Draft week is finally upon us. By this point, after weeks (and months) of coverage, you’re probably sick and tired of reading about Nolan Patrick, Nico Hischier, and many other prospects that are projected to go in the 1st round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft.
However, every year the draft goes far, far beyond just the opening round. Sure, the later the draft goes, the less likely that any of the players picked will go on to long, successful NHL careers. That doesn’t mean, though, that none of them do.
Like clockwork, each and every draft sees prospects that get selected in the 5th, 6th or 7th rounds that, unbeknownst at the time, eventually become top-notch NHLers.