The 2017 NHL Entry Draft
Round 1 of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft is tonight, Friday, June 23, and Rounds 2-7 are tomorrow, Saturday, June 24, at Chicago’s United Center. Drafting begins (if the NHL starts on time) at 7 PM Eastern on Friday, and 10 AM Eastern on Saturday. It will be shown on NBCSN and livestreamed on NBC Sports Live.
JustinG will be on the scene, so watch our Raw Charge Facebook page for some Facebook Live action at United Center. He’ll also be livetweeting @rawcharge.
If you want to know the complete order of picks in every single draft round, our writer El Seldo has it over here. [Pension Plan Puppets]
SBNation did a mock draft of every pick — we traded with Arizona and ended the draft with the 31st overall pick. Go see who every team’s armchair GM selected in the first round. [SBNation]
Here is Corey Pronman’s infamous draft order. [ESPN Insider]
The Bolts
Lightning fans, don’t get attached to your first-round draft picks: “I’m not a big fan of trading away first-round picks, honestly,” Yzerman said. “I’d prefer not to do it. In an ideal world, you draft these kids, you take your picture with them and you look back at the end of the career and take another picture with them. That’s the plan. But it changes along the way.” [Tampa Bay Times]
Of Sustr (RFA) and Witkowski (UFA), Yzerman said: “Right now our intention is to talk to both players and their agents about signing them.”
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) June 22, 2017
Lightning have plenty of options with six picks in 2017 NHL Draft: “There are good prospects there, in the first round and throughout the draft,” Yzerman said. “Time will tell, and you don’t have an Auston Matthews or a Connor McDavid player this year, but I would think the teams picking first, second or third are pretty excited about their options right now.” [Tampa Bay Lightning]
Yzerman on signing Budaj to a 2-year deal: “We really like the person, his work ethic, his character; he was a good fit.” #Bolts
— Bryan Burns (@BBurnsNHL) June 22, 2017
Lightning GM Steve Yzerman also has top-9 wing on his wish list: ‘Yzerman has another item on his summer wish list: a top-nine wing. “We’d like to add one, for sure, at least one more, actually,” he said. “We’re going to try to get someone that could go in our top nine. Is that one of our kids coming up from the minors or junior? I’m not sure.’ [Tampa Bay Times]
Tampa Bay Lightning announce 2017-2018 regular season schedule: Bolts face Jonathan Drouin at Amalie Arena on December 28 and more highlights. [Raw Charge]
Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov named NHL Second Team All-Stars: “Two members of the Tampa Bay Lightning were elected to the second team. Nikita Kucherov, fresh off a 40-goal season and Victor Hedman, who finished third in voting for the Norris Trophy were recognized for their excellent seasons.” [Raw Charge]
The Pipeline
Yzerman mentions how pleased he is with the development of Dominik Masin & Ben Thomas this year with the @syracusecrunch.
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 22, 2017
Vegas Golden Knights’ expansion draft choices include 3 former Crunch players, Marchessault, Sbisa, and Methot: “The Golden Knights’ expansion draft choices included 30-goal scorer and former Syracuse Crunch skater Jonathan Marchessault.” [Syracuse.com]
2017 Syracuse Crunch Year-End Awards: “And with that, we conclude the 2016-2017 Syracuse Crunch season. It was a wild one but boy was it a fun one. Thank you all for a memorable year.” [Raw Charge]
My Interview with John Kurtz: “Having an opportunity to be part of a Calder Cup Finals series is something special. Although it was not the result we wanted as a group it is quite the achievement. After playing in the American League for 7 years, you understand that chance doesn’t come as often as you might like.” [Raw Charge FanPost]
As previously announced, #BoltsDevCamp will again be in Brandon from June 27-July 1.
📝: https://t.co/wH62ji4WuS pic.twitter.com/Cwtvixmp3X
— Tampa Bay Lightning (@TBLightning) June 22, 2017
