VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - The Vancouver Canucks traded their 25th pick in the first round of the NHL entry draft along with Steve Bernier and Michael Grabner to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenceman Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich.
The Canucks will now have to wait as their next pick isn't until the fourth round when they have the 115th, 145th, 172nd and 205th picks.
There were no surprises in the draft as the Edmonton Oilers got exactly who they wanted in the draft in Windsor Spitfires forward Taylor Hall. The Boston Bruins picked second and took Tyler Seguin from the Plymouth Whalers.
A couple of B.C. born players also went pretty high in the opening round of the draft. Ryan Johanson who was born in Vancouver and played for the Portland Winterhawks was taken fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. Campbell River born Brett Connolly who played for the Prince George Cougars is now a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning as he was picked sixth overall.
The 2010 NHL entry draft is wrapping up Saturday.