Three incoming freshmen were selected on the second day of the NHL Draft to give Minnesota five picks in this year’s draft and 23 in the past four seasons.

Zach Budish, Josh Birkholz and Seth Hegelson all went within the top four rounds, joining sophomore Jordan Schroeder and freshman Nick Leddy who were both selected yesterday in round one.

Budish was selected 41st overall by the Nashville Predators in the second round. Budish, who is expected to play as a power forward for Minnesota, missed his senior season of hockey after suffering a knee injury during football season. In a previous interview he said he had been working hard to rehabilitate his knee and it no longer effected him in practice.

Birkholz, another forward, followed in the third round when the Florida Panthers selected him 67th overall. Birkholz played for Blake High School until his senior year when he played juniors in the United States Hockey League at Fargo South High School.

Hegelson was the final Gopher drafted this season, selected in the fourth round by the New Jersey Devils, 114th overall. Hegelson, a defensemen, also played in the USHL his senior year with Souix City.

It is expected that all five players drafted this year will still play for Minnesota this season.