For the first time since 2006, no Kelowna Rockets were selected in the NHL entry draft this summer.
That certainly won’t be the case in 2019 when the draft comes as close as it can get to Kelowna, as it’ll be hosted in Vancouver.
In fact, the Rockets could potentially see three players taken on Friday night of the draft, which is when the first round takes place.
TSN’s Craig Button has released his pre-season 2019 draft rankings and two Rockets find themselves in the top 31, or as projected first round picks.
Kaedan Korczak, who shone on the blue line for Canada’s gold medal winning U18 team this summer, is ranked 16th by Button.
Meanwhile, Nolan Foote sits at 29th in the rankings, a spot that would make him a first round pick in 2019.
The other name on the radar, who didn’t make Button’s top-40 this time around, is Lassi Thomson.
He was the Rockets CHL import draft pick this summer and he’s poised to have a big rookie season with Kelowna.
Many have pegged him as a second round pick as of now, but he’s got a great chance to crawl his way up in the rankings if he has a solid season in the WHL.
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