JOHN ALLEN

NHL draft 2017: Winners, losers from a wild week (through Round 1)

Kevin Allen
USA TODAY

CHICAGO — The Arizona Coyotes had no coach, no goalie and no captain heading into the 2017 NHL draft. But they had a general manager who isn’t timid about making deals to improve his team.

Derek Stepan will become the Arizona Coyotes' first-line center.

GM John Chayka became one of the big winners at Friday’s draft when he made two bold trades to acquire a new defensive partner for Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Niklas Hjalmarsson, a starting goalie in Antti Raanta and a new top center in Derek Stepan. (He also drafted defenseman Pierre-Olivier Joseph with the No. 23 pick.)

“This organization has been looking for a No. 1 centerman for more than a decade and he can fill that hole,” Chayka said.

Chayka said that the allure of Stepan was his all-around game. He can play on the power play, kill penalties and win faceoffs. “He checks all of the boxes as a top-line center for us,” Chayka said.

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The Rangers were looking to improve their cap space outlook, and Stepan had four years remaining on a deal paying $6.5 million per season. The Coyotes gave up the No. 7 pick to the New York Rangers in the draft for Stepan and Raanta.

“There was a large group of goalies in the (unrestricted free agent) and trade market, but (Raanta) was at the top of our list,” Chayka said. "It wasn’t like he was in the top five. He was the top guy in our analysis.”

Hjalmarsson will be a defensive specialist that gives Ekman-Larsson more freedom to use his offensive talents. Chayka also liked Hjalmarsson’s three Stanley Cup rings.

“We need winners,” Chayka said.

The Coyotes gave up Connor Murphy and Laurent Dauphin to land Hjalmarsson.

Chayka’s deals couldn’t have come at a better time because the franchise had been overrun by bad publicity. The cause of the criticism and second-guessing: They traded starting goalie Mike Smith. They announced they weren’t bringing back popular captain Shane Doan; plus, it wasn’t handled in a way that made everyone happy. On Thursday, it was announced that coach Dave Tippett was leaving through mutual agreement.

“When you have endured what we have in Arizona, it wears on you,” Chayka said. “It’s tough, it’s not easy for anybody.”

Here is a look at the other winners/losers of draft week (through Round 1; Rounds 2-7 will be completed Saturday):

Loser: Hjalmarsson

This has to be difficult for Hjalmarsson. He has spent all 10 seasons of his career in Chicago where he played 623 regular season games and 128 playoff games. He’s leaving all of his friends and the team he won three Cups with to play for a team that has made the playoffs three times since 2003.

Winner: Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman

Regardless if you like the two major trades that Bowman made Friday, there’s no denying that Bowman works diligently at keeping the Blackhawks in contention.

The Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, and Bowman pushes as if he is trying to win his first.

In the name of becoming younger, and perhaps hungrier, Bowman swung two trades Friday. He acquired Murphy, 24, from the Arizona and Dauphin, 22, for Hjalmarsson, 30.

He also reacquired Brandon Saad, 24, for Artemi Panarin, 25. They gain in age and contract certainty. More importantly, they bring back a player who is a perfect fit to play with Jonathan Toews.

Loser: Edmonton Oilers

Maybe this is nitpicking considering that GM Peter Chiarelli has done a commendable job pushing the Oilers in the right direction, but shouldn’t they have gotten more for Jordan Eberle this week?

While it is true that Eberle hasn’t lived up to his potential and his $6 million salary was an issue, he's a five-time 20-goal scorer. He’s still only 27.

In return, the Oilers landed Ryan Strome, a 23-year-old who has never reached 20 goals, from the New York Islanders. He is making $2.5 million in the upcoming season.

Winner: Vegas Golden Knights

After winning league-wide praise for his work in the expansion draft and his side trades, Vegas GM George McPhee had a strong day at the draft table.

He used the No. 6 pick to select Cody Glass, a creative center from the Western Hockey League. With pick No.13, the Golden Knights picked up Nick Suzuki, a high-scoring center from the Ontario Hockey League.

At No. 15, they went with Eric Brannstrom, a dynamic, puck-carrying Swedish defenseman. 

Suzuki is 5-foot-11, 195 pounds, and some scouts had him ranked in the top five. He had 45 goals and 96 points in 65 games. Everyone knows he has impressive skill, but no one was willing to pull the trigger until McPhee did.

It was like in 1987 when the highly skilled Joe Sakic, the same size as Suzuki, lasted until pick No. 15.

Loser: Colorado Avalanche

The Coyotes missed the playoffs and they are changing their coach, their goalie, and several players on their roster.

Bowman is miffed enough about being swept in the first round that he made two major trades. GM Garth Snow is being aggressive with the Islanders. The Rangers are changing on the fly.

The Avalanche were the NHL’s worst team by far last season and we’ve seen no signs that they are taking steps to change that.

No one is suggesting they have to trade Matt Duchene, but shouldn’t they be showing signs of life?

The draft is the place where you make something happen. Cale Makar (No. 4 pick) might be the defenseman they need up the road, but they need to do something now.

Winner: St. Louis Blues

One of general manager Doug Armstrong’s objectives was shedding the $4.7 million contract of Jori Lehtera, who hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Somehow Armstrong was able to achieve that and bring in Brayden Schenn to replace him up front. This is the same Schenn who has scored 51 goals over the past two seasons. He will carry a $5.125 million cap hit for the next three seasons.

Armstrong also turned tough guy Ryan Reaves into a first-round pick and young center Oskar Sundqvist by trading him to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Loser: Philadelphia Flyers

It’s hard to like this trade from the Flyers’ perspective, even though they ended up with two first-round picks. The second first-rounder is contingent on the pick not being in the top 10.

Schenn generates offense and Lehtera’s value has decreased dramatically. Schenn is only 25. Aren't the Flyers supposed to rise up next season? Those first-round picks better yield good results.