NY Rangers add Cristoval ‘Boo’ Nieves, Calle Andersson, Thomas Spelling to 2012 NHL draft crop headed by Brady Skjei
The final six rounds of the NHL draft lasted just two hours, 45 minutes on Saturday morning in Pittsburgh, with the Rangers selecting three more players to add to first-round choice Brady Skjei, including a local talent of sorts in Kent School (Conn.) center Cristoval ‘Boo’ Nieves.
The Blueshirts concluded the draft with four total selections:
First round, 28th overall: Brady Skjei, D, USA – 6-2, 196 – USHL, USA U-18
Second round, 59th overall: Cristoval Nieves, C, USA – 6-3, 184 – HIGH-CT, Kent School
Fourth round, 119th overall: Calle Andersson, D, Sweden – 6-2, 208 – Swedish Jr. League, Farjestad Jr.
Fifth round, 142nd overall: Thomas Spelling, RW, Denmark – 6-1, 176 – Denmark, Herning
The Rangers originally owned a third-round pick (89th overall), which they traded to Nashville for the Predators’ 2013 third-round pick. Then New York sent a 2013 fifth-rounder to Nashville for their fifth-round pick in this draft and selected Spelling 142nd overall.
SEE THE NHL’S FULL 2012 DRAFT LIST
Nieves, born and raised in the Syracuse area, told the team’s web site that he is encouraged by the Rangers’ successful track record with players who have played prep school then college hockey, such as Chris Kreider, Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan. Nieves will attend the University of Michigan in the fall.
FULL RUNDOWN OF FRIDAY NIGHT’S FIRST ROUND
Anderson is the son of former Rangers defenseman Peter Andersson, who wore a Blueshirt for 39 games between 1992-93 and 1993-94. Anderson had 36 points in 49 games in the Swedish Jr. League.
Spelling totaled 37 points in 33 games for Herning in Denmark last season and will spend the 2012-13 season playing for Rogle in Sweden.
DRAFT’S COUNTRY BREAKDOWN
A total of 211 players from 12 countries were selected at the 2012 NHL Draft, which concluded Saturday at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh. Following is a breakdown of draft selections by birthplace:
Canada 99
United States 56
Sweden 22
Russia 11
Finland 9
Czech Republic 6
Denmark 2
Latvia 2
Belarus 1
Germany 1
Switzerland 1
United Kingdom 1
TOTAL: 211
TRADES ANNOUNCED SATURDAY
Tampa Bay traded RW Michel Ouellet and a 5th-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (131st overall) to Boston for the rights to LW Benoit Pouliot.
Rangers traded a 3rd-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (89th overall) to Nashville for a 3rd-round pick in 2013.
Chicago traded a 4th-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (109th overall) to San Jose for a 7th-round pick in 2012 (191st overall) and a 4th-round pick in 2013.
Toronto traded G Jonas Gustavsson to Winnipeg for a conditional 7th-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.
Nashville traded a 5th-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (142nd overall) to the Rangers for a 5th-round pick in 2013.
Los Angeles traded a 7th-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (183rd overall) to Dallas for a 7th-round pick in 2013.
Dallas traded a 7th-round pick in the 2012 NHL Draft (194th overall) to Florida for a 7th-round pick in 2013.
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