Seven NCAA Players Taken in First Round of NHL Draft

Some players had to wait a bit longer than expected, but by the end, it was a strong night for future NCAA players in the first round of the NHL Draft. All six players projected to go in the first round, plus an extra player went in the first round making seven players with NCAA ties in the top 30 picks.

As expected, Jack Eichel officially became a member of the Buffalo Sabres organization when he was selected with the second overall pick. Eichel didn't formally declare that he would be signing with the Sabres, but in post-draft interviews, said that he had reached a decision and all indications are that he will be signing with the Sabres later this summer.

Noah Hanifin was the next NCAA player off the board when he was selected fifth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes. Hanifin was the talk of trade rumors all day as teams tried to trade up to the third overall pick to select him. But ultimately, Arizona's asking price was too high and no deal was able to be completed. With Arizona and Toronto wanting forwards at the third and fourth overall spots, Hanifin slipped to fifth, a huge prize for Carolina.

Michigan defenseman Zach Werenski was the next NCAA player selected going 8th overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Werenski was the third defenseman selected behind Hanifin and former Cedar Rapids Roughrider(USHL) Ivan Provorov.

It seemed Kyle Connor was destined to head to Boston when he was still on the board with the Bruins holding the 13th, 14th, and 15th overall picks. But the Bruins inexplicably went off the board on two of their three picks leaving Connor available for the Winnipeg Jets to snap him up with the 17th overall pick.

Boston College commit Colin White was the next NCAA player selected at 21st overall by the Ottawa Senators.

Vancouver selected North Dakota commit Brock Boeser 23rd overall. Boeser became the first Minnesotan to be selected in the first round of the NHL Draft since Brady Skjei in 2012.

Winnipeg took a second skilled American in the first round when they selected NTDP forward Jack Roslovic with the 25th overall pick in the first round. It was a bit of a surprise, but not entirely shocking to see Roslovic go in the first round.