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Home , Aki Berg, Alex Newhook, Alex Turcotte, Al Montoya, Andrei Svechnikov, Auston Matthews

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 the last in 2016 by the Maple Leafs.

* Five American-born players have been selected first overall by an American-based team: center in 1983 (), center in 1988 (Minnesota North Stars), Rick DiPietro in 2000 (), defenseman in 2006 (St. Louis Blues) and forward in 2007 ( 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 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 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), (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 to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft; he would join his brother (Orlando, Fla.), who went seventh overall to the Canucks in 2018, and defenseman Jakob Chychrun (Boca Raton, Fla.), who was chosen 16th overall by the in 2016.

* Overall, 23 players born in Florida have been selected in the NHL Draft.

BEHIND THE NUMBERS: 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 (), 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 2 2007 L Jack Johnson 3 2005 D 7 2016 Arizona Coyotes C Jack Skille 7 2005 R Ryan Suter 7 2003 D 9 2012 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 Hockey League’s 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 (11th) (14th) K’Andre Miller (22nd) 3 2016 Clayton Keller (7th) (19th) Trent Frederic (29th) 3 2014 (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) (15th) Jared Tinordi (22nd) 3 2007 James van Riemsdyk (2nd) (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 at the 2010 NHL Draft in Los Angeles – where Campbell now plays with the Kings.

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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. 2 2016 RW Aleksander Barkov 2 2013 C 2 2002 G 3 2018 C Miro Heiskanen 3 2017 Dallas Stars D 3 1997 C 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 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, ), 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 2008 5th; 2009 5th; Los Angeles Kings 2005 12th; 2006 2nd; Stephen Patrick 1980 20th; James Patrick 1981 10th; New York Rangers Duane Sutter 1979 17th; New York Islanders 1980 17th; New York Islanders

* Another prospect is aiming to join his brother as a first-round pick – (No. 18-ranked North American Skater) can follow in the footsteps of (13th overall in 2017, ).

* 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 (19th overall in 2015, ) and (2nd overall in 2018, Carolina Hurricanes).

* Two of the top five-ranked North American Skaters had fathers who were drafted to the NHL: and Alex Turcotte. Click here for details and for more NHL bloodlines.

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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 are hosting the NHL Draft for the third time after also doing so in 1990 at BC Place Stadium – when the 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 (, B.C.) is the only player born in British Columbia selected first overall in the NHL Draft (2011, 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 (, 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. Since the seven-round draft was introduced in 2005, the most British Columbia-born players selected in one year is 18 (2010).

* Ten players from the British Columbia Hockey League were ranked by NHL Central Scouting, with center Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies as the highest-ranked skater (No. 13-ranked North American Skater).

Canadian Territories * Dylan Cozens (, Yukon) can become the first player born in the Yukon selected in the first round of the NHL Draft. The only Yukon-born players drafted by an NHL team are Whitehorse natives Peter Sturgeon (36th overall in 1974, Bruins) and Bobby House (66th overall in 1991, Chicago Blackhawks).

* Overall, 10 players born in one of the three Canadian Territories have been drafted – with Yellowknife, N.W.T., natives Gregory Vaydik (7th in 1975, Chicago Blackhawks) and Vic Mercredi (16th in 1973, Atlanta Flames) the only first-round picks.

Western Hockey League * The most players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft is 10, achieved in 1982 when of the Billings Bighorns led the WHL contingent (1st overall, ). There have been five instances of nine WHL players selected in the first round (2014, 2008, 2007, 1996 and 1995).

* A total of 27 WHL players have been selected among the top three in the NHL Draft, with (2nd overall in 2017, Philadelphia Flyers) the only one since 2015.

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International Flavor * Each of the last three first-overall picks hail from different countries: Auston Matthews (United States) selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016, () selected by the Devils in 2017 and Rasmus Dahlin () selected by the Buffalo Sabres in 2018.

* Seven German-born players have been selected in the first round, most recently in 2018 when Dominik Bokk was chosen 25th overall by the St. Louis Blues. German-born players have never been selected in the first round of the draft in consecutive years.

GERMAN-BORN PLAYERS SELECTED IN FIRST ROUND OF NHL DRAFT Player Pick Draft Year Team Pos. 2 2000 Atlanta Thrashers LW 3 2014 C Orest Romashyna 3 1963 Boston Bruins LW Wilhelm Huber 9 1978 Detroit Red Wings D Marcel Goc 20 2001 C Marco Sturm 21 1996 San Jose Sharks LW Dominik Bokk 25 2018 St. Louis Blues RW

* The chart below notes the most first-round picks in one draft by country, both all-time and since 2005 when the draft was limited to seven rounds.

MOST FIRST-ROUND PICKS IN ONE YEAR, BY BIRTH COUNTRY All-Time (since 1963) Seven-Round Format (Since 2005) Year(s) Picks Birth Country Picks Year(s) 1987 21 17 2008, 2013 2016 12 United States 12 2016 1993, 2009, 2011, 2018 6 Sweden 6 2009, 2011, 2018 2017 6 6 2017 1992, 2000 6 4 2015, 2018 2002, 2004 4 2 2005, 2006, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 2013 2 Austria 2 2013 1997, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005 2 2 2005 1997, 1999, 2010, 2011, 2013, 1 Switzerland 1 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 2014, 2015, 2017 1963, 1978, 1996, 2000, 2001, 1 Germany 1 2014, 2018 2014, 2018 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 1 Denmark 1 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 1976, 1990 ,2014 1 Great Britain 1 2014 2008, 2012 1 Latvia 1 2008, 2012 2008 1 Italy 1 2008 2005 1 Japan 1 2005 2005 1 Slovenia 1 2005 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 1 Ukraine - - 1996, 1999, 2003 1 - - 1998, 2000, 2001 1 Kazakhstan - - 1992, 1996 1 - - 1998 1 Brazil - - 2004 1 Poland - - 1969 1 Serbia - - 1974 1 Venezuela - - 1989 1 South Africa - -

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Teammates * The most teammates selected in the first round of the NHL Draft is four, achieved five times.

MOST AMATEUR TEAMMATES SELECTED IN FIRST ROUND OF NHL DRAFT Team Draft Yaroslavl 2 2000 Pavel Vorobiev Artem Kryukov Alexei Mikhnov Alex Frolov (11th) (15th) (17th) (20th) Moscow Dynamo 1992 Alexei Yashin Darius Kasparaitis Andrei Nazarov Sergei Bautin (2nd) (5th) (10th) (17th) 1979 Brad McCrimmon (9th) (14th) (15th) (18th) 1972 William Harris Steve Shutt David Gardner George Ferguson (1st) (4th) (8th) (11th) Montreal Jr. Canadiens 1969 Rejean Houle Marc Tardif Andre Dupont J.P. Bordeleau (1st) (2nd) (8th) (13th)

* The last team to have three players selected in the first round of the NHL Draft was the USA Hockey National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team in 2018 (Oliver Wahlstrom: 11th; Joel Farabee: 14th; and K’Andre Miller: 22nd).

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2019 NHL DRAFT PROSPECTS A closer look at 395 skaters and goaltenders ranked by NHL Central Scouting for the 2019 NHL Draft:

OLDEST Player Birth Date Position Amateur Team / League Year of Eligibility Alexander Yakovenko Feb. 22, 1998 D USHL 4 Jere Innala March 17, 1998 RW HPK FINLAND 4 Ilya Konovalov July 13, 1998 G Yaroslavl RUSSIA 4 Rickard Hugg Jan. 18, 1999 C Kitchener Rangers OHL 3 Axel Simic Jan. 27, 1999 RW Lausanne Jr. SWISS-JR 3

YOUNGEST Player Birth Date Position Amateur Team Amateur League Jakub Zurek* Sept. 12, 2001 D Benatky N.J. CZEREP-2 Nicholas Robertson* Sept. 11, 2001 LW OHL Nikita Nesterenko* Sept. 10, 2001 C Lawrenceville HIGH-NJ Jayden Struble* Sept. 8, 2001 D St. Sebastians HIGH-MA Domenick Fensore* Sept. 7, 2001 D USA U-18 NTDP Ethan Leyh* Sept. 7, 2001 LW Langley Rivermen BCHL *First-year eligible (window for first-year eligibility is birthdates between Sept. 16, 2000 and Sept. 15, 2001)

TALLEST Player Height Position Amateur Team Amateur League Mads Sogaard 6' 7.5" G WHL Patrik Prymula 6' 7" RW Sparta Jr. CZREP-JR Cade Alami 6' 6.75" D Berkshire HIGH-MA Elmer Soderblom 6' 6.25" RW Frolunda Jr. SWEDEN-JR Jackson van de Leest 6' 6.25" D WHL Adam Edstrom 6' 6" C Mora Jr SWEDEN-JR Alex Vlasic 6' 5.75" D USA U-18 NTDP

SHORTEST Player Height Position Amateur Team Amateur League Xavier Simoneau 5' 6.25" C Drummondville Voltigeurs QMJHL Joseph Garreffa 5' 7" C Kitchener Rangers OHL Vojtech Strondala 5' 7" C Trebic CZREP-2 5' 7" RW USA U-18 NTDP Domenick Fensore 5' 7.5" D USA U-18 NTDP Xavier Parent 5' 7.75" LW Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL Nathan Staios 5' 7.75" D OHL

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2019 NHL DRAFT PROSPECT BIOS Name Link Name Link

Aaltonen, Leevi https://atnhl.com/2KjdM08 Nikolaev, Ilya https://atnhl.com/2F6VNpA

Afanasyev, Egor https://atnhl.com/2ZpxfQy Norlinder, Mattias https://atnhl.com/2MMJxkB

Alexandrov, Nikita https://atnhl.com/2IDFiSP Pelletier, Jakob https://atnhl.com/2RcRcqN

Beckman, Adam https://atnhl.com/2ZhCO3o Pinto, Shane https://atnhl.com/2Fc0YV9

Beecher, John https://atnhl.com/2wSVF8K Podkolzin, Vasily https://atnhl.com/2WCZmd2

Bjornfot, Tobias https://atnhl.com/2wYM5RN Poulin, Samuel https://atnhl.com/31r6wox

Bolduc, Samuel https://atnhl.com/2X9Xlte Protas, Aliaksei https://atnhl.com/31vNixP

Boldy, Matthew https://atnhl.com/2MPEXlm Puistola, Patrik https://atnhl.com/2F9vijz

Brink, Bobby https://atnhl.com/2Xj0NSB Rees, Jamieson https://atnhl.com/2IltAgM

Broberg, Philip https://atnhl.com/2wRLFfT Robertson, Matthew https://atnhl.com/2IG89pO

Byram, Bowen https://atnhl.com/2RdhF7H Robertson, Nicholas https://atnhl.com/2KPKKEX

Campbell, Alexander https://atnhl.com/2WGQdQG Saarela, Antti https://atnhl.com/2ZnyyPS

Caufield, Cole https://atnhl.com/2WJ3c9k Seider, Moritz https://atnhl.com/2IDHF8l

Chinakhov, Yegor https://atnhl.com/2XHI6Vz Slepets, Kirill https://atnhl.com/2Zme8GR

Chystyakov, Semyon https://atnhl.com/2KO0BnG Soderstrom, Victor https://atnhl.com/2wRyLyH

Clarke, Graeme https://atnhl.com/2XKEQbK Sogaard, Mads https://atnhl.com/2Y21TPm

Cozens, Dylan https://atnhl.com/31oFrlI Spiridonov, Yegor https://atnhl.com/2XPtP9q

Dach, Kirby https://atnhl.com/2XajQOC Struble, Jayden https://atnhl.com/2WJ4t0j

Darin, Alexandr https://atnhl.com/31vLjcR Suzuki, Ryan https://atnhl.com/2WJ4mlp

Dorofeyev, Pavel https://atnhl.com/2XFMpk2 Teply, Michal https://atnhl.com/2IDM2QD

Doyle, Braden https://atnhl.com/31xUQQU Thomson, Lassi https://atnhl.com/2X9FJ0I

Fagemo, Samuel https://atnhl.com/2X7VmFT Thrun, Henry https://atnhl.com/2Iez90v

Fairbrother, Gianni https://atnhl.com/31sLups Tieksola, Tuukka https://atnhl.com/2X8D07D

Farinacci, John https://atnhl.com/2wQD64X Tomasino, Philip https://atnhl.com/2ReWTEG

Firstov, Vladislav https://atnhl.com/2N1b4Pp Tracey, Brayden https://atnhl.com/2Fac90J

Foote, Nolan https://atnhl.com/31oHTsq Tuomisto, Antti https://atnhl.com/2KoxjN5

Grewe, Albin https://atnhl.com/2ICNvXw Turcotte, Alex https://atnhl.com/2Kj66ek

Gutik, Daniil https://atnhl.com/2KjwSU6 Vlasic, Alex https://atnhl.com/2F8ifPf

Harley, Thomas https://atnhl.com/2wNpCaj York, Cameron https://atnhl.com/2IJYP3Z

Heinola, Ville https://atnhl.com/2x2o3oM Zegras, Trevor https://atnhl.com/2F9GhJB

Helleson, Drew https://atnhl.com/2KMiZ05

Henriksson, Karl https://atnhl.com/31oQJGC

Hoglander, Nils https://atnhl.com/2N1eKkb

Holmstrom, Simon https://atnhl.com/2WGJGur

Honka, Snttoni https://atnhl.com/2wRgFMW

Hughes, Jack https://atnhl.com/2KfqQnn

Johnson, Ryan https://atnhl.com/2WD5vWL

Kakko, Kaapo https://atnhl.com/31Gh8zI

Kaliyev, Arthur https://atnhl.com/31z0XEG

Kallionkieli, Marcus https://atnhl.com/2Zpx5Zs

Knight, Spencer https://atnhl.com/2WJuiZm

Kochetkov, Pyotr https://atnhl.com/2ZDhS7h

Kokkonen, Mikko https://atnhl.com/2wNwZP1

Kolyachonok, Vladislav https://atnhl.com/2Zv7hLg

Korczak, Kaedan https://atnhl.com/2XKu8C3

Krebs, Peyton https://atnhl.com/2wRaMzk

Lacombe, Jackson https://atnhl.com/2RjZPA0

Lavoie, Raphael https://atnhl.com/31vNZHr

Leason, Brett https://atnhl.com/2MNr2wn

Lundmark, Simon https://atnhl.com/2KOC41E

Mcmichael, Connor https://atnhl.com/2MK8IEc

Misyul, Danil https://atnhl.com/2F2TfZJ

Newhook, Alex https://atnhl.com/2WFenQx

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