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2015 NHL Draft Weekend Winners and Losers

By Diana Driscoll |
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Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; NHL commissioner Gary Bettman addresses the crowd before the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The 2015 NHL Entry Draft is over and now it is time to take a look at the winners and losers of this past weekend. It isn’t just the teams’ drafting that we are taking into account, but the trades that happened before and during the draft.

Next: Winner: Buffalo Sabres

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Winner: Buffalo Sabres

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Jack Eichel poses with team executives after being selected as the number two overall pick to the Buffalo Sabres in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Aside from landing Jack Eichel with the second overall pick, the Buffalo Sabres really started to piece together a playoff-caliber team. The Sabres had a very busy weekend, starting on Friday with the acquisition of goaltender Robin Lehner, 23, from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a first-round draft pick. In the deal, the Sabres also got forward David Legwand. As the draft went on the Sabres were able to secure forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn from the Colorado Avalanche. What a start to the offseason for Buffalo. Tim Murray really used his head to beef up the Sabres offseason in only a couple of moves. O’Reilly, Evander Kane, Eichel (possibly) on one team? That ain’t too shabby.

Well done Murray.

Next: Loser: Boston Bruins

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Loser: Boston Bruins

Mar 14, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Boston Bruins center Ryan Spooner (51) and defenseman Dougie Hamilton (right) congratulate left wing Milan Lucic (middle) after Lucic scored a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

OK, what on earth was Don Sweeney thinking? I get that he opened up cap space, sending Milan Lucic to the Los Angeles Kings (it was only a matter of time before Lucic was traded), but he didn’t do much else to help the Bruins prepare for next season.

The whole Dougie Hamilton trade was pretty baffling. Sure, there were reports that Hamilton was an uppity kid and no one on the team really liked him, but who knows if there is any truth to those rumors. This was a ridiculous trade. Fine, you want to trade Hamilton—go for it. You want to trade Hamilton for nothing—are you kidding? That’s basically what Sweeney did.

In his first big move as general manager, Sweeney surprises everyone by moving Hamilton to the Calgary Flames and in return the Bruins got the 15th, 45th, and 52nd overall picks in this year’s draft. I’m sorry, but the Bruins were the loser in this trade. Moving a 22-year-old defenseman who will only continue improving over the next few seasons for draft picks? It isn’t as if Hamilton is some scrub. No, he is a quality player that should have received quality players in return. Awful move.

Overall, the Bruins really just secured a backup goaltender. And, I’m sorry but don’t they have enough potential in that position already? (Malcolm Subban, Zane McIntyre) Additionally, the Bruins lost three everyday players by trading off Lucic, Hamilton and Carl Soderberg (who also was sent to the Avalanche in a separate trade).

I just don’t get it and I can’t imagine the B’s fans being too pleased with their new GM.

Next: Winner: Edmonton Oilers

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Winner: Edmonton Oilers

Mar 31, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; New York Rangers goalie Cam Talbot (33) prior to the game against the Winnipeg Jets at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

Connor McDavid, the once in a generation player, found his home with the Edmonton Oilers as the team drafted the player first overall. This was something all of Edmonton was waiting for and knew was going to happen. But what fans were really happy about was winning the Cam Talbot fight. The Oilers desperately need stability in the goaltender position, and with the way Talbot played in Henrik Lundqvist’s absence, he could bring that to the Oilers.

Not too bad at all.

Next: Loser: Toronto Maple Leafs

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Loser: Toronto Maple Leafs

May 21, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Maple Leafs new head coach Mike Babcock is flanked by club president Brendan Shanahan (right) and board chairman Larry Tanenbaum during an introductory media conference at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

How could the Maple Leafs lose this trade after landing the fourth overall pick, Mitch Marner. Well, they didn’t do much of anything else. This was the perfect opportunity for the Leafs to shop Phil Kessel, Dion Phaneuf and other of the team’s top players they are looking to unload. The Maple Leafs could have gotten so much in return for these players, but instead they sat idly by while other teams made moves to improve. The Maple Leafs are said to be rebuilding, but right now their actions, or rather lack thereof, don’t support that statement.

Next: Winner: Calgary Flames

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Winner: Calgary Flames

Mar 5, 2015; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Dougie Hamilton (27) pass the puck during the second period against the Calgary Flames at TD Banknorth Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports

What a weekend for the Flames. They barely had to lift a finger to get defenseman Dougie Hamilton, who will, undoubtedly, be on the top pairing for the squad. This feels like it will be one of those deals people will talk about for ages. What a bargain for the Flames! Honestly, this can’t be defined as anything else but a major steal. I don’t know what the Bruins were thinking, but their loss is the Flames’ gain.

Next: Loser: Vancouver Canucks

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Loser: Vancouver Canucks

Apr 4, 2015; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele (55) (not shown) takes a shot on Vancouver Canucks goalie Eddie Lack (31) as he makes a save during the second period at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports

While every other team in their division was making moves, the Vancouver Canucks didn’t do anything drastic this draft weekend. The team traded goaltender Eddie Lack to the Carolina Hurricanes for practically nothing. Seriously? Do they not understand how hard quality goaltenders are to come by? I mean, Lack is no top prize, but he is very good. In exchange for Lack, the Canucks got QMJHL defenseman Guillaume Brisebois, who was selected in the third round and a seventh-round pick in next year’s draft. The team tried by couldn’t unload Kevin Bieksa (the Canucks wanted a second-round pick). There were a lot of situations Vancouver was apparently involved in; they were supposedly in the running for Milan Lucic, but nothing panned out in their favor.

They tried but didn’t succeed. Maybe they should have tried a little harder.

Next: Winner: Philadelphia Flyers

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Winner: Philadephia Flyers

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Ivan Provorov poses for a photo with team executives after being selected as the number seven overall pick to the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Flyers, who had a pretty rough season, were able to do some good in the actual draft. The team landed coveted defenseman Ivan Provorov with the No. 7 pick. In addition the team was able to trade up and get Travil Konecny, who is said to be a feisty forward who likes to contribute.

Plus, the Flyers managed to rid themselves of Chris Pronger’s $4.9 million cap hit. The Flyers gave the Arizona Coyotes defenseman Nicklas Grossman to accept Pronger’s contract. The Flyers are picking up part of Grossman’s contract and will take back Sam Gagner’s contract. They can buy out Gagner’s contract to free up more space. This creative move by general manager Ron Hextall is designed simply to give the Flyers more salary cap maneuverability—USA Today

Hextall used him head and made a statement with his decisions: the Flyers are changing their team culture by making sensible and smart moves.

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