Having swapped their first rounder (29th overall) with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Friday night, the Detroit Red Wings made their first selection of the 2009 draft with the second pick of the second round (31st overall). With it, they took a name familiar to hockey fans in Landon Ferraro, son of former NHLer Ray Ferraro.
Despite not hearing his name in the opening round, the NHL’s newest Ferraro was thrilled with the way things turned out.
“Obviously I was little bit disappointed yesterday but at the same time, I’m in a Red Wings jersey now and it’s a great organization. I’m pretty happy this morning,” he admitted.
With Detroit known for allowing its prospects the necessary time to develop, it makes the fit all the more perfect for the 5-foot-11, 165-pound center.
“I’m not a guy who’s going to jump right into the league next year,” said Ferraro, who suited up for the WHL’s Red Deer Rebels in 2008-09. “I need to mature, my body needs to get a bit stronger. They’re [Detroit] a team that’s always done a really good job of developing their guys so I couldn’t be any happier.”
Father-Son Draft Picks
A trend kept popping up in this year’s draft, as several second generation NHLers saw their names added to the draft board. In addition to Ferraro, Tyson Barrie (Len; selected by Colorado), Carter Ashton (Brent; selected by Tampa Bay), Ryan Bourque (Ray; selected by NY Rangers), Marcus Foligno (Mike; selected by Buffalo), and Philip Samuelsson (Ulf; selected by Pittsburgh) will all follow in their father’s skates.
It wasn’t just father and son NHL combos; the Minnesota Wild picked up goaltender Matthew Hackett, nephew of Jeff.
Canadiens Pick Finnish Center Joonas Nattinen in Round 3
Held without a second round pick, the Montreal Canadiens turned to Finland for their first choice of Day 2. Joonas Nattinen, a 6-foot-2, 183-pound pivot with the Espoo Blues, joins the team that has developed quite a following in his homeland.
“I’m very excited and really happy to be a part of this legendary team. It’s where Saku plays and I’m a big fan of his. It’s great,” said Nattinen of joining the bleu-blanc-rouge.
He met with the Canadiens on a couple of occasions in Finland and at the NHL Combine in Toronto and had good interviews on both occasions. The 18-year-old, who enjoys the physical game and admits he’d like to be a more aggressive goal-scorer, describes himself as a good-passing playmaker with a good hockey sense.
And when asked what current NHLer he most resembles, his answer should leave Habs fans feeling pretty good.
“I’d say I’m pretty close to Mikko Koivu. Between Mikko and Jason Spezza.”
“Not bad,” replied a reporter.
Not at all.
Flyers Take Goaltender Nicola Riopel in the Fifth Round
In their seemingly never-ending search for a No. 1 goaltender, the Philadelphia Flyers shored up their crease with the selection of Nicola Riopel. Passed over in the past two drafts, the Moncton Wildcats netminder attended the Canadiens’ development camp as a free agent tryout in 2008, but nothing ever evolved there or anywhere else.
He sat in the stands for four rounds and change in 2009 waiting for his turn. It almost seemed like history would repeat itself and he’d once again head home without an NHL team owning his rights. Then, his luck would change when the Flyers made the 142nd pick.
“It’s incredible. I’ve been waiting for this for a while. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders,” said a relieved Riopel. “Every year I’d wait and it seems like it all fell into place to happen in Montreal, where my family could come. It’s just an unbelievable feeling and a day that I’ll remember forever.”
The 2008-09 season was one of continuous honors for Riopel. Over the course of the campaign, the St-Pie-de-Bagot, Quebec native was named CHL Goaltender of the Week three times, QMJHL Defensive Player of the Month twice, and QMJHL Defensive Player of the Week on six occasions. He also was named a First Team All-Star, earned the Michel Briere Trophy as the Q’s most valuable player, and the Jacques Plante Trophy for best goals-against average.
Riopel gave up an average of just 2.01 tallies per contest in the regular season – in addition to recording a .931 save percentage – to set a new league record; the previous benchmark of 2.09 had been established by Patrick Couture in 1997-98. It was his focus that helped him reach new heights.
“I went out and won games this year; I think that was the difference,” he explained. “Those 2-1 or tied games, I’d come out in the third period or the shootout and win them.
“I took it one game at a time; I didn’t worry about who we were playing two days later. Everything was one day at a time. It’s more about quality over quantity and that’s what happened this year.”
Missed the first round? Read about John Tavares begin selected first overall and more, and about hometown kid Louis Leblanc being drafted by the Canadiens.
Last NHL Draft in Montreal
Seventeen years ago, the NHL welcomed its top prospects to the Montreal Forum and today, many from the second round and beyond are still contributing on the ice.
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