A good number of players in the NHL are players who were drafted high with the expectation that they would eventually make an impact at the NHL level. By no means do I intend to discount the efforts of these players. Yes, Andrei Svechnikov entered the 2018 NHL Draft projected as a can’t miss NHLer based on his natural ability, but the recipe for his success also included hard work and sacrifices. I think sometimes fans can underestimate the sacrifices and life transitions that many young players go to packing up and moving at such a young age. As a high school age kid, Andrei Svechnikov packed up and left his home to move across the globe to a place where he did not speak the language — and pursue his dream of playing in the NHL.
The point is that pretty much every player has sacrifices and stories related to reaching the NHL.
But today’s Daily Cup of Joe steps briefly away from the here and now of training camp and looks at a few of the Hurricanes players who are improbable NHLers who beat the odds to make it to the show.
Lucas Wallmark (4th round)
After being a mid-round draft pick in 2014, Lucas Wallmark stayed home in Sweden to hone his skills for a couple more years. When he arrived in North America, Wallmark quickly earned some NHL ice time, but did not stick at the NHL level until the 2018-19 season.
Jaccob Slavin (4th round)
The biggest late-round draft win by the Hurricanes is easily Jaccob Slavin. Slavin was a ho-hum fourth-round selection who developed in college and then burst onto the NHL scene pretty quickly after signing his professional contract. As a player who is a long-term cornerstone for the franchise, he was obviously a tremendous get in the second half of the draft.
James Reimer (4th round)
Reimer was a fourth-round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006. Four years later he had climbed his way up into the NHL and was set to remain there. Reimer is one of many great goalie finds in the latter half of the draft.
Petr Mrazek (5th round)
Probably the position with the most later-round selections who eventually become NHLers is the goalie position. The nature of the position makes it a common one for late bloomers. Mrazek is exactly that as a fifth-rounder who has emerged to become a capable starting netminder.
Clark Bishop (5th round)
Bishop is a great example of a young player who understands what his skill set is and how it translates to the NHL level. Even at lower levels, Bishop was never a top-end scorer. But he can skate and hound the puck which is a great foundation for being a solid two-way player capable of being sound defensively and helping push pace. With a couple high-ceiling young players in the mix, Bishop seemed to start preseason pushed down the depth chart despite a strong 2018-19 season in a supporting role. But he had a stellar game on Wednesday, and he fits what Brind’Amour prefers on the wing.
Ryan Dzingel (7th round)
Dzingel is a great example of a value pick. The scout that pounded the table for him as a late pick certainly deserves credit, as Dzingel boosted his standing pretty quickly with his play at the NCAA level. Five years later he was in the NHL.
Erik Haula (7th round)
Haula was drafted in the 7th round where mostly teams are selecting players who caught a scout’s eye and seem to have some potential if a number of things go in their direction. Like many European players, he came to North America as a teenager and made five stops in North America in six years before breaking into the NHL with the Minnesota Wild.
Trevor van Riemsdyk (Undrafted)
Perhaps the highest riser against the odds is Trevor van Riemsdyk. Despite a decent college career, van Riemsdyk exited college as an undrafted free agent. The Chicago Blackhawks signed hims as a free agent and benefited from finding him. Van Riemsdyk is evidence that teams can benefit from evaluating potential late bloomers for NHL potential.
The Hurricanes roster also includes third-rounders Brett Pesce and Warren Foegele making nearly half of the likely 2019-20 roster players drafted in the third round or later.
What say you Canes fans?
1) Are you surprised that so many Hurricanes players were late-round draft picks? Who surprises you the most?
2) Of the Canes current prospects who were selected in the latter half of the draft, who do you think has the best chance to be the next surprise?
Go Canes!
Imagine the NFL ran their draft like the NHL, Teams would be making their selections based on their scouting reports on junior and senior high school players in the USA, Canada and Europe.
It’s interesting that the Canes only have one non-drafted player on their roster. Drafted players generally get the chance to show what they have. Undrafted players are another story. They not only have to be good, they often have to overcome resistance in organizations from scouts and management to leap over the players those scouts and GMs drafted.
The Canes have whiffed a few times on UFAs from college. From what I’ve heard the Canes reorganized scouting group will be diversified including more European scouts and a scout that follows the NCAA. Long overdue.
Mostly not surprised at any of them. The data shows that after the first five picks in the draft, the remaining players taken have nearly an equal chance of being a difference maker in the NHL (a small chance for all). Statistically, a second round pick or late first round pick is almost the same as a sixth round pick.
It is the reason the canes traded down twice to gain additional picks in the last draft… I think. Trusty at work.
That said, there are a few things that can’t be taught in the NHL. A player can’t be taught to be tall or have a long reach. A player can’t be taught to have more fast twitch muscles than their genetics allow. A player cannot be taught (I think!) to increase brain processing speed to “slow the game down”.
Francis seemed to have a fancy for late round picks who were elite at being tall and could skate. The skill things can mostly be taught.
So a small or average sized player with low acceleration and speed would be a big surprise… and that award goes to Lucas Wallmark. I was surprised when he made the team last year and delighted that he has overcome the long odds to make it. Filling in as a shutdown center when Stahl was out last year was a remarkable accomplishment, he has really impressed with his smarts and work ethic.
I haven’t studied the prospects with this criteria in mind so no comment on them.
How does our ratio of late-round picks on/near the roster compare with other teams? Are we an anomaly or the norm?
And I would have to find the time to research our current prospects’ draft spots before I could address the second question.
1) Not really. Three of the players you list were acquired outside the draft.
It makes some sense that role players like Wallmark and TVR don’t stand out as 18-year-olds. These are players who found a way to maximize their good but not elite skill sets.
2) I would say Sellgren since he has shown he is capable of playing pro hockey in the SHL and, to a lesser extent, the AHL. He looks like he could be similar to TVR—a solid 15-18 minute defenseman. While he is smaller he actually should have more offense at the NHL level.
1) as ashevill said, after the top five its all about effort. Not surprised. Any time a non drafted player makes it, that is special.
2) agree with ct, Sellgren. From our latest group Puistola and Fensore stood out to me.
#2 now has an obvious answer. While Stelio Mattheos was a third round pick, losing a body part to cancer elevates his status as an underdog. I have always loved his game and I am so excited that he is back and healthy.
Missing a part may cause him to “list to the port side” for a short spell but he will be fine.
He is going to be a difference maker.
Don’t see the fascination with Sellgren. I guess if you follow the Checkers you were impressed with the playoff goals. His history is not one of a scorer. From what I’ve seen of him in the preseason he looks weak and not in position. Seeing that he is 21 already I think it’s a stretch to think he’s an NHL talent. We’ll see how he does this season in Charlotte.