MN Hockey News

Minnesota High Schoolers Make Splash in 2010 Draft

06/27/2010, 10:25am (CDT)

By Pete Waggoner

A record 22 US High School Players Selected

A record 22 American High School Hockey players were drafted in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft this past weekend at Staples Center in Los Angeles and Minnesota led the way with 12 players selected.  It was not only a good weekend for the US High School players, but American born players as well.  A record 11 American players were selected in the first round alone and a record tying 21 of them were taken in the first two rounds.  
 
Six of the twenty one players or 29% drafted in the first two rounds played their high school hockey in Minnesota.   All but two players, Justin Falk (South St. Paul High School) and Derek Forbort  (Duluth East) finished Minnesota High School Hockey and were drafted in the first two rounds.  While Forbort played two seasons, his sophomore and junior years at Duluth East High School, it is a testament to Minnesota High School Hockey  which has played a pivotal role in the development of the current crop of American NHL prospects. 
 
Players from around The State of Hockey were drafted that played in different conferences and on teams that may not have had the success or media attention  of others.  A total of 15 of 16 Minnesotans selected this past weekend played a significant amount, if not all of their high school careers in Minnesota.  They came from 13 different teams that spanned 8 different conferences. 
 
After Forbort was selected with the 15th overall pick by Los Angeles, it was the 2010 MnHockeyHub.com player of the year, Nick Bjugstad who went with the 19th selection.  The Blaine standout landed in Miami where he is property of the Florida Panthers.  They received a gifted player who is on the puck and makes his presence felt in the offensive zone.  Not only does he possess goal scoring touch, but his playmaking and vision is equally impressive.  Mixing size, speed, skill, and vision,  Bjugstad has the potential for a great career, especially as he is known to be a solid leader and teammate. 
 
Warroad's Brock Nelson, whom many NHL insiders believe could be the steal of the first round, went with the 30th pick to the New York Islanders.  As he hones his game at North Dakota, it will be interesting to see if the rugged two-way player who competes and has a nose for the net elevates his game to levels the Islanders believe he can. 
 
Former Centennial star and current Minnesota State Mankato Maverick Tyler Pitlick was the first selection of the second round and will indeed have a home with the Edmonton Oilers.  A physically strong and skilled hockey player, Pitlick has the skills of a first rounder and the Oilers believe they have that caliber of a player in Pitlick.  
 
Cretin-Derham Hall's Mark Alt and Minnetonka's Justin Holl rounded out the second round selections as both the University of Minnesota recruits will be welcome additions to their future teams.  Alt  was selected 53rd going to Carolina and Holl was selected one pick later going to the defending Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Black Hawks.  Both have great awareness of the ice and vision.  Alt is not shy of the physical game and has the prototypical NHL D-Man's body with the 6-3 frame.  Holl, meanwhile has improved ten fold over his high school career and has as much upside as Nelson does, who was a first rounder.
 
The remaining players selected all possess high level tools and 13 of them will play in the WCHA in the upcoming years.  It is no coincidence that the NHL is putting faith in the high school player as they can now allow them to develop and trust in the US College system.  With the emergence of the well funded Russian Continental Hockey League (KHL), some European and Russian players can begin to present risks to NHL managers.  
 
A key element is having the American born players evolving in their formative teenage years at home, where they spring board to college and have a strong base from which their life values are structured. With the growing faith in the High School to College development plan, the NHL does not have to invest money early for a players development.  Along with those critical elements, is the concept that North American players also cherish the thought of playing in the NHL.   Meanwhile, the available cash in the KHL creates a bigger decision for European born players as that league looks to keep their talent at home. 
 
It is no surprise that the US and Canada squared off in the World Junior Championships and for the Olympic Gold Medal this past season.  The United States has become a major factor in the development of NHL talent, and the Minnesota High School Hockey League is the leading feeder league of said talent. 

Read More