The 2015 NHL Draft Post-Mortem

The 2015 NHL Draft has come and gone, and with free-agency in a couple of days, teams were making moves to get into position, some for salary cap compliance, one way or another, and some to get better.  So, what were the things to take away from the weekend that was?

• Though the Calgary Flames still have to sign him because of the RFA tag, the Flames are a far better team on the blue line than last year, and that's saying something.  Picking up Dougie Hamilton from the Boston Bruins cost them their first and both second round picks from this year, but once the Flames get him signed, it will give the Flames a minimum of five quality defenders, with Hamilton likely being paired with Kris Russell or Dennis Wideman on the second pairing, as it will be Mark Giordano and TJ Brodie being the top pair.
• Another team that benefited from the Bruins cap purge was the Los Angeles Kings, and with news that they plan on buying out Mike Richards' contract, they will look a little better both on the ice and in the salary cap situation.  Milan Lucic cost the Kings their first round pick this year, backup goalie Martin Jones, and defensive prospect Colin Miller.  Lucic has consistency issues, but if he's on, look for 30 goals and a pain in the ass to play against, something that will play well in Los Angeles.  Jones' departure likely opens the door for Patrik Bartosak to claim the backup job behind Jonathan Quick.
• As for the Bruins, despite having the 13th, 14th, and 15th overall picks in this year's draft, they were unable to move up, likely for what would have been the third overall pick.  Instead, they picked up Jakub Zboril, who I had going a pick later to the Bruins, Jake DeBrusk, who they could have had later in the first round, and Zach Senyshyn, who was not on anyone's draft board going in the first round.  The Bruins have been lambasted for their draft weekend, and after both failing to move up for possibly Noah Hanifin and reaching on at least two of their three picks, it figures to be a long season in Boston, particularly if Hamilton pulls a Tyler Seguin and has a breakout season immediately after leaving Boston and if Lucic finds the consistency that has eluded him throughout his career.
• Goalies were being moved left and right, and that left San Jose as the only clear-cut team that will still need a starting goaltender.  Buffalo surrendered their other first round pick (21th overall) to Ottawa to get Robin Lehner and David Legwand, with Lehner likely the starter entering camp.
• The Edmonton Oilers did what everyone expected them to do and take Connor McDavid first overall.  What was not expected was that the Oilers dropped out of the first round after trading away the pick acquired from Pittsburgh (16th overall) and their own second round pick to the New York Islanders to get Griffin Reinhart, who is likely going to be an Oiler to start next season.  The Oilers weren't done dealing, as they picked up Cam Talbot from the New York Rangers for two picks and the teams swapping seventh round picks.  Eric Gryba was also picked up by the Oilers from Ottawa, as well, meaning the Oilers at least, have warm bodies to play defense and goal.
• The New York Islanders were also aggressive on Draft weekend, trading into the first round not once, but twice.  Entering the weekend, they didn't have a pick until the third round, but after the first day, they ended up with Matt Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, picked up 16th and 28th overall, respectively.  GM Garth Snow has been aggressive lately, and given the success of the Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy trades, as well as the gamble that Jaroslav Halak would sign with the Islanders after trading for his rights prior to last year's free-agency period, it's no surprise that he went all in to get the best players available in the draft.
• If there's one player that could succeed despite not being mentioned for much of the season, it's Denis Guryanov.  Ranked 66th overall in The Hockey News Draft issue, Guryanov shot up the boards on some mock drafts and the Dallas Stars were clearly keeping an eye on him, taking him 12th overall.  The level of competition is concerning, as he wasn't seen as much compared to others, but he has the size and put up good numbers last season.  If the Stars know anything about gambling on Russian kids, it's because they took a flier on Valeri Nichushkin two years ago, and he paid off that year.  If Guryanov replicates what Nichushkin did rookie year and Nichushkin can return to form after missing much of last year due to injuries, the Stars will look even better offensively and give Tyler Seguin and Jamie Been even more dangerous.
• When the Washington Capitals took Ilya Samsonov with the 22nd overall pick, it marked the first time since 2012 that a goalie was taken in the first round.
• Despite being needy for an extra pick, the Pittsburgh Penguins remained pat, and stuck with their four picks, with three of them after round four.  The one pick they had prior to round five? They took a potential steal in Daniel Sprong in the second round, as he can score, something the Pens have lacked on the wings outside of one or two players.

The 2015 Draft looked incredibly deep, with Paul Bittner being the highest ranked player (according to THN's Draft Guide) not to be taken in the first round, as he would go in the second round to Columbus and be reunited with Portland teammate Oliver Bjorkstrand.