Former Nanook Blueliner Eckford Called Up To NHL (Plus, Fun Draft Facts & UAA-Aces-Alaska Connections)

Former UAF defenseman Tyler Eckford, a second-year pro tearing up the American Hockey League, today was called up by the NHL's New Jersey Devils.

The Devils next play Thursday at Nashville, so that could be the site of Eckford's NHL debut.

Eckford, who is fourth among AHL defensemen in points with 5-10--15 totals and a +9 rating for the Lowell Devils, was a seventh-round draft pick of New Jersey's in 2004. He was taken 217th overall, which makes him seem like a longshot to make it to the NHL.

But nine guys from the seventh round in 2004 already have played in the NHL, not to mention five guys from the eighth round that year and six guys from the ninth, and final, round.

By the way, a couple of ninth-rounders that year were former UAA captain Luke Beaverson (283rd overall, Florida) and current UAA senior defenseman Nils Backstrom (290th overall out of 291 draft picks, Detroit).

Other Alaska-related notables from that 2004 draft: Former Alaska Aces goaltender Marek Schwarz (St. Louis, 1st round, 17th overall); New York Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky of Anchorage (NYR, 2nd round, 60th overall); erstwhile Aces center John Lammers (Dallas, 3rd round, 86th overall); former Aces enforcer Eric Neilson (Los Angeles, 5th round, 143rd overall); former Aces winger Moises Gutierrez of Anchorage (Pittsburgh, 6th round, 164th overall); former Aces winger Mike Curry of Eagle River (Los Angeles, 7th round, 205th overall); and fomer Aces winger Steve Covington (Detroit, 7th round, 226th overall).

Oh, the top two picks in that year's draft were a winger named Alexander Ovechkin (Washington) and a center named Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh). Wonder if those dudes ever panned out?