NHL Draft notes: Does UND have to worry about a draft pick signing?
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Jun. 25—GRAND FORKS — UND fans probably still have the 2011 NHL Draft tucked away in their memory banks.
Their top recruit, center J.T. Miller, went No. 15 overall to the New York Rangers.
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But soon after the draft, Miller signed with the Rangers and played in Canadian major juniors. He never played a game for UND.
UND will have two high picks Friday night, when the first round of the NHL Draft is scheduled for KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y.
Defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, who is scheduled to be a sophomore, and defenseman Carson Carels, an incoming freshman, are both expected to be selected in the top 10.
Although Verhoeff has indicated he will return to school for his sophomore season — and even posted UND photos on Instagram with the caption, "Story's Not Done" — could there be any reason for UND fans to worry that Verhoeff or Carels could sign NHL deals after the draft?
UND coach Dane Jackson acknowledged there's always a possibility, but feels the Fighting Hawks are in a good spot.
"I believe those guys feel they have a good developmental pathway here," Jackson said. "They both understand, as defensemen, it's extremely hard to play in the NHL as an 18-year-old. It's always a small concern (they'll sign), but we believe we built relationships with those guys and they want to be here competing for a national championship."
The 2026 NHL Draft could go into UND's record books in a few ways.
UND has had two players selected in the top 20 just once in program history. In 2004, Drew Stafford went No. 13 overall to Buffalo and Travis Zajac was selected No. 20 overall by New Jersey.
Verhoeff and Carels will break that mark.
"It's exciting," Jackson said. "Obviously, the thing for me that's so impressive is the type of people they are. If you have guys who are high-profile guys, but they're all about themselves, it's not great. Both Carson and Keaton are extremely humble, team-first, grounded, sharp young men who people want to play with. That's the really exciting part of it."
UND has only had three first-rounders once. In 2005, Brian Lee went No. 9 to Ottawa, T.J. Oshie went No. 24 to St. Louis and Joe Finely went No. 27 to Washington.
UND can match that if one of the Ruck twins — Liam or Markus — end up going in the first round. If both Ruck twins go in the first, it would mark the first time in program history that UND has four first-rounders. The Rucks, both forwards, will come to UND in 2027.
UND incoming freshman forward Connor Davis has not generated much media coverage as a potential NHL Draft pick this weekend.
But several NHL teams are intrigued.
Is it enough to warrant a draft pick? Or will he get offers to attend NHL development camps as an undrafted free agent?
"I think he might (get picked)," Jackson said. "There are some teams that really like him."
Davis, a 6-foot winger, had 26 goals and 55 points for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the United States Hockey League last season.
There are eight UND-connected players who are potential picks this weekend — Verhoeff, Carels, the Ruck twins, incoming freshman defenseman Ethan MacKenzie, 2027 defenseman commit Brayden Klimpke, 2027 forward commit Cooper Williams and Davis.
Klimpke and Williams, who are teammates with the Saskatoon Blades in the WHL, have not yet signed with UND, so the school is unable to mention them on its official communications. The coaching staff also is not allowed to comment on them.
The other six have all signed.
This will be one of UND's busiest NHL Drafts of all time.
UND had a program-record nine picks in 1984. UND had seven in 1982, 2005 and 2010.
The last time UND had six picks was 2013, when Adam Tambellini, Keaton Thompson, Tucker Poolman, Luke Johnson, Gage Ausmus and Wade Murphy were selected.
* Verhoeff and the Ruck twins are attending the draft in Buffalo. Jackson and general manager Bryn Chyzyk also will be there.
* The last time the NHL Draft was held in Buffalo was 2016. UND's Tyson Jost went No. 10 overall to the Colorado Avalanche. Rhett Gardner (fourth round, Dallas), Peter Thome (sixth round, Columbus) and Collin Adams (sixth round, New York Islanders) also were selected that year.
* Buffalo also hosted the draft in 1991 and 1998, which is the last time UND did not have a player selected.