After months of projection and conjecture that dragged on even longer than usual because of labor strife, Moorhead's Brian Lee will finally find out where he fits into the NHL draft.
The league announced Wednesday it will hold its annual entry draft July 30 in Ottawa. Normally held in June, the draft was pushed back by the NHL lockout. Owners and players reached agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement Wednesday, bringing the lockout to an end.
"I think it's great they finally figured it out," Lee said. "It'll be fun to go and hopefully get drafted."
A defenseman who graduated from Moorhead High School in the spring, Lee is expected to be a mid-first round pick. Since he will play for the University of North Dakota this winter no matter where he is drafted, Lee said the uncertainty over the draft wasn't nerve-wracking.
"It's just a number. It's not like football or basketball where you get drafted in the first round and then you're playing right away," Lee said. "In hockey, you don't go pro right away. It might not be for a couple of years. So it's just a number."
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The new agreement will eventually affect Lee in his bank account. Rookie salaries reportedly will be capped at $850,000 per season, down from the $1.29 million first-year players could make in 2003-04.
"That's so far off, I haven't even thought about it," Lee said.
Lee will report to UND on Aug. 19 and begin captain's practice immediately. Practice officially starts Oct. 1.
In the interim, Lee expects to be among the top 40 projected draft picks invited to attend the draft.
The draft will have a new twist this year. This year's draft order will be determined by a weighted lottery including all 30 teams. In the past, only the 14 non-playoff teams were included in the lottery. The lottery will be held July 21.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Mike McFeely at (701) 241-5580
