Feature Story

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Feeling a Draft

As in past summers, expect Minnesota to be well represented at the 2009 NHL Entry Draft

By Adam Somers

Special to Let’s Play Hockey

Summertime in Minnesota brings back memories of fishing, camping, boating and grilling out, while creating new ones along the way. But at the end of June every summer, Minnesota hockey fans are reminded of the deep talent pool they swim in.

The State of Hockey is always well represented in the NHL Entry Draft, be it former high school stars or college players from the state’s five Division I schools. Last year, Jake Gardiner (Minnetonka) and Aaron Ness (Roseau) were taken by the Anaheim Ducks and New York Islanders, respectively, in the draft’s first two rounds. The year before, three Minnesotans were selected in the first round alone (Ryan McDonagh, Patrick White and Jim O’Brien).

With a state as rich with hockey talent as Minnesota, it is no surprise that a number of the top North American prospects in the 2009 Draft call the Land of 10,000 Lakes home. Eight Minnesotans were invited to the NHL Scouting Combine last month, so let’s take a look at some of the top prospects, starting with a player many Golden Gopher hockey fans got to know pretty well last season.

JORDAN SCHROEDER

This year’s prized Minnesota prospect is without a doubt center Jordan Schroeder, who just completed his freshman season at the University of Minnesota. The Prior Lake native earned several accolades last season, including the WCHA Rookie of the Year, the College Hockey News National Rookie of the Year and All-WCHA Second Team.

He established himself as one of the team’s best playmakers and a rising star in college hockey after finishing second on the Gophers with 45 points (13-32--45) in 35 games, which ranked him fourth nationally at 1.30 points per game. Schroeder feels that spending a year honing his skills in the college ranks has been a tremendous advantage in preparation for the draft.

“Being able to prove what I am capable of and what I have done here at the college level compared to high school, I think it’s a big advantage for me personally,” Schroeder said. “Playing against older, more mature players that are a lot stronger and more of men, I definitely think it helped a lot.”

Schroeder helped make a name for himself as one of the best North American prospects after a strong showing at the 2009 World Junior Championships, leading Team USA in scoring with 11 points and tied for second in the tournament with eight assists. He is ranked fifth in the final NHL Central Scouting Rankings for North American skaters, as well as the highest ranked American.

Leading up to the draft, most experts predict Schroeder will be selected among the top 10 picks, if not top 15. For an 18-year-old kid, it can be a lot to digest, but Schroeder is keeping a positive attitude and hoping for the best.

“It’s definitely an exciting time, but a little nerve-wracking because you want to go as high as possible,” he said. “At the same time, you never know what’s going to happen.”

At 5-8 and 175 pounds, size definitely comes up when evaluating Schroeder. However, he takes pride is his smaller size and models his game after players like the Minnesota Wild’s Pierre-Marc Bouchard. Like Bouchard, Schroeder says he sees himself as not the biggest guy on the ice, but someone who can make things happen.

Ironically, the Wild hold the 12th overall pick this year and with new GM Chuck Fletcher promising a change in the team’s offensive philosophy, Schroeder could be a real interesting prospect.

“It definitely would be an honor going to the Wild, being a hometown kid,” said Schroeder.

With former Gopher stars such as Erik Johnson, Phil Kessel and Thomas Vanek leaving for the pros early in their college careers, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Schroeder left the U early. While it all depends on what team that drafts him, Schroeder does plan on coming back for his sophomore season. He also can’t see himself leaving mid-season, which has become a controversial trend of late for some college players.

“To be honest with you, I don’t think I would ever do that to my teammates.”

ZACH BUDISH

Schroeder is hands-down the top Minnesota prospect heading into the draft, but a future teammate is starting to look like another first round lock. Edina forward and future Golden Gopher Zach Budish is getting many looks from teams in the mid to late first round and who can blame them? At 6-3, 229 pounds, it is hard to miss a player of that stature.

Unfortunately for Edina, they had to deal with a pretty big hole in their lineup for all of the 2008-09 season. The story has already been told many times of Budish suffering a torn ACL during his senior football season, ending his high school hockey career as well.

That hasn’t stopped pro scouts from fawning. As a junior, Budish was named the team’s most valuable player and earned all-metro honors, notching 63 points (26-37--63). His size, scoring balance and all-around skill set helped lead Edina to a runner-up finish in the state tournament.

Before his injury, Budish skated for Team Southwest in the distinguished Minnesota High School Elite League, recording 27 (14-13--27) in only 15 games. His physical attributes, coupled with elite skills were good enough to earn a scholarship to the University of Minnesota and have done nothing to alter his overall draft ranking, where he finished as the second-ranked prospect coming from the high school ranks and 22nd North American skater overall in the Central Scouting Rankings.

NICK LEDDY

Being named Minnesota Mr. Hockey is an honor like none other for a high school player. Not only are you recognized as the best high school player in the State of Hockey, but it usually means you are one of the best amateur hockey players in the entire country. Couple that with leading your school to their first ever state championship and you might say that Eden Prairie’s Nick Leddy had a very nice senior season.

Rated right behind Budish in the Central Scouting Rankings at No. 24 and one of the top North American defensemen available, Leddy is trying to follow the footsteps of the last four Mr. Hockey winners (Aaron Ness, Ryan McDonough, David Fischer and Brian Lee) to be selected in the first two rounds. And like Ness and Fischer, Leddy will also don the maroon and gold this fall.

Leddy checks out at about 5-11 and 180 pounds and reportedly put on about 15 pounds of muscle before his senior season. His proven work ethic to get stronger physically and playing with and against more mature players at the college level will only help make his game even stronger.

Known to be an explosive skater, some scouts rave about his skating ability to be ‘world class.’ The Minnesota high school ranks have already witnessed his rocket shot, but after notching 11 goals and 33 assists his senior year, Leddy has shown to be a great facilitator and the ‘quarterback-type’ of defenseman the Gophers love.

His team play is also one of biggest traits he brings to the table. Recognized as one the top amateur players in the country, he was invited to join the United States National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., for his senior season. However, that would mean leaving Eden Prairie teammates with an unfinished goal of a state championship. Leddy put his team and school before himself and turned down the offer, which worked out as well as anyone could have imagined.

BEN HANOWSKI

Maybe the most intriguing of the Minnesota prospects is Ben Hanowski. All the Little Falls grad did was become the state’s new all-time career scoring leader last season. Hanowski finished with 405 career points, eclipsing the 11-year-old record of 378 points held by Red Wing’s Johnny Pohl.

However, reaching the ultimate goal of a state championship fell short as Little Falls saw their undefeated season end in the Class A semifinals to eventual champion Breck. Instead of hanging his head, Hanowski led the Flyers to a third-place finish by tallying two goals, including the game winner with just 22 seconds left in regulation to defeat St. Cloud Cathedral 4-3 in the third-place game.

With the current pro game continuing to prioritize speed and scoring, Hanowski garners attention. His playmaking ability is unquestioned, as it takes a special player to become Minnesota’s all-time leading scorer, even if it was against mostly Class A competition. He also carries a deft scoring touch, notching 73 goals in only 31 games as a senior, en route to shattering the career goal scoring record by 25 goals to finish his career with 196.

Scoring ability and skill like this is usually seen in a smaller player, such as Schroeder. But at 6-2, 198 pounds, Hanowski certainly has the size for the pros and at only 18, still has time to develop into his frame. Playing college hockey at St. Cloud State will give him the opportunity to grow, mature and develop the needed strength for the pro level, without being at a size disadvantage.

Despite coming from a smaller school Hanowski is ranked as the 35th overall North American skater and fourth-ranked high school player in the final Central Scouting Rankings. Various websites and experts predict Hanowski will be drafted in the top four rounds, possibly as high as round two.

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