Minnesota Hockey & the NHL

Minnesotan's taken in the NHL Entry Draft top 50 (1969-2011)With NHL draft position and year drafted

28. Matt Niskanen (2005)

29. Chris Gotziaman (1990)

29. Jim O'Brien (2007)

30. Jeff Taffe (2000)

30. Brock Nelson (2010)

31. Russ Anderson (1975)

31. Tyler Pitlick (2010)

32. Carl Sneep (2006)

33. Tom Hirsch (1981)

33. Todd Richards (1985)

33. Craig Johnson (1990)

33. Philip McRae (2008)

34. Ryan Stoa (2005)

35. Tom Gorence (1977)

35. Mike Muller (1990)

35. Jamie Langenbrunner (1993)

35. Matt Cullen (1996)

37. Justin Faulk (2010)

38. Rusty Fitzgerald (1991)

38. Peter Roed (1995)

38. Jeff Frazee (2005)

39. Don Jackson (1976)

40. Dave Christian (1979)

40. Scott Sandelin (1982)

40. Michael Sauer (2005)

40. Aaron Ness (2008)

41. Matt Smaby (2003)

41. Zack Budish (2009)

42. Neal Broten (1979)

44. Jordan Leopold (1999)

48. Gary Sargent (1974)

49. Rob McClanahan (1978)

50. Nico Sacchetti (2007)

Player

Doc Romnes

Cully Dahlstrom

Virgil Johnson

Mike Karakas

Frank Brimsek

Bill Nyrop

Mike Polich

Bill Nyrop

Dave Langevin

Don Jackson

David Maley

Joel Otto

Sean Hill

Neal Broten

Tom Chorske

Chris McAlpine

Mike Peluso

Jamie Langenbrunner

Mike Peluso

Dan Hinote

Shjon Podein

Jamie Langenbrunner

Ben Clymer

Matt Cullen

Bret Hedican

Ryan Carter

Joe Motzko

Alex Goligoski

Dustin Byfuglien

Minnesota and the NHL All-Star Game

On January 25, 1972 the Minnesota North Stars played host to

the NHL's finest at the formidable Met Center in Bloomington

for the leagues 25th Anniversary of the NHL's All-Star game.

The North Stars were the second of the new expansion teams

awarded an All-Star game, and that match turned out to be

one of the most compelling in NHL history. In 1972 the format

pitted the Eastern All-Stars, coached by Al MacNeil, against

the Western All-Stars, coached by Billy Reay. In all, Reay's

Chicago Blckhawks placed nine players on the All-Star squad,

and they were accompanied by a quartet of North Stars, Bill Goldsworthy, Ted Harris, Doug Mohns and Gump Worsley. Unquestionably, the power rested with the Eastern team, which included Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito and Ken Dryden. Orr was subsequently selected as the games MVP which was won by the East 3-2. Fast forward 32 years to 2004, the State-of-Hockey, and the capital of Minnesota in St. Paul with the Minnesota Wild were once again the host at the X-Cel Energy Center. The city of St. Paul, in honour of the All Star Game being held, erected an Ice Castle adjacent to the X-Cel, for the first time in over 20 years, as the annual Saint Paul Winter Carnival was in full swing during the All-Star festivities. The Eastern Conference cruised to a 6-4 victory with goals by Adrian Aucoin, Daniel Alfredsson (2), Mark Messier, Gary Roberts and Ilya Kovalchuk. However, Joe Sakic of the Western Conference walked away with MVP honors as he scored a hat trick. Coyotes forward Shane Doan also scored for the West.

NHL Team

Chicago Blackhawks

Boston Bruins

Montreal Canadiens

New York Islanders

Edmonton Oilers

Montreal Canadiens

Calgary Flames

Montreal Canadiens

New Jersey Devils

Dallas Stars

Colorado Avalanche

New Jersey Devils

Tampa Bay Lightning

Carolina Hurricanes

Anaheim Ducks

Pittsburgh Penguins

Chicago Blackhawks

Year

1934

1938

1939

1941

1976

1977

1978

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1989

1993

1995

1999

2001

2003

2004

2006

2007

2009

2010

Hometown

White Bear Lake

Minneapolis

Eveleth

Edina

Rochester

Edina

St. Paul

Bloomington

Edina

Elk River

Duluth

Roseau

Minneapolis

Roseville

Coleraine

Cloquet

Coleraine

Elk River

Rochester

Cloquet

Bloomington

Virginia

North St. Paul

White Bear Lake

Bemidji

Grand Rapids

Roseau

Minnesotan's with their name inscribed on Lord Stanley's Cup

1995 New Jersey Devils Stanley Cup Inscription

Erik Johnson selected #1 overall in 2006 NHL Entry Draft- Source AP Photo via SI.com

2009 Pittsburgh Penguins Stanley Cup Inscription

Duluth native- Derek Forbert 2010 Draft

Eden Prairie native- Nick Leddy 2009 Draft

1. Erik Johnson (2006)

5. Blake Wheeler (2004)

6. Phil Housley (1982)

7. Doug Zmolek (1989)

7. Erik Rasmussen (1996)

7. Kyle Okposo (2006)

8. Peter Mueller (2006)

9. Brian Lee (2005)

11. Mike Ramsey (1979)

11. Keith Ballard (2002)

12. A.J. Thelen (2004)

12. Ryan McDonagh (2007)

15. Derek Forbert (2010)

16. Henry Boucha (1971)

16. Tom Chorske (1985)

16. George Pelawa (1986)

16. Dave Tanabe (1999)

16. Nick Leddy (2009)

17. Zach Parise (2003)

17. Jake Gardiner (2008)

19. Nick Bjugstad (2010)

20. David Fischer (2006)

21. Mark Stuart (2003)

22. Reed Larson (1976)

22. Jordan Schroeder (2009)

22. Jarred Tinordi (2010)

24. Steve Christoff (1978)

24. T.J. Oshie (2005)

25. Patrick White (2007)

26. Mike Anderson (1982)

27. Ben Clymer (1997)

27. Joe Finley (2005)

28. Brad Defauw (1997)

St. Paul Minnesota and the NHL Draft 2011

For the second time Minnesota played host to the NHL Draft when it visited

St. Paul, MN on June 24, and 25th, 2011. The first draft in the State of

Hockey took place at the formidable Met Center in Bloomington, MN back

in 1989. Mats Sundin was the first overall selection that year by the now

defunct Quebec Nordiques. The home-town Minnesota North Stars first

pick additionally came in the first round, 7th overall, with Minnesota

selecting Rochester, Minnesota native Doug Zmolek whom played for

the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Fast forward to 2011, the

Minnesota Wild have the 10th overall pick.

Click here for images from the 2011 NHL Entry Draft

Click here for the top 50 Minnesotan's Selected in

the NHL Entry Draft