Order of selection for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Following is the current order of selection for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Saturday, June 26 at noon, Eastern time (Rounds 1-3, TSN, ESPN2, RDS) and Sunday, June 27 at 9 a.m., ET (Rounds 4-9) at RBC Center in Raleigh:

Round 1: 1. Washington; 2. Pittsburgh; 3. Chicago; 4. Columbus; 5. Phoenix; 6. NY Rangers; 7. Florida; 8. Carolina; 9. Anaheim; 10. Atlanta; 11. Los Angeles; 12. Minnesota; 13. Buffalo; 14. Edmonton; 15. Nashville; 16. NY Islanders; 17. St. Louis; 18. Montreal; 19. Calgary; 20. Dallas; 21. Colorado; 22. New Jersey; 23. Ottawa; 24. NY Rangers (from Toronto); 25. Edmonton (from Philadelphia); 26. Vancouver; 27. Washington (from Boston); 28. San Jose; 29. Detroit (optional to Washington); 30. Tampa Bay

Round 1 Notes: Pick 29 - Washington has the option of taking this pick or Detroit's second-round pick in the 2005 Entry Draft.

Round 2: 31. Pittsburgh; 32. Chicago; 33. Washington; 34. Dallas (from Columbus); 35. Phoenix; 36. NY Rangers; 37. NY Rangers (from Fla-Col); 38. Carolina; 39. Anaheim; 40. Atlanta; 41. Chicago (from L.A.-Phi); 42. Minnesota; 43. Buffalo; 44. Edmonton; 45. Chicago (from Nashville); 46. NY Rangers; 47. NY Islanders; 48. NY Rangers (from Edmonton); 49. St. Louis; 50. Florida (from Dallas); 51. NY Rangers (from Montreal); 52. San Jose; 53. Florida (from Calgary); 54. Chicago (from Dallas); 55. Colorado; 56. Dallas; 57. Phoenix (from New Jersey); 58. Ottawa; 59. Carolina (from Toronto); 60. Phoenix (from Philadelphia); 61. Pittsburgh (from Vancouver); 62. Washington (from Boston); 63. San Jose; 64. Boston (from Det-L.A.); 65. Tampa Bay

Round 2 Notes: Pick 46 - assigned to NY Rangers for club not signing 2001 first-round pick R.J. Umberger. Pick 48 - assigned to Edmonton for loss of Group III player Brian Leetch. Pick 50 - assigned to Dallas for loss of Group III player Derian Hatcher. Pick 52 - assigned to San Jose for loss of Group III player Teemu Selanne. Pick 56 - assigned to Dallas for club not signing 2002 first-round pick Martin Vagner.

Round 3: 66. Washington; 67. Pittsburgh; 68. Chicago; 69. Carolina (from Wsh-Col); 70. Columbus; 71. Buffalo (from Phoenix); 72. Colorado (from NY Rangers); 73. Florida; 74. Carolina; 75. Anaheim; 76. Atlanta; 77. Los Angeles; 78. Minnesota; 79. Minnesota (from Buf-Nsh); 80. Edmonton; 81. Nashville; 82. NY Islanders; 83. St. Louis; 84. Montreal; 85. Pittsburgh (from Calgary); 86. Dallas; 87. Ottawa (from Col-Nsh); 88. New Jersey; 89. Ottawa; 90. Toronto; 91. San Jose; 92. Philadelphia; 93. Columbus (from Vancouver); 94. Boston; 95. Montreal (from San Jose); 96. Columbus; 97. Detroit; 98. Columbus (from Tampa Bay)

Round 3 Notes: Pick 66 - assigned to Washington for loss of Group III player Calle Johansson. Pick 91 - assigned to San Jose for loss of Group III player Mark Messier. Pick 96 - assigned to Columbus for loss of Group III free agent Ray Whitney.

Round 4: 99. Pittsburgh; 100. Montreal (from Chicago); 101. Philadelphia (from Wsh-Chi); 102. Tampa Bay (from Columbus); 103. Phoenix (conditional/optional to Carolina); 104. Dallas (from NYR-Chi); 105. Florida; 106. Carolina; 107. Nashville (from Anaheim); 108. Boston; 109. Carolina (from Atlanta); 110. Los Angeles; 111. Minnesota; 112. Phoenix (from Buffalo); 113. Toronto (from Edm-NYR); 114. Minnesota (from Nashville); 115. NY Islanders; 116. St. Louis; 117. Minnesota (from Montreal); 118. Calgary; 119. Phoenix (from Dallas); 120. Chicago (from Colorado); 121. Calgary (from N.J.-CBJ-Car); 122. Ottawa; 123. Chicago (from Toronto); 124. Philadelphia; 125. Vancouver; 126. San Jose (from Boston); 127. NY Rangers (from San Jose); 128. Detroit; 129. Boston (from Tampa Bay)

Round 4 Notes: Pick 103 - If Phoenix acquires a third-round pick in the 2004 Entry Draft via trade prior to the start of the third round, it will be transferred to Carolina in lieu of this pick. If not, Carolina will have the option to take either this pick or Phoenix's third-round pick in the 2005 Entry Draft. Pick 108 - assigned to Boston for loss of Group III free agent Jeff Hackett.

Round 5: 130. Pittsburgh; 131. Chicago; 132. Washington; 133. Columbus; 134. Boston (from Phoenix); 135. NY Rangers; 136. St. Louis (from Florida); 137. Carolina; 138. Washington; 139. Nashville (from Anaheim); 140. Chicago; 141. Ottawa; 142. Atlanta; 143. Los Angeles; 144. Philadelphia (from Minnesota); 145. Buffalo; 146. Edmonton; 147. Nashville; 148. NY Islanders; 149. Philadelphia (from St. Louis); 150. Montreal; 151. Detroit; 152. San Jose (from Calgary); 153. Dallas; 154. Colorado; 155. New Jersey; 156. Ottawa; 157. Toronto; 158. Philadelphia; 159. Vancouver; 160. Boston; 161. Minnesota (from San Jose); 162. Detroit; 163. Tampa Bay

Round 5 Notes: Pick 138 - assigned to Washington for loss of Group III free agent Ken Klee. Pick 140 - assigned to Chicago for loss of Group III free agent Chris Simon. Pick 141 - assigned to Ottawa for loss of Group III free agent Magnus Arvedson. Pick 151 - assigned to Detroit for loss of Group III free agent Luc Robitaille.

Round 6: 164. Pittsburgh; 165. Chicago; 166. Washington; 167. Columbus; 168. Phoenix; 169. NY Rangers; 170. Philadelphia (from Florida); 171. Philadelphia (from Carolina); 172. Anaheim; 173. Calgary (from Atlanta); 174. Los Angeles; 175. Minnesota; 176. Buffalo; 177. Edmonton; 178. Nashville; 179. NY Islanders; 180. St. Louis; 181. Montreal; 182. Calgary; 183. Dallas; 184. Colorado; 185. New Jersey; 186. Atlanta (from Ottawa); 187. Toronto; 188. Philadelphia; 189. Vancouver; 190. Columbus (from Boston); 191. Philadelphia (from San Jose); 192. Detroit; 193. Nashville (from Tampa Bay)

Round 6 Notes: None.

Round 7: 194. Pittsburgh; 195. Minnesota; 196. Chicago; 197. Washington; 198. Columbus; 199. Phoenix; 200. Calgary (from NY Rangers); 201. Florida; 202. Carolina; 203. Anaheim; 204. Atlanta; 205. Los Angeles; 206. Minnesota; 207. Buffalo; 208. Edmonton; 209. Nashville; 210. NY Islanders; 211. St. Louis; 212. Montreal; 213. Calgary; 214. Chicago (from Dallas); 215. Colorado; 216. New Jersey; 217. New Jersey; 218. Dallas; 219. Ottawa; 220. Toronto; 221. Los Angeles (from Philadelphia); 222. Pittsburgh (from Vancouver); 223. Chicago; 224. Boston; 225. San Jose; 226. Detroit; 227. NY Islanders (from T.B.-Phi)

Round 7 Notes: Pick 195 - assigned to Minnesota for loss of Group III free agent Cliff Ronning. Pick 216 - assigned to New Jersey for loss of Group III free agent Jim McKenzie. Pick 218 - assigned to Dallas for loss of Group III free agent Lyle Odelein. Pick 223 - assigned to Chicago for loss of Group III free agent Mike Eastwood.

Round 8: 228. Pittsburgh; 229. Chicago; 230. Washington; 231. Columbus; 232. Philadelphia (from Phx-Dal); 233. Columbus (from NYR); 234. Florida; 235. Carolina; 236. Anaheim; 237. Atlanta; 238. Los Angeles; 239. Colorado (from Minnesota); 240. Phoenix; 241. Buffalo; 242. Edmonton; 243. Nashville; 244. NY Islanders; 245. Tampa Bay (from St. Louis); 246. Montreal; 247. Calgary; 248. Dallas; 249. Colorado; 250. New Jersey; 251. Ottawa; 252. Toronto; 253. Philadelphia; 254. Vancouver; 255. Boston; 256. Chicago (from San Jose); 257. Detroit; 258. Nashville (from Tampa Bay)

Round 8 Notes: Pick 240 - assigned to Phoenix for loss of Group III free agent Kelly Buchberger.

Round 9: 259. Pittsburgh; 260. Chicago; 261. Phoenix; 262. Montreal; 263. Washington; 264. Los Angeles (from Columbus); 265. Phoenix; 266. NY Rangers; 267. Florida; 268. Carolina; 269. Anaheim; 270. Atlanta; 271. Los Angeles; 272. Minnesota; 273. Buffalo; 274. Edmonton; 275. Nashville; 276. NY Islanders; 277. St. Louis; 278. Montreal; 279. Calgary; 280. Dallas; 281. Colorado; 282. New Jersey; 283. Florida (from Ottawa); 284. Ottawa; 285. Toronto; 286. Philadelphia; 287. Vancouver; 288. Boston; 289. San Jose; 290. Detroit; 291. Philadelphia (from Tampa Bay)

Round 9 Notes: Pick 261 - assigned to Phoenix for loss of Group III free agent Scott Pellerin. Pick 262 - assigned to Montreal for loss of Group III free agent Bill Lindsay. Pick 284 - assigned to Ottawa for loss of Group III free agent Kevin Miller.

[HabbaDasher]

Seeing the draft order layed out like that, the Habs are really going to want to make #18 count.

Let's hope there's a Markov or Ryder available in later rounds....

[Deleted]

HabbaDasher said:

Seeing the draft order layed out like that, the Habs are really going to want to make #18 count.

I shall re-post my suggestions to see if anyone agrees.

Mattias said:

How about this dude? He's listed as #23.

C
Bruce Graham
Age: 18
Date of birth: December 2, 1985
Place of Birth: Moncton, N.B., Canada
HT: 6-6 WT: 220
Shoots/Catches: L

"Impressed scouts at the 2004 Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in January. Finished fourth on the Wildcats in scoring in 2003-04, and was second on the club with 11 power-play goals. However, he failed to score a goal in 18 playoff games (14 assists) during Moncton's QMJHL championship run--which fell just short in the finals. Is somewhat limited in terms of scoring potential. Owns a hulking frame for the pivot position and projects to be a quality checking-line center in the Keith Primeau mold at the NHL level. May develop later than many of his peers due to his imposing size."

I know we have too many centers, but if we just want hulking size, I don't think we have an awful lot to lose here.

Or perhaps this guy, listed as #26:

RW
Blake Wheeler
Age: 17
Date of birth: August 31, 1986
HT: 6-3 WT: 185
Shoots/Catches: R
NHL Seasons: 0-R

"Was the top-rated U.S. high-school player available for the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, according to Central Scouting's final rankings. Has committed to the University of Minnesota for 2004-05, after registering a 100-point campaign with Breck in the United States High School West league. Has tremendous size but needs to bulk up during his formative years with the Golden Gophers. Will also be asked to use his big frame more and more, as he begins to play against top competition. Possesses scoring instincts and offensive savvy. Is considered one of the best pure right-wingers available in the 2004 draft."

That's around our range of where we'd be picking anyway, wouldn't it?

[PTH]

With picks 84, 95 and 100, I hope the scouts got a good look at a few guys who should be available around that spot - especially since they've known for a little while now that we were going to have several picks in a small window....

[Patty Roy]

PTH said:

With picks 84, 95 and 100, I hope the scouts got a good look at a few guys who should be available around that spot - especially since they've known for a little while now that we were going to have several picks in a small window....

I'm quite certain that the Habs looked at as many guys as possible that should be mid-3rd early 4th round picks. Really i think that this is the section of the 2004 draft that will make or break the draft for the Habs.

Having analyzed this years projected 1st rounders, i'm starting to wonder if it might not be in the Habs best interest to look at trading down a few notches in this years draft. I was able to count at least 25 projected 1st rounders that i wouldn't mind the Habs drafting...what if the Rangers, who have four 2nd rounders this year, offered us one of them (say our own 2nd) in return for a swap of 1st rounders....18th for 24th?

Obviously its going to come down to who BG and company like in the 1st round...if their guy is there at 18, then i say don't mess around and make the selection. But if they are indifferent between 3-4 guys that are still on the board at 18 then i'd look at moving down a few spots if it could land us a 2nd.

[PTH]

Patty said:

Obviously its going to come down to who BG and company like in the 1st round...if their guy is there at 18, then i say don't mess around and make the selection. But if they are indifferent between 3-4 guys that are still on the board at 18 then i'd look at moving down a few spots if it could land us a 2nd.

I think they'll have one guy in their sights as being likely to be there at 18 - if he's there you take him, if the handful of guys they wanted are gone they might trade down.

But despite all the hoopla around this draft (like around every draft), I think we should keep in mind that if we get a player - a Bulis, a Rivet, etc, we should be happy. I keep on looking at the 96 draft on hockeydb.com, to keep in mind the odds against us on a bad draft year.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

We definitely have to trade picks 262 and 278 to move up and grab a superstar at pick 228. When you look at how big a gamble draft picks really are you realize how overinflated the value of third through ninth round draft picks really are. The hype exceeds the substance.

In the eaqrly rounds you look for latent talent and potential. In the late rounds you seek character and hard work that can be the difference between a Luc Robitaille or Michael Ryder and the more talented skaters who work half as hard with little dedication. THe hard workers become the late bloomers.

It's a numbers game and slightly more scientific than the lottery.