LIVE: 2015 NHL Entry Draft Blog

Pick-by-pick coverage of the draft in Sunrise, Fla.

  This blog will be updated live during the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Every selection, trade, or transaction of any kind will be brought up to date instantly as it is announced and posted to this page.
 Player selections will go directly underneath the team name of a given pick. Any transactions that take place during the draft will be written in italics and highlighted in yellow.
 Every draft pick will be accompanied by a brief description of each prospect for a better understanding of what a team has added to its system. Depending on what browser you are using, you may have to refresh the page to get new information. Sorry for the extra trouble.

 This year, two generational talents are expected to go No. 1 and No. 2 overall, respectively. After those first two consensus picks, though, things get much more convulted and interesting. Beyond the top 15 or so picks, everything becomes chaos, as reflected by the final cumulative draft rankings for this class.

 This is shaping up to be a very wild and unpredictable draft, so be sure to check back every time your favorite team makes a selection or follow along with every pick!

Nail Yakupov: International Ping-Pong Ball (Part 2- Volley)

Yakupov sporting the Neftekhimik
uniform (photo from photo.khl.ru)

 Nail Yakupov, the Edmonton Oilers' 1st overall selection at the most recent NHL Entry Draft, will be permitted to play with Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, after all.

 A few days ago, the IIHF ruled that Yakupov's tranfer card was invalid, because as a player of major junior eligibility, Hockey Canada had never approved of said transer to send him overseas. Yakupov was thought to be headed back to play for the OHL's Sarnia Sting for the remainder of the NHL lockout as a result of the IIHF's ruling, but after some slight coaxing from his agent, legend Igor Larionov, Hockey Canada approved of Yakupov's transfer on Saturday, making him eligible for KHL competition.

 Neftekhimik and Russia Hockey were both threatened with hefty fines by the IIHF if Yakupov were to continue to play with the invalid transfer card, but all parties involved can now rest easy and not worry about repercussions of the offensively gifted Yakupov's participation in KHL competition.

 Yakupov is not expected to dress in Neftekhimik's next game on Monday against Dynamo Minsk.