Bjugstad, Nelson Prepare for NHL Draft

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn—With the NHL Draft is a little over a month away, hockey players taking their games to the next level wait to see geographically where they will end up. This years crop of prospects include a couple of familiar names including Warroad’s Brock Nelson and the Mr. Hockey award winner Nick Bjugstad.

Both will have their names called likely during the first round of the draft.

Nick Bjugstad: The 2010 Mr. Hockey award winner has all the tools to be a top player in the NHL. Standing 6’4, weighing 200 pounds, the junior who will graduate a year early and play college hockey at the University of Minnesota is athletic, and has the characteristics of a captain.

Bjugstad finished his junior season with 34 goals and 69 points for Blaine.

Brock Nelson: Warroad's big Brock Nelson (he's 6-foot-3) has exceptional speed, size and stickhandling skills, and he doesn't mind throwing his body into an opposing defenseman if the opportunity presents itself. Nelson will play college hockey at the University of North Dakota.

Nelson capped his senior season with 53 goals and 95 points for Warroad.