Buffalo – The U.S. National Team Development Program has players drafted by NHL teams every year. This past season there were 85 alumni from the Plymouth-based USNTDP on NHL rosters.
But this year will be like none other for the USNTDP.
Some projections have as many as 10 USNTDP players going in the first round of the NHL Draft, which is June 21-22 in Vancouver. In addition, it would not be surprising to see five of the first 10 players off the board hail from the USNTDP.
The most USNTDP players taken in the first round so far was five last year, and that is sure to be exceeded later this month.