Darren Dreger was on Winnipeg’s TSN 1290 on Wednesday afternoon.
On how active he thinks the trade market will be involving teams in the first round, and if we’ll see a number of teams attempting to move up or down:
“Yeah, well I’m glad you brought that up. There’s certainly the potential of that happening. Earlier this week I spent some time kind of hammering out some of the details of our coverage both on TSN and NBC, and a lot of that is dealing with the clubs who are going to draft in that first round. We’re captivated by the top five, top 10 picks.
“Here’s what I know, and you guys know this too. I don’t see any way the Toronto Maple Leafs flip first overall. And I think it would be next to extraordinary for the Winnipeg Jets to consider moving second overall. I’m not going to say the same thing, though, about 3, 4, and 5, and that’s Columbus, Edmonton, and the Vancouver Canucks.
“I know that there are aggressive offers being made for the Blue Jackets’ third pick overall. I don’t believe the Blue Jackets are even remotely close to considering moving that pick, but they have to listen, right? That’s a club that’s got some great young players coming through the American Hockey League. They’re developing the right way. But they’re not there yet. And so because of that, they’re just doing due diligence and being responsible and listening. But it would take an unbelievable deal for Jarmo Kekalainen to move the third pick overall.
“Edmonton is more eager to move. They’re not shopping the fourth pick overall, but certainly willing to listen. And obviously they would want a defenseman in return, whoever that might be.
“Vancouver is similar. Vancouver likes fifth overall. They know they’re getting a very, very good player, but Jim Benning did not like being part of the non-playoff picture in the National Hockey League. He’s going to do whatever it takes to make sure that doesn’t happen again.
“So 3, 4, and 5 could definitely be in play.”
Source: TSN 1290/Transcript: Nichols
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