Three Austrians in the NHL Draft

After Marco Rossi, the next Austrian found a franchise at the 2020 NHL Draft that could perhaps lift him into the best ice hockey league in the world: Thimo Nickl was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks. The Californian team selected the 18-year-old from Klagenfurt in the fourth round, 104th overall, making him the first player developed at EC-KAC to earn NHL Draft honours.

Nickl is only the second Austrian defenceman to be selected in the NHL Draft. Andre Lakos was picked 95th overall by the New Jersey Devils in 1999, but never played in the NHL. The defenceman showcased his abilities with the Drummondville Voltigeurs in the Canadian QMJHL last season, contributing ten goals and 29 assists in 58 games. In previous years, he played for KAC II in the Alps Hockey League.

After Rossi and Nickl, a third Austrian is celebrating his NHL Draft selection: Benjamin Baumgartner was selected by the New Jersey Devils. The centre was picked in the sixth round, 161st overall. Baumgartner impressed over the past two years at HC Davos, where the Zeller progressed from the youth system to the first team.

Baumgartner was also part of the ÖEHV national team at the 2019 IIHF World Championship in Bratislava. Austria had never previously had three players selected in a single NHL Draft: in 1999, 2001 and 2006, there were two on each occasion.

Rossi has a strong chance of soon playing in the NHL for the Minnesota Wild, given the lack of depth at centre. The day after drafting the 19-year-old from Vorarlberg, the franchise from the "State of Hockey" added further depth at this position, acquiring Nick Bonino from the Nashville Predators.

The 32-year-old moves to the Wild in exchange for right wing Luke Kunin, who was drafted 15th overall by Minnesota in 2016, and the 101st pick. Minnesota also received picks No. 37 and 70 along with Bonino. Another centre was added with the 37th pick: Russian Marat Khusnutdinov of SKA St. Petersburg, who, incidentally, is exactly the same height as Rossi at 1,76 metres, with Rossi's lack of size considered his biggest shortcoming.

The work of the Red Bull Academy is now also making an impact in the NHL: John-Jason Peterka was drafted early in the second round of the 2020 Draft by the Buffalo Sabres. The franchise selected the German right-wing forward with the 34th pick, who currently plays in the ICE Hockey League - as the 18-year-old is on loan at Red Bull Salzburg from his parent club Red Bull München. After two games, "J.J." has two goals and one assist. Peterka was developed at the Academy from 2016 to 2019 and has played for München in the DEL since last season.