This is my final look at players who slipped through the cracks (the NHL draft), but made their way to the league through other means. I’ve previously explored European, college, and the ECHL routes, and I’ve included those players here to create a master list of players who came to the NHL by routes other than the draft. At the end of the article I’ll illustrate the best players missed via the NHL’s normal processes.

CHL (7)

2005

Chad Larose 473 NHL games

An undersized forward who went undrafted out of the OHL, he played 125 games in the AHL before making the jump to the NHL in 05-06; he remains with Carolina

Mark Giordano (D) 338 NHL games

Undrafted out of the OHL, he played 144 AHL games before making the permanent jump to the NHL in 06-07; he remains with Calgary

2006

Dan Girardi (D) 442 NHL games

Inexplicably not drafted out of the OHL, he played 111 AHL games before making the permanent jump into the NHL in 06-07; he remains with the Rangers

Mike Wall (G) 4 NHL games

A WHL graduate, he spent most of his career bouncing around the minor leagues, but played 4 games with Anaheim in 06-07; he’s now retired

2007

David Clarkson (RW) 378 NHL games

Undrafted out of the OHL, he played 123 games in the AHL before making a permanent jump to the NHL in 07-08; he remains with the Devils

2009

Ryan Wilson (D) 187 NHL games

Undrafted out of the OHL, he only played 71 AHL games before making the jump to the NHL in 09-10; he remains with Colorado

2011

Matt Fraser (LW) 1 NHL game

Undrafted WHLer was signed by Dallas and got a call-up in his rookie season

CHL conclusions: the bulk of the players missed here are all regular NHLers (in some cases very good ones), with only Wall (and potentially Fraser) getting the cup of coffee treatment. It’s only seven players over seven years and only three in the last five, so it’s very rare for an undrafted player to make the jump from the CHL to the NHL without a lengthy apprenticeship in the minors. It’s interesting that five of these success stories are from the OHL and that nearly half are blueliners.

CIS (2)

The least likely route to the NHL, here’s the two success stories I could find post-lockout (Mathieu Darche would be one that predates this, or Bracken Kearns if I was categorizing things differently).

Joel Ward (RW) 314 NHL games

Played 209 AHL games before establishing himself as an NHLer in 08-09.

Darryl Boyce (C/LW) 84 NHL games

Debuted with Toronto in his rookie season (07-08), but didn’t start getting regular call-ups until 10-11. Currently an UFA.

NCAA (56)

2006

Andy Greene (D, 39-9-22-31, NJ) – 347 NHL games through six seasons; going into the second season of a four-year deal

Rod Pelley (39-7-7-14, NJ) – 256 NHL games through six seasons; currently a UFA

Ryan Carter (39-19-16-35, Ana) – 254 NHL games through six seasons; signed a two-year, one-way deal with the Devils

Bill Thomas (41-27-23-50, Phx) – 87 NHL games through six seasons; signed a one-year, two-way deal with Colorado

Tim Wallace (36-11-12-23, Pit) – 73 NHL games through six seasons; currently on a two-way deal with Carolina

Junior Lessard (45-32-31-63, Dal) – 2y NHL games through six seasons; currently playing in the LNAH

Jamie Hunt (D, 33-12-33-45, Wsh) – 1 NHL game through six seasons; he’s now retired

2007

Ryan Shannon (38-14-31-45, Ana) – 305 NHL games through six seasons; now in Switzerland

Darroll Powe (34-13-15-28, Phi) – 286 NHL games through five seasons; two years left on a three-year deal (now with Minnesota)

Teddy Purcell (40-16-27-43, TB) – 272 NHL games through five seasons; is signed through the next four years with Tampa

Chris Connor (38-17-12-29, Dal) – 147 NHL games through six seasons; he has a two-way deal with Phoenix

Mark Letestu (37-24-22-46, Pit) – 136 NHL games through five seasons; on the final year of a one-way deal with Columbus

Kevin Westgarth (33-8-16-24, LA) – 90 NHL games through five seasons; signed to a new two-year, one-way deal with LA

Derek Smith (D, 43-10-20-30, Ott) – 58 NHL games through five seasons; signed his first one-way deal (two years) with Calgary

Trevor Smith (38-21-22-43, NYI) – 23 NHL games through five seasons; signed a one-year, two-way deal with Pittsburgh

Sean Collins (D, 37-9-19-28, Wsh) – 21 NHL games through five seasons; signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Rangers

Gabe Gauthier (38-15-24-39, LA) – 8 NHL games through five seasons; signed with Colorado in the ECHL

Kyle Greentree (39-21-21-42, Phi) – 4 NHL games through five seasons; currently a UFA

John Curry (G, 2.01, .928, Pit) – 4 NHL games through five seasons; currently a UFA

Sean Bentivoglio (37-16-30-46, NYI) – 1 NHL game through five seasons; current a UFA

Darcy Campbell (D, 39-4-20-24, Clb) – 1 NHL game through five seasons; now playing tier-2 hockey in Germany

2008

Jesse Winchester (40-8-29-37, Ott) – 233 NHL games through four seasons; currently a UFA

Jack Hillen (D, 41-6-31-37, NYI) – 230 NHL games through four seasons; signed a one-year, one-way deal with Washington

Davis Drewiske (D, 40-5-16-21, LA) – 106 NHL games through four seasons; in the final year of his one-way contract with the Kings

Mike Moore (D, 34-7-17-24, SJ) – 6 NHL games through four seasons; signed a one-year, two-way contract with Nashville

Peter Mannino (G, 2.26, .917, NYI) – 6 NHL games through four seasons; currently a UFA

Matt Climie (G, 2.15, .913, Dal) – 5 NHL games through four seasons; currently a UFA

Brock Trotter (24-13-18-31, Mtl) – 2 NHL games through four seasons; currently a UFA

Jeff Penner (35-5-7-12, Bos) – 2 NHL games through four seasons; currently a UFA

2009

Matt Gilroy (D, 45-8-29-37, NYR) – 194 NHL games through three seasons; currently a UFA

Tyler Bozak (19-8-15-23, Tor) – 192 NHL games through three seasons; entering the final year of his contract

Dan Sexton (38-17-22-39, Ana) – 88 NHL games through three seasons; entering the final year of his contract (which is one-way)

Christian Hanson (37-16-15-31, Tor) – 42 NHL games through three seasons; signed a two-way deal with Boston

MacGregor Sharp (43-26-24-50, Ana) – 8 NHL games through three seasons; played in Italy last season

Evan Oberg (D, 43-7-20-27, Van) – 7 NHL games through three seasons; signed a one-year, two-way deal with Tampa

Brad Thiessen (G, 2.11, .931, Pit) – 5 NHL games through three seasons; signed a one-year, two-way contract with Pittsburgh

Corey Elkins (42-18-23-41, LA) – 3 NHL games through three seasons; signed a one-year, two-way deal with Anaheim

2010

Bobby Butler (39-29-24-53, Ott) – 92 NHL games through two seasons; signed a one-year, two-way deal with New Jersey

Nate Prosser (D, 39-4-24-28, Min) – 56 NHL games through two seasons; signed a new two-year, one-way contract with the Wild

Chris Tanev (D, 41-10-18-28, Van) – 54 NHL games through two seasons; in the final year of his ELC

Casey Wellman (36-23-22-45, Min) – 41 NHL games through two seasons; signed a two-way deal with Florida

Tommy Wingels (44-17-25-42, SJ) – 38 NHL games through two seasons, signed a two-year, one-way contract with the Sharks

Aaron Volpatti (37-15-17-32, Van) – 38 NHL games through two seasons; signed a two-way deal to stay with the Canucks

Erik Gustafsson (D, 39-3-29-32, Phi) – 33 NHL games through two seasons, completing the third year of his ELC

Ben Scrivens (G, 1.87, 0.934, Tor) – 12 NHL games through two seasons, not yet re-signed by the Leafs

Ben Holmstrom (39-9-14-23, Phi) – 7 NHL games through two seasons; on a one-year, two-way deal with the Flyers

Jarod Palmer (44-18-27-45, Min) – 6 NHL games through two seasons; remains with the Wild organisation (two-way deal)

Brayden Irwin (39-15-19-34, Tor) – 2 NHL games through two seasons; currently a free agent

2011

Matt Read (37-22-13-35, Phi) – 79 NHL games; he remains with the Flyers

Harry Zolnierczyk (30-16-15-31, Phi) – 37 NHL games; he remains with the Flyers on a two-way deal

Stephane Da Costa (33-14-31-45, Ott) – 22 NHL games through one season; remains with Ottawa on a two-way deal

Andy Miele (39-24-47-71, Phx) – 7 NHL games; he remains with the Phoenix organisation

Carter Camper (39-19-38-57, Bos) – 3 NHL games; remains with the Bruins organisation (two-way deal)

Mike Connolly (42-28-26-54, Col) – 2 NHL games; remains with Colorado on a two-way

Torey Krug (D, 38-12-22-34, Bos) – 2 NHL games; two more years remain of his ELC remain

Chay Genoway (D, 36-6-31-37, Min) – 1 NHL game; he remains with the Wild organisation (two-way)

Europe (22)

2006

Niklas Backstrom (G, SM-Liiga) 32-9-10, 1.68, .940 – has played 327 NHL games and is arguably the best goaltender on this list

Patrick Thoresen (SEL) 50-17-19-36 – played 106 NHL games; he’s entering his fourth season in the KHL

Patrick Fischer (NLA) 44-21-32-53 – played 27 NHL games in his only season; now retired

2007

Jonas Hiller (G, NLA) 28-16, 2.60, n/a – has played 250 NHL games and remains Anaheim’s starting goaltender

Erik Ersberg (G, SEL) 41GP, 2.39, .908 – played 69 NHL games over three seasons with LA; entering his third season in the KHL

Cory Murphy (D, SM-Liiga) 45-13-37-50 – played 91 NHL games over three seasons; entering his first season in the KHL

Jaroslav Hlinka (Cze) 46-19-38-57 (1.23) – played 63 NHL games in his only season; currently signed in the Czech Elite League

2008

Ville Leino (C, SM-Liiga) 55-28-49-77 – has played 220 NHL games over four seasons; signed long-term by Buffalo

Antti Niemi (G, SM-Liiga) 26-14-6, 2.35, .926 – he won a Stanley Cup with Chicago (2010) and has 170 NHL games to his credit; he is San Jose’s starting goaltender

Tim Stapleton (C/RW) 55-29-33-62 – undersized NCAA grad played two years in Finland before coming back to North America; he played 118 NHL games; he’s playing in the KHL this season

Anssi Salmela (D, SM-Liiga) 56-16-16-32 (0.57) – played 112 NHL games over three seasons; entering his second season in the KHL

Fabian Brunnstrom (SEL) 54-9-28-37 – played 104 NHL games over four seasons; signed with Frolunda

Per Ledin (SEL) – played 3 NHL games in his only season; continues to play for HV71

2009

Jonas Gustavsson (G, SEL) 42GP, 1.96, .932 – “The Monster” has played 107 NHL games over three seasons; signed on a one-way with Detroit

Mika Pyorala (SM-Liiga) 55-21-22-43 – played 36 NHL games in his only season; entering his first season in the KHL

Henrik Karlsson (G, SEL) 34GP, 2.45, .914 – has played 26 NHL games; he remains with Calgary

Alexander Salak (G, SM-Liiga) 20-20-9, 2.40, .923 – played 2 NHL games in his only season with the Florida organisation; signed by Farjestad

Johan Backlund (G, SEL) 49GP, 2.56, .907 – played 1 NHL game over three seasons in the Flyer organisation; entering his second season with Karpat

2010

Mats Zuccarello (SEL) 55-23-41-64 (1.16) – pint-sized Norwegian played 52 NHL games over two seasons; entering his first season in the KHL

Jussi Rynnas (G, SM-Liiga) 14-13-1, 2.71, .911 – has played 2 NHL games over two seasons with Toronto’s organisation; he has one more year left in his ELC

2011

Raphael Diaz (D, NLA) 45-12-27-39 (0.86) – has played 59 NHL games in his rookie season; he remains with Montreal

Iiro Tarkki (G, SM-Liiga) 20-20-14, 2.09, .924 – played 1 game with Anaheim’s organisation last season; entering his first season in the KHL

ECHL (9)

Alexandre Burrows (W, 522 NHL games)

Undrafted player from the QMJHL, he played 134 games in the ECHL before becoming an AHL regular in 04-05; he’s been an NHL regular since the the lockout

David Desharnais (C, 130 NHL games)

Undrafted player from the QMJHL, he spent one season (07-08) in the ECHL before becoming an AHL regular; he’s been an NHL regular with Montreal this past season.

Steve MacIntyre (LW, 90 NHL games)

The undrafted WHL pugilist spent 168 games in the ECHL (and another 158 in other minor leagues) before establishing himself in the AHL and then earning an NHL spot with Edmonton (he’s also played for Florida and Pittsburgh).

Chris Durno (LW, 43 NHL games)

Undrafted out of the Michigan Tech, he played 147 games in the ECHL before firmly establishing himself as an AHL player, seeing action with Colorado in parts of two seasons (08-09 and 09-10). He’s currently a UFA after spending last season with Charlotte in the AHL.

Chris Minard (C/W, 40 NHL games)

Undrafted OHLer spent 174 games in the ECHL before establishing himself in AHL; his NHL games were split over three seasons with Pittsburgh and Edmonton (07-08 to 09-10). He will play in the DEL (Germany) this season.

Pascal Pelletier (LW, 13 NHL games)

Undrafted out of the QMJHL, he spent 88 games in the ECHL before establishing himself as a regular AHLer. He had cups of coffee with Boston and Chicago (07-08 and 08-09), but will suit up for his third season in the NLA (Switzerland) this season.

Matt Climie (G, 5 NHL games)

Undrafted out of Bemidji State, he spent one season (08-09) in the ECHL before moving up to the AHL. His NHL games have been spread over three seasons (08-09 to 10-11) and split between Dallas and Phoenix. He’s remains with Chicago (AHL) for the upcoming season.

Kurtis McLean (C, 4 NHL games)

Undrafted out of Norwich University, McLean spent the bulk of 05-06 in the ECHL before establishing himself in the AHL. His cup of coffee came with the Islanders (08-09), but is now entering his fourth year in Europe (his second in the NLA).

Cedrick Desjardins (G, 2 NHL games)

Undrafted out of the QMJHL, he spent one and a half seasons in the ECHL before becoming an AHL regular; his NHL cup of coffee was with Tampa in 10-11. He’s signed with Hamilton (AHL) for the upcoming season.

AHL (20)

Most players graduate from the AHL after a few years, but there are exceptions (and yes, I didn’t do this list chronologically as above because…er, just enjoy it).

Matt Carkner (D) 162 NHL games

Spent an eternity in the AHL before getting one game with San Jose (05-06), not joining the big leagues permanently until 09-10; he signed a three-year deal with the Islanders

Jeff Hoggan 107 NHL games

College grad spent the better part of two years in the big league (05-06 and 06-07) before settling back into the AHL; he’s now retired

Keith Aucoin (C/RW) 102 NHL games

An undersized college grad who has yet to spend an entire season in the NHL; his first taste was with Carolina in 05-06; he’s signed on a two-way with Toronto

Grant Stevenson (C/RW) 47 NHL games

NCAA grad spent half a season with San Jose (05-06) before falling off the map; he’s a UFA

Jerome Samson (RW) 46 NHL games

QMJHLer spent three years in the AHL before becoming a regular call-up for Carolina; he remains with the Hurricanes

Geoff Platt (C/LW) 46 NHL games

Undersized OHLer spent time with Columbus and Anaheim over three seasons before leaving for Europe; he’s entering his fourth full season in the KHL

Mike Glumac (RW) 40 NHL

NCAA grad spent time in the ECHL and AHL before getting a chance with St. Louis (05-06 to 07-08); he’s beginning his third season in Germany

Martin St. Pierre (C/LW) 38 NHL games

Undersized OHL grad was able to work himself into a limited number of NHL games (beginning in 05-06); currently signed on a two-way with Chicago

Mark Cullen (C/LW) 38 NHL games

College grad has played nearly 600 games in the AHL, getting most of his limited NHL action with Chicago; he’s playing in the KHL this season

Ryan Vesce (C/RW) 18 NHL games

Undersized college grad bounced between the AHL and Europe before getting his games with San Jose; he’s playing Sweden this year

Stephen Gionta (C/W) 13 NHL games

The undersized forward was signed out of college he spent four full seasons in the AHL before getting his NHL cup of coffee and has 363 AHL games to his credit. Signed his first one-way deal with New Jersey at age 28

Jared Ross (C/LW) 13 NHL games

Undersized NCAA went through all the minor leagues before getting time with Philadelphia; he begins his second season in Germany

Mike Iggulden (C/W) 12 NHL games

NCAA grad saw action with San Jose and Edmonton before going to Europe; he begins his second season in Sweden this year

Rob Collins (C/RW) 8 NHL games

Undrafted undersized college grad four years in the Islanders system before getting his moment in the league; has spent the last six seasons in Germany

Maxim Noreau (D) 6 NHL games

QMJHLer spent four years in Minnesota’s organisation before leaving for Switzerland

Charles Linglet (LW) 5 NHL games

Undrafted QMJHLer played 331 AHL games before getting his cup of coffee with Edmonton (09-10). He’s entering his third season in the KHL

Bracken Kearns (C) 5 NHL games

CIS grad played over 400 games before getting a call-up from Florida last season; he’s signed a two-way with San Jose

Carsen Germyn (C/RW) 4 NHL games

Undersized WHLer had his cup of coffee with Calgary; he now plies his trade in Germany

Jesse Schultz (RW) 2 NHL games

Undrafted WHLer got his cup of coffee with Vancouver in 06-07; unable to land an AHL job last season, he’s playing in Italy this year

Greg Rallo (C) 1 NHL game

Played over 300 AHL games before getting his one call-up with Florida; he remains with the Panthers organisation

The Best of the Undrafted

The simplest way of defining the best boils down to games played and how established a player has become (given that, I’ve only included one player whose career started within the last two years). With that in mind, here are the best along with what league brought them to the NHL.

Nicklas Backstrom (Europe) 327 NHL games

Jonas Hiller (Europe) 250 NHL games

Alexandre Burrows (ECHL) 522 NHL games

Dan Girardi (CHL) 442 NHL games

David Clarkson (CHL) 378 NHL games

Antti Niemi (Europe) 170 NHL games

Mark Giordano (CHL) 338 NHL games

Teddy Purcell (NCAA) 272 NHL games

Ville Leino (Europe) 220 NHL games

Chad Larose (CHL) 473 NHL games

Andy Greene (NCAA) 347 NHL games

Tyler Bozak (NCAA) 192 NHL games

Matt Read (NCAA) 79 NHL games

Conclusions

NCAA: 56

Europe: 22

AHL: 20

ECHL: 9

CHL: 7

CIS: 2

What’s clear is that the best players who slip through the cracks come from Europe or the CHL, although no one comes close to the deluge of NCAA players who filter into the league. Some of the perceptible changes (fewer players from Europe and the CHL) represent better scouting in the NHL, but nothing can stem the tide from college.

This article is written by Peter Levi (@eyeonthesens)

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

Like this: Like Loading...

September 5, 2012

Categories: Free Agency, Ottawa Senators . . Author: Eye on the Sens

6 Comments

Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI