*Article was up to date in July 2024
The NHL Draft is used to attempt to stage the taking part in discipline within the league. The groups close to the underside of the league standings get the chance to draft first within the draft, getting the primary probability at a number of the finest gamers of that class.
Each prospect is completely different, nevertheless, and so they develop in several methods. Some are extraordinarily late bloomers. Some don’t look pretty much as good of their draft yr as they may at some point be.
Associated: The Greatest Late Spherical NHL Draft Picks
It’s these gamers that take a look at NHL scouts. The power to seek out expertise within the newest picks of the draft is not any simple activity. Most of the time, they gained’t pan out. However, from time to time, with the correct growth, these gamers can excel at hockey’s prime stage.
With that in thoughts, this piece will check out the ten finest seventh-round picks since 2005. The draft was altered for the 2005 NHL Entry Draft within the Collective Bargaining Settlement, making what was as soon as a nine-round draft right into a seven-round draft.
So, this listing is the ten finest gamers that had been taken within the final spherical of the NHL Draft since 2005.
The Maple Leafs are on right here with one other Swede, this time taking defenseman Carl Gunnarsson again in 2007. He matches an identical mould to Justin Braun, with two-way potential however typically utilized in a defensive function. After being chosen, it was simply two seasons earlier than he made the soar to the massive leagues.
Gunnarsson spent the primary 5 seasons of his profession with the Maple Leafs, racking up 86 factors (15 targets, 71 assists) in 304 video games. He was then traded to the St. Louis Blues together with a fourth-round decide for Roman Polak. He was an everyday with the Blues for the following seven seasons however struggled with accidents in direction of the top of his profession. He solely performed 12 video games in 2020-21 after struggling a season-ending knee damage in opposition to the Los Angeles Kings in Feb. 2021.
The defender acquired votes for the Woman Byng Trophy three groups, ending within the prime 35 as soon as (in 2011-12) and the highest 60 twice. He solely amassed 179 penalty minutes in his complete profession. His primary spotlight, nevertheless, was serving to the Blues to the Stanley Cup in 2019. He collected one aim in that playoff run – an overtime-winning tally in Recreation 2 of the Stanley Cup Remaining.
9. Justin Braun, San Jose Sharks, 201st (2007)
The San Jose Sharks are the one workforce on this listing that seems greater than as soon as, which is a formidable feat contemplating the issue in scouting gamers within the later rounds. Whereas not a reputation that you simply’ll discover in on a regular basis hockey discuss, Justin Braun’s longevity within the league has to return into consideration.
Associated: Flyers: Attending to Know Justin Braun
Braun wasn’t precisely an offensive defenseman, gathering 199 factors (34 targets, 165 assists) in 842 video games. He was a defensive participant, blocking pictures, making hits, and shutting down the opposition. He spent his first 9 seasons with the Sharks, earlier than being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019.
He performed stable minutes, over 20 minutes an evening via his profession in San Jose, though that dropped to simply over 17 minutes in 2019-20. Shutdown defenders are sometimes underrated as a result of folks love level producers, however there’s no questioning what the top-four defender brings to the ice.
8. Ryan Dzingel, Ottawa Senators, 204th (2011)
The Ottawa Senators have landed a number of the finest gamers of their historical past within the later rounds of the draft, and Ryan Dzingel is part of that listing. After taking part in 30 video games in his rookie season in 2015-16, he cemented himself on the roster in 2016-17 and didn’t look again.
His subsequent three seasons noticed him enhance on his level whole, placing up a career-high 56 factors in 78 video games in 2018-19. This was break up between the Senators and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Sadly, since that season his profession has taken a flip for the more serious. Bouncing between the Carolina Hurricanes, Arizona Coyotes, Senators (once more) and Sharks, he has solely 21 targets and 50 factors in 136 video games unfold over three seasons. He spent the 2022-23 season within the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Chicago Wolves the place he had 11 factors in 22 video games.
However, in his 404 video games, Dzingel scored 87 targets and added 101 assists for 188 factors. He’s 32 years outdated, so rising up this listing appears unlikely at this level, particularly as youthful gamers look to make an impression within the coming years, however for now, he’s nonetheless probably the greatest seventh-round alternatives since 2005.
7. Jason Demers, San Jose Sharks, 186th (2008)
One other Sharks decide and one other defenseman. Maybe concentrating on defenders within the seventh spherical is a good suggestion? Jason Demers wasted no time in any respect after San Jose grabbed him in 2008. By the 2009-10 season, he was a full-time NHLer. (He performed 51 video games in that season).
Demers was a two-way, puck-moving defender who favored to become involved. In his 700 profession video games, he picked up 45 targets, 169 assists, and 214 factors. After spending his first six seasons in California, he was traded to the Dallas Stars. After that, he performed for the Florida Panthers and Arizona Coyotes.
After spending 4 seasons within the desert, he left the NHL to play within the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) for a season earlier than making an attempt to return again with the Edmonton Oilers on an expert tryout contract (PTO) in 2022-23.
Enjoying practically 20 minutes an evening on common over his profession, he’s proven up in each ends when requested. Like the 2 defenders prior, he’s a well-rounded participant. With Braun, Gunnarsson, and Demers, there won’t be one side of their recreation that jumps out, however they’re dependable defenders who can contribute everywhere in the ice.
6. MacKenzie Weegar, Florida Panthers, 206th (2013)
The most recent member of this listing is yet one more defenseman, MacKenzie Weegar. The previous Halifax Mooseheads star took a couple of seasons to debut within the NHL, nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy for everybody to understand that he was one thing particular. Now a dependable two-way defender who can eat up 20 minutes an evening within the prime 4, kill penalties and play on the ability play, he’s most likely the definition of a steal within the seventh spherical.
In Weegar’s 469 video games within the NHL, he already has 51 targets and 204 factors – together with an insane plus/minus of plus-94. Steadily rising his level totals since he debuted in 2016-17 on the age of 23, he recorded a career-high eight targets and 44 factors in 80 video games with the Panthers in 2021-22 and was close to the highest of the NHL in plus/minus. Now with the Calgary Flames after a 2022 commerce despatched him and Jonathan Huberdeau to Alberta, he would possibly rise even additional on this listing within the coming years.
5. Erik Haula, Minnesota Wild, 182nd (2009)
It’s fairly uncommon for a participant drafted out of highschool to be drafted to the NHL, not to mention taking part in within the league as an everyday, however that’s precisely what Erik Haula has completed. Granted, coming from the extremely regarded Shattuck-St. Mary’s Prep Faculty is a step above.
After taking part in 46 video games in his 2013-14 rookie season, the Finnish centreman turned an NHL common for the Minnesota Wild. He ended up being chosen by the Vegas Golden Knights within the 2017 Enlargement Draft and has since bounced round going to the Carolina Hurricanes and Boston Bruins, and is presently a member of the New Jersey Devils.
In 690 NHL video games, the ahead has put up 142 targets, 174 assists, and 316 factors. He’ll possible find yourself being handed on this listing by Weegar and a number of the gamers to observe on the backside of this text, however there’s no arguing that he’s put collectively a stable profession to this point for a seventh-round select of highschool.
4. Anton Stralman, Toronto Maple Leafs, 216th (2005)
As soon as once more, the Maple Leafs discover themselves on this rating. Nonetheless, they didn’t reap the advantages of this choice for too lengthy. Anton Stralman jumped into the league in 2007-08, taking part in simply two seasons (88 video games) with Toronto.
He was then traded to the Flames for a summer season and by no means performed a recreation earlier than getting flipped to the Blue Jackets. After simply two seasons there, he signed with the New York Rangers for 3 seasons, the Tampa Bay Lightning for 5 seasons, the Panthers for 2 seasons, the Coyotes for one season and is now with the Boston Bruins.
Associated: Anton Stralman’s Legacy With the Lightning
He performed 938 NHL video games, gathering 63 targets, 230 assists, and 293 factors. For almost all of his profession, he performed over 20 minutes an evening and has even earned votes for the Norris Trophy twice. He changed into one of the reliable defensemen within the league regardless of being drafted close to the top of the draft.
3. Frederik Andersen, Carolina Hurricanes, 187th (2010)
Alright, there’s a catch with this one. Frederik Anderson was drafted 187th total in 2010. However he failed to achieve a cope with the Hurricanes and re-entered the draft in 2012, going 87th total to the Anaheim Geese. So possibly there’s an asterisk on this one, however hey, he was a seventh-round decide.
The Danish netminder is the one goaltender on this listing however has shot himself into the highest tier of NHL netminders. In his first NHL season, he completed ninth in Calder Trophy voting after going 20-5 with a .923 save proportion. Since then, he’s earned himself two William Jennings Trophies (2015-16, break up with John Gibson, and 2021-22, break up with Antti Raanta).
In 2016, he was traded to – you guessed it – seventh-round draft decide collectors, the Maple Leafs. After 5 stable seasons as their starter, he departed to affix the Hurricanes, the place he had a monster first season with a 2.17 goals-against common. He’s twice been a top-10 Vezina Trophy finalist. He has a profession save proportion of .916 and is commonly among the many league leaders in wins. He was drafted as a seventh-round decide to begin, so he’s earned a spot on this listing.
2. Patric Hornqvist, Nashville Predators, 230th (2005)
Patric Hornqvist advantages from longevity on this listing a bit, however he’s earned this spot. The Swedish winger began his profession in 2008-09 with the Nashville Predators, and rapidly turned an offensive power, placing up 51 factors in his second season.
He spent six seasons with the Predators, gathering 106 targets, 110 assists, and 216 factors in 363 video games. In 2014, he was despatched to the Pittsburgh Penguins together with Nick Spaling for James Neal. With the Penguins, Hornqvist continued his offensive prowess with 132 targets and 264 factors in 407 video games earlier than leaving to affix the Panthers in 2020-21. He’s not the dynamo he as soon as was however was nonetheless placing up double-digits in targets and continued to be a handful in entrance of the online (on the ability play and in any other case) previous to retiring after the 2022-23 season.
His time with the Penguins noticed him elevate the Stanley Cup twice, in 2016 and 2017. He wound down towards the top of his profession, however because the change within the NHL Draft to seven rounds, Hornqvist is among the many finest to be chosen.
1. Ondrej Palat, Tampa Bay Lightning, 208th (2011)
Ondrej Palat has lastly taken excessive spot on this listing. Drafted by the Lightning in 2011, he performed 14 video games in 2012-13 earlier than forcing his method into the league in 2013-14 and producing – placing up 23 targets, 36 assists, and 59 factors in his 81-game rookie season.
The Czech star has solely continued to supply since then. In 748 video games, he’s put up 162 targets, 315 assists, and 477 factors. He’s earned Selke Trophy votes 3 times, ending ninth in 2014-15. He additionally completed second for the Calder Trophy in 2013-14 and obtained some Woman Byng recognition in 2017-18.
Associated: Ondrej Palat: The Lightning’s Forgotten Star
He’s had some damage bother in his profession which has held him again a bit, however there’s no questioning that he was a dynamic, playmaking ahead for the Lightning. He additionally brings a stable two-way presence to his recreation, making him a really fascinating package deal for any workforce. After spending his complete profession with the Lightning – profitable back-to-back Cups in 2020 and 2021 – wage cap points pressured the Bolts to stroll away from him in free company simply earlier than the 2022-23 season. He’s now a member of the Devils the place he has three targets in six video games.
Gamers to Watch
Truthfully, there will not be many honourable mentions. If Sergei Kostitsyn (Montreal Canadiens, two hundredth, 2005) was within the league longer, he’d be on this dialogue. So as an alternative, let’s check out some gamers who very nicely might be on this listing, and among the many leaders, very quickly (alphabetical):
- Pierre Engvall, Toronto Maple Leafs, 188th (2014)
- Andreas Johnson, Toronto Maple Leafs, 202nd (2013)
- Dominik Kubalik, Los Angeles Kings, 191st (2013)
- Victor Olofsson, Buffalo Sabres, 181st (2014)
- Matt Roy, Los Angeles Kings, 194th (2015)
Would you alter this rating in any respect? Who would you add or take away? Is there anybody else you’ll be maintaining a tally of from the ultimate spherical of the draft? Depart a remark!
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