The 2021 NHL Draft, which was held July 23-24, featured the selection of nine Minnesotans and 45 Americans.
Chaz Lucius (Grant, MN), who earned a strong reputation for his scoring skills with the U.S. National Team Development Program the past two seasons, was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the first round of the draft.
In the second round, the Minnesota Wild selected 2021 Mr. Hockey Award winner Jack Peart (Grand Rapids, MN). As the 54th overall pick, Peart became the highest drafted Minnesotan in Wild history, edging Mario Lucia was also drafted in the second round back in 2011. Tristan Broz (Bloomington, MN), who was a high school standout at Blake, was chosen a few picks after Peart by the Pittsburgh Penguins.
A pair of Minnesota High School State Tournament stars were drafted in the fourth round. Brody Lamb (Kasson, MN), who led Dodge County to the Class A State Championship game with a 52-goal season including 18 goals in six postseason games, was selected by the New York Rangers. Then, the Class AA State Championship hero for Eden Prairie, Jackson Blake, was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes.
The sixth and seventh rounds featured a series of picks from Maple Grove, MN. Maple Grove High School teammates Kyle Kukkonen and Cal Thomas were selected in the sixth round by the Anaheim Ducks and Arizona Coyotes, respectively. Justin Janicke and Connor Kelley were then drafted in the seventh round by the Seattle Kraken and Chicago Blackhawks, respectively, making it four players chosen in the same NHL Draft who grew up playing in the Osseo-Maple Grove Hockey Association.
Minnesota led all U.S. states with 9 selections, followed by Michigan (5) and California (4). Minnesota has led or tied for the lead among U.S. states in 18 of the past 19 drafts dating back to 2003.
NOTES: Eight of the nine Minnesotans selected played at least one season of Minnesota high school hockey, including five who were drafted directly from their high school team. The players selected represent six different communities.
Name | Round | Pick | Overall | NHL Team | 2020-21 Team | Association |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chaz Lucius | 1 | 18 | 18 | Winnipeg Jets | U.S. NTDP | Gentry Academy |
Jack Peart | 2 | 22 | 54 | Minnesota Wild | Grand Rapids H.S. | Grand Rapids |
Tristan Broz | 2 | 26 | 58 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Fargo (USHL) | Bloomington Jefferson |
Brody Lamb | 4 | 8 | 104 | New York Rangers | Dodge County H.S. | Dodge County |
Jackson Blake | 4 | 13 | 109 | Carolina Hurricanes | Eden Prairie H.S. | Eden Prairie |
Kyle Kukkonen | 6 | 2 | 162 | Anaheim Ducks | Maple Grove H.S. | Maple Grove |
Cal Thomas | 6 | 11 | 171 | Arizona Coyotes | Maple Grove H.S. | Maple Grove |
Justin Janicke | 7 | 3 | 195 | Seattle Kraken | U.S. NTDP | Maple Grove |
Connor Kelley | 7 | 12 | 204 | Chicago Blackhawks | Minnesota Duluth (NCAA) | Maple Grove |