The 2008 NHL Entry Draft was the 46th NHL Entry Draft. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on June 20–21, 2008. The Senators were originally awarded the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, but because of the lockout, the draft was scaled back from its usual format of being open to the public and having many draft-eligible players in attendance. The actual 2005 drafting was held in Ottawa's Westin Hotel instead of the Corel Centre, as Scotiabank Place was then known.
Draft weekend
The draft was part of a festival of events that the Ottawa Senators and the NHL presented at the Scotiabank Place arena. Before the first round and during the later rounds, the patio outside the main doors was the site of the 'Senators Fan Fest', with hockey games and music. Indoors, the NHL presented an exhibit of NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup. A hockey card and memorabilia sale was also held.[1]
Draft lottery
The 2008 draft lottery was held April 7. The Tampa Bay Lightning retained the first overall selection. There were no changes from the reverse order of finish of the 2007–08 NHL season.
Final rankings
Source: NHL Central Scouting Services staff.
Draft order
Round 1
Notes (Round 1)
1.* The New York Islanders' first round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 7th overall pick and either the 60th overall pick and a 3rd round pick in 2009 or the 68th overall pick and a 2nd round pick in 2009 in exchange for this pick.
2.* The Toronto Maple Leafs' first round pick went to the Nashville Predators due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 9th overall pick and the 40th overall pick to the New York Islanders in exchange for this pick.
New York Islanders acquired previously due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 5th overall pick to Toronto in exchange for either the 60th overall pick and a 3rd round pick in 2009 or the 68th overall pick and a 2nd round pick in 2009 and this pick.
Stage and team tables at Scotiabank Place
3.* The Florida Panthers' first round pick went to the New York Islanders due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 7th overall pick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for the 40th overall pick and this pick.
Nashville acquired previously due to a trade prior to the 2007 entry draft that sent Tomas Vokoun to Florida for 2nd round picks in 2007 and 2008, and this pick.
4.* The Edmonton Oilers' first round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 13th overall pick and a 3rd round pick in 2009 to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for this pick.
Los Angeles acquired previously due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 17th overall pick and the 28th overall pick to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for this pick.
Anaheim acquired previously, along with second and third round picks, from Edmonton due to Anaheim's decision not to match an Oilers' offer sheet to restricted free agent Dustin Penner on August 2, 2007[2].
5.* The Buffalo Sabres' first round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 12th overall pick to Buffalo in exchange for a 3rd round pick in 2009 and this pick.
6.* The Nashville Predators' first round pick went to the Ottawa Senators due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 18th overall pick and a 3rd round pick in 2009 to Nashville in exchange for this pick.
7.* The Calgary Flames' first round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 12th overall pick to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the 28th overall pick and this pick.
Los Angeles acquired previously due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Mike Cammalleri to Calgary in exchange for this pick.
8.* The Ottawa Senators' first round pick went to the Nashville Predators due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 15th overall pick to Ottawa in exchange for a 3rd round pick in 2009 and this pick.
9.* The Colorado Avalanche's first round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent R.J. Umberger and the 118th overall pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for the 67th overall pick and this pick.
Columbus acquired previously due to a trade on February 26, 2008 that sent Adam Foote to Colorado in exchange for this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade). The condition - Colorado reaches the playoffs in 2008 - has been converted.
10.* The New Jersey Devils' first round pick went to the Washington Capitals due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 23th overall pick and the 54th overall pick to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.
11. * The Anaheim Ducks' first round pick went to the Edmonton Oilers due to a trade on July 3, 2006 that sent Joffrey Lupul, Ladislav Smid, and draft picks to Edmonton in exchange for Chris Pronger. The pick was awarded to Edmonton for Anaheim reaching the Stanley Cup final in 2007.
12.* The Washington Capitals' first round pick went to the Minnesota Wild due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 24th overall pick and a 3rd round pick in 2009 to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for this pick.
New Jersey acquired previously due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 21th overall pick to Washington in exchange for the 54th overall pick and this pick.
13.* The Minnesota Wild's first round pick went to the New Jersey Devils due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 23th overall pick to Minnesota in exchange for a 3rd round pick in 2009 and this pick.
14.* The Montreal Canadiens's first round pick went to the Calgary Flames due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Alex Tanguay and the 138th overall pick to Montreal in exchange for a 2nd round pick in 2009 and this pick.
15.* The San Jose Sharks' first round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres due to a trade on February 26, 2008 that sent Steve Bernier and this pick to Buffalo in exchange for Brian Campbell and a 7th round pick.
16.* The Philadelphia Flyers' first round pick went to the Washington Capitals due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Steve Eminger and the 84th overall pick to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
17.* The Dallas Stars' first round pick went to the Phoenix Coyotes due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 35th and 39th overall picks to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for this pick.
Anaheim acquired previously due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 12th overall pick to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for the 17th overall pick and this pick.
Los Angeles acquired previously due to a trade on February 27, 2007 that sent Jaroslav Modry, Johan Fransson, a 2nd round pick in 2007 entry draft, a 3rd round pick in 2007 entry draft, and this pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Mattias Norstrom, Konstantin Pushkarev, a 3rd round pick in 2007 entry draft, and a 4th round pick in 2007 entry draft.
18.* The Pittsburgh Penguins' first round pick went to the Atlanta Thrashers due to a trade on February 26, 2008 that sent Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and this pick to Atlanta in exchange for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis.
Round 2
Notes (Round 2)
1. * The Tampa Bay Lightning's second round pick went to the Florida Panthers due to a trade on June 13, 2007 that sent Chris Gratton to Tampa Bay in exchange for this pick.
2. * The Atlanta Thrashers' second round pick went to the St. Louis Blues due to a trade on February 25, 2007 that sent Keith Tkachuk to Atlanta in exchange for Glen Metropolit, 1st and 3rd round picks in 2007 and this pick.
3. * The Phoenix Coyotes' compensatory second round pick, awarded for Blake Wheeler rejecting a Coyotes contract offer and becoming a free agent[3], went to the Anaheim Ducks due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 27th overall pick to Phoenix in exchange for the 39th overall pick and this pick.
4. * The Toronto Maple Leafs' second round pick went to the Nashville Predators due to a trade on June 21, 2008 that sent the 46th overall pick and the 76th overall pick to Phoenix in exchange for this pick.
Phoenix acquired previously due to a trade on February 27, 2007 that sent this pick to Phoenix in exchange for Yanic Perreault and a 5th round draft pick in 2008.
5. * The Phoenix Coyotes' second round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 27th overall pick to Phoenix in exchange for the 35th overall pick and this pick.
6. * The Florida Panthers's second round pick went to the New York Islanders due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 7th overall pick to the Nashville Predators in exchange for the 9th overall pick and this pick.
Nashville acquired previously due to a trade during the 2007 entry draft that sent Tomas Vokoun to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2nd round pick in 2007, a 1st round pick in 2008 and this pick.
7. * The Chicago Blackhawks' second round pick went to the Ottawa Senators due to a trade on July 9, 2006 that sent Tom Preissing, Josh Hennessy, Michal Barinka and this pick to Ottawa in exchange for Martin Havlat and Bryan Smolinski.
8. * The Edmonton Oilers' second round pick went, along with first and third round picks, to the Anaheim Ducks due to Anaheim's decision not to match an Oilers' offer sheet to restricted free agent Dustin Penner on August 2, 2007[2].
9. *The Nashville Predators' second round pick went to the Florida Panthers due to a trade on June 21, 2008 that sent the 49th overall pick and a 4th round pick in 2009 to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for this pick.
Phoenix acquired previously due to a trade on June 21, 2008 that sent the 38th overall pick to Nashville in exchange for the 76th overall pick and this pick.
10. * The Calgary Flames' second round pick temporarily went to the Los Angeles Kings due to a trade on January 29, 2007 that sent Jamie Lundmark, a 4th round pick in 2007 and this pick to Los Angeles in exchange for Craig Conroy.
Calgary reacquired the pick due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 17th overall pick and a 2nd round pick in 2009 to Los Angeles in exchange for Michael Cammalleri and this pick.
11. * The Ottawa Senators' second round pick went to the Phoenix Coyotes due to a trade on June 21, 2008 that sent the 46th overall pick to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2009 and this pick.
Florida acquired previously due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for Keith Ballard, Nick Boynton and this pick.
Phoenix acquired previously due to a trade on February 27, 2007 that sent Oleg Saprykin and a 7th round pick in 2007 entry draft to Ottawa in exchange for this pick.
12. * The Anaheim Ducks' second round pick went to the New York Islanders due to a trade on July 5, 2007 that sent Allan Rourke and a 3rd round pick in 2008 to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for this pick.
Edmonton previously acquired this pick due to a trade on July 3, 2006 that sent Chris Pronger to Anaheim in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Ladislav Smid and draft picks.
13.* The Washington Capitals' first round pick went to the New Jersey Devils due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent the 21th overall pick to Washington in exchange for the 23th overall pick and this pick.
14. * The San Jose Sharks' second round pick went to the Washington Capitals due to a trade during the 2007 entry draft that sent that sent a 1st round pick to San Jose for a 2nd round pick in 2007 and this pick.
15. * The Philadelphia Flyers' second round pick went to the Washington Capitals due to a trade during the 2007 entry draft that sent a 2nd round pick to Philadelphia in exchange for a 3rd round pick in 2007 and this pick.
16. * The Pittsburgh Penguins' second round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs due to a trade on February 26, 2008 that sent Hal Gill to Pittsburgh in exchange for a 5th round pick in 2009 and this pick.
17. * The Detroit Red Wings' second round pick went to the Colorado Avalanche due to a trade on June 21, 2008 that sent Brad Richardson to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for this pick.
Los Angeles acquired previously due to a trade on February 26, 2008 that sent Brad Stuart to Detroit in exchange for a 4th round pick in 2009 and this pick.
Round 3
Notes (Round 3)
1.* The Tampa Bay Lightning's third round pick went to the San Jose Sharks due to a trade on June 21, 2008 that sent the 117th overall pick, the 147th overall pick and a 3rd round pick in 2009 to Tampa Bay in exchange for this pick.
2.* The Columbus Blue Jackets' third round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers due to a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent R.J. Umberger and the 118th overall pick to Columbus in exchange for the 19th overall pick and this pick.
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