2008 NHL Entry Draft

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
2008 NHL Entry Draft
Logo NHL Entry Draft 2008.gif
overview
date June 20-21, 2008
place Ottawa , Ontario , Canada
Round 7th
Selected players  211

1st position CanadaCanada Steven Stamkos
Elected By: Tampa Bay Lightning
2nd position CanadaCanada Drew Doughty
Elected By: Los Angeles Kings
3rd position United StatesUnited States Zach Bogosian
Elected By: Atlanta Thrashers
NHL Entry Draft
 <2007 2009> 

The 2008 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 20 and 21, 2008 at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa , Ontario . The first round of drafts was held on Friday evening June 20, with rounds two through seven following on Saturday.

The teams of the National Hockey League were able to secure the rights of all North American players born between January 1, 1988 and September 15, 1990, as well as all European players born between January 1, 1987 and September 15, 1990. Only players whose rights were not already held by an NHL team from a draft from previous years were available.

The draft was supposed to take place in front of a large audience in Scotiabank Place as early as 2005 , but due to the lockout , the original date could not be met and the draft was only carried out on a small scale at The Westin Ottawa at the end of July 2005 .

Draft order

The draft order of positions 1 to 14 will be determined in April 2008 by the draft lottery. The 14 teams that cannot qualify for the playoffs will participate in this weighted lottery and will be seeded in the reverse order of the regular season table. The worst team of the past regular season is in first place and has a 25% chance of winning the lottery and the best of the 14 teams not qualified for the playoffs is in 14th place and has a chance of 0.5% . The lottery winner moves up four places in the draft order.

The draft order of the 16 playoff participants will only be determined after the Stanley Cup final. The Stanley Cup winner is placed on position 30, the final opponent on position 29. The teams that failed in the Conference Finals are sorted into positions 27 and 28. The remaining teams will be seeded based on their standings in the regular season. The rule is that the team with the fewest points is in 15th position. The draft order applies to all seven rounds of the Entry Draft. Teams can acquire draft picks from other teams via transfers, but they can also have given their own to other teams.

Transfers of first-round voting rights

Draft stage in Scotiabank Place

Draft lottery

On April 8, 2008, the draft lottery took place, which had an impact on the order of the entry draft. It was a weighted lottery, with the Tampa Bay Lightning , who had finished last in the league in the regular season, came first in the draft order and had the greatest chance of winning the lottery with 25 percent, while the Carolina Hurricanes in 14th place had little chance. A total of 1000 number combinations were given to the 14 teams based on the weighted distribution, whereupon a member of the league removed a combination from a drum and thus determined the winner of the lottery. The winner could be upgraded by up to four places in the order. Thus, the fifth placed had the opportunity to get to first place. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the lottery and retained the first draft right to move.

Draft result

Draft stage and team tables in Scotiabank Place

As expected , the Tampa Bay Lightning selected Canadian striker Steven Stamkos in first position . The franchise had already launched an image campaign called “Seen Stamkos?” In Tampa in advance . Four defenders followed in second to fifth place, including Drew Doughty in second place , who was selected by the Los Angeles Kings and in third place Zach Bogosian , who will play for the Atlanta Thrashers in the future and was the first American in this year's draft. The Russian Nikita Filitow was the first European to be drafted in sixth place by the Columbus Blue Jackets . The Dane Mikkel Bødker , selected in eighth place by the Phoenix Coyotes , is only the second Dane to be drafted in the first round after Lars Eller in 13th place last year. The first goalkeeper in the draft was Canadian Chet Pickard , selected by the Nashville Predators in 18th position. Luca Sbisa , Swiss defender for the Lethbridge Hurricanes junior team , was the first German-speaking player in the draft when the Philadelphia Flyers secured his rights to 19th position.

The first round was very much determined by the defenders, twelve of whom were selected in the first round and seven among the top 15 alone. Two goalkeepers in the first round brought the total of the defensive players to a total of 14. This compared to 16 strikers.

23 of the 30 players selected in the first round were from North America, of which the 18 Canadians were the clear majority. Followed by five Americans, the Swedes were the strongest European faction with three players, while two players came from Russia and one player each from Denmark and Switzerland.

In the entire seven draft rounds, the 30 teams secured the rights to a total of 211 players. 121 Canadians made up more than half, followed by 44 Americans. With 17 players, Sweden was the strongest European country in the draft, ahead of Russia with nine and Finland with seven. Three players each from the Czech Republic and Norway were drafted, while there were two players from Switzerland and Denmark. In addition, one player each from Belarus, France and Germany was selected.

Round 1

# player nationality Item NHL team College / Junior / Club team
1. Steven Stamkos CanadaCanada Canada C. Tampa Bay Lightning Sarnia Sting ( OHL )
2. Drew Doughty CanadaCanada Canada D. Los Angeles Kings Guelph Storm (OHL)
3. Zach Bogosian United StatesUnited States United States D. Atlanta Thrashers Peterborough Petes (OHL)
4th Alex Pietrangelo CanadaCanada Canada D. St. Louis Blues Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
5. Luke Schenn CanadaCanada Canada D. Toronto Maple Leafs
(from New York Islanders )
Kelowna Rockets ( WHL )
6th Nikita Filatov RussiaRussia Russia LW Columbus Blue Jackets HK CSKA Moscow ( RSL )
7th Colin Wilson United StatesUnited States United States C. Nashville Predators
(from Toronto Maple Leafs via New York Islanders )
Boston University ( NCAA )
8th. Mikkel Bødker DenmarkDenmark Denmark LW Phoenix Coyotes Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
9. Josh Bailey CanadaCanada Canada C. New York Islanders
(from Florida Panthers via Nashville Predators )
Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
10. Cody Hodgson CanadaCanada Canada C. Vancouver Canucks Brampton Battalion (OHL)
11. Kyle Beach CanadaCanada Canada C. Chicago Blackhawks Everett Silvertips (WHL)
12. Tyler Myers CanadaCanada Canada D. Buffalo Sabers
(from Edmonton Oilers via Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings )
Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
13. Colten Teubert CanadaCanada Canada D. Los Angeles Kings
(from Buffalo Sabers )
Regina Pats (WHL)
14th Zach Boychuk CanadaCanada Canada C. Carolina Hurricanes Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
15th Erik Karlsson SwedenSweden Sweden D. Ottawa Senators
(from Nashville Predators )
Frölunda HC ( SEL )
16. Joe Colborne CanadaCanada Canada LW Boston Bruins Camrose Kodiaks ( AJHL )
17th Jake Gardiner United StatesUnited States United States D. Anaheim Ducks
(from Calgary Flames via Los Angeles Kings )
Minnetonka High School (US High School)
18th Chet Pickard CanadaCanada Canada G Nashville Predators
(by Ottawa Senators )
Tri-City Americans (WHL)
19th Luca Sbisa SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland D. Philadelphia Flyers
(from Colorado Avalanche via Columbus Blue Jackets )
Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
20th Michael Del Zotto CanadaCanada Canada D. New York Rangers Oshawa Generals (OHL)
21st Anton Gustafsson SwedenSweden Sweden C. Washington Capitals
(from New Jersey Devils )
Frölunda HC (SEL)
22nd Jordan Eberle CanadaCanada Canada C. Edmonton Oilers
(by Anaheim Ducks )
Regina Pats (WHL)
23. Tyler Cuma CanadaCanada Canada D. Minnesota Wild
(from Washington Capitals via New Jersey Devils )
Ottawa 67's (OHL)
24. Mattias Tedenby SwedenSweden Sweden LW New Jersey Devils
(from Minnesota Wild )
HV71 (SEL)
25th Greg Nemisz CanadaCanada Canada C. Calgary Flames
(from Montréal Canadiens )
Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
26th Tyler Ennis CanadaCanada Canada C. Buffalo Sabers
(from San Jose Sharks )
Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
27. John Carlson United StatesUnited States United States D. Washington Capitals
(from Philadelphia Flyers )
Indiana Ice ( USHL )
28. Viktor Tikhonov RussiaRussia Russia RW Phoenix Coyotes
(from Dallas Stars via Los Angeles Kings and Anaheim Ducks )
Severstal Cherepovets (RSL)
29 Daultan Leveille CanadaCanada Canada C. Atlanta Thrashers
(from Pittsburgh Penguins )
St. Catharines Falcons (GHJL)
30th Tom McCollum United StatesUnited States United States G Detroit Red Wings Guelph Storm (OHL)

round 2

# player nationality Item NHL team College / Junior / Club team
31. Jacob Markström SwedenSweden Sweden G Florida Panthers
(from Tampa Bay Lightning )
Brynäs IF (SEL)
32. Vyacheslav Voinov RussiaRussia Russia D. Los Angeles Kings Chelyabinsk tractor (RSL)
33. Philip McRae United StatesUnited States United States C. St. Louis Blues
(by Atlanta Thrashers )
London Knights (OHL)
34. Jake Allen CanadaCanada Canada G St. Louis Blues St. John's Fog Devils ( QMJHL )
35. Nicolas Deschamps CanadaCanada Canada C. Anaheim Ducks
(from Phoenix Coyotes ) 1
Saguenéens de Chicoutimi (QMJHL)
36. Corey Trivino CanadaCanada Canada C. New York Islanders Stouffville Spirit ( OPJHL )
37. Cody Goloubef CanadaCanada Canada D. Columbus Blue Jackets University of Wisconsin – Madison (NCAA)
38. Roman Josi SwitzerlandSwitzerland Switzerland D. Nashville Predators
(from Toronto Maple Leafs via Phoenix Coyotes )
SC Bern ( NLA )
39. Eric O'Dell CanadaCanada Canada C. Anaheim Ducks
(by Phoenix Coyotes )
Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
40. Aaron Ness United StatesUnited States United States D. New York Islanders
(from Florida Panthers )
Roseau High School (US High School)
41. Yann Sauvé CanadaCanada Canada D. Vancouver Canucks Saint John Sea Dogs
42. Patrick Wiercioch CanadaCanada Canada D. Ottawa Senators
(from Chicago Blackhawks )
Omaha Lancers (USHL)
43. Justin Schultz CanadaCanada Canada D. Anaheim Ducks
(by Edmonton Oilers )
Westside Warriors ( BCHL )
44. Luke Adam CanadaCanada Canada C. Buffalo Sabers St. John's Fog Devils (QMJHL)
45. Zac Dalpe CanadaCanada Canada C / RW Carolina Hurricanes Penticton Vees (BCHL)
46. Colby Robak CanadaCanada Canada D. Florida Panthers
(from Nashville Predators )
Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
47. Maxime Sauvé FranceFrance France C. Boston Bruins Foreurs de Val-d'Or (QMJHL)
48. Mitch choice United StatesUnited States United States C. Calgary Flames
(from Calgary Flames via Los Angeles Kings )
Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
49. Jared Staal CanadaCanada Canada RW Phoenix Coyotes
(by Ottawa Senators )
Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
50. Cameron Gaunce CanadaCanada Canada D. Colorado Avalanche Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (OHL)
51. Derek Stepan United StatesUnited States United States C. New York Rangers Shattuck St. Mary's High School (US High School)
52. Brandon Burlon CanadaCanada Canada D. New Jersey Devils St. Michael's Buzzers (OPJHL)
53. Travis Hamonic CanadaCanada Canada D. New York Islanders
(from Anaheim Ducks via Edmonton Oilers )
Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
54. Patrice Cormier CanadaCanada Canada C. New Jersey Devils
(from Washington Capitals )
L'Océanic de Rimouski (QMJHL)
55. Marco Scandella CanadaCanada Canada D. Minnesota Wild Foreurs de Val-d'Or (QMJHL)
56. Danny Kristo United StatesUnited States United States RW Montréal Canadiens USA Hockey National Team Development Program ( NAHL )
57. Eric Mestery CanadaCanada Canada D. Washington Capitals
(by San Jose Sharks )
Tri-City Americans (WHL)
58. Dmitri Kugryshev RussiaRussia Russia RW Washington Capitals
(from Philadelphia Flyers )
HK CSKA Moscow (RSL)
59. Tyler Beskorowany CanadaCanada Canada G Dallas Stars Owen Sound Attack (OHL)
60. Jimmy Hayes United StatesUnited States United States RW Toronto Maple Leafs
(from Pittsburgh Penguins )
Lincoln Stars (USHL)
61. Peter Delmas CanadaCanada Canada G Colorado Avalanche
(from Detroit Red Wings via Los Angeles Kings )
Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL)

1 The Phoenix Coyotes received the 35th draft pick as compensation, as no contract was concluded with Blake Wheeler , whom they had selected in the NHL Entry Draft 2004 in the first round in fifth place

Round 3

# player nationality Item NHL team College / Junior / Club team
62. Justin Daniels United StatesUnited States United States C. San Jose Sharks
(from Tampa Bay Lightning )
Kent School (US High School)
63. Robert Czarnik United StatesUnited States United States C. Los Angeles Kings USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NAHL)
64. Danick Paquette CanadaCanada Canada RW Atlanta Thrashers Lewiston MAINEiacs (QMJHL)
65. Jori Lehterä FinlandFinland Finland C. St. Louis Blues Tappara Tampere ( SM-liiga )
66. David Toews CanadaCanada Canada C. New York Islanders Shattuck St. Mary's High School (US High School)
67. Marc-André Bourdon CanadaCanada Canada D. Philadelphia Flyers
(from Columbus Blue Jackets )
Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL)
68. Shawn Lalonde CanadaCanada Canada D. Chicago Blackhawks
(from Toronto Maple Leafs via New York Islanders )
Belleville Bulls (OHL)
69. Michael Stone CanadaCanada Canada D. Phoenix Coyotes Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
70. James Livingston CanadaCanada Canada RW St. Louis Blues
(from Florida Panthers via Toronto Maple Leafs )
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
71. Josh Brittain CanadaCanada Canada LW Anaheim Ducks
(from Vancouver Canucks )
Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
72. Jyri Niemi FinlandFinland Finland D. New York Islanders
(from Chicago Blackhawks )
Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
73. Kirill Petrov RussiaRussia Russia RW New York Islanders
(from Edmonton Oilers via New York Islanders , Edmonton Oilers and Anaheim Ducks )
Ak Bars Kazan (RSL)
74. Andrew Campbell CanadaCanada Canada D. Los Angeles Kings
(from Buffalo Sabers )
Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
75. Yevgeny Grachev RussiaRussia Russia F. New York Rangers
(from Carolina Hurricanes )
Yaroslavl Locomotive (RSL)
76. Mathieu Brodeur CanadaCanada Canada D. Phoenix Coyotes
(from Nashville Predators )
Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)
77. Michael Hutchinson CanadaCanada Canada G Boston Bruins Barrie Colts (OHL)
78. Lance Bouma CanadaCanada Canada C. Calgary Flames Vancouver Giants (WHL)
79. Zack Smith CanadaCanada Canada C. Ottawa Senators Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
80. Adam Comrie CanadaCanada Canada D. Florida Panthers
(from Colorado Avalanche )
Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
81. Corey Fienhage United StatesUnited States United States D. Buffalo Sabers
(from New York Rangers via Los Angeles Kings )
Eastview High School (US High School)
82. Adam Henrique CanadaCanada Canada C. New Jersey Devils Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
83. Marco Cousineau CanadaCanada Canada G Anaheim Ducks Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
84. Jacob DeSerres CanadaCanada Canada G Philadelphia Flyers
(from Washington Capitals )
Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
85. Brandon McMillan CanadaCanada Canada C. Anaheim Ducks
(from Minnesota Wild )
Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
86. Steve Quailer United StatesUnited States United States RW Montréal Canadiens Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
87. Ian Schultz CanadaCanada Canada RW St. Louis Blues
(from San Jose Sharks )
88 Geordie Wudrick CanadaCanada Canada LW Los Angeles Kings
(from Philadelphia Flyers )
89. Scott Winkler NorwayNorway Norway C. Dallas Stars Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
90. Tomáš Kundrátek Czech RepublicCzech Republic Czech Republic D. New York Rangers
(from Pittsburgh Penguins via Phoenix Coyotes )
HC Oceláři Třinec ( Extraliga )
91. Max Nicastro United StatesUnited States United States D. Detroit Red Wings Chicago Steel (USHL)

Round 4

# player nationality Item NHL team College / Junior / Club team
93. Braden Holtby CanadaCanada Canada G Washington Capitals
(from Los Angeles Kings )
Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
95. David Warsofsky United StatesUnited States United States D. St. Louis Blues Boston University (NCAA)
96. Matt Donovan United StatesUnited States United States D. New York Islanders Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL)
97. Jamie Arniel CanadaCanada Canada C. Boston Bruins
(from Columbus Blue Jackets )
Sarnia Sting (OHL)
98 Mikhail Stefanovich Belarus 1995Belarus Belarus C. Toronto Maple Leafs Québec Remparts (QMJHL)
99 Colin Long United StatesUnited States United States C. Phoenix Coyotes Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
103. Johan Motin SwedenSweden Sweden D. Edmonton Oilers Färjestad BK (SEL)
105. Michal Jordan Czech RepublicCzech Republic Czech Republic D. Carolina Hurricanes Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
110. Kelsey Tessier CanadaCanada Canada C. Colorado Avalanche Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
111. Dale way CanadaCanada Canada RW New York Rangers
(from New York Rangers via St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators )
Swift Current Broncos (WHL)
114. TJ Brodie CanadaCanada Canada D. Calgary Flames
(from Washington Capitals via Boston Bruins )
Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
117. James Wright CanadaCanada Canada C. Tampa Bay Lightning
(by San Jose Sharks )
Vancouver Giants (WHL)
119. Derek Grant CanadaCanada Canada C. Ottawa Senators
(from Dallas Stars via Tampa Bay Lightning )
Langley Chiefs (BCHL)
121. Gustav Nyquist SwedenSweden Sweden C. Detroit Red Wings Malmö Redhawks (J20 SuperElit)

Round 5

# player nationality Item NHL team College / Junior / Club team
122. Dustin Tokarski CanadaCanada Canada G Tampa Bay Lightning Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
123. Andrei Loktionow RussiaRussia Russia C. Los Angeles Kings Yaroslavl Locomotive (RSL)
125. Kristofer Berglund SwedenSweden Sweden D. St. Louis Blues IF Björklöven ( Allsvenskan )
126. Kevin Poulin CanadaCanada Canada G New York Islanders Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
127. Matt Calvert CanadaCanada Canada LW Columbus Blue Jackets Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
128. Greg Pateryn United StatesUnited States United States D. Toronto Maple Leafs Ohio Junior Blue Jackets (USHL)
130. Jerome Flaake GermanyGermany Germany LW Toronto Maple Leafs
(from Florida Panthers )
Cologne Sharks ( DEL )
135. Tomáš Kubalík Czech RepublicCzech Republic Czech Republic RW Columbus Blue Jackets
(by Carolina Hurricanes )
HC Lasselsberger Plzeň (Extraliga)
138. Maxim Trunev RussiaRussia Russia RW Montréal Canadiens
(from Calgary Flames )
Severstal Cherepovets (RSL)
139. Mark Borowiecki CanadaCanada Canada D. Ottawa Senators Smiths Falls Bears (CJHL)
140 Mark Olver CanadaCanada Canada C. Colorado Avalanche Northern Michigan University ( CCHA )
144. Joel Broda CanadaCanada Canada C. Washington Capitals Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
145. Eero Elo FinlandFinland Finland LW Minnesota Wild Rauman Lukko (SM-liiga)
148. Matt Martin CanadaCanada Canada LW New York Islanders
(from Philadelphia Flyers )
Sarnia Sting (OHL)
149. Philip Larsen DenmarkDenmark Denmark D. Dallas Stars Frölunda HC (SEL)
150. Alexander Pechursky RussiaRussia Russia G Pittsburgh Penguins HK Metallurg Magnitogorsk (RSL)

Round 6

# player nationality Item NHL team College / Junior / Club team
152. Mark Barberio CanadaCanada Canada D. Tampa Bay Lightning Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
153. Justin Azevedo CanadaCanada Canada C. Los Angeles Kings Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
156. Jared Spurgeon CanadaCanada Canada D. New York Islanders Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
157. Cam Atkinson United StatesUnited States United States RW Columbus Blue Jackets Avon Old Farms School (US High School)
160. Luke Witkowski United StatesUnited States United States D. Tampa Bay Lightning
(from Florida Panthers via Chicago Blackhawks )
Ohio Junior Blue Jackets (USHL)
161. Mats Frøshaug NorwayNorway Norway C. Vancouver Canucks Linköpings HC (SEL)
162. Jonathan Carlsson SwedenSweden Sweden D. Chicago Blackhawks Brynäs IF ( J20 SuperElit )
163. Teemu Hartikainen FinlandFinland Finland LW Edmonton Oilers Kalevan Pallo (SM-liiga)
165. Mike Murphy CanadaCanada Canada G Carolina Hurricanes Belleville Bulls (OHL)
167. Joël Chouinard CanadaCanada Canada D. Colorado Avalanche
(by Boston Bruins )
Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
169. Ben Smith United StatesUnited States United States RW Chicago Blackhawks
(by Ottawa Senators )
Boston College ( Hockey East )
170. Jonas Holøs NorwayNorway Norway D. Colorado Avalanche
(from Colorado Avalanche via San Jose Sharks )
Sparta Sarpsborg (NOR)
177. Tommy Wingels United StatesUnited States United States C. San Jose Sharks Miami University (CCHA)
178. Zac Rinaldo CanadaCanada Canada C. Philadelphia Flyers Mississauga St. Michael's Majors (OHL)

Round 7

# player nationality Item NHL team College / Junior / Club team
183. Garrett Roe United StatesUnited States United States C. Los Angeles Kings St. Cloud State University ( WCHA )
184. Zach Redmond United StatesUnited States United States D. Atlanta Thrashers Ferris State University (CCHA)
186. Jason Demers CanadaCanada Canada D. San Jose Sharks
(from New York Islanders )
Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)
187. Sean Collins CanadaCanada Canada C. Columbus Blue Jackets Waywayseecappo Wolverines (MJHL)
190. Matt Bartkowski United StatesUnited States United States D. Florida panthers Lincoln Stars (USHL)
196. Joacim Eriksson SwedenSweden Sweden G Philadelphia Flyers
(from Nashville Predators via Tampa Bay Lightning )
Brynäs IF (J20 SuperElit)
199 Emil Sandin SwedenSweden Sweden LW Ottawa Senators Brynäs IF (J20 SuperElit)
201. Jani Lajunen FinlandFinland Finland F. Nashville Predators
(from New York Rangers )
Espoo Blues (SM-liiga)
204. Stefan Della Rovere CanadaCanada Canada LW Washington Capitals Barrie Colts (OHL)
207. Not so Lindbäck SwedenSweden Sweden G Nashville Predators
(by San Jose Sharks )
Brynäs IF (SEL)

Rankings

The rankings of the NHL Central Scouting Service and the International Scouting Service (ISS) with the most promising talents for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft

NHL Central Scouting Service

The NHL Central Scouting Service published the Preliminary Ranking on November 15, 2007 . It was the first of a total of three rankings for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. A separate ranking list was published for each of the three major Canadian junior leagues that are subordinate to the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). There was also a ranking list for every European country that has potential candidates for the draft. If a European player already plays in one of the three Canadian junior leagues, he will be listed in the respective ranking of his league and not in the ranking of his country.

Among the field players in the Canadian junior leagues, Canadians Steven Stamkos and Kyle Beach led the rankings of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and Western Hockey League (WHL), while the Belarusian Michail Stefanowitsch in the Ligue de hockey junior majeur du Québec (LHJMQ) was in first place.

In the German-speaking countries, the German Jerome Flaake and the Swiss Roman Josi were in the top positions. At that time there were no potential candidates for the draft from Austria.

On January 9th, the second evaluation by the NHL Scouting Service appeared with the Midseason Ranking . The ranking was limited to four rankings for field players and goalkeepers from North America and Europe. As with the first ranking, European players who play for a North American team are included in the North American ranking.

The Canadian Steven Stamkos occupied the first position of the field player in North America, after he was already listed in the preliminary ranking as the greatest talent of the Ontario Hockey League. He was followed by defenders Drew Doughty and Zach Bogosian , who is also the most highly rated American. As in the first rankings, attacker Kyle Beach was the best rated player in the Western Hockey League with fourth place, while Belarusian Mikhail Stefanowitsch was only 16th as the best of the QMJHL. The Dane Mikkel Bødker from the Kitchener Rangers from the OHL was the best European in the North America ranking with 13th place and Luca Sbisa from the Lethbridge Hurricanes from Switzerland was the best German-speaking player in 18th place.

The Russian Nikita Filatow led the European rankings in front of his compatriot Yevgeny Grachev . In fifth place was the Swiss Roman Josi from SC Bern, the first German-speaking player. The best-placed German was Jerome Flaake from the Kölner Haien in 41st place.

With the North American goalkeepers, the Canadian Chet Pickard led the ranking and the Swiss Robert Mayer , who plays for the Saint John Sea Dogs from the QMJHL, was led in 15th place. The European ranking of 16 goalkeepers was headed by Harri Säteri from Finland . The Swiss Lukas Flüeler was in 13th place and the German Maximilian Engelbrecht from the Landshut Cannibals followed in 15th place.

In April 2008, the final ranking was issued by the NHL Scouting Service. As in the previous two rankings, attacker Steve Stamkos led the North American outfield players ahead of defenders Zach Bogosian and Drew Doughty, with the two defensive players swapping positions. Behind the three players from the Ontario Hockey League, Tyler Myers and Luke Schenn, two defenders from the Kelowna Rockets from the Western Hockey League occupied the following places. Kyle Beach, still the best player in the WHL in the first two rankings, fell back to seventh place. Colin Wilson in tenth place was the most highly rated college player, followed by Mikkel Bødker as the best European on the North American list and the Swiss Luca Sbisa. Nicolas Deschamps in 21st place was rated as the greatest talent of the QMJHL after Mikhail Stefanowitsch, who still led the QMJHL players in the last ranking, fell from position 16 to 57th place.

There was a change in the top position for the North American goalkeeper, as the American Tom McCollum from the OHL team Guelph Storm overtook Canadians Chet Pickard and Peter Delmas , who had previously been placed in front of him . Kevin Poulin and Christopher Carrozzi dropped out of the top 5, only finishing seventh and tenth respectively. The Swiss Robert Mayer, the best German-speaking goalkeeper in the North America rankings, moved up one place to 14th.

The Russian Nikita Filatov maintained the top position among the European field players, followed by his compatriot Kirill Petrov , who rose by 31 positions within three months. Yevgeny Gratschow, who had been in second place a few months earlier, fell back to tenth place, while the Swede Mattias Tedenby was able to hold third position, ahead of his compatriots Erik Karlsson and Anton Gustafsson , who were thus able to make a leap forward in the ranking. In sixth place followed the Swiss Roman Josi, the first German-speaking player to lose a position. The best German talent was still Jerome Flaake in 22nd position.

Jacob Markström and Harri Säteri changed positions in the ranking of European goalkeepers , so that the Swede Markström was at the top ahead of the Finn. Third place went to Anders Lindbäck again. The Finn Rasmus Rinne , still the fourth best goalkeeper in the midseason ranking , fell to 15th and thus last place in the European ranking, while the previously fifth Czech Dominik Furch only finished tenth. With Lukas Flüeler and Leonardo Genoni two Swiss placed in the positions 12 and 13, while the German Maximilian Engelbrecht was no longer in the ranking.

Outfield player

North America
No. Surname Item Date of birth place of birth Current team
1. CanadaCanada Steven Stamkos C. February 7, 1990 Unionville , Ontario , Canada Sarnia Sting ( OHL )
2. United StatesUnited States Zach Bogosian D. July 15, 1990 Massena , New York , USA Peterborough Petes (OHL)
3. CanadaCanada Drew Doughty D. December 8, 1989 London , Ontario , Canada Guelph Storm (OHL)
4th CanadaCanada Tyler Myers D. February 1, 1990 DeWinton , Alberta , Canada Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
5. CanadaCanada Luke Schenn D. November 2nd 1989 Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Canada Kelowna Rockets (WHL)
6th CanadaCanada Alex Pietrangelo D. January 18, 1990 King City , Ontario , Canada Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
7th CanadaCanada Kyle Beach C. January 13, 1990 Kelowna , British Columbia , Canada Everett Silvertips ( WHL )
8th. CanadaCanada Zach Boychuk C. 4th October 1989 Aidrie , Alberta , Canada Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
9. CanadaCanada Cody Hodgson C. February 18, 1990 Markham , Ontario , Canada Brampton Battalion (OHL)
10. United StatesUnited States Colin Wilson C. October 20, 1989 Greenwich , Connecticut , USA Boston University ( NCAA )
Europe
No. Surname Item Date of birth place of birth Current team
1. RussiaRussia Nikita Filatov LW May 25, 1990 Moscow , Russia HK CSKA Moscow ( RSL )
2. RussiaRussia Kirill Petrov RW April 13, 1990 Kazan , Russia Ak Bars Kazan (RSL)
3. SwedenSweden Mattias Tedenby W. February 21, 1990 Vetlanda , Sweden HV 71 Jönköping ( SEL )
4th SwedenSweden Erik Karlsson D. May 31, 1990 Lannaskede , Sweden Frölunda HC (SEL)
5. SwedenSweden Anton Gustafsson C. February 25, 1990 Karlskoga , Sweden Frölunda HC (SEL)
6th SwitzerlandSwitzerland Roman Josi D. June 1, 1990 Switzerland SC Bern ( NLA )
7th RussiaRussia Viktor Tikhonov W. May 12, 1988 Riga , Latvian SSR Severstal Cherepovets (RSL)
8th. RussiaRussia Vyacheslav Voinov D. January 15, 1990 Chelyabinsk , Russia Chelyabinsk tractor (RSL)
9. RussiaRussia Yevgeny Grachev C. February 21, 1990 Yaroslavl , Russia Yaroslavl Locomotive (RSL)
10. RussiaRussia Dmitri Kugryshev RW January 18, 1990 Russia HK CSKA Moscow (RSL)

goalkeeper

North America
No. Surname Date of birth place of birth Current team
1. United StatesUnited States Tom McCollum December 7, 1989 Sanborn , New York , USA Guelph Storm ( OHL )
2. CanadaCanada Chet Pickard November 29, 1989 Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada Tri-City Americans ( WHL )
3. CanadaCanada Peter Delmas February 16, 1990 Bedford , Nova Scotia , Canada Lewiston MAINEiacs ( QMJHL )
4th CanadaCanada Braden Holtby September 16, 1989 Marshall , Saskatchewan , Canada Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
5. CanadaCanada Michael Hutchinson March 2, 1990 Barrie , Ontario , Canada Barrie Colts (OHL)
Europe
No. Surname Date of birth place of birth Current team
1. SwedenSweden Jacob Markström January 31, 1990 Gävle , Sweden Brynäs IF ( SEL )
2. FinlandFinland Harri Säteri December 29, 1989 Toijala , Finland Tappara ( SM-liiga )
3. SwedenSweden Not so Lindbäck May 3, 1988 Gävle , Sweden Brynäs IF (SEL)
4th FinlandFinland Mikko Koskinen July 18, 1988 Vantaa , Finland Espoo Blues (FNL)
5. RussiaRussia Sergei Bobrovsky 20th September 1988 Russia Metallurg Novokuznetsk ( RSL )

International Scouting Service

Status: May 21, 2008

No. Surname Item Date of birth place of birth Current team
1. CanadaCanada Steven Stamkos C. February 7, 1990 Unionville , Ontario , Canada Sarnia Sting ( OHL )
2. RussiaRussia Nikita Filatov LW May 25, 1990 Moscow , Russia HK CSKA Moscow ( RSL )
3. United StatesUnited States Zach Bogosian D. July 15, 1990 Massena , New York , USA Peterborough Petes (OHL)
4th CanadaCanada Drew Doughty D. December 8, 1989 London , Ontario , Canada Guelph Storm (OHL)
5. CanadaCanada Alex Pietrangelo D. January 18, 1990 King City , Ontario , Canada Niagara IceDogs (OHL)
6th CanadaCanada Luke Schenn D. November 2nd 1989 Saskatoon , Saskatchewan , Canada Kelowna Rockets ( WHL )
7th DenmarkDenmark Mikkel Bødker LW December 16, 1989 Brøndby Municipality , Denmark Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
8th. United StatesUnited States Colin Wilson C. October 20, 1989 Greenwich , Connecticut , USA Boston University ( NCAA )
9. CanadaCanada Cody Hodgson C. February 18, 1990 Markham , Ontario , Canada Brampton Battalion (OHL)
10. SwitzerlandSwitzerland Luca Sbisa D. January 30, 1990 Oberägeri , Switzerland Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

TSN

No. player Item
1. CanadaCanada Steven Stamkos C.
2. CanadaCanada Drew Doughty D.
3. CanadaCanada Alex Pietrangelo D.
4th CanadaCanada Michael Del Zotto D.
5. CanadaCanada Luke Schenn D.
6th United StatesUnited States Colin Wilson C.
7th CanadaCanada Colten Teubert D.
8th. CanadaCanada Kyle Beach C.
9. RussiaRussia Nikita Filatov LW
10. United StatesUnited States Jimmy Hayes F.

On September 7, 2007, the Canadian television station TSN published its own ranking list. The ranking is based on the assessment of ten Scouts of the NHL . According to the talent scouts, the most hopeful talents in this draft will come from the ranks of the defenders, which is reflected in the leaderboard, where the defensive players make up half. However, all scouts saw in striker Steven Stamkos from the Ontario Hockey League of the Sarnia Sting the most talented player of this year. The Canadian center played 63 games in the 2006/07 season and scored 42 goals and 50 assists and was the team's best scorer.

Should the Canadian striker John Tavares , who was born shortly after the cut-off date of the NHL Entry Draft in 2008 and would therefore not be available until 2009, be admitted to the draft due to an exception, the ranking would shift slightly. Tavares would then take second place behind Stamkos.

Efforts to obtain exemption for John Tavares

John Tavares of the Oshawa Generals and his agent sought an exception for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, so that Tavares could be drafted a year earlier than allowed. The NHL stipulated that only players in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft may be selected who are 18 years old by September 15, 2008, but Tavare's 18th birthday is only five days later, making him available for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft at the earliest would. Since he was the first player to play in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) at the age of 15 and was also awarded the best rookie by the league and the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the umbrella organization of the three major Canadian junior leagues, and already In 2007 he received the awards as MVP of the OHL and as the best player of the CHL , his agent addressed the NHL with a request for an exemption. Ultimately, however, the league rejected the efforts.

Individual evidence

  1. nhl.com, Stamkos among best in early draft rankings November 21, 2007
  2. nhl.com, NHL releases mid-season rankings for 2008 Entry Draft
  3. nhl.com, Stamkos, defensemen lead final draft list
  4. hockeysfuture.com, ISS Top 30 2008 prospects for May
  5. tsn.ca, Stamkos unanimous pick for top prospect
  6. tsn.ca, Where would Tavares rank in 2008 draft?

Web links

Commons : NHL Entry Draft 2008  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files