Top Minnesotans in the 2010 Draft

by elisebutler on Jun 15, 2010 2:38 PM CDT

The 2010 NHL Entry Draft is quickly approaching, as you can tell by all of the draft-centric posts on Hockey Wilderness and SBN Hockey as a whole (make sure you're reading that, by the way, because there's some really great coverage on all the sites).

Minnesotans have a thing about our lovely state - we love it and we love having homegrown talent. There is always the group who wishes the Wild had a Minnesotan on its roster or hopes the team drafts the Minnesotan player. Darby Hendrickson and Mark Parrish were both hometown boys who contributed for the Wild but there are also Minnesotan draft picks like A.J. Thelen.

That being said, there's a new crop of Minnesota boys in this upcoming draft (but, with the Wild picking ninth, it's very unlikely they will select a Minnesotan). Here's a graphic of some of the top Minnesota players in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and their basics (position, hometown, teams). You can find a full list of Minnesotans available for the 2010 Draft here. Mouse over the stars to learn more about a player.

You can follow Elise on Twitter @elisebutler or send her an e-mail at 18568reasonswhy@gmail.com

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I never really get the whole “Draft a Minnesotan” thing. I’d focus first on getting a team that can make the postseason rather than a team that has a few boys from Minney. Ahh well. Neat interactive map you made by the way. Quite spiify. :D

by pandas on Jun 15, 2010 3:43 PM CDT reply actions

Minnesota Hockey Players

It is important to note that some of the top U.S. players are born in the state of Minnesota. Had Paul Martin played in the Olympics, Team U.S.A. would have been I think 33% Minnesota born. There are some incredible talents that come out of this state, and for years the Wild have been more interested in players abroad. Since this is the State of Hockey, fans feel it would be nice if the state was actually represented with at least one or two Minnesota-born players.

by JDesthubert on Jun 15, 2010 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Perhaps I should have worded my response a tad differently. I refer to the people the focus on getting Minnesota born players purely for the fact that they are Minnesota born. You’re absolutely correct though; so many American players that are great do come from this fabulous state, but bypassing a better player just so one can get a few good ol’ hometown boys isn’t a good gameplan. [I’m not saying anyone here thinks this way; I’ve just known a few people to be like this in my personal experience]

by pandas on Jun 15, 2010 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions

You're right Lin, but...

Sometimes, a hometown boy will have even more motivation for playing in his hometown and become even better than expected. But, it can go the other way around, whereas the said player can have more pressure from the fans to do well and choke under that pressure.

The Wild absolutely need to draft the best player possible. If it happens to be a Minnesotan, good!

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jun 15, 2010 7:38 PM CDT up reply actions

otherwise known as a Latendresse situation? XP

by pandas on Jun 15, 2010 7:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Haha right!

But Montreal is a very very different story. The expectations the habs fans have for the hometown boys are just way too heavy…

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jun 15, 2010 9:04 PM CDT up reply actions

The Wild have not purposely avoided Minnesota players. They have never had a chance at the players you think they did. Players like Wheeler (who specifically chose to NOT play here because it was home), Kessel, Parise… they have never, ever had a chance to take them and passed. These players were gone long before the Wild picked in their respective draft years.

Are there any players you can think of that they passed on from MN? I can think of one. Schoeder, and instead they took Leddy, a Minnesotan.

Hockey Wilderness
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by BReynolds on Jun 15, 2010 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow, this is pretty cool Elise! Well done! :D

Justin Faulk? Ha, Imagine having both Justin Falk and Justin Faulk! It would be uncanny!

JS, Champion of the first ever Hockey Wilderness Playoff Bracket Challenge! WHOOOOOOOO!

twitter: BubbleWild48

by JSLandry on Jun 15, 2010 7:35 PM CDT reply actions

grew up watching Minnesota high school hockey

I’ve been watching Minnesota high school hockey for years..since i was a kid..going to the tournament, section finals.
its been tough all these years seeing all these guys come thru and not get to play for the local team.

Housley, Parise, Martin,Goligoski, Leopold, Oshie, Langenbrunner… the list is huge!
Niskinen, Gilbert, Mueller, Erik Johnson. and on and on ……
I remember talking with some Roseau people and they were saying wait till you see Dustin Byfuglien.. that was years ago.. Look now..he’s hoisting the cup with the Hawks!
8th round pick??!!
We done a crappy job scouting minnesota players.
I’m tired of the excuse “they weren’t available when we drafted”..
Try moving up in the draft to get them!! make some moves!
once in a lifetime players may require creativity to get them.
If our current Wild roster had some of the above mentioned players on it now.
maybe we would be hoisting the cup!
Guys from here in Minnesota and that play in the WCHA are good hockey players!
duncan keith, wcha, matt karl wcha. burrish..
the guys we used to see playing for the gophers and against them..
are now difference makers in the NHL..
So lets kick it up a notch huh!
we want to win the cup here. not wallow in mediocrity…….

by old time hockey guy on Jun 23, 2010 12:05 PM CDT reply actions