Fixing Every NHL Team's Biggest Draft Miss
The National Hockey League's Entry Draft is a pivotal moment for teams to shape their future. Getting it right can lead to dynasty-level success, while mistakes can set franchises back for years. Let's play armchair general manager and correct the biggest draft miss for every NHL team, creating an alternate history of the league.
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks have had their fair share of draft successes, but one notable miss was in 2010 when they selected Emerson Etem with the 29th overall pick. Etem played just 149 games for the Ducks, failing to live up to his first-round billing. Instead, they could have chosen Justin Faulk, a solid defenseman who went 37th to the Carolina Hurricanes and is now a staple of the Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning.
Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes are still feeling the effects of a missed opportunity in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. They selected Scott Winkler with the 89th overall pick, but he never played an NHL game. Just two picks later, the Detroit Red Wings selected the highly talented goalie, Petr Mrazek. The Coyotes have struggled to find goaltending consistency, and Mrazek could have been their long-term solution.
Boston Bruins
While the Bruins have a rich history of drafting well, they might look back at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft with some regret. They selected Jake DeBrusk with the 14th overall pick, but he has yet to become the impact player they hoped for. Just two spots later, the Edmonton Oilers chose Mathew Barzal, who has since blossomed into a superstar and won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league's top rookie.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres have had a string of unfortunate draft misses, but one that stands out is passing on Connor McDavid in 2015. With the second overall pick, they selected Jack Eichel, who has since become a star in his own right. However, McDavid, drafted first overall by the Edmonton Oilers, is already considered one of the league's all-time greats, winning multiple Art Ross and Hart Trophies.
Calgary Flames
The Flames' 2011 draft could have used a bit of magic. They selected Tyler Wotherspoon with a first-round pick (26th overall), but he played only 30 NHL games. Instead, they could have chosen Nikita Kucherov, who went 58th to the Tampa Bay Lightning and has since become an MVP and Stanley Cup champion.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes hit the jackpot in 2013 with their first-overall pick, Seth Jones. However, in 2011, they missed an opportunity by selecting Ryan Murphy with the 12th overall pick. Murphy played just 134 games for the Hurricanes before being traded. They could have opted for Johnny Gaudreau, who went 104th to the Calgary Flames and is now a dynamic playmaker.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks have a history of drafting well, but one miss was in 2011 when they selected Mark McNeill with the 18th overall pick. McNeill played only 16 NHL games. They could have gone for Nikita Kucherov, who fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning at 58 and has since become one of the league's most feared scorers.
Colorado Avalanche
While the Avalanche have had their fair share of draft successes, they might look back at the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and wonder "what if?" They selected Conner Bleackley with the 23rd overall pick, but he never played an NHL game. Just three picks later, the Los Angeles Kings chose goaltender Thatcher Demko, who is now a standout for the Vancouver Canucks.
Columbus Blue Jackets
The Blue Jackets hit a home run in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft when they selected Alexander Wennberg with the 14th overall pick. However, in 2011, they missed out on a local talent. They chose Boone Jenner with the 37th overall pick, passing on Columbus native and future superstar Seth Jones, who went fourth overall to the Nashville Predators.
Dallas Stars
The Stars have had a mixed bag when it comes to drafting. In 2010, they selected Jack Campbell with the 11th overall pick, but he didn't live up to expectations. They could have opted for Vladimir Tarasenko, who went 16th to the St. Louis Blues and is now one of the league's most lethal snipers.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings are known for their savvy drafting, but even they have had some misses. In 2012, they selected Martin Frk with the 49th overall pick. Frk played just 95 games for the Red Wings before being traded. They might have been better off choosing Andrei Vasilevskiy, who went 19th to the Tampa Bay Lightning and is now one of the league's elite goaltenders.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers' draft history is infamous, especially their miss on Connor McDavid in 2015. With the third overall pick, they selected Leon Draisaitl, who has become a superstar in his own right. However, McDavid, drafted first overall by the Oilers the following year, is already considered one of the game's all-time greats.
Florida Panthers
While the Panthers have assembled a talented roster in recent years, they might regret passing on Mark Stone in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. They selected Quinton Howden with the 25th overall pick, but Stone, chosen 179th by the Ottawa Senators, has since become an elite two-way forward.
Los Angeles Kings
The Kings have had a successful run of drafting, but one miss was in 2007 when they selected Thomas Hickey with the fourth overall pick. Hickey played just 37 games for the Kings. They could have gone for the highly talented Vladimir Tarasenko, who went 16th to the St. Louis Blues and is now a goal-scoring machine.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild have had their share of draft hits and misses. In 2012, they selected Matt Dumba with the seventh overall pick, but he didn't quite reach the expected heights. They could have chosen Andrei Vasilevskiy, who went 19th to the Tampa Bay Lightning and is now one of the league's top goaltenders.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens have a rich history, but their drafting has been questionable at times. In 2012, they selected Alex Galchenyuk with the third overall pick, passing on local talent and future superstar Sebastian Kotkaniemi, who grew up a Canadiens fan and was drafted third overall by the team in 2018.
Nashville Predators
The Predators have built a solid team through the draft, but one miss was in 2011. They selected Magnus Hellberg with the 38th overall pick, but he played only one NHL game. They could have chosen John Gibson, a highly talented goaltender who went 39th to the Anaheim Ducks and is now a cornerstone for the Nashville Predators.
New Jersey Devils
The Devils have had a storied history, with iconic players like Martin Brodeur and Scott Stevens. However, their drafting has had some misses. In 2011, they selected Adam Larsson with the fourth overall pick, passing on future superstars like Nikita Kucherov and Johnny Gaudreau, who fell to later rounds.
New York Islanders
The Islanders have a rich history, including legendary players like Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier. In recent years, they've had success with picks like John Tavares. However, in 2012, they missed out on local talent Mathew Barzal, who grew up an Islanders fan. They selected Griffin Reinhart instead, and Barzal fell to them at the 16th pick in 2015.
New York Rangers
The Rangers have a proud history, including drafting future Hall of Famers like Brian Leetch. However, in 2012, they missed out on a potential star. They selected Brady Skjei with the 28th overall pick, passing on Morgan Rielly, who went fifth to the Toronto Maple Leafs and is now one ofthe league's top defensemen.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators have had their fair share of draft successes, including Erik Karlsson. However, in 2011, they missed out on a future superstar. They selected Mika Zibanejad with the sixth overall pick, passing on Nikita Kucherov, who fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning at 58 and is now an MVP and Stanley Cup champion.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers have a passionate fan base and a history of drafting well. However, in 2012, they missed out on a local talent. They selected Scott Laughton with the 20th overall pick, passing on Sean Couturier, who grew up just outside Philadelphia and fell to the Flyers at the eighth pick in 2011.
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Penguins are known for their drafting prowess, with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as notable picks. However, in 2012, they missed out on a future star. They selected Derrick Pouliot with the eighth overall pick, passing on Andrei Vasilevskiy, who went 19th to the Tampa Bay Lightning and is now a two-time Stanley Cup champion.
San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks have a history of drafting well, with picks like Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. However, in 2011, they missed out on a future superstar. They selected Tomas Hertl with the 17th overall pick, who has had a solid career, but they could have chosen Nikita Kucherov, who fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning at 58 and is now an MVP and Stanley Cup champion.
St. Louis Blues
The St. Louis Blues have had their fair share of draft successes, including Alex Pietrangelo and David Perron. However, in 2010, they missed out on a future superstar. They selected Jaden Schwartz with the 14th overall pick, who has been a solid player, but they could have chosen Vladimir Tarasenko, who fell to them at the 16th pick and is now one of the league's most lethal scorers.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Tampa Bay Lightning have become a powerhouse in recent years, largely due to their drafting prowess. They hit home runs with picks like Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman. However, in 2011, they missed out on a future star. They selected Vladislav Namestnikov with the 27th overall pick, who has had a decent career, but they could have chosen Johnny Gaudreau, who fell to the Calgary Flames at 104 and is now one of the league's most dynamic players.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a passionate fan base and a rich history. However, their drafting has been questionable at times. In 2012, they selected Morgan Rielly with the fifth overall pick, who has become a solid defenseman. But they could have chosen Mathew Dumba, who went seventh to the Minnesota Wild and is now one of the league's top blueliners.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have had their share of draft successes, including the Sedin twins and Roberto Luongo. However, in 2011, they missed out on a future star. They selected Nicklas Jensen with the 29th overall pick, who played just 24 games for the Canucks. They could have chosen John Gibson, who went 39th to the Anaheim Ducks and is now a top goaltender.
Vegas Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights entered the league in 2017 and immediately made waves with their expansion draft. However, in their first entry draft, they missed out on a potential star. They selected Cody Glass with the sixth overall pick, who has yet to live up to expectations. They could have chosen Brady Tkachuk, who went fourth to the Ottawa Senators and is now a cornerstone of their franchise.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals ended their championship drought in 2018, thanks in part to their drafting success. They hit a home run with Alex Ovechkin as the first overall pick in 2004. However, in 2010, they missed out on a future star. They selected Evgeny Kuznetsov with the 26th overall pick, who has been a solid player, but they could have chosen Vladimir Tarasenko, who went 16th to the St. Louis Blues and is now a goal-scoring machine.
Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets have had their share of draft successes, including Patrik Laine and Kyle Connor. However, in 2013, they missed out on a future superstar. They selected Josh Morrissey with the 13th overall pick, who has become a solid defenseman, but they could have chosen Seth Jones, who went fourth overall to the Nashville Predators and is now one of the league's top blueliners.
There you have it, a journey through the "what-ifs" of the NHL Entry Draft. While teams can't change the past, learning from these misses can help shape their strategies for future drafts.