June 22, 2007
Another Banner Day at NHL Draft
CHN Staff Report
COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the first time in the history of the NHL Entry Draft, Americans went 1-2 — Patrick Kane and James vanRiemsdyk. Overall, nine Americans went in the first round, one shy of last year's record, with vanRiemsdyk the first NCAA-bound player taken.
All told, 11 U.S. college or college-bound players went in the first round.
The first round of the draft took place Friday night, with rounds 2-7 scheduled to begin Saturday morning.
It's the second straight season an American went No. 1 overall, following Erik Johnson, who played one season for the Minnesota Gophers before signing with the St. Louis Blues last month.
Kane, who by-passed the NCAA to play in the OHL, was selected No. 1 overall by Chicago. Kane's stock went up after he dominated during the World Junior tournament last winter, helping Team USA to a bronze medal.
The first NCAA-bound player taken was vanRiemsdyk, to Philadelphia, at No. 2 overall. The Middletown, N.J., native is a big left winger who is headed to New Hampshire in the fall. He becomes the highest-selected New Hampshire player in draft history, surpassing Norm Lacombe, who was taken No. 10 overall in 1983.
"He's a left-winger that is very difficult to handle one-on-one due to his size and strength," said Flyers general manager Paul Holmgren. "He's rock solid in both ends of the ice."
Flyers Director of Hockey Operations Chris Pryor backed up his boss.
"When you watch where the game is now, you don't find too many guys that are 6-3 that can skate and handle the puck," Pryor said. "James vanRiemsdyk falls into that category. He's drawn comparisons to Rick Nash and those types of big guys that can skate, have good hands and make plays. They are hard to find, and this guy falls into there."
Another college player went No. 3, Kyle Turris, a Canadian-born forward who is headed to Wisconsin. After being projected as a possible top overall pick, he was taken by Phoenix. Turris was the 2007 Canadian Junior Hockey Player of the Year playing for the Burnaby Express of the British Columbia Hockey League
Two college players were also in the top three last year, with Jonathan Toews of North Dakota going No. 3 overall. In 2000, U.S. college players were 1-2 overall — Rick DiPietro (Boston University) and Dany Heatley (Wisconsin). DiPietro was the first American-born U.S. college player taken No. 1 overall.
Turris was the first of three Wisconsin-bound players taken in the first round, joining defensemen Ryan McDonagh (No. 12 to Montreal) and Brendan Smith (No. 27 to Detroit). Minnesota was the only other NCAA team represented more than once, with incoming center Patrick White going No. 25 overall to Vancouver and current center Jimmy O'Brien going No. 29 to Ottawa.
O'Brien was the only player taken Friday among the 11 who has already played in the NCAA.
The U.S. National Team Development Program also scored a banner day, with three members going in the first 18 selections. In addition to vanRiemsdyk, Boston University-bound Kevin Shattenkirk was taken No. 14 by Colorado, and Notre Dame-bound Ian Cole went No. 18 to St. Louis.
Boston College and Michigan also had players taken. And the ECAC was represented by Riley Nash (No. 21 overall), who is headed to Cornell in the fall.
