Five reasons Ann Arbor hockey fans should actually care about the 2013 NHL Draft
![seth-jones.jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2013/06/seth-jones-thumb-646x430-145665.jpg)
Former Team USA National Team Development Program player Seth Jones, far right, is projected by many as the No. 1 overall pick in Sunday's 2013 NHL Draft.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
Everyone's playing catch-up with the NFL, which is in a category all on its own.
Like the NFL, the NHL has seven rounds, but unlike the NFL and NBA, hockey fans don’t get to see these players suit up in the big leagues right away, so interest in the draft is relatively low. Save for a few freaks of nature like Sidney Crosby, players develop in college hockey or minor-league oblivion (much like baseball prospects), sometimes never to be seen or heard from again.
But with the Michigan hockey team and the United States National Team Development Program within miles of each other, hockey fans in Ann Arbor have several reasons to actually be interested in Sunday’s 2013 NHL Draft (NBC Sports Network, 3-8 p.m.).
Here are five of them:
1. Seth Jones
Jones called Ann Arbor home for two years as a member of the National Team Development Program and there is a general consensus among most pundits that he will be the top pick in Sunday’s draft. If selected first overall, Jones will be the first-ever black player with that distinction in the 50-year history of the draft.
![seth-jones-profile.jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2013/06/seth-jones-profile-thumb-250x308-145667.jpg)
Seth Jones
Photo courtesy of Tom Sorensen
Jones’ story could come full circle on Sunday as the Avalanche hold the No. 1 overall pick and recently hired Sakic as the executive vice president of hockey operations with final say on who the team drafts.
Jones would be the third No. 1 overall pick produced by the NTDP after Erik Johnson and Patrick Kane were selected No. 1 in back-to-back years in 2006 and 2007.
2. Andrew Copp
The former Skyline High School quarterback, NTDP player and current Michigan Wolverine was passed over in his first year of draft eligibility. Though that’s usually not a good sign, much has happened since that year that has Copp’s name floating around as a potential third-seventh round pick.
![Thumbnail image for andrew-copp-western-hockey.jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2013/01/andrew-copp-western-hockey-thumb-646x429-131874-thumb-400x265-131875.jpg)
Andrew Copp, above, may have played himself into be an NHL prospect during the second half of his freshman year at Michigan.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
His production in one year as a full-time hockey player may outweigh previous years with the NTDP when he didn’t catch the eye of NHL scouts while he was splitting his time.
“(Copp’s) been a part-time football player and a part-time hockey player, so I think he’s going to be a late bloomer and he’s just starting to go,” Michigan coach Red Berenson said in March.
3. Steven Santini
![Thumbnail image for StevenSantiniStoryFinal_JT_01.JPG](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2013/03/StevenSantiniStoryFinal_JT_01-thumb-400x292-138022-thumb-350x255-138023.jpg)
Steven Santini, far right, is expected to be one of the top defenseman taken in Sunday's draft.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
Santini told AnnArbor.com earlier in the year that he intends to attend college regardless of whether or not he is drafted high, but at the end of the day his goals revolve around his future as an NHL player.
“At the end of the day, I want to be a hockey player and that is very important to me," Santini said earlier this year.
4. J.T. Compher
![jt-compher.jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2013/06/jt-compher-thumb-400x266-145674.jpg)
J.T. Compher, center, will join the Michigan hockey team in the fall and may be drafted on Sunday.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
Compher had 49 points (18 goals, 31 assists) in 55 games played with Team USA last season including a pair of assists in an exhibition game against Michigan in january. Compher led Team USA at the Under-18 World Junior Championships with seven points (three goals, four assists) in a silver medal winning performance.
5. Tyler Motte
![tyler-motte-usa.jpg](http://www.annarbor.com/assets_c/2013/06/tyler-motte-usa-thumb-350x232-145679.jpg)
Tyler Motte, left, will play for Michigan in the fall and may be drafted in Sunday's 2013 NHL Draft.
Joseph Tobianski | AnnArbor.com file photo
Motte had 44 points (26 goals, 18 assists) in 63 games played with Team USA and two goals in a 5-3 exhibition win over Michigan in January.
***Bonus: Evan Allen
Allen is a Sterling Heights native, two-year NTDP player and will join the Michigan hockey team in the fall along with Compher and Motte. He was one of four 20-goal scorers with Team USA last year and according to TheHockeyWriters.com could be picked in the fourth-sixth round range.
Pete Cunningham covers sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at petercunningham@annarbor.com. Contact him on Twitter @petcunningham.
Comments
garrisondyer
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 5:22 p.m.
Cool article, Pete! Glad to hear about so many of these guys who are headed to UM. I followed Michigan's team from their lowest point this year (probably when they lost to the NTDP) to when their unbeatable miracle run was cut short in the CCHA championship game, and look forward to having some of those NTDPers switch over to the maize and blue!
JGS
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 8:31 p.m.
Thank goodness they are not at "Trouba-Status" He was amazing and will be sorely missed. I'd like to see new rules put in to effect that are contractual. Commit to 4 years, stay for 4 years. Age restrictions so that they cannot jump from a lower level to the NHL until they are say 21/22. And finally financially reward the college contracts. Not huge, but at least something.
Pete Cunningham
Wed, Jun 26, 2013 : 7:22 p.m.
And you will likely see them in Maize and Blue for a while. Unlike Jacob Trouba was last year, it doesn't appear Michigan's potential draft picks are ready made NHLers and will need more time to develop than Trouba did.