LOS ANGELES -- The Canes picked up a pair of defensemen and used their third second-round pick to acquire another center today at Staples Center.
With their first second-round pick, No. 37 overall, the Canes took defenseman Justin Faulk of the U.S. National Development Team. It later used the No. 53 pick to take Mark Alt, the son of former NFL player John Alt.
The Canes dealt away the 46th pick to Edmonton in exchange for unsigned center prospect Riley Nash, who has played the last three seasons at Cornell.
Faulk is listed at 6-0, 196 pounds and has a cannon of a shot. He said he patterns his play after Dan Boyle and plans to attend Minnesota-Duluth next season.
"I'm considered more of an offensive defenseman but I guess at the same time I can be a pretty good two-way defenseman," Faulk said.
Alt, 6-3 and 199, also played quarterback at Cretin-Derham Hall in Minneapolis.
Nash, 6-1 and 175 pounds, was the 21st overall pick of the Oilers in 2007 but has stubbornly refused to sign a professional contract with the team.
The Canes picked center Jeff Skinner of the Kitchener Rangers with the No. 7 pick of the first round.
A Raleigh native, Chip has worked at the N&O since 1979 and is the Canes beat writer. He can be reached at 
Comments
cupoftea, I've done some
Sun, 06/27/2010 - 15:23 — redblackhockeycupoftea, I've done some research on this issue, and it sounds like there was a sour relationship between the Oilers top brass and Riley Nash. Oilers fans are split on whether Nash is being difficult or if the Oil are being impatient, or if they've somehow rubbed the player the wrong way. Either way, it's pretty clear no matter who you listen to out there that Nash had no intention of playing for the Oil.
It looks, also, like the Oilers are trending away from having any dealings at all with NCAA players, and this is not sitting well with fans.
Riley's older brother Brendon is a defenseman who played alongside him at Cornell and recently signed with the Canadiens as an undrafted free agent.
Ron Francis really likes the kid, so I'm anxious to see what happens with this.
Nash Not That Interested in Edmonton
Mon, 06/28/2010 - 07:52 — abramsdougCanes Now doesn't allow the use of links, but here is a partial link to an Edmonton Journal article on Riley Nash.
edmontonjournal.com/life/Lack+interest+Nash+departure/3210545/story.html
You will need to add the www. to the link.
The basic deal is stated as
"For three years he put up fairly good numbers (103 points in 102 games) with the defensive-minded college team, but when the Oilers kept asking if he wanted to leave school and sign with them, he had little interest. When he had the chance to talk about the rebuilding Oilers and how nice that might be to be a part of it, he showed little inclination for it."
RILEY NASH
Sat, 06/26/2010 - 23:06 — CUPOFTEAChip-- can you get us more info on Riley Nash. We know he's a center, drafted by Edmonton, the cousin of Columbus' Rick Nash and currently at Cornell. If the Oilers couldn't sign him, why would he play for us? Is he planning on pulling a Blake Wheeler and going into free agency rather than signing with the team that holds his rights? What's was the issue between Edmonton and Mr. Nash? Thanks!