Nash first of 35 OHL players selected in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft
Rick Nash addresses the media after he was selected first overall in the NHL draft on Saturday | Toronto – Thirty-five Ontario Hockey League players were selected in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on June 23. The Columbus Blue Jackets selected London Knights’ left winger Rick Nash after acquiring the first pick from the Florida Panthers. rNash, an 18-year-old native of r Brampton, was the Knights’ first round pick in the 2000 OHL Priority r Selection. He scored 63 goals and 138 points in 112 games during the r past two seasons with the Knights. rThe Blue Jackets, who originally owned r the third overall pick, made the trade with Florida to ensure that r they would select Nash. r“Nash was our number one guy all year r and I didnÆt want to miss him,” said Columbus general manager Doug r MacLean. “ItÆs very seldom that you get the first overall pick and r you can control your own destiny.” rNash, who led the Knights with 10 goals r and 19 points in 12 playoff games, was rated by NHL Central Scouting r as the number two North American prospect behind defenceman Jay r Bouwmeester of the Western Hockey League’s Medicine Hat r Tigers. r“It was amazing,” said Nash following r the selection. “I was sitting there, just thinking about Bouwmeester r going first to Florida, and the next thing you hear, there’s been a r trade. My stomach sort of went but I didn’t know for sure r yet.” rMacLean was happy to get the coveted r forward, and expects Nash to compete for a spot on the Blue Jackets’ r roster in the fall. r“As far as I am concerned, if we get a r contract done, he will be on our team in September,” said r MacLean. rFive OHL players were selected in the r first round, including Nash, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds centre Petr r Taticek, Kitchener Rangers defenceman Steve Eminger, Guelph Storm r left winger Daniel Paille and Oshawa Generals left winger Ben r Eager. rTaticek, who scored 21 goals and 63 r points in 60 games as a rookie with the Greyhounds, was thrilled to r be selected ninth overall by the Florida Panthers. r“It’s unbelievable, perfect, to be r drafted by this team,” said the Czech born Taticek. rThe Washington Capitals made Eminger r the 12th overall selection after he scored 58 points in 64 games r during his third season with the Rangers. r“I just hear great feedback from a lot r of people about this organization,” Eminger said. “It’s been a great r day for me.” rThe Buffalo Sabres made a trade with r the New Jersey Devils to acquire the 20th pick, which they used to r select Paille. rPaille, who scored 27 goals and 57 r points in 62 games with the Storm this season, was anxious to hear r his name called in the first round. r“Every pick, I was getting more r nervous,” he said. “I knew whenever I would get picked that I would r be so thrilled and filled with joy and excitement.” rThe Phoenix Coyotes used the 23rd pick r to select Eager, who tallied 14 goals and 37 points, along with 255 r penalty minutes, in 63 games with the Generals. r“We’re really excited about our pick,” r said Coyotes’ managing partner and the OHL’s most famous graduate, r Wayne Gretzky. “We think he has tremendous upside. He’s a big boy r that can play with a little bit of finesse and is extremely r physical. Guys like that are hard to find.” rThe following is a complete recap of r the OHL players who were selected in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft r (selection number in brackets): rFirst Round Second Round Third Round Fourth Round Fifth Round Sixth Round Seventh Round Eighth Round Ninth Round r |
