Season 6 Draft

Season 6 officially gets underway with today's player entry draft. Each franchise selects one historical Hall of Famer to add to their roster, although they're allowed to trade picks for players. The teams select in reverse order of their Season 5 regular-season finish and can make trades to move up or down in that order.

1. Victorias: Newsy Lalonde, C/RW

Lalonde, the most exciting player in this draft class, is a generational talent brimming with offensive potential. It's a match made in heaven for the Vics, who are in dire need of help after scoring a league-worst 2.44 goals per game last year. Lalonde gives them another weapon to support the legendary Cyclone Taylor, who either scored or assisted on an astounding 77% of the Vics' goals in Season 5. 

2. Bulldogs: Frank Patrick, D

The Dogs continued their long tradition of drafting defensemen, and Patrick may be the best one they've ever nabbed. He's a two-way defender in the style of Mike Grant or Hod Stuart, and he should give the Bulldogs what they thought they were getting when Jack Laviolette's strong rookie campaign in Season 4 turned out to be a mirage.

3. Comets: Dick Irvin, C

It's rare for playoff teams to get an impact player in the draft, but this draft is so deep that Irvin fell to the Comets with the #3 pick. In other seasons, the multitalented Irvin might have gone first overall. Irvin profiles as a number-one center, and his arrival should push superstar Frank McGee from center to left wing, where his defensive deficiencies and faceoff ineptitude will no longer hurt his team. I love this pick for the Comets, but they still need to find a way to address their league-worst penalty kill.

4. Millionaires: Herb Gardiner, D

The defending champions scored a league-leading 3.13 goals per game in Season 5, with defensemen Graham Drinkwater and Art Farrell quarterbacking this potent attack. What the Millies really needed was a good stay-at-home defenseman who doesn't take quite as many penalties as Joe Hall, and their wish came true when they picked up the steady, level-headed Gardiner. 

5. Thistles: Angus Campbell, LW

The first-place Thistles get stuck with Campbell, a player they'll likely cut after giving him a two- or three-game tryout. Campbell might find a home with next year's expansion team, but at the moment he profiles as the worst forward in the league.

With these new players in place, the teams can now sign free agents and make further trades. Ultimately, they will trim their rosters down to this season's maximum (12 players, 10 of whom can dress for a game). Once those rosters are set, I'll begin the season!