This was the definition of unqualified draft-day success for the local puck purveyors.
Moments after defenseman Scott Niedermayer told the Ducks he will rejoin them next season, General Manager Bob Murray stole the show by trading Chris Pronger to Philadelphia for a much-needed secondary scorer in right wing Joffrey Lupul, youth on defense in 2008 Flyers first-round pick Luca Sbisa, first-round picks this year and next and a third-round pick in 2010 or 2011.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Sunday, June 28, 2009 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 4 National Desk 1 inches; 45 words Type of Material: Correction
Helene Elliott column: In Saturday's Sports section, Helene Elliott's column said Brayden Schenn, the Kings' No. 5 pick in the NHL draft, had 32 goals and 56 points for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League. He had 32 goals and 88 points.
The Kings, wisely refusing to overpay in a trade for pouty Ottawa winger Dany Heatley, added to their considerable assets by choosing Brayden Schenn, a gritty and skillful center from the Canadian prairies.
And as a bonus, the Kings' selection of Schenn put a sour-pickle expression on the face of overbearing Toronto GM Brian Burke, who wanted to unite Schenn and his older brother, Luke, in Maple Leafs uniforms.
It doesn't get much better than that.
The Ducks' trade spiced up an otherwise dull first round Friday in Montreal. The second through seventh rounds will be conducted today.
The top five picks went as expected: high-scoring center John Tavares to the Islanders, imposing defenseman Victor Hedman to Tampa Bay, playmaker Matt Duchene to Colorado, power forward Evander Kane to Atlanta and Western Hockey League standout Schenn to the Kings.
General Manager Dean Lombardi, after joking that stymieing Burke was the reason he grabbed Schenn, said he liked the competitiveness of the 6-foot, 198-pound forward, who scored 32 goals and 56 points in 70 games for Brandon last season.
"He needs to work on his skating, but his hockey sense is top-notch," Lombardi said. "He has the ability to make those small, smart, little plays and has no fear going into traffic. He's a real competitor, and I think he's got a chance to grow into some leadership."
Good news for the Kings, who have a number of good pieces but lack a pure scorer. That scorer won't be Heatley, who scared potential suitors by issuing the second trade demand of his career.
"We know at some point we're going to want to make a fairly significant move," Lombardi said, "but I believe at certain dollars you not only have to be a heck of a player but let's say there can't be certain questions."
The Ducks left no questions about their intent to remain among the league's elite while staying under a salary cap that will increase next season by $100,000, to $56.8 million.
