The Florida Panthers absolutely dominated the 3rd round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in Minnesota by selecting 4 players, Vincent Trocheck 64th overall, Logan Shaw at 76th, Jonathan Racine 87th and Kyle Rau at 91st overall. Trocheck and Rau are centers, Shaw is a right wing and Racine is a defenseman.
Trocheck was 3rd on the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL with 62 points (26G/36A) in 68 games and was a +14.
Shaw was 1st in scoring with the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the QMJHL with 46 points (26G/20A) in 68 games.
Racine played in 68 games amassing 7 points (2G/5A) and accumulating 86 PIM.
Rau lit it up with the Eden Prairie (MN) high school scoring 81 points (40G/41A) in 28 games. Kyle’s brother Chad is a prospect for the Minnesota Wild.
Kyle Rau was named Mr. Hockey ( Minnesota’s top senior) last year, an honor awarded to the Florida Panthers’ prospect Nick Bjugstad last year. Dale Tallon loves him some Minnesota elites.