Although the Blackhawks are denying it at the moment, it looks as if the Phoenix Coyotes will move into the top spot in the 2007 NHL entry draft, by flipping picks with Chicago in order to draft Kyle Turris of the BCHL's Burnaby Express. Phoenix was positioned at No. 3 and in theory, Turris could have fallen to them anyway.
But by stepping up, they get the player that they wanted a 6-1, 170-pound play-making centre who finished the year as the top-ranked player in the Central Scouting rankings.
Or as one NHL coach said of the decision made by the Wayne Gretzky-led Coyotes: "He (Turris) probably reminds him (Gretzky) of someone."
In other news at the draft, the San Jose Sharks took free agent defenceman Craig Rivet off the market, signing him to a four-year, $1.4 million (all figures U.S.) deal.
Earlier, the Pittsburgh Penguins signed veteran forwards Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi to one-year contracts. Roberts will make $2.5 million this coming season, while Recchi will make a base of $1.75 million, along with a $250,000 bonus if the Penguins make the playoffs.
