HOCKEY NHL DRAFT : Offensive Defender Is Kings’ First Choice

The Sydor Experiment.

Sounds like a spy novel, doesn’t it? Or maybe a top-secret government project.

But there’s nothing secret about it.

It began two years ago in Kamloops, Canada, where winger Darryl Sydor was asked to experiment part-time as a defenseman.

And it ended Saturday when the 18-year-old became the first defenseman picked in the 1990 NHL draft, going seventh in the first round to the Kings.

“He plays like a Ray Bourque,” said King General Manager Rogie Vachon of the 6-foot, 205-pounder. “We’re not comparing the two at this point, but he has the same style. He moves the puck well, he moves well laterally and gets his shot through.”

Considered an offensive defenseman, Sydor had 95 points in 67 games for the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League last season, scoring 29 goals and getting 66 assists.

“When I play defense,” Sydor said, “I like the offensive part. I like to be the quarterback, bringing the puck out.”

Before Sydor was chosen, the draft, held before about 12,000 at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum, went as follows:

No. 1--Right wing Owen Nolan to the Quebec Nordiques. A 6-1, 194-pounder, Nolan had 110 points (51 goals and 59 assists) in 58 games for the Cornwall Royals of the Ontario Hockey League. Also known for his toughness, Nolan, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, was assessed 240 penalty minutes.

No. 2--Center Petr Nedved to the Vancouver Canucks. Nedved, 6-2 1/2 and 178 pounds, had the NHL in mind when he defected from his native Czechoslovakia in December of 1988. Playing for Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL last season, he had 65 goals and 80 assists, 145 points in 71 games.

No. 3--Center Keith Primeau to the Detroit Red Wings. Although he is listed at 6-4 and 217, some who have seen him estimate Primeau to be closer to 6-5 and 225. There is no dispute, however, about his numbers. With the Niagara Falls Thunder of the OHL last season, he had 127 points in 65 games with 57 goals and 70 assists.

No. 4--Center Mike Ricci to the Philadelphia Flyers. It was originally predicted that the 6-foot, 180-pounder would be the top choice. A shoulder separation last season slowed him down. That is, if you consider 52 goals and 64 assists for 116 points in 60 games slowing down. Ricci played for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL.

No. 5--Left wing Jaromir Jagr to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Considered the best player available outside North America, the 6-2, 198-pound Czechoslovakian played for Kladno in his native land where he had 60 points (30 goals) in 51 games.

No. 6--Center Scott Scissons to the New York Islanders. Although the 6-1, 201-pounder scored 40 goals and had 47 assists for 87 points in 61 games for the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL, he is not considered a true offensive center. His main value is thought to be his versatility as a two-way player.

The day also saw several major trades.

The Winnipeg Jets sent their all-time leading scorer, center Dale Hawerchuk, to the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Phil Housley, left wing Scott Arniel and center Jeff Parker. The clubs also exchanged first-round draft positions, with Buffalo winding up with the 14th pick and Winnipeg the 19th.

The Sabres used their first-round selection to get Brad May, a left wing from Niagara Falls. The Jets picked Keith Tkachuk, a left wing from Malden Catholic High in Massachusetts.

In another draft-day deal, the Calgary Flames traded right wing Joe Mullen to Pittsburgh for its second-round pick, No. 26 overall.

The Kings’ second-round selection was right wing Brandy Semchuk, a 6-1 1/2, 187-pounder who has spent the last two seasons with the Canadian national team. On the third round, the Kings took Bob Berg, a 6-1 1/2, 190-pound left wing from the Belleville Bulls of the OHL.

Earlier, in the supplemental draft, the Kings selected Peter Senter, a defenseman going into his senior year at Lowell University.

* THE DRAFT: Complete first-round and Kings’ selections. C19