The 2008 NHL Entry Draft concluded this afternoon (June 21, 2008) with a total of 211 players
selected from 12 countries. Following is a breakdown of 2008 Entry Draft
selections by birthplace:
Canada 119 United States
46 Sweden 17 Russia 9 Finland
7 Czech Republic 3 Norway 3 Denmark
2 Switzerland 2 Belarus 1 France
1 Germany 1 Total 211
Looks like the absence of a player transfer agreement between the National Hockey League and the International Ice Hockey Federation and the rise of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League is being felt already, particularly in the selection of Russian players.
A Toronto newspaper reported 30 Russian players were selected in the 2003 Entry draft. In last year's draft, only 7 and this year only 9.
Part of that might also be a perceived decline in skilled players produced by Russia in recent years, Ovechkin and Malkin aside.
The number of American players being selected in entry drafts continues to rise. This year the Americans selected in the entry draft equaled those of the European countries combined, which speaks for the rise of player development of the US hockey program.
Spector, what's your thoughts on the draft? Which teams really did well with their picks and which teams made your head scratch? Are you gonna do individual draft grades?
I consider every draft a crapshoot. Some work out, some don't and it takes years to determine how each teams respective picks pan out. The only certainties are that Stamkos, Doughty and perhaps Bogosian and Pieterangelo should go on to NHL careers. As for the rest, only time will tell.
Another reason less Euros are being chosen in the draft is that teams now must sign them within two years of being drafted, same as North American prospects. Before the lockout, a team could hold onto a European player's rights until he was 31, plenty of time to develop into an NHLer. I'm not sure if the talent has dropped off as much it's no longer advantageous to take a European over a North American of similar ability.
Not only are the number of draft picks on the rise for U.S. born players but there are quite a few coming from outside of the usual hockey states, i.e. the Great Lake States and New england. Places like Colorado and California. The U.S. development program seems to have been pushing hockey outside its traditional borders within the U.S. and now its bearing fruit.
moav - In the case of Russians (or countries without a transfer agreement), the rights don't expire. As is the case with the Bruins and Yuri Alexandrov. Under normal circumstances since he hasn't yet been signed, his rights would have been lost. However, due to the lack of transfer agreement there is a technicality that allows the B's to retain his exclusive rights.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
