In building up to June’s NHL Entry Draft, this series will look at Florida’s performance in each round – from seventh to first – covering the five Drafts from 2005 through 2009, along with any players of note selected after the Panthers‘ pick(s) in the same round. Today we focus on Round Six.
Three defensemen are taken by Florida until Randy Sexton – thankfully – changes things up in ’09, and that pick is looking mighty fine right about now.
2005: Ottawa, ON Florida General Manager: Mike Keenan
Panthers pick (164): D Roman Derlyuk, Spartak (RUS)
Currently: YouTube hero – for a spell – in the KHL, and no, I doubt recall his name either. And you’ve got to hand it to the masters at Hockey’s Future: “It is unlikely Derlyuk ever plays professionally in North America.” Well, it is the sixth round after all. However…
Later sixth-round notables: (179) F Brett Sutter, CGY; (181) F Tim Kennedy, WAS; (190) F Matt D’Agostini, MON
2006: Vancouver, BC Florida General Manager: Mike Keenan
Panthers pick (155): D Peter Aston, Windsor (OHL)
Currently: Split time between Rochester (AHL) and Utah (ECHL) in 2009-10.
Later sixth-round notables: (160) D Andrew MacDonald, NYI; (163) F Sergei Shirokov, VAN
2007: Columbus, OH Florida General Manager: Jacques Martin
Panthers pick (181): D Corey Syvret, Guelph (OHL)
Currently: Played four games with Rochester, sixty with Guelph in 2009-10.
Florida had final pick of this round.
2008: Ottawa, ON Florida General Manager: Jacques Martin
Panthers had no picks in this round. Which is fine, since JM probably ran out of defensemen to pimp.
2009: Montreal, PQ Florida General Manager: Randy Sexton
Panthers pick (165): F Scott Timmins, Windsor (OHL)
Currently: Coming off 54 point (30 goal) Spitfires season capped with a second Memorial Cup championship. Signed recently to entry-level contract with Florida. Previously played under Peter DeBoer in Kitchener.
Later sixth-round notables: (179) F Brandon Kozun, LAK
ARCHIVED: Round Three – Round Four – Round Five – Round Seven