Over the past weeks, we took a first look at the top two rounds of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and profiled players the Vancouver Canucks could target. But the top two rounds are only the tip of the iceberg that is the draft.
Read: 5 First-Round Draft Options
Read: 3 Second-Round Draft Options
Now, you could argue that players drafted later than the second round rarely turn into impact players on the NHL level. While that is certainly true, I want you to take a look through this list and re-evaluate your thoughts:
- 117th overall, 1998 — C Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings
- 210th overall, 1999 — C Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings
- 205th overall, 2000 — G Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
- 258th overall, 2004 — G Pekka Rinne, Nashville Predators
- 129th overall, 2007 — LW Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars
The Detroit Red Wings snagged two of their best players of all time late in the 1998 and 1999 Drafts, respectively.