Good morning from LA. One day until the entry draft:

1--As reported by the Star Tribune last week, Brad Bombardir has accepted the job as director of player development, according to the Wild's web site. He was the team's director of community partnerships.

2--From yesterday's awards ceremony, Mikko Koivu was 11th in the Selke and Andrew Brunette was 14 in the Lady Byng.

3--The Dustin Byfuglien trade to Atlanta finally went through last night. As reported by TSN's Bob McKenzie earlier in the day, the holdup was the Thrashers went over the 50-roster maximum by one, so after some roster shuffling, the trade finally went through. Here's the press release The Thrashers gave up a lot in this package. They better hope Byfuglien is the player he was in the playoffs in Atlanta.

4--As I've reported the past few weeks on the blog, Craig Ramsay could not go from Boston to Atlanta in a lateral move, so he will be named head coach of the Thrashers today and Dudley's desire is to bring in Blackhawks assistant John Torchetti as an associate or assistant. As of last night, the role had been offered Torchetti but negotiations were still ongoing.

Lastly, here's some YouTube videos or NHL.com profiles of some prospects that may be around when (if) the Wild chooses ninth:

Prince George's Brett Connolly, who would have been a sure-thing top-five pick if he didn't miss much of last year with a hip injury

Kitchener's Jeff Skinner, who is considered a pure goal scorer

El Nino, Switzerland's Nino Niederreiter, a competitive offensive stud with Portland

Rugged two-way center,Portland's Ryan Johansen

Smart, skilled Russian Alex Burmistrov, who played in Barrie

The man who RedLine Report calls the most "imaginative playmaker," Helsinki's Mikael Granlund

All-world goalie Jack Campbell from the Ann Arnor program

Smooth, big defenseman Derek Forbort from Duluth and the Ann Arnor program

Physical specimen Emerson Etem, who's from So. Cal and went to Shattuck-St. Mary's

OK, I'll be back later