Draft composite

On behalf of all of us here at Soundin' Off, I would like to thank the people of Columbus for their generous hospitality. We're especially thankful to the Columbus Blue Jackets, the hosts for this wonderful evening, and all their staff, whom we'll not mention by name, although we want them to know we would. We'd like to congratulate the Anaheim Migh... the Anaheim Ducks on their recent Stanley Cup championship, and the Ottawa Senators on being the runner-up, and Buffalo and Detroit for being the runners-ups to the finalists, and to the other 12 playoff teams, and to the other 14 teams, our congratulations for competing so hard. We'd like to congratulate the Hamilton Bulldogs for winning the Calder Cup, and the Hersheypark Happies for coming close to another one, and to the other 14 playoff teams, and 10 of the 11 non-playoff teams. (we're not really allowed to congratulate that one, are we? Anyway.) We'd like to also offer our condolences to Hamilton on the loss of your NHL team. We'd like to thank all the fans for their support, especially all you commenters who are watching right now on your computers at home, at work or at the library. We'd absolutely like to thank the leagues' staffs and the many people who have worked to make this day possible, both here and at other blogs.

OK, here we go. With the 293rd pick, Soundin' Off is proud to select, from...

(What? Really? Can you get... Y-yeah, do that. OK.)

Umm... We've traded our pick to Spillane for a couple of CDs and a Celtic Woman to be named. Thank you. The Philadelphia Flyers are on the clock.

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Gretzky still gets 'em going, huh?

With the 10th pick, the Bruins select Claude Julien... (Let's hope all the new sweaters come out looking as close to normal as this one...)

Lots of former Nighthawks: Dave Gagner (dad of Sam), Bob Janecyk and Paul Fenton (scouts)... And it's always nice to see Gordie Clark, even if it's over the TV.

Loved the New Canaan flavor, both real and accidental: Max Pacioretty going No. 22 to Montreal, and Thomas Hickey going to L.A. at 4. (Thomas is NC coach Bo Hickey's given name.)

Word is nothing has changed, and that if it comes to Monday at 5, the Isles will tender qualifying offers to Steve Regier and Drew Fata and will not tender Billy Thompson.

Eurohockey had Justin Papineau to Switzerland and Paul Flache to Germany, but I'm too lazy to look for links. It also had Martin St. Pierre to Russia.

Spent the afternoon blogging the Travelers. The full archive is here. Dunno if anyone will be joining in over the weekend -- they have enough to do, and I'll be elsewhere -- but there it is...