The 2017 NHL Draft is tonight and you are probably dying to know the latest with the Nashville Predators and their six whole draft picks.
Will they get Matt Duchene? Will they trade away one of their picks? Will they draft a Swede? WHO KNOWS
We will update this page with all the current news in a live blog fashion. So put your tray tables and seats in their upright position and BUCKLE UP FOR TAKEOFF.
We will also update the picks as they come in:
- NEW JERSEY DEVILS: Nico Hischier, C
- PHILADELPHIA FLYERS: Nolan Patrick, C
- DALLAS STARS: Miro Heiskanen, D
- COLORADO AVALANCHE: Cale Makar, D
- VANCOUVER CANUCKS: Elias Pettersson, C
- VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS: Cody Glass, C
- NEW YORK RANGERS (from Coyotes): Lias Andersson, C
- BUFFALO SABRES: Casey Mittelstadt, C
- DETROIT RED WINGS: Michael Rasmussen, C
- FLORIDA PANTHERS: Owen Tippett, RW
- LOS ANGELES KINGS: Gabriel Vilardi, C
- CAROLINA HURRICANES: Martin Necas, C
- VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (from Jets): Nicholas Suzuki, C
- TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING: Callan Foote, D
- VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS (from Islanders): Erik Brannstrom, D
- CALGARY FLAMES: Juuso Valimaki, D
- TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS: Timothy Liljegren, D
- BOSTON BRUINS: Urho Vaakanainen, D
- SAN JOSE SHARKS: Josh Norris, C
- ST. LOUIS BLUES: Robert Thomas, C
- NEW YORK RANGERS: Filip Chytil, LW
- EDMONTON OILERS: Kailer Yamamoto, RW
- ARIZONA COYOTES (from Wild): Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D
- WINNIPEG JETS (from Blue Jackets): Kristian Vesalainen, LW
- MONTREAL CANADIENS: Ryan Poehling, C
- DALLAS STARS (from Blackhawks): Jake Oettinger, G
- PHILADELPHIA FLYERS (from Blues, Capitals): Morgan Frost, C
- OTTAWA SENATORS: Shane Bowers, C
- CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS (from Stars, Ducks): Henri Jokiharju, D
- NASHVILLE PREDATORS: Eeli Tolvanen, RW
- ST LOUIS BLUES (from Penguins): Klim Kostin, RW
2017 Nashville Predators Draft Picks
| Round | Overall pick |
|---|---|
| 1 | 30 |
| 2 | 61 |
| 3 | 92 |
| 5 | 154 |
| 6 | 176 |
| 7 | 216 |
5:01: Well apparently the Predators won’t have T.J. Oshie next year or any of the next eight years. The Capitals resigned Oshie for 8 years at $46 million. Tell me more about how James Neal isn’t a big loss.
5:27: An earlier report stated that the Islanders were out of Duchene talks. I think “dead” was the term used. There is clearly a path for the Preds to be in on Duchene, I’m just not sure Poile will give up one of the four horsemen.
5:34 Poile has been seen talking with Sakic. Poile has been seen talking with Chayka. Poile has also been seen standing by himself. We will let you know if he goes to the bathroom.
5:46 Another Nico vs. Nolan debate ends in no obvious choice between Nico or Nolan.
5:55 Wow, crazy, Dennis K. Morgan is singing the anthem, dang
5:57 Cheering the anthem continues to be very, very dumb
6:07 We are underway! Still quiet on the Predators front as the New Jersey Devils are officially on the clock.
6:15 It’s Nico! I like that pick for the Devils. Really great player.
6:19 Nico is asked about catfish. He didn’t seem to understand.
6:22 It’s Nolan! I like that pick for the Flyers. Really great player.
6:28 The Stars take Heiskanen, boosting their defense.
6:35 The Ducks announce they have signed Patrick Eaves to a 3 year deal. Pierre Lebrun reporting a $3.1 million AAV. That’s a really nice signing for Anaheim.
6:39 A SWEDE IS DRAFTED
6:50 Perhaps the first questionable pick of the night, the Rangers take Lias Andersson. He seems like a fine player, but the Rangers traded Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to move up to this spot. Maybe a reach? Especially with a guy like Gabe Vilardi— who some had going to the Canucks or Golden Knights—still on the board.
6:53 HOVERING. WE HAVE HOVERING.
Now Laviolette is hovered behind him. Activity, for sure. pic.twitter.com/LfO6wah5g9
— WESTERNCONFCHAMPIONS (@apfleisc) June 23, 2017
7:01 Gabe Vilardi is falling farther than most thought he would. Meanwhile, the Florida Panthers are on the clock.
7:07 Boy, Owen Tippett is reallllly ginger. He’s like a super ginger.
7:13 DOES NASHVILLE HAVE A TABLE AT THE DRAFT?
7:24 There is apparently some “action” at the Preds table, but not sure what this means. David Poile was on the phone at one point. Then there was a gathering.
7:27 Snack break
7:42 Back from snack break. I see there were more Swedes and Finns taken!
7:47 Advice from the NBC pundits on Timothy Liljegren is that “less is more”—is that how Erik Karlsson is so good? He tries to do less?
7:53 Mike Milbury video clip got me feeling nauseous.
7:57 On the Sharks 1st round pick:
If you’re taking a guy in the first round whose NHL potential is listed as ‘3rd line centre’ you’re doing it wrong
— Dimitri Filipovic (@DimFilipovic) June 24, 2017
8:02 Best moment of the night is the St. Louis Blues taking Rob Thomas at No. (Matchbox) 20.
8:12 Still no action from the Predators. It really looks like they will simply make the pick at #30 and move on.
8:18 Folks… A first round pick in the NHL was just compared to Mattias Ekholm. And it was neat.
8:25 Preds are six picks away! I’m not particularly excited about anyone that is left. I wanted them to take either Yamamoto or Thomas. But of the players left, I would be cool with Shane Bowers or Jason Robertson.
8:30 A bunch of the top picks talked about their favorite music. This tweet is accurate:
Never would have thought young hockey players would have terrible taste in music.
— Finnish Hoops Scout (@TimBaffoe) June 24, 2017
8:34 A trade! Blackhawks and Stars swap 1st rounders, with the #70 pick also going to the Hawks. BLOCKBUSTER.
8:36 First goalie is off the board. As expected, its Jake Oettinger. Dallas got a good goalie, it just might be a while before he is in the NHL.
8:38 WHOA. Stuff is happening. Right after the CHI-DAL trade, it was announced that STL and PHI have a trade. Here you go:
Brayden Schenn to STL for Lehtera, the 27th pick and a conditional first next year
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 24, 2017
8:40 So now the Flyers are on the clock and they take Frosty the Snowman, I think.
8:45 That’s a solid trade for the Blues. Brayden Schenn was a monster on the power play last year and he costs about the same as Lehtera.
8:52 The Hawks got to hear that stupid song for the first time in 3 months.
8:54 Kane & Toews are called up to make the pick and it is the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.
8:58 PREDS ARE ON THE CLOCK
9:02 The Preds take Eeli Tolvanen! Sharp shooting winger. I like it!
9:03 #GOALVANEN
9:05 Wow, I am thrilled with that pick. Goal scoring is fun.
9:06 Meanwhile, the Penguins just traded for… Ryan Reaves??
9:07 The Blues will take the first Russian player on the day, Klim Kostin.
9:09 And with that, we are all done here! Thanks for hanging out with us.