Ozzy Wiesblatt is one of 16 Raiders selected in the NHL draft over the last 11 years. (Submitted photo/Prince Albert Raiders)

By Rob Mahon

Raiders Draft Streak

Raiders ride 11-year streak into NHL entry draft

Jul 7, 2022 | 12:00 PM

After a year without any of their players picked in 2010, the Prince Albert Raiders saw two of their young stars selected in the 2011 NHL entry draft. That started a streak for the team that carries on to this day, as they’ve had at least one player selected every year since.

From first-rounders like Kaiden Guhle in 2020 to later selections like Matteo Genaro in the seventh round in 2015, 16 Raiders have heard their names called over the last 11 drafts. The hope is that streak will continue over the next two days with this year’s NHL draft in Montreal.

“Any time our kids are drafted, we’re certainly excited and happy for them, as well as kids that may have been in our program that we selected in the draft,” said Raiders General Manager Curtis Hunt. “I think it’s a testament to really an entire organizational approach.”

In the last two years, the Raiders have produced three first-round picks in Nolan Allan (32^nd overall in 2021 to Chicago), Ozzy Wiesblatt (31^st overall in 2020 to San Jose), and Guhle (16^th overall in 2020 to Montreal). The year before, at the 2019 NHL draft, two Raiders, Brett Leason and Alexei Protas, heard their names called by the Washington Capitals in the second and third round respectively.

Of course, it’s not all about the draft as once players are selected, they have to put the work in, and many players who weren’t drafted at that time have found a route to the professional ranks through the Raiders. Forward Parker Kelly, who played 273 games for the Raiders, signed with the Ottawa Senators and played 41 games for them this season. Defensemen Brayden Pachal and Zach Hayes both signed with the Vegas Golden Knights and played their first NHL games this past season.

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“When you look at the free-agent signings, I think it’s all reflective of the entire organization,” Hunt said. “I think the coaches do a great job developing players, bringing them along slowly and putting them in situations where they can have success, which reflects in team success.”

As for what this year’s draft will bring, it’s likely that if the Raiders streak continues it will do so tomorrow on the second day of the draft. Some of the older players on the team passed over in their first year of eligibility and may have played their way onto the draft radar.

“In recent years we’ve seen Landon Kosior attend pro camps as a free agent,” said Hunt. “There’s a guy, a little bit older, but we saw last year with Seattle taking an older player in the second round out of Regina in (defenseman Ryker) Evans. We see maybe a similar opportunity for Landon.”

Strangely enough, the Seattle Kraken hold four picks in the second round of this year’s draft, the same round in which they took Evans last year. If they’re looking for another older defenseman, Kosior would be a good place to start as he posted 18 goals in 68 games, tied for second among all defensemen.

“There’s another product of Prairie Storm system here in the province and through AAA which we think is one of the better development leagues in Canada,” said Hunt. “We brought him in before we’d signed him just to see what he was all about. It’s funny you mention Brayden Pachal because he was the guy who said to me, ‘Geez, you’ve got to get this player on our team.’ The players know good players.”

Another older Raider who might get a look is goaltender Tikhon Chaika. He set a team record for most consecutive appearances and posted three shutouts in the second half of the season. In a draft class that many pundits say is low on goaltending options, Chaika may stand out even more.

“I think he’s grown an inch and a half since getting to North America,” said Hunt. “He has a brother (Kirill) playing pro in the (ECHL) that’s 6-foot-4, I think that’s raised some eyebrows and brought some attention to him as well.”

Hunt added it’s a nice change from the last two years that the draft will be held in person this year, allowing players to walk up to the stage and celebrate in a more traditional fashion.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP