DRAFT DAY OFF TO SIZZLING START

LOS ANGELES, CA — If a 10am local press conference to announce labour peace between the NHL and NHLPA for an additional four years wasn’t good enough news on Draft Day, a blockbuster trade between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Islanders certainly got things off to a fiery start.

The Habs shipped the 16th and 17th overall picks, along with talented young forward Emil Heineman to the Isles in exchange for stud defenceman Doan Dobson and subsequently signed him to an eight-year, $76 million contract.

That got the JW Marriott lobby buzzing, and more moves are expected going into the Draft later this evening from Peacock Theatre in LA Live.

Neither the Canadiens nor Islanders are expected to be done dealing, as both clubs have multiple irons in the fire.

On the Islanders’ front, the team has continued to explore acquiring another top-7 pick, with plenty of speculation surrounding the Utah Mammoth and the fourth-overall selection.

Isles GM Mathieu Darche is navigating a number of pathways, including trading centre Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and he continues to fish for more fire power up front.

As I reported earlier today, some teams have called Darche about centre Mathew Barzal, with Utah and the Vancouver Canucks being two of them. I do not get the sense the Islanders are overly interested in moving Barzal, but that hasn’t stopped teams from calling. ‘Tis the season, after all.

The Habs are loaded with young talent on the blueline and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude they are likely, eventually, going to move at least one of them. But word across the league, in speaking with other teams, is that Montreal has made veteran winger Brendan Gallagher available.

It is unclear, at this point, if a move involving Gallagher is close, but sources from multiple teams have told me his name is out there.

Gallagher, 33, has two years remaining on his contract and comes with a $6.5 million cap hit. He also owns a six team no-trade list.

I also wonder about Mike Matheson’s future in Montreal. He’s entering the final year of his contract.

Outside of Long Island and Montreal, the San Jose Sharks appear to be high on both Michael Misa and Anton Frondell going into tonight’s Draft, but sources have told me they are also willing to trade the second-overall pick if a team is open to trading them a young, top-six open NHL talent in a deal.

There seems to be a lot of moving parts today, with teams exploring all kinds of options. For entertainment purposes, I hope the fireworks continue.

HERE AND THERE

• With John Tavares locked up in Toronto, the Maple Leafs are focusing on a five-year deal with pending RFA Matthew Knies. We are likely to see his AAV in the $7M range, and talks have progressed this week.

• Columbus fell short on getting Dobson, but the Blue Jackets remain active. The Islanders wanted Dmitri Voronkov in a package that included the 14th overall and 20th overall picks, but they went with the Habs’ package. Columbus is looking for impact additions and GM Don Waddell remains engaged in talks.

• Don’t expect Vegas to trade William Karlsson any time soon. The Golden Knights want to hold on to him.

• Draft host Los Angeles is active out there, as well. Kings GM Ken Holland told us he’s open to trading pick No.24 for a mid-six forward. The Kings are also looking at adding a left shot defenceman, especially if they can’t sign Vladislav Gavrikov.

• Also on the Kings, once the dust settles on the Draft and July 1, they plan on engaging in contract negotiations with Adrian Kempe on a long-term extension.

• The Canucks have been trying to move the 15th overall pick for a mid-six forward. They have a few options, from the sounds of it.

• Boston has been continued to take calls on forward Pavel Zacha.

• The Colorado Avalanche have been talking to multiple teams about centre Charlie Coyle and the expectation is a move will come at some point this Draft weekend.

• If the Edmonton Oilers clear more cap space, I wouldn’t be shocked if they entered the Brock Boeser race come July 1.

• Buffalo is looking for a top-six forward as part of a deal involving defenceman Bowen Byram.