Yesterday the WCFHL  had its waiver draft for the unprotected player. There were a total of 30 players that were taken, with compensation being mostly another player , while other teams took the cash.

There were many players available including some older veteran players. Today we look at the top 3 picks.

The Columbus Blue Jackets had the 1^st pick and chose RW Eric Meloche. Where he will fit in their plans in unknown at the moment, But he does come cheap($522,500 for 2 years) He was a 7^th round pick chosen by the Penguins in 1996. As compensation the Penguins received LW Brian Savage(and his $2M contract)

The Boston Bruins , with the 2^nd pick, Defenceman Joel Kwiatowski. He fits in well with the Bruins youth movement and allowed them to move veteran Jef Norton out to the farm team. He will probably challenge Chris Joseph and Craig Millar for the 5^th and 6^th spot on the depth chart. The Ducks took the $500,000 cash in lieu of a player.

With the 3^rd pick, The New Jersey Devils took young center Milan Kraft from the Sharks and in return the Sharks took newly exposed RW Stacy Roest.  Kraft immediatley becomes their top center on the farm team and will be waiting for a call up should the need arise.otherwise he should challenge next season for a roster spot. GM Lakatos had pegged Kraft as his top pick but was quite surprised that the Jackets and Bruins left him for the Devils.

Tomorrow we will  have a look at the rest of the 1^st round.

This is the way I see it From The Stands
Steve Simmons