NHL Draft 2013: Nathan MacKinnon goes first overall

The Predators added the top defensive prospect in the draft, a guy who can be mentored by one of the league’s best current defensemen, Shea Weber. Be giddy, Nashville.

Valeri Nichushkin was expected to go much earlier than No. 10. We’ll let Defending Big D explain the joy of seeing him fall all the way to that point:

With the 30th pick of the seventh round, 211th overall, in the 2013 NHL Draft, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Robin Press. The Swede became Mr. Irrelevant, the final pick of the draft to wrap up a long day at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ.

Here’s a complete look at the seventh round:

The sixth round of the NHL Draft was heavy on Canadians as 14 players from the country were selected. Three Fins and two Swedes were also picked.

Here’s a complete look at the sixth round:

Here’s a complete look at the fifth round:

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

The NHL Draft enters Round 5, as the fourth-round has concluded from New Jersey’s Prudential Center. Here’s a complete breakdown of the selections from Round 4:

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The two sides have reportedly agreed to a four-year, $16 million contract that will carry an annual average value of $4 million against the salary cap. Bickell played out the final-year of a three-year, $1.6 million deal that carried an annual average value of $541,667 in 2013 and was expected to receive a substantial raise this summer, whether from the Blackhawks or a suitor on the free agent market come July 5.

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

Michael Frolik is heading to the Winnipeg Jets after the Chicago Blackhawks traded him for the 74th and 134th picks in the 2013 NHL Draft.

Chicago acquired Frolik in a 2011 trade with Florida. He scored 21 goals in each of his first two seasons in the NHL, but the Blackhawks have mainly used the 25-year-old as a penalty killer. He was a central part of the team’s third-ranked penalty kill, giving him more value than his 10 points would indicate. Frolik did shine in the playoffs, totaling 10 points in 23 games.

Here’s a complete look at the third-round:

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

Here’s a complete rundown of selections No. 31 through 61:

31. Florida: Ian McCoshen

32. Colorado: Chris Bigras

33. Tampa Bay: Adam Ernie

34. Montreal: Jacob De La Rose

35. Buffalo: JT Compher

36. Montreal: Zach Fucale

37. Los Angeles: Valentin Zykov

38. Buffalo: Connor Hurley

39. Phoenix: Laurent Dauphin

40. Dallas: Remi Elie

41. Philadelphia: Robert Hagg

42. New Jersey: Steve Santini

43. Winnipeg: Nick Petan

44. Pittsburgh: Tristian Jarry

45. Anaheim: Nick Sorensen

46. Minnesota: Gustav Olofsson

47. St. Louis: Tommy Vannelli

48. Detroit: Zach Mastasiuk

49. San Jose: Gabryel Boudreau

50. Columbus: Dillon Heatherington

51. Chicago: Carl Dahlstrom

52. Buffalo: Justin Bailey

53. Washington: Madison Bowey

54. Dallas: Philippe Desrosiers

55. Montreal: Artturi Lehkonen

56. Edmonton: Marc-Olivier Roy

57. St. Louis: William Carrier

58. Detroit: Tyler Bertuzzi

59. Winnipeg: Eric Comrie

60. Boston: Linus Arnesson

61. Washington: Zachary Sanford

The 27-year-old forward is entering the final-year of a five-year, $16.8 million contract that carries an annual average value of $3.3 million. Bolland finished the 2013 playoffs averaging 13:30 of ice time per game.

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

McBain’s availability had been rumored since the trade deadline. The 25-year-old is entering the final-year of his contract and will become a restricted free agent next summer.

Carolina had expressed an interest in acquiring a top-four defenseman to supplement their corps. Sekera averaged the third most minutes amongst defenseman on the Sabres during the 2013 regular season (21:12 average). The 27-year-old defenseman will be entering the third-year of a four-year, $11 million contract that carries an annual average value of $2.75 million against the salary cap.

Here’s a profiled on Hartman courtesy of The Cannon:

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

The pick was the team’s second first-round selection in the 2013 Draft, as the club picked Valery Nichuskin with the No. 10 overall pick.

Here is a profile on Dickinson via Hockey’s Futures:

Klimchuk is the third forward selected by the Flames in the first-round of the NHL Draft.

Here is a profile on Klimchuk courtesy of the Cannon:

Columbus entered the day with three first-round selections and expressed an interest in trading them in order to improve the team. Instead, the club used all three picks to select players.

Here’s a profile on Dano courtesy of In Lou We Trust:

Here’s a profile on Theodore via The Cannon:

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McCarron, a Macomb, Mich. native who will be attending Western Michigan University this fall, played the full regular season with the USNTDP in Ann Arbor, and also participated in the Four Nations Under-18 tourney. He will be participating in the U.S. National Junior Evaluation Camp this August in Lake Placid, N.Y. That could put him in contention to play on Team USA at the World Junior Championships.

The right winger is ranked No. 31 by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau among North American skaters. He’s ranked No. 23 by ISS among all skaters, and the service projects him to be a player comparable to former Philadelphia Flyer John LeClair.

Shinkaruk is coming off an excellent season with the Medicine Hat Tigers, a team that pulled off a first-round upset in the WHL Playoffs. After a 91-point season in 2011-12, the Calgary native had fewer goals (37 vs. 49 in 2011-12) but more assists (49 vs. 42 last season) to put up an 86-point season in 2012-13. He had three goals and three assists in eight post-season games.

In Lou We Trust:

ISS ranks Burakowski No. 16 among all skaters, while TSN’s Craig Button has him ranked No. 58 among all prospects. Meanwhile, NHL Central Scouting has him at No. 6 among European skaters.

Here’s more on Burakowsky from Jackets Cannon:

Poirier is considered a competent two-way player, as evaluating by the International Scouting Service. In addition to boasting an impressive work ethic, the player is considered a competent skater who is capable of playing 200 feet.

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Gauthier, who stands 6’5”, 214 pounds at age 18, had a solid first season in the Quebec League. He put up 60 points in 62 games for the well regarded Rimouski Oceanic club. He was held to just two assists in six post-season games. He’s known as a hard worker, but needs to use his size a little better.

The Mascouche, Quebec native is ranked No. 18 by ISS among all skaters, and No. 21 by TSN analyst Craig Button among all prospects. He is ranked No. 7 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.

Mantha, a 6’4, 190-pound right winger, had an excellent season in the Quebec League, scoring 50 goals and 89 points in just 67 games, while putting up 12 points in nine playoff games. He’s got great size and skates well, but some suggest that he “lacks passion.”

In Lou We Trust:

For more on Rychel, check out this prospect profile from Jackets Cannon:

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

San Jose used the pick to select Mirco Mueller of the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League. The 18-year-old native of Switzerland was chosen with the No. 11 overall selection in the Canadian Hockey League import draft. In 63 games with the Silvertips in 2012-2013, Mueller registered six goals, 25 assists and 31 points.

Here’s a profile on Mueller from the Cannon:

In Lou We Trust:

Defending Big D: