More Coverage: 2021 NHL Draft Central
The Lightning started the day by drafting defenseman Roman Schmidt from the U.S. National Development Team in the third round, 96th overall. Schmidt, 18, skated in 45 games during the 2020-21 season, posting three goals and 14 points to go along with 49 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-5, 210-pound defenseman also played for the U.S. at the Under-18 World Jr. Championships, skating in all five games for his country. Schmidt, a native of Midland, Michigan, is committed to play for the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League next season.
The Bolts traded into the fourth round and selected forward Dylan Duke from the U.S. National Development Team with the 126th overall pick. Duke, 18, played in 50 games for the U.S National Under-18 Team last season, posting 29 goals and 49 points to go along with 32 penalty minutes. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound forward also represented the U.S. at the U-18 World Jr. Championship, registering three goals and four points. The Strongsville, Ohio native is committed to play at the University of Michigan this upcoming year.
With the 160th overall pick in the fifth round, the Lightning drafted forward Cameron MacDonald from the Saint John Sea Dogs of the QMJHL. MacDonald, 18, skated in 30 games during his rookie season in 2020-21, notching 10 goals and 17 points to go along with 30 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound forward ranked fifth on the team for goals. MacDonald also chipped in with four playoff goals in 2021, ranking tied for second on the team. The Hammond Plains, Nova Scotia native skated in 44 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL in 2019-20, collecting six goals and 20 points.
The Lightning selected defenseman Alex Gagne from the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL with their sixth round, 192nd overall pick. Gagne, 18, skated in 53 games last season for the Lumberjacks, posting three goals and 26 points to go along with a +35 rating and 24 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound defenseman ranked first in the USHL among defensemen for plus/minus. Gagne, a native of Bedford, New Hampshire, has appeared in 91 career USHL games over the past two seasons, posting five goals and 34 points. Gagne is committed to play at the University of New Hampshire next season.
The Bolts drafted defenseman Daniil Pylenkov from the KHL with their seventh round, 196th overall pick. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound defenseman played in 54 KHL games last year for Vityaz Podolsk, collecting five goals and 19 points to go along with 16 penalty minutes. The 20-year old skated for Russia at the 2020 World Jr. Championships, recording one assist in seven tournament games.
With the 211th overall pick in the seventh round, Tampa Bay drafted forward Robert Flinton from St. Paul's Prep School in New Hampshire. Flinton, 17, skated in six games last season for St. Paul's, recording five goals and nine points. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound forward posted 11 goals and 14 assists in 27 games for St. Paul's during the 2019-20 regular season. Flinton, a native of Auburn, New Hampshire, is committed to play for Dartmouth College in 2022-23.
The Lightning finished their day by selecting forward Niko Huuhtanen from Tappara of the U20 SM-sarja with the final pick of the draft (224th overall). Huuhtanen, 18, played in 37 games last season for Tappara, recording 20 goals and 34 points to go along with 73 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound forward also skated in seven games for Finland at the Under-18 World Jr. Championships this year, notching two goals and five points. The Helsinki, Finland native will be playing for the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League this upcoming season.
