2019 NHL DRAFT Pre-Draft Notes 2019 NHL DRAFT COULD HAVE STRONG DOSE OF AMERICAN TALENT With many American players among the top-ranked prospects, a look at some of the country’s most successful showings in the NHL Draft: * Seven American-born players have been selected first overall in the NHL Draft, with Auston Matthews the last in 2016 by the Toronto Maple Leafs. * Five American-born players have been selected first overall by an American-based team: center Brian Lawton in 1983 (Minnesota North Stars), center Mike Modano in 1988 (Minnesota North Stars), goaltender Rick DiPietro in 2000 (New York Islanders), defenseman Erik Johnson in 2006 (St. Louis Blues) and forward Patrick Kane in 2007 (Chicago Blackhawks). * Since the seven-round draft was introduced in 2005, the most American-born players selected in one year is 66 (2014). * Including every NHL draft, the most American-born players selected in one year came in 1987 when 100 were chosen over 12 rounds. * The most American-born players selected in the first round of any draft is 12, set at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo when Matthews topped the list at first overall. In addition to 2016, three other drafts have seen at least 10 American-born players selected in the first round: 11 in 2007, 10 in 2006 and 10 in 2010. * At least three American-born players have been selected among the top 10 on six occasions, including two years with four. MOST AMERICAN-BORN PLAYERS SELECTED IN TOP 10, ONE DRAFT YEAR Top 10 Picks Draft Year 4 2006 E. Johnson (1st) P. Kessel (5th) K. Okposo (7th) P. Mueller (8th) 4 2005 B. Ryan (2nd) J. Johnson (3rd) J. Skille (7th) B. Lee (9th) 3 2016 A. Matthews (1st) M. Tkachuk (6th) C. Keller (7th) 3 2015 J. Eichel (2nd) N. Hanifin (5th) Z. Werenski (8th) 3 1986 J. Carson (2nd) D. Woodley (7th) B. Leetch (9th) 3 1983 B. Lawton (1st) P. LaFontaine (3rd) T. Barrasso (5th) * The most American-born players selected in the top five in a draft is three, achieved in 1983 at the Montreal Forum when centers Brian Lawton (1st), Pat LaFontaine (3rd) and goaltender Tom Barrasso (5th) were among the first five names announced. * Only nine American-born goaltenders have been selected in the first round of the NHL Draft: Rick DiPietro (1st in 2000), Tom Barrasso (5th in 1983), Al Montoya (6th in 2004), Jack Campbell (11th in 2010), Brian Boucher (22nd in 1995), Jake Oetttinger (26th in 2017), Corey Schneider (26th in 2004), Jason Bacashihua (26th in 2001) and Tom McCollum (30th in 2008). * Jack Hughes (Orlando, Fla.) is set to become the third player born in Florida to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft; he would join his brother Quinn Hughes (Orlando, Fla.), who went seventh overall to the Vancouver Canucks in 2018, and defenseman Jakob Chychrun (Boca Raton, Fla.), who was chosen 16th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in 2016. * Overall, 23 players born in Florida have been selected in the NHL Draft. BEHIND THE NUMBERS: UNITED STATES NATIONAL TEAM DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Nineteen players from the USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team were included on NHL Central Scouting’s Final Rankings for North American players (17 skaters, 2 goalies). That includes the No. 1 spot for skaters (Jack Hughes) and goaltenders (Spencer Knight), along with half the top 10 for skaters and half the top four for goaltenders. All notes below refer to players drafted directly from the Under-18 Team: * The only player selected first overall directly from the Under-18 Team is defenseman Erik Johnson, who was chosen by the St. Louis Blues in 2006. TOP 10 PICKS SELECTED DIRECTLY FROM USA HOCKEY’S U-18 TEAM Player Pick Draft Year Team Pos. Erik Johnson 1 2006 St. Louis Blues D James van Riemsdyk 2 2007 Philadelphia Flyers L Jack Johnson 3 2005 Carolina Hurricanes D Clayton Keller 7 2016 Arizona Coyotes C Jack Skille 7 2005 Chicago Blackhawks R Ryan Suter 7 2003 Nashville Predators D Jacob Trouba 9 2012 Winnipeg Jets D * The most players selected from the Under-18 Team in one year is 13, achieved in 2006 and again in 2007. In fact, only one other amateur team has had as many players selected in the same year: 13 members of the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers were chosen in 1974. * The only year that multiple players from the Under-18 Team were selected among the top 10 was 2005, when defenseman Jack Johnson went third overall to Carolina Hurricanes and right wing Jack Skille went seventh overall to the Chicago Blackhawks. * Seven first rounds have seen three players selected from the Under-18 Team. MOST FIRST-ROUND PICKS DIRECTLY FROM USA HOCKEY’S U-18 TEAM, ONE YEAR Rd. 1 Picks Year Players 3 2018 Oliver Wahlstrom (11th) Joel Farabee (14th) K’Andre Miller (22nd) 3 2016 Clayton Keller (7th) Kieffer Bellows (19th) Trent Frederic (29th) 3 2014 Dylan Larkin (15th) Sonny Milano (16th) Alex Tuch (18th) 3 2012 Jacob Trouba (9th) Brady Skjei (28th) Stefan Matteau (29th) 3 2011 J.T. Miller (15th) Connor Murphy (20th) Tyler Biggs (22nd) 3 2010 Jack Campbell (11th) Derek Forbort (15th) Jared Tinordi (22nd) 3 2007 James van Riemsdyk (2nd) Kevin Shattenkirk (14th) Ian Cole (18th) * The only goaltender drafted in the first round from the Under-18 Team is Jack Campbell, who was selected 11th overall by the Dallas Stars at the 2010 NHL Draft in Los Angeles – where Campbell now plays with the Kings. -- more -- FINLAND CONTINUES TO PRODUCE TOP PROSPECTS * Seven Finnish-born players have been selected among the top three in the NHL Draft, including one in each of the last three years. A Finnish-born player has never been selected first overall. FINNISH-BORN PLAYERS SELECTED AMONG TOP 3 IN NHL DRAFT Player Pick Draft Year Team Pos. Patrik Laine 2 2016 Winnipeg Jets RW Aleksander Barkov 2 2013 Florida Panthers C Kari Lehtonen 2 2002 Atlanta Thrashers G Jesperi Kotkaniemi 3 2018 Montreal Canadiens C Miro Heiskanen 3 2017 Dallas Stars D Olli Jokinen 3 1997 Los Angeles Kings C Aki Berg 3 1995 Los Angeles Kings D * Only two drafts have seen four or more Finnish-born players selected in the first round: 2017 (6 - Miro Heiskanen, Juuso Valimaki, Urho Vaakanainen, Kristian Vesalainen, Henri Jokiharju and Eeli Tolvanen) and 2002 (5 – Kari Lehtonen, Joni Pitkanen, Jesse Niinimaki, Sean Bergenheim and Hannu Toivonen). * A player born outside North America has been selected either first or second overall 22 times, including at least one in each of the past three drafts. HUGHES, SUZUKI AIM TO JOIN BROTHERS IN FIRST ROUND + MORE NHL BLOODLINES * Jack Hughes is set to follow his brother, Quinn Hughes (7th overall in 2018, Vancouver Canucks), in being selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. Four sets of brothers have been selected in the opening round of the draft in consecutive years: BROTHERS SELECTED IN FIRST ROUND OF NHL DRAFT IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS First Brother Second Brother Luke Schenn 2008 5th; Toronto Maple Leafs Brayden Schenn 2009 5th; Los Angeles Kings Marc Staal 2005 12th; New York Rangers Jordan Staal 2006 2nd; Pittsburgh Penguins Stephen Patrick 1980 20th; Buffalo Sabres James Patrick 1981 10th; New York Rangers Duane Sutter 1979 17th; New York Islanders Brent Sutter 1980 17th; New York Islanders * Another prospect is aiming to join his brother as a first-round pick – Ryan Suzuki (No. 18-ranked North American Skater) can follow in the footsteps of Nick Suzuki (13th overall in 2017, Vegas Golden Knights). * Entering 2019, 35 sets of brothers have been selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. The last brothers to achieve the feat were Evgeny Svechnikov (19th overall in 2015, Detroit Red Wings) and Andrei Svechnikov (2nd overall in 2018, Carolina Hurricanes). * Two of the top five-ranked North American Skaters had fathers who were drafted to the NHL: Bowen Byram and Alex Turcotte. Click here for details and for more NHL bloodlines. -- more -- THIS AND THAT: 56 YEARS OF THE NHL DRAFT A closer look at NHL drafts past and present: British Columbia * The city of Vancouver and province of British Columbia are hosting the NHL Draft for the third time after also doing so in 1990 at BC Place Stadium – when the Quebec Nordiques selected right wing Owen Nolan first overall – and 2006 at General Motors Place (now Rogers Arena) – when the St. Louis Blues chose defenseman Erik Johnson. * The Canucks made 11 selections in 1990 – including center Petr Nedved (2nd overall) and left wing Gino Odjick (86th overall) – and five selections in 2006, choosing Michael Grabner (14th overall) in the first round. * Center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Burnaby, B.C.) is the only player born in British Columbia selected first overall in the NHL Draft (2011, Edmonton Oilers). * Center Sam Reinhart (West Vancouver, B.C.) was the last British Columbia-born player selected among the top five in the NHL Draft, going second overall to the Buffalo Sabres in 2014. Overall, 21 British Columbia-born players have been selected among the top five. * The most British Columbia-born players selected in the first round of a single draft is four, achieved four times – most recently at the 2007 NHL Draft in Columbus when Kyle Turris (New Westminster, B.C.), Karl Alzner (Burnaby, B.C.), Zach Hamill (Vancouver, B.C.) and Colton Gillies (White Rock, B.C.) were selected third, fifth, eighth and 16th overall, respectively. * The most British Columbia-born players selected in a single NHL Draft is 23, set in 1980 when there were 10 rounds.