As the 2024 NHL Draft approaches, it’s natural to reflect on past selections and wonder “what if?” NHL teams have had their fair share of hits and misses when it comes to drafting players who go on to have successful careers. From missed opportunities like the Calgary Flames passing on Nikita Kucherov in 2011 to the Chicago Blackhawks selecting Teuvo Teravainen over Andrei Vasilevskiy in 2012, there are plenty of second-guessing moments in draft history.
Looking back at these draft picks can shed light on how different the trajectory of a franchise could have been with just one different selection. Players like P.K. Subban, Mathew Barzal, and Brad Richards could have been game-changers for teams like the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Florida Panthers, respectively.
Even recent drafts offer opportunities for revision, with players like Miro Heiskanen, Mitch Marner, and Keith Tkachuk who were available but not selected by certain teams. The potential impact of these missed opportunities can be significant, as demonstrated by the success these players have achieved in the NHL.
While hindsight is 20/20, it’s still interesting to speculate on how the NHL landscape could have been altered by one different draft choice. Whether it’s a future Hall of Famer like Patrick Sharp slipping through the cracks or a current superstar like Adam Fox going to a different team, the “what if” scenarios in NHL draft history are endless.
As we approach the 2024 NHL Draft, let’s keep this exercise in mind and remember that even the most well-informed scouts and general managers can sometimes miss out on a future star. The unpredictability of the draft is what makes it exciting, and it’s always fascinating to look back and wonder how things might have been different with just one alternate decision.
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