Saturday, June 26, 2010
Associated Press
los angeles
The Pittsburgh Penguins chose right wing Beau Bennett with the 20th overall pick in the NHL draft.
The Penguins were believed to be interested in moving up in the first round, but they did not make a trade.
The 18-year-old Bennett, a native of Torrance, Calif., had 41 goals and 79 assists for 120 points in 56 games with Penticton of the junior British Columbia Hockey League last season.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Bennett was ranked 32nd among North American skaters in the final Central Scouting rankings.
BLUE JACKETS
Columbus pulled off a surprise with the No. 4 pick.
The Blue Jackets selected Ryan Johansen, a center for Portland of the Western Hockey League. Most mock drafts and league observers figured the club would choose from forward Brett Connolly and defensemen Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley.
Johansen, who won’t turn 18 until next month, is 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds. The Port Moody, British Columbia, native patterns his game after San Jose Sharks big center Joe Thornton.
Columbus general manager Scott Howson said he liked Johansen’s size and savvy. Plus, he gives the Blue Jackets depth at a spot that is thin throughout the franchise.
first round
The Edmonton Oilers selected forward Taylor Hall with the No. 1 pick, finally ending a yearlong debate about the two best 18-year-old prospects in hockey.
The league-worst Oilers chose Hall over fellow OHL forward Tyler Seguin, making the toughest call at the top of a draft in several years.
“They’re such a great franchise with so much history behind them,” Hall said. “With the five [Stanley] Cups they won, it will mean a lot to me to join their organization and hopefully bring another one up there.”
While Hall will go to a rebuilding club, the playoff-tested Boston Bruins eagerly grabbed Seguin moments later with the No. 2 pick.
Many NHL scouts and executives couldn’t choose a favorite between Hall, a physical left wing from the Windsor Spitfires, and Seguin, a smooth-skating center from the Plymouth Whalers. Seguin was the league MVP last season, and Hall was the playoff MVP while leading the Spitfires to the Memorial Cup.
“I think everyone has their own opinion,” Seguin said. “We’ve seen it all year with whatever scouting service there may be. Edmonton decided to select Hall first overall, and good for him. He deserves it. And I’m happy to be a Bruin.”
Just the first round of the draft was scheduled for Staples Center on Friday. The final six rounds are today.
While the Los Angeles Kings hosted the draft, the Anaheim Ducks made the biggest splashes. Anaheim picked defenseman Cam Fowler with the 12th pick, grabbing a prospect expected to go much higher, and then drew a huge cheer from the crowd when they picked Long Beach native Emerson Etem with the 29th overall pick.
The New York Islanders traded up to take center Brock Nelson, a high-school player from Minnesota, with the 30th and final choice of the first round.