Draft | 6/7/2024 9:35:20 AM
The United States Hockey League takes a team-by-team look ahead of the 2024 NHL Draft.
The
Sioux Falls Stampede, who have had 58 players selected in the NHL Draft since 2002, had four players selected in 2023 in defenseman
Maxim Strbak (#45 by Buffalo), forward
Chris Pelosi (#92 by Boston), forward
Sam Harris (#133 by Montreal) and defenseman
Jack Phelan (#137 by Detroit).
Forward
Cole Sillinger, who was picked 12th overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets during the 2021 NHL Draft, owns the distinction as the highest-ever Sioux Falls Stampede draft pick.
Top Prospects for 2024
Dean Letourneau, Forward
NHL Scouting Rank: #23
College Commitment: Boston College
Letourneau, a Braeside, Ont., native who got into two games with Sioux Falls in 2023-24, spent the majority of last season with St. Andrew’s College where he recorded 127 points on 61 goals and 66 assists in 56 games.
Javon Moore, Forward
NHL Scouting Rank: #47
College Commitment: Minnesota
Moore, who suited up for three games with Sioux Falls in 2023-24, had 53 points on 26 goals and 27 points in 28 games for Minnetonka (Minn.) High School last season.
Caleb Heil, Goaltender
NHL Scouting Rank (North American Goaltenders): #23
College Commitment: North Dakota
Traded to Madison prior the 2024 USHL Draft, Heil was a two-year member of the Stampede. The Victoria, Minn., native played nine games with Sioux Falls 2022-23 and got into 19 games with the Stampede in 2023-24. In all, Heil had 28 appearances with 11 wins, 12 regulation losses and two overtime losses while compiling a save percentage of .870 and a 3.86 goals against average. He also was a member of Team USA at the 2023-24 Hlinka-Gretzky Cup and Team USA win a Bronze Medal at this year’s World Junior A Challenge.
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.