NAHL players ready for 2016 NHL Draft

June 24, 2016

The 2016 NHL Draft takes place this weekend on June 24-25 at the First Niagara Center in Buffalo, New York, and will be hosted by the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres. The 1st round of the draft will take place on Friday, June 24 (7pm eastern, NBC Sports Network). Rounds 2-7 will be conducted on Saturday, June 25 (10am eastern, NHL Network).

 

Back in early April, the NHL Central Scouting final rankings were released for the 2016 NHL Draft and several NAHL players, both past and present, were on the list as players who could potentially be drafted in this weekend’s draft. 11 players (8 current, 3 alumni) were recognized on the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Central Scouting’s 2016 Final Rankings. In addition, several players that weren't on the list have also been generated some draft buzz.

 

The list included eight players that played in the NAHL during the 2015-16 season and three former players that played in other leagues, but played in the NAHL during last season (2014-15).

 

NHL club executives, scouts and coaches will be present on the NHL Draft floor while more than 15,000 fans and 500 print, television and radio media are expected to attend.

 

A total of seven players with NAHL ties were selected in last year’s 2015 NHL Entry Draft.

 

Todd Burgess, F, Fairbanks Ice Dogs

Erich Fear, D, Springfield Jr. Blues 

Mikael Hakkarainen, F, Brookings Blizzard 

Tyler Johnson, G, Topeka RoadRunners 

Jack LaFontaine, G, Janesville Jets 

Tommy Nappier, G, Springfield Jr. Blues 

Rourke Russell, D, Wichita Falls Wildcats 

Peter Thome, G, Aberdeen Wings

 

Konstantin Chernyuk, F, Wichita Falls Wildcats (2014-15) 

Matt Jurusik, G, Janesville Jets (2014-15) 

Kevin Klima, F, Springfield Jr. Blues (2014-15) 

 

Cam Clarke, D, Lone Star Brahmas

Zak Galambos, D, Johnstown Tomahawks

Joey Kubachka, F, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights

Brian Hurley, D, Minnesota Wilderness

 

The NAHL has a rich history of players being selected in the NHL Draft that have been drafted right after playing the NAHL the seasons leading up to the draft.  The highest draft pick from a non-USNTDP team came back in 1991 when Brian Rolston (Detroit Compuware) was drafted 11th overall in the 1st Round by the New Jersey Devils.  The highest draft pick from the USNTDP team during their time in the NAHL was Erik Johnson, who went 1st overall to the St. Louis Blues in 2006.