06-27-2004, 01:20 AM
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Assistant Captain
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Centre Ice
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Picking Picard 1st
BLUE JACKETS SELECT LEFT WING ALEXANDRE PICARD WITH EIGHTH OVERALL PICK AT 2004 NHL ENTRY DRAFT IN RALEIGH
Columbus makes two trades, five selections on the first day of the draft
COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets, participating in their fifth National Hockey League Entry Draft today at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina, made two trades and selected five players, including Lewiston MAINEiacs left wing Alexandre Picard with the eighth overall pick, club President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced.
"We feel really good about the kids we got today," said MacLean. "We came into the draft with no second round picks, but were able to pick up two and move down in the first round and still get the guy we wanted in Alexandre Picard."
The Blue Jackets started the day by trading their first round pick, No. 4 overall, to the Carolina Hurricanes for a first round pick, No. 8 overall, and a second round pick, No. 59 overall. Columbus also traded a pair of third round picks, Nos. 70 and 98, to Calgary for a second round pick, No. 46 overall. With their two second round picks, Columbus selected right wing Adam Pineault (No. 46) and defenseman Kyle Wharton (No. 59). The Jackets made two third round selections, goaltender Daniel Lacosta at No. 93 and defenseman Andrei Plekhanov at No. 96.
Picard, 18, was the third-ranked North American skater in this year's draft as compiled by NHL Central Scouting. He finished last season with 39 goals and 41 assists for 80 points in 69 games for Lewiston of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, leading the club in goals and points. The 6’2”, 190-pound native of Les Saules, Quebec also added 7-4-11 in seven playoff games. Picard's 39 goals were tied for seventh in the QMJHL, while his 80 points ranked 14th in the league.
"Our scouts think Picard can be a big-time player," said MacLean. "What's great about him is when I met him the other day he told me he would challenge for a spot on our team. You need guys like that."
With its second pick, 46th overall, Columbus tabbed Pineault from Boston College. The 6'1", 193-pound winger was the 25th-ranked North American skater in Central Scouting's final rankings. Last season, he was the youngest player in Division I hockey and tallied 4-4-8 in 29 games as Boston College advanced to the Frozen Four before losing in the National Semifinal game. The Holyoke, Massachusetts native was a member of the U.S. National Development Under-18 Team as a 16-year-old.
With its other second round selection, Columbus picked defenseman Kyle Wharton of the Ontario Hockey League's Ottawa 67's. The 13th-ranked North American skater by Central Scouting, Wharton notched 4-10-14 in 43 regular season games and added 2-3-5 in seven playoff contests. The 6'2", 185-pound defenseman has picked up 7-15-22 and 64 penalty minutes in 82 games during his two-year OHL career.
In the third round, Columbus selected Owen Sound (OHL) goaltender Daniel Lacosta with the 93rd overall selection, and defenseman Andrei Plekhanov with the 96th overall selection. Lacosta was the sixth-ranked North American goaltender by Central Scouting. He went 17-10-1 with a 2.72 goals-against average and four shutouts in 2003-04.
The 2004 NHL Entry Draft concludes on Sunday with rounds four through nine. Columbus enters the day with six picks (No. 133 in the fifth round, Nos. 167 and 190 in the sixth round, No. 198 in the seventh round, and Nos. 231 and 233 in the eighth round). Day two of the draft is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the RBC Center in Raleigh.
http://www.bluejackets.com/news/press/arts/2057.0.html
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Picking Picard 1st
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