Avalanche Chooses Sampo Ranta at No. 78 Overall

DALLAS--The Colorado Avalanche used its third selection of the 2018 NHL Draft on forward Sampo Ranta on Saturday at American Airlines Center. Ranta was chosen No. 78 overall in the third round.
Ranta, 18, is from Naantali, Finland, but has played the last two seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League. He recorded 23 goals and 14 assists (37 points) in 53 USHL contests last year. The 6-foot-2, 198-pound left wing had nine points (six goals and three assists) in 30 contests in his first season in the league in 2016-17.

The University of Wisconsin commit represented his native country at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship in April. He had a goal and an assist as Finland went on to win the gold medal.
Prior to coming to the U.S., Ranta played youth hockey in Austria.
Ranta was the Avalanche's second, third-round pick of the draft and the second from Finland after the team selected goalie Justus Annunen 64th overall. Ranta and Annunen were teammates on Finland's gold-medal team at the under-18 Worlds.