Draft | 6/7/2024 9:16:46 AM

The United States Hockey League takes a team-by-team look ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.

The Des Moines Buccaneers did not have any players selected in 2023, but had four players selected in the 2022 NHL Draft in Joey Muldowney (San Jose, 6th round, 172nd), Jackson Dorrington (Vancouver, 6th round, 176th), Luke Devlin (Pittsburgh, 6th round 182nd) and Zakary Karpa (New York Rangers, 6th round, 191st). 

Dating back to the 1980-81 season, the Buccaneers have had 54 players selected in the NHL Draft.  Forward Kyle Okposo, who was picked seventh by the New York Islanders in 2006, ranks as the highest-drafted former Buccaneer. 

Top Prospect for 2024

Ilya Protas, Forward
Central Scouting Rank: #49

Named to the 2023-24 USHL All-Rookie First Team, Protas ranked third in league rookie scoring with 51 points on 14 goals and 37 assists in 61 games with the Buccaneers.  The Vitebsk, Belus native led all USHL rookies in assists and tied for second with six power play goals.

The USHL has had 50-or-more players selected in each of the last six NHL Drafts, with a league-best 57 chosen in 2022 and 2018. In all the USHL has seen 1,041 of its players selected in total, with at least one player taken in each draft but one dating back to 1981.