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1999 Entry Draft winners, losers
From amid the lusty boos (for anything to do with the Rangers, Gary Bettman or the Sabres) and the lusty cheers (for anything to do with Raymond Bourque or the Bruins) of the Fleet Center crowd, here are some winners and losers from the entry draft: Winner: The Sedin twins, Daniel and Henrik. They were introduced together (as the second and third overall selections by Vancouver), they stood up together, and they donned their ceremonial Canucks jerseys together. Next they'll play together and make millions together, just as they want it. Winner: Tampa Bay Lightning. In a series of moves in which it traded away the top pick in the draft, the Lightning, which failed to get goalie Roman Turek from the Stars in a post-Cup trade, landed its netminder for the present and future by acquiring Dan Cloutier from the Rangers. They also got New York's solid two-way center Nicklas Sundstrom and stockpiled five extra picks in next year's draft. Winner: Agent Rich Winter. One client, Patrik Stefan, went first overall to the rich Atlanta Thrashers, where he'll be trumpeted as the franchise's building block; another client, Pavel Brendl went fourth to the rich Rangers, where he'll get first class treatment and plenty of hype. Loser: No. 8 pick Taylor Pratt. Bummer number one: He got selected by the Islanders. Bummer number two: The Isles' scout who introduced Pratt slipped up and called him by his father's first name -- Nelson. Loser: Anyone who tuned in or arrived late. There was much excitement in the early going with several trades and the Sedin twins going to Vancouver. After Brendl went fourth, the draft settled into its usual languorous pace and few outside the business knew the name of D. Shvidki (who went 12th to the Panthers). Loser: The Red Wings. They lost valuable goalie Norm Maracle to the Atlanta Thrashers in the expansion draft and didn't have a pick until the fourth round in the entry draft.
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