Best Late-Round Draft Picks & Superstar Careers Cut Short By Injury
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a few “Today in Hockey History” posts, the best late-round picks and undrafted players of all time, a look back at the Alexei Yashin trade, superstars that had their careers cut short by injury, and more.
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Now on to the good stuff…
Today in Hockey History: Nov. 6
A pair of Hall of Fame teammates both hit big milestones on this date. Nov. 6 was also very memorable during the early days of the NHL, with some of the game’s pioneers making contributions. Plus, the son of a hockey legend kept the family tradition of success alive and well. So, let’s begin our daily trip back in time to relive all the great moments.
The Best Late-Round NHL Draft Picks
In the annual NHL Entry Draft, teams select players who they believe have the skill and determination to be both consistent and productive players at the NHL level.
During the draft, players who have exhibited these qualities to NHL scouts and management tend to be those chosen early on, with those who display unique, generational skill selected early in the first round.
However, in some cases, players with great skill and potential can be overlooked, falling into later rounds in the draft before they are selected. In most cases, players picked late in the draft do not reach the NHL in a significant capacity.
Yet in a few rare cases, players overlooked and drafted late in the NHL Entry Draft have gone on to become elite NHL players or even Hall of Fame inductees.
The following players are amongst the best late round drafts picks in NHL history:
7 NHL Superstar Careers Cut Short by Injury
A lot of players – good, solid, dependable players – had careers that were cut short by injuries. A number of star players never reached their full potential statistically because of games missed due to injury. This isn’t a story about them. This is a story about star players who left the game too early, at ages when they still should have had lots of seasons left to play.
From knees to concussions to cancer to automobile accidents, some great NHL players have had their careers ended prematurely. Despite career-ending injuries and chronic conditions, five of the seven players on this list are members of the Hockey Hall of Fame. Just imagine what they could have accomplished if health and luck had been on their side!
Today in Hockey History: Nov. 5
This date in NHL history has seen a little bit of everything. There were multiple goals scored in short order, memorable moments in Detroit, Vancouver, and Los Angeles, a big three-team trade, and a very special hat trick. So, let’s hop aboard the THW time machine and relive all the best moments from Nov. 5.
Alexei Yashin Trade Revisited
By Andrew Forbes
Long before he became one of the biggest and most disappointing contracts in New York Islanders franchise history, Alexei Yashin was traded to the Islanders from the Ottawa Senators back on June 23, 2001.
At the time, Yashin was a talented forward with a high-skill level and offensive upside that was clearly appealing to the Islanders and their general manager at the time, Mike Milbury. So much so, that Milbury moved a budding defenceman, a frisky forward and a first-round pick in 2001.
But how did the trade play out for both teams? Let’s have a look.
Today in Hockey History: Nov. 4
Two Hockey Hall of Famers tried to be only the second player ever to accomplish a very impressive feat in the same game. Also, there were numerous National Hockey League greats who hit personal milestones, while great memories were made in New York, Anaheim, and Pennsylvania. Let’s begin our daily trip back in time to revisit all the best this date has to offer.
Best Undrafted Players in NHL History
Throughout NHL history, the league’s elite players have typically been those selected in the annual NHL Entry Draft. The position and round in which these players are drafted are often used as a measuring stick to determine the future success of a given player.
Players selected early in the first round have expectations of greatness placed upon them. Those selected in middle rounds tend to be longshots to be consistently successful NHL players, while those chosen in the final rounds are usually given a slim chance to become significant contributors in the league.
However, the odds of going undrafted, reaching the NHL, and then becoming an elite player are even worse, yet, there are a select few players in history who, having slipped through the cracks, went on to become some of the greatest players in NHL history.