Robert Desimone, Communications Manager
(713) 361-7920
Palmer Hestley, Asst. Communications Manager
(713) 361-7930
June 27, 2010
NHL CLUB SELECTS FIVE ON DAY TWO
HOUSTON - The Minnesota Wild selected forward Mikael Granlund with the ninth overall pick last night in the first round of the 2010 National Hockey League Entry Draft at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. View Granlund’s bio here.
“Mikael is a highly skilled center with elite hockey sense and competitiveness,” Wild Assistant General Manager Brent Flahr said. “He has had a lot of success playing against men in the Finnish Elite League.”
Granlund, 18 (2/26/92), led all SM-Liiga rookies in points and was named SM-Liiga Rookie of the Year in 2009-10, posting 40 points (13-27=40) while accruing two penalty minutes (PIM) in 43 games. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound native of Oulu, Finland, has twice represented his country at the IIHF World Junior Championships, and twice also at the IIHF World Under-18 Championships. Granlund was the No. 1-ranked European skater in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
NHL Director of European Scouting Goran Stubb: “Saku Koivu clone. He's small, but no one's told him he's small. He has a really good, winning attitude, works very hard. He's tough, and he has very good hockey sense.”
The Wild selected five players today on day two of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif. Minnesota selected RW Brett Bulmer in the second round (No. 39 overall), LW Johan Larsson in the second round (No. 56), LW Jason Zucker in the second round (No. 59), G Johan Gustafsson in the sixth round (No. 159) and RW Dylen McKinlay in the seventh round (No. 189). The Wild acquired the No. 59 pick from the Florida Panthers, in exchange for the Wild’s third-round pick (No. 69) and the Wild’s fourth-round pick (No. 99). The Wild, with the Granlund selection in the first round on Friday, selected four players total in the first two rounds for the first time in team history.
Bulmer, 18 (4/26/92), posted 40 points (13-27=40) and 95 penalty minutes (PIM) in 65 games for the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) in the 2009-10 season. He added five points (3-2=5) in 12 playoff games for the Rockets. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound forward hails from Prince George, B.C. Bulmer was ranked No. 65 amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting – up from a rank of 164 at the mid-term ranking. Minnesota Wild Scout Paul Charles: “Brett is a hard-working, physical player that is a strong skater and has good puck skills.” Kelowna Rockets Head Coach Ryan Huska: “Brett is a bigger forward that has very good skills for a tall man. The more experience he gets the better he has been getting."
Larsson, 17 (7/25/92), tallied 34 points (15-19=34) in 40 games for Brynas Jr. in Sweden last season. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound native of Lau, Sweden, was ranked the 34th-best European skater by NHL Central Scouting.
Zucker, 18 (1/16/92), played the last two seasons for the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). Zucker was one of two U.S. players to win three gold medals in one calendar year – he won gold at the 2009 and 2010 IIHF World Under-18 Championship as well as the gold medal at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championships. In total, he played 60 games (22 in the United States Hockey League) with the U.S. National Team Development Program, recording 53 (29-24=53) points and tying for the team lead with 29 goals. The 5-foot-11, 174-pound forward hails from Las Vegas, Nev. He is committed to the University of Denver in the fall. Zucker was ranked the 51st-best American skater by NHL Central Scouting. U.S. Under-18 head coach Kurt Kleinendorst: “The bigger the game, the better Jason plays. The great thing about him is that he can fit in anywhere. He can be on your first line or your fourth line and he’ll get the job done.”
Gustafsson, 18 (2/28/92) played 26 games for Farjestad in the Swedish junior league last season, recording a 2.86 goals-against average (GAA) and a. 894 SV %. Gustafsson also participated in the IIHF World Under-18 Championship. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound native of Koping, Sweden, was the fifth-ranked European goaltender by NHL Central Scouting.
McKinley, 18 (4/20/92), tallied 42 points (20-22=42) and 57 penalty minutes in 72 games for Chilliwack of the Western Hockey League last season. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound native of Langley, B.C., was the 126th-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.
Free agency begins Thursday, July 1, stay tuned to Aeros.com for the most up to date information. Season tickets for the 2010-11 season are available by calling (713) 974-PUCK.
-- HOUSTON AEROS --
For 2010-11 Season tickets call 713.974.PUCK (7825)
 
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