In 1997, the NHL Entry Draft was held in Pittburgh's Civic Arena on Staurday, June 21. The
comprehensive round-by-round listing of the selections is below.

    During the draft, the Calgary Flames re-acquired Rick Tabaracci (G) from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a 1998 Fourth Round draft pick. The Flames made another deal, this time with the Boston Bruins, where they gave up Mike Sullivan in exchange for a 1998 seventh round draft pick.

First Round

         Daniel Tkaczuk
         6th Overall

Centre, Barrie, Ontario Hockey League

Tkaczuk

Rank: No. 3, North American Central Scouting
Shoots left, 6-0, 191
Born: June 10, 1979, Mississauga, Ontario

GP: 62 G: 45 A: 48 Pts: 93 PIM: 49

Scouting report: He is a high-scoring, two-way forward in his league. He is potentially a top two-way forward in the NHL. He has the skills to be a point-per-game player in the NHL. He will need to raise his play to an even higher level offensively next season, if he is going to be a legitimate offensive threat in the NHL.

Scouting notes: Offensive ability is very good; excels at offense through a good mixture of hard work and natural ability ... defensive play is very good; is a complete player including in his own end ... skating ability is good; skates well enough to effectively play his style of game ... physical play is good; became more physically aggressive as the season progressed ... attitude and work ethic is excellent; is a quality person on and off the ice.

 

 32nd Overall - Evan Lindsay
Goaltender, Prince Albert, Western Hockey League

Lindsay

Rank: No. 3 -- goaltenders, North American Central Scouting
Catches left, 6-1½, 180
Born: May 15, 1979, Red Deer, Alberta

 GP: 44 W-L-T: 20-17-6 GAA: 3.46 SO: 0

Scouting report: Plays an unorthodox style. Sets up tall and upright and settles into a small paddle-down butterfly. Has quick reaction time and is excellent in reading the play and anticipating the shot. Draft chances skyrocketed from 11th-ranked goaltender to third. Led all WHL rookie goalies in minutes played (2,591) and wins (20) after starting the season as his team's backup. Was named his team's Rookie of the Year and playoff MVP. Brother, Scott, is playing in Boston Bruins' minor-league system.

41st Overall - John Tripp
 

He was drafted in 1995, is a Right Winger and is a strong, aggressive winger and a real leadership type. He'll be in Saint John next season where the team can get a real good look at him.
Here's some more info on him:
6'2" 207 lbs. Born Kingston Ontario May 4, 1977.

Last season with Oshawa: 28-20-48, 126 PIM in 59 games.

50th Overall - Dmitri Kokorev
 

Defence, Moscow Dynamo, Russia
Rank: No. 17, European Central Scouting
Shoots left, 6-3, 196
Born: Jan. 9, 1979

GP: 27 G: 2 A: 4 Pts: 6 PIM: 24

Scouting report: He is a big, strong, two-way defenseman. He is potentially a superior, containment type defenseman in the NHL, because of his size-mobility combination. He could score up to 20 points a season in the NHL. He would distinguish himself by developing a specialty in his game, as either a tough defensive player or a superior two-way player.

Scouting notes: Offensive ability is adequate ... defensive play is good ... skating ability is good ... physical play is good ... attitude and work ethic is adequate.
 

 58th Overall - Derek Schutz
Centre, Spokane, Western Hockey League
Rank: No. 57, North American Central Scouting
Shoots: right, 6-2, 185
Born: March 5, 1979, Yorkton, Sask.

GP: 61 G: 20 A: 21 Pts: 41 PIM: 126

Scouting report: He is a big, aggressive, developing power forward. He is potentially a big, aggressive, two-way forward in the NHL. He has the skills to score 30-40 points a season in the NHL. He needs to continue to improve his defensive game and increase his physical presence.

Scouting notes: Offensive ability is good ... defensive play is good ... skating ability is good ... physical play is very good ... attitude and work ethic is very good.

 

68th Overall - Erik Andersson
 
Centre, Denver, Western Collegiate Hockey Association

GP: 39 G: 17 A: 17 Pts: 34 PIM: 42

 90th Overall - Chris St.Croix
 
Defence, Kamloops, Western Hockey League
Rank: No. 62, North American Central Scouting
Shoots: right, 6-1, 186
Born: May 2, 1979

GP: 67 G: 11 A: 39 Pts: 50 PIM: 67

Scouting report: He is a skilled, two-way defenseman. He is potentially an NHL team's top 4 defenseman, who is very capable at both ends of the ice. He has the skills to score 30-40 points a season in the NHL. He needs to continue to improve his defensive game and increase his physical presence.

Scouting notes: Offensive ability is very good ... defensive play is very good ... skating ability is good ... physical play is adequate ... attitude and work ethic is very good.

 

98th Overall - Ryan Ready
 
Left Wing, Belleville, Ontario Hockey League
Rank: No. 47, North American Central Scouting
Shoots: left, 6-1, 185
Born: Nov. 7, 1978, Peterborough, Ontario

GP: 66 G: 23 A: 24 Pts: 47 PIM: 102

Scouting report: He is an aggressive, two-way forward. He is potentially an aggressive, two-way forward in the NHL. He has the skills to score 20-40 points a season in the NHL. He needs to continue to improve his finesse play in order to continue developing his two-way game.

Scouting notes: Offensive ability is good ... defensive play is very good ... skating ability is good ... physical play is very good ... attitude and work ethic is very good.

 

        First Round

          6. Daniel Tkaczuk, C, Barrie, OHL.

Second Round

32. Evan Lindsay, G, Prince Albert, WHL.

42. John Tripp, RW, Oshawa, OHL

51. Dimitri Kokorev, D, Dynamo Jr., European

Third Round

60. Derek Schutz, C, Spokane, WHL

70. Erik Andersson, C, U. of Denver

Fourth Round

92. Chris St. Croix, D, Kamloops, WHL

100. Ryan Ready, LW, Belleville, OHL

Fifth Round

113. Martin Moise, LW, Beauport, QMJHL

Sixth Round

140. Ilja Demidov, D, Dynamo Jr., European

Seventh Round

167. Jeremy Rondeau, LW, Swift Current, WHL

Ninth Round

223. Dustin Paul, RW, Moose Jaw, WHL

• Third Round: Originally acquired from NY Islanders for Paul Kruse. Traded to Hartford in the Chiasson deal. ( Calgary received a 1998 third round pick from Hartford)
• Fourth Round: Traded to St. Louis in the Al MacInnis-for-Phil Housley deal.
• Eighth Round: Traded to Montreal in exchange for Craig Ferguson and Yves Sarault.

Webmasters- mokt@cadvision.com, jcheung@cadvision.com