Exploring NHL Draft Disappointments: Which Teams Have the Most Notable Busts?

NHL Draft Disappointments: A Retrospective

As the excitement of the NHL Draft Weekend unfolds, a time typically characterized by hope and potential for teams and their supporters, it also provides an opportunity to reflect on past mistakes. Despite the air of optimism surrounding player selections, there are instances when teams have misstepped, leading to regrettable draft choices. In light of this, we embark on an exploration of some of the biggest draft disappointments during the salary cap era, highlighting players who once held promise but ultimately failed to make an impact in the NHL.

Building the Disappointment Team

This retrospective will focus on creating a six-member team consisting of three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie who were first-round selections or were selected within the top three rounds of the draft, particularly underwhelming in their professional careers. We encourage readers to share their suggestions in the comments as we profile various NHL franchises and their less-than-stellar draft outcomes.

Franchise Draft Failures

Boston Bruins

Starting with the Boston Bruins, known for their unfortunate first-round choices during the 2000s and 2010s, fans might recall the sting of missing out on standout players following their selections. The Bruins made three consecutive first-round selections in the 2015 draft but ultimately chose Zachary Senyshyn (15th), Jakub Zboril (13th), and others, all of whom fell short of expectations compared to talents like Mathew Barzal. Today, their career totals reflect a collective struggle with just 15 goals and 36 wins among them across 430 games.

New York Rangers

Moving westward to the New York Rangers, this team has also seen its share of early picks turn into lemons. Players like Lias Andersson (7th in 2017) and Vitali Kravtsov (9th in 2018) have become defining examples of failures, contributing to a disappointing tally of 18 goals across 336 games.

Calgary Flames

The Calgary Flames present yet another interesting case, known more for their recent successes than their misfortunes. Nevertheless, their draft history reveals a pattern of struggles outside the top picks. With Morgan Klimchuk (28th in 2013) and Emile Poirier (22nd in 2013), the team’s recent history has raised concerns over its development pipeline, yielding merely 13 goals and three wins from a total of 401 games.

Ottawa Senators

On to the Ottawa Senators, despite recent success in their drafting strategies, they still possess a fair share of underwhelming picks. Choices like Logan Brown (11th in 2016) and Shane Bowers (28th in 2017) have certainly added to the team’s burden, producing 20 goals across 445 matches.

Columbus Blue Jackets

In the case of the Columbus Blue Jackets, recent decisions have haunted the franchise. Drafting Gilbert Brule (6th in 2005) and Nikita Filatov (6th in 2008) placed them in a position where they failed to maximize their potential, leaving their collective stats of 482 games and 55 goals almost unremarkable.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Even teams like the Tampa Bay Lightning, well-recognized for their championship-caliber roster, aren’t exempt from the “bust” list. Their selections, including Jonathan Drouin (3rd in 2013), while showcasing flashes of hope, ultimately struggle to find consistent success, with Drouin’s NHL journey marked by peaks and valleys.

Buffalo Sabres

In contrast, the Buffalo Sabres have often been criticized for their inability to convert high picks into impactful players. Drafting Alex Nylander (8th in 2016) and Mikhail Grigorenko (12th in 2012) has produced little more than disappointment, alongside a tally of merely 51 goals over 572 games.

Arizona Coyotes

Finally, the Arizona Coyotes highlight the challenges of drafting effectively, with historical selections yielding minimal results. They’ve gone long stretches without impactful picks, with recent selections showing a glimmer of hope. Yet the marks of earlier failures linger.

Conclusion

This exercise invites fellow fans to reflect on the successes and failures of their teams and the growing list of draft busts—those players who never delivered on the high expectations set during draft day. Other potential omissions or feeling nostalgic for your team’s past mistakes? We want to hear your thoughts!