Michigan Hockey Recruitment Dylan Duke Selected in 4th Round of Stanley Cup Champion Lightning

Another player from the University of Michigan is out of government in the 2021 NHL draft.

Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning selected incoming physical striker Dylan Duke on Saturday in the fourth round (No. 126). The 5-foot-10-Ohio native will be the sixth Wolverine, drawn this year, to get rid of program record tying.

Duke had 29 goals and 20 assists in 50 matches last season, playing in the U.S. national team development program, and some drafting experts were predicted to be the second or third round of choice.

I don’t think the thing Dylan does so well is a big guy, but he plays a big one, Chris Peters,Hockey Sense is the editor of Substack magazineand a former NHL draft and ESPN potential analyst told MLive last week. He becomes a front-end problem for the network. He’s really good in tight areas. Hell is the kind of guy you have to be in power games.

Duke is one of two NTDP players in the Michigans newcomer class, along with defender Luke Hughes, who was selected fourth by the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

Dylan is a tireless worker with good hands in tight spaces and willing to pay the price, Michigan assistant coach Bill Muckalt said in a statement released last month after Duke signed a national letter of intent. He is a perfect player with good details about his game. He’s a real competitor and was excited about what he’s going to bring to our team on a daily basis because we think he’s the guy who makes others around him better.

The 2021 NHL draft has already been historic for the Wolverines, who became the first university team to produce the two best selections in a single draft. Defender Owen Power went No. 1 to the Buffalo Sabers and striker Matty Beniers headed for Seattle. Kraken No. 2.

Michigan also became the first team to have three current players and five players (including recruits) in the first round of one draft. Striker Kent Johnson, who was second on the team with 27 points last season, was selected through the Columbus Blue Jackets for five, while new future striker Mackie Samoskevich went 24th for the Florida Panthers.

MORE ABOUT MICHIGAN DRAFT:

So many features: Buffalo Sabers GM high on UMs Owen Power, number 1 in NHL draft

Pretty special: Michigan hockey steals the limelight in the NHL draft with five first-round selections

Michigan Hockeys historic NHL draft continues as recruited Mackie Samsoskevich goes to Panthers No. 24

2021 NHL Draft: Kent Johnson becomes fourth UM player to be selected from the first five selections

Michigan-recruited Luke Hughes becomes third brother selected in first round of NHL draft

2021 NHL Draft: Michigan hockey produces two of the most popular players, Matty Beniers selected by Seattle Kraken