The 2016 NHL Draft on June 24-25 will feature top selection Auston Matthews and a pair of impressive Finnish forwards in Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi, but there will be more than a few familiar last names popping up during the seven rounds in Buffalo, NY.
The top half of the first round could feature four players with familial connections to current or former NHLers in Matthew Tkachuk (son of Keith), Alex Nylander (son of Michael and brother of Leafs 2014 first-rounder William), Jakub Chychrun (son of Jeff) and Logan Brown (son of Jeff), which just makes hockey fans of my generation feel real old.
These four are just the tip of the iceberg, as many more second-and-third generation players will be among the 211 draft picks.
Here are some names you should keep eye out for:
Forwards
Ty Amonte – Son of former NHLer Tony Amonte (who scored 414 goals during a 15-year NHL career). A likely mid-round pick, Ty played two games for Youngstown of the USHL last season and is expected to play for his father’s alma mater of Boston University.
Kieffer Bellows – Son of Stanley Cup winner Brian Bellows. Kieffer is expected to go in the second half of the first round in Buffalo after playing in the US National Development Program last season and scoring five goals at the Under-18’s in Grand Forks, ND.
Jonathan Dahlen – Son of NHL journeyman Ulf Dahlen, who was selected seventh overall by the New York Rangers in 1985. Jonathan can play center and wing and could be selected at the end of the first round.
Hudson Elynuik – Son of Winnipeg Jets 1986 first rounder Pat Elynuik, Hudson is a versatile big forward who scored 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in 56 games with the WHL’s Spokane Chiefs last season.
Fredrik Forsberg – The younger brother of Predators forward Filip Forsberg, Fredrik was draft eligible in 2015 and will likely remain in Sweden to play with Leksands IF of the SHL.
Ben Hawerchuk – Son of Hall-of-Famer and Barrie Colts head coach Dale Hawerchuk. Ben is a bit undersized at 5’10” 157 lb and scored nine goals in 60 games during his sophomore OHL season.
Kevin Klima – Son of Petr (who started his NHL career with Detroit in 1985 and won a Stanley Cup with Edmonton in 1990). Kevin scored 50 points (23 goals, 27 assists) with the QMJHL’s Moncton Wildcats.
Graham McPhee – Son of former NHL forward and Washington Capitals GM George Mcphee. Graham is a product of the US National Development Program and pledged to Boston College University.
Garrett Pilon – Son of tough New York Islander blueliner Rich Pilon. Garrett is a 5’10” 174 lb forward who scored 47 points (15 goals, 32 assists) in his first season for the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL.
Rem Pitlick – Lance Pitlick was a product of the University of Minnesota and played the majority of his eight-year NHL career with the Ottawa Senators. Rem scored 46 goals for the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL last season and will be following his father’s footsteps as a member of the Golden Gophers.
Kristian Reichel – Son of former Olympic gold medal winner and NHLer Robert Reichel, Kristian scored six goals at the Under-18’s for the Czech Republic.
Ty Ronning – Son of former Canucks center Cliff Ronning, Ty scored 31 goals for the WHL’s Vancouver Giants and is a chip off the old block. He makes up for his small stature (5’9” 165 lb) with skating ability, high compete level and hockey IQ.
Defense
Casey Fitzgerald – Casey boasts the most impressive bloodlines of any prospect. The Boston College blueliner is the son of former NHLer and New Jersey Devils Assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald and a cousin to the Tkachuk’s (Keith and Matthew) and the brothers Hayes (Kevin and Jimmy). In his freshman year with the Eagles, Fitzgerald had four goals and 23 assists.
Lucas Johansen – Younger brother of Predators center Ryan Johansen, the 6’2”, 176 lb blueliner scored 10 goals and 39 assists for Kelowna last season and could sneak into the bottom of the first round if there is a run on defensemen.
Kenneth Johnson – Kenny is following the same path as older brother Jack Johnson, playing for Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep and heading to the University of Michigan.
Griffin Luce – Son of recently fired Panthers Director of Player Personnel Scott Luce and grandson of former NHLer Don Luce, Griffin played at the All-American Prospects game in Buffalo last September and for Team USA at the Under-18’s. A self described stay-at-home defenseman, Luce is headed to Michigan to play for head coach Red Berenson.
Luke McInnis – Son of former Islanders forward Marty McInnis. Luke played for Youngstown in the USHL and is headed to Boston College, where his father played from 1988 to 1991.
Riley Stillman – Son of former two-time Stanley Cup winner Cory Stillman. Riley is expected to be a mid-round pick after scoring six goals and 15 assists in his first full OHL season with the Oshawa Generals.
Goaltender
Maxim Tretiak – Grandson of legendary Hall of Fame goalie Vladslav Tretiak. Maxim went undrafted in 2015. He didn’t have a good showing during the Canada-Russia Super Series last November and did not play for Team Russia in the 2016 World Junior in Helsinki.
By Mike Augello @MikeInBuffalo …. Maple Leafs writer at HockeyBuzz.
