Hidden NHL Draft Gems

One of the most intriguing things about any NHL Draft is the possibility that a star will be found in the later rounds, after the most highly-touted prospects have been taken. Here are some notables from the past 20 years, many of whom are testaments to perseverance.

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 26, 2013

Hidden NHL Draft Gems

Ondrej Palat | 2011

The Czech winger, a famed member of the Lightning's Triplets line with the undrafted Tyler Johnson and second-rounder Nikita Kucherov, was passed over twice until he was finally selected by Tampa Bay in the seventh round, fourth from last, with the 208th pick. Two years later his impressive rookie season (23 goals, 59 points, +32) made him the runner-up in the Calder Trophy voting. His penalty-killing skills and shutdown abilities were key ingredients of the Bolts’s run to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final.

Andrew Shaw | 2011

Agitating energy winger Andrew Shaw, a hero of the Blackhawks' run to the 2013 Stanley Cup — particularly their 3-OT win in Game 1 — was passed over in two successive NHL Drafts until Chicago finally took him in the fifth round, 139th overall, in 2011. "Best 19th rounder ever," joked teammate Patrick Kane.

Adam Henrique | 2008

Henrique, a 2012 Calder Trophy nominee who wasn't in the award discussion when the season began, was taken by New Jersey 82nd overall in 2008. Steve Stamkos and Drew Doughty went 1-2 respectively that year. Braden Holtby, the Capitals goaltender who made a splash during the 2012 postseason, was a fourth-rounder, at No. 93.

Kris Letang and Jonathan Quick | 2005

During the year in which the Penguins took Sidney Crosby first overall, they also landed cornerstone defenseman Kris Letang at 62. Jack Johnson (Hurricanes, No. 3) was the first of the 21 blueliners taken ahead of Letang. The Kings struck gold with Jonathan Quick (No. 72), who led them to silver (the Stanley Cup) in 2012. Goalies taken ahead of him: Kristofer Westblom (Wild, 65), Pier-Olivier Pelletier (Coyotes, 59), Ondrej Pavelec (Thrashers, 41), Jeff Frazee (Devils, 38), Tyler Plante (Panthers, 32), Tuukka Rask (Maple Leafs, 21) and Carey Price (Canadiens, 5). Other '05 notables: D Keith Yandle (Coyotes, 4th Rd. at 105) and RW Patric Hornqvist (Predators, 7th Rd. at 230 -- the last player taken in that draft.)

Mark Streit | 2004

The productive power play specialist was a dark horse pick out of Zurich, Switzerland at 262. Other notables from the year Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin topped the draft: right wing Ryan Callahan (Rangers, 4th Rd. at 127), right wing Kris Versteeg (Bruins, 5th Rd. at 134) and center Max Talbot (Penguins, 8th Rd. at 234).

Joe Pavelski, Dustin Byfuglien and Matt Moulson | 2003

The '03 draft, led by goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (Penguins, No. 1) yielded several gems. Joe Pavelski, taken by the Sharks at 205, blossomed into a reliable scorer (career-high 41 goals in 2013-14). Dustin Byfuglien (245) went as a defenseman but made his mark as a forward during Chicago's run to the 2010 Stanley Cup before returning to the blue line. Matt Moulson (263) didn't reach the NHL until '07 -- with the Kings -- and was later plucked off the scrap heap by the Islanders in '09. He suddenly produced three successive 30-goal seasons and a 2012 Lady Byng Trophy nomination for his gentlemanly play and sportsmanship.

Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott | 2003

The Blues' 2011-12 Jennings Trophy-winning netminders were taken at 271 and 291 respectively: Elliott was the next-to-last-player chosen in 2003. Halak later shot to stardom with Montreal during the 2010 playoffs, and his status as the undisputed No. 1 in St. Louis was challenged during the 2011-12 season by a strong showing from Elliott, who had played three nondescript seasons in Ottawa and Colorado.

Henrik Lundqvist | 2000

The year that starcrossed Rick DiPietro (Islanders) became the first goaltender ever taken No. 1 overall, the Rangers chose one, Brandon Snee, in the fifth round with the 143rd pick. King Henrik, their future three-time All-Star and 2012 Vezina-winner, arrived at 205 out of Vastra Frolunda, Sweden. Some of the other goalies who went before him: Brent Krahn (Flames, 9), Ilya Bryzgalov (Ducks, 44), Mathieu Chouinard (Senators, 45), Dan Ellis (Stars, 60), Mikael Tellqvist (Maple Leafs, 70), Peter Hamerlik (Penguins, 84), Jean-Francois Racine (Maple Leafs, 90), Stefan Liv (Red Wings, 102), Ghyslain Rousseau (Sabres, 111), Levent Szuper (Flames, 116), and Davis Parley (Panthers, 120).

Ryan Miller and Henrik Zetterberg | Brad Richards1999

Center Patrik Stefan was the Thrashers' overall No. 1 pick (ahead of the Sedin twins at 2 and 3). Brian Finley (Predators, 6th) was the first goalie taken, and he went on to play all of four NHL games. The Sabres lucked into their 2009-10 Vezina-winning All-Star workhorse at No. 138, after a total of 16 netminders were off the board, the best of the bunch being, arguably, journeyman Alex Auld (Panthers, 40). Detroit mainstay Zetterberg, at 210, is just one monument to the Red Wings' ability to mine Sweden for buried gold. Winger Johan Franzen was taken in the third round at No. 97 in 2004. Tomas Holmstrom was a 10th-round pick (257) in 1994. The great Nicklas Lidstrom was plucked in the third round (53) in 1989, well behind such blueline luminaries as Adam Bennett (No. 6), Doug Smolek (7), Jason Herter (8), Jason Marshall (9) and Lindsay Vallis (13).

Brad Richards and Pavel Datsyuk | 1998

The Lightning took center Vincent Lecavalier first overall and found another piece of their 2004 Stanley Cup championship team in Brad Richards at No. 64. He'd later win the Conn Smythe Trophy for them. (Another key member of that team, winger Martin St. Louis, was an undrafted free agent.) The Red Wings, meanwhile, scored with Pavel Datsuyk out of Yektarinburg, Russia, at 171. He's since been in the conversation regarding the NHL best all-around players, winning four Lady Byng (gentlemanly play) and three Selke (top two-way forward) trophies while earning six successive Selke nominations (2008-2013) as a key member of two Cup teams. Other notables from '98: Two-time Cup-winning defenseman Rob Scuderi (Penguins, 5th Rd. at No. 134) and RW Chris Neil (Senators, 6th Rd. at No. 161).

Brian Campbell | 1997

The offensively gifted, puck-moving defenseman was plucked out of OHL Ottwa at 156 and spent all or part of eight seasons with Buffalo, earning two of his four All-Star Game nods. Signed out of San Jose by Chicago in July 2008, he became a key member of the Blackhawks' 2009-10 Stanley Cup championship team. In 2012, Campbell helped the Florida Panthers snap a 11-year playoff drought and became the first blueliner since Red Kelly in 1954 to win the Lady Byng trophy.

Zdeno Chara | 1996

The top two picks were defensemen: Chris Phillips by Ottawa at No. 1 followed by Andrei Zyuzin (San Jan Jose). Another 19 blueliners were taken until the Islanders grabbed the towering 6-9 Chara at 56 out of Slovakia's Dukla Tencin Junior team. To the Isles' regret, they traded him after four seasons and Chara went on to make six All-Star Game appearances with Ottawa and Boston, win the 2009 Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defenseman, and lead the Bruins to the 2011 Stanley Cup as their captain.

Miikka Kiprusoff | 1995

Netminders Jean-Sebastien Giguere (Hartford, No. 13), Martin Biron (Buffalo, 16), Brian Boucher (Philadelphia, 22) and Marc Denis (Colorado, 25) went in the first round. Kiprusoff, at 216 out of TPS Turku, Finland, never got a chance in San Jose, where he was stuck behind Evgeni Nabokov, but when Calgary acquired him in November 2003 trade for a 2005 second-round pick, the Flames landed a cornerstone goalie who would backstop them to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final and win the Vezina in 2005-06.

Daniel Alfredsson | 1994

Ottawa's first pick in '94 was center Radek Bonk at No. 3 overall, but they found their now-venerable captain at 133, five rounds later after taking defenseman Stan Neckar (29) and goalie Bryan Masotta (81). Alfredsson won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year for 1995-96 and played 17 seasons for the Senators, topping 30 goals in a season four times (including 40+ twice) while making six All-Star Game appearances. He also won the 2012 King Clancy Trophy for leadership and humanitarian work. Other notables from '94: G Tim Thomas (Nordiques, 9th Rd. at 217), G Evgeni Nabokov (Sharks, 9th Rd. at 219) G Tomas Vokoun (Canadiens, 9th Rd. at 226), and G Marty Turco (Stars, 5th Rd. at 124).

Nikolai Khabibulin | 1992

The Lightning had the first overall pick and used it on defenseman Roman Hamrlik. The goalie who would later backstop them to their 2004 Stanley Cup did not arrive until March 2001 via trade with the Jets/Coyotes for whom he'd toiled for five seasons after being taken at 204. But when Winnipeg chose him out of CSKA Moscow in '92, they landed a four-time All-Star. The first goaltender taken that year: famous flash-in-the-pan Jim Carey (Washington, second round, 32). RW Jere Lehtinen (North Stars, 4th Rd. at 88) went on to win three Selke Trophies as the league's top two-way forward and win the Stanley Cup with Dallas in 1999.