Here's a look at what unfolded during the proceedings in Buffalo during the sixth and seventh rounds. The focus here is on Western Hockey League prospects.
Round 6
152 - Toronto...Jack Walker, D, Victoria Royals (WHL: 25th)
154 - Vancouver...Jakob Stukel, LW, Calgary Hitmen (WHL: 26th)
159 - Buffalo...Brandon Hagel, D, Red Deer Rebels (WHL: 27th)
166 - Calgary...Matthew Phillips, C, Victoria Royals (WHL: 28th)
Notes: For the third straight round, the Leafs led off with a pick from the WHL. Walker, from Minnesota, played in 285 games with the Royals, a couple of those seasons in Victoria behind his older brother Ben...Stukel arrived in Calgary after 12 games with the Vancouver Giants, then proceeded to collect 56 points in 57 games for the Hitmen...Hagel made the jump to Red Deer from the AJHL and promptly proved his durability by appearing in all 72 regular season games, chipping in with 47 points. All told, Hagel played in more that 90 games last season, including the Memorial Cup...Phillips is highly skilled, an offensive dynamo in Victoria held back to some degree only by his frame. He checks in at about 5'7 and 140 pounds. There is no mistaking that Phillips is the offensive future in Victoria.
Round 7
184 - Vancouver...Rodrigo Abols, D, Portland Winterhawks (WHL: 29th)
185 - Columbus...Calvin Thurkauf, LW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL: 30th)
200 - New York Islanders...David Quenneville, D, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL: 31st)
201 - New York Rangers...Ty Ronning, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL: 32nd)
204 - Minnesota...Brayden Chizen, D, Kelowna Rockets (WHL: 33rd)
205 - Anaheim...Tyler Soy, C, Victoria Royals (WHL: 34th)
Notes: The 6'5 Abols, from Latvia, impressed during his first WHL campaign with 49 points in 62 games on a Winterhawks team that has seen much of its veteran nucleus graduate over the past two seasons...Thurkauf is a big, burly forward, whose star seemed to rise around the time he was penciled in alongside high-scoring Rourke Chartier (SJS) and the Rockets other import forward, Tomas Soustal. The pair of imports are formidable physically and both should return to Kelowna next season...Quenneville could very well be the steal of the draft from the WHL, a surprisingly late selection. A tidy combination of nastiness and puck skills provide the Isles with valuable system depth...Ronning, a diminutive forward, is all about hard work and offensive skill, following in the large footsteps of his father Cliff, who appeared in over 1250 NHL games...Chizen is huge, likely still growing into his 6'6 frame. He was used more and more frequently by the coaching staff in Kelowna as the regular season wound down. With experience and growth will come confidence...Soy is simply a complete player at the junior level, a veteran of more that 250 career games with the Royals.
Total number of WHL players selected - by WHL Team:
5 - Calgary
4 - Victoria
4 - Kelowna
3 - Red Deer
2 - Vancouver
2 - Regina
2 - Moose Jaw
2 - Kamloops
2 - Brandon
1 - Swift Current
1 - Saskatoon
1 - Prince George
1 - Prince Albert
1 - Portland
1 - Medicine Hat
1 - Everett
1 - Spokane
Total number of WHL players selected - by NHL Team:
3 - Anaheim
3 - Tampa Bay
3 - Toronto
3 - Washington
2 - Buffalo
2 - Calgary
2 - Carolina
2 - St. Louis
2 - Vancouver
2 - Philadelphia
1 - Colorado
1 - Columbus
1 - Edmonton
1 - Los Angeles
1 - Minnesota
1 - NY Islanders
1 - NY Rangers
1 - Ottawa
1 - San Jose
1 - Winnipeg
Total number of WHL players selected at the NHL Draft:
2016: 34. (1st Rd: 4) 2010: 33. (1st Rd: 5)
2015: 35. (1st Rd: 5) 2009: 31. (1st Rd: 5)
2014: 37. (1st Rd: 9) 2008: 37. (1st Rd: 9)
2013: 33. (1st Rd: 8) 2007: 37. (1st Rd: 9)
2012: 32. (1st Rd: 6) 2006: 24. (
2011: 33. (1st Rd: 6)
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