Colorado wrapped 2013 by avoiding a 30th-place finish with a scant three point lead over Florida, and ultimately defeated the league-mattress Panthers with an off-ice victory in the NHL Draft Lottery on Monday night.
The Avalanche secured the first-overall selection in June’s Entry Draft, moving up one spot from their initial rank. As such they bumped the Cats down to second, throwing a potentially interesting curveball into general manager Dale Tallon’s plans going forward if he indeed intends to target standout blueliner Seth Jones, now almost a certainty to be taken by the Avs.
Jonathan Drouin and Nathan McKinnon remain thoroughly tempting offensive choices in the top three, so unless Tallon, Inc. had its collective heart set on drafting D, the options up front are as solid as any in recent years.
The 2013 NHL Entry Draft will be held in its entirety on June 30th from Newark. Currently the Cats have six selections within seven rounds; playoff teams will be slotted at the conclusion of the postseason.
Update: Dale – quickly – comments post-Lottery (video courtesy of the club)…
Concerned about Florida’s fall to second?
| Yes | 41 |
| No | 146 |