by Adam GretzFiled under: Canucks, Panthers, NHL Draft
Dale Tallon continued to stockpile draft picks on Friday night -- and in the process, re-shape the future of the Florida Panthers -- by sending defenseman Keith Ballard and prospect Victor Oreskovich to the Vancouver Canucks for Steve Bernier, Michael Grabner and the No. 25 overall pick in the draft. The deal was announced prior to the draft, but was contingent on a player Vancouver wanted being available with the 25th pick. If such a situation came up, the No. 25 pick would have remained with the Canucks, and Florida would have received Vancouver's first-round pick next year.
The addition of the 25th selection gives Florida three picks in the first round, and six -- six! -- picks in the top 50, and will make this a crucial draft for a wayward franchise that hasn't qualified for the playoffs in almost a decade.
The Panthers already used their first pick of the night, No. 3 overall, on defenseman Erik Gudbranson, and also selected Nick Bjugstad with the 19th pick after trading down from No. 15.
In Ballard, the Canucks are getting a 27-year-old, puck-moving defenseman that is signed for the next five years at an average cap hit of $4.2 million per season. The five-year veteran hasn't missed a game in three years, and matched a career-high with eight goals this past season, while also recording 20 assists. Unfortunately, the two plays that helped him gain the most attention during the season were rather infamous moments when he managed to (accidentally) sabotage his own goaltender.
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