Minnesota leads all states with 12 draftees – Lets Play Hockey

Once again Minnesota led the way with the number of drafted players compared to other states around the U.S.

A total of 53 players from the United States were drafted Friday and Saturday in Buffalo. There were seven rounds and 224 overall picks, except for the 63^rd overall pick which was forefeited by the Vegas Knights for media violations.

Minnesota had 12 players chosen by NHL teams, four more than any other state in the country. Michigan finished with eight picks and California finished with seven. Massachussetts and Pennsylvania each finished with five. In total, 16 states were represented in the draft, including Alaska, Texas, North Carolina and Idaho.

Wyatt Cullen – Moorhead – USNTDP – Round 1 – 10th overall – Nashville Predators

Wyatt Cullen was the top Minnesotan chosen and the lone first round pick, going 10^th overall to the Nashville Predators. Cullen is a Moorhead native and played at Moorhead through bantams before joining the USNTDP where he excelled for two seasons, this being a top 10 pick.

Cullen is the 10^th Minnesotan to be chosen in the top 10, but the first to the “10^th” pick. He is the highest pick for a Minnesota player since Casey Mittelstadt was chosen 8^th overall by Buffalo in 2017. Cullen is also the son of former Minnesota Wild player and 3-time Stanley Cup Champion Matt Cullen. The elder Cullen was a 2^nd round pick and 35^thoverall in 1996 by Anaheim. Wyatt is committed to the University of Minnesota where his father was recently hired as the Director of Player Development.

Jayden Kurtz – Rogers – Rogers HS – Round 2 – 45th overall – Anaheim Ducks

Two Minnesotans were chosen in Round 2. Jayden Kurtz’s combination of size and skill was enough for Anaheim to nab him with the 45^th overall pick. Kurtz had a 38-point season and was the top high school player taken in the draft. Kurtz is an excellent skater and a strong physical presence on the blue line. He also played with the Chicago Steel of the USHL and is committed to play at the University of Wisconsin.

Victor Plante – Hermantown – USNTDP – Round 2 – 47th overall – Detroit Red Wings

Hermantown’s Victor Plante was selected two picks later at 47^th overall by Detroit. Ironically, Victor’s older brother Max was also selected by the Red Wings with the 47^th overall pick in 2024. Vitor is the third Plante sibling to be drafted with Zam going in the 5^th round of the 20-22 draft to Pittsburgh. Their father, Derek, was an 8^th round pick in 1989 and played 450 games in the NHL. Victor will join his brothers at Minnesota-Duluth.

Mikey Berchild – Excelsior – USNTDP – Round 4 – 105th overall – Carolina Hurricanes

Excelsior native Mikey Berchild was selected in the fourth round (105^th overall) by Carolina. Berchild has bene a natural goal scorer oin his career at both Shattuck-St, Mary’s and with the USNTDP. Last season he notched 35 goals and the year prior scored 52. Carolina is coming off a Stanley Cup win with the help of another Minnesota player they took in the fourth round in 2021- Jackson Blake. Berchild is headed to Denver University.

Zach Wooten- Apple Valley/Estview HS – Green Bay (USHL) – Round 4 – 116th overall – Winnipeg Jets

Apple Valley native Zach Wooten was chosen in the fourth round (116^th overall) after a breakout season with the Green Bay Gamblers in the USHL last season. The 2024 Eastview grad scored 35 goals and had 62 points in 61 games. His size, 200-foot game, and as a bit of a late bloomer, his continued upward trend as a player was enough for Winnipeg to grab him in the fourth round. Wooten is headed to the University of Wisconsin, who is coming off a trip to the national title game.

K.J. Sauer – Andover- Andover HS – Round 5 – 136th overall – Philadelphia Flyers

The fifth round saw three Minnesota players drafted. Andover’s KJ Sauer was the first off the board at No. 136 by Philadelphia. After an injury-plagued senior year, he returned for the team’s final 15 games and was a driving force in them earning a return trip to state. He had 25 points in those 15 games. His size and athleticism and strong hockey pedigree make him a solid prospect as a potential power forward. His father, Kent, was a Division I player and played professionally. His uncles Mike and Kurt both played in the NHL. KJ is still uncommitted as far as we know, but is slated to play in the Western Hockey League for the Edmonton Oil Kings next season.

Hawke Huff – Wayzata- Cedar Rapids (USHL) – Round 5 – 148th overall – Seattle Kraken

Next off the board in the fifth round was former Wayzata standout defenseman Hawke Huff. Like Wooten, Huff had a breakout season in the USHL where he was named a First-team All-Star. He notched 36 assists and was a solid +17 on the season. Like most D-man selected, he possesses size and strength at 6’3” and 200 pounds. Seattle took him with the 148^thoverall pick. Huff also played a stint in the NAHL with the Minnesota Wilderness and is committed to the University fop St. Thomas.

Teddy Lechner – Bloomington – Academy of Holy Angels – Round 5 – 152nd overall – Colorado Avalanche

High school junior Teddy Lechner was next off the board at No. 152 by Colorado. Lechner finished his junior season at Academy of Holy Angels where he had seven goals and 31 assists in 23 games for the Stars. He also played three games with the U17s in the USNTDP and played 35 games with Muskegon in the USHL. It is unclear where he will play next season, but he is committed to Augustana University.

Bode Laylin – St Michael – Tri City (USHL) – Round 6 – 164th overall – Calgary Flames

Defenseman Bode Laylin was chosen in the sixth round by Calgary. The 5’11” blueliner from St. Michael played last season at Tri City in the USHL and notched 38 points in 55 games, including 11 goals. Although undersized compared to most defenseman chosen, he is a highly skilled skater and a steady presence on the blueline. He was a Third-Team All-Star in the USHL this past season and will play next season for the Everett Silvertips in the WHL before heading to the University of St Thomas.

Parker Trottier – Edina – USNTDP – Round 6 – 189th overall – Montreal Canadiens

Edina native Parker Trottier was taken in the sixth round and 189^th overall by Montreal. Trottier played at Shattuck-St. Mary’s beforte joing the USNTDP for his age 16 and 17 seasons. Last year he played 61 games with the U18s and scored 11 goals and added 16 assists. He is the grandson of NHL Hall of Famer Bryan Trottier. Parker is committed to the University of Notre Dame.

Bobby Cowan – Edina – Western Michigan – Round 7 – 205th overall – NY Islanders

Two players rounded out the draft in the seventh round. Edina native Bobby Cowan was chosen 205^th overall by the New York Islanders. Cowan played last season at Western Michigan University and had 24 points in 39 games.

Jimmy Rieber – Woodbury – Waterloo (USHL) – Round 7 – 210th overall – Anaheim Ducks

Jimmy Rieber of Woodbury was selected with the 210^th overall pick by Anaheim. Rieber is a bit of an unknown in Minnesota because he ventured to Chicago to play throughout his later youth hockey years. Rieber played 60 games last season with Waterloo in the USHL and is slated to return to the USHL for one more season. He is committed to Miami (Ohio).