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Gopher Hockey: 2021 NHL Entry Draft Guide

Gopher Hockey: 2021 NHL Entry Draft Guide

7/14/2021

MINNEAPOLIS – Three signed Gopher Hockey prospects are among the top players eligible for the 2021 NHL Entry Draft later this month as Tristan Broz, Matthew Knies and Chaz Lucius look to add their names to a proud tradition at the University of Minnesota. 

The 2021 NHL Entry Draft will take place virtually on July 23-24, 2021. The 59th draft in league history will feature seven rounds. The first round is slated for Friday, July 23 starting at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: ESPN2) with the final six rounds scheduled for Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. CT (TV: NHL Network). 

The 2021 NHL Expansion Draft will be held on Wednesday, July 21 starting at 7:00 p.m. CT (TV: ESPN2)

The 2021 Gopher Hockey NHL Entry Draft Guide reflects current and former Gopher Hockey selections. Unsigned prospects are not included in the team records.

2021 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
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2021 NHL ENTRY DRAFT COVERAGE
NHL ENTRY DRAFT NOTES

• The University of Minnesota leads all college hockey programs with a total of 222 NHL draft picks including 22 first round picks.

• The Maroon & Gold also lead the NCAA with 115 all-time NHL alumni and tied for the most NHL alums last year with 22 including 2021 First Team All-American Sampo Ranta. 

• Chaz Lucius became the 22nd Gopher Hockey prospect to be selected in the first round when the Winnipeg Jets selected him with the 18th pick in 2021.

• 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 47 of the last 48 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 selections including 2019 pick Ben Brinkman.

• The only NHL organizations that have never drafted a Gopher are the newest two teams – the Vegas Golden Knights and the Seattle Kraken. The 2021 NHL Entry Draft will be Seattle's first time drafting prospects while three ‘U’ alums have gone on to play with Vegas. 

• Five times in program history has a Gophers family featured a father and son that were both drafted -- Jack/Mike Ramsey, Rem and Rhett/Lance Pitlick and Tyler/Marty Nanne, Mike/Mike Reilly and Jake/Grant Bischoff. Additionally, Blake McLaughlin is the stepson of Grant Bischoff.

• Seven 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 Pitlicks (Rem, Rhett), the Potulnys (Grant, Ryan) and the Richards (Todd, Travis). Additionally, stepbrothers Jake Bischoff and Blake McLaughlin have both been drafted.

• The 2021 NHL Entry Draft saw a pair of Gophers selected with back-to-back picks in Matthew Knies and Tristan Broz – the seventh time in program history that Gophers were taken with consecutive picks (Blake McLaughlin and Sampo Ranta in 2018, 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 Islanders, 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.

PROSPECT PROFILES
Draft Media Day

PROSPECT PROFILE: TRISTAN BROZ

Tristan Broz is one of the most gifted players in the draft. He has excellent skills and will bring the crowds to their feet with his ability to make plays. While playing in the USHL, he learned to compete at a high level and bring grit to his game that will make him a complete player.
Gopher Hockey Head Coach Bob Motzko
Tristan Broz

PROSPECT PROFILE: MATTHEW  KNIES 

Matthew Knies brings size, skill and grit -- everything you want in today's game. He is going to become a leader and one of the most feared players around the Big Ten because there's nothing he can't do.
Gopher Hockey Head Coach Bob Motzko
Matthew Knies
Draft Media Day

PROSPECT PROFILE: CHAZ LUCIUS

Chaz Lucius is a true offensive producer and one of the most gifted goal scorers in the world. He has great dedication to training and becoming the best athlete he can. It will be very exciting to watch Chaz grow in a Gopher uniform.
Gopher Hockey Head Coach Bob Motzko
Chaz Lucius
NHL ENTRY DRAFT HISTORY
Ryan Johnson
ALL-TIME NHL DRAFT PICKS
Sampo Ranta
NHL PICKS BY TEAM
Casey Mittelstadt
FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS
NHL: San Jose Sharks at Minnesota Wild
DRAFT PICKS BY YEAR
Erik Haula
DRAFT PICKS BY ROUND
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HIGHEST OVERALL DRAFT PICKS

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