The Los Angeles Kings selected center Alex Turcotte of the United States National Development Program with the No. 5 overall pick in the NHL draft Friday in Vancouver.
Turcotte scored 62 points (27 goals, 35 assists) in only 37 games for nearly a two points per game average that ranked second only to Jack Hughes, who was selected by the Devils with the top overall pick. The 18-year-old Turcotte’s 62 points ranked sixth on the USNTDP roster despite him missing time early in the season with a hip injury than later on in March with mononucleosis.
Internationally, he tallied four goal and nine points in seven games for the United States as they fell to Finland in the gold-medal game at the under-18 World Championship in Sweden.
The Island Lake, Illinois native played for the Chicago Mission under-16 team prior to moving in with the Hughes family in Michigan, and suiting up for USNTDP. Turcotte is the first Mission product to be selected in the first round since Ryan Hartman (2013) and Nick Schmaltz (2014) were taken in back-to-back years by the Blackhawks.
Turcotte is the first Illinois-born player to be drafted in the first round since defenseman John Moore of Wilmette, Illinois, was taken with the No. 21st overall pick in 2009 by the Blue Jackets.
Turcotte, the son of former NHLer Alfie Turcotte, is committed to the University of Wisconsin and will likely play, at least, one season with the Badgers before turning pro.