21st Pick – Pittsburgh Penguins
Filip Mesar (F)
5’10”, 174 lbs
Just like the 20th pick in Snuggerud, Filip Mesar plays both at center and on the wing. This gives the Pittsburgh Penguins some flexibility in seeing where the Slovakian develops best. He is coming off playing with his club team, HK Poprad, where he recorded eight goals and eight assists in 37 games.
22nd Pick – Anaheim Ducks
Isaac Howard (LW)
5’10”, 181 lbs
At midterm, I had Isaac Howard at the exact same position of being drafted 22nd overall. Using the Ducks second pick in the draft, they get another forward. With Ducks General manager
Pat Verbeek selecting Nazar III, who plays both center and right-wing, earlier in the round, it’s good for Anaheim that Howard plays on the left side.
The Ducks will be ecstatic to draft U.S. Development Program prospect who can be a wizard at times with his stick handling. He creates scoring changes for his team and can finish around the net with a tremendous wrist shot and quick release.
Howard has committed to the University of Minnesota-Duluth next season. He will be playing with a former fourth-round pick of the Habs, Jack Smith.
23rd Pick – St. Louis Blues
Rutger McGroarty (C)
6’1″, 205 lbs
The U.S. National U18 Team might be coming off having one of its best ever rosters. Rutger McGroaty was a big part of that. With his high hockey IQ and ability to score in bunches, McGroaty helped fill up score sheets. In 54 contests, he put in 35 goals and added 34 helpers for a total of 69 points.
McGroaty is committed to the University of Michigan next season. He will be playing for the Wolverines Head Coach Mel Pearson and Associate Head Coach Bill Muckalt.
24th Pick – Minnesota Wild
Jiri Kulich (C)
6’0″, 181 lbs
In Jiri Kulich, the Wild get a player who already has pro experience. He quickly graduated from playing junior this season in Czechia to join his organization’s big club, HC Energie Karlovy Vary for 49 regular season games. He also got into all three of the team’s playoffs games. The Wild will continue to get a look at Kulich as he remains in Czechia next season.