Huge post incoming...
Here are some guys that really developed for me:
Kristian Johnsson (2nd pick, 2017, 94 OVR, 4.5, PLY): This guy is a stud. Leads my team in points every year and ripped it up in the playoffs winning the Conn Smythe. He just keeps progressing.
Quinton Howden (25th pick, 2010, 90 OVR, TWF): Solid two-way guy who chips in offensively. I stole him from Edmonton in a trade.
Sebastian Aho (135th pick, 2015, 86 OVR, 3, TWF): I drafted him in the fifth round and he kept progressing. He is labeled as a TWF even though he is a defenseman
. He just put up 18 goals and 39 points.
Loik Leveille (12th pick, 2015, 88 OVR, 4, TWD): Picked him up off the Bruins when he was young and developed into a top-pairing defenseman. His offensive game is pretty bad, but his defence is amazing.
Ronald Dunham (53rd pick, 2018, 86 OVR, 4.5, TWF): He was 81 out of the draft but I left him unsigned and when he was about to become a UFA he was 86 OVR with a 92 OAW.
Other Notables:
Josh Manson (5th round, 2011, 83 OVR, 3, TWD)
Morgan Klimchuk (1st round, 2013, 88 OVR, 4, SNP)
Pavel Burmistrov (1st round, 2016, 85 OVR, 4(dropped to 4), PWF)
Henrik Haapala (FA, 2014, 83 OVR, 2.5, TWF)
Hayden Hodgson (5th round, 2015, 83 OVR, 4, TWF)
And some tips (Most of you guys probably know these, but they're useful if you don't know them) :
--- After your prospect pool gets thin in the later years, keep a steady amount of undrafted FA's coming through your system. I usually sign
2.5 and
3.5 guys with almost NHL-ready OAW and DAW (anywhere from 75+) that are 22 and under. If they don't work out, trade 'em and sign some new ones. I got some solid third liners and middle pairing d-men by doing this (With a very cheap cap hit). And a 3x Norris runner up.
--- I never play a guy in the NHL under 82 OVR unless he has super star potential. This method worked 90% of the time for me. Burmistrov (listed above) was 81 OVR and I kept him in the minors another year and he dropped to red stars but he was 85 OVR by seasons end.
This one is kinda cheap
:
--- At the start of a season, go to the trade block and search for players 26 and under. You can find some cheap elite players and get them before their trade value sky rockets.
Hope this was helpful!