NHL Draft Review

Erik Johnson (pictured above), a Minnesota recruit, was the first pick of the 2006 NHL Draft which featured many and future collegians go in the first round. In fact eight of them went in the first round and a record 10 Americans also went in the first round.

There was a lot of speculation of this years draft on where these collegiate players would go and where they would go. Included in this mix were Jonathan Toews of North Dakota, and Phil Kessel of Minnesota were both predicted to be in the top five. Question is where would they go?

When Jordan Staal was taken by Pittsburgh, the next team on the clock, the Chicago Blackhawks, knew that they needed a center. They went with Toews with the number three pick. Was it a good pick? Rumor has it that Toews was going to return for his Sophomore season at North Dakota, but I highly think that he might go pro and play for a team who has struggled for years in Chicago.

With Nicklas Backstrom going number four to Washington, the Boston Bruins were on the clock, and their decision was an easy one. With the fifth pick the Bruins took Kessel, who was the leading Freshman scorer in the country last year with 18 goals and 33 assists for 51 points. No rumor on Kessel's decision yet, but the Bruins are in a need of a playmaker and look for the managment to go after Kessel right away.

Other first rounders include Kyle Okposo, a Minnesota recruit who was drafted by the New York Islanders with the seventh pick, Trevor Lewis, a Michigan recruit who went 17th to the Los Angeles Kings, Mark Mitera from Michigan went to the Anahiem Ducks at 19, David Fischer, another Minnesota recruit went 20th to the Montreal Canadians, and the Phoenix Coyotes selected Chris Summers, a Michigan recruit went 29th.

60 other colligans were drafted in rounds 2-7.

College Hockey appears to get stronger each year in the draft. Only time will tell how many of collegians will go in next year's draft which will be held in Ottawa, ON next year.