How Have New NHL Teams Used Their First Draft Picks?

They're not your typical expansion team, but the squad that will be calling the Utah Hockey Club for at least the next year is officially a brand new franchise that's about to go into its first NHL Draft rather than setting its roster foundation through an expansion draft like we saw with Vegas and Seattle. Utah already has a stable of players in a prospect pool that it acquired from the Arizona Coyotes as part of its unique transfer and purchase arrangement, and general manager Bill Armstrong will still be at the helm after running the last four drafts in Arizona. Thinking about how Utah might proceed this year, Armstrong's past draft choices may offer some hints, but the more generous budget he'll be working with could cause some shifts in his strategy, not just in free agency in the trade market, but even at the draft as well. I've taken a look at Armstrong's history and how things could change this year, while also looking back at how other new franchises have used their first picks when they've come into the NHL. You can find all that in my new article, which is online now at thehockeynews.com.