After selecting defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson in last night’s first round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Phoenix Coyotes selected a total of five players today in the remaining six rounds while trading for three more.
Here’s a look at all the transactions General Manager Don Maloney executed today:
Chris Brown selected in second round (36th overall): The Texas native spent the 2008-09 season with the United States National Under-18 team in USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. Brown, 18, tallied 20 goals and 18 assists for 38 points and 120 penalty minutes in 62 games.
He also scored four goals and three assists for seven points in seven games to help Team USA win a gold medal at the 2009 Under-18 World Championship.
The NHL Central Scouting Report says Brown is a physical presence who is a good skater and good two-way player.
Brown will be attending Michigan in the fall.
Michael Lee selected in third round (91st overall): The goaltender posted a record of 26-15-4 with a 2.40 goals against average and a .918 save percentage with three shutouts for the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League in the 2008-09 season. The Minnesota native also posted a 7-3 record with a 2.64 GAA and .921 save percentage with one shutout in the postseason.
Lee’s 2008-09 accolades include being named as USHL Goaltender of the Year, being named to the USHL All-Rookie Team, playing in the USHL All-Star Game and was named the Dave Peterson Goaltender of the Year by USA Hockey.
Lee will be attending St. Cloud State University in the fall.
Phoenix acquired the 91st overall pick in a trade that sent the New York Islanders a third round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft.
Jim Vandermeer acquired for Brandon Prust: The 29-year-old Vandermeer appeared in 45 games for Calgary last season and recorded one goal and six assists for seven points and 108 penalty minutes. He also played in six playoff games for the Flames.
Maloney said, “He is a tough, experienced defenseman who will certainly help strengthen our defensive corps.”
Prust recorded one assist and 29 penalty minutes in 11 games for the Coyotes last season after being acquired from Calgary on March 4, 2009.
Jordan Szwarz (97th overall) and Justin Weller (105th overall) selected in the fourth round: Szwarz is a forward who tallied 17 goals and 34 assists for 51 points and 76 penalty minutes while playing 67 games for the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League in the 2008-09 season. Szwarz also netted a goal and added five assists for six points and 10 penalty minutes in eight playoff games.
Weller is a defenseman who played in 32 games for the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League for the 2008-09 season, recording four assists and 30 penalty minutes.
Evan Bloodoff selected in the sixth round (157th overall): The forward recorded 12 goals and nine assists for 21 points and 77 penalty minutes while playing the 2008-09 season for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League.
He also had three goals and three assists in 22 playoff games to help Kelowna win the WHL title.
Sami Lepisto and Shaun Heshka acquired via trades: The Coyotes traded a fifth round selection in the 2010 Entry Draft to the Washington Capitals for defenseman Sami Lepisto.
Lepisto had four assists in seven games with Washington last season. He also played in 70 games for the American Hockey League’s Hersey Bears and recorded four goals and 38 assists for 42 points, the most for any defenseman on the team.
The Coyotes traded their seventh round pick (187th overall) to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Shaun Heshka.
Heshka tallied three goals and 23 assists for 26 points with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL in the 2008-09 season. He also had five assists in 22 playoff games.
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