Not a lot on the Heatley front right now. but the fact that Calgary took J-Bo has everyone talking. This muddies the waters, because it mean another big name, either Phaneuf or Regehr, is now on the block.
With the speed of the picks today, you don't see managment leaving their tables as often as yesterday.
I just had a brief talk with an eastern conference asst. GM and he said the interest level in one of the Flames D-men will be intense. He said Phaneuf might fetch more than the Human Rake. We will see.
8:50 a.m MST
With their third pick, 71st overall the Oilers took high schooler Troy Hesketh. He wasn't ranked anywhere by Central Scouting, in fact, he didn't even have a name card to slide in right away. They had two other name bars in below him, before they finally got a name plate for him on the big draft board.
He is going to Wisconsin next season. He is 6'2" and 185 pounds and is an offensive d-man. He had seven goals and 21 points in 25 games for the Minnetonka Skippers and was an impressive +23.
9:02 a.m. MST
A quick recap of yesterday's trades in case you missed them.
Ducks traded the Human Rake and prospect Ryan Dingle to the Flyers for Lupul, Sbisa, the 21st pick yesterday, a 1st rounder in 2010 and a conditional pick in 2010 or 2011.
Columbus traded picks #16 and #77 to the Islanders for #26, #37, #62 and #92
Minnesota traded #12 pick to Islanders for #16, #77 and #182.
Calgary traded pick #20 to New Jersey for #23 adn #84.
Anaheim traded #21 to Columbus for #26 and #37.
Detroit traded #29 to to Tampa for #32 and #75.
9:04 a.m. MST
The Oilers take from Everett in the WHL Cameron Abney. He is a tough as nails but the scouting report is he needs to improve a lot as a player.
9:13 a.m MST
Round three is over, and both Oiler picks weren't rated in Central scouting.
Abney is 6'4" 195 pounds who is tough as nails, but won't bring much offence. He had 1 goals and 4 points in 48 games with Everett this past year. He is a great fighter, but hasn't shown an ability to do much else.
This is a pick to toughen up the minor system down the road.
9:20 a.m MST
Now we start to see the GM's interacting. Most GM's don't know any of the players past the 3rd round and can now move a bit more freely to discuss possible moves. I don't see Sutter on the floor right now. He has been receiving a lot of calls, and now some are speculating that he will try to keep his big three for one run, before the cap goes down. But Even if they get Jay Bo signed to a $6 million cap hit that puts them around $53.4 million with six D-men, two goalies and nine forwards signed. They would need to sign four more players just to get to 21. It will be interesting to see if he can balance the books to keep the big three on the backend.
9:28 a.m MST
OILERS TRADE BRODZIAK TO MINNESOTA FOR PICKS.
9:34 a.m MST
Computer crashes...WTF...
9:55 a.m MST
The Oilers dealt Brodziak for the 99th pick and swamped late picks with Minnesota. The Oilers then took Kyle Bigos a 6'5" 230 pound, 20 year-old D-man who played in the BCHL for Vernon.
Brodziak's departure opens the door for Gilbert Brule to slide into his 4th line centre spot. The Oilers wanted Brodziak to be grittier and got tired of waiting it seems.
Then with the 101st pick the Oilers took talented finnish forward Toni Rajala. He was ranked 11th amongst European players. He broke Ovechkin's record at the under 18 championships, when he scored ten goals, and had 19 points in six games. He is small at 5'10" 165 pounds but he loads of skill. He was ranked the 2nd best play maker behind Duchene and third best puck handler behind Duchene and Glennie according to Central Scouting.
10:03 a.m MST
Oil Kings prospect Tomas Vincour goes 129th to the Dallas Stars. They butchered his name, but he could be a sleeper for them. He was rated way higher to start the year, but slipped due to injury. If he can stay healthy he might turn out to be a decent mid round pick.
10:07 a.m MST
The Oilers pick Olivier Roy. The netminder was ranked 2nd amongst north american goalies by central scouting. ISS had him ranked second amongst every goalie in the draft. The crowd gave the pick a huge ovation, since he played in the QMJHL.
10:43 a.m. MST
Just spoke with Ken Holland. He and Rich Winter, Hossa's agent, are talking to see if they can find a cap number that fits into Detroit's plans. Hossa isn't completely out of their plans but he'll have to take a pay cut to stay there. I'd bet he needs something around $5.5 cap hit to fit in.
It's been almost three hours since the Bouwmeester deal to Calgary and the rumours are wide ranging. Some think Phaneuf is gone for sure, while others think Sutter wants to make one great run, and then when the cap goes down next year he will move one or two big tickets. Early speculation is that Jay Bo will sign a long term deal to get a lower cap hit, some where around $6.3 to $6.7.
10:51 a.m MST
The Flames just traded Jim Vandermeer to the Coyotes for Brandon Prust. That opens a spot on the backend and brings in another NHL forward. That just saved them 1.75 in cap space. Vandermeer was making $2.3 while Prust is a .525 cap hit.
10:58 a.m MST
The seventh round is under way. There are 25 picks left and it is painful to watch the handful of kids that are still sitting in the stands waiting for their name to be called. I have no idea what parents are thinking when they agree to let their son come here, unless he is rated in the top 60. Those guys do drop, but normally not all the way out of the draft. If you son is rated in the 4th or 5th round, don't bring him.
You can see the frustration, sadness and humiliation in their body with ever pick that passes them by.
There is no need for them to be here and I think it is on the shoulder of the parents and agents to convince them not to come. Some might be motivated by it, but many never recover from not getting the call.
11:15 a.m MST
The Oilers just traded their 7th pick for a pick next year.
Many have asked how many contracts the Oilers have now that Brodziak has been traded.
Starting July 1st they will have 33 contracts, but I'd expect Hrabel to go back to Europe, or they buy him out and they will be down to 32. Three of those include Eberle, Plante and Kytnar, so if they go back to junior they don't count. I'd guess Plante might go to the minors so lets say they are at 30.
The Oilers will add Smid, Grebeshkov and Brule for sure so that puts them at 33. They have room to move, but moving Brodziak was for a few reasons. They had too many forwards under contract, and they like Brule's grit better.
11:20 a.m. MST
The Nashville Predators use the first time out of the day...ohhh...and after the break they choose Cameron Reid from Westside in the BCHL....we"ll see if that time out pans out in a few years. Remember the name Cameron Reid, that timeout might have been the best 30 seconds the Predators took...or maybe not.
11:45 a.m. MST
Tambellini talks about Brodziak trade
"We do need to change our line up a bit. We have too many bodies at forward. We are willing to give some people a chance that haven't had a chance before."
Is Brule that guy?
"He'll get a very good look this year, there is no question about it. But I'm not sure if that's exactly what's going to happen with that position."
How aggressive do you expect to be on July 1st and what areas do you need to upgrade?
"I think most teams, regardless of what they are looking for will be aggressive. A lot of the times it is first what you have to MOVE in order to bring something in. And that's very difficult right now and that's why there is a lot of hesitation in the market. There are great players out there, but it is difficult at times to move contracts. I think that aggressiveness will depend on what happens prior to July 1st."
Do you feel pressure to keep pace with the Flames after they added Bouwmeester?
"Every day you try to make your own team better, you can't control what other teams do. They're in a different situation than we are with our roster. We are a little bit younger than they are, but they have a good hockey club and we know that, but I have to do what is best for our team."
Tambellini made it clear that some people will get a bigger chance this season. Brule and Pouliot will be the two that battle for Brodziak's opening, they also want to give Jacques a legit shot on the wing. He also hinted that he'll make another move before July 1st to free up some space and a body. They still have too many forwards, so don't be surprised to see another one moved soon.
12:04 p.m. MST
That wraps up the 2009 Draft and the first OILERSNATION live blog from the draft. It was a great experience and I'm looking forward to hitting the town this afternoon. Thanks again to all of your donations and for following the blog from Montreal. Next year's location hasn't been announced yet, but we'll be there and we will find a way to make it even better.
Now we can turn our focus towards free agency.
RossCreek wrote:
did he not hurt his knee really bad in the playoffs ?
So now Rajala and Omark can duke it out with Schremp for the "Best Oiler Prospect Youtube Highlight" corwn, I guess...
One of these fliers HAS to pay off eventually, right? Right?? RIGHT????
***watch alarm goes off - time for more meds***
Brodziak played for Todd Richards and Chuck Fletcher in Wilkes-Barre for a season, did he not? And was he not Richards' Captain?
nice to see them clean out someone from the bottom 6. IMO brodz was grooming for that 3rd line role, and his faceoffs and defensive game were improving. on top of it, he was cheap. so im a little sad to see him go, but i imagine tambi has a plan for replacement.
now if only he can clean out one or two more.
Harlie wrote:
I only did one hit with them.
Hemmertime wrote:
Yes. It was only for the pick that started the discussion, but the price was too high.
Won't really get to talk to anyone until draft is over, because it moves so fast that rarely does someone from management leave the table.
I'm sure we will hear more rumblings in a few hours. I'd expect talks between GMs to heat up once the draft is over and they have more time.
ESPN's Pierre Lebrun reports that the Pronger deal was goin down whether Niedermeyer returned or not. He also predicts JS Giguere to land in Toronto. sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=4291206&name=lebrun_pierre
@ Jason Gregor: thanks for the update. I would think if both sides were close to something, it would be easier and cheaper to do the supposed deal when ATL didnt have to move down to 10th.
Gregor, are you surprised by the Brodziak trade? Are you surprised it did not involve Harding?
I already feel sorry for Olivier Roy. Prepare to have your development ruined, kid.
I should not paid attention yesterday,just today no anticlimx today.
Victoria wrote:
Bazinga!
Brodziak is an rfa. We can do better than him. His trial period with us is over. He's 25
Victoria wrote:
Why?
Just had a convo with a friend riddle me this Nation who was the best goalie which was developed through the oilers system not including the 80's....not really a riddle since I am drawing a complete blank only nbame which comes to mind is Conklin.
also Brodziak was one reason why our PK was poor.
Bob Sacamano wrote:
Not really. I've said all along I don't think the Oilers would go after Harding because they have JDD. I don't see them going into the season with no real NHL experience between the pipes. Unless a team shocks me, I don't see Roloson getting the two year deal he wants, and might come back to the Oilers for a one year deal worth $2.5 to $3.5.
Darn it there goes Jaroslav Janus...what the heck draft two goaltenders. Too bad he didn't slip to the 7th.
Oilers blew it again. Taking a Minnesota high school player instead of Tomas Vincour. Yes, he had an injury this year, but he has played in your own backyard for two years. You know he will recover and you had to know that this kid has enough grit AND SKILL to make it to the bigs. Great first round pick, but my grandmother could have made that one - and she could not have cared less about hockey.
@ Jason Gregor: RossCreek wrote:
?
@ Hemmertime:
Can't think of any either, most of the Oil goalies have come via trade route, but when you look around the league how many teams are actually sporting goalies which they developed and have been successful long term? Brodeur in Jersey, you could make an arguement for Turco in Dallas though he doesn't really have the long term success yet.
Most goalies don't seem to come into their own until their mid ot late twenties so they become a huge investment for a team and I would think it would be very difficult to wait on a guy that might not ever come through.
How many contracts do we have now? If we were at or close to 50, maybe they were clearing one off, instead of "dumping salary"? Looks like Brule moves into that spot on the 4th line too, I like it.
Hemmertime wrote:
Exactly.
Jason Gregor wrote:
HERE WE GO! :-)
What about Fernandez?
Flames dumped Vandermeer, so that will help them lots with cap space. $2.3 was way too much for him. Favorite Vandermeer memory: when Big Mac beat his face in after he fought Pouliout last year.
@ RossCreek: dammit, you beat me. Maybe they can keep them all. I really hope not.
c'mon Tambellini...do something! We want to hear a big splash.
I hate seeing all this flames action happen and all we do is trade Brosziak.
another draft and another year of the oilers doing jack ...
@ Harlie:
i shoulda recorded the draft beer and nachos induced big "splash" from this morning....
thats probably about all you are going to get today from the oilers
RossCreek wrote:
Brodziak wasn't the captain under Richards in Wilkes Barre.
is JW gonna do up a stats and player comparison for the Oilers 1st and maybe 2nd or 3rd rounders? For some reason I don't remember much talk about Magnum leading up to the draft.
Jason Gregor wrote:
He did play under him though? Who was the Captain. Wasn't Brody a captain one year in the A?
oil just traded with OTT whats the return?
Why must our division rivals continue to make moves and improve while we sit back in a holding pattern!??!
ground hog day
cm wrote:
Traded 7th rounder this year for 6th rounder next year. If nothing changes, they are now done. Guess they wanted to hit the links early.
Blockbuster nice
BigE57 wrote:
i mean any, whether we drafted and traded or noit
We have faith in Oilers Nation
That pic of Snow and Tavares on the front page of TSN is just begging for a quote contest. I don't know why I find the expression on Tavares so funny.
If nothing, I'm excited for this organization to make room for Brule.
[...] Every year that goes by, I wonder how many kids showed up to the NHL draft in hopes of being drafted, but never do. Just read this over at Jason Gregor’s draft live blog, [...]
Is this really a case of the Oilers not doing anything or more along the lines of everybody asking for too much in return. Who doesn't think Philly overpaid for Pronger? All the Flames gave up for Bouwmeesters rights is a draft pick as Leopold is an FA anyway.
I think a guy like Bryan Murray will be pretty realistic on June 30th when he's on the verge of having to pay Heatley 4 mill, I bet his asking price comes down considerably.
The worst thing a GM can do for his team is go to the draft make some big trade and end up looking like he got fleeced, bad for the team, bad for the fans and bad for possibility of long term employment. I'd rather see Tambelinni wait for the right deal then pull the trigger on something he will regret just because all of us have been clicking refresh for a day and a half.
tkap84 wrote:
I guess one perspective is that's what everyone said at the trade deadline when the Flames picked up Pumpkinhead, and look how that turned out. There's no guarantee that Bouwmeester will help them out, as he's never actually been part of a decent team.
@ Gregor: Jagr's name came up again. Did you hear anything about him?
@ Librarian Mike:
I'd guess they're going to move more into the realm of Anaheim with 3 steady D that take up most of the minutes and some fillers thrown in there for good luck. Smart move once again by the Sutter.
Dirty effing btards this was our day, OUR DAY GDAMMIT!
I agree about the flames comment, it looks good, but who says they sign him, what does it do to the rest of the D? I want tambo to make a deal, but at the same time, it needs to be the right deal. I get the fealing from seeing him, that when he makes a move, it will make sense for where he see's the team going.
there is no way calgary trades for J bow and doesnt sign him
tkap84 wrote:
What do you think this is checkers?I'd rather see the right deal made not "action" because of what the shames or anyone does. The off season just begun we got time. let them do there job RIGHT!