LIVE BLOG: 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT FIRST ROUND

Welcome to Broadway Hockey Daily’s live blog of the first round of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft! We’ll be updating periodically throughout the night, with the most recent update appearing at the top of the post.

7:35 PM – New Panthers GM Dale Tallon selects Erik Gudbranson, the big defenseman from the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL. I thought they’d go with Fowler, but I can see they’d want a guy as strong defensively as Gudbranson. He’s a solid player that any NHL team would love to have. It’s the Columbus Blue Jackets up next, and rumors have been flying about their pick, the fourth overall, being up for grabs.

7:33 PM – While we wait for things to move forward, let’s think about the possibility of the Rangers acquiring a second first round pick. I’m just wondering out loud here, but that’s something I’d love to see. It would be fantastic for them to be able to grab a big defenseman like Jarred Tinordi or Dylan McIlrath, and they’ve certainly got the assets in the organization to move to get a pick like that.

7:25 PM – Indeed, it is Tyler Seguin going second overall to the Bruins. Man, that facial expression from Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke says it all. I bet he REALLY wishes that was him up there shaking hands with Seguin. Florida is up next with the third pick, and the Panthers are going to pick a defenseman. Question is, will it be offensive blueliner Cam Fowler, or defensive stalwart Erik Gudbranson? I’m going to say Fowler.

7:20 PM – So now it’s the Boston Bruins turn. Time for the second pick overall. Shouldn’t be much of a secret here, it’ll be Tyler Seguin,

7:18 PM – It’s official! The Edmonton Oilers have made Taylor Hall the first overall pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. Hard to fault them for picking Hall, whether you think it should have been him or Seguin. Both will be good players.

7:15 PM – Bettman getting booed? Color me surprised.

7:10 PM – What about Hall or Seguin, you might ask? Well, I think the Oilers are going to go with Hall, and despite the rumors of them trying to trade for the second pick, too, I just don’t see it happening. Peter Chiarelli and the Boston Bruins would be foolish to trade that pick. Seguin will be a huge piece for them going forward, and nothing they can get back from the Oilers for that pick will be as valuable.

7:05 PM – So many different names drawing interest from Ranger fans, with the Blueshirts picking 10th. Obviously, we’d all love a crack at Taylor Hall or Tyler Seguin, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. As for realistic possibilities, some fans want Vladimir Tarasenko, the talented Russian sniper, while others prefer a different Russian: Alexander Burmistrov, the center who played his junior hockey for the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. My personal choice would be center Ryan Johansen of the Western Hockey League’s Portland Winterhawks... if he’s still on the board, that is. A lot of people seem him getting snapped up just before the Rangers’ selection.

7 PM – Hey folks! Thanks for joining us here at BHD. We’re about to get started. There are plenty of rumors going around regarding trades, though nothing yet regarding our beloved Blueshirts. The Florida Panthers just traded defenseman Keith Ballard to the Vancouver Canucks for winger Steve Bernier and the 25th pick.

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