Gardiner Goes in First Round
June 21, 2008 | Men's Hockey
Wisconsin incoming freshman defenseman Jake Gardiner was drafted in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft on Friday. Gardiner was taken 17th by the Anaheim Ducks.
Gardiner's pick by Anaheim brings him into the fold with former Badger goaltender Dave McNab, who now serves the Ducks as the team's assistant general manager.
A Deephaven, Minn., native, Gardiner became the fourth first-round draft pick in two years for the Badgers, joining 2007 picks Kyle Turris (3rd overall - Phoenix), Ryan McDonagh (12th- Montreal) and Brendan Smith (27th ' Detroit), who were all chosen last season. Turris, a forward, signed with the Coyotes at the end of last season, while McDonagh and Smith, both defensemen, will both enter their sophomore seasons in 2008-09.
With Gardiner going in the first round, Wisconsin has now had 10 players drafted in the first round all-time, including six in the Mike Eaves' coaching era (2002-current). Mike Blaisdell was the first in 1980, taken 11th by the Detroit Red Wings. Other first-round picks include Patrick Flatley (21st - New York Islanders) in 1982, David Tanabe (16th - Carolina Hurricanes) in 1999, Dany Heatley (2nd - Atlanta Thrashers) in 2000, Ryan Suter (7th - Nashville Predators) in 2004, and Jack Skille (7th - Chicago Blackhawks) in 2005, as well as Turris, McDonagh and Smith last year.
The UW defense next season has the potential to boast five NHL draft picks taken in the first two rounds of the NHL draft. Junior defenseman Jamie McBain was drafted in the second round, 64th overall, by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. Sophomore Cody Goloubef is expected to get drafted sometime in the second round of this year's NHL draft on Saturday.
In addition to Gardiner and Goloubef, other incoming Badgers are also expected to be drafted on Saturday. Check back later on UWBADGERS.com to find out how the day unfolds. You can also watch the draft live beginning at 8:30 a.m. CT on NHL Network or live at NHL.com .
