NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Incoming Fighting Irish freshman forward Sasha Pastujov was selected by the Anaheim Ducks with the second pick of the third round (66th overall) in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft on Saturday (July 24).
A Bradenton, Florida native, Pastujov becomes the 90th NHL Draft pick in program history and the 43rd under head coach Jeff Jackson.
Pastujov will be the second active Irish player in the Ducks prospect pool, joining junior forward Trevor Janicke, who was selected by Anaheim in the fifth round (132nd overall) in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Sasha Pastujov | Forward | Bradenton, Florida | USNTDP | 6-0 | 188
- A prospect in the upcoming 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he was 18th in the final NHL Central Scouting rankings (North America skaters).
- Played the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons with the USNTDP, finishing with 102 total points (37-65-102) to rank 23rd in program history.
- In 2020-21, he skated in 34 games and totaled a team-high 52 points on 23 goals and 29 assists.
- Also set the USNTDP’s all-time record with a 21-game point streak.
- Played in the 2021 BioSteel All-American Game and was named the Most Outstanding Player after scoring a pair of goals and adding an assist.
- In 2019-20, tied for the team lead with 50 points on 14 goals and 36 assists.
- With Team USA, took part in the 2020 U-17 Five Nations Tournament (second place), the 2019 U-17 Four Nations Tournament (first place) and the 2019 World U-17 Challenge (second place).
- Played U-14 and U-16 AAA with the Compuware program.
- Younger brother of Michigan players Michael (2017-pres.) and Nick (2016-20) Pastujov.
Irish in the 2020 NHL Draft
- Last year in the 2020 draft, Chicago selected Landon Slaggert in the third round (79th overall) to become Notre Dame’s highest pick since Andrew Peeke and Cam Morrison were chosen with the 34th and 40th picks in 2016.
- Colorado then traded up to pick Ryder Rolston in the fifth round (139th overall). Rolston’s rights were then traded to Chicago at the 2021 trade deadline.
- In addition, freshman defenseman Jake Boltmann, who joined the Irish at the semester break of the 2020-21 season, was selected in the third round (80th overall) by the Calgary Flames in the 2020 NHL Draft.
Irish in the NHL 2020-21
- Last season, thirteen former Fighting Irish players appeared in the National Hockey League, including:
- Anders Bjork (Boston Bruins/Buffalo Sabres)
- Ian Cole (Colorado Avalanche/Minnesota)
- Jake Evans (Montreal Canadiens)
- Steven Fogarty (Buffalo Sabres)
- Dennis Gilbert (Colorado Avalanche)
- Jordan Gross (Arizona)
- Vinnie Hinostroza (Florida Panthers)
- Anders Lee (New York Islanders)
- Kyle Palmieri (New Jersey Devils/New York Islanders)
- Andrew Peeke (Columbus)
- Cal Petersen (Los Angeles Kings)
- Bryan Rust (Pittsburgh Penguins)
- Riley Sheahan (Buffalo Sabres)
Recent Professional Signings
- Following the 2020-21 Notre Dame season, junior defenseman Nate Clurman, senior defenseman Matt Hellickson and junior forward Alex Steeves signed professional contracts.
- Clurman joined the Colorado organization after being selected by the Avalanche in the sixth round (161st overall) in the 2016 draft.
- Hellickson signed with New Jersey after the Devils selected him in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2017 draft.
- An undrafted free agent, Steeves inked a three-year entry-level contract for the 2021-22 season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Current Irish in the NHL Draft
- Jack Adams (GS., F): Detroit Red Wings, sixth round/162nd overall (2017)
- Nick Leivermann (Sr., D): Colorado Avalanche, seventh round/187th overall (2017)
- Jake Pivonka (Sr., F): New York Islanders, fourth round/103rd overall (2018)
- Spencer Stastney (Sr., D): Nashville Predators, fifth round/131st overall (2018)
- Trevor Janicke (Jr., F): Anaheim Ducks, fifth round/132nd overall (2019)
- Landon Slaggert (So., F): Chicago Blackhawks, third round/79th overall (2020)
- Ryder Rolston (So., F): Colorado Avalanche, fifth round/139th overall (2020)*
- Jake Boltmann (Fr., D): Calgary Flames, third round/80th overall (2020)
* Rights traded to Chicago
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