Top ten draft picks to never play a single game

[Killion]

He passed away last spring.

Oh dear... Im so sorry Hobs..... Great guy.

 

[David Bruce Banner]

This is a particularly interesting mention to lead the thread... Ryan Sittler had size & weight along with Pedigree... then BUST. Unlike his father however, went seriously Rogue for a couple of years in the AHL absolutely Wracking Up the PIM's. Like the Tiger Williams of his teams. Never a prolific points getter but seemingly someone who's buttons could easily be pushed. Pattern or what? Bloodline a Curse or a Blessing?... I say its a Curse having played with the Sons of some legends.

Interesting Ryan Sittler article from a few years back here

 

[Killion]

Interesting Ryan Sittler article from a few years back here

Huh. Very interesting. Injuries derailed his career big time. Thanks for posting the link Ogie.

 

[IComeInPeace]

Libor poalsek

Jiri dudacek

Scott scissons?

Polasek-21st overall
Dudacek-17th overall
Scissons-2 NHL games

If I recall correctly, Polasek was a fat pig, out of nowhere reach by Quinn and Burke, who also couldn't skate...but all they cared about was size and/or toughness (I don't think Polasek was tough either).

Dudacek was a longshot because of his inability to come to North America, no?

I went to college with Scissons first cousin. I knew his pretty well, and he told me that Scissons had an injury that really screwed him up badly.

Quinn laid some horrible eggs with his drafting. Without going back and checking the timeline, I think Jason Herter, Dan Woodley and Rob Murphy were other high pick duds.

We had 3 picks in a great draft (Nedved, Antoski and Slegr); you could argue he crapped the bed on all three of them.

 

[IComeInPeace]

'Scissons was forced to retire from a nagging shoulder injury suffered in his final WHL season (the season after he was drafted)."
-that's from his Wiki page
I don't know where/who the original source is

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Tyler Boucher (2021 10th overall, Ottawa Senators) is well on his way to never playing an NHL game.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Ryan Sittler was drafted 7th overall and never played a single NHL game. Are there any other top ten selections that never played a single NHL game?

One can make the case that the 1992 Draft cost the Flyers a Cup. Drafting Sittler and Jason Bowen in the top 15 was pretty horrific along with no other contributions from their 1992 class. Sure, not a great draft, but just a couple solid players might have put them over the top in the late 1990s/early 2000s.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Polasek-21st overall
Dudacek-17th overall
Scissons-2 NHL games

If I recall correctly, Polasek was a fat pig, out of nowhere reach by Quinn and Burke, who also couldn't skate...but all they cared about was size and/or toughness (I don't think Polasek was tough either).

Dudacek was a longshot because of his inability to come to North America, no?

I went to college with Scissons first cousin. I knew his pretty well, and he told me that Scissons had an injury that really screwed him up badly.

Quinn laid some horrible eggs with his drafting. Without going back and checking the timeline, I think Jason Herter, Dan Woodley and Rob Murphy were other high pick duds.

We had 3 picks in a great draft (Nedved, Antoski and Slegr); you could argue he crapped the bed on all three of them.

three times the canucks absolutely stunned their entire fanbase, and probably every single other person watching

quinn: "with the 21st pick of the 1992 draft the vancouver canucks select [everyone: valeri bure, valeri bure, valeri bure]... libor polasek"

v. bure: 33rd overall, ten year career, 400 pts, led a team in scoring, made an all-star game​

polasek: 0 NHL games​

​

nonis: “with the 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft, the vancouver canucks select [holy crap kopitar fell to us, you better not draft marc staal, don’t do it nonis you coward]... luc bourdon"

kopitar: in his 19th season still scoring at a 70 pt pace, after a pair of cups and a selke, 42nd all time (and counting) in pts, 36th all time in games played so far​

bourdon (RIP): hard to imagine he could have done anything to approach kopitar’s impact​

​

benning: “with the 5th pick of the 2016 entry draft, from the london knights, we select [mentally preparing ourselves for having a tkachuk on the team]... olli juolevi"

m. tkachuk: 2 time 100 pt scorer and post-season all-star, champion​

juolevi: 41 NHL games and left for finland two years ago​

​

these were all cursing in front of the kids, throw things at the tv, smashing your phone moments

 

[MS]

three times the canucks absolutely stunned their entire fanbase, and probably every single other person watching

quinn: "with the 21st pick of the 1992 draft the vancouver canucks select [everyone: valeri bure, valeri bure, valeri bure]... libor polasek"

v. bure: 33rd overall, ten year career, 400 pts, led a team in scoring, made an all-star game​

polasek: 0 NHL games​

​

nonis: “with the 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft, the vancouver canucks select [holy crap kopitar fell to us, you better not draft marc staal, don’t do it nonis you coward]... luc bourdon"

kopitar: in his 19th season still scoring at a 70 pt pace, after a pair of cups and a selke, 42nd all time (and counting) in pts, 36th all time in games played so far​

bourdon (RIP): hard to imagine he could have done anything to approach kopitar’s impact​

​

benning: “with the 5th pick of the 2016 entry draft, from the london knights, we select [mentally preparing ourselves for having a tkachuk on the team]... olli juolevi"

m. tkachuk: 2 time 100 pt scorer and post-season all-star, champion​

juolevi: 41 NHL games and left for finland two years ago​

​

these were all cursing in front of the kids, throw things at the tv, smashing your phone moments

Of all of these, not taking Valeri Bure to help insulate your rookie superstar forward, make clear you're building the team around him etc. is probably the dumbest, and that pick (and the attitude around it toward Bure) led to so much difficulty and animosity down the road.

Literally the best player available (the next guy better than Val Bure was Mike Peca taken 40th by the Canucks themselves, to redeem their first round screw-up) was also the brother of their superstar.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

Of all of these, not taking Valeri Bure to help insulate your rookie superstar forward, make clear you're building the team around him etc. is probably the dumbest, and that pick (and the attitude around it toward Bure) led to so much difficulty and animosity down the road.

Literally the best player available (the next guy better than Val Bure was Mike Peca taken 40th by the Canucks themselves, to redeem their first round screw-up) was also the brother of their superstar.

totally, especially when you are having to let larionov go as pavel's safety blanket

and being that the bure brothers had the same agent, i also wonder how many headaches might have been prevented if quinn/burke could work with salcer and say, well we can give a little more to valeri if you’re willing to shave some off pavel’s deal...

 

[Jumptheshark]

That 1967 draft was a real winner. 9 of the top 10 picks never played a single NHL game.

That was the end of the territory rights. In that draft there were 11 teams drafting but only 18 players taken in 3 rounds. Several OG 6 teams were able sign players who should have been in the draft prior to the draft

three times the canucks absolutely stunned their entire fanbase, and probably every single other person watching

quinn: "with the 21st pick of the 1992 draft the vancouver canucks select [everyone: valeri bure, valeri bure, valeri bure]... libor polasek"

v. bure: 33rd overall, ten year career, 400 pts, led a team in scoring, made an all-star game​

polasek: 0 NHL games​

​

nonis: “with the 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft, the vancouver canucks select [holy crap kopitar fell to us, you better not draft marc staal, don’t do it nonis you coward]... luc bourdon"

kopitar: in his 19th season still scoring at a 70 pt pace, after a pair of cups and a selke, 42nd all time (and counting) in pts, 36th all time in games played so far​

bourdon (RIP): hard to imagine he could have done anything to approach kopitar’s impact​

​

benning: “with the 5th pick of the 2016 entry draft, from the london knights, we select [mentally preparing ourselves for having a tkachuk on the team]... olli juolevi"

m. tkachuk: 2 time 100 pt scorer and post-season all-star, champion​

juolevi: 41 NHL games and left for finland two years ago​

​

these were all cursing in front of the kids, throw things at the tv, smashing your phone moments

Luc Bourdon's draft he was highly rated and scouted and project to be a solid 1/2 D man for years to come. If he does pass away things would have been different

 

[FissionFire]

Did someone just quote a post I made in 2016?!

 

[MadArcand]

three times the canucks absolutely stunned their entire fanbase, and probably every single other person watching

quinn: "with the 21st pick of the 1992 draft the vancouver canucks select [everyone: valeri bure, valeri bure, valeri bure]... libor polasek"

v. bure: 33rd overall, ten year career, 400 pts, led a team in scoring, made an all-star game​

polasek: 0 NHL games​

​

nonis: “with the 10th overall pick of the 2005 draft, the vancouver canucks select [holy crap kopitar fell to us, you better not draft marc staal, don’t do it nonis you coward]... luc bourdon"

kopitar: in his 19th season still scoring at a 70 pt pace, after a pair of cups and a selke, 42nd all time (and counting) in pts, 36th all time in games played so far​

bourdon (RIP): hard to imagine he could have done anything to approach kopitar’s impact​

​

benning: “with the 5th pick of the 2016 entry draft, from the london knights, we select [mentally preparing ourselves for having a tkachuk on the team]... olli juolevi"

m. tkachuk: 2 time 100 pt scorer and post-season all-star, champion​

juolevi: 41 NHL games and left for finland two years ago​

​

these were all cursing in front of the kids, throw things at the tv, smashing your phone moments

Bure is obvious, and Tkachuk makes sense, but was it really the case with Kopitar? I remember the pick being seen more as a bit of a reach if anything, and massive doubts whether a Slovenian player could ever even make an impact.

 

[Albatros]

Both were true, for example Columbus had him as high as 3rd but in the end didn't draft when they got the opportunity, deciding that Gilbert Brulé was the safe pick.

"I'm not drafting a kid who pushes rocks up a mountain and jumps over milk crates and calls it training" -Doug MacLean

 

[Johnny Engine]

That always struck me as a stunningly stupid comment, even without the benefit of hindsight (though perhaps I'm missing some context?). You've got this kid tearing up the Swedish Junior League, presumably doing the same training as the rest of the Swedish kids, and after the draft some NHL team is going to have a degree of control over where he goes and what he does, and he's already shown a willingness to leave home to play at a higher level. So perhaps his training regimen was low-tech and backwards at age 15-16 (is that even true? Does McLean know anything about Slovenia?), why does that make a difference now?

The only way to justify this is if Kopitar came off as clueless about proper work habits in his interviews, but I'm not sure the quote implies that .

 

[Ishdul]

Bure is obvious, and Tkachuk makes sense, but was it really the case with Kopitar? I remember the pick being seen more as a bit of a reach if anything, and massive doubts whether a Slovenian player could ever even make an impact.

Based on skills/production/expectations/etc. there was no actual reason why Kopitar should have lasted past the 5th pick, and I think he was still expected to be drafted around that level with some people speculating that he could go quite a bit higher. I know in Ottawa there was an expectation that Kopitar would not be available at #9 and then that, even at the time, picking Brian Lee over him was a bizarre move. He was also definitely ranked above Setoguchi.

Both were true, for example Columbus had him as high as 3rd but in the end didn't draft when they got the opportunity, deciding that Gilbert Brulé was the safe pick.

"I'm not drafting a kid who pushes rocks up a mountain and jumps over milk crates and calls it training" -Doug MacLean

Brian Burke expressed similar views on Kopitar. I can't find the exact quote but he said something like a previously highly rated player from a non-traditional hockey country (I don't think he elaborated on who it was at the time) disappointed and he would not pick Kopitar based on that. I remember thinking it was a bit odd since in the loaded 2003 draft you had an Austrian and a Belarusian go 5th and 10th overall.

That always struck me as a stunningly stupid comment, even without the benefit of hindsight (though perhaps I'm missing some context?). You've got this kid tearing up the Swedish Junior League, presumably doing the same training as the rest of the Swedish kids, and after the draft some NHL team is going to have a degree of control over where he goes and what he does, and he's already shown a willingness to leave home to play at a higher level. So perhaps his training regimen was low-tech and backwards at age 15-16 (is that even true? Does McLean know anything about Slovenia?), why does that make a difference now?

The only way to justify this is if Kopitar came off as clueless about proper work habits in his interviews, but I'm not sure the quote implies that .

Kopitar's dad was a professional player himself who played internationally and was a coach for the Slovenian team while Anze was a draft prospect. From everything I remember it would have almost been the exact opposite, that he was a hyper disciplined player who already had an NHL ready body.

 

[MadLuke]

"I'm not drafting a kid who pushes rocks up a mountain and jumps over milk crates and calls it training" -Doug MacLean

Feel like 20 years later the attitude would be way more..... give me the rock pusher up mountains kids...

 

[Ishdul]

Found this thread which had scouting reports from when Kopitar was drafted:

Thread 'Anze Kopitar Archive: Scouting Reports Circa 2005'

Apr 28, 2013

Was cleaning out my hard drive and I stumbled upon this Word document of Anze Kopitar scouting reports that I collected into a single document back from his draft year in 2005. Thought it would be a fun read to share these and look back at what reporters had to say about Kopitar eight years ago.

Source: www.centralscouting.nhl.com

Big, strong Slovenian born player who spent the 04-05 season in Sweden with Sodertalje. Good skater but could use some more first-step quickness. Excellent over all skill level. Has good size and fine tools. Excellent understanding of the game, good...

• Ziggy Stardust
• Replies: 77
• Forum: Los Angeles Kings

 

[Johnny Engine]

Brian Burke expressed similar views on Kopitar. I can't find the exact quote but he said something like a previously highly rated player from a non-traditional hockey country (I don't think he elaborated on who it was at the time) disappointed and he would not pick Kopitar based on that. I remember thinking it was a bit odd since in the loaded 2003 draft you had an Austrian and a Belarusian go 5th and 10th overall.

Two possibilities here.
One, the national stereotypes (selfish Russians, dispassionate Swedes, soft Quebecois, blah blah blah) that persisted may have been something a guy like Burke believed in, but thought he could manage if he got the right dressing room mix. Can't do that if you don't know what those mysterious Slovenes are up to, hey? Sort of like how the Onion published an article after the Boston Marathon bombing saying that people were frantically trying to figure out how to stereotype Chechens.
Second, I've known lots of bossman type personalities who simply like shooting down unorthodox ideas as a power move. This one probably goes for McLean too.

 

[MS]

Luc Bourdon's draft he was highly rated and scouted and project to be a solid 1/2 D man for years to come. If he does pass away things would have been different

Bourdon was not tracking well when he died. Did not process the game well at all and was kind of a Jack Johnson but with fewer physical tools.

Probably would have had some sort of career but would have been one of those infuriating all tools/no toolbox #4-5 defenders.

Bure is obvious, and Tkachuk makes sense, but was it really the case with Kopitar? I remember the pick being seen more as a bit of a reach if anything, and massive doubts whether a Slovenian player could ever even make an impact.

Kopitar was playing in Sweden when he was drafted.

This is literally the reason Vancouver didn't pick him, though. Ron Delorme who was the head scout came out and said that it was a big issue that there weren't any players from Slovenia before, as if that was at all relevant to an obvious elite talent playing in Sweden.

The reaction to this pick in the Canuck fan community was probably the most negative of any pick in franchise history. EVERYONE wanted Kopitar.

 

[Jumptheshark]

Bourdon was not tracking well when he died. Did not process the game well at all and was kind of a Jack Johnson but with fewer physical tools.

Probably would have had some sort of career but would have been one of those infuriating all tools/no toolbox #4-5 defenders.



Kopitar was playing in Sweden when he was drafted.

This is literally the reason Vancouver didn't pick him, though. Ron Delorme who was the head scout came out and said that it was a big issue that there weren't any players from Slovenia before, as if that was at all relevant to an obvious elite talent playing in Sweden.

The reaction to this pick in the Canuck fan community was probably the most negative of any pick in franchise history. EVERYONE wanted Kopitar.

Luc died when he was 20 and had only played 36 games. He had a good run with the Moose when the nucks sent him down. HE was not going going to be big pts guy but a D man along the line of Adam Larson

 

[Tim Calhoun]

Kopitar was playing in Sweden when he was drafted.

This is literally the reason Vancouver didn't pick him, though. Ron Delorme who was the head scout came out and said that it was a big issue that there weren't any players from Slovenia before, as if that was at all relevant to an obvious elite talent playing in Sweden.

The reaction to this pick in the Canuck fan community was probably the most negative of any pick in franchise history. EVERYONE wanted Kopitar.

It’s so stupid because Kopitar was playing in the same league as Edler that season - the same league the team managed to have Edler play in to advance his development.

 

[buffalowing88]

Marek Zagrapan was just outside of the top-10 but if he had been able to put it together he's suddenly joining an all-time loaded offense in Buffalo post-lockout. Never played a game with the Sabres and picked at 13, above plenty of guys who were good players after him.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

The reaction to this pick in the Canuck fan community was probably the most negative of any pick in franchise history. EVERYONE wanted Kopitar.

this. it was calamity. every single person wanted kopitar.

remember this was pre-breakout sedins. the franchise had never had a number one center before and we were all dying for one. and this guy was regarded as a sure thing except for the slovenian argument that kept getting repeated, which as stated didn’t make any sense because he was playing in the same league as all the swedish prospects and we all knew and constantly talked about it.

it actually seemed too good to be true, a number one center falling to us because of a perception that made absolutely no sense. and of course it was too good to be true, because nonis whiffed on it.

Luc died when he was 20 and had only played 36 games. He had a good run with the Moose when the nucks sent him down. HE was not going going to be big pts guy but a D man along the line of Adam Larson

what bourdon could have been, i don’t know. but how good would he have had to be to not be the wrong pick? brian leetch good? and maybe even then you could argue that kopitar is the better cornerstone because he peaked arguably as high but lasted so much longer.

that said, following him as a prospect i saw jovo as his ceiling. good offensive tools, happy feet, questionable hockey sense. so almost the opposite kind of dman than you projected him to be.