On Frozen Blog

The National Hockey League announced that the Washington Capitals will pick 23rd in the 2008 Entry Draft. From the press release:

Washington has previously held the 23rd pick in the first round on two occasions. In 2006 the team selected goaltender Simeon Varlamov, and in 1995 the team drafted left wing Miika Elomo. The last time the Capitals first selection of the draft was higher than 23rd was 2001, when Washington’s first pick of the draft was No. 58 in the second round.

The Capitals enter this year’s draft with eight picks in the seven-round Entry Draft, including a first-round selection and three picks in the second round. This year’s Entry Draft will take place on June 20-21 at Scotiabank Place in Kanata, Ontario, home of the Ottawa Senators.

Below is a listing of the first-round draft order for the 2008 NHL Entry Draft:

1. Tampa Bay
2. Los Angeles
3. Atlanta
4. St. Louis
5. New York Islanders
6. Columbus
7. Toronto
8. Phoenix
9. Nashville (from Florida)
10. Vancouver
11. Chicago
12. Anaheim (from Edmonton)
13. Buffalo
14. Carolina
15. Nashville
16. Boston
17. Calgary
18. Ottawa
19. Columbus (from Colorado)
20. New York Rangers
21. New Jersey
22. Edmonton (from Anaheim)
23. Washington
24. Minnesota
25. Montreal
26. Buffalo (from San Jose)
27. Clubs eliminated in Conference Finals, in inverse order of points
28. Clubs eliminated in Conference Finals, in inverse order of points
29. Stanley Cup Final runner-up
30. Stanley Cup champion

Picks 1-14: Results of 2008 NHL Draft Drawing held April 7.

Picks 15-22: Clubs eliminated in first two rounds of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs who did not win their division during the regular season, in inverse order of points.

Picks 23-26: Clubs eliminated in the first two rounds of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs who won their division during the regular season, in inverse order of points.