Raiders gearing up for potentially best NHL draft in 22 years

This year’s potential draft class from the Raiders is led by Daxon Rudolph, who is expected to be one of the top 10 picks in the upcoming draft. Also named in the latest NHL Central Scouting list are defencemen Benett Kelly and Matyas Man, forwards Alisher Sarkenov, Jonah Sivertson, and Riley Boychuk, and goaltender Michal Orsulak.

With so many players potentially hearing their name called on the draft floor, Hunt said he himself is excited for what could possibly be one of the biggest draft classes the Raiders have ever produced.

“I think the potential is there and certainly we believe in our kids. Nothing makes us happier than to see them realize that next step to be drafted by an NHL team and then, really give them a focus, and probably more important is that opportunity to go to a camp in the fall with the veteran players and just get a taste for how hard they work, how big, how strong, how fast, and the attention to detail because you just don’t know what you don’t know until you actually get there to see it.”

The 2004 NHL draft was the last time the Raiders had three or more players selected in the same year. There, Kyle Chipchurra was drafted 18th overall to Montreal followed by the likes of his Raider teammates Dane Byers (48th overall, New York Rangers), Evan Schafer (105th overall, Florida), and Aki Seitsonen (118th overall, Calgary).

The most Raiders drafted in a single NHL draft was back in 1986 when seven different Raiders were drafted that year. That year was highlighted by two first round picks: Pat Elyunik to the original version of the Winnipeg Jets at eighth overall, and Kim Issel at 21st overall to the Edmonton Oilers. Five other Raiders followed including:

Dean Kolstad (33rd overall, Minnesota North Stars)
Kevin Todd (129th overall, New Jersey)
Doug Hobson (130th overall, Pittsburgh)
Rich Pilon (143rd overall, New York Islanders)
Kenton Reid (194th overall, Buffalo)

With Rudolph expected to go somewhere in the top 10 of the draft, he’s poised to be one of the highest draft picks in Raiders history. Two Raiders have been drafted first overall in the team’s history, with Mike Modano to the Minnesota North Stars in 1988 and Chris Phillips to the Ottawa Senators in 1996.

Leon Draisaitl is next on that list when he was drafted 3rd overall by Edmonton in 2014, and it’s after that where Rudolph is likely to find his spot amongst those Raider greats.

Both Scott Harntell (Nashville; 2000) and Steve Kelly (Edmonton; 1995) were drafted 6th overall, the earlier mentioned Pat Elynuik 8th overall to Winnipeg in 1986, Dave Manson was taken 11th overall in 1985 to Chicago, and finally both Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg) and Denis Pederson (New Jersey) were both selected 13th overall Winnipeg in 2013 and 1993 respectively.

While there are lots of players potentially being drafted this year, there are players that could watch the draft go by as a missed opportunity. Hubert Clarke and Owen Corkish are both in their second year of draft eligibility, and backup goaltender Steele Bass is in his first year, and those three players have not appeared on any NHL Central Scouting List.

To that point, Hunt used last year’s Raiders captain Justice Christensen as a prime example of how opportunities can present themselves in different ways.

“It’s just a moment in time. Keep practicing, keep playing. Play, play, play, get those reps, those game reps, because that’s what guys come and watch you 68 times for. You’re always on the radar as long as you keep playing.”

Round 1 of the draft is scheduled for Friday beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Saskatchewan, and rounds two through seven will take place on Saturday starting at 9:00 a.m.

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nick.nielsen@pattisonmedia.com

by Nick Nielsen

Raiders gearing up for potentially best NHL draft in 22 years

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