Worst first round picks

[Nico Cauzuki]

David Fischer for MTL

 

[Hockeyville USA]

David Fischer for MTL

Giroux instead of Fischer would have meant a Canadiens Cup with Price most likely

 

[Hockey2Hockey]

I cannot believe Nail Yakupov hasn't been mentioned yet. He's probably one of if not thee worst first overall pick of all time.

Why would he be mentioned. How was he a reach on draft day? Everyone expected him to be picked at that spot.

This is about guys being picked before they should have been. A situation where everyone knew it was a bad pick the minute it was made.

 

[Maitz]

Kotkaniemi 3rd overall, was supposed to be an effective 2nd line center, he wouldn't be in the NHL without that contract and draft rank

 

[Brodeur]

Derrick Pouliot at #8 in 2012 was a bit of a surprise, especially with Filip Forsberg and Jacob Trouba still on the board.

 

[Brodeur]

David Fischer for MTL

Gare Joyce's book mentioned that Columbus had red flagged Fischer and that he had heard other teams had done the same, but he didn't elaborate exactly why.

 

[LeProspector]

View attachment 1043666

Derrick Pouliot at #8 in 2012 was a bit of a surprise, especially with Filip Forsberg and Jacob Trouba still on the board.

IIRC, because they had Joe Morrow in their system at the time? who was his partner in Portland, they decided to go with Pouliot over those guys…

 

[Hockeyville USA]

IIRC, because they had Joe Morrow in their system at the time? who was his partner in Portland, they decided to go with Pouliot over those guys…

And IIRC, the Penguins scouts had Saad (the Pittsburgh native) as the best player available in 2011 but Shero overruled them and went with Morrow.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

2002: San Jose, Mike Morris

 

[Brodeur]

2002: San Jose, Mike Morris

It's kinda amazing but Tim Burke has worked for the Sharks in some scouting capacity since the early 90's. Burke is based around Boston so it seemed like a safe bet that San Jose would take a New England area prospect or two every draft.

Morris (Massachusetts prep school) was a bit out of left field (Central had him #57 among North Americans) but not as high of expectations for a late 1st rounder in an average 2002 crop. Between Morris and their next pick at #52, the only future established NHLers were Jarret Stoll (draft reentry), Trevor Daley, and Matt Greene.

 

[peconcan]

Jay Obrien hasn’t played a single game of pro hockey let alone the NHL and it’s been 7 years since his first year of college

 

[Castle8130]

In 2018, the draft was seen as one with an elite group of defenseman at the top with some wingers in between. The elite group of defensemen were:

Rasmus Dahlin
Quinn Hughes
Adam Boqvist
Evan Bouchard
Noah Dobson

The Hawks selected Adam Boqvist over both Bouchard and Dobson. I remember them being pissed the Canucks snagged Hughes 2 picks in front of them.

 

[MakoSlade]

I will never understand why the Devils drafted Mattias Tedenby over John Carlos in 2008. I witnessed that unfold and was shocked. I didn't know anything about Tedenby at the time so I figured (hoped) the Devils knew what they were doing. Big mistakey.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I will never understand why the Devils drafted Mattias Tedenby over John Carlson in 2008. I witnessed that unfold and was shocked. I didn't know anything about Tedenby at the time so I figured (hoped) the Devils knew what they were doing. Big mistakey.

Carlson was a bit more unknown since he was still in minor hockey in his 16 year old season before breaking onto the scene in his 17 year old season in the USHL (which wasn't scouted well enough at the time).

 

[MakoSlade]

Carlson was a bit more unknown since he was still in minor hockey in his 16 year old season before breaking onto the scene in his 17 year old season in the USHL (which wasn't scouted well enough at the time).

Ah, if only the NJD payed more attention! I recall Carlson was ranked late 20s, early 30s at the time. All info I got on him was from The Hockey News, but he sounded pretty good and was a NJ kid. Tedenby was so small and that is always Strike One against a prospect. He was ranked like 14th I think, so I was hopeful the Devils knew what they were doing. But this will always be one their worst picks ever.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

Ah, if only the NJD payed more attention! I recall Carlson was ranked late 20s, early 30s at the time. All info I got on him was from The Hockey News, but he sounded pretty good and was a NJ kid. Tedenby was so small and that is always Strike One against a prospect. He was ranked like 14th I think, so I was hopeful the Devils knew what they were doing. But this will always be one their worst picks ever.

Worse than Adrian Foster?

 

[MakoSlade]

Worse than Adrian Foster?

Absolutely! If I recall, Foster was a top ranked prospect who fell due to injuries. Devils rolled the dice and lost. Can't fault a contending team trying to land a top prospect.

End results are the same though...fail!

 

[doublechili]

In 1983 Minnesota took Brain Lawton #1 and Hartford took Sylvain Turgeon #2, and the next two players selected were Pat Lafontaine and Steve Yzerman.

That's pretty bad. Lawton was kind of expected to be #1, but Turgeon at #2 was a surprise.

 

[The don godfather]

Kakko.

 

[Rebels57]

Jay Obrien hasn’t played a single game of pro hockey let alone the NHL and it’s been 7 years since his first year of college

Was only drafted in the 1st by the Flyers because he went to the same high-school as Tony Amonte, who watched him play a lot, and Amonte convinced Hextall he was a diamond in the rough. Had an absolutely horrible attitude from the time he was drafted until his rights expired. Also had a ton of injuries. Just an awful pick.

 

[Guttersniped]

I think Senyshyn is one of the worst when you factor in context.

Zboril busted but he was at least consistently ranked in round 1 IIRC.

Senyshyn was:
- Well below a ppg in the OHL and playing in a middle 6 role on his own teams
- Was ranked in like the 2nd/3rd round
- Went directly before Barzal and Kyle Connor

The dude wasn't even someone you could say had all the tools but just missed. The only thing I distinctly remember being a plus with him was his skating. He was a vanilla player and aside from a short stretch in the Covid era was never even a difference maker in the AHL.

The reaction in the Senychyn prospect thread after he was picked was really something.

Pick happens:


The next four posts:

Dylan McIlrath

One of the most epic comment threads ever is the 2010 live draft thread on Blueshirt Banter.

I had such fond memories that I dug it up via the Wayback Machine: link

The response after McIlrath is drafted was spicy:

 

[viceroy]

I will never understand why the Devils drafted Mattias Tedenby over John Carlos in 2008.

You have no idea how long I kept racking my brain over who the F was John Carlos.

In 1983 Minnesota took Brain Lawton #1 and Hartford took Sylvain Turgeon #2...

The fact you misspelt Brian but got Sylvain Turgeon right made me giggle.

 

[doublechili]

You have no idea how long I kept racking my brain over who the F was John Carlos.



The fact you misspelt Brian but got Sylvain Turgeon right made me giggle.

I actually posted with just Turgeon but then remembered that Lawton went #1 and added him via an edit. Must have rushed, but not the first time I've typed "brain" instead of "brian". It was a sort of brian fart.

 

[Soundgarden]

In 1983 Minnesota took Brain Lawton #1 and Hartford took Sylvain Turgeon #2, and the next two players selected were Pat Lafontaine and Steve Yzerman.

That's pretty bad. Lawton was kind of expected to be #1, but Turgeon at #2 was a surprise.

Turgeon had injury issues and had a solid career, his first three seasons were great and he ended with playing over 600 games and nearly 500 points. Hardly the worst 1st round pick.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Sweeney going with Zboril and Senyshyn in 2015 has proven to be disasterclass of bad decisions.

Zboril was actually picked right where he was projected, he just straight busted.

Debrusk actually turned out okay but man that Senyshen pick was a colossal failure.