Seth Jones came to the Predators at fourth overall. (Photo: Sarah Fuqua/flickr)
In an unsurprising move, the Nashville Predators have once again drafted a defenseman with their first draft pick of 2013. But this defenseman is the top overall ranked D-man, not to mention the raw talent picked up in the fire power and goalie picks for the Preds.
First round, fourth pick went to top ranked defenseman Seth Jones. Speculation around the league pointed to him possibly going first overall in the draft, but lucky for the Preds GM David Poile was able to snatch him up! The Texas native played with the Portland Winterhawks and is sure to one day play on a line with Shea Weber himself.
Can you imagine facing down these two six foot four D-men? Because I know I sure wouldn’t want to try to get the puck past them!
Third round, third pick went to defenseman Jonathan-Ismael Diaby from Montreal. Diaby has played the last two seasons with Victoriaville in the QMJHL.
Fourth round, fourth pick belongs to Felix Girard, a center from Quebec. In three seasons with Baie Comeau in the QMJHL, Girard’s third was by far the best. Girard posted twenty-three goals and thirty-eight assists in fifty-eight games.
For the next pick, I swear Nashville has an affinity for Finnish goalies. I say this because guess what, the fourth round, eighth pick went to Finnish goalie Juuse Saros. Saros had a goals against average of 1.86 in thirty-seven games last season with the Finnish Junior league.
Fifth round, fourth pick goes to right winger Saku Maenalanen, also of Finnish origin. Maenalanen holds a fifty-eight point record for last season with Karpat Junior of the Finnish Junior league.
Fifth round, nineteenth pick went to American defenseman Teemu Kivihalme. Here we have another Minnesota native in the Nashville system. Playing around twenty-five games in each of the last few seasons, this D-man can put up the points and the penalty minutes.
Sixth round, fourth pick went to Emil Pettersson, a Swedish center. Pettersson has spent the last two seasons with Timra Junior, drawing penalties and assisting on those sought after goals.
Sixth round, twentieth pick went back to Canada for left winger Tommy Veilleux. Here we have another Victoriaville player from the QMJHL. This Canadian likes his penalty box, racking up 129 penalty minutes this past season.
Seventh round, fourth pick went to Canadian right winger Wade Murphy. Murphy has played mostly with Victoria in the BCHL, steadily bringing up his total number of goals each season.
Seventh round, twenty-second (and final Nashville pick) saw yet ANOTHER Finnish goalie come to the Predators organization with Janne Juvonen. Juvonen has kept a pretty steady save percentage in his time with the Pelicans organization in Finland, staying over 0.9% in the last two years.
Best of luck to all of the new Predators in camp, and may the best make it to the roster next season!
