2020 GOPHER HOCKEY NHL DRAFT GUIDE CONTENTS Gopher Hockey NHL Draft Notes Current Gopher Hockey NHL Draft Picks 2020-21 Gopher Hockey Roster All-Time Gopher Hockey NHL Draft Picks Minnesota’s First Round Draft Picks Minnesota’s Highest Overall NHL Draft Picks Gopher Hockey Draft Picks By NHL Team Gopher Hockey Draft Picks By Round Year-By-Year Gopher Hockey Draft Picks 2020 GOPHER HOCKEY NHL DRAFT GUIDE Editor/Men’s Hockey Contact: Brian Deutsch Office Phone: 612.626.4011 | E-mail: [email protected] The information contained in this publication was compiled by the University of Minnesota Athletic Communications office and is provided as a courtesy to our fans and the media and may be used for personal or editorial purposes only. Any commercial use of this information is prohibited without the consent of University of Minnesota Intercol- legiate Athletics. The 2020 Gopher Hockey NHL Entry Draft Guide reflects current and former Gopher Hockey selections. Unsigned prospects are not included in the team records. 2020 GOPHER HOCKEY NHL ENTRY DRAFT GUIDE GOPHER HOCKEY NHL DRAFT NOTES • The 2020 NHL Entry Draft will take place virtually on Oct. 6-7, 2020. The 58th draft in league history will feature seven rounds. Players that were born between Jan. 1, 2000 and Sept. 15, 2002 are eligible for selection in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. • The University of Minnesota has produced 216 total NHL draft picks including 21 first round picks. • Ryan Johnson became the 21st Gopher Hockey prospect to be selected in the first round when the Buffalo Sabres selected him with the 31st pick in 2019. The Sabres have drafted six of Minnesota’s 21 first round selections. • The first Gopher ever selected in the NHL draft was Wally Olds, taken by Detroit with the 57th pick (fifth round) in 1969. Olds never played in the NHL, electing to play in the WHA instead. • Erik Johnson (1st overall in 2006 by St. Louis) is Minnesota’s highest draft pick. • At least one Gopher has been drafted in 45 of the last 46 NHL Entry Drafts dating back to 1974 with 2001 being the only exception. Minnesota’s 27-consecutive drafts with a selection between 1974-2000 are an NCAA record. • Minnesota featured nine draft picks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft (Patrick White, Jim O’Brien, Nico Sacchetti, Mike Hoeffel, Jake Hansen, Cade Fairchild, Kent Patterson, Taylor Matson and Nick Larson) -- an NCAA record. • The Dallas Stars (previously the Minnesota North Stars) have drafted more Gophers than any other NHL team with 24 selec- tions, including 2019 pick Ben Brinkman. • Every current NHL organization has drafted at least one Gopher Hockey player with the exception of the Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas acquired former Gophers Nate Schmidt, Erik Haula and Jake Bischoff in the 2017 NHL Expansion Draft. • Five times in program history has a Gophers family featured a father and son that were both drafted -- Jack/Mike Ramsey, Rem/Lance Pitlick and Tyler/Marty Nanne, Mike/Mike Reilly and Jake/Grant Bischoff. Additionally, Blake McLaughlin is the stepson of Grant Bischoff. • Six sets of Gophers brothers have also been drafted -- the Brotens (Neal, Aaron, Paul), the Hankinsons (Peter, Ben, Casey), the Hendricksons (Darby, Dan), the Michelettis (Joe, Don, Pat), the Potulnys (Grant, Ryan) and the Richards (Todd, Travis). Additionally, stepbrothers Jake Bischoff and Blake McLaughlin have both been drafted. • The 2018 NHL Entry Draft saw a pair of Gophers selected with back-to-back picks in Blake McLaughlin and Sampo Ranta -- the sixth time in program history that Gophers were taken with consecutive picks (Travis Boyd and Adam Wilcox in 2011, Mark Alt and Justin Holl in 2010, Craig Mack and Steve Orth in 1983, Tom Hirsch and David Preuss in 1981, Mike Greeder and Mike Reilly in 1977). Hirsh and Preuss were selected with consecutive picks by the Minnesota North Stars. • The Gophers’ most impressive round in the NHL Entry Draft came in 2006 when three Gophers were selected within the first seven picks of the draft – Erik Johnson (St. Louis, 1st overall), Phil Kessel (Boston, 5th overall) and Kyle Okposo (New York Is- landers, 7th overall). David Fischer was later drafted with the 20th overall pick by Montreal, giving Minnesota four players in the first round of the 2006 draft. • Todd Richards, a second round selection (33rd overall) by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft, helped the Tampa Bay Lightning earn the 2020 Stanley Cup as an assistant coach. Richards is the 11th Gopher Hockey alum to have his named engraved on the Stanley Cup and the second to do so as a coach (Bob Johnson in 1991 and posthumously in 1992). 2020 GOPHER HOCKEY NHL ENTRY DRAFT GUIDE CURRENT GOPHER NHL DRAFT PICKS Player Hometown Team Year Rd. Pick Ryan Johnson Irvine, Calif. Buffalo Sabres 2019 1 31 Jackson LaCombe Eden Prairie, Minn. Anaheim Ducks 2019 2 39 Mike Koster Chaska, Minn. Toronto Maple Leafs 2019 5 146 Ben Brinkman Edina, Minn. Dallas Stars 2019 6 173 Bryce Brodzinski Blaine, Minn. Philadelphia Flyers 2019 7 196 Sampo Ranta Naantali, Finland Colorado Avalanche 2018 3 78 Blake McLaughlin Grand Rapids, Minn. Anaheim Ducks 2018 3 79 Jack Perbix Elk River, Minn. Anaheim Ducks 2018 4 116 Jared Moe New Prague, Minn. Winnipeg Jets 2018 6 184 Scott Reedy Prior Lake, Minn. San Jose Sharks 2017 4 102 Sammy Walker Edina, Minn. Tampa Bay Lightning 2017 7 200 Robbie Stucker St. Paul, Minn. Columbus Blue Jackets 2017 7 210 Jack LaFontaine Mississauga, Ontario Carolina Hurricanes 2016 3 75 2020-21 GOPHER HOCKEY ROSTER No. Name YR Pos Ht Wt. S/C Hometown 1 Justen Close So. G 5-10 175 L Kindersley, Sask. 2 Jackson LaCombe So. D 6-2 190 L Eden Prairie, Minn. 3 Robbie Stucker Jr. D 6-3 185 R St. Paul, Minn. 4 Ben Brinkman Jr. D 6-1 215 L Edina, Minn. 5 Matt Denman Jr. D 6-0 190 L Prior Lake, Minn. 6 Mike Koster Fr. D 5-9 170 R Chaska, Minn. 7 Brannon McManus Sr. F 5-11 185 R Newport Beach, Calif. 9 Sammy Walker Jr. F 5-11 170 R Edina, Minn. 11 Jonny Sorenson So. F 6-0 175 L St. Louis Park, Minn. 13 Cullen Munson Sr. F 5-11 185 L Edina, Minn. 14 Brock Faber Fr. D 6-0 195 R Maple Grove, Minn. 18 Mason Nevers Fr. F 5-9 145 R Edina, Minn. 19 Scott Reedy Sr. F 6-2 205 R Prior Lake, Minn. 21 Nathan Burke Jr. F 6-1 190 L Scottsdale, Ariz. 22 Bryce Brodzinski So. F 6-0 215 R Blaine, Minn. 23 Ryan Johnson So. D 6-0 215 L Irvine, Calif. 24 Jaxon Nelson So. F 6-4 220 R Magnolia, Minn. 25 Jack Perbix So. F 6-1 185 R Elk River, Minn. 26 Carl Fish Fr. D 6-2 210 L St. Paul, Minn. 27 Blake McLaughlin Jr. F 6-0 175 L Grand Rapids, Minn. 28 Sam Rossini Sr. D 6-4 200 L Burnsville, Minn. 31 Jared Moe So. G 6-4 210 R New Prague, Minn. 39 Ben Meyers So.. F 5-11 200 L Delano, Minn. 45 Jack LaFontaine Sr. G 6-3 200 L Mississauga, Ont. 51 Noah Weber So. F 6-0 205 L Eagle River, Wis. 55 Matt Staudacher So. D 6-1 195 L Fenton, Mich. 58 Sampo Ranta Jr. F 6-2 205 L Naantali, Finland 2020 GOPHER HOCKEY NHL ENTRY DRAFT GUIDE ALL-TIME NHL ENTRY DRAFT SELECTIONS (YEAR-BY-YEAR) Player Team Year Rd. Pick Ryan Johnson Buffalo Sabres 2019 1 31 Jackson LaCombe Anaheim Ducks 2019 2 39 Mike Koster Toronto Maple Leafs 2019 5 146 Ben Brinkman Dallas Stars 2019 6 173 Bryce Brodzinski Philadelphia Flyers 2019 7 196 Sampo Ranta Colorado Avalanche 2018 3 78 Blake McLaughlin Anaheim Ducks 2018 3 79 Jack Perbix Anaheim Ducks 2018 4 116 Casey Mittelstadt Buffalo Sabres 2017 1 8 Clayton Phillips Pittsburgh Penguins 2017 3 93 Scott Reedy San Jose Sharks 2017 4 102 Sammy Walker Tampa Bay Lightning 2017 7 200 Robbie Stucker Columbus Blue Jackets 2017 7 210 Ryan Lindgren Boston Bruins 2016 2 49 Jack LaFontaine Carolina Hurricanes 2016 3 75 Rem Pitlick Nashville Predators 2016 3 76 Brent Gates Jr. Anaheim Ducks 2015 3 80 Tommy Novak Nashville Predators 2015 3 85 Ryan Zuhlsdorf Tampa Bay Lightning 2015 5 150 Jack Sadek Minnesota Wild 2015 7 204 Ryan Collins Columbus Blue Jackets 2014 2 47 Jack Glover Winnipeg Jets 2014 3 69 Steve Johnson Los Angeles King 2014 4 120 Jack Ramsey Chicago Blackhawks 2014 7 208 Tyler Nanne New York Rangers 2014 5 142 Taylor Cammarata New York Islanders 2013 3 76 Hudson Fasching Los Angeles Kings 2013 4 118 Michael Brodzinski San Jose Sharks 2013 5 141 Brady Skjei New York Rangers 2012 1 28 Jake Bischoff New York Islanders 2012 7 185 Kyle Rau Florida Panthers 2011 3 91 Mike Reilly Columbus Blue Jackets 2011 4 98 Seth Ambroz Columbus Blue Jackets 2011 5 128 Nick Seeler Minnesota Wild 2011 5 131 Travis Boyd Washington Capitals 2011 6 177 Adam Wilcox Tampa Bay Lightning 2011 6 178 Nick Bjugstad Florida Panthers 2010 1 19 Mark Alt Carolina Hurricanes 2010 2 53 Justin Holl Chicago Blackhawks 2010 2 54 Max Gardiner St. Louis Blues 2010 3 74 Ben Marshall Detroit Red Wings 2010 7 201 Christian Isackson Buffalo Sabres 2010 7 203 Nick Leddy Minnesota Wild 2009 1 16 Jordan Schroeder Vancouver Canucks 2009 1 22 2020 GOPHER HOCKEY NHL ENTRY DRAFT GUIDE ALL-TIME NHL ENTRY DRAFT SELECTIONS (YEAR-BY-YEAR) Zach Budish Nashville Predators 2009 2 41 Josh Birkholz Florida Panthers 2009 3 67 Seth Helgeson New Jersey Devils 2009 4 114 Erik Haula Minnesota Wild 2009 7 182 Aaron Ness New York Islanders 2008 2 40 Nate Condon Colorado Avalanche 2008 7 200 Patrick White Vancouver Canucks 2007 1 25 Jim O’Brien Ottawa Senators 2007 1 29 Nico Sacchetti Dallas Stars 2007 2 50 Mike Hoeffel New Jersey Devils 2007 2 57 Jake Hansen Columbus Blue Jackets 2007 3 86 Cade Fairchild St.