Here you will find part two of Robert Rice and my 60 pick mock of the 2013 NHL Draft. You can see part one (picks 1-30) here. The Canadiens select 34th, 36th, and 55th. There is obviously also the possibility to trade up, but we will not cover that. Without further ado, here are picks 31-61 (including Winnipeg's compensatory pick for not signing Daulton Leveille). I had the odd picks, Robert had the evens.

31. Florida Panthers: LW Kerby Rychel, Windsor Spirfires (OHL) - see profile

6'1", 205 lbs, shoots left. 68 GP, 40 G, 47 A, 87 PTS, 94 PIM

"A first round pick on most draft boards, the Panthers are ecstatic when the Spitfires power forward falls to them here. Rychel struggled at times when linemate Alex Khokhlachev went down to injury, but still projects to be a solid top-9 winger." - Arik

32. Colorado Avalanche: G Zach Fucale, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) - see profile

6'1", 175 lbs, catches left. 55 GP, 2.35 GAA, .909 sv%, 2 shutouts.

"The top-ranked goalie for the 2013 Draft slips into the 2nd round, the QMJHL and Memorial Cup Champion goaltender is picked up by Colorado, who are quite familiar with his pedigree thanks to insight from new Head Coach and Hockey Operations VP Patrick Roy." - Robert

33. Tampa Bay Lightning: D Shea Theodore, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

6'2", 175 lbs, shoots left. 71 GP, 19 G, 31 A, 50 PTS, 32 PIM.

"The offensive defenseman from Seattle of the WHL has flown under the radar despite solid offensive numbers the past two years. It's no secret the Lightning need defensive help so following the pick of Nichushkin that's what they'll attempt to add." - Arik

34. Montreal Canadiens: LW Emile Poirier, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) - see profile

6'1", 185 lbs, shoots left. 65 GP, 32 G, 38 A, 70 PTS, 101 PIM.

"The Canadiens find it fortuitious once again to dip into the local talent pool with the speedy and skilled Poirier. He led a weak Gatineau Olympiques in scoring this past season and fits well into the Canadiens philosophy of playing a speed-based game." - Robert

35. Carolina Hurricanes: D Ian McCoshen, Waterloo BlackHawks (USHL)

6'3", 205 lbs, shoots left. 53 GP, 11 G, 33 A, 44 PTS, 48 PIM.

"GM Jim Rutherford gets the forward he wants early in Barkov, and now drafts a shutdown defenseman for the future. McCoshen becomes the first player in 2013 selected out of the growing USHL, and will be in good hands at Boston College in the fall." - Arik

36. Montreal Canadiens: RW Jacob De La Rose, Leksand (Allsvenskan)

6'2", 190 lbs, shoots left. 38 GP, 6 G, 6 A, 12 PTS, 31 PIM.

"The Canadiens have shown a renewed interest in Sweden and decide to dip into the talent pool once more, picking up the two-way power forward whose complete profile at a young age is of great interest." - Robert

37. Edmonton Oilers: C Nic Petan, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

5'9", 165 lbs, shoots left. 71 GP, 46 G, 74 A, 120 PTS, 43 PIM.

"While defense is a major concern at the NHL level, the Oilers like their secondary defensive prospects enough to take a risk here with Portland's extremely undersized centre. Petan tied for the WHL lead in scoring, but he'll have to overcome his frame to succeed at the top level." - Arik

38. Buffalo Sabres: RW Michael McCarron, Under-18 (US NTDP)

6'5", 225 lbs, shoots right. 56 GP, 14 G, 20 A, 34 PTS, 176 PIM.

"Buffalo's Darcy Regier decides to invest in a potential power forward option in McCarron that as the giant winger matures into his body his offensive upside will catch up and will become a reliable power forward for the organization." - Robert

39. New Jersey Devils: RW Artturi Lehkonen, KalPa (SM-liiga)

5'10", 160 lbs, shoots left. 45 GP, 14 G, 16 A, 30 PTS, 12 PIM.

"Lou Lamouriello selects the skilled winger out of Finland, who has struggled with concussions recently but has all the tools to be a top-6 forward if he can recover, as his numbers in the SM-Liiga aren't far off what top-five pick Barkov has managed to produce." - Arik

40. Dallas Stars: C J.T. Compher, Under-18 (US NTDP)

5'11, 175 lbs, shoots right. 47 GP, 15 G, 27 A, 42 PTS, 45 PIM.

"The Stars pick up a minor slider in Compher out of the US National Team Development Program, who brings a solid two-way game with him and a respectable skill set. A high-character player who was named the captain of his team this past season." - Robert

41. Philadelphia Flyers: G Eric Comrie, Tri-City Americans (WHL) - see profile

6'1", 175 lbs, catches left. 37 GP, 2.62 GAA, .915 sv%, 2 shutouts.

"Continuing their look for stability in goal for the future, the Flyers add some depth by selecting the Tri-City keeper (and brother of Mr. Hillary Duff) who put up impressive numbers in the WHL after being handed the starting job in mid-season." - Arik

42. Phoenix Coyotes: C Laurent Dauphin, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

6'0", 170 lbs, shoots left. 62 GP, 25 G, 32 A, 57 PTS, 50 PIM.

Coming up short on promising offensive talent in the system, it is a fortuitous opportunity for the Coyotes to land a player such as Dauphin. The shifty scoring centre was a leading source of offence for the Chicoutimi Saguenéens and a contributing member of Canada's IIHF Under-18 Gold Medal team.

43. Winnipeg Jets: D Dillon Heatherington, Swift Current Broncos (WHL)

6'4", 200 lbs, shoots left. 71 GP, 4 G, 23 A, 27 PTS, 80 PIM.

"The Jets add a solid defensive prospect in Heatherington who brings a strong work ethic and an all-around game that features strong penalty killing, above-average physical play, and the ability to chip in offense." - Arik

44. Columbus Blue Jackets: LW Jason Dickinson, Guelph Storm (OHL)

6'1", 175 lbs, shoots left. 66 GP, 18 G, 29 A, 47 PTS, 31 PIM.

"Columbus adds on to their skill quotient even further in this draft by picking up the skilled centre out of Guelph, his agility and talents as a finisher fit with the Columbus GM Kekalainen's preference for the best skill you can find in a draft." - Robert

45. Anaheim Ducks: RW Justin Bailey, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

6'3", 185 lbs, shoots right. 57 GP, 17 G, 19 A, 36 PTS, 34 PIM.

"The Ducks select the son of former NFL linebacker Carlton Bailey, a high upside pick with a significant injury history. If he progresses as hoped, Bailey could become a potent power forward at the NHL level, but he is very much a project pick." - Arik

46. Minnesota Wild: D Tommy Vannelli, Minnetonka HS (USHS)

6'2", 175 lbs, shoots right. 27 GP, 10 G, 25 A, 35 PTS, 14 PIM.

"The Wild decide to invest in the local crop in Vanelli who has just finished his time in the Minnesota High School circuit, the two-way defencemen is set to start with the University of Minnesota next season, where he will bring a very smart game that is blended with good hands and fluid skating ability." - Robert

47. Detroit Red Wings: C Marko Dano, HC Slovan Bratislava (KHL)

5'11", 185 lbs, shoots left. 37 GP, 3 G, 4 A, 7 PTS, 26 PIM.

"GM Ken Holland dips back into the European pool, selecting World Juniors standout (with 9 points in 6 games) Dano, a Slovakian centre playing in the KHL. Dano is another project pick, as he will need to bulk up to be successful, but Detroit is willing to wait." - Arik

48. St. Louis Blues: RW Pavel Buchnevich, Severstal Cherepovets (KHL)

6'1", 170 lbs, shoots left. 12 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 PTS, 0 PIM.

"Confident with their abiity to recruit European talent, the Blues decide to pick up the quick and crafty Russian sniper with appealing upside who falls this far in the draft order mostly to do with concerns about his possibly not coming over to North America." - Robert

49. San Jose Sharks: G Tristan Jarry, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL) - see profile

6'2", 180 lbs, catches left. 27 GP, 1.61 GAA, .936 sv%, 6 shutouts.

"Armed with the first of two consecutive picks, GM Doug Wilson selects one of the consensus top goalies in the draft to reenforce a pool that has seen guys like Thomas Greiss and most recently Alex Stalock graduate from prospect status." - Arik

50. San Jose Sharks: C Jimmy Lodge, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

6'2", 170 lbs, shoots right. 64 GP, 28 G, 39 A, 67 PTS, 28 PIM.

"With the 2nd of his consecutive picks, Doug Wilson selects a potential scoring centre in Lodge. The two-way centre is a creative playmaker and possesses a hard shot and brings a welcome depth addition to a team looking to get it's prospect core reinforced." - Robert

51. Toronto Maple Leafs: D Jordan Subban, Belleville Bulls (OHL) - see profile

5'9", 175 lbs, shoots right. 68 GP, 15 G, 36 A, 51 PTS, 47 PIM.

"The Leafs complete the tri-fecta of rival Subbans as they grab the Ontario native and high-flying offensive defenseman from the OHL. The youngest Subban lacks the physicality of his eldest sibling and there are serious questions about his size and defensive awareness, but he has the potential to be a star." - Arik

52. Buffalo Sabres: C Connor Hurley, Edina (USHS)

6'0", 180 lbs, shoots left. 31 GP, 20 G, 32 A, 52 PTS, 10 PIM.

"The thought you can never have too many centres is a bit appropriate here as the Sabres add to their depth at the position with the industrious two-way playmaking centre who was well-travelled this past season playing in Minnesota High School Hockey, the US National Team Development Program and the USHL. He is committed to the University of Notre Dame." - Robert

53. Washington Capitals: LW William Carrier, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)

6'1", 205 lbs, shoots left. 34 GP, 16 G, 26 A, 42 PTS, 41 PIM.

"The Caps pounce on the Cape Breton winger who has produced at more than a point-per-game pace two years in a row on an awful team. Unfortunately, he got injured early on this past season and therefore it's been tough to predict whether he can keep up the same pace, as his shooting percentage was unsustainably high." - Arik

54. Dallas Stars: RW Oliver Bjorkstrand, Portland Winterhawks (WHL)

5'11", 165 lbs, shoots right. 65 GP, 31 G, 32 A, 63 PTS, 10 PIM.

"One of the most proficient snipers in the draft, the Dallas Stars look to further build up their offensive pipeline with the agile skater with excellent snap and wrist shots and plays stronger than his 5'10" frame would suggest. He also shows some defensive awareness." - Robert

55. Montreal Canadiens: G Philippe Desrosiers, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) - see profile

6'1", 185 lbs, catches left. 43 GP, 3.07 GAA, .900 sv%, 0 shutouts.

"The Canadiens take another player out of Rimouski; this time it's their goalie, who models his game after Carey Price. The local boy put up decent stats and showed good consistent athletic ability in his first full year in the QMJHL, and performed very well in winning the U-18 championships. Desrosiers is a project pick, like all goalies, but seems to have the mental makeup to have a shot at the NHL." - Arik

56. Edmonton Oilers: RW Nick Baptiste, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

6'1", 195 lbs, shoots right. 66 GP, 21 G, 27 A, 48 PTS, 44 PIM.

"Edmonton chooses to muscle up with the power forward frame of Baptiste who does his best work within 10 feet of the net and is a relentless forechecker with a solid physical frame. He shows decent hands and has shown some growing defensive ability." - Robert

57. Los Angeles Kings: RW Marc-Olivier Roy, Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)

6'1", 180 lbs, shoots left. 65 GP, 29 G, 38 A, 67 PTS, 68 PIM.

"GM Dean Lombardi selects the talented right winger out of Blainville-Boisbriand who capped a breakout season with a sizzling 16 points in 9 playoff games. Works well within his limitations as a complete player without top grade consistent offensive skills." - Arik

58. San Jose Sharks: D Gustav Olofsson, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

6'2", 190 lbs, shoots left. 63 GP, 2 G, 21 A, 23 PTS, 59 PIM.

"Doug Wilson makes judicious use of another of his acquired draft picks to build up a San Jose system that needs fresh blood with Olofsson. The Green Bay Gamblers product brings solid two-way ability to a team backed by good skating, good hockey sense and a sound positional game." - Robert

59. Winnipeg Jets: RW Zach Nastasiuk, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

6'1", 190 lbs, shoots right. 62 GP, 20 G, 20 A, 40 PTS, 32 PIM.

"Nastasiuk, son of former CFLer Paul Nastasiuk, was set back by a shoulder injury this past season, but still put up decent numbers and is projected as a potential third-line gritty forward with the ability to chip in secondary offense while providing energy." - Arik

60. Boston Bruins: RW Nick Sorensen, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

6'1", 175 lbs, shoots right. 46 GP, 20 G, 27 A, 47 PTS, 18 PIM.

"Boston forfeits Pick No. 60 out of guilt over being such jerks.

Really though...

Boston looks to add some speed to their system with the selection of Sorensen. The quick-footed winger mixes his skating abilities with good hands that allow him to get off a very good shot or execute on passing plays." - Robert

61. Winnipeg Jets: RW Hudson Fasching, Under-18 (US NTDP)

6'3", 215 lbs, shoots right. 65 GP, 11 G, 23 A, 34 PTS, 58 PIM.

"With this compensation pick, the Jets go with the big bodied forward out of the US NTDP. He's an inconsistent forward with below average skating but his size, shot, and ability to drive the net yield a tempting package and he performed well for his country at the U-18s." - Arik

Conducted between June 5^th and June 25^th (hey, we had to wait until the playoffs ended to get the draft order all set), the hockey blogs of SB Nation have completed our NHL mock draft for the season.

Below you'll find all 30 picks for the 1^st round of the draft. I think the most noteworthy selection is the #1 pick. Mile High Hockey had a better idea of the Colorado Avalanche's intentions than the general press up until Joe Sakic and Patrick Roy let it be known they wanted to select Nathan Mackinnon #1 overall.

Along with the list of 30 picks, we link to each and every post for the selections. You'll also see a listing of the team-blog name - those blogs were responsile for their teams pick).

1. Colorado (Mile High Hockey): Nathan MacKinnon
2. Florida (Litter Box Cats): Jonathan Drouin
3. Tampa Bay (Raw Charge): Seth Jones
4. Nashville (On the Forecheck): Aleksander Barkov
5. Carolina (Canes Country): Valeri Nichushkin
6. Calgary (Matchsticks and Gasoline): Sean Monahan
7. Edmonton (Copper and Blue): Elias Lindholm
8. Buffalo (Die by the Blade): Darnell Nurse
9. New Jersey (In Lou we Trust): Hunter Shinkaruk
10. Dallas (Defending Big D): Rasmus Ristolainen
11. Philadelphia (Broad Street Hockey): Mirco Mueller
12. Phoenix (Five for Howling): Bo Horvat
13. Winnipeg (Arctic Ice Hockey): Kerby Rychel
14. Columbus (Jackets Cannon): Max Domi
15. NY Islanders (Lighthouse Hockey): Alexander Wennberg
16. Buffalo: Frederik Gauthier
17. Ottawa (Silver Seven Sens): Ryan Pulock
18: Detroit (Winging it in Motown): Anthony Mantha
19. Columbus: Valentin Zykov
20. San Jose (Fear the Fin): Andre Burakowsky
21. Toronto (Pension Plan Puppets): Nikita Zadorov
22. Calgary: Shea Theodore
23. Washington (Japers' Rink): J.T. Compher
24. Vancouver (Nucks Misconduct): Adam Erne
25. Montreal (Eyes on the Prize): Josh Morrissey
26. Anaheim (Anaheim Calling): Robert Hagg
27. Columbus: Ryan Hartman
28. Calgary: Artturi Lehkonen
29. Dallas: Nicolas Petan
30. Chicago (Second City Hockey): Morgan Klimchuk

(note: any player that is not hyperlinked, I could not locate the story that the blog in question was supposed to publish regarding their pick)

Hello and welcome, it's been too long since we've had a live thread! As with last year, we'll update you on picks within the thread, but I'm only going to do that for the first round, after the first round things move really quickly.

Of course we'll have write ups on who the Habs draft as soon as possible.

Tweets from @HabsEOTP/eyes-on-the-prize-authors

The Columbus Blue Jackets are nearing a contract extension with restricted free agent goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN on Sunday afternoon.

Bobrovsky is believed to be looking for a substantial raise following an impressive showing in the truncated 48-game 2013 season, which culminated in the 24-year-old goaltender winning the Vezina Trophy as the league's best at the position.

LeBrun's report comes in contrast to one from Darren Dreger of TSN, which stated that the Blue Jackets were listening to offers for Bobrovsky's services as the two sides seemingly failed to find common ground on an extension. Dreger reports that he is looking to earn an annual average salary of $6 million per season.

According to a foreign language report, Bobrovsky has received an offer from Russia's Kontinental Hockey League that would pay him $10 million annually. It is widely believed that he wants to remain in the NHL.

More in the NHL:

Follow @SBNationNHL

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

• The complete draft order

• Photos: Chicago’s Stanley Cup parade

• The best of our hockey network

If you want to follow the draft and don't have TSN or NBC Sports stations you can listen it live on NHL.com's feed (they're streaming it including interviews etc.).

Bleacher Report has a solid mock draft list.

I fully expect the NHL draft to A) be less exciting than this year's NBA draft and B) to garner fewer comments than our NBA draft thread did. Prove me wrong.

Even though I live in the Hockey State (

From the BR link above (mock draft):

1. Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon, C, Halifax (QMJHL)

2. Florida Panthers: Seth Jones, D, Portland (WHL)

3. Tampa Bay Lightning: Jonathan Drouin, LW, Halifax (QMJHL)

4. Nashville Predators: Aleksander Barkov, C, Tappara (SML)

5. Carolina Hurricanes: Valeri Nichushkin, RW, Dynamo Moscow (KHL)

6. Calgary Flames: Sean Monahan, C, Ottawa (OHL)

7. Edmonton Oilers: Rasmus Ristolainen, D, TPS (SML)

8. Buffalo Sabres: Elias Lindholm, C, Brynas (SEL)

9. New Jersey Devils: Hunter Shinkaruk, LW, Medicine Hat (WHL)

10. Dallas Stars: Max Domi, C, London (OHL)

11. Philadelphia Flyers: Darnell Nurse, D, Sault Ste. Marie (OHL)

12. Phoenix Coyotes: Bo Horvat, C, London (OHL)

13. Winnipeg Jets: Nikita Zadorov, D, London (OHL)

14. Columbus Blue Jackets: Ryan Hartman, RW, Plymouth (OHL)

15. New York Islanders: Alexander Wennberg, C, Djurgardens (SEL)

16. Buffalo Sabres (via MIN): Adam Erne, LW, Quebec (QMJHL)

17. Ottawa Senators: Ryan Pulock, D, Brandon (WHL)

18. Detroit Red Wings: Josh Morrissey, D, Prince Albert (WHL)

19. Columbus Blue Jackets (via NYR): Mirco Mueller, D, Everett (WHL)

20. San Jose Sharks: Curtis Lazar, C, Edmonton (WHL)

21. Toronto Maple Leafs: Kerby Rychel, LW, Windsor (OHL)

22. Calgary Flames (via STL): Zach Fucale, G, Halifax (QMJHL)

23. Washington Capitals: Samuel Morin, D, Rimouski (QMJHL)

24. Vancouver Canucks: Valentin Zykov, LW, Baie-Comeau (QMJHL)

25. Montreal Canadiens: Andre Burakovsky, LW, Malmo (SEL)

26. Anaheim Ducks: Steve Santini, D, U.S. (NTDP)

27. Columbus Blue Jackets (via LAK): Frederik Gauthier, C, Rimouski (QMJHL)

28. Calgary Flames (via PIT): Anthony Mantha, LW, Val-d'Or (QMJHL)

29. Dallas Stars (via BOS): Nicolas Petan, C, Portland (WHL)

30. Chicago Blackhawks: Morgan Klimchuk, C, Regina (WHL)

The Actual Picks:

With their first pick of the 2013 NHL Draft, the Jackets select Alexander Wennberg, from Djurgarden.

He gives the organization another talented young center, joining Artem Anisimov, Ryan Johansen and Boone Jenner. Wennberg projects as a 2/3 pivot, and is noted for his safe, all-around play. He has played on either wing as well, giving the Jackets serious flexibility.

For more on Wennberg, check out the profile we did on him.

I'm quite excited for this pick. The talent, the flexibility, his skating, his defensive ability- it's all there.

With their second of three first-round picks, the Jackets drafted winger Kerby Rychel of the Windsor Spitfires.

Rychel gives the Jackets another excellent forward, with offensive ability, physicality and high character. He and Boone Jenner are a match made in heaven as linemates.

For more on Rychel, check out his draft profile.

The thought of a player with NHL bloodlines in Rychel anchoring a future third line with Jenner is very exciting.

With their third pick of the first round, the Jackets drafted Marko Dano, who plays with Bratislava of the KHL.

He's a small, shifty forward who everybody fell in love with after a strong World Juniors for Slovakia. He's a very talented offensive player with a fantastic shot. He's top-six material.

His CHL rights are owned by the Prince George Cougars of the WHL, it will be interesting to see if the Jackets push for him to move overseas to continue his development in the 'Dub. Another Columbus prospect- 2012 third rounder Joonas Korpisalo- also has his rights owned by the Cougars.

For more on Dano, check out his draft profile.

After trading their second round pick (44th Overall) to the Penguins for the 50th and 89th overall picks, the Jackets used the 50th on defensive defenseman Dillon Heatherington. He's a shutdown blueliner with good size- 6'3" 196lbs. He was a member of Team Canada at the U-18s, and brings a steady presence to the back end.

The Jackets' prospect pipeline on defense is chock-full of good young players, and Heatherington adds to that group. Ranked 31st by Central Scouting, the Jackets got good value picking him up at 50th.

The Jackets went into the draft without a third-round pick, as it was sent to the Rangers as part of the Rick Nash deal. To remedy that, Jarmo Kekalainen swapped the 44th pick for the 50th choice (used on Dillon Heatherington) and the 89th pick, a third rounder.

With that third rounder, the Jackets pulled off a minor steal in drafting Dane Oliver Bjorkstrand of the Portland Winterhawks.

He's an undersized offensive forward playing in a terrific program in Portland. He needs to bulk up and work on his skating, but there is some serious potential there.

For more on Bjorkstrand, check out his draft profile.

After taking Kerby Rychel in the first round, the Jackets went back to the OHL with their fourth-round pick, taking power winger Nick Moutrey with the 105th pick of the draft.

Moutrey is a physical winger, who's willing to drop the mitts and go to war in the corners and in front of the net. He's got good size at 6'-2", 208lbs, and uses every ounce to inflict damage on the opposition. He played on a weak Saginaw team last season, and will look to take the next step as the Spirit improve next year.

He seems like a solid fourth-line player in the future, one who if he can improve his skating and develop his offensive game, can be a perfect replacement for Jared Boll down the line.

Name: Cole Cassels

Born: May 4, 1995 in Dublin, Ohio.

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 179 pounds

Position: Center

Shoots: Right

2012-13 Team: Oshawa Generals

His Father:Andrew Cassels. Super set-up guy. Gritty. Could pot goals too. Versatile.

Twitter:@ColeCassels19

Very excited to be part of the Vancouver Canucks organization!!

— Cole Cassels (@ColeCassels19) July 1, 2013

Stats:

Awards: Won bronze at the Under-17 World Hockey Championships in 2012. Played in the 2013 Canadian Hockey League Top Prospects game.

Scouting Report:

Via MyNHLDraft.com:

On a roster laden with offensive talents such as that of the Oshawa Generals, it is refreshing to see a player such as Cole Cassels flourish, one who prides himself on being more of an agitator and is a strong penalty killer. The son of former NHL player Andrew Cassels, Cole does not employ the same point production that his father had during his OHL career with the Ottawa 67's, but he has found himself to be useful in other ways. Cassels thrives on playing a physical game that allows him to be one of the more feared players on the ice when he is out there. He has really good skating ability and he is as tenacious as they come. His defensive game is quite sound and he has already demonstrated the leadership that his father had during his professional career. Cassels will find himself elevated to the top two lines in Oshawa next year with veterans such as Boone Jenner, Lucas Lessio and Scott Sabourin all leaving after this year. A player much like Sabourin himself, Cassels could surely find himself becoming more of an offensive producer as his ice time increases, especially if he is given the opportunity to play with Philadelphia Flyers first-rounder Scott Laughton, if the latter does not remain in the NHL next season. Cassels is a model teammate and he plays with such energy that it rubs off on all of his teammates.
Submitted by: Margann Laurissa - May 28th 2013

Via McKeen's Hockey:

...clever two-way pivot who displays good vision .. thinks ahead – anticipates plays before they happen .. particularly effective distributing the puck from the neutral zone .. executes accurate and crisp passes – both forehand and backhand – and requires minimal time and space – can make it look effortless .. propelled by a looping skating style and moderate first-step quickness .. could add power to his stride – straight-ahead speed is average at best, however these areas should improve with physical maturity and added leg strength .. defensive instincts are sound which earns him time on the penalty-killing unit .. shows no fear blocking shots or sacrificing his body .. can excel neutralizing opponents along the boards with solid hits and checks, yet isn’t overly large or powerful at six-foot and 180 pounds .. must guard against letdowns however as he can become static in his own end at times .. must continue to refine his faceoff technique – clearly falls behind on draws .. needs to be encouraged to be more selfish about exploiting shooting opportunities as he too often tends to operate in ‘pass-first’ mode .. should benefit from a more sheltered role playing behind Boone Jenner and Scott Laughton– and not having to face top-line opponents every night.

Favorite NHL Team:Columbus Blue Jackets

Favorite Player:Joe Thornton

Favorite Movie: Braveheart

Those little factoids and more at OshawaGenerals.com.

Cassels Video:

That's about all I could find on him.

Welcome to the club, Cole!

Sergei Bobrovsky is returning to Columbus after signing a two-year deal with the Blue Jackets. The 2013 Vezina Trophy winner agreed to a two-year contract with Columbus that will pay him nearly $6 million annually, according to Bob McKenzie.

Columbus acquired Bobrovsky from the Flyers prior to last season after the Russian struggled through two seasons in Philadelphia. But as soon as Bobrovsky pulled on a Blue Jackets sweater, he was phenomenal.

Bobrovsky went 21-11-6 in 2013 with a .932 save percentage and a 2.00 goals-against average. He was the centerpiece of the Blue Jackets' strong finish to the regular season and their biggest reason to believe that their play at the end of the season would carry over to 2013-14.

The contract negotiations for Bobrovsky were rocky, with the two sides starting so far apart that there were rumors he may not return to Columbus. He reportedly had an offer from a team in Russia's Kontinental Hockey League that would pay more $10 million annually and it was speculated that the Blue Jackets might trade him instead of re-signing him to what they believed was an outsized contract. But shortly after those rumors surfaced, the Blue Jackets made progress with their goaltender and now have their man between the pipes for the next two years.

More in the NHL:

Follow @SBNationNHL

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

• The complete draft order

• Photos: Chicago’s Stanley Cup parade

• The best of our hockey network

Ok, Bob's back.

It's being reported that Sergei Bobrovsky has been re-signed by the Jackets to a two-year extension, worth $11.25 million, for a cap hit of $5.625 million per season. He'll be an RFA at the end of this deal, according to Cap Geek.

The negotiations between the Blue Jackets and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky were always going to be difficult. First, there was the fact that even if he played a full season, the sample size while in a Columbus sweater would be small. The lockout decreased this sample size even further. That small sample was an excellent one, however, driving up his value. To complicate and delay negotiations even more, was the fact that his shortened season with the Jackets earned him a nomination for the Vezina Trophy.

Of course, Bob went on to win the Vezina. With the award ceremony over, it was thought that the real negotiations could begin, but reports were coming out pointing to the lack of progress on contract talks.

Fast forward to yesterday afternoon, and it was reported that the Jackets were unhappy with what Bob and his agent were asking for, and were shopping his rights. This served two purposes- the first would be to potentially force Bob and his agent to alter their demands. and the other was to gauge his value if a deal wasn't able to be consummated.

Regardless of the fact that negotiations were less than amicable at times, Jackets fans can exhale knowing their Vezina goalie is locked up for the near future.

Eight future ECAC Hockey players were selected in Sunday's 2013 NHL Draft at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. Leading the way was Yale recruit John Hayden, a product of the US National Development Program.

Hayden will reject major juniors to play for the defending national champions. "Yale is a great program right now. Keith Allain is doing a great job there. They are the defending national champions. I have a lot of work to do this summer to go in there and be able to help them defend," said the Greenwich, Conn. native.

Hayden is a power forward who played prep school hockey with hometown Brunswick Academy before venturing to Ann Arbor to play for the USNDP. Hayden fell further in the draft than many expected. The defending Stanley Cup champions, Chicago Blackhawks, took Hayden with the 74^th overall pick late in the third round.

Cornell recruit Matt Buckles was the next player with ECAC ties to come off the board. The Toronto, Ont. Native played for the St. Mike's Buzzers in the OJHL. He is noted as a solid all-around player, but put up very good offensive numbers in juniors this year.

Buckles said he appreciates the opportunity to play college hockey over major junior. He was drafted by the Soo Greyhounds, but wasn't very big at the time. He said he has grown over four inches since then and plans to honor his commitment to play for the Big Red.

Buckles said he fell in love with the school and the hockey program. "When I went there, I really was impressed with the academics and the arena is loud and the fans are so passionate. I couldn't believe all the noise the first time I saw a game there," said Buckles.

Brown recruit Miles Wood was taken by the New Jersey Devils with the 100^th overall pick in the fourth round. The forward from Nobles (MA) Prep will be joining Brown with his brother Tyler. However, Miles does not plan on enrolling at Brown until 2014 or 2015.

Two Quinnipiac recruits were selected in the draft, starting with defenseman Connor Clifton of the USNDP. The smaller blue liner is a mobile, puck-carrying defenseman.

Clifton will also have a brother on the team. His brother Tim is three years older and has played junior hockey with the Jersey Hitmen (EJHL). "We've always loved playing together and we decided we'd continue that in college," said Clifton, of playing with his older brother.

Another Bobcats recruit, Dubuque right wing Peter Quenneville, was selected by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the seventh round. There will be five NHL Draft picks on the Quinnipiac roster in the fall. Coach Rand Pecknold has done a terrific job elevating the prestige of the hockey program at the Hamden, Conn. school. The Bobcats made their second NCAA Tournament appearance and first trip to the Frozen Four this past season.

"They had a great team. They obviously clicked, but unfortunately, they couldn't finish it," said Clifton of his future team's run through the 2013 NCAA Tournament.

Three Harvard recruits were drafted. Hotchkiss School (CT) defenseman Wiley Sherman was picked by the Boston Bruins with the second to last selection in the fifth round. Sherman is a big defenseman who will play another season of prep school hockey before joining the Crimson.

Proctor Academy prospect Merrick Madsen was taken in the sixth round by the Philadelphia Flyers. The Acton, Calif. product will play with the Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL this upcoming season before joining Ted Donato's program.

Buffalo, NY native Sean Malone was selected by the hometown Sabres in the sixth round. The future Crimson forward just finished playing for the USNDP.

Colgate recruit Tim Harrison was picked by the Calgary Flames in an off-the-board selection. The future Red Raider played on a prep school team alongside Ryan Donato, the son of Harvard coach Ted Donato and a highly sought after prospect for a future draft.

Clarkson recruit Troy Josephs was picked near the end of the draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Whitby, Ont. native played for the same team as Buckles, the St. Mike's Buzzers.

Jeff Cox covers the NHL Draft, the American Hockey League and college hockey for SBNation. Follow him on twitter @JeffCoxSBNation.

Every summer shortly after the draft the Jackets hold Development Camp at the Ice Haus, which is an event where Columbus prospects are evaluated and put through the paces. The roster is made up of newly-drafted prospects, sprinkled among more "veteran" prospects and a handful of players on the cusp of making the big roster.

This year the tournament runs from July 9th to July 12th, with the on-ice portions open free to the public. The camp follows the following schedule:

There are 31 players participating in the camp, including all eight of this year's draft choices. There are two invites so far to the event- Jeremy Langlois, who recently completed his college career at Quinnipiac and was signed to an AHL deal by the Falcons, and Trent Vogelhuber, a former CBJ draft pick now under contract with Springfield.

You can see the range of prospects, from the brand new guys to older prospects like Sean Collins, who got into some NHL games last season. Guys like Collins are looked at as leaders at this event. The more senior players up front are Collins, Hansen, Chaput, Smith and Langlois. The former four were all pros last year, playing for the Falcons in the AHL. Langlois is intriguing- he put up excellent numbers in college:

...and is looking for an entry level deal with a strong showing here in devo camp. Seth Ambroz is looking to make a name for himself after a couple of ho-hum years with the Gophers. In his draft year he was touted as a first-round power forward, but slipped to the middle rounds. He needs to show more and this is a good opportunity.

Tynan took a bit of a step back this year with the Irish, and is looking to gain what he lost this past season. He's small, but very talented. He's definitely a player to keep an eye on. Josh Anderson....what can you say? He's an average player on a fantastic junior team. I still don't know what to make of this kid. I seen enough Knights games in the past two years to form an opinion- what is he good at? Maybe a strong showing at Devo can answer my question.

All of the new guys will be there too. Wennberg, Rychel and Dano- the first rounders. Watch these kids closely, though I doubt you'll have a hard time finding them on the ice. Bjorkstrand may turn out to be a steal and has serious skills, while Moutrey, Soberg and Quenneville will be looking to impress. Mancrush on Soberg has already been activated.

Perhaps the most exciting prospects for me are Jenner, Sedlak and Zaar. Boone is still one of our stud forward prospects (don't forget, when he has the puck or scores, you have to yell BOOOOOOONNNNNEEEE in a bass-y tone), while Sedlak is looking to make the jump to the pros after a couple of years with Chicoutimi. I enjoyed watching him when he came to Halifax this past season. Zaar is so intriguiing. Word is, he's got speed to burn and a hell of a shot. Can't wait to see if it's true.

The defense is a mixture of new and old, with Weber being the greybeard of the bunch. Larkin and Madaisky are looking to make a mark, as both are at risk of falling out of the picture. Curcuruto, from last year's draft class, has a boatload of talent, but has yet to bring it all together. Reilly is a player to keep an eye on- from a pure-talent perspective, he's one of the best in the pipeline. Heatherington and Melart are the new guys- H-Ton was drafted this past weekend in the second round, while Melart was a Euro signing from the Finnish league, a Jarmo special. Melart may see time with the Jackets this year, so keep close tabs on him if you're there. The star of the group however, is number two overall draft pick from last year Ryan Murray, who may be a fixture on the Columbus blueline next year.

The goaltenders are Euro-heavy, with a pair of Swedes and a Finn among the four invites. Forsberg and Dansk are high-end prospects, while the jury is out on Korpisalo. He was a third round pick last year and put up ok numbers in Finland, but his willingness to play in North America remains to be seen. Ouellette rounds out the group, he has failed to nail down the starters role with the Black Bears since joining them. This may be his last kick at the can.

I hope this post gives you a bit of insight prior to camp starting. If you can, please attend! It's free, you get to see the shiny new prospects, and some of the other guys waiting in the wings for spots with the big club. I of course can't be there, so I'll live vicariously through all of you!

Hours after extending qualifying offers to thirteen of his seventeen restricted free agents, Winnipeg Jets' General Manager Kevin Cheveldayoff has taken another step in stabilizing his roster by re-signing defenceman Grant Clitsome to a new three-year, $6.2MM contract.

Clitsome was originally acquired at the 2012 NHL Trade Deadline after being placed on waivers by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The former Clarkson University graduate has since played in 56 games with the Jets', registering 16 points (4G, 12A) during his tenure.

In 2013 Clitsome saw his role with the team evolve as an abundance of injuries thrust him into a top four -- and at times a top two -- role. Despite the increased responsibility, the Ontario-born defenceman flourished, earning the trust of coach Claude Noel while accumulating additional ice-time on Winnipeg's power play and penalty kill units. Given his annual average cap hit of $2.06MM, it's likely that the Jets envision Clitsome as one of their top four rearguards moving forward, with Ron Hainsey likely departing via free agency.

As currently constructed, Winnipeg's defensive pairings will likely look something like this:

The Jets now have just under $24MM in cap space remaining and with new contracts due for Alexander Burmistrov, Blake Wheeler, Bryan Little and Zach Bogosian, this summer will prove to be an expensive one for True North Sports and Entertainment.

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As the Blue Jackets put the 2013 NHL Draft, qualifying offers, and the compliance buyout period behind them, it makes a very interesting picture for what this team is likely to ice for the 2013-14 NHL season.

Up Front

Despite a perceived need for more top six scoring talent, the club arguably has a pretty decent first line, and there are some interesting combinations from their remaining nine players under NHL contract at the moment.

Marian Gaborik, Artem Anisimov, and Brandon Dubinsky could easily become the #1 line to start the season, barring a trade or free agency move, bringing speed, skill, and a good bit of defensive support to the party.

The second line could easily involve Mark Letestu, Cam Atkinson, and Matt Calvert, or could be interchanged with the combination of R.J. Umberger, Ryan Johansen, and Nick Foligno that finally caught fire towards the end of the team's stretch drive.

Rounding things out, Jared Boll and Derek MacKenzie seem guaranteed to anchor a fourth line with both toughness and a will to command the puck, while the re-upped Blake Comeau could round out their wing or move up and down in the lineup as needed.

There is still a possibility that the club could reach out to Vinny Prospal to add his veteran experience, or perhaps explore options like Mike Ribeiro on the free agent market. (Oh, and let's not forget the clubs who may need to dump talented players quickly due to cap issues. I hear there's a guy in Philly named Voracek who is pretty good...)

In that case, the club COULD keep a 13th forward rotating in and out of the lineup ("Your usual press box seat, Mr. Boll? Right this way..."), but it's a tricky balancing act to keep up, especially if it means the team will attempt to roll all four lines in a scoring mindset. Todd Richards has shown he can do a good job of managing this roster, but that's never been the game he asked them to play.

Notice I have also not mentioned players like Boone Jenner, whom many expect to have a decent shot at cracking the team's lineup, or Jonathan Audy-Marchessault, who probably deserves a careful look as well.

The Back End

As a wise Scottish redhead once said, "OK, kid, this is where it gets complicated."

As we speak, the club has seven defensemen under contract for next season who could be expected to form their NHL core: Wiz, JMFJ, Tyutin, Niki6, Erixon, Prout, and the wildcard that is Ryan Murray.

In addition to THAT, we have recently qualified RFAs David Savard and Cody Goloubef, recent European acquisition Ilari Melart, and the possibility that the club is still interested in retaining UFA Adrian Aucoin in some form of "mentor" role.

In Aucoin's case, that could be a contract, or it could be an offer of a coaching / development position if he doesn't see much interest on July 5th, but even if you take him out of the math, you're still looking at six spots, perhaps seven, and ten men trying to fill them.

The idea of giving Ryan Murray a chance to build himself up to game speed in Springfield if he isn't 100% by the end of Training Camp has been floated repeatedly, and seems likely. You would think the team is hoping to see him earn his way into a 5/6 spot, so he will play regularly, but it seems just as likely that Prout could fill in the gaps while Erixon if he's not ready to go.

Interestingly, this is another area where the team could decide to make another cheap pickup, given the amount of d-men dumped on the market over the last few days in compliance buyouts - Matt Hunwick in particular stands out as a good "budget" option, especially if the club would like to put Murray in the AHL to develop for as much of this season as possible.

Goaltending is likewise set with Bob and McElhinney as the NHL tandem, while we wait to see what the team may provide for Falcons in free agency - it seems likely that the club will look for a veteran who is willing to play in the AHL, but can be brought up to the show as needed, but we likely won't see much movement on this until the initial free agency dust settles.

The Options

If the club wants to shake up the roster, then, where do they go?

Fortunately, while I wouldn't be surprised if they come to deals relatively quickly with their first round picks from this draft, the team currently stands at 34 players under contract, leaving them plenty of room to work. beneath the 50 player limit.

Given the depth we've explored, should the team wish to be active in the trade market, guys like Savard, Calvert, or MacKenzie could be attractive to teams operating on tight budgets, and more than a few fans would be happy to see Nikita Nikitin moved - it's worth considering he's on the final year of his current contract, and would only be $2.15 million for a club that wants a 4th-5th-6th slot defender who might be able to recapture some of the scoring prowess he showed two seasons ago.

Other possibilities could also include the team's prospect pool - while I will always hesitate to deal deeply out of the club's future, players like Michael Chaput and Will Weber could easily garner interest.

With extensive space on the cap, the club even could explore trading one of their larger deals - like Johnson or Wisniewski, and "keeping back" some of their salary under the new CBA rules, though I suspect that Jarmo would avoid that if at all possible - the club may not be trying to ride the salary floor, but that doesn't mean the ownership wants to throw too much money into players we're not actually paying to perform. (At the moment the only buyout on the books is Mike Commodore, who will come off the rolls after the 2014-2015 season.)

Steady Hands

Then there's the final option: Wait. Let this club go into a full training camp with a roster that delivered an inspiring performance last season, and see what happens. Wait to see who remains waiting for a phone call on August 29th after being waived or bought out in early July. Wait to see if a team like Philadelphia, Vancouver, Minnesota, or Boston blinks and decides they need to shed more salary. Wait for a surprise in development camp, or an unexpected training camp performance.

Keep an even keel, and let the opportunities come to you rather than trying to chase them down, and take the best shot.

"Wherever you go, there you are."

All of this adds up to the fact that Columbus has areas where they may desire to improve their roster, and they are one of a handful of clubs who possess the flexibility and assets to explore every possible avenue available under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement to find just the right pieces - and to open up space on the roster once they're on board.

The Columbus Blue Jackets are interested in acquiring a scoring forward, according to general manager Jarmo Kekalainen, as told to Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch.

Kekalainen stated that the club was going to accomplish this goal whether it came via free agency or trade. Under the new collective bargaining agreement, teams are permitted to begin negotiations with prospective unrestricted free agents beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on July 3. With that window open, Kekalainen plans to reach out to players who can help increase the team's production.

The manager was unwilling to discuss specific players but -- as Portzline notes -- the market includes names such as Damien Brunner, Danny Briere, David Clarkson, Nathan Horton, Ryane Clowe, Valtteri Filppula and other viable options.

The team has a simple enough strategy for this offseason. They will be ranking the available options and will express interest. If the player doesn't have the same interest, the Blue Jackets will remove him from their list and move to the next highest ranked player. Kekalainen says the team is unlikely to spend to the upper-limit of the $64.3 million salary cap in 2013-14, which leads Portzline to believe the club will attempt to sign a player for $4 million to $5 million per season.

In the event that free agency doesn't satisfy their needs, the Blue Jackets are open to pursuing a trade. Based upon Kekalainen's statements, it sounds as though he would prefer to add via the free agent market, via the Columbus Dispatch:

"When you trade, you're talking about giving up some kind of a commodity, maybe a player off your roster. The benefit of free agency is you just get the player. But we'll go about this however we have to. There are lots of options."

Portzline writes that Columbus engaged in discussions with the St. Louis Blues about David Perron and the Boston Bruins about Tyler Seguin.

Free agency officially begins at noon ET July 5. Teams can come to terms with players before that date, but can't formally sign agreements until then.

More in the NHL:

Follow @SBNationNHL

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

• The complete draft order

• Photos: Chicago’s Stanley Cup parade

• The best of our hockey network

Unrestricted free-agent forward Nathan Horton has agreed to terms on a contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, the team announced on Friday. The financial terms of the agreement have not been made available at the time of this writing, but the Blue Jackets announced it is a seven-year deal.

Horton spent the last three seasons as a member of the Boston Bruins. Playing on the club's top-line with David Krejci and Milan Lucic, Horton was a key contributor on the franchise's two Eastern Conference Championship teams and scored the game-winning goal in Game 7 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning to advance to the Stanley Cup Final. The Bruins ultimately won the Cup that season.

Despite an interest from the Bruins to retain Horton, the 28-year-old forward informed management that he wished to move on. Based upon reports, it's believed that Horton is looking for a quieter lifestyle in a non-traditional market. That certainly seems like a realistic component to playing in Columbus.

Of course, the Blue Jackets are also in the beginning stages of a restructuring that appears to have a bright future. This is a club that nearly made the playoffs in 2013 and has a legitimate shot to do so in 2013-14. With Horton on the club, the prospects of doing so improve. The club expressed a desire to acquire a scoring forward this offseason, which is an area Horton should help improve.

Given the shoulder subluxation he sustained near the end of the regular season, Horton is expected to require surgery this summer. It remains to be seen what kind of impact this potentially has on future performance. Regardless, it is worth noting.

Originally selected with the No. 3 overall selection by the Florida Panthers in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Horton has played in 591 career games and has accumulated 402 points (198 goals and 204 assists).

More in the NHL:

Follow @SBNationNHL

• Full 2013 Draft coverage

• The complete draft order

• Photos: Chicago’s Stanley Cup parade

• The best of our hockey network