The Best Late-Round NHL Draft Picks in History

Every year during the NHL Entry Draft, teams carefully select players they believe possess the talent, determination, and mental fortitude to become consistent contributors at hockey’s highest level. The first round typically features players with obvious generational skills and polished résumés, while later rounds are filled with question marks and projects. Yet history has shown time and again that some of the league’s greatest legends weren’t chosen among the elite early picks. Instead, they fell through the cracks due to concerns about size, skating ability, or simply playing in lesser-known leagues where scouts rarely ventured.

The best late-round NHL draft picks in history serve as powerful reminders that scouting is an imperfect science and that determination can overcome doubts. These players transformed from afterthoughts into Hall of Famers, proving that character, work ethic, and hockey IQ matter just as much as raw physical tools. Their stories inspire hope for every prospect selected outside the spotlight and demonstrate why teams continue searching for diamonds in the rough deep into the draft.

The Magic Man who redefined value: Pavel Datsyuk’s legendary career

Pavel Datsyuk stands as perhaps the single greatest steal in NHL draft history, selected 171st overall by the Detroit Red Wings in 1998. The circumstances surrounding his selection have become legendary in scouting circles. European scout Hakan Andersson was in Russia to evaluate defenseman Dmitri Kalinin when he couldn’t take his eyes off another player who seemed to own the puck in every situation.

Datsyuk’s junior career with Yekaterinburg Dynamo was far from impressive by NHL standards. In 79 games with the now-defunct Russian Elite League team, he managed just 31 points, barely averaging a half-point per game. Those underwhelming statistics, combined with playing in a league that wasn’t heavily scouted at the time, caused nearly every NHL team to pass on him multiple times.

After spending an additional development year with Kazan Ak-Bars, Datsyuk made the Red Wings roster and immediately found himself playing 21 playoff games as Detroit captured the Stanley Cup. From that point forward, his game elevated to stratospheric levels. Following the 2004-05 lockout, he won three consecutive Lady Byng Trophies while posting point totals approaching 100.

What separated Datsyuk from other skilled forwards was his defensive wizardry. He won three Selke Trophies as the league’s best defensive forward, using one of the greatest sticks in hockey history to strip opponents of the puck. His highlight-reel goals became staples of every NHL compilation, with his “Magic Man” nickname perfectly capturing his ability to make the impossible look routine. Over 900 NHL games, Datsyuk accumulated more than 900 points before returning to the KHL in 2016, where he played five more seasons. When he becomes eligible, his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame will be a first-ballot certainty.

Goaltending greatness found late: Henrik Lundqvist’s reign as King

Henrik Lundqvist couldn’t even crack the top 200 picks in the 2000 NHL Draft, eventually going 205th overall to the New York Rangers. That placement seems incomprehensible now, given that “The King” became one of the most dominant and consistent goaltenders of the 21st century. His fall in the draft came from playing in Sweden’s system at a time when European goaltenders were viewed skeptically by many NHL organizations.

By the 2005-06 season, Lundqvist had claimed the Rangers’ starting job and embarked on a remarkable run of excellence that would span 15 seasons. His consistency was unmatched, posting 30 or more wins in 11 different seasons and recording 459 career victories, sixth-most in NHL history. In 2011-12, he captured the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goaltender, cementing his status among the elite.

Lundqvist’s Game 7 performance record became the stuff of legend. He developed a reputation as the ultimate clutch performer when elimination loomed, using his deep positioning in the crease to cut down angles and frustrate opposing shooters. His technique and style influenced a generation of goaltenders who studied his economical movements and elite positioning.

Beyond his on-ice accomplishments, Lundqvist became hockey’s greatest fashion icon, bringing style and sophistication to a position not typically associated with glamour. He helped lead Sweden to Olympic gold in 2006 and remained a cornerstone of Rangers hockey for his entire NHL tenure. For a player selected 205th overall, his legacy as one of the best late-round NHL draft picks in history is unassailable.

Detroit’s other Swedish masterpiece: Henrik Zetterberg’s complete game

Just one year before discovering Datsyuk, the Red Wings found another Swedish gem in Henrik Zetterberg, selecting him 210th overall in the 1999 draft. Like Datsyuk, Zetterberg’s selection came on the recommendation of scout Hakan Andersson, who suggested Detroit take a chance on the relatively unknown player from Timrå IK if he was still available late in the draft.

Zetterberg hadn’t been a standout performer for Timrå, which meant he received minimal attention from NHL scouts. The Red Wings’ European scouting apparatus, however, saw something special in his hockey intelligence and two-way awareness. After three more years of development in Sweden, Zetterberg made his NHL debut at age 22.

His rookie season announced his arrival as a legitimate NHL talent, as he scored 22 goals and finished as runner-up for the Calder Trophy. From there, his game continued ascending until he established himself as one of the league’s premier two-way forwards. While not as flashy as Datsyuk, Zetterberg brought an equally cerebral approach and became known for his ability to impact games without needing the puck.

The 2007-08 season represented the pinnacle of Zetterberg’s career. He led the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup championship and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP after registering 27 points in 22 postseason games. Over his 15-year career, all spent in Detroit, he accumulated 960 points and earned two All-Star selections. He also represented Sweden at three Olympic Games, cementing his legacy among the best late-round NHL draft picks in history.

The Golden Brett: Brett Hull’s historic goal-scoring prowess

Brett Hull’s placement at 117th overall in the 1984 draft by the Calgary Flames remains one of the most baffling decisions in draft history. In his draft year, Hull had obliterated BCJHL competition, scoring 105 goals and 188 points in just 57 games with the Penticton Knights. Those numbers should have made him a top-tier prospect, yet concerns about his skating and defensive play caused him to slip to the sixth round.

The Flames would later trade Hull to the St. Louis Blues in what became one of the worst transactions in NHL history. Hull blossomed into one of the most prolific goal scorers the league has ever seen, combining a powerful shot with exceptional positioning and hockey sense. His release was so quick that goaltenders often never saw the puck leave his stick.

Over his 19-year career, Hull scored 741 goals, currently ranking third all-time in NHL history. He recorded eight seasons with 40 or more goals, including campaigns of 57, 70, 72, and 86 goals. That 86-goal season in 1990-91 with the Blues remains one of the highest single-season totals in the modern era. Hull added 650 assists to finish with 1,391 career points.

An 11-time All-Star, Hull won the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP, the Ted Lindsay Award (then called the Lester B. Pearson Award), and the Lady Byng Trophy. He captured two Stanley Cups and represented the United States at two Olympic Games. His combination of elite production and longevity makes him arguably the greatest goal scorer among the best late-round NHL draft picks in history. When analyzing the draft’s unpredictability, Hull’s career stands as the ultimate example of how wrong teams can be about talent evaluation.

Lucky Luc: Luc Robitaille’s nine-round miracle

Luc Robitaille didn’t hear his name called until the ninth round of the 1984 draft, going 171st overall to the Los Angeles Kings. This placement came despite an extraordinarily productive junior career with the Hull Olympiques, where he scored 424 points in 197 QMJHL games, including 55 goals and 148 points in his draft year. In his final junior season after being drafted, he exploded for 68 goals and 191 points.

The concerns that caused Robitaille’s draft stock to plummet centered on his skating. Scouts acknowledged his exceptional offensive instincts and goal-scoring ability around the net but questioned whether he possessed the speed and physical tools necessary for NHL success. Many believed he would be too slow to compete against NHL-caliber defenders.

Robitaille proved those doubts spectacularly wrong. He stepped directly into the NHL for the 1986-87 season and won the Calder Trophy after scoring 45 goals and 84 points as a rookie. From there, he became one of the most consistent offensive producers of his generation, recording four 100-point seasons and five campaigns with 40 or more goals.

His peak came in 1992-93 when he scored 63 goals, demonstrating that his skating limitations could be overcome through positioning, anticipation, and an elite scoring touch. Over his 19-year career, Robitaille was selected to 13 All-Star Games and spent 14 seasons with the Kings. Though he won his only Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2001-02, his legacy as a Kings legend remained intact. Remarkably, he was drafted after Tom Glavine, who went on to become a Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, making Robitaille’s ninth-round selection even more improbable among the best late-round NHL draft picks in history.

Killer instincts: Doug Gilmour’s undersized excellence

Doug Gilmour’s Hall of Fame career almost never happened due to concerns about his size. Despite scoring 46 goals and 119 points in his draft year with the Cornwall Royals, Gilmour fell to the seventh round (134th overall) of the 1982 draft because scouts deemed him both too small at 5-foot-7 and too light to withstand the physical punishment of NHL hockey.

The St. Louis Blues took a chance on him, and while his first three NHL seasons showed modest production, everything changed in his fourth year. Gilmour erupted for 42 goals and 105 points in 1986-87, announcing his arrival as an elite NHL center. His small stature became an advantage, as he used his low center of gravity and exceptional skating to weave through traffic.

Gilmour’s best season came with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1992-93 when he scored 127 points and won the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the league’s top defensive forward. That combination of elite offense and defensive responsibility became his trademark, proving that size matters far less than skill, determination, and hockey IQ.

Over his 19-year career, Gilmour accumulated 450 goals and 1,414 points, playing key roles on multiple contending teams. He won a Stanley Cup with the Calgary Flames and remained one of the league’s most respected players throughout his career. His 2011 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame validated what scouts had missed years earlier: that heart and skill can overcome physical limitations. Similar to undrafted players who made it, Gilmour’s story demonstrates that traditional scouting metrics don’t always capture a player’s true value.

Modern-era steals: Joe Pavelski and Mark Stone lead new generation

Joe Pavelski’s journey to NHL stardom began at 205th overall in the 2003 draft when the San Jose Sharks selected him from the USHL. At that time, the USHL didn’t carry the prestige it does today, and Pavelski’s relatively small stature in an era that prized size caused him to fall. Coming through the college route meant he didn’t reach the NHL until age 22, giving teams even more reason to doubt his potential.

Instead of succumbing to those doubts, Pavelski became one of the most consistent scorers of his generation. His specialty became deflecting pucks in front of the net, where his exceptional hand-eye coordination and fearless positioning made him nearly impossible to defend. He’s scored 421 career goals, ranking ninth all-time among American-born players, and his leadership qualities made him a captain for both San Jose and Dallas.

Mark Stone represents another modern triumph of hockey intelligence over pure athleticism. Selected 178th overall by the Ottawa Senators in 2010, Stone faced criticism about his skating ability. Scouts acknowledged his exceptional hockey IQ but questioned whether his foot speed would translate to NHL success. Once he improved his skating to acceptable NHL standards, his other elite skills shone through brilliantly.

Stone has emerged as one of the best two-way forwards of his generation, combining elite defensive play with first-line scoring ability. His mastery of intercepting passes and stripping opponents of possession makes him a constant threat to generate offense from defense. Now captain of the Vegas Golden Knights, Stone’s career trajectory depends partly on his recovery from back surgery, but his accomplishments already cement his place among the best late-round NHL draft picks in history.

Scouting’s imperfect science and the hope it provides

The stories of these legendary late-round selections reveal fundamental truths about talent evaluation in hockey. Size, skating, and playing in prominent leagues matter to scouts, but they don’t always predict NHL success. Players like Datsyuk, Lundqvist, and Zetterberg succeeded because they possessed intangibles that don’t show up on measurement charts: elite hockey IQ, determination, and the ability to elevate their games when it matters most.

These players also benefited from organizational patience and excellent development programs. The Detroit Red Wings’ success in finding European gems wasn’t accidental—it resulted from investing in quality European scouting and trusting those scouts’ evaluations even when conventional wisdom suggested otherwise. Similarly, players need time to develop their games, with many late-round picks not reaching the NHL until their early twenties.

For every prospect selected in the later rounds of today’s drafts, these legends provide inspiration and proof that draft position doesn’t determine destiny. Teams continue searching deep into the draft for their next Datsyuk or Lundqvist, knowing that one late-round gem can transform a franchise’s fortunes. As the NHL becomes more globalized and scouting coverage expands to previously overlooked regions, tomorrow’s late-round steals are being identified right now, waiting for their chance to prove the doubters wrong and join the pantheon of the best late-round NHL draft picks in history.