Ten Minnesotans were selected in the 2018 National Hockey League (NHL) draft, which concluded Saturday, June 23. A total of 52 Americans selected, including six in the first round.
K’Andre Miller, a Hopkins native who played two years of high school hockey for Minnetonka before joining the U.S. National Team Development Program, was the first Minnesotan selected. Miller was taken with the 22nd overall pick by the New York Rangers.
The 2018 NCAA Rookie of the Year, Scott Perunovich, continued his whirlwind season at the NHL Draft, being selected in the second round by the St. Louis Blues. The Hibbing native collected numerous NCAA awards this year while helping lead the University of Minnesota Duluth to an NCAA Division I National Championship and the U.S. World Junior team claim a bronze medal.
Blake McLauglin (Grand Rapids, MN) was selected in the third round, followed by two more Minnesotans in the fourth round, three in the sixth round and two more in the seventh round.
All of the Minnesotans selected played at least one season of high school hockey, including three who played for a high school team this season and two more who graduated high school before moving onto the USHL.
NOTES: All of the players selected participated in the CCM High Performance programs, which are designed to identify and develop the top players in Minnesota … The players selected represent eight different communities… Five of the players participated in a Minnesota Hockey State Tournament, including four players who claimed State titles. Three of those players (McLaughlin/Hain – 2017, Loheit – 2018) also led their high school team to a Class AA State Championship.
Name | Round | Pick | Overall | NHL Team | Amateur Team | Association |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
K'andre Miller | 1 | 22 | 22 | New York Randers | USNTDP | Minnetonka |
Scott Perunovich | 2 | 14 | 45 | St. Louis Blues | Minnesota Duluth (NCAA) | Hibbing-Chisholm |
Blake McLaughlin | 3 | 17 | 79 | Anaheim Ducks | Chicago (USHL) | Grand Rapids |
Demetrios Kuomontzis | 4 | 15 | 108 | Calgary Flames | Edina | Edina |
Jackson Perbix | 4 | 23 | 116 | Anaheim Ducks | Elk River | Elk River |
Gavin Hain | 6 | 19 | 174 | Philadelphia Flyers | USNTDP | Grand Rapids |
Cole Koepke | 6 | 28 | 183 | Tampa Bay Lightning | Sioux City (USHL) | Hermantown |
Jared Moe | 6 | 29 | 184 | Winnipeg Jets | Waterloo (USHL) | New Prague |
Luke Loheit | 7 | 8 | 194 | Ottawa Senators | Minnetonka | Minnetonka |
Sam Hentges | 7 | 24 | 210 | Minnesota Wild | Des Moines (USHL) | Irondale |
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