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

--

If you enjoyed this blog, you can follow Nate on Twitter and like/subscribe to his Facebook page. Thanks!

Podcast: That Gopher Hockey Puckcast Episode 30

On episode 30 of That Gopher Hockey Puckcast, we reach a milestone: recording an episode without Tom.

With Tom Schreier away, Declan Goff takes over the producing the rest of the squad for a July offseason update. Nate Wells and Drew Cove - back from a giant Midwest road trip - catch up over mics. Topics include NHL Draft highlights, Gophers at NHL Development camps (one of which Drew covered), Minnesota getting a pair of Mittelstadts, what it's like being pampered in first class, "Jersey Shore," Da Beauty League and much, much more. Plus: We answer your mailbag questions and solve college hockey's OT problem.

As a reminder, this offseason episode is on our new podcast feed. You'll have to (re-re) subscribe to get updates as the old feed(s) will no longer update with college hockey content. Here it is on iTunes.

Those discovering Kirby Puckett only played in two postseasons can directly download here.


Since the feed is new, it'd help us out to leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts.

Plugs and stuff

-Drew can be found on Twitter @covedrew and is the sports editor for the Minnesota Daily. His byline was recently featured in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

-Nate can be found here on this website and at The Athletic (as well as every other website if the various links here don't make clear). You can follow him on Twitter @gopherstate and like/subscribe to his Facebook page.

-Declan covers hockey for Minnesota Hockey Magazine and other outlets in addition to producing. He can be followed on Twitter @dexstweets.

-Tom can be found on Twitter @tschreier3. He is the Founder and President of Zone Coverage.