Title: Unveiling the NHL Draft’s Historical Missteps: A Closer Look at the Worst Picks Over Three Decades

Introduction:

The NHL Draft is a crucial event where franchises meticulously select the future stars of the league. With each passing year, hopeful prospects enter the draft pool, bringing with them a wealth of anticipation and excitement. However, not every selection proves to be a diamond in the rough, as the annals of the past 30 years bear witness to some less fortunate choices. In this comprehensive article, we embark on a journey through time to examine the draft’s most ill-fated picks, scrutinizing each of the 32 picks from the first round. From the ill-advised selections that left teams in despair to the missed opportunities that could have altered the course of hockey history, we explore the worst draft picks for every number over three decades, shedding light on the cautionary tales that haunt the NHL’s draft record. Join us as we uncover the unexpected twists, the head-scratching choices, and the untapped potential that define the draft’s dark side. I will pick what I can tell is the worst pick for each number. Correct me if I’m wrong or missed someone. The best picks for each number isn’t so much the best but the picks with the most points all time and then in the last 30 years.

#32

Best Picks- Tony McKegney (1978) & Christian Fischer (2015)

Worst

Evan Lindsay a former Olds Grizzlys goalie never played a game in the NHL. He mainly bounced around the ECHL playing with several teams.

Janos Vas is a Hungarian with Huge reach, and he cant even score in the Swedish Tier II league, although injuries have really hampered him.  He was an ultimate Euro minor league suitcaser.

Tyler Knight the 5-foot-11 winger spent his draft year with the always-dominant London Knights, where he registered 57 points in 63 games. He spent five years in the Providence Bruins before they traded him to the Iowa Wild during the 2014-15 season in exchange for Zack Phillips. Knight never ended up making his NHL debut, remaining with the Wild organization until 2016-17. He then spent one year with Esbjerg Energy of the Danish league before retiring following the season.

Mitch Moroz spent most of his time after being drafted by the Edmonton Oilers with the Idaho Steelheads of the ECHL. Moroz’s NHL career never took off, as he never had the opportunity to play a single game in the league. Instead, he spent three seasons honing his skills in the American Hockey League (AHL). However, his rights were eventually traded to the Arizona Coyotes, who chose not to extend a qualifying offer to the 6-foot-3 forward when his entry-level contract expired after the 2016-17 season.

Following his time in the AHL, Moroz continued playing professional hockey for three more years but at a lower level. He joined teams in the ECHL, a tier below the AHL, before ultimately deciding to retire from the sport. In a poignant appearance on the Hockey 2 Hell And Back podcast last year, Moroz opened up about his decision to step away from hockey. During the interview, he candidly discussed the challenges he faced with mental health issues and physical injuries, shedding light on the difficult journey he experienced in his hockey career.

Winner- Mitch Moroz– It was close between him and Knight. The other 2 had longer careers at least in the minors.

#31

Best Picks- Tiger Williams (1974) & Brendan Lemieux (2014)

Worst

Ilja Nikulin never left Russia to come over and play in North America. He is good friends with Alexander Ovechkin and even the godfather of his son. Hard to find much on him he just flat out never bothered coming over to play.

While Salmonsson wasn’t a first-round draft choice as there weren’t enough teams then for 31 to be in the first round🤪, he was a flat out bust who doesn’t have the excuse of injuries for not panning out. He just never did, despite being one of the most highly touted Swedish players in the entire draft.

During his draft year, Salmonsson’s performance with Djurgardens IF Stockholm in the SEL (Swedish Elite League) was underwhelming, as he failed to score a single goal and only recorded three points in 25 games. Despite these lackluster offensive numbers, he was drafted based on his resilience, hard-working attitude, and impressive skating abilities. However, it became evident that his potential did not translate to success outside of Europe, leaving the Pittsburgh Penguins puzzled by his development. He then came over and played a season in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs in 2005-06 where he really wasn’t that impressive.

Since then, Salmonsson went back home and has spent the past 17 years playing in various European leagues. He has had stints in the Swiss-A league, the SHL (formerly known as the SEL), and the DEL. Currently, he is a member of Oskarshamn IK in the SHL, where he has contributed four goals and 11 points in 27 games. Unfortunately, Salmonsson never had the opportunity to showcase his skills in North America pro, as he never played a single game in the NHL.

Salmonsson’s career trajectory serves as a reminder that not every promising player drafted by an NHL team fulfills their potential or finds success at the highest level. Despite his prolonged professional career in European leagues, his inability to make an impact in North America leaves his NHL dream unfulfilled and raises questions about the factors that contributed to his lack of development in the NHL.

Jeremy Roy, selected in the second round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks, is often considered a disappointing pick and labeled as a bust due to various factors related to his career development. At the time of his draft, Roy was seen as a promising defenseman with solid offensive skills. He had shown potential playing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for the Sherbrooke Phoenix and was known for his ability to contribute offensively and quarterback the power play. These attributes led the Sharks to select him 31st overall in the draft.

However, Roy’s journey after being drafted was marred by a series of unfortunate events and setbacks. He struggled with injuries, which significantly hampered his progress and limited his playing time. During his draft year, Roy suffered a season-ending knee injury that required surgery and kept him off the ice for an extended period.

In subsequent seasons, Roy’s injury troubles persisted, hindering his ability to establish consistency and reach his potential. He underwent additional surgeries, including one to repair a torn quadriceps tendon, which further disrupted his development and delayed his return to competitive play. He spent 4 seasons in the AHL with San Jose and San Diego before heading to Europe for the KHL where he is currently playing.

Winner- Its close but it may have to go to Johannes and even that is tight.