Top 5 moments from the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft
Although it was a mostly uneventful night overall, Hockey Twitter was in fine form during Round 1 of the NHL draft Friday.
There were still a few special moments — both hockey and non-hockey related — involving mainly Canadian clubs as 31 teenaged players finally found out where their NHL home will be. Like usual, media and fans had a time chiming in on all the antics.
Here’s the Top 5 moments and storylines from Day 1 on the draft floor:
The trades that didn’t happen
Aside from the Capitals sending Goaltender Philipp Grubauer along with blueliner Brooks Orpik to the Colorado Avalanche in a salary-dump move aimed at clearing some space to re-sign John Carlson, and a few teams swapping picks late in the first round, it was all but dead on the trade front as names rumoured to be available — Erik Karlsson, Wayne Simmonds, Artemi Panarin, etc. — all stayed put.
Thought Skinner, Pacioretty, Lucic among others woulda been moved by now. Kinda disappointed in lack of trade action, but no way #Habs keep and make all 4 picks in 2nd round. #NHLDraft
— Rod Francis (@InRodWeTrustMTL) June 23, 2018
So will this year's draft be like any other drafts recently… all kinda trade talks but no action? #NHLDraft
— Biz 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@HommedePaix1) June 22, 2018
Per Chayka, it was the quietest he'd seen things ahead of the draft. Said he made a couple calls and no one was really doing much.
— Caatta Silverman (@catmsilverman) June 23, 2018
Sad/confused Montreal fan(s)
The Montreal Canadiens desperately needed to draft a player who would make an almost immediate impact down the middle with their No. 3 overall pick, and the team did just that with the selection of the top-ranked centreman in the draft. Jesperi Kotkaniemi could very well turn out to be that franchise middle man the Habs have been coveting for the better part of a decade, but a few confused Canadiens fans showed that in their minds, GM Marc Bergevin can’t do anything right.
Montreal Canadiens fans be like… pic.twitter.com/gjGCdvIgwV
— ǝsıʍ sıɹɥɔ (@wischr) June 23, 2018
Montreal fans don't appear to enjoy their team selecting Jesperi Kotkaniemi at third overall pic.twitter.com/gfRifyFMgw
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) June 23, 2018
I guess Montreal fans weren’t happy with that pick 😂😂😂
— Alissa Green (@SJsharksfan_44) June 23, 2018
Montreal Canadiens fan base is disgusting. Already complaining about Jesperi kotkaniemi like they're such experts. Which hockey degrees do u have? Ea sports experience?
— Phil (@Huet39Price31) June 23, 2018
Tkachuk family celebrates
Brady became the third member of the Tkachuk clan to be drafted to the NHL and the third time since 1990 that one went in the first round. Father Keith was taken 19th overall 28 years ago, while older brother Matthew was chosen by the Flames at No. 6 in 2016. All were on hand to see the Boston University product land with the Ottawa Senators with the fourth overall selection.
Hugs all around for the Tkachuk family. pic.twitter.com/Rr81n7fL2C
— Cristiano Simonetta (@CMS_74_) June 23, 2018
.@TKACHUKycheese_ wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to chirp his brother. 😂#NHLDraft #MeetTheFuture https://t.co/pjhOGc2TfA
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 23, 2018
#braggingrights pic.twitter.com/Rko2FZO0wB
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) June 23, 2018
Let's take a look at some Tkachuk family highlights, shall we? #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/LsJn4xDEMx
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) June 22, 2018
Jim Benning’s hair
The Vancouver Canucks got their coveted defenceman after selecting Quinn Hughes with the No. 7 overall pick on Friday, but unfortunately for the Michigan University product, it was his new general manager’s egregiously dyed, jet-black flow that stole the draft-floor spotlight.
Jim Benning out here taking a break from playing the Penguin in a Vancouver children’s theatre production of Batman pic.twitter.com/2bl1dMTNd5
— John Cullen (@cullenthecomic) June 23, 2018
Jim Benning dies his hair 😂 pic.twitter.com/nzPewxnmJk
— Chris Levesque (@LevesQ71) June 23, 2018
Jim Benning looks like Dracula.
— Jeff O'Neill (@odognine2) June 23, 2018
Jim Benning looks like the body in every open casket funeral I've attended.
— huge footy fan innit (@DreamofJanney) June 23, 2018
Evan Bouchard falls to the Oilers
Arguably the second most NHL-ready blueliner available, the Oilers were gifted the offensively adept, right-handed defenceman they’ve been coveting after Bouchard shockingly fell to No. 10 overall. His 1.30 points-per-game pace (92 in 71 games) with London of the OHL last season is the highest offensive clip from a defenceman in their draft year since the mid-2000s.
Love the Oilers’ pick of Evan Bouchard. Most mature defenseman in the draft other than Dahlin
— Matt Larkin (@THNMattLarkin) June 23, 2018
I never expected Evan Bouchard to be available at #10. I dig this a whole lot. -bm
— OilersNation.com (@OilersNation) June 23, 2018
Two things to keep in mind on Evan Bouchard:
1. He's an October birthday, so he'll be 19 almost when the season starts.
2. He's 6'2" / 196, so physically mature.It's way too early for this, but it's at least possible he makes the Oilers out of camp.
— Jonathan Willis (@JonathanWillis) June 23, 2018
There’s always a prospect that I end up falling in love with after endless hours on YouTube looking at highlights the week of the draft. That guy this year…Evan Bouchard
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) June 22, 2018