Notes from 2015 NHL Draft weekend

Saturday, 06.27.2015 / 3:47 PM / 2015 NHL Draft

By NHL Public Relations

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Notes from 2015 NHL Draft weekend
Notes from 2015 NHL Draft weekend, where 211 players from 14 countries were selected and teams were active bolstering their rosters.

SUNRISE, Fla. -- A total of 211 players from 14 countries were selected at the 2015 NHL Draft, which concluded today at BB&T Center.

Following is a breakdown of draft selections by birthplace:

Canada 79
United States 55
Sweden 19
Russia 17
Finland 13
Czech Republic 11
Slovakia 5
Switzerland 4
Latvia 3
Belarus 1
China 1
Germany 1
Netherlands 1
Ukraine 1
TOTAL 211

OF NOTE

D Andong Song, selected in the sixth round (172nd overall) by the New York Islanders, becomes the first Chinese-born player taken in the NHL Draft. Song, a native of Beijing, moved to North America at age nine, but captained the Chinese team at the 2015 U-18 World Jr. Championships (D-II). The Islanders selected Song from Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, where he captained the team in his senior season.

The Boston Bruins led the draft with 10 picks, followed by seven teams with nine picks each -- the Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Philadelphia Flyers, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs.

There were 73 defensemen selected (35%), the most among all positions. There were 51 centers taken (24%), 34 left wings (16%), 29 right wings (14%) and 24 goaltenders (11%).

The WHL led all leagues with 34 players selected in the draft, followed by the OHL and USHL* with 31 and the QMJHL with 30.

(* USHL total includes 11 Under-18 players selected from USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.)

FAMILY TIES

Following are players with NHL family ties who were selected today in Rounds 2-7 of the 2015 NHL Draft, in order of selection:

F Jansen Harkins (selected 47th overall by Winnipeg): His father, Todd, is general manager of the Prince George Cougars in the Western Hockey League and was drafted 42nd overall by the Calgary Flames in 1988. Todd played 48 games in the NHL with the Flames and Hartford Whalers and also appeared in the movie “Miracle” and reality television show “Making the Cut.” His uncle, Brett, also played in the NHL with the Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets.

D Rasmus Andersson (selected 53rd overall by Calgary): His father, Peter, was drafted 73rd overall by the New York Rangers in 1983 and played 47 career NHL games with the Rangers and Florida Panthers.

F Julius Nattinen (selected 59th overall by Anaheim): His brother, Joonas, was drafted 65th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in 2009 and skated for MODO in the Swedish Hockey League in 2014-15.

D Kyle Capobianco (selected 63rd overall by Arizona): His uncle, Randy Exelby, was a professional goaltender who appeared in two NHL games, one with the Montreal Canadiens in 1988-89 and one with the Edmonton Oilers in 1989-90.

D Andrew Nielsen (selected 65th overall by Toronto): His uncle, Mike Moller, was drafted 41st overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 1980 and played 134 career NHL games with the Sabres and Edmonton Oilers.

D Thomas Schemitsch (selected 88th overall by Florida): His brother, Geoffrey, was drafted 96th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010 and played for Acadia University in 2014-15.

D Dennis Gilbert (selected 91st overall by Chicago): His uncle, Mike, is vice president of public and community relations for the Buffalo Sabres.

F Adam Musil (selected 94th overall by St. Louis): His father, Frantisek (Frank), was drafted 38th overall by the Minnesota North Stars in 1983 and skated in 797 career NHL games with the North Stars, Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators and Edmonton Oilers. His brother, David, was drafted 31st overall by the Oilers in 2011 and skated in four games with the club in 2014-15. His uncle, Bobby Holik, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion.

D Christian Wolanin (selected 107th overall by Ottawa): His father, Craig, was drafted third overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1985 and skated in 695 NHL games with New Jersey, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs. He was a member of Colorado's Stanley Cup-winning team in 1995-96.

D Parker Wotherspoon (selected 112th overall by NY Islanders): His brother, Tyler, was drafted 57th overall by the Calgary Flames in 2011.

F Brad Morrison (selected 113th overall by NY Rangers): His father, Doug, was drafted 36th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1979 and played 23 games with the club from 1979-82. His uncle Mark was drafted 51st overall by the New York Rangers in 1981. His uncle Garth Butcher was drafted 10th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in 1981 and skated in 897 career NHL games with the Canucks, St. Louis Blues, Quebec Nordiques and Toronto Maple Leafs. His brother-in-law is current Buffalo Sabres defenseman Josh Gorges.

D Caleb Jones (selected 117th overall by Edmonton): His brother, Seth, was drafted fourth overall by the Nashville Predators in 2013 and has been a regular on the club’s blue line the past two seasons, registering 14-38—52 in 159 regular-season contests. His father, Ronald (Popeye), played 11 seasons in the NBA with Dallas, Toronto, Boston, Denver, Washington and Golden State.

F Luke Stevens (selected 126th overall by Carolina): His father, Kevin, won the Stanley Cup two times with the Pittsburgh Penguins and played in 874 career NHL games with the Penguins, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings (who drafted him 108th overall in 1983), New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers.

F David Kase (selected 128th overall by Philadelphia): His brother, Ondrej, was drafted 205th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2014.

F Chase Pearson (selected 140th overall by Detroit): His father, Scott, was drafted sixth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1988 and skated in 292 career NHL games with the Maple Leafs, Quebec Nordiques, Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders.

D Ryan Pilon (selected 147th overall by NY Islanders): His uncle, Rich, played 631 regular-season games over 14 NHL seasons with the New York Islanders, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues.

F Christopher Wilkie (selected 162nd overall by Florida): His father, David, won the Memorial Cup with the Kamloops Blazers in 1992; was a first-round pick (20th overall) of the Montreal Canadiens in 1992; and played 167 career NHL games with the Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers.

F Jack Becker (selected 195th overall by Boston): His father, Russ, was drafted 228th overall by the New York Islanders in 1984 and his cousin, Aaron Miskovich, was drafted 133rd overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 1997.

F Adam Marsh (selected 200th overall by Detroit): His father, Peter, was drafted 29th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1976 and played 278 NHL games with the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks.

F Matteo Gennaro (selected 203rd overall by Winnipeg): His cousin, Fernando Pisani, was drafted 195th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 1996 and recorded 87-82—169 in 462 career NHL games with the Oilers and Chicago Blackhawks.

D Jack Sadek (selected 204th overall by Minnesota): His cousin, Brady Skjei, was drafted 28th overall by the New York Rangers in 2012.