The NHL Draft was this past weekend, and as expected, Macklin Celebrini went first overall to the San Jose Sharks. As the first overall pick, there are high expectations for Celebrini. Less so for the players that were taken in later rounds.
But that doesn’t mean they’ll never amount to anything. In fact, there have been some pretty great players selected in the late stages of the draft.
So, this week I’m looking at the best late round draft picks of all-time. You’re going to be seriously shocked at some of these.
Daniel Alfredsson: 133rd overall
Daniel Alfredsson — yes, the Daniel Alfredsson — was taken by the Ottawa Senators in the sixth round of the 1994 Draft, and he quickly became a mainstay in Canada’s capital, winning the Calder Trophy for rookie of the year. He’s a six-time all-star, an Olympic gold medalist, and he’s the Senator’s all-time leader in games played, goals, assists, and points.
Who did the Sens draft ahead of Alfy that year? Radek Bonk, Stan Neckar, Bryan Masotta, and Mike Gaffney. At least Bonk made our list of All-Time Best Hockey Names TK.
doug gilmour: 134th overall
Selected in the seventh round of the 1982 draft by the St. Louis Blues, Doug Gilmour was a hockey player’s hockey player, with the missing teeth to match. Dougie’s tenacity and grit helped the relatively small centre thrive in a big man’s game, making him one of the greatest hockey captains of all-time.
That grit and determination were on full display in the 1993 Stanley Cup Playoffs, when Gilmour notched what may be the greatest goal in hockey history, his incredible double wraparound double-overtime winner against Curtis Joseph and the St. Louis Blues in game one of the Norris Division finals. So who went number one overall in 1982, you ask? The Boston Bruins chose Gord Kluzak in that spot.
luc robitaille: 171st overall
He’s a member of the 500 goal club and the 1,000 point club. He’s a Stanley Cup champion, an eight-time all-star, and he’s the second highest scoring left winger in NHL history. And yet, Luc Robitaille was only selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the ninth round of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft.
Interestingly, Robitaille and fellow Hall of Famer, Brett Hull were both selected behind another Hall of Famer — MLB Hall of Famer Tom Glavine, who was taken 69th overall, also by the LA Kings. Glavine, of course, went on to a storied career as a pitcher with the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets.
dominik hasek: 199th overall
We all know what Dominik Hasek achieved in his career, but in 1983 selecting him was a big risk because there was no guarantee that he would be allowed to leave communist Czechoslovakia to play in the NHL. As a result, he didn’t get picked until the end of the 10th round.
When communism collapsed in Europe, the Dominator quickly hopped the pond to do what he does best: dominate.
henrik lundqvist: 205th overall
King Henrik was drafted 205th overall in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, making him the latest drafted goaltender to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Lundqvist would go on to be a five-time all-star, a Vezina trophy winner, and the New York Rangers’ all-time wins leader.
It’s funny to think that the cornerstone of the Rangers franchise for 15 seasons was selected with a pick that has about as much trade value as a three dollar bill.
joe pavelski: 205th overall
He’s not a Hall-of-Famer… yet. But, he’s about 25 goals away from 500 and he’s already crossed the 1,000 point threshold, and those are the unwritten prerequisites for HOF status. Even if he doesn’t crack the Hall, Pavs has left his mark on the game as one of the most consistent players of his generation.
Despite the solid numbers, though, Joe Pavelski was apparently not a solid pick in the 2003 draft. That’s why the Sharks chose Steve Bernier, Josh Hennessy, and Jonathan Tremblay ahead of him.
dustin byfuglien: 245th overall
Dustin Byfuglien may be the most unique player to ever pull on a hockey jersey. He’s the only player I can think of whose playing style can best be described as “hilarious”.
Big Buff had the power of ten men on the ice, and when things got heated he’d often choose to fight multiple opponents at once. His body checks are the thing of legends, but he also had a heavy shot and incredible offensive skills (remember when he banked a goal in off of Jordan Binnington’s head? See? Hilarious.)
Big Buff had every tool in the shed, and he could take over a game with a big hit, a big shot, a sweet snipe, or an epic fight.
Gosh, I miss that guy.
the russians
Back in the 1980s several Russian players were drafted in the late stages of the NHL entry draft because there was uncertainty if the USSR would allow them to come over to North America to play in the NHL. Vladislav Tretiak was taken 138th overall in 1983 (and never played), Slava Fetisov was drafted 201st overall in 1978, and Igor Larionov went 214th overall in ‘85.
Sergei Makarov was selected by the Calgary Flames 231st overall in the 1983 draft, making him the latest drafted Hall of Famer. But, if there was certainty that these incredible Russian players would be allowed to come to North America, they would have been selected much, much earlier. Maybe even in the first round.
it all starts with a hockey sweater
Congrats to all of this year’s draftees! It is always cool to watch selections pull on their first NHL hockey sweater and start their big league journey.
Who knows, maybe one or two of the late-round picks from 2024 will find their way to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
But we won’t really know until about 2040. Until then, I’ll be writing the 4 Shots with Keener newsletter. It’s full of my thoughts and quotes about hockey culture and hockey jerseys, so subscribe here and make sure you don’t miss out.
See you next week!
