The best current player, who was a high draft pick, that did NOT have a break out rookie season?

[syz]

Draisaitl was also pretty unremarkable in his brief AHL stint. If I remember right there were really no expectations for him when he got called up again.

 

[Habsrule]

Sam Bennett is we the first to come to mind. 140 points in 382 games as a Flame. Then plays for the Panthers he has 150 points in 228 games.

That’s a huge jump in production.

 

[Czechboy]

I submit Mikko Rantanan... 10th overall

9 pointless games and returned to AHL as a rookie
4 AHL games and 75 NHL ones after that

In his first two seasons he played 84 NHL games and got 38 points over 2 years

Year 3 he took off and never really looked back! 1.09 PPG Career average despite being a .0 ppg in rookie year and a .5 ppg sophomore (which isn't bad by any stretch)

 

[PlayMakers]

Seguin

 

[LordBacon]

Really surprised Draisaitl only had 9 points in his 1st season (only 37 games but my point still stands),
guys been crazy consistant for as far as I can remember.

 

[Grifter3511]

Low key Quinn Hughes.

He had a good season offensively for a rookie. But he's become a top 5 player in the league when he's at his best. No one saw that.

 

[TheFamousFart]

Rantanen and Barkov, also Draisaitl and Jack Hughes come to mind

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I'll throw Morgan Rielly in there. NHL debut as a 19 year old. Points go from 27-29-36-27 before he hit 52 in year 5. Did struggle defensively quite a bit then but that was during the Leafs lottery years and nobody good could carry him

 

[Jumptheshark]

Who's the best example today of a great current player, who went HIGH in the draft, but didn't have a break out first season?

So they are absolutely a top player now, but didn't have that "top draft pick amazing rookie season"

Who comes to mind?

how do you define top player and non break out rookie season? Is PPG or .5 ppg

 

[ijuka]

Low key Quinn Hughes.

He had a good season offensively for a rookie. But he's become a top 5 player in the league when he's at his best. No one saw that.

??? This makes no sense at all.

You're saying no one saw that a 20-year-old defenseman who scored 53 points in 68 games(16 points in 17 playoff games) could possibly improve?

 

[Grifter3511]

??? This makes no sense at all.

You're saying no one saw that a 20-year-old defenseman who scored 53 points in 68 games(16 points in 17 playoff games) could possibly improve?

Read what i said. He was good but no one saw him becoming a top 5 player in the league., which is the level hes been playing at last year and into this one.

There's a world of difference between 'improve' and 'dominating analytics and tilting the ice more than almost any other player in the league.'

 

[Blueline Bomber]

Steven Stamkos. 46 points in 79 games during his rookie season. He really broke out in the next season. But probably not gonna win this thread, tho.

Wasn't that due to usage though? Melrose was playing him on the 4th line, for some god awful reason