biggest Active NHL Draft Steal??

Question

Pavel Datsyuk (6th round)
Niklas Lidstrom (3rd round)
Henrik Zetterberg (7th round)
Dominik Hasek (10th round)
Daniel Alfredsson (6th round)
Thomas Holmstrom (10th round)
Marc Savard (4th round)
Matrin St. louis (none)
Martin Gerber (8th round)
Henrik Lunqvist (7th round)
Evgani Nabakov (9th round)

ironic how most have either played or still play for wings

Answer 1

You cannot call Dominik Hasek a 'draft steal'. At the time he was drafted, there was less than a snowball's chance in hell that he would ever play in the National Hockey League. As part of the group responsible for drafting him - he was a throwaway pick.

Had there been no communism, the possibility exists that Hasek would have been a top 5 pick overall, that's how highly he was rated. But there was communism, and nobody was willing to spend the kind of money required to get these guys to North America (inflation adjusted - the Quebec Nordiques spent close to $75 million dollars to get the Stastny brothers to Canada in 1980). It just wasn't economically feasible.

Also, you really should put the place the player was picked as rounds mean nothing due to expansion.
Hasek was picked in a later round...in a 21 team league. Zetterberg was picked later than Hasek...in a 30 team league

As scouts and GMs, nobody cares what round you were drafted in, only the overall place is looked.
So, let's re-rate them based on where they were taken

53rd Nicklas Lidstrom
- taken in his 2nd year of eligibility
- rated 102nd by Central Scouting in his draft year

91st Marc Savard
- taken in his 1st year of eligibility
- rated 47th by Central Scouting in his draft year

133rd Daniel Alfredsson
- 4th year of eligibility
- not ranked by Central Scouting in his draft year (not in top 300)

171st Pavel Datsyuk
- taken in his 3rd year of eligibiliyu
- ranked 215th by Central Scouting

199th Dominik Hasek
- taken in his 1st year of eligibility
- Central Scouting did not rank Eastern Europeans in 1993 but on the 'Eastern European black market list - Hasek was ranked 1st

205th Henrik Lundqvist
- taken in his 1st year of eligibility
- ranked 177th by Central Scouting

210th Henrik Zetterberg
- taken in 1st year of eligibility
- ranked 197th by Central Scouting

219th Evgeny Nabokov
- taken in 2nd year of eligibility
- unranked by Central Scouting (not in top 400)

232nd Martin Gerber
- taken in 9th year of eligibility
- not ranked by Central Scouting (Central Scouting doesn;t rank people as old as Gerber was in his draft year)

257th Tomas Holmstrom
- taken in his 4th year of eligibility
- ranked 97th by Central Scouting

Note: Martin Gerber could have been signed as a free agent, why Anaheim drafted him is beyond me.


So, looking at that list, and disregarding undrafted players, I think that Holmstrom (along with Richard Zednick picked a few picks higher but with a higher pts/game) is one of the two biggest draft steals in NHL history....period, not just active players.


Just so you know, the Wings actually have one of the poorest records drafting after position 150, but the gems they have found have been diamonds!

Answer 2

Well the Wings do have great scouting.

But I'm going to say

1) Martin St. Louis definitely.

2) Henrik Zetterberg

Answer 3

I'd go with Martin St Louis of Tampa Bay.


He was undrafted, but went on to win the Stanley Cup in 2004, along with the Hart, Art Ross and Lester B Pearson.

And granted that was a career year, but damn, the guy is still one of the top players in the league. Lecavilier and him may be the toughest offensive duo in the league.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_st_louis

Answer 4

Of those I'd say Zetterberg, there are many more though. Andrei markov who is leading the east Defenesemen in all-star voting is a 6th rounder.

All-time Luc Robataille in the 9th round and Brett Hull in the 6th round were decent pickups

Answer 5

I would have to say either Lundvist or the St. Louis. The reasons being that the Rangers would be lost with out Henrik, and there was no reason for him to go so low, or i would go with Martin St. Louis on the fact that he was completely undrafted. They didn't take him on the premise he was too small, but he has proven everybody wrong and emerged as an amazing presence.

Answer 6

Got to say the Dominator. The dude single-handedly took Buffalo deep in the playoffs a few times with a lackluster roster. Also, the guy was playing at an elite level just last year. Considering how old and brittle the dude turned out, that is impressive.

Answer 7

Gotta go with Homer (Tomas Holmstrom for those who don't know). He's been a major part of three cup winning teams and has been a big contributor in the past few seasons.

Answer 8

If you're going to include UNDRAFTED players... then it's this group of active guys to choose from... Brian Rafalski, Andy McDonald, Martin St. Louis, Sean Avery, Chris Kunitz, and Dwayne Roloson.

From that group, I'd say St. Louis is the best...

Best ever? Adam Oates.

Answer 9

Its funny how Detroit's first line went in the 6th,7th and 10th round. And I'll tell you what, there not playing to shabby. I guess Detroit's scouting crew is doing there job.

Answer 10

Datsyuk actually went undrafted in 96 and 97 too.