The Minnesota Midshipmen

Feeling a Draft: Minnesotans in the NHL Draft

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Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 16:44

By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor

When the Anaheim Ducks selected Swedish right wing Rickard Rakell with final pick of the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, a notable streak was snapped. For nine straight years (2002-10), a Minnesota native was drafted in the first round.

But when the NHL Entry Draft returned to the State of Hockey last year for the first time since 1989, no Minnesotans were picked in the first round. Thirty names were called at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center. None from Minnesota.

However, when the hometown Minnesota Wild traded their third and fourth round picks to Vancouver for the 60th overall pick to draft Wayzata High School left wing Mario Lucia, another streak continued. For the 43rd consecutive year, a Minnesotan heard his name called at the NHL Draft.

Likewise, when the Florida Panthers picked Burnsville High School defenseman Eddie Wittcho with the 154th overall selection in the draft, a streak of double-digit Minnesotans taken in the NHL Draft hit nine years.

In all, 15 Minnesotans, including Lucia (Plymouth/Wild), and third round picks Steven Fogarty (Edina/N.Y. Rangers), Andy Welinski (Duluth/Anaheim) and Kyle Rau (Eden Prairie/Florida), were selected in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

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 12 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 1988 to 1999, only three players from Minnesota (Doug Zmolek in 1989, Erik Rasmussen in 1996, David Tanabe in 1999) were selected in the first round. In the following 12 drafts (2000-11), 24 Minnesotans were taken in the first round, including an all-time high of four in 2005 and 2006.

Similarly, from 1988-99, a total of 147 Minnesota natives were drafted, while from 2000-11, 174 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).

Historically, Minnesota has been well-represented in the NHL Draft, from the first-ever drafted Minnesotan (Wally Olds by Detroit in 1969) to the first-ever first-rounder (Mike Ramsey by Buffalo in 1979) to the first-ever No. 1 overall pick (Johnson). In all, 595 Minnesota natives, including 31 first-round picks, have been selected in the NHL Entry and Amateur Drafts. Another 11 Minnesotans were taken in NHL Supplemental Drafts (1986-94).

Click here for a complete list of Minnesotans in the NHL Draft

Minnesota looks to start another streak of first round picks in 2012 as Lakeville native and U.S. Under-18 Team defenseman Brady Skjei is projected to be a possible first round selection at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Minnesota natives taken in the first round in the last 12 NHL Drafts have historically chosen to continue their development in the college ranks, especially the WCHA. Of the 23 first round Minnesotans since 2000, 11 went to the University of Minnesota, five to North Dakota, two to 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).

The 2011 NHL Entry Draft saw a total of 61 current or future collegiate hockey players. The University of Minnesota led the way with five draftees, followed by Denver, Harvard, Miami and Wisconsin with four each. The WCHA ended the draft with 23 players chosen.

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 2011 NHL Draft, 60 Americans were selected, representing 17 states.  Five Americans were chosen in the first round – Jamie Oleksiak (Boston, Mass.), J.T. Miller (East Palestine, Ohio), Connor Murphy (Boston, Mass.), Stefan Noesen (Plano, Texas) and Tyler Biggs (Binghamton, N.Y.) – with 22 Americans selected in the first three rounds of the NHL Entry Draft. The 60 players chosen is the highest number of Americans selected in the NHL Entry Draft since a record 62 were picked in 2007.

Seventeen players with ties to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program were selected. Lucia was the first high school player drafted in 2011, while 25 American players that played in the United States Hockey League in 2010-11 were chosen.

Minnesota’s prevalence in the NHL Draft has translated into success on the ice. Nine Minnesota natives who were drafted went on to earn a spot in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, including all three 1979 draftees (Ramsey, Dave Christian, Neal Broten). Ten Minnesotan draftees were on the 1980 Miracle on Ice team, while 19 Minnesotans who have heard their name called at the NHL Draft have their name inscribed on Lord Stanley’s Cup (26 times).

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.

Minnesotans in the NHL Draft

Minnesotans in the 2012 Final Central Scouting Rankings