Monday, June 24, 2002

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 22-23.

The Columbus Blue Jackets selected London Knights' left winger Rick Nash after acquiring the first pick from the Florida Panthers.

Nash, an 18-year-old native of Brampton, was the Knights' first round pick in the 2000 OHL Priority Selection. He scored 63 goals and 138 points in 112 games during the past two seasons with the Knights.

The Blue Jackets, who originally owned the third overall pick, made the trade with Florida to ensure that they would select Nash.

"Nash was our number one guy all year and I didnāt want to miss him," said Columbus general manager Doug MacLean. "Itās very seldom that you get the first overall pick and you can control your own destiny."

Nash, who led the Knights with 10 goals and 19 points in 12 playoff games, was rated by NHL Central Scouting as the number two North American prospect behind defenceman Jay Bouwmeester of the Western Hockey League's Medicine Hat Tigers.

"It was amazing," said Nash following the selection. "I was sitting there, just thinking about Bouwmeester going first to Florida, and the next thing you hear, there's been a trade. My stomach sort of went but I didn't know for sure yet."

MacLean was happy to get the coveted forward, and expects Nash to compete for a spot on the Blue Jackets' roster in the fall.

"As far as I am concerned, if we get a contract done, he will be on our team in September," said MacLean.

Five OHL players were selected in the first round, including Nash, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds centre Petr Taticek, Kitchener Rangers defenceman Steve Eminger, Guelph Storm left winger Daniel Paille and Oshawa Generals left winger Ben Eager.

Taticek, who scored 21 goals and 63 points in 60 games as a rookie with the Greyhounds, was thrilled to be selected ninth overall by the Florida Panthers.

"It's unbelievable, perfect, to be drafted by this team," said the Czech born Taticek.

The Washington Capitals made Eminger the 12th overall selection after he scored 58 points in 64 games during his third season with the Rangers.

"I just hear great feedback from a lot of people about this organization," Eminger said. "It's been a great day for me."

The Buffalo Sabres made a trade with the New Jersey Devils to acquire the 20th pick, which they used to select Paille.

Paille, who scored 27 goals and 57 points in 62 games with the Storm this season, was anxious to hear his name called in the first round.

"Every pick, I was getting more nervous," he said. "I knew whenever I would get picked that I would be so thrilled and filled with joy and excitement."

The Phoenix Coyotes used the 23rd pick to select Eager, who tallied 14 goals and 37 points, along with 255 penalty minutes, in 63 games with the Generals.

"We're really excited about our pick," said Coyotes' managing partner and the OHL's most famous graduate, Wayne Gretzky. "We think he has tremendous upside. He's a big boy that can play with a little bit of finesse and is extremely physical. Guys like that are hard to find."

The following is a complete recap of the OHL players who were selected in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft (selection number in brackets):

First Round
Rick Nash, London (1) Columbus
Petr Taticek, S.S. Marie (9) Florida
Steve Eminger, Kitchener (12) Washington
Daniel Paille, Guelph (20) Buffalo
Ben Eager, Oshawa (23) Phoenix

Second Round
Tim Brent, St. Michael's (37) Anaheim
Trevor Daley, S.S. Marie (43) Dallas
Matt Stajan, Belleville (57) Toronto
Adam Henrich, Brampton (60) Tampa Bay
Andrei Mikhnov, Sudbury (62) Boston

Third Round
Petr Kanko, Kitchener (66) Los Angeles
Gregory Campbell, Plymouth (67) NY Islanders
Brian Lee, Erie (71) Anaheim
Ahren Nittel, Windsor (85) New Jersey
Jonas Fiedler, Plymouth (86) San Jose

Fourth Round
Scott Dobben, Erie (113) Ottawa
Cam Janssen, Windsor (117) New Jersey

Fifth Round
Pat Jarrett, Owen Sound (138) Nashville
Kris Newbury, Sarnia (139) San Jose
Paul Flache, Brampton (144) Atlanta
Robert Gherson, Sarnia (145) Washington
Petr Hamrlik, Kingston (153) Boston
James Wisniewski, Plymouth (156) Chicago

Sixth Round
Jeremy Swanson, Barrie (169) Florida
Andre Deveaux, Belleville (182) Montreal
Paul Ranger, Oshawa (183) Tampa Bay

Seventh Round
Denis Yachmenev, North Bay (200) Florida
Bryan Hamm, Peterborough (210) Dallas
Tyson Kellerman, North Bay (219) Chicago
Brad Topping, Brampton (220) NY Islanders

Eighth Round
Dennis Wideman, London (241) Buffalo
Marcus Smith, Kitchener (249) Phoenix

Ninth Round
Dwight LaBrosse, Guelph (265) Pittsburgh
Chris Petrow, Oshawa (267) Anaheim
Bill Kinkel, Kitchener (281) New Jersey