2011 NHL Draft Results

[observer]

Results from the draft:
60 MIN MARIO LUCIA LW US 6' 2" 187 HIGH-MN Minn. WAYZATA
72 NYR STEVEN FOGARTY C US 6' 2" 194 HIGH-MN Minn. EDINA HIGH
83 ANA ANDY WELINSKI D US 6' 1" 188 USHL Minn. GREEN BAY
91 FLA KYLE RAU C US 5' 8" 168 HIGH-MN Minn. EDEN PRAIRIE
98 CBJ MIKE REILLY D US 5' 11" 156 HIGH-MN Minn. SHAT.ST.MARY'S
101 VAN JOSEPH LABATE C US 6' 4" 190 HIGH-MN Minn. HOLY ANGELS
128 CBJ SETH AMBROZ RW US 6' 2" 209 USHL Minn. OMAHA
130 TOR TONY CAMERANESI C US 5' 9" 162 HIGH-MN Minn. WAYZATA
131 MIN NICK SEELER D US 6' 0" 170 HIGH-MN Minn. EDEN PRAIRIE
154 FLA EDWARD WITTCHOW D US 6' 3" 189 HIGH-MN Minn. BURNSVILLE
177 WSH TRAVIS BOYD C US 5' 11" 185 USHL Minn. USA U-18
178 TBL ADAM WILCOX G US 6' 0" 171 USHL Minn. GREEN BAY
189 NJD PATRICK DALY D US 6' 0" 178 HIGH-MN Minn. BENILDE-ST.MARGARET'S
203 TOR MAX EVERSON D US 6' 1" 184 HIGH-MN Minn. EDINA HIGH
174 PIT JOSH ARCHIBALD W US 5' 10" 161 HIGH-MN Minn. BRAINERD-HIGH

By states
STATE 2011 %
MINN. 15 22.73%
ILL. 7 10.61%
N.Y. 6 9.09%
CAL. 5 7.58%
CT 5 7.58%
OHIO 4 6.06%
MASS 3 4.55%
PA. 3 4.55%
TEX 3 4.55%
MO 3 4.55%
MICH 2 3.03%
ARIZ 2 3.03%
CO. 2 3.03%
WIS. 2 3.03%
FL 2 3.03%
N.J. 1 1.52%
ND 1 1.52%
TOTAL 66 100.00%

CANADA 77
EUROPE 67 (28 from Sweden)

[greybeard58]

Here is a total of American players including this year dating back to the 2000 draft. Observer There was a change I found after the numbers I posted a player from Sweden did not list a country and when I sorted he came out at the end, Canada had 77 players,Europe 67 and Sweden had 28 players drafted. On the draft list it shows 2 American High school players born in Canada one from Conn. and the other was Josh Archibald from Brainard but I placed them with their respective states.

TOTAL 2000-2011 U.S.
NHL DRAFT TOTAL
Americans %
MINN. 165 24.26%
MICH 79 11.62%
MASS 78 11.47%
N.Y. 73 10.74%
ILL. 35 5.15%
CAL. 35 5.15%
CT 28 4.12%
WIS. 24 3.53%
PA. 24 3.53%
N.J. 16 2.35%
OHIO 16 2.35%
CO. 13 1.91%
MO 11 1.62%
ND 10 1.47%
N.H. 10 1.47%
TEX 9 1.32%
ME 8 1.18%
ALASKA 6 0.88%
GA. 5 0.74%
FLA. 5 0.74%
IND. 4 0.59%
RI. 4 0.59%
ARIZ 4 0.59%
MD 3 0.44%
WASH 3 0.44%
UTAH 3 0.44%
NC 2 0.29%
OR 1 0.15%
IDAHO 1 0.15%
WASH D.C.1 0.15%
ALA. 1 0.15%
VIRGINIA 1 0.15%
NEV. 1 0.15%
OK 1 0.15%
TOTALS 680 100%

[observer]

Thanks for providing Greybeard.

The most interesting thing I see was for all the Tier 1 AAA in Michigan only 2 players drafted this year. That's pretty interesting. Some of the other State's numbers are also lower than you might expect considering the number of players they have involved in high level hockey. US 66 and Canada 77 is also surprising considering the number of players, teams and leagues playing junior hockey in Canada.

I'd say an excellent showing by Minnesota and the US.

[keepyourheadup]

At first glance this years list makes you wonder why so many people feel you need to leave high school and play elsewhere.

[observer]

Of Minnesota's 15 players drafted,

10 from High School
3 from USHL
1 NTDP
1 Shattuck

[greybeard58]

What I also was surprised was the 28 players from Sweden. Here is the list which I was able to download from the NHL site. The states were added by me either by clicking on the bio link or the last team roster. Listed by state alphabetical order. The 2 players from Michigan were from the USA Under 18 team.

Overall Team Player Pos Country Ht Wt Amateur League STATE Amateur Team
8 PHI SEAN COUTURIER C US 6' 3" 197 QMJHL Ariz DRUMMONDVILLE
196 PHX ZAC LARRAZA LW US 6' 2" 194 USHL Ariz USA U-18
33 FLA ROCCO GRIMALDI C US 5' 6" 160 USHL Calif USA U-18
47 SJS MATTHEW NIETO LW US 5' 11" 177 H-EAST Calif BOSTON UNIVERSITY
134 NYR SHANE MCCOLGAN RW US 5' 8" 165 WHL Calif KELOWNA
170 NSH CHASEN BALISY C US 5' 11" 170 CCHA Calif WESTERN MICH.
207 WSH GARRETT HAAR D US 5' 11" 190 USHL Calif FARGO
82 LAK NICHOLAS SHORE C US 6' 0" 184 WCHA Colo. U OF DENVER
97 MTL JOSIAH DIDIER D US 6' 2" 199 USHL Colo. CEDAR RAPIDS
70 CHI MICHAEL PALIOTTA D US 6' 3" 198 USHL Conn. USA U-18
73 CAR KEEGAN LOWE D US 6' 1" 173 WHL Conn. EDMONTON
161 MIN STEPHEN MICHALEK G US 6' 2" 196 HIGH-CT Conn. LOOMIS-CHAFFEE
198 MTL COLIN SULLIVAN D US 6' 1" 196 HIGH-CT Conn. AVON OLD FARMS
145 DET PHILIPPE HUDON C/RW US 6' 0" 197 HIGH-CT Conn. CHOATE-ROSEMARY
116 PHI COLIN SUELLENTROP D US 6' 1" 190 OHL Fla. OSHAWA
121 BOS BRIAN FERLIN RW US 6' 2" 201 USHL Fla. INDIANA
51 PHX ALEXANDER RUUTTU C US 6' 0" 171 FINLAND-JR. Ill. JOKERIT JR.
66 CBJ THOMAS TYNAN C US 5' 8" 165 CCHA Ill. NOTRE DAME
95 NYI ROBBIE RUSSO D US 5' 11" 186 USHL Ill. USA U-18
110 LAK MICHAEL MERSCH LW US 6' 2" 198 WCHA Ill. U. OF WISCONSIN
190 TOR GARRET SPARKS G US 6' 2" 200 OHL Ill. GUELPH
199 CHI ALEXANDER BROADHURST C US 5' 10" 150 USHL Ill. GREEN BAY
204 OTT RYAN DZINGEL C US 6' 0" 185 USHL Ill. LINCOLN
112 NSH GARRETT NOONAN D US 6' 0" 205 H-EAST Mass. BOSTON UNIVERSITY
151 BOS ROB O'GARA D US 6' 3" 185 HIGH-MA Mass. MILTON ACADEMY
194 SJS COLIN BLACKWELL C US 5' 9" 164 HIGH-MA Mass. ST. JOHN'S PREP
129 NJD BLAKE PIETILA LW US 5' 11" 189 USHL Mich USA U-18
99 NJD REID BOUCHER C US 5' 10" 192 USHL Mich USA U-18
60 MIN MARIO LUCIA LW US 6' 2" 187 HIGH-MN Minn. WAYZATA
72 NYR STEVEN FOGARTY C US 6' 2" 194 HIGH-MN Minn. EDINA HIGH
83 ANA ANDY WELINSKI D US 6' 1" 188 USHL Minn. GREEN BAY
91 FLA KYLE RAU C US 5' 8" 168 HIGH-MN Minn. EDEN PRAIRIE
98 CBJ MIKE REILLY D US 5' 11" 156 HIGH-MN Minn. SHAT.ST.MARY'S
101 VAN JOSEPH LABATE C US 6' 4" 190 HIGH-MN Minn. HOLY ANGELS
128 CBJ SETH AMBROZ RW US 6' 2" 209 USHL Minn. OMAHA
130 TOR TONY CAMERANESI C US 5' 9" 162 HIGH-MN Minn. WAYZATA
131 MIN NICK SEELER D US 6' 0" 170 HIGH-MN Minn. EDEN PRAIRIE
154 FLA EDWARD WITTCHOW D US 6' 3" 189 HIGH-MN Minn. BURNSVILLE
177 WSH TRAVIS BOYD C US 5' 11" 185 USHL Minn. USA U-18
178 TBL ADAM WILCOX G US 6' 0" 171 USHL Minn. GREEN BAY
189 NJD PATRICK DALY D US 6' 0" 178 HIGH-MN Minn. BENILDE-ST.MARGARET'S
203 TOR MAX EVERSON D US 6' 1" 184 HIGH-MN Minn. EDINA HIGH
174 PIT JOSH ARCHIBALD W US 5' 10" 161 HIGH-MN Minn. BRAINERD-HIGH
34 NYI SCOTT MAYFIELD D US 6' 4" 203 USHL Mo. YOUNGSTOWN
67 WPG ADAM LOWRY LW US 6' 4" 187 WHL Mo. SWIFT CURRENT
140 LAK JOEL LOWRY LW US 6' 1" 180 BCHL Mo. VICTORIA
187 WPG AARON HARSTAD D US 6' 2" 199 USHL N.D GREEN BAY
104 CGY JOHN GAUDREAU LW US 5' 6" 137 USHL N.J. DUBUQUE
61 OTT SHANE PRINCE C US 5' 10" 181 OHL N.Y OTTAWA
36 CHI ADAM CLENDENING D US 5' 11" 187 H-EAST N.Y. BOSTON UNIVERSITY
133 SJS SEAN KURALY C US 6' 2" 190 USHL N.Y. INDIANA
135 DAL TROY VANCE D US 6' 6" 200 QMJHL N.Y. VICTORIAVILLE
137 BUF ALEX LEPKOWSKI D US 6' 4" 210 OHL N.Y. BARRIE
183 COL DILLON DONNELLY D US 6' 2" 193 QMJHL N.Y. SHAWINIGAN
15 NYR JONATHAN MILLER C US 6' 1" 189 USHL Ohio USA U-18
20 PHX CONNOR MURPHY D US 6' 3" 190 USHL Ohio USA U-18
22 TOR TYLER BIGGS RW US 6' 2" 205 USHL Ohio USA U-18
163 CAR MATT MAHALAK G US 6' 2" 182 OHL Ohio PLYMOUTH
39 ANA JOHN GIBSON G US 6' 3" 206 USHL Penn. USA U-18
43 CHI BRANDON SAAD LW US 6' 1" 203 OHL Penn. SAGINAW
64 FLA VINCENT TROCHECK C US 5' 10" 178 OHL Penn. SAGINAW
21 OTT STEFAN NOESEN RW US 6' 0" 187 OHL Texas PLYMOUTH
75 NJD BLAKE COLEMAN C US 5' 10" 198 USHL Texas INDIANA
107 BUF COLIN JACOBS C US 6' 1" 205 WHL Texas SEATTLE
171 OTT MAX MCCORMICK LW US 5' 11" 174 USHL Wis. SIOUX CITY
197 BUF BRAD NAVIN C US 6' 2" 183 HIGH-WI Wis. WAUPACA

[greybeard58]

Here are some earlier years draft result. I do apologize that these are listed this way but I have not figured out how to place these side by side without the numbers and names with the spaces.

STATE 2010 %
MINN. 17 29.82%
MICH 10 17.54%
MASS 7 12.28%
N.Y. 4 7.02%
N.H. 1 1.75%
CAL. 3 5.26%
ARIZ 1 1.75%
N.J. 1 1.75%
ILL. 2 3.51%
MD 1 1.75%
MO 1 1.75%
OHIO 1 1.75%
PA. 2 3.51%
CT 2 3.51%
VA 1 1.75%
NEV 1 1.75%
UT 1 1.75%
FL 1 1.75%
TOTAL 57 100%

STATE 2009 %
MINN. 15 26.79%
MICH 2 3.57%
MASS 6 10.71%
N.Y. 9 16.07%
N.H. 1 1.79%
CAL. 3 5.36%
ALASKA 1 1.79%
CO. 1 1.79%
N.J. 1 1.79%
ILL. 2 3.57%
MO 1 1.79%
ME 1 1.79%
WIS. 2 3.57%
PA. 2 3.57%
CT 3 5.36%
RI. 1 1.79%
SD 0.00%
ALA 1 1.79%
UT 1 1.79%
FL 1 1.79%
TEX 2 3.57%
TOTAL 56 100%

STATE 2008 %
MINN. 11 26.83%
MICH 5 12.20%
MASS 4 9.76%
N.H. 1 2.44%
CAL. 3 7.32%
ALASKA 1 2.44%
GA. 1 2.44%
CO. 1 2.44%
ILL. 2 4.88%
WIS. 2 4.88%
PA. 2 4.88%
CT 2 4.88%
NC 1 2.44%
VA 1 2.44%
ND 1 2.44%
OK 1 2.44%
TEX 2 4.88%
TOTAL 41 100%

STATE 2007 %
MINN. 15 25.00%
MICH 15 25.00%
MASS 3 5.00%
N.Y. 5 8.33%
CAL. 4 6.67%
N.J. 2 3.33%
ILL. 2 3.33%
WIS. 2 3.33%
OHIO 3 5.00%
PA. 3 5.00%
CT 6 10.00%
TOTAL 60 100%

STATE 2006 %
MINN. 15 24.59%
MICH 8 13.11%
MASS 9 14.75%
N.Y. 10 16.39%
CAL. 3 4.92%
GA. 1 1.64%
CO. 2 3.28%
N.J. 1 1.64%
ILL. 3 4.92%
ME 1 1.64%
WIS. 2 3.28%
PA. 1 1.64%
UT 2 3.28%
FL 1 1.64%
WASH 1 1.64%
TEX 1 1.64%
TOTAL 61 100%

STATE 2005 %
MINN. 17 28.33%
MICH 6 10.00%
MASS 6 10.00%
N.Y. 6 10.00%
N.H. 2 3.33%
CAL. 2 3.33%
CO. 2 3.33%
N.J. 3 5.00%
IND. 1 1.67%
ILL. 1 1.67%
MD 1 1.67%
MO 2 3.33%
ME 1 1.67%
WIS. 3 5.00%
OHIO 2 3.33%
CT 1 1.67%
NC 1 1.67%
VA 1 1.67%
WASH 1 1.67%
TEX 1 1.67%
TOTAL 60 100%

[BBB]

At first glance this years list makes you wonder why so many people feel you need to leave high school and play elsewhere.

Considering 60 of the 61 players taken in the first two rounds either played juniors or in a European Elite league I would say you have a glass half full mentality. Lucia was the only one who didn’t leave early and he was a good homer pick for the wild. I am not saying that in a bad way either but he may not have been taken if the Wild had the 33rd pick vs the 60th and wasn’t a Minnesotan. I think teams take a local player over another guy if they are somewhat equal. It’s why the kid from Scottsdale went to PHX and you see someone like the kid from Long Beach who went in the first round to the ducks last year.
The ENTIRE state of hockey had two kids sneak into the top 75 but so did Plano, TX and Anaheim, CA. Some amateur club from Pittsburgh that the announcer s kept talking about had 3 I believe. Of those 4 areas the MN’s were drafted the lowest. I think Ohio and Missouri had some high picks as well. I thought the draft as far as high end talent was a black eye for Minnesota hockey. It’s a high risk to draft 18 yr olds high who play a few tough games a year against 15-16-17 yr olds. Look at Patrick White, Fischer, Thelen just over the most recent drafts and you will see MN is more likely to produce a first round flop than a late round Cinderella story.
Can anyone name a Minnesota HS player to be drafted in the bottom half of the draft (after the top 3 or 4 rounds) to ever really make it? I don’t think it’s happened in recent history but maybe a while ago? Sure with our numbers we will probably always produce a lot of draft picks relative to other states. We stacked up the draft picks from 130th and on this year but the likelihood of any of these kids making it is slim to none, closer to none.

[karl(east)]

At first glance this years list makes you wonder why so many people feel you need to leave high school and play elsewhere.

Considering 60 of the 61 players taken in the first two rounds either played juniors or in a European Elite league I would say you have a glass half full mentality. Lucia was the only one who didn’t leave early and he was a good homer pick for the wild. I am not saying that in a bad way either but he may not have been taken if the Wild had the 33rd pick vs the 60th and wasn’t a Minnesotan. I think teams take a local player over another guy if they are somewhat equal. It’s why the kid from Scottsdale went to PHX and you see someone like the kid from Long Beach who went in the first round to the ducks last year.
The ENTIRE state of hockey had two kids sneak into the top 75 but so did Plano, TX and Anaheim, CA. Some amateur club from Pittsburgh that the announcer s kept talking about had 3 I believe. Of those 4 areas the MN’s were drafted the lowest. I think Ohio and Missouri had some high picks as well. I thought the draft as far as high end talent was a black eye for Minnesota hockey. It’s a high risk to draft 18 yr olds high who play a few tough games a year against 15-16-17 yr olds. Look at Patrick White, Fischer, Thelen just over the most recent drafts and you will see MN is more likely to produce a first round flop than a late round Cinderella story.
Can anyone name a Minnesota HS player to be drafted in the bottom half of the draft (after the top 3 or 4 rounds) to ever really make it? I don’t think it’s happened in recent history but maybe a while ago? Sure with our numbers we will probably always produce a lot of draft picks relative to other states. We stacked up the draft picks from 130th and on this year but the likelihood of any of these kids making it is slim to none, closer to none.

While I don't mean to discount a lot of your critiques here--I think your argument needs to be made--but I will point out that the lack of first-rounders this year is more the exception than the norm. This has always been a pretty thin class of Minnesotans when it comes to top-end talent.

It also doesn't surprise me that you think there have been more busts than cinderellas. What percentage of players who get drafted make the NHL? I'm guessing here, but I assume there are far more early-round picks who never make the NHL than there are late-round picks who do. Are our expectations for MN players realistic?

So much of this argument is anecdotal. As far as I'm concerned, we need someone to go through the past, say, ten years of all draftees and compare their success to draftees frrom other states and regions before we start saying the MN system has structural flaws. But I do think that study needs to be done.

[keepyourheadup]

You make several good points BBB, I was only thinking in terms of getting drafted...often the arguement is you won't be noticed or be seriously considered if you don't push yourself to play against tougher competition. For the truly exceptional player..ie..Eric Johnson or Peter Mueller I get it, for most of the rest I'm not sure it matters when it comes to getting drafted. The success of drafted players is obviously a much different story.

[GreekChurch]

A while ago, but Bret Hedican 198th overall pick.

[oldtendy35]

Andrew Alberts drafted 179

[BBB]

Good example with Hedican.
Alberts was passed on out of high school but drafted after two years of juniors. Either way I guess he stayed in high school and it worked out for him but it probably wouldn't have been a possibility without proving himself in the USHL.

[greybeard58]

Go to the NHL web site and click on the history tab, there is a history of drafts going back to the 60's. Also they have a list of late round successes and also a list of ones that had success that were not even drafted.

[Tigers33]

BBB -

I am not trying to say Lucia is a stud or will turn out to be amazing. The NHL draft is like the baseball draft, it is a crap shoot to see who turns out to be good. However, I would say Lucia was not a homer pick. The only reason I say that is because they traded their 3rd and 4th round pick to move up to take him. Correct? Or am I wrong there...

[mulefarm]

BBB -

I am not trying to say Lucia is a stud or will turn out to be amazing. The NHL draft is like the baseball draft, it is a crap shoot to see who turns out to be good. However, I would say Lucia was not a homer pick. The only reason I say that is because they traded their 3rd and 4th round pick to move up to take him. Correct? Or am I wrong there...

I don't think they would have traded for him if he was not a Mn kid. Probably would have been there in the 3rd round.

[BBB]

There are 30 teams in the NHL and with the 30th pick in the 2nd round MN makes a move up? 29 teams pass on him with their 2nd rd pick but MN who had the luxury of 2 1st round picks takes a chance on him. Good move a risk they could take. I am not saying he is not deserving of it at all but had he been the same player from the QMJHL and no ties to MN I doubt that trade would have happened. I think it's a good move on the Wilds part to take a high profile MN kid. I doubt Vancouver would have used a high pick on a MN high school kid after Patrick white and Jordan Schroeder just doing ok in the AHL. The wild must have not thought Lucia would last til the 71 pick so they did what they had to do. Oh well we lost the 101 pick too...the Houston Aeros will live another day. I hope he doesn't choose the U of M and Fletcher sends him to the AHL due to his development not progressing.

[MNHockeyFan]

I hope he doesn't choose the U of M and Fletcher sends him to the AHL due to his development not progressing.

As a season ticket holder I hope he DOES choose the U of M so I can see him develop, starting in 2012-13! And, speaking of the U of M, watch for an important announcement tomorrow.

[MNHockeyFan]

There are 30 teams in the NHL and with the 30th pick in the 2nd round MN makes a move up? 29 teams pass on him with their 2nd rd pick but MN who had the luxury of 2 1st round picks takes a chance on him. Good move a risk they could take. I am not saying he is not deserving of it at all but had he been the same player from the QMJHL and no ties to MN I doubt that trade would have happened.

Some commentary on this very subject:

Minnesotans Only Want Candy, Kisses, and More Minnesotans... Right?

http://www.hockeywilderness.com/2011/6/ ... tans-right

[mulefarm]

I hope he doesn't choose the U of M and Fletcher sends him to the AHL due to his development not progressing.

As a season ticket holder I hope he DOES choose the U of M so I can see him develop, starting in 2012-13! And, speaking of the U of M, watch for an important announcement tomorrow.

You mean Guentzel coming back as an assist or maybe Blais as head coach? This will be Guentzel's 4th job in 4 years, red flag? The Wild would probably like Mario to play major junior to speed up his development.

[ACTUALFORMERPLAYER]

There are 30 teams in the NHL and with the 30th pick in the 2nd round MN makes a move up? 29 teams pass on him with their 2nd rd pick but MN who had the luxury of 2 1st round picks takes a chance on him. Good move a risk they could take. I am not saying he is not deserving of it at all but had he been the same player from the QMJHL and no ties to MN I doubt that trade would have happened.

Some commentary on this very subject:

Minnesotans Only Want Candy, Kisses, and More Minnesotans... Right?

http://www.hockeywilderness.com/2011/6/ ... tans-right

SBNATION is easily one of the worst places to get any information. The vast majority of their bloggers are 16 year old kids. Anyone who would associate their own blog on there has zero credibility to provide anything but their own biased opinions. The word commentary referring to this opinion is a stretch to say the least.

[Gopher Blog]

I don't think they would have traded for him if he was not a Mn kid. Probably would have been there in the 3rd round.

If the kid had been ranked much lower as a prospect, I could see that argument. But a lot of rankings had him going in the early to mid 2nd round. For instance, Bob McKenzie's rankings (which are generally well respected and he relies upon scouting opinions) had Mario going in the mid 40s. Wild get him at 60. I guess I see it as a move that the Wild liked a guy and knew they had to move up to get him because he was gonna be gone soon.

Take away the last name and have the Wild make the same move and some people would just say the Wild got good value compared to where the player had been ranked by scouts.

[BBB]

i bet that when the other 29 GMs (who manage teams that do not play in St. Paul) heard Lucia's name called at 60, they thought to themselves, "damn! why didn't we think of that."
Looking at McKenzies rankings, I see he had a kid who tore up the OHL a few spots ahead of Lucia and CSB had the same player 8 spots ahead of Lucia. He went 61st after the Wild took Lucia at 60. Do you think Fletcher and the gang thought about taking a higher ranked, more experienced, kid from Ontario and/or even trading up to do so?

[DubCHAGuy]

I thought the draft as far as high end talent was a black eye for Minnesota hockey. It’s a high risk to draft 18 yr olds high who play a few tough games a year against 15-16-17 yr olds. Look at Patrick White, Fischer, Thelen just over the most recent drafts and you will see MN is more likely to produce a first round flop than a late round Cinderella story.

I think you could probably say the same thing about players from anywhere else. With Thelen for example, the 2 players picked right in front of him (one Finish Elite player and one from the OHL) have played a combined 85 NHL games with 0 goals. Trying to predict which 18 year olds will be good professionals is a crap shoot regardless of where they play as 17 year olds.

Also, You can add Jason Blake and Joel Otto to the list of late bloomers, as both were undrafted. And Dustin Byfuglien who played AAA was taken in the 8th round back when they had that many rounds.

IMO Lucia has a pretty good chance of being a quality NHLer, he has a ton of skill and will probably put in some weight over a couple of years of juniors and college.

[BBB]

Byfuglien=Major Jr Player and would go against the argument of why a player would leave early. Regardless of why he chose a different route it has really worked out well for him, but I would hardly classify him as MN hs player who was drafted late and made the nhl.
Blake, another late bloomer who took a few years of the USHL to develop.
Add Otto to the Hedican list.