Chris Relke

2006 NHL Entry Draft: DUB-style

The 2006 National Hockey League Entry Draft was held at General Motors Place in Vancouver. With the first overall pick, the St. Louis Blues selected defenceman Erik Johnson.

At DUBNetwork, we’ll supply one of these features from now until Christmas Day, culminating with the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.

Here’s a look at the Western Hockey League players chosen in the first round, along with a few statistics.

2006 NHL Entry Draft – Round 1
NHL
Overall Player WHL NHL Games Goals Assists
8 Peter Mueller Everett Phoenix 297 63 97
14 Michael Grabner* Spokane Vancouver 627 174 101
16 Ty Wishart Prince George San Jose 26 1 5
26 Leland Irving Everett Calgary 13 1
Notable
50 Milan Lucic Vancouver Boston 923 201 308

Active*

Michael Grabner

Only Michael Grabner remains active in the NHL, currently a forward with the resurgent Arizona Coyotes. In 34 games this season, he has chipped in with seven goals and three assists.

Grabner appeared in 186 WHL games with the Spokane Chiefs, scoring 82 goals and adding 41 assists.

Peter Mueller, well known to followers of the annual World Junior Hockey championship, is remembered for an exciting shootout at the 2008 edition of the tournament.

Peter Mueller: Everett Silvertips 2005-07

In a semi-final match, Mueller’s Team USA and Team Canada went scoreless through overtime. When the shootout also solved nothing, each team was allowed to use the same shooter time and again until a winner was decided.

All told, Mueller shot three times, scoring twice for the Americans. Jonathan Toews scored three shootout goals and when Mueller was stymied by Carey Price, Canada advanced to the gold medal finale.

Coincidentally, Mueller and Price faced off during their respective WHL careers as both played in the U.S. Division. Mueller was a standout for the Everett Silvertips, while Price played between the pipes for the Tri-City Americans.

The other first round picks, defenceman Ty Wishart and goaltender Leland Irving, were unable to sustain NHL careers.

Milan Lucic, #50 overall at 2006 NHL Entry Draft

Notable
Among WHL players selected in 2006, forward Milan Lucic of the Vancouver Giants was tabbed by the Boston Bruins.

A year later, Lucic won a Memorial Cup championship as a member of the host Giants.

A controversial NHLer, Lucic has been generally productive as a professional. He recently scored his 200th career goal as a member of the Calgary Flames and is likely to play more than 1,000 games in the NHL.

2006 NHL Entry Draft: Rounds 2-7
NHL
Round Overall  Player WHL NHL Games Goals Assists
2 40 Ondrej Fiala Everett Minnesota
43 Riley Holzapfel Moose Jaw Atlanta
49 Ben Maxwell Kootenay Montreal 47 2 6
50 Milan Lucic* Vancouver Boston 924 201 308
59 Codey Burki Brandon Colorado
3 66 Ryan White Calgary Montreal 313 31 30
73 Brady Calla Everett Florida
86 George (Bud) Holloway Seattle L.A. 1
4 99 James Reimer* Red Deer Toronto 351
113 Ben Wright Lethbridge Columbus
5 143 Ashton Rome Kamloops San Jose
152 Jordan Benfeld Medicine Hat Phoenix
6 158 Levi Nelson Swift Current Boston
159 Jesse Dudas Prince George Columbus
168 Dane Crowley Swift Current Tampa Bay
174 Eric Hunter Prince George NY Rangers
7 189 Derek Dorsett Medicine Hat Columbus 515 51 76
197 Evan Fuller Prince George Vancouver
199 Cameron Cepek Portland Montreal
212 Logan Pyett Regina Detroit

Active*

(Paul Figler of DUBNetwork contributed to this article)