AHL-signed Mistelbacher, Martin named to NHL draft list

A pair of Eastman players are in the running to be drafted to the NHL this year.

Luke Mistelbacher and Owen Martin were both named to the NHL central scouting’s final ranking list, along with 12 other Manitoba players.

Mistelbacher was eligible to be drafted last season, but NHL teams passed on him. Undeterred, the forward from Steinbach pressed on, earning an invite to the Winnipeg Jets prospect camp and playing with the team at a prospect tournament last summer.

He peaked at 113 in the NHL central scouting rankings, but his play this season has him 93rd. Mistelbacher picked up right where he left off in the tail end of last season, potting 42 goals and 51 assists for 93 points in just 67 games for the Swift Current Broncos. That had him as the eighth most productive player in the WHL.

He led Swift Current in both goals and points, playing alongside fellow Manitoban and 2024 5th round Seattle draft pick Clarke Caswell.

Mistelbacher’s pro career took a step forward this week, as the 2005-born forward made his debut with the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League. He signed an amateur try-out contract and appeared in the Wild’s final two games of the regular season.

Mistelbacher made those minutes count, scoring his first professional goal in Iowa’s final game of the season, a 2-1 shootout loss to Grand Rapids April 19.

Mistelbacher intercepted an attempted first period break-out with his skate in the middle of the slot, and wasted no time, unleashing a strong shot after the ricochet past the Grand Rapids goaltender’s blocker side. One of Iowa’s assistant captains, Brendan Gaunce, was quick to pick up the puck, which Mistelbacher proudly showed off following the game.

Martin, a 2007-born player from Oakbank, is in his second full season with the Spokane Chiefs, who are playing in the Western Hockey League quarterfinals against Victoria.

After a full season with Spokane last year, Martin has developed as a strong forward, scoring at nearly a point per game despite battling injuries this season. He has 13 goals and 21 assists in 34 games this season. Playing on the Chiefs’ third line, he’s chipped in with a pair of assists so far during the playoffs.

Spokane’s season continued thanks to a game six victory over the Victoria Royals in the WHL quarterfinals. They’ll play the Portland Winterhawks in the league’s Western Conference finals.

Martin is ranked 54th in the final NHL central scouting rankings, which only include North American skaters. He’ll be hoping to join brothers Quinton (drafted in the first round in 2010) and Brett Howden (drafted in the first round in 2016) as NHL draft picks from Oakbank.

The NHL draft will take place June 27/28 in Los Angeles this season. The Manitoba Junior Hockey League had no current players make the draft list, although former Niverville Nighthawks goaltender Raiden LeGall, who now plays for Everett in the WHL, was ranked 28th for North American goalies.