Looking back at the 7-15th picks from the 2013 NHL Draft

Photo credit:Dave Sandford

5 years ago

Today, we jump in our time machine and take a trip back to the 2013 NHL Draft to have a look at the players that were selected in the 7-15 range. As you likely remember, Darnell Nurse was the Oilers’ pick at number seven that year and will lead off today’s countdown. Will adding another face that we know into the mix, and knowing the type of player that Nurse is turning out to be, affect your thinking in terms of moving this year’s 10th overall pick? Let the countdown be our guide.

Today, we look at the 2013 NHL Draft.

Darnell Nurse (7) – D – Edmonton Oilers

2017-18 Season: 82GP – 6G, 20A for 26 points
Rookie Season (2015-16 w/ Edmonton Oilers): 69GP – 3G, 7A for 10 points

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“Darnell Nurse is a big, mobile, gifted blueliner who has a lot of Chris Pronger in his game. He’s an imposing presence on the blueline and has the tools to be successful at both ends. Beyond the bloodlines and support (aunt, father, mother are all elite athletes — uncle by marriage is Donovan McNabb), Nurse has it where it counts most — between the ears. He was a leader during his junior career, playing a key role in Sault Ste. Marie’s turnaround from a non-playoff team to a championship contender. Nurse continues to add strength and bulk to his ideal NHL frame. He is capable of playing in all situations and can log big minutes.”

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PGP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017-18	Edmonton Oilers	NHL	82	6	20	26	67	15
	NHL Totals		197	14	33	47	160		13	0	2	2	6

Rasmus Ristolainen (8) – Buffalo Sabres

2017-18 Season: 73GP – 6G, 35A for 41 points
Rookie Season (2013-14 w/ Buffalo Sabres): 34GP – 2G, 2A for four points

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“Rasmus Ristolainen has the size, skating ability and shooting and stick handling skills that make him an outstanding offensive defenseman prospect. Plays with a physical component to his game and has become more disciplined as he’s gained more experience. Still developing in terms of positional play and defensive responsibilities – his calling card is his willingness to be involved in the play and to push the envelope at times.”

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-
2017-18	Buffalo Sabres	NHL	73	6	35	41	48	-25
	NHL Totals		346	31	120	151	171

Bo Horvat (9) – C – Vancouver Canucks

2017-18 Season: 64GP – 22G, 22A for 44 points
Rookie Season (2014-15 w/ Vancouver Canucks): 68GP – 13G, 12A for 25 points

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“Horvat plays a bullish style and is a natural team leader with offensive bonafides. He plays with a high compete level. He can score but is also outstanding in the defensive zone and in the faceoff circle. Coming out of junior hockey Horvat was perceived by some scouts to have the most complete game in terms of his positional play. He plays with a maturity that is rare for a player his age.”

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PGP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017-18	Vancouver Canucks	NHL	64	22	22	44	10	-1
	NHL Totals		295	71	90	161	71		6	1	3	4	2

Valeri Nichushkin (10) – RW – Dallas Stars

2017-18 Season: KHL: 50GP – 16G, 11A for 27 points
Rookie Season (2013-14 w/ Dallas Stars): 79GP – 14G, 20A for 34 points

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“He’s a bull. A massive frame, with really good skating and speed, plus a boatload of skill and a great shot. He’s got a powerful skating stride and with a little more strength and conditioning we’ll probably see even more noteworthy breakaway speed from him. One thing that really sticks out that shows his understanding of how to be an offensive threat is his ability to change the tempo and shift a gear when he has the puck. He knows when to push it and he knows when to downshift and really mess with a defenseman’s gap and then burn him with strength, speed and skill.”

SEASON	TEAM	LGE	GP	G	A	PTS	PIM	+/-	PGP	G	A	PTS	PIM
2017-18	CSKA MOSCOW	KHL	50	16	11	27	14	11	19	3	6	9	12
	NHL TOTALS		166	23	41	64	22		16	1	2	3	4

Samuel Morin (11) – D – Philadelphia Flyers

2017-18 Season: AHL: 15GP – 1G, 6A for seven points
Rookie Season: Waiting for one

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“A towering presence on the blue line, Morin plays plenty of minutes against the opposing team’s top offensive units and is called upon to provide a steadying force in the defensive end. Morin doesn’t always make the most of his big frame, and he could stand to fill out a bit more. He makes smart plays defensively and good first passes out of the zone. He has a booming slapshot, but his overall offensive game still needs refinement. With a long stride, Morin is a powerful skater, but will need to continue to improve as he adds muscle to his frame.”

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-
2017-18	Philadelphia Flyers	NHL	2	0	0	0	4	1
2017-18	Lehigh Valley Phantoms	AHL	15	1	6	7	26	4
	NHL Totals		3	0	0	0	4

Max Domi (12) – LW – Arizona Coyotes

2017-18 Season: 82GP – 9G, 36A for 45 points
Rookie Season (2015-16 w/ Arizona Coyotes): 81GP – 18G, 34A for 52 points

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“Domi can both electrify and infuriate coaches and fans with his stick handling and skating skills — alternately dipsy-doodling through an entire roster and at other times making unnecessary moves and turning the puck over as his teammates stand with their sticks at the ready. Domi is a young player whose talents are bigger than the game he plays. That’s fine when you are better than 90-percent of the other kids on the ice, but he will have to find a way to integrate his teammates in the game more as he progresses as he won’t have that freedom to freewheel. He has great hands and can be a spectacular passer. Domi’s also not afraid to mix it up, but can be goaded into retaliatory penalties.”

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-
2017-18	Arizona Coyotes	NHL	82	9	36	45	73	-7
	NHL Totals		222	36	99	135	185

Josh Morrissey (13) – D – Winnipeg Jets

2017-18 Season: 81GP – 7G, 19A for 26 points
Rookie Season (2016-17 w/ Winnipeg Jets): 57GP – 3G, 19A for 22 points

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“Morrissey is one of the elite defensemen in his age group. A key power play performer in junior hockey, his offensive instincts are immediately evident. He is an accurate passer and carries the puck with confidence. Morrissey is not hesitant to initiate the transition from defense to offense. His high level technical skills fit well with some of the young forwards in the Winnipeg system.”

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PGP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017-18	Winnipeg Jets	NHL	81	7	19	26	47	15	16	1	1	2	6
	NHL Totals		164	13	33	46	85		16	1	1	2	6

Alexander Wennberg (14) – C – Columbus Blue Jackets

2017-18 Season: 66GP – 8G, 27A for 35 points
Rookie Season (2014-15 w/ Columbus Blue Jackets): 68GP – 4G, 16A for 20 points

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“Wennberg is a tall and rangy player who has turned three-zone into his calling card. He has nice, soft hands and a sense for when the time’s ripe for a pass or a shot. He displays good anticipation and in-game intelligence. Despite a still somewhat lanky frame, Wennberg has some good wheels and strong side-to-side movement. He doesn’t hesitate to throw the body around and plays with a sense of great responsibility for his defensive duties. He compliments all sorts of line-mates. His frame is the type that looks like it could house another 20-30 pounds within the next five years. Wennberg played full-time minutes in Sweden’s elite league as a teenager.”

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PGP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017-18	Columbus Blue Jackets	NHL	66	8	27	35	12	22	3	1	1	2	0
	NHL Totals		283	33	121	154	57		8	1	2	3	2

Ryan Pulock (15) – D – New York Islanders

Rookie Season (2017-18 w/ New York Islanders): 68GP – 10G, 22A for 32 points

Pre-Draft Scouting Report:

“Pulock was one of the top offensively skilled defensemen in the 2013 NHL Draft. He has a quick release and an ability to get shots through to the net. After battling through injuries early in his junior career he had a breakout season in his fourth season with the Brandon Wheat Kings. He will likely need some time at the AHL level but his offensive tools should fit in well with the young defensemen currently working their way into the NHL for the Islanders.”

Season	Team	Lge	GP	G	A	Pts	PIM	+/-	PGP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2017-18	New York Islanders	NHL	68	10	22	32	14	-4
	NHL Totals		84	12	24	36	19		6	1	2	3	0

THE WRAP…

Well, what do you think? From where I blog, I see another mixed bag. You’ve got some guys that are making their way in the league and others that have already fizzled out or haven’t even made the jump yet. As an example, I remember looking at Valeri Nichushkin’s rookie season and thinking that the Stars had landed a beauty. The dude could skate, he could score, and I was certain that he’d be a player, but he was never able to replicate the same kind of numbers from his rookie season. Dude has already bounced back to the KHL and the Stars were left with nothing but a learning experience.

On the flip side, I’d be so bold as to guess that the Oilers are pretty happy with the Darnell Nurse pick at #7 and I’d bet that the same thing can be said for a few of the other names on this list. Now that we’re getting a better idea of how long some of these picks take to develop and make the NHL jump, it adds another layer to think about when it comes to our pick in June. Now that you’ve seen the breakdown from 2013, the question remains whether or not this list of players makes any difference in your thinking towards what should happen with #10 at this year’s Draft? What do you guys think?