Dozens of young hockey players realized a dream on Friday.
Meanwhile, several NHL general managers continued to navigate an uncertain goalkeeping market with free agency set to open next week.
Teams participate in rounds 2-7 during the second day of the 2022 NHL Draft on Friday, July 8, 2022, in Montreal.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Day 2 of the league’s first in-person draft since 2019 saw the wrinkle situation crystallize for some teams.
But much remains up in the air.
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The Detroit Red Wings started when they acquired Ville Husso from the St. Louis Blues for the 73rd pick before signing the pending unrestricted free agent to a three-year contract extension.
The New Jersey Devils then got into action soon after when they nabbed Vitek Vanecek from the Washington Capitals for two picks: No. 37 and No. 70.
“We’ve been trying to change our goal a little bit,” Washington general manager Brian MacLellan said.
“This is the first step to do it.”
Those trades came after a series of moves on the crease front before and during Thursday’s first round.
The Minnesota Wild re-signed Marc-Andre Fleury to a two-year extension worth US$7 million, while the Colorado Avalanche acquired goalie Alexandar Georgiev from the New York Rangers for three picks.
The Toronto Maple Leafs sprang into action, dumping underachiever Petr Mrazek’s $3.8 million salary cap on the Chicago Blackhawks in a pick swap that saw Toronto drop from No. 25 to No. 38.
The Edmonton Oilers also made a goalkeeping deal by trading winger Zack Kassian and his $3.2 million salary cap to the Arizona Coyotes.
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Leafs goalie Jack Campbell and Darcy Kuemper of the Stanley Cup champion Avalanche are the two biggest names on the UFA net care board with the dwindling free-agent market ready to go. open Wednesday.
“A couple of years ago it was reversed,” Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald said. “There weren’t enough kits for all the goalkeepers available.
“With goalkeepers, there are probably only a few safe things out there. And that’s what makes this position difficult to play because of the ups and downs and trying to keep your balance, but you have to have depth.”
Toronto, Edmonton and Washington sit as the teams that most need clarity.
“It’s an exciting and anxious time,” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said.
Toronto general manager Kyle Dubas said having all the clubs back in one place on the Bell Center floor after two virtual drafts due to the COVID-19 pandemic was helpful in gauging the market.
“Where does it go and who is available, what will the cost be in trade,” he said. “Now we’ll work on our own situation with Jack, and then if he gets to that point, we’ll work on the situation with the remaining free agents. That’s where we are now. We like the options we have available.
“That remains the key for us.”
The deal continued while Friday was long, and not just with the goalkeepers.
The Philadelphia Flyers acquired defenseman Tony DeAngelo and a seventh-round pick from Carolina for the Flyers’ fourth-round pick, plus a conditional third-round pick in 2023 and a second-round pick in 2024. The Flyers later announced the restricted free selection pending. agent had signed a two-year extension.
The San Jose Sharks traded Luke Kunin to the Nashville Predators for fellow winger John Leonard and a third-round pick next year.
Host Montreal Canadiens took Slovakian winger Juraj Slafkovsky with the top pick to open Thursday’s electric first round at their home court on a night in which Shane Wright, long regarded as the presumed top pick, fell to the Seattle Kraken. at No. 4.
READ MORE: Canadians select Slafkovsky with No. 1 pick in NHL draft
The Canadiens opened Friday’s second round by selecting Owen Beck, a center for the Mississauga Steelheads of the Ontario Hockey League.
Montreal then selected defenseman Lane Hutson (62nd), center Vinzenz Rohrer (75th), blue line Adam Engstrom (92nd), winger Cedrick Guindon (127th), center Jared Davidson (130th) and goalkeeper Emmett Croteau (162nd), as well as defenders Petteri Nurmi (194th) and Miguel Tourigny (216th).
The Leafs made their first draft pick at No. 38 when they took center Fraser Minten from the Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers with the pick acquired in the Mrazek trade.
Toronto also selected winger Nicholas Moldenhauer (95th), goaltender Dennis Hildeby, forward Nikita Grebenkin (135th) and winger Brandon Lisowsky (218th).
The Winnipeg Jets took Swedish defenseman Elias Salomonsson (55th), center Danil Zhilkin (77th), blue Garrett Brown (99th), center Fabian Wagner (175th) and goalie Domenic Divincentiis (207th).
READ MORE: Jets join the prospect pool on Day 2 of the NHL Draft
The Canucks turned heads when they drafted Elias Pettersson at No. 80, mainly because the Swedish defender has the same name as Vancouver’s star center drafted in the first round in 2017.
The club also got center Daimon Gardner (112), goalkeeper Ty Young (144) and defenders Jackson Dorrington (176) and Kirill Kudryavtsev (208).
READ MORE: Vancouver Canucks select 2 Swedish players with top 2 picks in 2022 NHL draft
The Edmonton Oilers had no choice on Friday until the fifth round, taking goalie Samuel Johnsson at No. 158, defenseman Nikita Yevseyev (190th) and center Joel Maatta (222nd).
READ MORE: Edmonton Oilers take 3 players on Day 2 of the NHL Draft
The Calgary Flames, lacking a first-round pick, made their first pick at No. 59 when Finnish center Topi Ronni selected before securing winger Parker Bell (155) and center Cade Littler (219).
The Ottawa Senators originally had the No. 7 pick, but packaged it up with two other picks on Thursday to acquire winger Alex DeBrincat from Chicago.
They drafted Swedish defender Filip Nordberg in 64th place before also taking winger Oskar Pettersson (72), blue lineman Tomas Harma (87), center Stephen Halliday (104), defender Jorian Donovan (136), winger Cameron O’Neill (143). ), goalkeeper Kevin Reidler (151), defenseman Theo Wallberg (168) and center Tyson Dyck (206).
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