Silver Nuggets: Senators fall to sixth pick but will try to trade up; Playoffs start tonight
The NHL playoffs start tonight without the Ottawa Senators. It is a bitter, bitter feeling. Sure there will be some good games, but it's just not the same without your team. My prediction by the way, is Washington over Detroit in the final.
In any case though, the playoffs are just filler to pass the time until the draft. Sadly for the Senators, last night's draft lottery ended in the worst possible scenario as the New Jersey Devils won the lottery with a 3.6% probability to jump to fourth position. The Senators dropped to sixth position after staring at the second pick for most of the season and even a brief flirtation with the top pick. Still Bryan Murray has a good draft record in the first round, so we should hopefully get a good player. Although, the likelihood of him playing next season is probably less likely.
Also, as a small consolation, the Senators only drop to sixth in the first round. In the second and later rounds, we pick fifth. The Senators first round pick from Nashville is currently the 21st, if the Predators lose in the conference final it will become 27th or 28th, if the Predators lose in the Stanley Cup final it will be 29th, and if Mike Fisher lifts the cup, it will be 30th. There is also the possibility of the pick moving up from 21st, if the teams below them make the conference final. For example, a New York/Buffalo and Los Angeles/Chicago conference final would result in the Nashville pick becoming 17th.
Here are today's links:
General Sens News
- The Sens dropped to sixth spot. While we were all disappointed, think of poor Mark who had a whole article on historical #5 picks, which then had to be changed to #6. Still, he has a good look at potential players we can pick. (Silver Seven Sens)
- Bryan Murray decides that losing the lottery won't result in the club moving to Birmingham, Alabama. He also indicated he might try to move up into the #3 or #4 spot. (Citizen, Sun)
- Here are three players that the Senators might be able to pick. Jonathon Huberdeau, Ryan Strome or Sean Couturier. (Sun)
- And here are TSN's rankings of the Top 10 players in the draft. (TSN)
- If you still want to make your series predictions, you can do before 7:00 p.m. tonight. (Silver Seven Sens)/
Playoff news after the jump.
Playoff News
There are five games tonight. I will be alternating between the French Federal Leaders debate and the Capitals/Rangers game. We will have an open thread to discuss the following games and laugh at our politicians.
- 8) New York Rangers at 1) Washington Capitals
- 5) Tampa Bay Lightning at 4) Pittsburgh Penguins
- 8) Chicago Blackhawks at 1) Vancouver Canucks
- 6) Phoenix Coyotes at 3) Detroit Red Wings
- 5) Nashville Predators at 4) Anaheim Ducks
Links
- Here are Puck Daddy's Playoff Predictions. Five predict the Canucks win the Stanley Cup, two predict the Detroit Red Wings and one predicts the Boston Bruins. (Yahoo!)
- Here is an interview with Alexander Semin. If he is available next year, I want him badly. Yes he is Russian, and he's not tough, but I don't really care. He would be awesome with Jason Spezza. Oh and he is very flashy with his skills and provides great entertainment, I like that. He also tends to destroy Ottawa when he plays us, with 12 goals in 17 career games against Ottawa. (Yahoo!)
- Mike Green is expected to return from injury tonight for Game 1. (Sporting News)
- Niklas Kronwall is expected to return tonight but Henrik Zetterberg is out. (CBC)
- Sidney Crosby is still out indefinitely. Gary Bettman tried to have a court order delaying the start of the playoffs until Crosby was ready, however the courts ruled in Tampa Bay's favour. Okay, the last part may not be entirely official. (CBC.ca)
- Chris Pronger is doubtful for Game 1. (CBC.ca)