Takin' a T/O with BT: Moving and Shaking at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

6. The Colorado Avalanche and New York Rangers

Both teams fall into the same category at the draft, so I cheated and decided to put in 11 teams.

Despite the Rangers' interest in Heatley, they need to shed payroll in order for them to take on such a large contract, and names like Scott Gomez and Chris Drury keep coming up, along with Wade Redden.

The Avalanche, meanwhile, are rumored to be interested in moving Ryan Smyth, Scott Hannan, and John-Michael Liles to clear up their own cap room, and Darcy Tucker may be getting bought out for the second straight offseason.

7. The Florida Panthers

As Alan Bass and I have talked about in our Mock Drafts here on Bleacher Report, the Panthers are now looking at trading Jay Bouwmeester's negotiating rights.

The price? A third-round pick.

Expect that price to escalate a little bit as the five teams remaining in the hunt jockey for position, but just to be able to talk to Bouwmeester, the price (so far) is fair for the most talked about defenseman in hockey right now not named Hedman.

8. The Toronto Maple Leafs

Big surprise here: The Leafs want to do something at draft day.

With the initial price of just a third round pick for Bouwmeester's negotiating rights (I can see it going to a second and third if a deal actually happens), I am hoping that the Leafs are in on that, but never get your hopes up.

Then there are the continuous trade rumors about Toronto moving up to second if Hedman is taken first overall, and now the newest rumor has them moving the seventh overall pick to the Western Conference for a roster player.

I hear it's Kip Brennan.

My hope? The Leafs simply move up to fourth overall and grab Brayden Schenn. If Burke does that, I'm a happy camper.

9. The Minnesota Wild

The Wild are usually a bit of an enigma around this time and shy away from big deals. However, Chuck Fletcher may be looking to make an impact in his first big day as Wild GM.

Fletcher was reportedly pursuing Dany Heatley, which could change the entire outlook of the Wild's offseason: If Heatley were to come to Minnesota, then the question has to be asked if that interests Marian Gaborik in staying.

If it does, then back the dump truck of money up to Gaborik's house, sign him, and let them create the offensive magic that Minnesota has so desperately needed for next season.

That is, for the 20 games Gaborik will play before tripping over the blueline and sitting out the rest of the season with a bruised shin.

Even if Heatley doesn't end up in Wild Country, though, I have a sneaking suspicion that Fletcher is going to be actively pursuing something else during the draft.

10. The Philadelphia Flyers

Philadelphia is another one of those teams that has put out feelers on available players, but also has a few of their own they'd like to part with.

Flyers fans have a big interest in Bouwmeester and are salivating at the opportunity for him to round out their defensive corps for years to come. On the other side of the coin, though, word is they'd like to move Daniel Briere out of town, with Montreal being the ideal destination for the Gatineau native, despite Briere's no-trade clause.

The money, time, and logistics tied up in Briere's deal make it a little harder to move the perpetually injured center, but with Montreal in a state of flux approaching the offseason, they could use a veteran center with a stable future.

Bryan Thiel is a Senior Writer and an NHL Community Leader for Bleacher Report. If you want to get in contact with Bryan, you can do so through his profile or email him at bryanthiel74@hotmail.com. You can also check out his previous work in his archives.

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