Feature Story

Feature Story

NHL-bound Minnesotans

A total of 11 Minnesota natives were selected at the recent NHL Entry Draft, continuing the state’s proud tradition of developing NHL-caliber players

When the Anaheim Ducks selected Minnetonka High School defenseman Jake Gardiner with the 17th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft on June 20, a recent tradition of Minnesotans getting drafted in the first round continued.

Likewise, when the Ducks picked U.S. National Team Development Program defenseman and Woodbury, Minn., native Nick Pryor with the fourth-to-last pick in the draft, a streak of double-digit Minnesotans taken in the NHL Draft hit six years.

Minnesota has obviously been a hockey hotbed for many years now, but only recently has the State of Hockey seen the sheer numbers of players taken, both in the first round and in the draft overall. In fact, the last 10 NHL Drafts have seen a significant increase in the number of Minnesotans that have heard their name called by an NHL franchise.

For example, from 1989 to 1998, only two players from Minnesota (Doug Zmolek in 1989, Erik Rasmussen in 1996) were selected in the first round. In the following 10 drafts (1999-2008), 18 Minnesotans were taken in the first round, including an all-time high of four in 2006 (Erik Johnson, Kyle Okposo, Peter Mueller, David Fischer).

Similarly, from 1989-1998, a total of 105 Minnesota natives were drafted, while from 1999-2000, 120 Minnesotans were drafted. Noteworthy in those numbers is the fact that from 1989 to 1994, the draft consisted of 11 or 12 rounds, from 1995 to 2004 the draft was nine rounds and from 2005 to today the draft has been seven rounds.

Since, 1999, Minnesota can claim one top overall pick (Erik Johnson by the St. Louis Blues in 2006), two top-five picks (Johnson in 2006, Blake Wheeler in 2004) and five top-10 picks (Johnson, Okposo and Mueller in 2006; Brian Lee in 2005; and Wheeler in 2004).

Minnesota’s streak of first-round picks only figures to increase in 2009 as Prior Lake native and soon-to-be University of Minnesota forward Jordan Schroeder is projected to be a possible top-five selection.

Minnesota natives taken in the first round in the last 10 NHL Drafts have historically chosen to continue their development in the college ranks, especially the WCHA. Of the 18 first-round Minnesotans since 1999, eight went to the University of Minnesota, three each played at North Dakota and Wisconsin, and one each attended Colorado College and Minnesota Duluth. Only two first-rounders from Minnesota left the WCHA – A.J. Thelen (Michigan State) and Peter Mueller (Everett Silvertips of the WHL).

It may be impossible to pin down a sole reason for the increase of Minnesotans hearing their name called at the NHL Draft, but as a whole American hockey has seen much more prosperity in recent years. The success of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program has played a major role in the development of NHL-caliber American hockey players, as has the increase in opportunities for year-round, high-level hockey that have become available across the nation.

In the 2008 NHL Draft, 46 Americans were selected, representing 19 states. Five Americans were chosen in the first round, including Zach Bogosian (Massena, N.Y.) who, as the third overall selection by the Atlanta Thrashers, was the first American-born player drafted. Gardiner was the first American high school player drafted in 2008, while John Carlson (Colonia, N.J.) of the USHL’s Indiana Ice was the first player drafted from a domestic Junior hockey league when he was selected 27th overall by the Washington Capitals.

Whatever the reason for the increase in Minnesotans at the NHL Draft, it appears the tradition will only carry on as the State of Hockey continues to develop elite players who will someday make the leap from Minnesota to the National Hockey League.

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