The draft resumes on Saturday in Los Angeles. Thanks for checking in!
10:58 p.m.: E from Entourage (aka Kevin Connolly) makes the Isles' final pick, taking Brock Nelson and breaking the record for the most Americans picked in the first round of the draft.
Nelson is the 11th American selected and put up good points in the Minnesota high school league.
10:56 p.m.: One last trade for the evening — the Blackhawks trade the No. 30 pick to the Islanders for the No. 35 pick and the No. 58 pick.
10:49 p.m.: Anaheim selects Long Beach native Emerson Etem, and just like when Beau Bennett was selected, the home crowd goes wild.
He's speedy and obsessed with physical fitness, and his poise around the net is especially impressive.
Etem is the 10th American selected in the first round, tying a record.
10:42 p.m.: The Sharks are set to make their first pick of the night at No. 28, and they take Charlie Coyle, who went to Thayer Academy.
Coyle played for a South Shore team and will head to Boston University to play for Jack Parker. Coyle is the highest selection ever from the Eastern Junior Hockey League.
10:37 p.m.: The Coyotes take goaltender Mark Visentin, who was projected to go at the end of the second round.
Even Visentin looked totally unprepared to hear his name called. He kind of did a double take and laughed when Phoenix announced the pick.
10:34 p.m.: The Capitals select Russia's Evgeny Kuznetsov, someone who has not had the easiest life. His brother was murdered at 13 years old and that crime has still not been resolved, and he's been desperate to make it to the NHL.
He's a dynamic player, but the biggest knock on him is that he's not consistent.
Kuznetsov won't be coming to the NHL for two years, though, because his current contract won't expire until then.
10:24 p.m.: The Panthers take Quinton Howden, a left wing who is not incredibly physical but possesses good hockey sense. He also is one of the quickest players in this draft.
10:22 p.m.: That trade between Vancouver and Florida has just been announced by commissioner Gary Bettman, and as a result, the Panthers are selecting at No. 25.
Florida is picking for the third time this round.
10:17 p.m.: The Blackhawks take Nobles' Kevin Hayes at No. 24. A local kid!
Hayes impressed at the combine and is a dead ringer for brother Jimmy, who plays at Boston College. (He is also headed to BC.)
10:10 p.m.: The Sabres take Mark Pysyk at No. 23, someone who is nearly ready for the NHL.
He's a safe defensive defenseman, just an OK skater, with great hockey sense.
10 p.m.: NESN.com's James Murphy reports that for the second time tonight, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is having a chat at the Canucks' table.
Vancouver is set to pick at No. 25, so we'll keep a lookout for any news.
9:58 p.m.: The Canadiens take 6-foot-5 Jared Tinordi, another American defenseman.
He's the second American to go in the first round.
Tinordi's No. 1 quality — aside from his size — is his leadership ability. With this pick, the Canadiens address two of their primary concerns: size and depth.
9:52 p.m: The Coyotes, who already stole Brandon Gormley earlier at No. 13, are set to make their second selection of the night.
And, just kidding. The Coyotes trade the No. 22 and No. 113 pick to Montreal in exchange for No. 27 and No. 57.
So Montreal is now on the clock.
9:49 p.m.: Although the Red Wings butcher his name a bit upon announcing their selection, they choose Riley Sheehan at No. 21.
Sheehan played in a defense-first system and Detroit will take its time bringing him through the system.
9:46 p.m.: Beau Bennett is the highest-drafted born-and-raised California player in the NHL.
"It shows California hockey is growing," Bennett told Versus.
Sidney Crosby is in the house, and Bennett is a bit giddy to go greet him as the newest member of the team.
9:42 p.m.: The Penguins are up next at No. 20, and they select California boy Beau Bennett. The home crowd gives him quite the ovation.
Bennett got his practice as a kid on an inline roller rink that his dad purchased and developed next to their house.
Bennett is a bit of a wild card and could have dropped as low as the late second round.
9:36 p.m.: The Panthers take Nick Bjugstad at No. 19.
He's due to go to the University of Minnesota next year, where he'll get some time to grow into his frame. He didn't finish strong in his high school season but put on a show during combines and apparently impressed Florida enough.
Right now, he's working on improving his shot.
9:35 p.m.: Toronto doesn't have a selection until the No. 67 overall pick, and GM Brian Burke tells Versus that it wasn't difficult to see Tyler Seguin go to Boston at No. 2. He got the player he wanted in Phil Kessel.
"I hope Boston got the player it wanted," he said.
Burke also says that although he's known for making big splashes on draft day, he doesn't plan on doing anything tonight, at least.
9:30 p.m.: Nashville takes Austin Watson, veering from a trend of selecting defensemen.
Watson (one of nine kids) is a strong penalty killer who has the potential to be an explosive scorer. He is also by far the tallest member of his family by at least two heads.
9:26 p.m.: Colorado selects Joey Hishon at No. 17, a character kid with good sense who has fought injuries throughout this season. Hishon was projected to go 29 picks later at No. 46.
9:24 p.m.: Brian Murray tells Versus that the Sens have a "strong connection" to David Rundblad and that the franchise likes him a lot. He "solidifies our blue line with young people going forward now."
Murray also said that the trade wouldn't have happened if the player Ottawa wanted had been available at No. 16, and although he won't name name, it was a forward.
9:17 p.m.: The Blues take Vladimir Tarasenko, who was projected to go later, at No. 21 or 22.
He's a highly-skilled Russian who compares himself to Alexander Ovechkin because of passion to play in the NHL. Versus calls him one of the better goal scorers available in this draft.
9:15 p.m.: Another trade! The Sens send the 16th pick to St. Louis for defenseman David Rundblad.
9:13 p.m.: Ottawa is on for the No. 16 pick, and beforehand, GM Brian Murray furiously talks on the phone.
Something that could influence this selection is the fact that Jason Spezza could be traded between now and July 1.
9:11 p.m.: The Kings take Derek Forbort, a 6-foot-4 defenseman from the Team USA Under-18 team.
He's the second American defenseman to be selected tonight.
9:07 p.m.: A deal has been made between Florida and the L.A. Kings, and the Kings will get the No. 15 pick (the Bruins' old pick that went to the Panthers in the Dennis Wideman trade).
Presumably, the crowd goes nuts. Florida gets No.'s 19 and 59.
8:59 p.m.: St. Louis is up next, taking Jaden Schwartz, the best friend of Brandon Gormley. They both went to Notre Dame College in Wilcox.
Schwartz led the USHL in scoring by a lot, and although he was projected to go much lower in this draft, he's a talented player and a good pick.
8:55 p.m.: Closely following Cam Fowler, Brandon Gormley is off the market s well, as the Coyotes select him with the No. 13 pick.
He's the first Quebec League player to go in this draft.
8:50 p.m.: A relieved Cam Fowler checks in with Versus and says the wait to be picked was not a pleasant one.
"It's tough. … It's tough to wait, but I'm so proud to be part of this organization," he said. "It's a happy moment for me, even though I had to wait."
Bob Murray uses the word "shocked" to describe Fowler still being available at No. 12.
8:44 p.m.: The Ducks are on the clock to make the first of two first-round picks.
Finally, Cam Fowler is selected. He'll be a difference-maker in Anaheim and the Ducks are lucky that Fowler fell right into their hands.
8:38 p.m.: Jack Campbell is the first American-born player selected in this draft, and he's headed to Dallas at No. 11.
He's goal-oriented, but he doesn't appear to be close to NHL-ready. He could be a franchise-type goalie in the future, though.
Cam Fowler looks flummoxed. Actually, panicked may be a better word.
8:35 p.m.: NESN.com's James Murphy reports that Oilers GM Steve Tambellini offered Boston winger Ales Hemsky and prospect Jordan Eberle for that second pick.
Meanwhile, California boy Beau Bennett tells Versus that "most of my friends don't know what hockey is," but the sport is still on the rise in the on the West Coast.
8:32 p.m.: The Rangers are up with the No. 10 pick, and Gordie Clark picks Dylan McIlrath, whose nickname from the scouts is "the undertaker."
His skill level isn't high and his decision-making needs work, but he's a force to be reckoned with on the ice. Versus says he's the unanimous choice as the toughest player in this year's draft.
Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley are still on the board, a shocking development.
8:25 p.m.: Minnesota GM Chuck Fletcher takes Mikael Granlund with the No. 9 pick.
Granlund is a fierce competitor who has been voted the smartest player in the entire draft by the Versus panel.
Granlund is the highest Finnish skater to go in the first round. He's the first player in a European league to be selected during this draft.
8:22 p.m.: Update on the Tomas Kaberle trade rumors — his no-trade clause has been lifted until the middle of August, so Brian Burke has some time to trade him. The Leafs are sitting on multiple offers, according to Darren Dreger, but have yet to make a move.
8:19 p.m.: Atlanta selects Alexander Burmistrov with the No. 8 overall pick.
Burmistrov is one of the quickest prospects in this year's bunch — he's even faster than Taylor Hall.
One thing to be weary of with Burmistrov — he has the option of playing in Russia if things don't go well with Atlanta, but that doesn't appear to be much of a threat. Burmistrov wants to play in the NHL.
And the big surprise at this point is that Cam Fowler and Brandon Gormley are both still on the board. Not many expected them to fall this far.
8:12 p.m.: The Hurricanes are set to make their first pick. GM Jim Rutherford doesn't usually like drafting defensemen because he thinks they take too long to develop, and even with Cam Fowler still on the board, he selects Jeff Skinner.
No Americans have been selected thus far in the draft.
8:04 p.m.: Brett Connolly admits that all the injury talk was a bit concerning because it made him wonder how much he'd drop, but he says he's been cleared by three doctors, and "he knows better than anyone else" that he's ready to play.
8:01 p.m.: It appears to be neither. The Lighting takes Brett Connolly — "either a grand slam or a groundout," the Versus panel says.
Connolly has been plagued by hip injuries since last August but has maintained that he's healthy. Only time will tell.
Connolly only played 16 games last season, so this is a big gamble for Tampa Bay. If he's healthy, though, he's one of the most talented offensive players the WHL has to offer.
Teams are also concerned about Connolly's right hand, which was crushed when he was five and has been surgically repaired but has very little structure to it.
7:54 p.m.: The Isles make their first of six picks in the top 95 (and the Versus panel giddily exclaims, "There's E from Entourage," as Kevin Connolly lurks on the stage).
New York takes Nino Niederreiter, and there's a bit of a dulled reaction from the crowd, which seems a little surprised.
Niederreiter becomes the highest-drafted Swiss-born player in NHL history.
7:49: The Isles are up next with the No. 5 pick.
7:47 p.m.: Johansen is often compared to Jason Spezza and Joe Thornton — one of his favorite players.
7:42 p.m.: Blue Jackets GM Scott Howson selects Ryan Johansen with the No. 4 overall pick.
One year ago, in the middle of the regular season, he was a fourth-line player struggling to keep playing time and now he's the No. 4 overall pick. He has tremendous upside and only figures to keep getting better.
Johansen was a Northeastern commit, too.
7:39 p.m.: Gudbranson tells Versus' James Duffy that he's done his research on the Panthers and that he felt Florida was the best place for his development. His goal is to make the team next year and make an impact immediately. Quite an ambitious bunch we've got in 2010.
Panthers GM Dale Tallon says that Gudbranson's "impeccable character" was one of his biggest selling points.
7:35 p.m.: The Panthers are about to make the first of their first-round picks. How will they replace Keith Ballard?
They select Eric Gudbranson, a 6-foot-4 defenseman.
Gudbranson is big and physical, and although he has the potential to be a shut-down defenseman, he appears to have some pretty serious offensive imitations.
7:29 p.m.: On whether the B's will deal one of their centers, Peter Chiarelli simply says, "I don't know. … We've got a lot of options."
As for those Tim Thomas trade rumors, Chiarelli says that Thomas doesn't want to leave Boston and only would waive his no-trade clause if there was a very, very enticing offer on the table.
7:27 p.m.: Versus reports that Seguin is also a dynamic offensive player who is close to being NHL ready but may not be quite there yet.
That begs the question — with the Bruins currently overloaded with talent at center, who will be the odd man out? Popular opinion says it may be Marc Savard, just because of cap issues.
7:25 p.m.: Peter Chiarelli takes the podium and, in the most shocking move of the year, takes Tyler Seguin.
7:23: An update on this Ballard situation: It appears that prospect Victor Oreskovich is headed to Vancouver as well, with Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner and the Canucks' first-round pick heading to the Panthers.
7:22 p.m.: Hall tells Versus that he's "still shaking and feels so honored to be included in this draft class."
To the fans at home in Edmonton, Hall says his main goal is to start next year and that they should expect a dynamic offensive player.
As for why Hall got the nod over Seguin, Tambellini says that he was the best player on the best team, and that was the difference maker.
"I haven't met a more competitive person than this young man," he says.
7:20 p.m.: Hall becomes the sixth player in NHL history to win the Memorial Cup and then become selected first overall the same year. He accepts the No. 10 jersey from Tambellini.
There seems to be no question that Hall is NHL-ready and will be on the Oilers' roster next year.
7:13 p.m.: Gary Bettman is at the podium, and this party has officially started. He gives a special shout-out to Kings fans for hosting the festivities.
"Let's find out if it's Taylor or Tyler," the commish says.
And Tambellini selects Taylor Hall. Cameras are on the faces of both Hall and Seguin, and as soon as Tambellini says, "From the Windsor Spitfires," Seguin smirks a little. He said during pre-draft coverage that he's a competitive guy and wanted to be selected first, so hopefully this little snub with light a fire under him when he plays with Boston.
7:10 p.m.: James Murphy reports that the Panthers get Steve Bernier plus the No. 25 overall pick in exchange for Ballard.
7:09 p.m.: Oilers GM Steve Tambellini is moments away from taking the podium and ending the speculation. Who will it be?
7:06 p.m.: NESN.com's James Murphy also reports that Keith Ballard has been traded to Vancouver.
Tyler and Taylor are catching up with Versus, and they got to go to Thursday night's Twilight premier. Hall says nobody really knew who the two of them were and, at one point, they were both told to "get out of the way" by a camera guy because they were blocking a photo op.
7:02 p.m.: We're just about ready to get under way with this thing, and we've got a few updates for you.
NESN.com's James Murphy reports that Peter Chiarelli and Canucks GM Mike Gillis are engaged in a very long conversation.
There's still also a bit of chatter about the Oilers trying to get the B's No. 2 pick as well but there is serious doubt that's going to happen.
3:46 p.m.: Whether it's Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin for Boston in Friday night's NHL draft, the young superstar will have a phenomenal mentor at his disposal in Mark Recchi.
The veteran winger was signed to a one-year deal today, NESN.com's James Murphy reported. Recchi has seen it all in his 21 seasons in the NHL, giving Hall or Seguin a future Hall of Famer to model his game after.
1:00 p.m.: The day is finally here. The future of the Bruins lays in Friday night’s events.
OK, that may be a bit overdramatic, but Bruins fans who believe either Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin could make or break the future of the franchise won’t be hard to come by. The NHL draft kicks off live in Los Angeles on Friday night, and with the No. 2 overall pick, the Bruins’ evening will be nothing if not exciting.
Boston already traded its No. 15 pick to Florida along with Dennis Wideman in exchange for Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell, so that put to rest many mumblings regarding whether or not the B’s would make any moves leading up to the draft. On Thursday, General Manager Peter Chiarelli said the B’s plan to hold on to their No. 2 pick, but they could work out a deal with Edmonton that will allow them to choose between Hall and Seguin.
We’ll keep you updated on any developments leading up to the draft. Coverage kicks off at 7 p.m. Stay tuned.
