TEMPE, Ariz. -- On Saturday, Arizona State hockey 2017-18 commit Patrick Kudla was drafted in the sixth round and 158th overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2016 NHL Draft.
"When we first started to recruit Patrick, we felt like we were watching a legit NHL prospect," said Sun Devil hockey head coach Greg Powers. "The fact he's only been playing defense for two years speaks to his potential as an incredibly dynamic offensive defenseman. We can't wait to get him in the maroon and gold."
The defenseman becomes the highest drafted Sun Devil in the program's short history and the second drafted in the Division I era. Incoming goaltender Joey Daccord was drafted in the seventh round and 199th overall in last year's draft by the Ottawa Senators.
The hometown @ArizonaCoyotes draft 17-18 commit @kudla11 at 158th overall in the 2016 #NHLDraft! #BetheTradition pic.twitter.com/QS90PpHALe
— Sun Devil Hockey (@SunDevilHockey) June 25, 2016
Kudla, who is currently playing for the Oakville Blades of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, tallied 13 goals and 53 assists in 50 games to capture the OJHL Top Defencemen Award. His 66 points was the 14th best total by a defenseman in league history.
In 2015-16, his 53 assists not only led all defensemen in the category, but also the entire league in general. The Guelph, Ontario native also led all defensemen in points with 66.
All of these accomplishments came just a year after moving from a forward to the blue line in junior B with the Guelph Hurricanes of the GOJHL.
Incoming 2016-17 Sun Devils' Brinson Pasichnuk and Tyler Busch were invited to NHL development camps following the draft. Pasichnuk -- rated as the No. 115 North American skater on NHL.com's Prospect List -- will attend the Minnesota Wild's camp starting on July 11, while Busch heads to the Columbus Blue Jacket's camp starting tomorrow.
Sun Devil Players in the NHL Draft
| 2016 | Patrick Kudla | Arizona Coyotes - Round 6, 158th overall |
| 2015 | Joey Daccord | Ottawa Senators - Round 7, 199th overall |
| 2013 | Wade Murphy | Nashville Predators - Round 7, 185th overall |
| 2012 | Robbie Baillargeon | Ottawa Senators - Round 5, 136th overall |