Gold Mining: Each NHL staff’s finest late-round draft decide within the post-lockout period

The common hockey fan isn’t going to waste hours of their Saturday to see who their favourite staff picks late within the draft. More often than not, gamers picked after the fourth spherical barely even make it to an NHL coaching camp.
However it’s those that do that may be a few of the most enjoyable prospects – the blokes no one anticipated to be stars that went on to make a pleasant profession for themselves. You’ll be able to’t construct a staff of Ryan O’Reillys and Vladimir Tarasenkos – you want the Sammy Blais of the world to fill your roster spots and produce one thing completely different to the desk.
Groups may have their work reduce out for them this 12 months as they search for gems within the later rounds of the draft. Having a look all the best way again to the 2005 draft, who’re the most effective fifth-to-seventh-round draft picks by all 31 NHL franchises?
Anaheim Geese – Troy Terry, LW, fifth spherical in 2015 (148th general)Terry has only a handful of NHL video games underneath his belt, however he’s set to inherit a top-six position with the franchise subsequent season with Corey Perry out of the image. Seems to be like one of many largest steals of a proficient 2015 draft class.
Arizona Coyotes – Louis Dominigue, G, fifth spherical in 2010 (138th general)Arizona’s draft historical past may be very bleak within the later rounds of the draft, with Domingue and Scott Darling being the one two gamers drafted previous the fifth spherical to play 100 video games. Domingue had a fantastic season in Tampa Bay this 12 months however was lower than stellar in Arizona.
Boston Bruins – Matt Benning, D, sixth spherical in 2012 (175th general)We’re scraping the underside of the barrel right here, however Benning has performed the previous three years in Edmonton as a depth defender. He by no means as soon as hit the ice in a Bruins uniform, however with 205 video games to his credit score, he’s the one Bruins-drafted, late-round decide who has performed in at the very least 100 NHL contests.
Buffalo Sabres – Paul Byron, LW, sixth spherical in 2007 (179th general)Byron performed simply eight video games with Buffalo in 2010-11 however has been a key cog in Montreal’s lineup over the previous 4 years. He’s on tempo to succeed in the 500-game mark in 2020-21 and may hit 200 factors this coming season.
Calgary Flames – Michael Ferland, LW, fifth spherical in 2010 (133rd general)Ferland will get a pleasant contract this summer season after hitting 40 factors for the second straight 12 months. The Hurricanes energy ahead performs a bodily sport and may rating 20 objectives, too.
Carolina Hurricanes – Frederik Andersen, G, seventh spherical in 2010 (187th general) Andersen has a uncommon distinction of getting drafted twice, going 100 positions earlier in 2012 after failing to come back to phrases with the Hurricanes. Andersen is without doubt one of the finest goalies within the NHL right now, being the spine of Toronto’s rebirth as a aggressive staff.
Chicago Blackhawks – Andrew Shaw, RW, fifth spherical in 2011 (139th general) The Blackhawks have performed a incredible job at drafting within the later rounds, with Shaw being an vital member of the staff’s Cup victories in 2013 and 2015. He simply fell wanting the 50-point mark in Montreal this season and has 233 factors in 504 video games.
Colorado Avalanche – Will Butcher, D, fifth spherical in 2013 (123rd general)Butcher by no means signed with Colorado after spending 4 years on the College of Denver, as an alternative becoming a member of New Jersey in 2017-18. By way of 159 video games, the two-way defender has put up 74 factors.
Columbus Blue Jackets – Cam Atkinson, RW, sixth spherical in 2008 (157th general)Derek Dorsett was a fantastic seventh-round decide in 2006, however Atkinson was a fair larger steal within the sixth spherical two years later. With 186 objectives and 342 factors in 527 video games, together with a career-high 69 this 12 months, Atkinson has the 10th-most factors from this memorable draft class.
Dallas Stars – Jamie Benn, LW, fifth spherical in 2007 (129th general) Benn may retire right now and nonetheless be one of many biggest gamers to ever go well with up for the Stars. Regardless of a so-so marketing campaign this 12 months, Benn has been a giant contributor for his complete profession, recording 75-plus factors 4 occasions in his profession and he received the Artwork Ross Trophy in 2014-15.
Detroit Pink Wings – Darren Helm, LW, fifth spherical in 2005 (132nd general) Helm needed to battle his option to earn a spot on Detroit’s roster in 2008, finally serving to the staff win the Stanley Cup. He’s been a mainstay on the roster ever since, ending with 30 factors on three events as a depth ahead with over 600 video games performed.
Edmonton Oilers – Brandon Davidson, D, sixth spherical in 2010 (162nd general) That is a simple one given he’s the one eligible participant with 100 video games performed. Davidson performed with three completely different groups in 2017-18 and suited up for simply 16 contests between the NHL and AHL this season.
Florida Panthers – Zach Hyman, LW, fifth spherical in 2010 (123rd general) He by no means performed for the staff that drafted him, however Hyman has made a pleasant profession for himself lining up beside Auston Matthews in Toronto. The Panthers acquired Greg McKegg within the Hyman deal, who has bounced round a bit over the previous few years after taking part in 46 video games from 2015 to 2017 in Florida.
Los Angeles Kings – Colin Miller, D, fifth spherical in 2012 (151st general) Anticipated to maneuver on from Vegas this summer season in a salary-dump scenario, Miller will make a staff very pleased. He has 99 factors in 250 video games and performed a giant position on the enlargement membership over the previous two years. Miller by no means performed with L.A., however had a stable AHL tenure within the group.
Minnesota Wild – Erik Haula, C, fifth spherical in 2009 (182nd general)The Wild took an opportunity on Haula, a prep-school child, and he impressed within the early phases of his profession. Like Miller, Haula now makes a residing in Vegas however was restricted to simply 15 video games this 12 months after a breakthrough marketing campaign in 2017-18 when he put up 29 objectives and 55 factors.
Montreal Canadiens – Brendan Gallagher, RW, fifth spherical in 2010 (147th general)Montreal has all the time been often known as a staff that drafts properly within the later rounds and Gallagher stands out as the brightest instance. Gallagher scored 30 objectives for the second straight 12 months after having to choose up the slack left by the departures of Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk. He has develop into Montreal’s finest all-around ahead.
Nashville Predators – Patric Hornqvist, RW, seventh spherical in 2005 (230th general)A 12 months after taking Pekka Rinne within the eighth spherical, one thing that doesn’t exist anymore, the Preds obtained one other steal in Hornqvist with the ultimate decide. Hornqvist has hit the 50-point mark 4 occasions and the 40-point mark on 4 different events. This season was the primary the place he didn’t rating 20 objectives.
New Jersey Devils – Alex Kerfoot, C, fifth spherical in 2012 (150th general) Kerfoot by no means signed with New Jersey as a result of their depth down the center a couple of years again, however he has managed to place up 85 factors over two years with Colorado. Wanting again, it’s nearly like he and Butcher had been primarily traded for one another.
New York Islanders – Anders Lee, C, sixth spherical in 2009 (152nd general)From 2006 to 2009, 4 Islanders’ draft picks chosen within the fifth spherical or later have performed at the very least 400 video games, however no one has performed in addition to Lee. Among the finest facilities accessible in unrestricted free company, Lee has hit the 50-point plateau previously three seasons.
New York Rangers – Carl Hagelin, LW, sixth spherical in 2007 (168th general) Hagelin had a tough season in 2018-19, taking part in for 3 groups and by no means discovering his groove. However he’ll perpetually be remembered for his impression on Pittsburgh’s Stanley Cup run in 2016, scoring 16 factors in 24 video games within the staff’s first of two consecutive titles. Hagelin has been a stable depth ahead with 241 factors in 546 video games.
Ottawa Senators – Mark Stone, RW, sixth spherical in 2010 (178th general)Ottawa appears to draft higher within the late rounds than within the early phases. Stone was an absolute steal within the sixth spherical, with the massive ahead cementing himself as one of many NHL’s finest proper wingers after ending each full marketing campaign with at the very least 54 factors, spending all however 18 regular-season video games with the Sens.
Philadelphia Flyers – Patrick Maroon, LW, sixth spherical in 2007 (161st general)Maroon wanted six AHL seasons to lastly crack an NHL roster, however when he did, it was well worth the wait. He by no means performed for the Flyers, however he did have a 27-goal, 42-point marketing campaign in 2016-17 alongside Connor McDavid in Edmonton — and he simply received the Stanley Cup along with his hometown Blues.
Pittsburgh Penguins – Jake Muzzin, D, fifth spherical in 2007 (141st general) A member of Canada’s World Cup staff in 2016, Muzzin was a late-bloomer who didn’t have a task within the Penguins group, as an alternative embarking on a stable few years with Los Angeles. His restricted time in Toronto has been hit with combined opinions.
San Jose Sharks – Kevin Labanc, RW, sixth spherical in 2014 (171st general)The Sharks have had loads of good late-round gems, however Labanc would possibly find yourself being the most effective. A pending restricted free agent, Labanc is contemporary off a 56-point season and is due for a pleasant increase.
St Louis Blues – Ryan Reaves, RW, fifth spherical in 2005 (156th general)The Blues haven’t had nice success within the later rounds of drafts lately, however Reaves has performed 578 video games with three groups and is a fan favourite in Vegas as a fourth-line beast.
Tampa Bay Lightning – Ondrej Palat, LW, seventh spherical in 2011 (208th general) There’s no manner the Lightning may have anticipated a seventh-round decide would go on to submit 63 factors in his third season within the NHL. Accidents have restricted his motion over the previous two years, however Palat brings stable playmaking to the staff’s second line.
Toronto Maple Leafs – Anton Stralman, D, seventh spherical in 2005 (216th general)Toronto’s 2005 draft is legendary for having two gamers have large careers elsewhere: Stralman and Tuukka Rask. Stralman has spent the previous few years in Tampa Bay’s top-four however by no means discovered his groove in Toronto. Humorous sufficient, he’s the kind of man the Leafs want this summer season, and he occurs to be a UFA.
Vancouver Canucks – Ben Hutton, D, fifth spherical in 2012 (147th general) Hutton’s play in Vancouver is nothing particular, however he’s been a fantastic worth man for a rebuilding Canucks franchise. The pending RFA might be moved this summer season to make room on a crowded blueline, however Hutton ought to stay an NHLer subsequent season.
Vegas Golden Knights – Jack Dugan, LW, fifth spherical in 2017 (142nd general) No Golden Knights draft decide has ever performed for the principle membership, however Dugan had a powerful U.S. school rookie season with 39 factors in 41 video games with Windfall.
Washington Capitals – Mathieu Perreault, LW, sixth spherical in 2006 (177th general) The person with one of many craziest hairstyles within the NHL, Perrault had a handful of 40-point seasons with the Jets after not discovering a lot of a spot with the Capitals. He’s not a foul choice to have in your middle-six.
Winnipeg Jets – Connor Hellebuyck, G, fifth spherical in 2012 (130th general) The present Jets staff isn’t even a decade outdated but however they did get a steal in Hellebuyck again in 2012. He received 44 video games in 2017-18 and can look to rebound after placing up 34 W’s this previous season. At his finest, he’s one of many high goaltenders within the NHL.
Tags: nhl, nhl draftConnect: In regards to the AuthorSteven EllisSteven Ellis is a Digital Content material Producer for The Hockey Information. He spends his free time listening to music you would not like and watches obnoxiously-long motor races.