Brady Skjei
Last Updated on Thursday, 12 July 2012 13:48
By Kevin Kurtt
Let’s Play Hockey Editor
After a one-year hiatus, Minnesota returned to the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. When the N.Y. Rangers selected Lakeville native and U.S. Under-18 Team defenseman Brady Skjei with the 28th pick of the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft on June 22, it marked the ninth time in the last 10 years that a Minnesota native was drafted in the first round.
The Rangers’ selection of Skjei also meant that for 44 straight years, a Minnesotan heard his name called at the NHL Draft. In all, nine Minnesotans, were selected in the 2012 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 13 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 1987 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 13 drafts (2000-12), 25 Minnesotans were taken in the first round, including an all-time high of four in 2005 and 2006.
Similarly, from 1987-99, a total of 171 Minnesota natives were drafted, while from 2000-12, 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, 604 Minnesota natives, including 32 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 2013 as Waterloo (USHL) forward Taylor Cammarata (Plymouth, Minn.), U.S. Under-17 Team forward Hudson (Apple Valley, Minn.) and U.S. Under-17 Team defenseman Gage Ausmus (East Grand Forks, Minn.) are projected to be possible first round selections at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft in New Jersey.
Minnesota natives taken in the first round in the last 13 NHL Drafts have historically chosen to continue their development in the college ranks, especially the WCHA. Of the 25 first round Minnesotans since 2000, 12 went to the University of Minnesota, six to North Dakota, two to Wisconsin, and one each attended Colorado College and Minnesota Duluth. Only three first rounders from Minnesota left the WCHA – Patrick Eaves (Boston College), A.J. Thelen (Michigan State) and Peter Mueller (Everett Silvertips of the WHL).
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft saw a total of 68 current or future collegiate hockey players. Boston University led the way with eight draftees, followed by Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State with four each. The WCHA ended the draft with 13 players chosen. Nearly half of all Division I programs – 29 of 59 – had at least one representative selected. Almost all of the NHL teams – 27 of 30 – selected at least one player who was in college or is headed to school.
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 2012 NHL Draft, 55 Americans were selected, representing 17 states. Six Americans were chosen in the first round – Alex Galchenyuk (Milwaukee, Wis.), Jacob Trouba (Rochester, Mich.), Jordan Schmaltz (Verona, Wis.), Henrik Samuelsson (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Skjei and Stefan Matteau (Chicago, Ill.) – with 22 Americans selected in the first three rounds of the NHL Entry Draft.
Thirteen players with ties to USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program were selected. Brian Hart (Cumberland, Maine) was the first high school player drafted in 2012, while 28 American players that played in the United States Hockey League in 2011-12 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
| Year | Minnesotans | First-Round Picks |
| 2012 | 9 | 1 (28 Brady Skjei) |
| 2011 | 15 | 0 |
| 2010 | 18 | 3 (15 Derek Forbort, 19 Nick Bjugstad, 30 Brock Nelson) |
| 2009 | 13 | 2 (16 Nick Leddy, 22 Jordan Schroeder) |
| 2008 | 11 | 1 (17 Jake Gardiner) |
| 2007 | 17 | 3 (12 Ryan McDonagh, 25 Patrick White, 29 James O'Brien) |
| 2006 | 17 | 4 (1 Erik Johnson, 7 Kyle Okposo, 8 Peter Mueller, 20 David Fischer) |
| 2005 | 18 | 4 (9 Brian Lee, 24 T.J. Oshie, 27 Joe Finley, 28 Matt Niskanen) |
| 2004 | 16 | 2 (5 Blake Wheeler, 12 A.J. Thelen) |
| 2003 | 14 | 3 (17 Zach Parise, 21 Mark Stuart, 29 Patrick Eaves) |
| 2002 | 9 | 1 (11 Keith Ballard) |
| 2001 | 12 | 0 |
| 2000 | 14 | 1 (30 Jeff Taffe) |
| 1999 | 8 | 1 (16 David Tanabe) |
| 1998 | 7 | 0 |
| 1997 | 10 | 0 |
| 1996 | 10 | 1 (7 Erik Rasmussen) |
| 1995 | 5 | 0 |
| 1994 | 5 | 0 |
| 1993 | 13 | 0 |
| 1992 | 9 | 0 |
| 1991 | 21 | 0 |
| 1990 | 23 | 0 |
| 1989 | 19 | 1 (7 Doug Zmolek) |
| 1988 | 17 | 0 |
| 1987 | 24 | 0 |
| 1986 | 18 | 1 (16 George Pelawa) |
| 1985 | 16 | 1 (16 Tom Chorske) |
| 1984 | 21 | 0 |
| 1983 | 24 | 0 |
| 1982 | 30 | 1 (6 Phil Housley) |
| 1981 | 18 | 0 |
| 1980 | 13 | 0 |
| 1979 | 3 | 1 (11 Mike Ramsey) |
| 1978 | 16 | 0 |
| 1977 | 13 | 0 |
| 1976 | 12 | 0 |
| 1975 | 21 | 0 |
| 1974 | 24 | 0 |
| 1973 | 5 | 0 |
| 1972 | 5 | 0 |
| 1971 | 6 | 0 |
| 1970 | 2 | 0 |
| 1969 | 3 | 0 |
| 1963-68 | 0 | 0 |
| Totals | 595 | 31 |
Minnesotans in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft
| Rd | Pick | Player | Pos. | Drafted By | Drafted From | Note |
| 1 | 28 | Brady Skjei | D | N.Y. Rangers | U.S. Under-18 Team | Lakeville native/Minnesota recruit |
| 3 | 68 | John Draeger | D | Minnesota | Shattuck-St. Mary's School | Faribault native/Michigan State recruit |
| 4 | 112 | Zach Stepan | C | Nashville | Shattuck-St. Mary's School | Hastings native/Ohio State recruit |
| 5 | 126 | Dom Toninato | C | Toronto | Duluth East HS | Minnesota Duluth recruit |
| 5 | 133 | Logan Nelson | C | Buffalo | Victoria (WHL) | Rogers native |
| 6 | 159 | Collin Olson | G | Carolina | U.S. Under-18 Team | Apple Valley native/Ohio State recruit |
| 7 | 185 | Jake Bischoff | D | N.Y. Islanders | Grand Rapids HS | Minnesota recruit |
| 7 | 188 | Louie Nanne | LW | Minnesota | Edina HS | Minnesota recruit |
| 7 | 204 | Judd Peterson | C/RW | Buffalo | Duluth Marshall HS | St. Cloud State recruit |
