#15

Best Picks- Joe Sakic (1987) & Erik Karlsson (2008)

Worst

Title: The Cursed 15th Overall Pick: Unraveling NHL’s Biggest Draft Busts

The NHL draft has seen its fair share of success stories and disappointments over the years. Among the less fortunate are those players who were selected at the 15th overall pick, a position that seems to have an uncanny curse attached to it. Let’s take a closer look at the ill-fated careers of Matt Zultek, Alexander Kharlamov, Scott Kelman, Artem Kryukov, Igor Knyazev, and Jesse Niinimaki.

Matt Zultek: Drafted in 1997 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Zultek had shown promise during his junior career, but struggled to translate that success to the professional level. Hindered by inconsistency and off-ice issues, he failed to play in the NHL. After a brief stint in the minor leagues, Zultek’s career fizzled out, and he ultimately retired from professional hockey.

Alexander Kharlamov: Selected in 1994 by the Washington Capitals, Kharlamov faced high expectations as the son of legendary Soviet player Valeri Kharlamov. Unfortunately, Alexander failed to live up to the family name, struggling with injuries and failing to find his footing in the NHL. After bouncing around different leagues, Kharlamov’s career eventually came to an end, leaving a sense of unfulfilled potential.

Scott Kelman: In 1997, the Phoenix Coyotes took a chance on Kelman, a highly touted forward with promising offensive skills. However, Kelman’s career took a nosedive due to a combination of injuries and an inability to adjust to the demands of professional hockey. Despite efforts to reignite his career in various leagues, Kelman fell short of expectations and ultimately retired early.

Artem Kryukov: The Buffalo Sabres hoped to strike gold in 2000 when they drafted Kryukov, a talented Russian forward. Unfortunately, Kryukov encountered numerous obstacles, including a lack of adaptability to the North American style of play and inconsistent performances. After struggling to find consistent ice time and failing to make a lasting impact, Kryukov returned to Russia and continued his career in the KHL.

Igor Knyazev: The Carolina Hurricanes had high hopes for Knyazev when they selected him in 2001. Regarded as a skilled defenseman with offensive upside, Knyazev’s development stagnated over time. His defensive deficiencies and struggles to adjust to the NHL’s physicality hindered his progress. Knyazev’s NHL career was short-lived, and he ultimately returned to Russia to continue his hockey journey.

Jesse Niinimaki: Niinimaki, a Finnish forward, was chosen by the Edmonton Oilers in 2002. Despite his potential, Niinimaki failed to make a significant impact at the NHL level. Struggles with consistency, injuries, and adapting to the North American game contributed to his downfall. After limited success in the AHL, Niinimaki returned to Europe to continue his hockey career.

The common thread among these players was a failure to live up to the expectations set by their draft positions. Whether due to off-ice issues, injuries, difficulties adjusting to the NHL style of play, or simply falling short of the required skill level, their careers were plagued by unfulfilled potential. While the 15th overall pick has had its fair share of success stories, the cases of Zultek, Kharlamov, Kelman, Kryukov, Knyazev, and Niinimaki serve as a stark reminder that even the most promising prospects can succumb to the curse. These players serve as caution

Winner- It was tough but Alexander Kharlamov. Among the players mentioned, the one who is generally considered to be the biggest disappointment publicly would be Alexander Kharlamov. The weight of his father’s legacy, coupled with the anticipation surrounding his selection, led to high expectations for Kharlamov. Unfortunately, his career failed to live up to the hype, marred by injuries and an inability to establish himself in the NHL. As the son of a Soviet hockey legend, the disappointment surrounding Kharlamov’s underwhelming career was magnified, making him a notable figure in terms of unfulfilled potential.

#14

Best Picks- Brian Propp (1979) & Brent Seabrook (2003)

Worst

Sasha Pokulok is the clear cut winner for the worst pick at 14th overall and there is no competition.

Title: Sasha Pokulok: The NHL Bust Who Fell Short of Expectations

Sasha Pokulok, drafted 14th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, failed to meet the high expectations set by his draft position. Despite an imposing 6-foot-5 frame and success in college and international competitions, Pokulok’s career never took off as anticipated. Pokulok’s NHL career was marred by multiple concussions, preventing him from playing a single regular-season NHL game. He spent most of his time in the AHL with the Hershey Bears and the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays, managing only 15 points in 68 games.

The Capitals’ investment in Pokulok proved to be disappointing, as he struggled to reach the NHL standard. Despite playing in various leagues worldwide, including the DEL in Germany and the EBEL in Austria, Pokulok failed to make a notable impact. He eventually found himself in lower-level leagues in Eastern Europe (Croatia) and Quebec. In hindsight, the selection of Sasha Pokulok by the Washington Capitals in 2005 was a regrettable choice. Despite his potential and previous achievements, Pokulok’s career fell short of what was expected. Injuries and difficulties adapting to professional hockey hindered his progress, resulting in a disappointing NHL journey.

Winner- Sasha Pokulok, and you have to hand it to him he is still playing hockey today in the Quebec goon league. He played in 5 games last season and got 4 points.

#13

Best Picks- Craig Janney (1986) & Dustin Brown (2003)

Worst

Michael Henrich and Marek Zagrapan are often mentioned as NHL draft busts, but it’s subjective to determine who was the bigger bust. Let’s take a look at their careers and what happened to them after being drafted.

Michael Henrich: Michael Henrich was selected as the 13th overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He was a highly touted prospect at the time but failed to live up to expectations. Henrich struggled to make an impact at the professional level and never played a single NHL game. After several seasons in the minor leagues, he transitioned to playing in Europe. Henrich spent the majority of his career in various European leagues, including stints in Germany, Austria, and the United Kingdom. He retired from professional hockey in 2012.

Marek Zagrapan: Marek Zagrapan was chosen as the 13th overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Similar to Henrich, Zagrapan failed to establish himself in the NHL. He played a total of just seven games with the Sabres during the 2007-2008 season, recording two assists. Zagrapan spent the majority of his North American career in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Sabres’ affiliate teams. However, he struggled to translate his junior success in Chicoutimi to the professional level. After several years in the AHL and limited NHL opportunities, Zagrapan decided to return to Europe. He played in various European leagues, including the Czech Republic and Slovakia, before retiring from professional hockey in 2015.

In terms of the impact on the NHL, both Henrich and Zagrapan can be considered draft busts as they failed to meet the expectations set for them. While Henrich never played an NHL game, Zagrapan had a brief stint but struggled to establish himself as a regular NHL player. Ultimately, their careers were marked by a lack of success at the highest level of professional hockey.

Winner- Marek Zagrapan