2008 NHL Draft: News and Notes from Thursday

McKeen's correspondent Chris McCluskey reports from Ottawa on the 2008 NHL Entry draft with news, notes and comments from several of the top-eligible draft prospects that were on display on Thursday at the media luncheon including Colin Wilson who was listed No. 12 on McKeen's Final Draft Rankings.

Wilson pegged for top 12, but unlikely to go country

Boston University's Colin Wilson arrived at the Ottawa Marriott an hour before this afternoon's media luncheon, and will spend the rest of his day in interviews. The star of the draft combine is the 12th ranked player by McKeen's, and fits to have his name called in the top half of the first round. "I haven't personally talked to any (teams), I've talked to my advisor (Neil Sheehy)," he says. "I have six interviews today. Every team from six to 12 with the exception of Nashville."

The More Things Change

Wilson's father, a veteran of 552 regular season NHL games, was on hand fielding questions about his son while sharing reflections on his playing career. Carey Wilson was chosen 67th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, and remembers his draft day in stark contrast to the magnitude of this weekend's excitement. "They do an in depth job," he said, following a multimedia presentation introducing 10 of the top prospects. "In my day, I just stayed home. The phone rang, they said congratulations you're going to Chicago, I said thank-you very much, and I went back outside and played soccer."

Beach wants you to notice he's trying to be disciplined

While Kyle Beach is known off the ice for his book smarts, he is often criticized for his indiscretions on it. When asked by TSN's Bob MacKenzie who in this draft probably hates him the most, Beach responded without hesitation. "Colton Teubert," he says. "We might say hello as we walk by, but that's the only word you'll hear of us together."

Colten Teubert, a Regina Pats defenseman, and Beach tussled at the last Canadian Under-18 camp, where the latter is said to have turtled. "Technically, that's true," he says. "I knew he would snap. We've always gone at each other, and I've seen it in the past through minor hockey, so I knew he'd do it. Obviously, I didn't believe it was a place to fight, so when he got me it wasn't like I dropped to my knees, but I just held him out there and let him punch me. I kept my gloves and stick in my hands."

Was this a concerted movement to disprove detractors of his play who, notwithstanding his obvious talent, have labeled him as too 'immature', 'hot headed' and a supposed 'attitude problem'?

"Trying, but nobody noticed," he laughs.

Pietrangelo heeds parents' advice

One of the amusing moments of this afternoon's luncheon was a video introducing highly touted prospect, Alex Pietrangelo. The third-rated prospect by McKeen's narrated footage of himself playing on an outdoor pond, commenting that he began his path to the NHL, "crying more to get off the ice, than on it". When prompted following the presentations, he credited his parents for helping build his love for the game. "As a little kid you get discouraged, you never really want to do it again," he says. "I didn't think I was good enough to play, but (my parents) stuck me back out there, I excelled a couple of years later and I've been going ever since."

Leafs said to be interested in trading up for highest-ranked fan

One of many rumors swirling is the Toronto Maple Leafs' presumed interest in trading up to select their most touted fan available in the draft - Alex Pietrangelo. A native of King City, Pietrangelo met with the Leafs' brass at the combine earlier this month. "We couldn't get downtown that day, so they brought me to Lakeshore. It was pretty amazing. They're building a new arena for them, so there's no shortage of having a good set up," he says, clearly excited about the possibility, regardless of the odds.

When asked if his Toronto-based family is leaning one way or the other, Pietrangelo gave an assertive answer. "Yea," he says laughing. "I think they all want me to go to Toronto. It saves them a plane flight to wherever I go. They're excited, they're excited as I am, so party Friday night. It's going to be a fun couple of days."

Calm Before the Storm

Thomas McCollum is at ease watching his highly touted Guelph Storm teammate Drew Doughty deal with the spotlight, and is learning to manage his own as Central Scouting's highest-ranked goaltender. Many expect the Sanborn, New York, native to slip into the first round. "I think that's great. There's not really a whole lot I can do right now, just sit and wait," he says. "But if a team wants to bestow that honor upon me, I would be thrilled to have that happen."