New York Islanders poised to make top pick in NHL draft, and they have several good options
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The New York Islanders are poised to make the top selection in an NHL draft that is packed with talent while missing a few staples of recent drafts.
For starters, there is no absolute lock of a No. 1 pick in this field, although the Isles are expected to take gifted defenseman Matthew Schaefer of the OHL's Erie Otters.
This draft also lacks the centralized structure that has long been a staple of this annual exercise. The 32 teams' various executives are mostly at home, not strewn across the draft floor at the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
But the teenagers chosen in the first round Friday still will take the stage to cheers from their families and hockey fans before they begin their careers.
This draft could be more unpredictable than some in recent years, and many teams are openly contemplating a trade down from their top pick. Even the second and third picks contain intrigue: Michael Misa is thought by many to be a cut above the rest of the forward class, but Swedish prospect Anton Frondell has surged up draft boards in recent weeks.
San Jose has the No. 2 overall pick, while the Chicago Blackhawks are third. The Utah Mammoth and the Nashville Predators round out the top five.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
___
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
30 minutes ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Ex-Juventus president Andrea Agnelli seeks plea bargain deal in false accounting case
ROME (AP) — Former Juventus president Andrea Agnelli has requested a plea bargain deal that would give him a 20-month sentence in a false accounting trial that contributed to his downfall at the record 36-time Serie A champion. Former Juventus vice president Pavel Nedved requested a deal of 14 months and former Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici and chief legal officer Cesare Gabasio each requested 18 months. Prosecutors began investigating in 2021 whether Juventus, which is listed on the Milan stock exchange, cashed in on illegal commissions from transfer and loans of players. The case has also explored whether investors were misled with invoices being issued for non-existent transactions to demonstrate income that in turn could be deemed false accounting. A decision in the case, which was moved from Turin to Rome, is expected in September, a preliminary judge announced Friday. The case prompted Agnelli and Juventus' entire board of directors to resign in 2022. Agnelli was then given two separate bans by sports authorities, the last of which expires in October. Juventus was hit with a 10-point penalty in the 2022-23 season and then removed by UEFA from the Conference League for financial irregularities. If the plea bargains are accepted in September, it could be the final step in the false accounting legal cases at Juventus and set up Agnelli's possible return to soccer after his sports ban expires a month later. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. ___ AP soccer:
Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Otto Lopez has 3 hits and 3 RBIs as Marlins beat Diamondbacks 9-8 for 5th straight win
PHOENIX (AP) — Kyle Stowers hit a go-ahead solo homer in the sixth inning, Otto Lopez doubled, homered and drove in three runs and the Miami Marlins beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 9-8 on Friday night. The Marlins, who beat San Francisco 12-5 on Thursday to complete a three-game sweep, have won a season-high five in a row and six of seven. Lopez finished with three hits, Stowers also had an RBI double and Heriberto Hernandez hit a solo homer. Lopez, Agustín Ramírez and Stowers hit consecutive two-out doubles off starter Merrill Kelly (7-4) in the fourth inning to take a 2-1 lead. Starter Eury Pérez gave up a leadoff homer to Jake McCarthy and a walk before Ronny Henriquez (4-1) came in with one out in the fifth. Henriquez gave up one run — a homer by Geraldo Perdomo — in 1 1/3 innings. Jake McCarthy led off the third with a walk, stole second and advanced to third by Pérez and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Alek Thomas for Arizona to open the scoring. McCarthy added a leadoff homer in the fifth, Thomas hit a solo shot in the seventh and Pavin Smith capped the scoring with an RBI single in the ninth. Key moment Stowers hit a leadoff homer in the sixth to chase Kelly, who was replaced by Juan Morillo. Connor Norby hit a two-out single and scored on a triple by Javier Sanoja to make it 6-4. Key stat Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. The Marlins, who went into the game leading the NL in hits (215), batting average (.268), and doubles (44) this month, finished with 13 hits. Miami has had at least 10 hits in a season-high five consecutive games and an MLB-best 12 in June. Up next Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (4-8, 6.69 ERA) takes the mound Saturday against Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (8-5, 5.49). ___ AP MLB:
Ottawa Citizen
3 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Flames take lightning-quick Potter with 32nd overall pick
Any conversation about Cullen Potter is going to start with his speed. That's inevitable. Article content Drafted by the Calgary Flames with the final pick of the first round, 32nd overall, Potter might just be faster than any other player whose name got called on Friday night. Article content 'His speed is electric,' said Flames GM Craig Conroy. 'He's fast, quick, electric, he's got hockey sense.' Article content Article content Article content Article content But they say you can't teach speed, and Potter's got it. Article content The son of four-time U.S. Olympian Jenny Potter – who won a gold, two silvers and a bronze medal with the Americans – the newest member of the Flames might have the 'fastest skater' title locked up if the organization ever brings their Super Skills Competition back. Article content 'I think my strongest asset is definitely my speed,' said Potter, who is listed at 5-foot-10 and 183 lbs and is a leftie. 'Speed and skill and tenacity and compete are what I do best. Article content 'I think the best players in the world have a lot of speed. Just looking at McDavid and MacKinnon and those guys, just being able to use my speed and hands at the same time is really important, and I think that's what the best players in the NHL do.' Article content Article content Article content Nobody is expecting Potter to be one of the best players in the world right away, but the early returns on his college career have been extremely encouraging. Article content Despite being only 17-years-old for a good chunk of his freshman year at Arizona State – he turned 18 on January 10 – Potter netted 13 goals and added nine assists in 35 games. He also put up four goals and four assists while playing for the U.S. under-18 team. Article content Conroy and the Flames scouting staff watched it all, and were thrilled about getting a player with his upside so late in the first round. Article content 'When you look at him, you think 'Where is he going to be?' ' Conroy said about playing against older competition in the NCAA. 'It would be like stepping into the American League right away, you're playing against me. That's what I think is so impressive for him. To see him play with the U18s, I thought he was noticeable every shift and it was the speed that caught my attention.'
