The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs start tonight, and I'm more excited than usual as both my New Jersey Devils and Seattle Kraken have qualified. Not going to bother with a whole big post about who I think will win each series, though I do wish I'd done that more than once.
Anyway, this is just a quick research and observation post for my own curiosity that centers around the NHL Draft. This year's prize is Connor Bedard, who is projected to be a franchise-altering superstar.
Anaheim has the best odds to land the #1 overall pick, followed by Columbus and Chicago.
Personally, I'd say this is less than ideal for the NHL. If Connor Bedard is truly the next great superstar in waiting, one would hope that he ends up with either a long-suffering franchise that has a hearty fanbase (like if Victor Wembanyama ended up in Portland), or a gold star franchise that's finally hit a wall after several years of playoff appearances (like if Wemby became a San Antonio Spur).
Anaheim is a black hole for game-changing greats. Columbus signed last year's top free agent and got worse.
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Chicago does have post-Tim Duncan era Spurs vibes. Except that Gregg Popovich would never abide by what the Hawks franchise has done. Hold that thought.
The point of this post isn't really "who tanked hard for Bedard?" It's actually inspired by this comment:
Excellent question that wasn't addressed to me, but I'll answer anyway. Let's find out together, shall we?
I used to buy these large encyclopedia-type books at Barnes & Noble every year for such questions, but hockey-reference saves me a ton of time, money, and closet space. Now what do I do with my old guides?
While the NHL isn't exactly like the NBA or NFL in that top-10 picks aren't automatically added to the main roster, there's less chance of a top-10 pick getting stuck in the minors without ever making the big club as there would be in MLB. Side note: how have the Astros put together a near-dynasty while wasting back-to-back #1 overall picks on these guys?
We now return to our regularly-scheduled hockey research, already in progress...
....now that Luke Hughes has joined the Devils wearing half of his big bro Jack's number, the top nine picks in the 2021 draft have seen NHL action. (We're still waiting on #10 selection Tyler Boucher, but let's assume he gets there.) Every top ten pick in 2020, 2019, 2018, and on through the past 30 years of NHL Entry Drafts have reached the NHL.
And then I found one that didn't. Finally, a top-10 pick who never played a single NHL game.
I remember pulling Ryan Sittler cards back in the day. The Flyers selected Sittler seventh overall out of Michigan in 1992. He did play in the AHL, which was part of Olle's question, but I'm going to ignore that.
Sittler is the son of Maple Leafs legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Darryl Sittler. They were the first father-and son duo to be drafted in the top ten. So... what happened?
Injuries - and lots of 'em. Separated shoulder, fractured orbital bone, torn MCL. He just couldn't stay healthy.
Every top ten pick in 1991 played in the NHL. Same for 1990, and 1989, and 1988...all the way back to 1975, where we find our second no-show: Robin Sadler. I've never heard of him. Did he play in the WHA perhaps?
No. Sadler was drafted to the WHA as well, but didn't play there either. From this article it appears that he struggled with the pressure of pro hockey in North America and decided to ply his trade in Europe.
Every top-ten pick in 1974 and 1973 appeared in the NHL. Assuming the active top tens eventually make it, that's 50 years of top-10 picks. 500 players, and only two never played a game.
While I was scrolling through these lists I noticed a much more recent first rounder had no NHL stats.
He was selected just outside the top ten. When I saw his name, my heart sank.
Chicago selected Kyle Beach eleventh overall in 2008....
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...and then they ruined his life. Not just his career. His life. I knew exactly why he didn't reach the NHL.
Let's hope the 'Hawks handle Connor Bedard much, much better. Or whoever they draft this year.
Can you recall any top-ten picks in other sports who never made it to the majors, and why?
Who are you cheering for in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs?
Back to baseball tomorrow. Thanks for reading!
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Ah, Ryan Sittler, I remember him. So many of those early '90s college hockey stars that I swore made it the NHL but never did (or barely did). Dave Emma, Chris Marinucci.
ReplyDeleteNHL playoffs for me is all about somebody please knocking off the Bruins. I know it's probably not possible but that's such an odious team.
Fun read except for that Beach part. Puts a damper on the 3 Blackhawks cups
ReplyDeleteGreat research Chris. I learned stuff here. I don't want the Blackhawks to get Bedard, largely because of what they did to Kyle Beach.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure where I would like to see him other than "not there". I was not a big fan of Anaheim but that's changing now that Getzlaf and Perry are gone. So I would be ok if he goes there now.
In the NBA that name that immediately comes to mind is Len Bias, who was the #3 pick but died of an overdose before ever playing a game.
I don't have time to read the whole Beach story... but based on what I read... it's pretty sad. As for top 10 picks... that's pretty impressive that 498 of the 500 from the past 50 years played at least one NHL game.
ReplyDeleteP.S. With the Sharks missing the playoffs for the 4th straight year... I'll be quietly rooting for Seattle and Vegas.
Probably the most famous example is Yankees #1 pick Brian Taylor. One fight, and his arm was never the same.
ReplyDeleteI'm cheering for not the Leafs!
ReplyDeleteLen Bias and Brien Taylor were the two I was thinking of for sure.
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