NHL Draft 2019: Ryan Johnson leads 7 Gopher Draft Picks

Minnesota incoming freshman defenseman Ryan Johnson had to wait until the final pick of Friday night's first round, but it was worth it to become the 21st Gopher to be an NHL Draft first round pick.

Buffalo selected the Irvine, California native with the 31st pick in the 2019 NHL Draft as Johnson was the first of (#) University of Minnesota players and commits selected this weekend. That is the most Gophers chosen in a single NHL Draft since a record nine players were in 2007.

The Sabres, using a pick by the St. Louis Blues, continue to go to the Minnesota well. Johnson marks the sixth Gopher - and second in three years following Casey Mittelstadt - to be selected in the first round by Buffalo in franchise history. Buffalo went back to the well three rounds later, selecting Roseau forward Aaron Huglen with the 102nd overall pick.

Fellow incoming freshman defenseman Jackson LaCombe did not need to wait long Saturday. LaCombe lasted eight picks before Anaheim selected the Eden Prairie, MN native with the 39th overall pick. It's the second consecutive year that a Gopher went to the Ducks after Anaheim chose forward Blake McLaughlin in 2018.

Johnson and LaCombe mark the first time multiple Gophers went in the top two rounds since 2010.

A pair of Chaska (MN-HS) and future Minnesota teammates were drafted 15 picks apart from one another in the fifth round. Forward Rhett Pitlick became the third member of his immediate family to be drafted after father Lance and brother Rem when the Montreal Canadiens chose Pitlick the younger with the 131st pick. Defenseman Mike Koster went to another Canadian team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, with the 146th pick. (A Gopher connection: Former assistant coach Scott Bell is now Toronto's amateur scout in Minnesota.)

Both players, as well as Huglen, won't be on campus until 2020. Pitlick will play for Omaha (USHL). Koster will play for the Tri-City Storm (USHL). Huglen will play for Fargo (USHL).

Sophomore defenseman Ben Brinkman, in his first year of eligibility, became the first Gopher drafted by Dallas in 12 years when the Stars selected the Edina native in the sixth round. Brinkman, college hockey's youngest player last season, came onto his own as the year went along and earned more responsibility under head coach Bob Motzko. He finished with 7 points (1G-6A) in 38 games.

Philadelphia used its final pick in the seventh round on 2019 Minnesota Mr. Hockey Bryce Brodzinski. The Blaine native is the third of his brothers to be drafted after both Jonny and Michael were selected seven picks apart in 2013.

Johnson, LaCombe, Brinkman and Brodzinski will join nine other Minnesota teammates this fall in being NHL draft picks.

Minnesota Gophers Draft Picks:

-Ryan Johnson, Buffalo Sabres (Round 1, Pick 31)
-Jackson LaCombe, Anaheim Ducks (Round 2, Pick 39)
-Aaron Huglen, Buffalo Sabres (Round 4, Pick 102)*
-Rhett Pitlick, Montreal Canadiens (Round 5, Pick 131)*
-Mike Koster, Toronto Maple Leafs (Round 5, Pick 146)*
-Ben Brinkman, Dallas Stars (Round 6, 173)
-Bryce Brodzinski, Philadelphia Flyers (Round 7, Pick 196)

*Not expected until 2020-21

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NHL Draft 2019: University of Minnesota Players To Watch & Draft Primer

It could come on Friday. It could come on Saturday. At the very least, the University of Minnesota will see at least one player selected for the 45th time in the past 46 NHL Drafts.

In fact, there will probably be more this weekend.

After 2018 saw a pair of incoming Minnesota freshmen selected on back-to-back third-round picks and little else, the 2019 NHL Draft should be a big one for the Gophers. 11 current and future Gophers are ranked by NHL Central Scouting, which acts as a hypothetical 32nd team. Many of those will not be on campus until 2020-21 or later.

Being ranked does not mean a player will be selected (and vice versa as players not on Central Scouting's list get selected every year). It's a guide, more than anything. No matter what happens in Vancouver, there are several positive takeaways entering Bob Motzko's second year as Gopher head coach that the team has been missing in recent years.

Gopher commit Robbie Stucker traded to Fargo

Minnesota commit Robbie Stucker was traded Monday from Chicago (USHL) to Fargo.

The Force acquired Stucker as part of a eight player deal that also saw two picks trade hands.

Stucker, who committed to the Gophers in December, has 19 points (4G-15A) in 34 games this season with the Steel. The defenseman is a 2017 7th round pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets and a St. Paul native.

In a roundabout way, Stucker heading to Fargo helps the Force replace an offensive defenseman hole opened when current Gopher Clayton Phillips was traded to Muskegon in October. Phillips spent two months in Muskegon before enrolling a semester early. The Force being able to trade a 2nd round USHL Phase 1 pick was helped by receiving an extra one in the Phillips trade.

Fargo is currently fifth place in a tight USHL Western Conference. Three points separate first and fifth place. Chicago, the defending champion, is tied for third in the USHL Eastern Conference with 40 points.

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Stucker isn't the only Gopher commit traded in the USHL this week as teams ramp for Tuesday's trade deadline. Rhett Pitlick's affiliate rights were also traded this weekend.

Pitlick the younger's USHL rights went from Central Illinois to Omaha. He currently is a sophomore at Chaska (HS-MN) where he leads the Hawks in goals with 17. Previous Gophers to have played for Omaha include current players Brannon McManus and Steve Johnson along with Minnesota alums Ben Marshall, Seth Ambroz and Erik Haula.

Rhett Pitlick commits to Minnesota

Minnesota picked up a verbal commitment this week from Chaska, MN native Rhett Pitlick.

The HS sophomore forward did not, as is the custom, announce his decision on Twitter and thank everyone who helped him along the way. The Gopher Hockey Blog did confirm with sources that Pitlick committed, however. (Assistant coach Scott Bell also did his usual "hooked them" tweet and Chaska Boys Hockey tweeted out congratulations for the 2001-born Pitlick.)

Congratulations to sophomore Rhett Pitlick on his commitment to the University of Minnesota. Well done Rhett! #notwitter pic.twitter.com/nCIm8IPIxl

— Chaska Boys Hockey (@CHSboyshockey) October 13, 2017

A Gopher hockey legacy, Pitlick's parents were both athletes at the University of Minnesota. His father Lance played for Minnesota from 1986-1990 while Rhett's mother Lisa was a gymnast. His cousin Tyler played at Minnesota State before going on to an NHL career.

Older brother Rem, who was 5'3" when he committed before growing, is currently a sophomore forward with the Gophers.

Playing varsity at Chaska as a freshman (along with fellow Minnesota commit Mike Koster), Pitlick the younger scored 12 goals and 10 assists in 23 games.

Rhett was drafted 102nd overall by the Bloomington Thunder (now Central Illinois Flying Aces) in May's USHL Phase 1 Draft. Central Illinois also drafted Gopher commits Jake Braccini and Jake Boltmann.

The earliest he would likely be on campus is 2020.

Recent Gopher hockey verbal commitments:
-Jake Braccini - Buffalo (men's)
-Chaz and Cruz Lucius (men's)
-Aaron Huglen - Roseau (men's)
-Audrey Wethington - Blake (women's)
-Tella Jungels - Edina (women's)