Two future Wolverines taken in 1st round

Incoming U-M forward Andrew Cogliano taken by Edmonton.

Michigan saw two important pieces of their immediate future drafted in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft today in Ottawa.

Incoming defenseman Jack Johnson went third overall to the Carolina Hurricanes while incoming forward Andrew Cogliano was taken by the Edmonton Oilers 25th overall.

"I had a sense that I'd be somewhere around there (in the first round), but I knew that it was all up to the teams," said Johnson. "It was out of my control. I really had no idea what was going to happen. I'm just happy it happened and happy to be a part of the Carolina Hurricanes organization."

Oilers' vice-president of hockey operations Kevin Prendergast said he's ecstatic Cogliano is now Edmonton property.

"Andrew Cogliano is a tremendous skater with great speed and agility," said Prendergast. "We were pleased to see he was still available because we had him ranked very high on our list."

Michigan State recruit Justin Abdelkader, a Muskegon native and power forward, went 42nd overall in the second round to the Detroit Red Wings.

"Justin is a kid who plays a real strong two-way game," Detroit assistant general manager Jim Nill said in the Detroit News. "He's extremely competitive, he's in your face and he's a guy we feel fortunate to have."

Abdelkader was chosen Mr. Hockey in 2004 by the Michigan High School Hockey Coaches Association after he led Mona Shores to the Division 2 state final.

Forward Jason Bailey, yet another incoming Wolverine, heard his name called by the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in the third round, 63rd overall.

Current Michigan forward T.J. Hensick, from Howell, was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the third round as well, 88th overall.

With the first pick in the fifth round, 126th overall, the Pittsburgh Penguins took incoming Spartans forward Tim Crowder. Crowder's future teammate in East Lansing, Tim Kennedy, was drafted by the Washington Capitals in the sixth round, 181st overall.

Northern Michigan was not to be left out as 2006 recruit, forward Matt Butcher, was taken in the fifth round, 138th overall, by the Vancouver Canucks.

Incoming Western Michigan forward Matt Clackson was the last of the Michigan college picks as he went in the final and seventh round, 215th overall, to the Philadelphia Flyers.