By Kevin Kurtt - Let's Play Hockey
The 2011 NHL Entry Draft descends on St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center tomorrow with a rich history of Minnesotans playing prominent roles in one of the NHL’s signature events.
When the Los Angeles Kings moved up to select U.S. Under-18 Team defenseman and Duluth native Derek Forbort with the 15th overall pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, a recent tradition of Minnesotans getting drafted in the first round continued. Likewise, when the San Jose Sharks picked Woodbury native Max Gaede with the 88th overall selection in the draft, a streak of double-digit Minnesotans taken in the NHL Draft hit eight years.
In all, 18 Minnesotans, including first round picks Forbort, Nick Bjugstad (Blaine, Minn./Florida Panthers) and Brock Nelson (Warroad, Minn./N.Y. Islanders), were selected in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
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 (Erik Johnson by St. Louis in 2006). According to the June edition of Let’s Play Hockey, 580 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).
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, and 19 Minnesotans who have heard their name called at the NHL Draft have their name inscribed on Lord Stanley’s Cup (26 times).
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 11 NHL Drafts have seen a significant increase in the number of Minnesotans in the draft.
For example, from 1989 to 1999, only two Minnesotans (Erik Rasmussen in 1996, David Tanabe in 1999) were selected in the first round. In the following 11 drafts (2000-10), 22 Minnesotans were taken in the first round, including an all-time high of four in 2005 and 2006.
Similarly, from 1990-99, a total of 111 Minnesota natives were drafted, while from 2000-10, 159 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, two top-five picks (Johnson, Blake Wheeler in 2004) and five top-10 picks (Johnson, Kyle Okposo and Peter Mueller in 2006; Brian Lee in 2005; and Wheeler in 2004).
The complete list of Minnesotans in the NHL Draft.
