The 91大黄鸭 Rockets鈥� best may be taking their first steps to joining the best-of-the-best in the NHL this weekend.
Several 91大黄鸭 players could hear their names called when the 2019 NHL Draft kicks off Friday in Vancouver, with a trio of Rockets鈥� being included as potential first-round picks.
Lassi Thomson, Kaedan Korczak and Nolan Foote all had stand-out seasons for the Rockets and will learn where their professional careers next take them Friday.
鈥淚t鈥檚 great for them to see them rated relatively high amongst their peers,鈥� said Rockets鈥� player personnel director Lorne Frey.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all excited and hopeful they all do well. Every time the young guys get this opportunity they鈥檙e excited and we鈥檙e excited for them.鈥�
READ MORE: 91大黄鸭鈥檚 2020 Memorial Cup hot topic at WHL annual meeting
Since the end of the season, 91大黄鸭 skaters have been scouted and evaluated by NHL scouts with the final scouting report released earlier this week.
Thomson is highest rated for the Rockets as the 15th best prospect, Korczak is listed at 32nd and Foote at 37th.
Frey said it鈥檚 not a matter of when the trio gets drafted, but where and for which NHL team. Either way, the Rockets鈥� hope to keep all three as the main cogs of the Rockets鈥� 2020 Memorial Cup run, which will be hosted by 91大黄鸭 in May.
鈥淲hen you have that type of talent, it鈥檚 easy to build around. Having them back is critical for the success of our team,鈥� said Frey.
READ MORE: Pre-season set for 91大黄鸭 Rockets
Other Rockets鈥� Jake Lee is ranked at 146th and Alex Swetlikoff at 175th. Forward Dillion Hamaliuk is still considered a top prospect though still recovering from injury and Rockets鈥� goalie Roman Basran is listed as the 18th best goalie prospect.
Thomson led all WHL rookies with 41 points, took home the Rockets鈥� Rookie of the Year award and was named the WHL Western Conference Rookie of the Year. The Finnish defenceman skates well, has a great point shot and can control a power-play.
Korczak was a rock for the Rockets all season. He suited up for all 68 games and recorded 33 points as he earned the Rockets鈥� Top Defenceman Award. The stay-at-home type defenceman has offensive skills as well with a keen eye for passing and a big body used well as advantage against opposing skaters.
Foote was an offensive powerhouse for the Rockets. The forward led the team with goals scored with 36 and was named the Rockets鈥� MVP last season. The 18-year-old is a power-play threat, is big bodied and loves to both score and hit.
The trio played at the 2019 CHL Top Prospects Game in January.
READ MORE: Rockets鈥� rookie grabs awards at season鈥檚 end
Lee and Hamaliuk were recently acquired by the Rockets via trade at the draft. Both were invited to the CHL Top Prospects Game.
Swetlikoff was a mid-season acquisition by the Rockets. The 17-year-old centre has plenty of maturing to do on the ice but could make be a late-round pick for a team looking to invest in the young players鈥� future.
Basran took main goalie duties for the Rockets鈥� this past season. Finishing with a 20-19-3-1 record, the goalie had a .906 save percentage for a Rockets鈥� team that missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
READ MORE: Rockets make big moves at WHL draft
The NHL Draft and fate of some of 91大黄鸭鈥檚 favourite hockey players starts Friday at 5 p.m.
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