CHICAGO — Don Sweeney had one thing in common with every general manager and front office staff from the majority of the 31-team National Hockey League.
All of them held on to their first round pick in 2017.
When little to no moves happen, it signals that the prospect field is so strong that teams covet their first round pick and select a hot up and comer or it’s so weak that teams are forced to keep the selection. The best example of the former happened in 2003 in what was arguably the best draft class in recent memory.