Moorhead’s Cullen and Hermantown’s Plante are top-ranked Minnesotans

When the NHL Draft is held Friday and Saturday in Buffalo, names will be called from all over the world. Last year in the 2025 draft Canada led all countries with 85 players selected, followed by the United States with 52, Sweden 30, Russia 21, Czechia 11 and Finland 8.

When it comes to the United States, Minnesota leads the way and not by a small margin. Of the 52 American-born players selected last season, 16 of them came from the state of hockey. Illinois and New York  were a distant second with five players each. Hockey hotbeds Michigan and Massachusetts produced three and two players, respectively. Wisconsin also produced two players.

The south and southwest provided five players with Texas and Arizona producing two each and California one.

Of course, every year is different, but Minnesota should have another great showing at this year’s draft, including a potential first-round pick in Moorhead’s Wyatt Cullen. Cullen is a member of the U.S. National U18 team where he notched 45 points in 41 games. In all last season, including at the World Juniors he scored 25 goals and added 45 assists for 70 points in 60 games.

Wyatt is the son of former NHLer and 3-time Stanley Cup Champion Matt Cullen. He won’t turn 18 until September, and is committed to the University of Minnesota where Matt joins a new coaching staff as the director of player development.

Victor Plante is the second highest ranked Minnesota-born player by NHL Central Scouting heading into the draft, ranked No. 42. Plante, a native of Hermantown,  was Cullen’s teammate on the U18 squad and had 30 goals and 41 assists in 82 games last season. Plante is also the son of a former NHL player. His father, Derek, played eight seasons and 450 games in the NHL and his brothers Zam and Max both play at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Max was the Hobey Baker Award winner this past season as the top player in college hockey. Victor is also committed to UMD.

The top Minnesota high school player ranked is Rogers defenseman Jayden Kurtz. Kurtz its ranked No. 61 and projected as a potential third rounder. At 6’3″ and 194 pounds, the skilled blue liner has tremendous upside after a strong high school career at Rogers. Other Minnesota prep players listed include KJ Sauer (Andover), Joe Erickson (Blake), Teddy Lechner (Holy Angels), and Ethan Sturgis (Minnetonka).

Shattuck-St, Mary’s looks to produce a few players for this year’s draft, per usual. Three of those players have Minnesota roots, including Kyle Heger (Eagan) at No. 66, Mikey Berchild (Excelsior) at No. 77 and Parker Trottier (Edina) at No. 79.

Of the 21 players in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings, six played for Team USA’s NTDP, five played high school hockey in Minnesota, five in the USHL, four in the Western Hockey League, and one played college hockey in the NCHC for Western Michigan in former Edina star Bobby Cowan.

Position-wise there are 10 forwards, seven defenseman and four goalies amongst the rankings.

Former Grand Rapids star Carter Casey was ranked No. 26 followed by Maple Grove native Luke Carrithers at No. 28, who played for Team USA’s U18 squad. Xavier Wendt and Cash Cruit came in at No. 29 and 30, respectively.

For a full list of NHL Central Scouting’s North American Skaters: click here

For a full list of North American Goalies: click here

Here is look at the list of Minnesotans in NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings: