Spokane Chiefs F Hudson Elynuik – Draft Eligible Prospects With NHL Bloodline’s

Spokane Chiefs F Hudson Elynuik – Prospects with NHL Bloodline’s

Spokane Chiefs F Hudson Elynuik is number eight on our list in a series dedicated to draft-eligible prospects with current or past family ties to the NHL. Hudson is the son of former NHLer Pat Elynuik, drafted 8th overall by Winnipeg back in 1986.

Matthew Tkachuk, Jakob Chychrun, Alex Nylander, Kieffer Bellows, and Logan Brown are the first names to come to mind for 2016 draft-eligible prospects with current/or former NHL bloodline’s.

Both Keith Tkachuk and Michael Nylander had long, successful careers. Brian Bellows played nearly 1200 games, producing more than 1000 points. Jeff Brown also had a solid career posting 585 points in 747 points from the back-end. Jeff Chychrun was a 1984 draft pick, a veteran of 262 games playing until 1993-94, finishing his career with AHL Cape Breton.

We are featuring 15 draft-eligible prospects with NHL bloodline’s/family ties. The 2016 NHL Entry Draft will be held on June 24-25 in Buffalo, New York at the First Niagara Center.

NHL Bloodline’s: Spokane Chiefs F Hudson Elynuik

Spokane Chiefs F Hudson Elynuik
Father: Pat Elynuik

A highly touted WHL sniper, Pat Elynuik won a Memorial Cup Championship with the Prince Albert Raiders in 1984-85 during his rookie season. He was taken 8th overall after producing 106 points (53 goals) in 1985-86. Pat followed that up with 113 points (51 goals) during his final WHL season in 1986-87. Elynuik was also a star for Team Canada at the World Juniors in 1987, posting 11 points (six goals) in six games.

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He spent most of the 1987-88 season with AHL Moncton, producing 29 points in 30 games. Pat also made his NHL debut, enjoying a four-point, 13-game stint with Winnipeg.

Pat Elynuik appeared in seven more games (10 points) for Moncton in 1988-89. He spent the majority of the season with the Jets, posting 26 goals, 25 assists (51 points) in 56 games.

Finally earning full-time duties in 1989-90, Elynuik produced 32 goals, 42 assists (74 points) in 80 games. His point total dropped in 1990-91, tallying 65 points (31 goals) in 80 games. Pat missed time in 1991-92, managing 50 points (25 goals) in 60 games.

At the beginning of the 1992-93 season (October), Pat Elynuik was traded to Washington in exchange for John Druce. He produced 57 points (22 goals) in 80 games with the Capitals. Pat appeared in four more games (two points) for Washington in October of 1993, then was traded to Tampa Bay for a conditional draft pick. He made 63 appearances with TB that season, tallying just 26 points (12 goals).

He joined another newer Franchise in 1994-95, suiting up for the Ottawa Senators. Pat only appeared in 41 games that season, posting a disappointing 10 points (three goals). Still with the Sens organization in 1995-96, Elynuik split the year between the NHL and IHL. He only tallied three points in 29 games with Ottawa, adding 50 points (22 goals) in 42 games with Fort Wayne.

Pat Elynuik spent the entire 1996-97 with IHL’s Michigan K-Wings, producing 58 points (24 goals) in 81 games. He would end up retiring from pro hockey following an entire season in the minors.

He made three playoff appearances during his NHL career (two with Winnipeg, one with Washington) – but never managed to escape the first round. He was an effective playoff performer, tallying 15 points in 20 games. Pat appeared in 506 games over his nine-year NHL career, posting 154 goals, 188 assists (342 points).

Pat Facts:

– Voted TSN.ca’s Greatest All-Time Team Canada World Junior player.
– Retired at 29-years-old
– Pat was only 6’1 185lbs (four inches shorter than Hudson)
– He was signed by Dallas in 1996-97, but never saw a game with them, eventually retiring at season’s end.
– Elynuik’s most productive years were playing alongside Winnipeg’s Thomas Steen.
– One of the main criticisms of Elynuik was that he had no physical element to his game. He shied away from the front of the net and was not much of a banger. He was a good skater who knew how to get himself open for a shot, usually either at the top or bottom of the right faceoff circle. Despite his lack of grit, Elynuik was a decent defensive player. [Joe Pelletier]

Spokane Chiefs F Hudson Elynuik – 122nd Ranked North American Skater (NHL Central Scouting Mid-Term Rankings)

At 6’5 201lbs, Hudson has sprouted three inches since first making his WHL debut back in 2012-13 with the Kootenay Ice. He was traded to Spokane midway through the 2013-14 season, and continues to show improvement in his game year-after-year.