Yearly, gifted gamers should not drafted. With dozens of junior leagues and tons of of eligible gamers, NHL groups must give attention to who they imagine will assist their group probably the most, which sadly leaves various glorious junior stars on the chopping room ground. It’s not a brand new phenomenon, and most of the time, those that have the talent will make it by both accepting a coaching camp invite or signing a contract after they lose their draft eligibility.
However, typically, it may be exhausting to determine why a sure participant was drafted and one other wasn’t, particularly if the latter was extremely regarded by analysts and scouts. Now that the mud has settled on the 2024 NHL Draft, listed below are 5 of probably the most shocking gamers who didn’t hear their names known as.
1. Daniil Ustinkov, LD, ZSC Lions (NL)
All through the 2023-24 season, Daniil Ustinkov was thought of a fringe first-round decide for the 2024 Draft. An extremely clever defenceman, he was projected to be a strong two-way blueliner within the NHL due to his well-rounded sport. He made his skilled debut in Switzerland as a 16-year-old in 2022-23, enjoying 5 regular-season video games and three playoff video games, and at 17, he cut up his time between the primary and second-tier leagues whereas additionally serving as Switzerland’s quarterback on the Hlinka Gretzky Event, the U18 World Junior Championships, and the U20 World Juniors.
But, after 225 picks, Ustinkov’s identify was by no means known as. Nevertheless, Leon Muggli, his worldwide teammate and likewise projected to be a fringe first-round decide, heard his identify known as by the Washington Capitals within the second spherical. It wasn’t his measurement that left him off the NHL’s radar; at 6-foot-1 and 201 kilos, he’s larger than Muggli. Nor was it his means to play strong defence, as he appeared within the second-most video games amongst U18 gamers in Switzerland’s Nationwide League (NL), coming in second solely to Muggli. They each have flaws of their sport – neither one has high-end offensive upside – and whereas Muggli regarded like he was making an attempt to do an excessive amount of, Ustinkov regarded too affected person. So, why would one be chosen and never the opposite?
Plainly the one important distinction between the 2 is that Muggli was one of many 100 gamers invited to the NHL Draft Mix, permitting him to speak with scouts and executives throughout the NHL. Ustinkov didn’t get that likelihood, which left him with out an NHL group.
2. Thomas Desruisseaux, C, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)
The Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) didn’t have the strongest class on the 2024 Draft, however the league promised to ship some strong underrated expertise within the later rounds. Thomas Desruisseax, a 5-foot-11 heart with the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, was a type of hidden gems. He was the fourth-highest scorer amongst U18s within the QMJHL with 16 targets and 60 factors in 66 video games, then jumped as much as be the second-best producer within the playoffs, placing up three targets and 9 factors in eight video games. He has pace to burn and might zip across the ice with the puck like few different prospects, and with right this moment’s sport constructed on skating, he appeared locked for a mid-to-late-round choice.
Sadly, measurement and energy had been his undoing. At simply 154 kilos, he lacked the muscle that NHL groups wish to see, which positioned some doubt on whether or not his talent would translate to the professional ranks, and too many scouts thought he wasn’t definitely worth the excessive danger. It additionally didn’t assist that solely 4 U18 forwards from the QMJHL had been drafted: the three gamers who outscored Desruisseaux and the 6-foot-4 Gabe Smith. The remainder had been all defencemen. If Desruisseaux can sustain his point-per-game tempo whereas including some muscle, he needs to be an early favorite to be drafted in 2025.
3. Alexander Zetterberg, C, Örebro HK J20 (J20 Nationell)
At 5-foot-8, it was at all times going to be a problem for Alexander Zetterberg to catch the attention of an NHL group, however he did completely every little thing he may to take action. In 45 video games with Örebro HK J20, he scored 21 targets and 58 factors, placing him eighth in scoring in Sweden’s J20 Nationell, and within the playoffs, he added one other eight targets and 14 factors in simply eight video games to complete third within the league. With one other 5 factors in 4 video games on the U18 World Juniors, not even Craig Button, who typically prioritizes measurement in his draft rankings, may ignore his scoring prowess, rating him 53rd on his last record.
Associated: 2024 THW NHL Draft Information
In the long run, NHL groups couldn’t recover from Zetterberg’s diminutive body, leaving him undrafted after 225 picks. His concussion on the U18s doubtless didn’t assist his case, however many will need to have thought of him too small for the North American sport regardless of being Sweden’s finest offensive participant. But, he wasn’t the one one to take successful due to his measurement. Justin Poirier wasn’t chosen till the fifth after being the primary participant to attain 50 targets within the QMJHL since Sidney Crosby and Mac Swanson fell to the seventh spherical after placing up spectacular numbers in the USA Hockey League (USHL). Each gamers had been below 5-foot-8, however Zetterberg was at a drawback as a result of he performed abroad. Hopefully, a season at Boston College will change some minds.
4. Lukas Matecha, G, Tri-Metropolis People (WHL)
Solely three gamers from the Kubota CHL High Prospects Recreation in January had been left undrafted this yr, and of these three, second-year eligible goalie Lukas Matecha was arguably probably the most shocking. In the course of the sport, he was the one goalie who didn’t permit a aim throughout his roughly 30-minute shift, stopping all 19 pictures and serving to Group Purple defeat Group White 3-1. On prime of creating some highlight-reel saves, showcasing his calmness and athleticism, he additionally got here into the showcase with a .912 save share (SV%) on a struggling Tri-Metropolis People group. At 6-foot-3, he was positive to stand up the 2024 Draft charts.
Sadly, although Central Scouting bumped him up from ninth to third on their Last Rating and Button listed him 87th on his last record, Matecha went undrafted once more. The primary drawback appears to be a mix of a plummeting SV%, which dropped to .901 by the tip of the season, and an absence of post-season appearances. Jakub Milota, ranked 18th amongst North American goalies, stands 6-foot-1 and completed with a comparable .905 SV% within the QMJHL and performed all 5 video games for Czechia on the U18 World Junior Championships. If it’s any comfort, Ryerson Leenders, his teammate on the High Prospects Recreation, didn’t get drafted till the 219th decide.
5. Tomas Galvas, LD, Bílí Tygři Liberec (Czechia)
On the subject of public draft rankings, nobody has an ear nearer to the bottom than Bob McKenzie. Whereas most scouts and analysts compile an inventory of their favorite gamers, McKenzie interviews a number of NHL scouts earlier than compiling an inventory of gamers which are regarded probably the most extremely throughout the league. Whereas some groups could view some gamers extra extremely than others – Easton Cowan was ranked 53rd on McKenzie’s 2023 Last Rating – few have a very completely different record of names. But, this yr, one identify on McKenzie’s Last Checklist was not chosen, making Tomas Galvas probably the most shocking participant not drafted in 2024.
Regardless of being on the smaller aspect at 5-foot-10 and 152 kilos, Galvas was recognized for his suffocating defence whereas enjoying in Czechia’s prime league. His intelligence, quickness, and confidence made him a reputable menace at each ends of the ice, and regardless of not enjoying an offensive-driven sport, he nonetheless put up probably the most factors of any U18 participant in Czechia’s Extraliga with two targets and 7 factors. He was an efficient defender on the Hlinka Gretzky, U18s, and the U20 World Juniors, incomes him the 82nd spot on McKenzie’s Last Checklist and was listed thirty third amongst European skaters by Central Scouting.
But it appears that evidently, as soon as once more, NHL groups took one have a look at his body and determined he was too dangerous. Joshua Serafini of FC Hockey voiced his disappointment with the choice, writing, “Galvas is a smooth-skating blueliner who makes use of his sturdy skating to flee stress, push the puck up ice and create offence for his group. He’s not one-dimensional although, as he’s in a position to make use of his skating and smarts to stay calm below stress and escape some harmful conditions in his personal zone with the puck. He’s small for a rearguard, doubtless the rationale he wasn’t drafted, however that doesn’t restrict him from being an impression participant at each ends of the ice. Galvas has the toolkit to grow to be an NHLer in the future if a group is prepared to look previous his measurement.”
Honourable Mentions: Aidan Park, Jack Bodin, Topias Hynninen, Frankie Marrelli, Gabriel Frasca
Measurement Over Ability in 2024 NHL Draft
The NHL is a copycat league, and that’s by no means been extra evident than on this draft. After the Florida Panthers hoisted their first Stanley Cup with Matthew Tkachuk, Sam Bennett, Jonah Gadjovich, Nick Cousins, and Ryan Lomberg enjoying key roles all through the season, different NHL groups adopted go well with, including as many large, sturdy, grinding gamers as they might get their fingers on. That left smaller gamers who depend on their smarts and talent to out-think and out-maneuver their opponents and not using a house within the NHL.
Nevertheless, for a lot of of those prospects, 2024 just isn’t the tip of the highway. They’ll get larger and stronger in 2024-25, and if they will proceed to dominate their competitors whereas including some muscle, NHL groups are positive to take discover. Who is aware of? Possibly the subsequent Stanley Cup winners can be constructed round small, speedy gamers, inflicting one other shift on the draft.
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