The Fighting Irish don’t have a lot of quality players under 25 years of age, so General Manager Gayle Rock could afford to take players at any position she wanted with the 8th pick in the Season 9 Draft, and she opted for a left wing.

Calvin Thurkauf has good size and a knack for scoring goals, often as deflections or shots from in tight. He is the second Swiss player selected in a row and he is the second big, talented, young left wingers expected to be new to training camp. Dublin took Pierre-Luc Dubois 9th overall in the Season 7 draft and he has received his attributes (89 PO) so he can now see Dublin’s tailor for a green sweater. Dubois and Thurkauf can also both play center if needed. They will form the young nucleus of the team along with other U25s Christian Dvorak, Teuvo Teravainen and Hampus Lindholm.

Back to Thurkauf, who grew up in the lakeside city of Zug … some scouts see a little Sam Reinhart in him due to his puck skill and craftiness. He will often slither to the front of the net to screen goalies and look for tip-ins. The draft guide said this about him: “came to North America to play in the Western League with Kelowna and a host of NHL draftees such as Lucas Johansen, Cale Foote and Kole Lind. His goal output increased from 18 to 33 last season and he will be a year or two away from a roster spot once he’s drafted. Hockey sense and shooting ability are his two strongest attributes, defense is his worst and scouts say he needs to use his size more to his advantage.”