OILERS GET MCDAVID, COYOTES FALL TO THIRD

The Edmonton Oilers have won the NHL draft lottery for the fourth time in six seasons, only this time the prize is a franchise-changing talent.

The Oilers on Saturday night earned the right to pick Connor McDavid first overall at the draft this June in Sunrise, Fla.

McDavid is considered a once-in-a-generation talent like Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux and four-time Oilers Stanley Cup-winner Wayne Gretzky.

Oilers general manager Craig MacTavish said on a conference call that there would be “zero” chance of trading the top pick.

“Very dynamic player, open-ice game,” MacTavish said of McDavid. “He’s not only the most productive junior player but also the most dynamic.”

McDavid called it some of the most intense few minutes of his life as NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly revealed the teams that didn’t win before finally showing the Oilers logo on a gold card to indicate the winner.

“That minute where they’re picking out the cards, I think that’s the fastest my heart’s ever beated,” McDavid said.

With their three previous top picks in five years, Edmonton selected Taylor Hall (2010), Nail Yakupov (2011) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2012).

The Oilers have not made the playoffs since reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2006, but McDavid could instantly make them into a post-season contender.

(CP)
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GLENDALE, ARIZONA — The Arizona Coyotes announced today that the franchise now owns the third overall selection at the 2015 NHL Draft after this evening’s NHL Draft lottery in Toronto. In addition to selecting third overall, the Coyotes own Chicago’s first round draft choice as well as two draft choices in the second and third rounds and picks in the fifth and seventh round. The 2015 NHL Draft will take place at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida on June 26 & 27.

“We are very pleased to own the No. 3 overall selection in this year’s NHL Entry Draft,” said Coyotes Co-Owner, President and CEO Anthony LeBlanc. “This is a very talented, deep draft and with the third overall pick, General Manager Don Maloney and our hockey operations department will explore all of our team’s options and make the best decision that adds a great player to our young, talented nucleus of players. We are looking forward to the Draft in Florida!”

This marks the second time in franchise history that the club has owned the third overall selection in the NHL Draft. The Coyotes drafted Kyle Turris third overall in the 2007 NHL Draft.

Other notable No. 3 picks selected in the NHL Draft since 1999 include Henrik Sedin (1999), Marian Gaborik (2000), Jay Bouwmeester (2002), Nathan Horton (2003), Jonathan Toews (2006), Matt Duchene (2009) and Alex Galchenyuk (2012).

After finishing in 29th place during the 2014-15 NHL season, the Coyotes owned a 66.5% chance of moving down a position and being awarded the third overall pick.

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Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

2016 should see ALL Canadian based teams in the play-offs.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

He’ll be gone once he can become an unrestricted FA, or not sign with he Oilers. No one wants to play there.

For all conspiracy theorists out there, Katz was rewarded for his new arena.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

no bettman does not like this one bit im thinking.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Eric Lindros the second (google his draft year 1991 and Quebec Nordiques)

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

This absolutely means that one of the Oilers young forwards is gone. Maybe Eberle will be the lucky one!

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Unfortunately, he will not make them better — not as long as the "old boys" run this thing… keep buying tickets Oiler fans….

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

BEST NEWS OF THE WEEKEND!

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

he looked like someone just told him his dog died afterwards. the other 2 must have been hi 5ing to fact they were not going to deadmonton next winter.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

If you are high fiving about not having to go to edmonton it means you have never been to Buffalo

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

He really did look saddened and shocked on live tv after the Oilers won lotto

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Mike Babcock next…

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Congrats to the Oilers and to the city of edmonton! A very classy city indeed! Glad that teams like Buffalo and Arizona didn't get this pick. Purposely tanking a season in order to get a higher draft pick is classless! Karma had been served!

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Yep. I got a kick out of the Buffalo GM crying that his fans had been through so much. Yeah moron, your the GM. YOUR THE ONE THAT TRADED BITH YOUR GOALIES AT THE TRADEDEADLINE.

Karmas a beoch!

GO OIL

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

The question is; How will Lowe and MacTavish screw up this kid?

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Regina is suddenly, once again an Oiler town! The future looks grand indeed.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

I feel sorry for McDavid. What a horrible fate.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

I'm not a fan of any team in the bottom five but when I heard edmonton won the first overall pick again and will now pick 1st for the 4th time in 6 years I got sick to my stomach..seriously!! The oilers are easily the worst organization in the NHL, there should be an "edmonton" clause in the lottery preventing one team from sucking up all this young talent into their black hole of a team! If this kid really is as good as Crosby and had the skills to be the next superstar of the NHL, I feel terrible… Read more »

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Kid looked dejected at the announcement that Edmonton won. He can exercise his right and not sign with Edmonton and play junior for another 2 years, or pull a Lindros and just say he won’t play in Edmonton ever.

McDavid pulling a Lindros after Edmonton won 4 of the past 6 #1 overall spots would be karma!

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Regina becoming an "Oiler" town says a lot about Regina. Why cheer for a loser Canadian team? There are lots of loser American based teams that need fans. This mentality that u live in Canada so u have to cheer for a Canadian team is stupid. "Team Canada" is the only Canadian Team that applies to.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago
Reply to  Anonymous

Support Canadian teams. It's what real Canadians do. Not the wannabe Americans who live in Canada like you. There's lots of losers just like you out there. Do us a favor and shut your mouth and watch your Blackhawks or Ducks play in silent.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

While I realize social media is where some weak people go to feel strong, I have never seen such across the internet hatred for one team and one city, based on a draft pick, in all my many years.

The "nobody wants to play in Edmonton", and "he will never reach his potential in Edmonton" opinions are truly ironic on a predominantly Saskatchewan Roughriders page.

Anonymous
Anonymous
9 years ago

Instead of Rider Green on the blog today, it's Green with Jealousy.,,McDavid is an Oiler..suck it!!!