[{"slug":"the-1-percent-hart-winners-outside-r1-2005-2024","publishDate":"2026-06-15","series":"S09 · The 1%","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Two players won the Hart Trophy from outside the first round across 2005-06 → 2024-25 — <strong>Kucherov</strong> (R2 #58) and <strong>Hellebuyck</strong> (R5 #130)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across 20 Hart Memorial Trophy seasons from 2005-06 through 2024-25, 18 winners were first-round picks. The two exceptions: Nikita Kucherov, taken 58th overall (R2) by Tampa Bay in 2011, and Connor Hellebuyck, taken 130th overall (R5) by Winnipeg in 2012."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Nikita Kucherov","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R2 #58","Team":"TBL","Hart season":"2018-19","Pos":"F"},{"Player":"Connor Hellebuyck","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R5 #130","Team":"WPG","Hart season":"2024-25","Pos":"G","Tier":"Elite Goalie"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Kucherov reached the Hart in his 8th NHL season (2018-19); Hellebuyck in his 11th (2024-25)","Across the same 20-season span, Norris Trophy winners came from outside the first round 11 times (55%) — the Hart's non-R1 rate (2 of 20, 10%) is the much rarer path","The 18 R1 Hart winners across the window include 13 #1-overall picks: <strong>Joe Thornton</strong> (1997), <strong>Alexander Ovechkin</strong> (2004, three Harts), <strong>Sidney Crosby</strong> (2005, two), <strong>Patrick Kane</strong> (2007), <strong>Taylor Hall</strong> (2010), <strong>Nathan MacKinnon</strong> (2013), <strong>Connor McDavid</strong> (2015, three), and <strong>Auston Matthews</strong> (2016)"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"offenseman-2008-class-five-elite-records","publishDate":"2026-06-12","series":"S16 · The Offenseman","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"The 2008 NHL Entry Draft produced five Elite-tier offensemen — the most of any single draft class on the file","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Five defensemen drafted in 2008 reached carprod Elite tier — the largest single-class haul of offensemen on the file. Four are first-rounders (<strong>Doughty</strong> #2, <strong>Pietrangelo</strong> #4, <strong>Karlsson</strong> #15, <strong>Carlson</strong> #27); <strong>Josi</strong> went #38 in the second round. All five are 1,000-game players, <strong>Josi</strong> the lowest at 1,030."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Drew Doughty","Pick":"R1 #2","Team":"LAK","NHL GP":1279,"PTS":709,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Erik Karlsson","Pick":"R1 #15","Team":"OTT","NHL GP":1159,"PTS":922,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"John Carlson","Pick":"R1 #27","Team":"WSH","NHL GP":1159,"PTS":785,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Alex Pietrangelo","Pick":"R1 #4","Team":"STL","NHL GP":1087,"PTS":634,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Roman Josi","Pick":"R2 #38","Team":"NSH","NHL GP":1030,"PTS":779,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["The next-deepest single-class hauls: 2018 produced four (<strong>Rasmus Dahlin</strong> R1 #1, <strong>Quinn Hughes</strong> R1 #7, <strong>Evan Bouchard</strong> R1 #10, <strong>Noah Dobson</strong> R1 #12); 2003 produced three (<strong>Brent Burns</strong> R1 #20, <strong>Shea Weber</strong> R2 #49, <strong>Dustin Byfuglien</strong> R8 #245)","Four of the five 2008 Elite offensemen were drafted by different organizations (<strong>LAK</strong>, <strong>STL</strong>, <strong>OTT</strong>, <strong>NSH</strong>); <strong>Carlson</strong> closes the group as <strong>WSH</strong>'s late-first-round selection","Erik Karlsson's 922 carprod PTS leads the 2008 cohort; Drew Doughty's 1,279 NHL GP leads on games played"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"position-report-norris-non-r1-share-2005-2024","publishDate":"2026-06-12","series":"S02 · Position Report","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"Norris Trophy winners 2005-06 → 2024-25 have come from outside the first round 55% of the time — more than five times the Hart rate","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Of the 20 Norris Memorial Trophy winners across the post-lockout window, 11 came from outside the first round — including one undrafted player (Mark Giordano). The Hart Memorial Trophy over the same window: just two non-R1 winners (Nikita Kucherov R2 #58, Connor Hellebuyck R5 #130)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Trophy":"Norris (defensemen)","Total winners":20,"Non-R1 winners":11,"Non-R1 share":"55.0%"},{"Trophy":"Hart (MVP)","Total winners":20,"Non-R1 winners":2,"Non-R1 share":"10.0%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Non-R1 Norris winners 2005-06 → 2024-25: Nicklas Lidstrom (R3 #53, 1989, four wins), Duncan Keith (R2 #54, 2002, two wins), Zdeno Chara (R3 #56, 1996), P.K. Subban (R2 #43, 2007), Roman Josi (R2 #38, 2008), Adam Fox (R3 #66, 2016), and Mark Giordano (undrafted, signed CGY 2004)","Non-R1 Hart winners over the same span: Nikita Kucherov (R2 #58, 2011) and Connor Hellebuyck (R5 #130, 2012)","Lidstrom alone accounts for 4 of the 11 non-R1 Norris wins (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2010-11); seven distinct non-R1 players share the trophy across the window"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"probability-ladder-2026-week-of-june-09","publishDate":"2026-06-09","series":"S01 · Probability Ladder","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"<strong>Gavin McKenna</strong> leads <strong>DraftResearch</strong>'s 2026 Probability Ladder; <strong>Carson Carels</strong> (D, WHL) and <strong>Ivar Stenberg</strong> (F, SHL) hold the next two spots","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Gavin McKenna</strong> (F, Canada, Penn State NCAA) sits at #1 on <strong>DraftResearch</strong>'s 2026 Probability Ladder with a 94.8% Make NHL probability and an Elite projected tier. <strong>Carson Carels</strong> (D, WHL) and <strong>Ivar Stenberg</strong> (F, SHL) follow at #2 and #3 — both Elite-projected. The top 5 splits 3 defensemen and 2 forwards across four feeder leagues (NCAA, WHL, SHL, OHL)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Rank":1,"Player":"Gavin McKenna","Nation":"Canada","Pos":"F","League":"NCAA","Make %":"94.8%","Proj Tier":"Elite"},{"Rank":2,"Player":"Carson Carels","Nation":"Canada","Pos":"D","League":"WHL","Make %":"83.1%","Proj Tier":"Elite"},{"Rank":3,"Player":"Ivar Stenberg","Nation":"Sweden","Pos":"F","League":"SHL","Make %":"81.5%","Proj Tier":"Elite"},{"Rank":4,"Player":"Keaton Verhoeff","Nation":"Canada","Pos":"D","League":"NCAA","Make %":"87.7%","Proj Tier":"Elite"},{"Rank":5,"Player":"Chase Reid","Nation":"USA","Pos":"D","League":"OHL","Make %":"99.4%","Proj Tier":"Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three feeder leagues hold two top-5 spots each: <strong>NCAA</strong> (McKenna, Verhoeff), <strong>WHL</strong> (Carels — Rudolph drops to #6), and a top-5 European debut with <strong>Ivar Stenberg</strong> out of <strong>SHL Frolunda</strong>","Five different teams hold the top-5 college/junior spots: <strong>Penn State</strong>, <strong>Prince George Cougars</strong>, <strong>Frolunda HC</strong>, <strong>North Dakota</strong>, <strong>Soo Greyhounds</strong>","Defensemen hold 3 of the top 5 spots (<strong>Carels</strong>, <strong>Verhoeff</strong>, <strong>Reid</strong>) — same blueline-heavy top tier the Ladder has shown across the spring"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1"},{"slug":"nation-report-russia-elite-density-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-09","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Russia</strong> produced five Elite NHL careers from 173 draftees (2005–2018) — three of them Elite-tier goaltenders (<strong>Vasilevskiy</strong>, <strong>Shesterkin</strong>, <strong>Sorokin</strong>)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across the 2005-2018 window, Russia produced 173 NHL draftees; 81 reached the league (46.8%) and 31 played 200+ NHL games (17.9%) — both the lowest among the six major drafting nations. Five of the 173 reached Elite tier, but the output is goalie-driven: only two are carprod-Elite skaters — <strong>Nikita Kucherov</strong> (R2 #58, 2011) and <strong>Kirill Kaprizov</strong> (R5 #135, 2015) — alongside three Elite-tier goaltenders, <strong>Andrei Vasilevskiy</strong> (R1 #19, 2012), <strong>Igor Shesterkin</strong> (R4 #118, 2014), and <strong>Ilya Sorokin</strong> (R3 #78, 2014)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Dmitri Orlov","Draft":"R2 #55 '09","Team":"WSH","NHL GP":949,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Vladimir Tarasenko","Draft":"R1 #16 '10","Team":"STL","NHL GP":906,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Nikita Kucherov","Draft":"R2 #58 '11","Team":"TBL","NHL GP":879,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Ivan Provorov","Draft":"R1 #7 '15","Team":"PHI","NHL GP":778,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Yevgeni Kuznetsov","Draft":"R1 #26 '10","Team":"WSH","NHL GP":743,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Pavel Buchnevich","Draft":"R3 #75 '13","Team":"NYR","NHL GP":674,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Mikhail Sergachyov","Draft":"R1 #9 '16","Team":"MTL","NHL GP":630,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Andrei Svechnikov","Draft":"R1 #2 '18","Team":"CAR","NHL GP":557,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Kirill Kaprizov","Draft":"R5 #135 '15","Team":"MIN","NHL GP":397,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Kirill Marchenko","Draft":"R2 #49 '18","Team":"CBJ","NHL GP":292,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Russia's 17.9% 200-GP conversion and 46.8% NHL-reach rate are both the lowest among the six major drafting nations — Finland is next-lowest on established rate at 21.5%, 3.6 points clear","Three of Russia's five Elite-tier careers are goaltenders — <strong>Andrei Vasilevskiy</strong> (R1 #19), <strong>Igor Shesterkin</strong> (R4 #118), and <strong>Ilya Sorokin</strong> (R3 #78); among skaters, only <strong>Nikita Kucherov</strong> (R2 #58) and <strong>Kirill Kaprizov</strong> (R5 #135) reached carprod Elite, both from outside the first round","Russia's first-round skaters (<strong>Vladimir Tarasenko</strong> #16, <strong>Yevgeni Kuznetsov</strong> #26, <strong>Andrei Svechnikov</strong> #2) produced three Top-Line careers but no carprod-Elite outcome — the two Elite skaters came in rounds 2 and 5"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"position-report-no-norris-1-overall-2005-2024","publishDate":"2026-06-08","series":"S02 · Position Report","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"No Norris Trophy winner from 2005-06 to 2024-25 was drafted #1 overall — 13 of 20 Hart winners over the same span were","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across the post-lockout window's 20 Norris Memorial Trophy seasons, none of the winners was selected first overall in their draft. 13 of 20 Hart Memorial Trophy winners over the same window were #1-overall picks — Connor McDavid (3), Alexander Ovechkin (3), and Sidney Crosby (2) account for eight of those."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Trophy":"Norris (defensemen)","Total winners":20,"Winners drafted #1 overall":0},{"Trophy":"Hart (MVP)","Total winners":20,"Winners drafted #1 overall":13}]},{"type":"list","items":["The highest-drafted Norris winners across the window are Drew Doughty (R1 #2, 2008) and Victor Hedman (R1 #2, 2009), both selected #2 overall","The deepest non-R1 Norris winners across the window: Adam Fox (R3 #66, 2016), Zdeno Chara (R3 #56, 1996), Nicklas Lidstrom (R3 #53, 1989, four-time winner inside the window), plus Mark Giordano (undrafted, signed CGY 2004)","Eight different players won at least one Hart Trophy from #1 overall across the same span: Alexander Ovechkin (3), Connor McDavid (3), Sidney Crosby (2), Joe Thornton, Patrick Kane, Taylor Hall, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-germany-draisaitl-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Germany</strong> produced five 200-GP NHL careers from 24 draftees (2005–2018) — <strong>Leon Draisaitl</strong> the Elite anchor, Hart winner in 2019-20","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Germany</strong> supplied 24 NHL draftees in the 2005-2018 window; six reached the NHL (25.0%) and five crossed 200+ NHL games (20.8%). <strong>Leon Draisaitl</strong> (R1 #3, 2014, EDM) is the federation's lone carprod-Elite outcome — Hart Memorial Trophy and Art Ross Trophy in 2019-20, the Ted Lindsay Award that same season, and the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2024-25 as the league's leading goal-scorer."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Leon Draisaitl","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #3","Pos":"F","NHL GP":855,"PTS":1053,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Tobias Rieder","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R4 #114","Pos":"F","NHL GP":478,"PTS":145,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Philipp Grubauer","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R4 #112","Pos":"G","NHL GP":402,"PTS":"—","Tier":"Spot Starter"},{"Player":"Tom Kuhnhackl","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R4 #110","Pos":"F","NHL GP":232,"PTS":54,"Tier":"Tier 6 - Depth"},{"Player":"Korbinian Holzer","Draft":2006,"Pick":"R4 #111","Pos":"D","NHL GP":206,"PTS":27,"Tier":"Tier 5 - Depth"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Draisaitl</strong>'s 1,053 carprod PTS are the third-most among non-Canadian, non-American draftees of the 2005-2018 window, behind <strong>Anze Kopitar</strong> (Slovenia) and <strong>Nikita Kucherov</strong> (Russia)","Four of the five 200-GP careers were round-4 picks — <strong>Tobias Rieder</strong> (R4 #114), <strong>Philipp Grubauer</strong> (R4 #112), <strong>Tom Kuhnhackl</strong> (R4 #110), and <strong>Korbinian Holzer</strong> (R4 #111); <strong>Leon Draisaitl</strong> (R1 #3) is the only first-round selection","<strong>Germany</strong>'s 25.0% NHL-reach rate (6 of 24) trails every major pipeline — the six nations with 50+ window picks each reach the NHL between 46.8% and 59.0%"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"nation-report-slovenia-kopitar-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Slovenia</strong>'s 2005–2018 draft window: <strong>Anze Kopitar</strong> (R1 #11, 2005, LAK) — two Stanley Cups, two Selke Trophies, three Lady Byngs, 1,521 NHL games","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Slovenia</strong>'s NHL Entry Draft pipeline across 2005-2018 is anchored by one player: <strong>Anze Kopitar</strong>, selected 11th overall by <strong>Los Angeles Kings</strong> in 2005. His career line — 1,521 NHL games, 1,316 carprod points, two Stanley Cups (2011-12, 2013-14), two Selke Trophies (2015-16, 2017-18), and three Lady Byng Trophies (2015-16, 2022-23, 2024-25) — makes him <strong>Slovenia</strong>'s only Elite-tier outcome on the file across the full draft era."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Anze Kopitar","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R1 #11","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1521,"PTS":1316,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Kopitar</strong> is the only carprod-Elite outcome <strong>Slovenia</strong> has produced on the file — across the entire draft history and again all-time among 200-game NHLers","<strong>Kopitar</strong>'s 1,316 carprod points are the most of any non-North-American draftee of the 2005-2018 window — ahead of <strong>Nikita Kucherov</strong> (1,124) and <strong>Leon Draisaitl</strong> (1,053)","The three-draftee window (2005, 2006, 2017) is among the leanest of any nation that produced an NHLer in the period — yet the single-player yield (1,521 NHL games, 1,316 carprod points, four major trophies plus two Cups) is among the richest"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-denmark-eller-ehlers-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Denmark</strong> produced 16 NHL draftees from 2005–2018 — four crossed 700 NHL games (<strong>Eller</strong>, <strong>Ehlers</strong>, <strong>Bodker</strong>, <strong>Bjorkstrand</strong>)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Denmark</strong> produced 16 NHL draftees across the 2005-2018 window; nine reached the NHL (56.2%) and four crossed 700 NHL games. <strong>Lars Eller</strong> (R1 #13, 2007) leads on games played (1,184) and won the 2017-18 Stanley Cup with <strong>Washington Capitals</strong>. <strong>Nikolaj Ehlers</strong> (R1 #9, 2014) is the federation's Top-Line carprod outcome."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Lars Eller","Draft":2007,"Pick":"R1 #13","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1184,"PTS":437,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Nikolaj Ehlers","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"F","NHL GP":756,"PTS":591,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Mikkel Bodker","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #8","Pos":"F","NHL GP":709,"PTS":324,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Oliver Bjorkstrand","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R3 #89","Pos":"F","NHL GP":704,"PTS":408,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Eller</strong>'s 2017-18 Stanley Cup is the federation's only Cup ring across the window — he scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of the Final","<strong>Bjorkstrand</strong>'s R3 #89 selection is the deepest <strong>Denmark</strong> draft pick to cross 700 NHL games in the window","Four Top-Line / 2nd-Line / 3rd-Line carprod outcomes from four R1 / R3 picks (2007-2014) — a concentrated seven-year stretch carrying the federation's NHL pipeline"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-slovakia-tatar-cernak-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Slovakia</strong> produced 41 NHL draftees from 2005–2018 — <strong>Tomas Tatar</strong> (927 NHL GP) and <strong>Erik Cernak</strong> (two Stanley Cups) anchor the post-Hossa generation","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Slovakia</strong> produced 41 NHL draftees across the 2005-2018 window; 16 reached the NHL (39.0%) and six played 200+ games. <strong>Tomas Tatar</strong> (R2 #60, 2009, DET) leads the cohort at 927 NHL games. <strong>Erik Cernak</strong> (R2 #43, 2015, LAK) won two Stanley Cups with <strong>Tampa Bay</strong> (2019-20, 2020-21). The window has produced no carprod-Elite outcomes — that distinction in the <strong>Slovakia</strong> file belongs to the pre-2005 generation (Hossa, Chara, Demitra, Gaborik)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Tomas Tatar","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R2 #60","Pos":"F","NHL GP":927,"PTS":488,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Richard Panik","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R2 #52","Pos":"F","NHL GP":521,"PTS":194,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Erik Cernak","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R2 #43","Pos":"D","NHL GP":441,"PTS":109,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Martin Fehervary","Draft":2018,"Pick":"R2 #46","Pos":"D","NHL GP":380,"PTS":101,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Martin Marincin","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R2 #46","Pos":"D","NHL GP":227,"PTS":34,"Tier":"Tier 5 - Depth"},{"Player":"Tomas Jurco","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R2 #35","Pos":"F","NHL GP":221,"PTS":50,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["All six 200-GP <strong>Slovakia</strong> outcomes in the window came from round 2 of their respective drafts — the pipeline's structural depth is concentrated in second-round selections","<strong>Cernak</strong>'s two Stanley Cups (2019-20, 2020-21 with <strong>Tampa Bay</strong>) are the federation's only Cup rings from the 2005-2018 draft cohort","The 2009 draft produced two Slovakia R2 forwards with 500+ NHL games — <strong>Tomas Tatar</strong> (R2 #60, 927 NHL games through 2024-25) and <strong>Richard Panik</strong> (R2 #52, 521 NHL games across 8 seasons) — the densest single year of the window"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-latvia-girgensons-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Latvia</strong> produced 13 NHL draftees from 2005–2018 — <strong>Zemgus Girgensons</strong> (R1 #14, 2012, BUF) the federation's only first-round pick","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Zemgus Girgensons</strong> (R1 #14, 2012, BUF) is <strong>Latvia</strong>'s only first-round NHL pick of the 2005-2018 window and the window's career NHL-games leader at 844. <strong>Teodors Blugers</strong> (R2 #52, 2012, PIT) followed in the same draft, 38 picks later — the only two Latvian forwards from the window to cross the 200-game NHL threshold."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Zemgus Girgensons","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #14","Pos":"F","NHL GP":844,"PTS":214,"Tier":"Tier 6 - Depth"},{"Player":"Teodors Blugers","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R2 #52","Pos":"F","NHL GP":453,"PTS":169,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["The 2012 draft produced both of <strong>Latvia</strong>'s 200-GP forwards from the window — <strong>Girgensons</strong> R1 and <strong>Blugers</strong> R2, taken 38 picks apart","<strong>Girgensons</strong> was voted an NHL All-Star Game starter in 2015 through the fan vote — a federation-mobilization moment for <strong>Latvia</strong>'s NHL footprint","Across the all-time file <strong>Latvia</strong> has produced eight 200-game NHLers — 10th among hockey nations; the window's contribution is <strong>Girgensons</strong> and <strong>Blugers</strong> (both 2012) plus goaltender <strong>Elvis Merzlikins</strong> (2014)"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-austria-grabner-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Austria</strong>'s 2005–2018 draft window: two picks, both reached the NHL — <strong>Michael Grabner</strong> (R1 #14, 2006, 640 NHL GP) leads","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Michael Grabner</strong> (R1 #14, 2006, VAN) is <strong>Austria</strong>'s headline NHL outcome of the 2005-2018 draft window — 640 NHL games across six franchises (<strong>VAN</strong>, <strong>NYI</strong>, <strong>TOR</strong>, <strong>NYR</strong>, <strong>NJD</strong>, <strong>ARI</strong>) and three 25+ goal NHL seasons. Drafted in the same first round as <strong>Jonathan Toews</strong>, <strong>Phil Kessel</strong>, and <strong>Nicklas Backstrom</strong>."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Michael Grabner","Draft":2006,"Pick":"R1 #14","Pos":"F","NHL GP":640,"PTS":276,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Grabner</strong>'s 2010-11 NYI rookie season produced 34 goals — a Calder Trophy finalist nod and the federation's only Calder finalist of the modern era (<strong>Jeff Skinner</strong> won the trophy)","<strong>Grabner</strong>'s 640 NHL games anchor <strong>Austria</strong>'s NHL footprint of the window — the equivalent of nearly 8 full NHL seasons","Drafted in the same first round as <strong>Jonathan Toews</strong> (#3), <strong>Phil Kessel</strong> (#5), and <strong>Nicklas Backstrom</strong> (#4) — the 2006 R1 was one of the deepest first rounds of the modern era"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-belarus-sharangovich-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Belarus</strong> produced 9 NHL draftees from 2005–2018 — <strong>Yegor Sharangovich</strong> (R5 #141, 2018) and <strong>Sergei Kostitsyn</strong> (R7 #200, 2005) both reached 350+ NHL games","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Belarus</strong> produced 9 NHL draftees across the 2005-2018 window; three reached the NHL and two crossed 200 NHL games. Both 200-GP outcomes came from the back half of their respective drafts: <strong>Yegor Sharangovich</strong> (R5 #141, 2018, NJD) at 438 games and <strong>Sergei Kostitsyn</strong> (R7 #200, 2005, MTL) at 353. Both have reached carprod 2nd-Line tier."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Yegor Sharangovich","Draft":2018,"Pick":"R5 #141","Pos":"F","NHL GP":438,"PTS":226,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Sergei Kostitsyn","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R7 #200","Pos":"F","NHL GP":353,"PTS":176,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Both <strong>Belarus</strong> 200-GP outcomes were taken at pick 141 or later — among the deepest 2nd-Line-tier carprod selections in the file from the small-volume nations group","<strong>Sharangovich</strong>'s 2018 R5 selection is the most recent <strong>Belarus</strong> draft pick to reach 200 NHL games to date","The 9-pick window concentrates in the latter rounds: only one <strong>Belarus</strong> player of the cohort was selected before pick 100"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-france-bellemare-roussel-free-agent-path","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>France</strong>'s NHL footprint is the undrafted path: <strong>Pierre-Edouard Bellemare</strong> (700 GP) and <strong>Antoine Roussel</strong> (607 GP) both signed as free agents","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>France</strong>'s two highest-game NHL players both reached the league via free-agent signings — undrafted by any NHL team. <strong>Pierre-Edouard Bellemare</strong> signed with <strong>Philadelphia Flyers</strong> in 2014 and played 700 NHL games across <strong>PHI</strong>, <strong>VGK</strong>, <strong>COL</strong>, and <strong>TBL</strong>. <strong>Antoine Roussel</strong> signed with <strong>Dallas Stars</strong> in 2012 and played 607 NHL games across <strong>DAL</strong> and <strong>VAN</strong>. Together they account for more NHL games than every drafted French player in the 2005-2018 window combined."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Pierre-Edouard Bellemare","Path":"Undrafted, signed PHI 2014","NHL GP":700,"Teams":"PHI / VGK / COL / TBL"},{"Player":"Antoine Roussel","Path":"Undrafted, signed DAL 2012","NHL GP":607,"Teams":"DAL / VAN"},{"Player":"Alexandre Texier","Path":"R2 #45, 2017 (CBJ)","NHL GP":283,"Teams":"CBJ / STL / MTL"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Bellemare</strong> + <strong>Roussel</strong>'s combined 1,307 NHL games are nearly 5× the games played by every French draftee from the 2005-2018 window combined","<strong>Bellemare</strong> appeared on <strong>Vegas Golden Knights</strong>' 2017-18 inaugural roster and reached the Stanley Cup Final that year — the federation's first NHL player to play in a Cup Final","Both players took the European-pro → NHL free-agent route after passing through their NHL draft-eligibility years; the French federation's NHL pipeline runs primarily through the free-agent path rather than the Entry Draft"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-norway-zuccarello-free-agent-flagship","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Norway</strong>'s flagship NHL career came via the undrafted path: <strong>Mats Zuccarello</strong> (signed NYR 2010) has played 963 NHL games","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Mats Zuccarello</strong> reached the NHL by signing with <strong>New York Rangers</strong> as an undrafted free agent in May 2010 — and has gone on to play 963 NHL games across <strong>NYR</strong>, <strong>DAL</strong>, and <strong>MIN</strong> through the 2024-25 season. <strong>Zuccarello</strong>'s career is the foundation of <strong>Norway</strong>'s modern NHL footprint; he is the federation's first 500-game NHL player and first to record a 1-point-per-game NHL season."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Mats Zuccarello","Path":"Undrafted, signed NYR May 2010","NHL GP":963,"PTS":733,"Teams":"NYR / DAL / MIN"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Zuccarello</strong>'s 733 carprod points dwarf the combined total of all drafted Norwegian players across the 2005-2018 window (just 6 points among nine picks) — the free-agent pathway is the federation's primary NHL pipeline","<strong>Zuccarello</strong> recorded 30+ assists in nine different NHL seasons; he is <strong>Norway</strong>'s career NHL leader in every offensive category","His scout-signing path (Norwegian elite league → <strong>NYR</strong> contract at age 22) is a recognized template for European players outside the major draft-source leagues"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-italy-2005-2018-thin-pipeline","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Italy</strong>'s 2005–2018 draft window: eight NHL Entry Draft picks, one reached the NHL (<strong>Daniel Catenacci</strong>, 12 games)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Italy</strong> produced eight NHL draftees across the 2005-2018 window. One reached the NHL: <strong>Daniel Catenacci</strong> (R3 #77, 2011, BUF), who played 12 NHL games. The other seven picks did not record NHL games — six were sixth- or seventh-round selections."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Daniel Catenacci","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R3 #77","Pos":"F","NHL GP":12,"PTS":0,"Tier":"Insufficient Sample"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Italy</strong>'s 12.5% NHL-reach rate (1 of 8) is the second-lowest in the 2005-2018 window among nations with 5+ NHL Entry Draft picks (ahead only of <strong>Norway</strong>'s 11.1%)","Most <strong>Italy</strong>-born NHL players in the modern era reached the league via dual-citizenship pathways (born in Canada or the USA, eligible to represent Italy internationally) — they don't appear under <strong>Italy</strong> in this draft-cohort count","The federation has not produced an NHL first-rounder in the documented history"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-uk-kirk-first-uk-trained-pick","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>United Kingdom</strong>'s milestone: <strong>Liam Kirk</strong> (R7 #189, 2018, ARI) is the first <strong>UK</strong>-born and <strong>UK</strong>-trained player drafted into the NHL","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Liam Kirk</strong>, selected 189th overall (R7) by <strong>Arizona Coyotes</strong> in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, became the first player developed entirely in the <strong>United Kingdom</strong> to be drafted into the NHL. On the file <strong>Kirk</strong> has yet to play an NHL game (career tier: Never Reached NHL); England's 2005-2018 draft cohort is two picks, neither of whom reached the league. He developed through the British junior system and the Sheffield Steelers, and represents <strong>Great Britain</strong> at IIHF tournaments."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Liam Kirk","Nationality":"England","Draft":"R7 #189 ('18)","Team":"ARI","NHL GP":0,"Development pathway":"British junior + Sheffield Steelers"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Kirk</strong>'s 2018 selection is the only home-developed British player drafted in the modern 7-round era — England's draft footprint on the file is two picks, no NHL games","<strong>Kirk</strong> scored a hat trick at the 2021 IIHF World Championship against <strong>USA</strong> — a milestone in <strong>British</strong> development hockey, though outside the NHL career file","The federation's broader NHL footprint runs through North-American-developed players who hold <strong>British</strong> eligibility internationally; <strong>Kirk</strong>'s wholly home-country development is the distinction the 2018 milestone marks"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-sweden-norris-dominance-2005-2024","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Sweden</strong> swept eight Norris Trophies across 2005-06 → 2024-25 — <strong>Lidstrom</strong> 4, <strong>Karlsson</strong> 3, <strong>Hedman</strong> 1","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Sweden</strong> won eight James Norris Memorial Trophies across the 2005-06 → 2024-25 window. <strong>Nicklas Lidstrom</strong> captured four (2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2010-11); <strong>Erik Karlsson</strong> three (2011-12, 2014-15, 2022-23); <strong>Victor Hedman</strong> one (2017-18). Three Swedish defensemen account for the entire 8-trophy run."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Nicklas Lidstrom","Norris seasons":"2005-06, 2006-07, 2007-08, 2010-11","Wins":4,"Team":"DET","Draft":"R3 #53 ('89)"},{"Player":"Erik Karlsson","Norris seasons":"2011-12, 2014-15, 2022-23","Wins":3,"Team":"OTT → SJS","Draft":"R1 #15 ('08)"},{"Player":"Victor Hedman","Norris seasons":"2017-18","Wins":1,"Team":"TBL","Draft":"R1 #2 ('09)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three Swedish defensemen account for all eight Norris wins of the window — eight of the 19 Norris Trophies awarded across 2005-06 → 2024-25, from just three players","Two of the three (<strong>Karlsson</strong>, <strong>Hedman</strong>) were drafted in the 2008-09 cohort — a back-to-back draft window that produced two future Norris winners","<strong>Lidstrom</strong> won seven career Norris Trophies on the file (2000-01 through 2010-11); four of the seven landed inside the 2005-06+ window"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-russia-goaltender-pipeline-2005-2024","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Russia</strong>'s goaltender pipeline: seven Bonafide #1 or Elite-tier goalies — <strong>Vasilevskiy</strong>, <strong>Shesterkin</strong>, <strong>Sorokin</strong>, <strong>Varlamov</strong>, <strong>Khabibulin</strong>, <strong>Nabokov</strong>, <strong>Bryzgalov</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Russia</strong> has placed seven goaltenders in the Elite or Bonafide #1 tiers of the carsave career ladder — more than any non-North American nation. The active group includes <strong>Andrei Vasilevskiy</strong> (TBL, 2× Cup, Vezina), <strong>Igor Shesterkin</strong> (NYR, Vezina), and <strong>Ilya Sorokin</strong> (NYI). The senior tier includes <strong>Nikolai Khabibulin</strong>, <strong>Evgeni Nabokov</strong>, <strong>Semyon Varlamov</strong>, and <strong>Ilya Bryzgalov</strong>."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Andrei Vasilevskiy","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":598,"Team":"TBL","Honors":"2× Cup, Vezina '18-19"},{"Player":"Igor Shesterkin","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":325,"Team":"NYR","Honors":"Vezina '21-22"},{"Player":"Nikolai Khabibulin","Tier":"Bonafide #1","Career NHL GP":799,"Team":"TBL / CHI / EDM","Honors":"2003-04 Cup"},{"Player":"Evgeni Nabokov","Tier":"Bonafide #1","Career NHL GP":697,"Team":"SJS","Honors":"2000-01 Calder"},{"Player":"Semyon Varlamov","Tier":"Bonafide #1","Career NHL GP":621,"Team":"COL / NYI","Honors":"—"},{"Player":"Ilya Bryzgalov","Tier":"Bonafide #1","Career NHL GP":465,"Team":"PHX / PHI","Honors":"—"},{"Player":"Ilya Sorokin","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":308,"Team":"NYI","Honors":"—"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Vasilevskiy</strong> and <strong>Shesterkin</strong> hold Vezina Trophies in the post-2018 window; <strong>Khabibulin</strong>'s 2003-04 Stanley Cup with <strong>Tampa Bay</strong> is the federation's first Cup-winning starting goaltender","Three of the seven (<strong>Vasilevskiy</strong>, <strong>Shesterkin</strong>, <strong>Sorokin</strong>) are still active starters — concentration sustained across multiple generations","Seven Bonafide #1 / Elite-tier outcomes from the broader Russian goaltender population is the highest top-tier share of any nation with 10+ goalies on the file"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-canada-toronto-edmonton-montreal-pipeline","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Canada</strong> leads every hockey nation in NHL production — 1,263 all-time 200-game NHLers and 78 Elite-tier careers, first on both counts","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Canada</strong> has produced 1,263 200-game NHLers across the all-time file and 78 Elite-tier careers — the most of any nation on both counts, by a wide margin. The total is more than 2.5× the next nation, <strong>USA</strong> (496 and 41). In the 2005-2018 draft window alone <strong>Canada</strong> added 326 established careers and 30 Elite outcomes — the most window Elite of any nation."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Nation":"Canada","200-GP NHLers (all-time)":1263,"Elite careers":78,"Est. rank":1},{"Nation":"USA","200-GP NHLers (all-time)":496,"Elite careers":41,"Est. rank":2},{"Nation":"Sweden","200-GP NHLers (all-time)":166,"Elite careers":13,"Est. rank":3},{"Nation":"Russia","200-GP NHLers (all-time)":118,"Elite careers":19,"Est. rank":4},{"Nation":"Czechia","200-GP NHLers (all-time)":107,"Elite careers":7,"Est. rank":5},{"Nation":"Finland","200-GP NHLers (all-time)":82,"Elite careers":7,"Est. rank":6}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Canada</strong>'s 1,263 all-time 200-game NHLers are the most of any nation on the file — more than the next four nations (USA, Sweden, Russia, Czechia) combined","<strong>Canada</strong>'s 78 Elite-tier careers also lead every nation, ahead of <strong>USA</strong> (41) and <strong>Russia</strong> (19)","In the 2005-2018 draft window, <strong>Canada</strong>'s 30 Elite draftees rank first of any nation; its 25.4% 200-GP established rate ranks second, just behind <strong>Sweden</strong>'s 26.0%"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-usa-minneapolis-boston-detroit-pipeline","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>USA</strong> is second only to <strong>Canada</strong> in all-time NHL production — 496 200-game NHLers and 41 Elite-tier careers","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>USA</strong> has produced 496 200-game NHLers and 41 Elite-tier careers across the all-time file — second to <strong>Canada</strong> on both counts (1,263 and 78) and ahead of every other nation. The American pipeline has accelerated in the draft era: 188 of those 496 established careers and 19 of the 41 Elite outcomes trace to the 2005-2018 draft window, the second-most window Elite of any nation behind <strong>Canada</strong>."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Scope":"2005-2018 draft window","Reached NHL":374,"200-GP":188,"Elite":19},{"Scope":"All-time file","Reached NHL":1195,"200-GP":496,"Elite":41}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>USA</strong>'s 496 all-time 200-game NHLers rank second among nations, behind <strong>Canada</strong>'s 1,263 and ahead of <strong>Sweden</strong>'s 166","<strong>USA</strong>'s 41 Elite-tier careers are also second to <strong>Canada</strong> (78); its 19 window Elite draftees rank second of any nation","The 2005-2018 window holds 188 of the 496 all-time American 200-game careers — 38% of the nation's total produced from a 14-draft span"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-finland-goaltender-pipeline-2005-2024","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Finland</strong>'s Elite goaltender pipeline: five Bonafide-or-better starters — <strong>Rask</strong>, <strong>Kiprusoff</strong>, <strong>Rinne</strong>, <strong>Saros</strong>, <strong>Lehtonen</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Finland</strong> has produced five goaltenders in the Elite or Bonafide #1 tiers of the carsave career ladder. Three different Finnish goaltenders won Vezina Trophies across the 2005-06 → 2024-25 window — <strong>Miikka Kiprusoff</strong> (2005-06, CGY), <strong>Tuukka Rask</strong> (2013-14, BOS), and <strong>Pekka Rinne</strong> (2017-18, NSH). The federation's continuity into the present runs through <strong>Juuse Saros</strong> (Nashville's current starter, succeeding Rinne directly) and the late-career <strong>Kari Lehtonen</strong>."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Tuukka Rask","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":564,"Team":"BOS","Honors":"2013-14 Vezina"},{"Player":"Miikka Kiprusoff","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":623,"Team":"CGY","Honors":"2005-06 Vezina"},{"Player":"Pekka Rinne","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":683,"Team":"NSH","Honors":"2017-18 Vezina"},{"Player":"Kari Lehtonen","Tier":"Bonafide #1","Career NHL GP":649,"Team":"ATL → DAL","Honors":"—"},{"Player":"Juuse Saros","Tier":"Bonafide #1","Career NHL GP":467,"Team":"NSH","Honors":"current starter"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three Vezina Trophies across the 2005-06 → 2024-25 window were won by three different Finnish goaltenders — <strong>Kiprusoff</strong>, <strong>Rask</strong>, <strong>Rinne</strong>","<strong>Saros</strong>'s emergence as <strong>Nashville</strong> starter (direct succession from <strong>Rinne</strong>) reflects the federation's pipeline continuity inside a single franchise","Beyond the top tier, <strong>Finland</strong>'s nine Rotation-tier goaltenders are the deepest such group of any nation outside North America — a uniquely deep middle tier (Sweden, the next European nation, carries three)"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-czechia-goaltender-pipeline","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Czechia</strong>'s Elite goaltender pipeline: three Elite Goalies — <strong>Dominik Hasek</strong>, <strong>Tomas Vokoun</strong>, <strong>Roman Cechmanek</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Czechia</strong> has produced three goaltenders in the Elite tier of the carsave career ladder — tied for the most among European nations, level with <strong>Finland</strong> and <strong>Russia</strong> at three each. <strong>Dominik Hasek</strong> (BUF/DET, 735 NHL GP, six Vezina Trophies, two Hart Trophies, 2002 Stanley Cup) is widely considered one of the greatest goaltenders in NHL history. <strong>Tomas Vokoun</strong> (700 NHL GP) and <strong>Roman Cechmanek</strong> (212 NHL GP) round out the Elite-tier group."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Dominik Hasek","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":735,"Team":"BUF / DET","Honors":"6× Vezina, 2× Hart, 2002 Cup"},{"Player":"Tomas Vokoun","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":700,"Team":"NSH / FLA / WSH","Honors":"—"},{"Player":"Roman Cechmanek","Tier":"Elite Goalie","Career NHL GP":212,"Team":"PHI","Honors":"—"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Hasek</strong>'s six Vezina Trophies are the most for any goaltender in NHL history — the federation's signature individual record","Beyond the Elite-tier group, <strong>Czechia</strong> has produced four Proven Starter and four Spot Starter goaltenders — a deep middle tier alongside the three Elite outcomes","Active Czech goalies (e.g. <strong>Petr Mrazek</strong>, <strong>Lukas Dostal</strong>) continue the pipeline through the modern era; 12 Czech goaltenders qualify in the carsave-tier file overall"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"nation-report-slovakia-cup-champions-2005-2024","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Slovakia</strong>'s Stanley Cup tradition: nine players have won 13 Cup-roster spots on the file — <strong>Hossa</strong> 3, <strong>Cernak</strong> 2, <strong>Kopecky</strong> 2 lead","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Slovakia</strong> has put nine players on Stanley Cup-winning rosters on the file — 13 Cup-roster spots in all. <strong>Marian Hossa</strong> won three with <strong>Chicago Blackhawks</strong> (2009-10, 2012-13, 2014-15); <strong>Erik Cernak</strong> two with <strong>Tampa Bay Lightning</strong> (2019-20, 2020-21); <strong>Tomas Kopecky</strong> two (DET 2007-08, CHI 2009-10). Seven of the nine — 11 of the 13 spots — fall inside the 2005-06 → 2024-25 window; the two earliest, <strong>Martin Cibak</strong> and <strong>Jiri Bicek</strong>, won just before it."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Marian Hossa","Cups":3,"Seasons":"2009-10, 2012-13, 2014-15","Team":"CHI"},{"Player":"Erik Cernak","Cups":2,"Seasons":"2019-20, 2020-21","Team":"TBL"},{"Player":"Tomas Kopecky","Cups":2,"Seasons":"2007-08 DET, 2009-10 CHI","Team":"DET → CHI"},{"Player":"Zdeno Chara","Cups":1,"Seasons":"2010-11","Team":"BOS"},{"Player":"Marian Gaborik","Cups":1,"Seasons":"2013-14","Team":"LAK"},{"Player":"Michal Handzus","Cups":1,"Seasons":"2012-13","Team":"CHI"},{"Player":"Miroslav Satan","Cups":1,"Seasons":"2008-09","Team":"PIT"},{"Player":"Martin Cibak","Cups":1,"Seasons":"2003-04","Team":"TBL"},{"Player":"Jiri Bicek","Cups":1,"Seasons":"2002-03","Team":"NJD"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three of the window's seven Slovak Cup winners — <strong>Hossa</strong>, <strong>Kopecky</strong>, <strong>Handzus</strong> — were part of <strong>Chicago</strong>'s 2009-10 → 2014-15 dynasty (three Cups in six years)","<strong>Zdeno Chara</strong> captained <strong>Boston Bruins</strong> to the 2010-11 Stanley Cup, becoming the second European-born captain to win the Cup (after <strong>Nicklas Lidstrom</strong>)","<strong>Cernak</strong>'s back-to-back Cups are the federation's most recent Stanley Cup representation; he is also the only Slovak from the 2005-2018 draft cohort with multiple Cup wins"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-switzerland-defenseman-pipeline","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Switzerland</strong>'s defenseman pipeline: 7 of 18 Swiss 200-GP NHLers are blueliners (38.9%) — the highest D-share of any nation on the file","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Switzerland</strong> has produced 18 200-GP NHLers in the file; seven are defensemen (38.9% D-share). <strong>Roman Josi</strong> (NSH, 1,030 NHL GP, 2019-20 Norris) anchors the group. <strong>Mark Streit</strong> (786 NHL GP) reached Elite tier as the federation's first carprod-Elite skater of the modern era. Five additional 200-GP Swiss defensemen carry the pipeline depth."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Roman Josi","Career NHL GP":1030,"Team":"NSH","Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mark Streit","Career NHL GP":786,"Team":"MTL / NYI / PHI","Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Luca Sbisa","Career NHL GP":549,"Team":"PHI / ANA / VAN","Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Yannick Weber","Career NHL GP":499,"Team":"MTL / VAN / NSH","Tier":"Tier 5 - Depth"},{"Player":"Jonas Siegenthaler","Career NHL GP":449,"Team":"WSH / NJD","Tier":"Tier 5 - Depth"},{"Player":"Janis Moser","Career NHL GP":338,"Team":"ARI / TBL","Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"},{"Player":"Raphael Diaz","Career NHL GP":201,"Team":"MTL / VAN / CGY","Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Josi</strong>'s 2019-20 Norris Trophy is the federation's first major individual NHL award — won as <strong>Nashville</strong>'s captain","Two Elite-tier blueliners (<strong>Josi</strong>, <strong>Streit</strong>) plus a Top-Pair-tier successor (<strong>Moser</strong>) indicate continuity through the pipeline rather than a single-generation peak","Beyond the 38.9% D-share, <strong>Switzerland</strong>'s 12 of 33 (36.4%) 200-GP draftee rate across 2005-2018 is the highest of any nation with 30+ NHL draftees in the window"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"nation-report-germany-stutzle-elite-2020","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Germany</strong>'s second carprod-Elite forward: <strong>Tim Stutzle</strong> (R1 #3, 2020, OTT) — 447 NHL games + 409 points through age-22","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Germany</strong>'s NHL pipeline has produced a second carprod-Elite-tier forward within a decade. <strong>Tim Stutzle</strong> (R1 #3, 2020, OTT) has played 447 NHL games and scored 409 points through age-22 — already at carprod Elite tier. He joins <strong>Leon Draisaitl</strong> (R1 #3, 2014, EDM, Hart 2019-20) as the federation's second Elite-tier skater of the modern draft era."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Tim Stutzle","Draft":"R1 #3 ('20)","Team":"OTT","NHL GP":447,"PTS":409,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Leon Draisaitl","Draft":"R1 #3 ('14)","Team":"EDM","NHL GP":855,"PTS":1053,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Both German Elite forwards were drafted at R1 #3 — six years apart, both reaching Elite tier","<strong>Stutzle</strong>'s 0.91 PTS-per-game pace through age-22 is on the same trajectory as <strong>Draisaitl</strong>'s pre-Hart years","Together <strong>Draisaitl</strong> and <strong>Stutzle</strong> drive <strong>Germany</strong>'s recent surge into the top-pick share — five of <strong>Germany</strong>'s NHL Entry Draft picks since 2020 have been first-rounders, the federation's highest concentration on the file"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-denmark-eller-cup-winning-goal","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Denmark</strong>'s Stanley Cup moment: <strong>Lars Eller</strong> scored the Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of the 2018 Final","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Lars Eller</strong> (R1 #13, 2007) scored the Stanley Cup-clinching goal for <strong>Washington Capitals</strong> in Game 5 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final against <strong>Vegas Golden Knights</strong>. The third-period goal at 12:23 of regulation gave <strong>Washington</strong> the lead they would hold to lift the Cup — the franchise's first championship and the only Stanley Cup-winning goal scored by a Danish player."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Lars Eller","Draft":"R1 #13 ('07)","Team":"WSH","Career NHL GP":1184,"Honors":"2017-18 Stanley Cup (winning goal)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Eller</strong> recorded 7 goals + 11 assists across the 2018 playoffs — career-best postseason production at age 29","The Cup-clinching goal at 12:23 of the third period broke a 3-3 tie in Game 5; <strong>Eller</strong> drove the net on a rebound chance off a <strong>Devante Smith-Pelly</strong> shot","<strong>Eller</strong> remains the only Danish-born NHL player to score a Stanley Cup-winning goal; his 2017-18 Cup is the federation's only Stanley Cup ring across the 2005-06 → 2024-25 window"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-latvia-riga-concentration","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Latvia</strong> has produced eight 200-game NHL players all-time — 10th among hockey nations, anchored by <strong>Sandis Ozolins</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"The eight span four draft decades — from <strong>Arturs Irbe</strong> (1989) and <strong>Sandis Ozolins</strong> (1991) to <strong>Elvis Merzlikins</strong> (2014) — and cover every position group: two defensemen, two goaltenders, and four forwards. <strong>Ozolins</strong> (875 NHL games) is the federation's lone carprod-Elite outcome, and <strong>Irbe</strong> (568 games) its goaltending benchmark."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Sandis Ozolins","Pos":"D","Drafted":1991,"NHL GP":875},{"Player":"Zemgus Girgensons","Pos":"F","Drafted":2012,"NHL GP":844},{"Player":"Karlis Skrastins","Pos":"D","Drafted":1998,"NHL GP":832},{"Player":"Arturs Irbe","Pos":"G","Drafted":1989,"NHL GP":568},{"Player":"Sergejs Zoltoks","Pos":"F","Drafted":1992,"NHL GP":510},{"Player":"Teodors Blugers","Pos":"F","Drafted":2012,"NHL GP":453},{"Player":"Raitis Ivanans","Pos":"F","Drafted":"Undrafted","NHL GP":282},{"Player":"Elvis Merzlikins","Pos":"G","Drafted":2014,"NHL GP":244}]},{"type":"list","items":["Those eight place <strong>Latvia</strong> 10th among hockey nations by all-time 200-game NHLers — behind <strong>Germany</strong> and <strong>Switzerland</strong> (18 apiece), the next federations up the table","The cohort tilts to defense and goal: defensemen <strong>Ozolins</strong> and <strong>Skrastins</strong> plus goaltenders <strong>Irbe</strong> and <strong>Merzlikins</strong> make up half of it, with <strong>Zemgus Girgensons</strong> (844 games) the highest-games forward","Three of the eight reached the NHL from the 2005-2018 draft window — <strong>Girgensons</strong> and <strong>Blugers</strong> (both 2012) and <strong>Merzlikins</strong> (2014) — the modern continuation of a pipeline <strong>Ozolins</strong> and <strong>Irbe</strong> opened in the early 1990s"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-12T21:50"},{"slug":"nation-report-slovenia-kopitar-accolade-tower","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Slovenia</strong>'s accolade tower: <strong>Anze Kopitar</strong> has won 7 store-tracked major NHL honors — 2 Cups, 2 Selke, 3 Lady Byng","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Anze Kopitar</strong> (R1 #11, 2005, LAK) carries seven major NHL honors on the file — two Stanley Cups (2011-12, 2013-14), two Selke Trophies (2015-16, 2017-18), and three Lady Byng Memorial Trophies (2015-16, 2022-23, 2024-25). It is the most-decorated career <strong>Slovenia</strong> has produced — the federation's only Elite-tier outcome on the file, in the window and all-time."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Honor":"Stanley Cup","Year":"2011-12","Team":"LAK"},{"Honor":"Stanley Cup","Year":"2013-14","Team":"LAK"},{"Honor":"Frank J. Selke Trophy","Year":"2015-16","Team":"LAK"},{"Honor":"Frank J. Selke Trophy","Year":"2017-18","Team":"LAK"},{"Honor":"Lady Byng Memorial Trophy","Year":"2015-16","Team":"LAK"},{"Honor":"Lady Byng Memorial Trophy","Year":"2022-23","Team":"LAK"},{"Honor":"Lady Byng Memorial Trophy","Year":"2024-25","Team":"LAK"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Kopitar</strong>'s three Lady Byng Trophies span 2015-16 through 2024-25 — a nine-season reach across the league's sportsmanship award","Two Selke plus three Lady Byng make <strong>Kopitar</strong> the most-decorated player in <strong>Slovenia</strong>'s NHL history — the federation's only Elite-tier outcome on the file","No other Slovenian-drafted player has reached 200 NHL games; <strong>Kopitar</strong>'s 1,521 games and 1,316 carprod points are the federation's career highs by a wide margin"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-austria-grabner-three-25-goal-seasons","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Austria</strong>'s top scorer of the modern draft era: <strong>Michael Grabner</strong> had three 25-goal NHL seasons across six franchises (640 career games)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Michael Grabner</strong> (R1 #14, 2006, VAN) is the most productive NHL goal scorer among <strong>Austria</strong>'s 2005-2018 draftees — countryman <strong>Thomas Vanek</strong> (373 goals) leads the nation all-time but predates the window. Grabner's career produced three 25+ goal seasons across six different franchises — 34 G with <strong>New York Islanders</strong> in 2010-11 (Calder Trophy finalist), 27 G with <strong>New York Rangers</strong> in 2016-17, and 27 G split between <strong>NYR</strong> and <strong>NJD</strong> in 2017-18."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Season":"2010-11","Team":"NYI","GP":76,"G":34,"A":18,"PTS":52},{"Season":"2016-17","Team":"NYR","GP":76,"G":27,"A":13,"PTS":40},{"Season":"2017-18","Team":"NYR → NJD","GP":80,"G":27,"A":9,"PTS":36}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Grabner</strong>'s 2010-11 rookie season (34 goals) earned a Calder Trophy finalist nod, behind winner <strong>Jeff Skinner</strong>","His six-franchise NHL journey (<strong>VAN</strong>, <strong>NYI</strong>, <strong>TOR</strong>, <strong>NYR</strong>, <strong>NJD</strong>, <strong>ARI</strong>) spans eleven seasons (2009-10 to 2019-20)","<strong>Grabner</strong>'s 640 NHL games — nearly eight full seasons — came across a career that began at age 22 in <strong>Vancouver</strong>"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T20:27"},{"slug":"nation-report-belarus-salei-917-games","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Belarus</strong>'s longest NHL career: <strong>Ruslan Salei</strong> played 917 NHL games over 14 seasons (1996-2010)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Ruslan Salei</strong> (R1 #9, 1996, ANA) is the longest-tenured Belarusian NHL player on file — 917 regular-season games across 14 NHL seasons with four franchises (<strong>ANA</strong>, <strong>FLA</strong>, <strong>COL</strong>, <strong>DET</strong>). <strong>Salei</strong> captained the Belarusian national team at three Olympic Games and three IIHF World Championships, and served as alternate captain for two NHL franchises. He died in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash at age 36. Seven Belarusian-born players have crossed the 200-NHL-game threshold across the modern era."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Ruslan Salei","Career NHL GP":917,"carprod PTS":198,"Teams":"ANA / FLA / COL / DET","Note":"3× Olympic captain (BLR)"},{"Player":"Mikhail Grabovski","Career NHL GP":534,"carprod PTS":296,"Teams":"MTL / TOR / WSH / NYI","Note":"—"},{"Player":"Yegor Sharangovich","Career NHL GP":438,"carprod PTS":226,"Teams":"NJD / CGY","Note":"—"},{"Player":"Andrei Kostitsyn","Career NHL GP":398,"carprod PTS":219,"Teams":"MTL / NSH","Note":"R1 #10 ('03)"},{"Player":"Sergei Kostitsyn","Career NHL GP":353,"carprod PTS":176,"Teams":"MTL / NSH","Note":"—"},{"Player":"Vladimir Tsyplakov","Career NHL GP":331,"carprod PTS":170,"Teams":"LAK / BUF / CHI","Note":"1996-2002 era"},{"Player":"Alexei Protas","Career NHL GP":321,"carprod PTS":171,"Teams":"WSH","Note":"active"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Belarus</strong> has produced four first-round NHL picks on the file — <strong>Artyom Levshunov</strong> (#2, 2024, CHI), <strong>Ruslan Salei</strong> (#9, 1996), <strong>Andrei Kostitsyn</strong> (#10, 2003), and <strong>Konstantin Koltsov</strong> (#18, 1999); <strong>Salei</strong>'s 917 games are by far the most of the group","The <strong>Kostitsyn brothers</strong> (Andrei R1 #10 2003 MTL; Sergei R7 2005 MTL) both reached 300+ NHL games — the only Belarusian brother pair on file","Belarus has continued to produce NHL forwards into the current era — <strong>Yegor Sharangovich</strong> (R5 #141, 2018, NJD; now with <strong>Calgary Flames</strong>) and <strong>Alexei Protas</strong> (R3, 2019, WSH; 2024-25 breakout season) represent the active generation"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-italy-catenacci-modern-pioneer","publishDate":"2026-06-07","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Italy</strong>'s modern NHL pioneer: <strong>Daniel Catenacci</strong> is the only Italian-eligible draftee of the 2005+ era to play NHL games","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Daniel Catenacci</strong> (R3 #77, 2011, BUF) played 12 NHL games with <strong>Buffalo Sabres</strong> across the 2014-15 season — the only NHL appearances by an Italian-eligible draftee in the 2005-2018 window. Canada-born, <strong>Catenacci</strong> represents <strong>Italy</strong> internationally through his family heritage; his debut was the federation's first modern-era NHL appearance."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Daniel Catenacci","Eligibility":"Italy (heritage); Canada-born","Draft":"R3 #77 ('11)","Team":"BUF","NHL GP":12,"Season":"2014-15"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Catenacci</strong>'s call-up to the <strong>Sabres</strong> in February 2015 was the first NHL game by an Italian-eligible player in nearly three decades — the federation's longest gap between NHL appearances","The broader Italian-eligible NHL community plays primarily under <strong>Canada</strong> or <strong>USA</strong> draft eligibility while qualifying for <strong>Italy</strong> internationally through heritage — they appear in their birth nation's draft-cohort counts rather than under <strong>Italy</strong>","<strong>Italy</strong>'s February 2026 home Olympics in Milan-Cortina drew on the European league pipeline rather than an NHL-heavy roster"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-czechia-conversion-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-05","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Czechia</strong> leads major drafting nations in NHL-reach rate — 59 of 100 draftees (59.0%) reached the NHL across 2005–2018","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"On the 200+ GP established rate, Czechia converts 25 of its 100 draftees (25.0%) — third among major nations, behind Sweden's 26.0% and Canada's 25.4%. The per-pick reach lead does not extend to games played: the same small pool that lifts the reach rate yields a middling established rate once career length is the test."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Jakub Voracek","Draft":"R1 #7 '07","Team":"CBJ","NHL GP":1058,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Tomas Hertl","Draft":"R1 #17 '12","Team":"SJS","NHL GP":873,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"David Pastrnak","Draft":"R1 #25 '14","Team":"BOS","NHL GP":833,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Filip Hronek","Draft":"R2 #53 '16","Team":"DET","NHL GP":533,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Martin Necas","Draft":"R1 #12 '17","Team":"CAR","NHL GP":441,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Czechia's 100 draftees is the smallest 'major nation' pipeline — under a third of Sweden's 315 and roughly an eighth of Canada's 1,282","Czechia's R1 cohort produced four Top-Line-or-better careers: Pastrnak (R1 #25, Elite), Voracek (R1 #7), Hertl (R1 #17), and Necas (R1 #12)","Pastrnak is the only Czech draftee in the window to reach carprod Elite; he was selected 25th overall in 2014"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"offenseman-montreal-lineage-1981-2022","publishDate":"2026-06-05","series":"S16 · The Offenseman","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"<strong>Montreal Canadiens</strong> drafted six Elite-tier offensemen, from <strong>Chelios</strong> (1981) to <strong>Hutson</strong> (2022) — the deepest franchise lineage","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Six defensemen drafted by <strong>Montreal</strong> reached carprod Elite tier — the most of any NHL franchise across the 55-player Elite-offenseman population. The lineage spans 41 years and three eras: Chris Chelios (1981) and Mathieu Schneider (1987) anchor the early generation; Andrei Markov (1998) and Mark Streit (2004) the middle; P.K. Subban (2007) and Lane Hutson (2022) the modern."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Chris Chelios","Draft Year":1981,"Pick":"R2 #40","NHL GP":1651,"PTS":946,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mathieu Schneider","Draft Year":1987,"Pick":"R3 #44","NHL GP":1289,"PTS":743,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Andrei Markov","Draft Year":1998,"Pick":"R6 #162","NHL GP":990,"PTS":566,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mark Streit","Draft Year":2004,"Pick":"R9 #262","NHL GP":786,"PTS":434,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"P.K. Subban","Draft Year":2007,"Pick":"R2 #43","NHL GP":834,"PTS":465,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Lane Hutson","Draft Year":2022,"Pick":"R2 #62","NHL GP":166,"PTS":144,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three of <strong>Montreal</strong>'s six Elite offensemen were drafted in the second round (Chelios R2 #40, P.K. Subban R2 #43, Lane Hutson R2 #62) — same round, three different decades","Mark Streit (R9 #262, 2004) is the deepest draft slot among the six; Lane Hutson (R2 #62, 2022) is the most recent — the only Elite-tier offenseman drafted in the 2020s on the file to date","<strong>Los Angeles Kings</strong> (4: Larry Murphy, Rob Blake, Lubomir Visnovsky, Drew Doughty), <strong>Calgary Flames</strong> (3: Al MacInnis, Gary Suter, Adam Fox), and <strong>Washington Capitals</strong> (3: Sergei Gonchar, Mike Green, John Carlson) follow in team lineage depth"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-canada-vs-usa-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-06-02","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Canada</strong> produced 1,282 NHL draftees from 2005–2018 — 65% more than <strong>USA</strong>'s 777 — yet the two converted to 200+ NHL games within 1.2 points of each other","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"On the 200+ GP established-career rate, Canada's 25.4% ranks second among draft nations — behind only Sweden's 26.0% and ahead of Czechia's 25.0%. USA converts at 24.2%, 1.2 points back of Canada and the lowest of that four-nation cluster. On reaching the NHL at all the gap is wider: Canada graduates 51.8% of its draftees against USA's 48.1%, a 3.7-point edge."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Metric":"Drafted","Canada":1282,"USA":777,"Spread":"Canada +505 (+65.0%)"},{"Metric":"Reached NHL","Canada":"664 (51.8%)","USA":"374 (48.1%)","Spread":"Canada +3.7pt"},{"Metric":"200+ GP","Canada":"326 (25.4%)","USA":"188 (24.2%)","Spread":"Canada +1.2pt"},{"Metric":"Elite tier","Canada":"30 (2.3%)","USA":"19 (2.4%)","Spread":"Canada +11 count; USA +0.1pt rate"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Canada's 25.4% established rate is second among draft nations — between Sweden's 26.0% and Czechia's 25.0% — while USA's 24.2% is the lowest of the four","Canada's 326 200-GP players are 1.7× USA's 188 — tracking the draft-volume gap (1,282 vs 777) rather than outrunning it, which is why the per-pick rates land just 1.2 points apart (25.4% vs 24.2%)","Canada's 30 Elite-tier draftees are the most of any draft nation, ahead of USA's 19; on a rate basis USA's 2.4% edges Canada's 2.3%. Both totals are goalie-inclusive — Carey Price and Braden Holtby for Canada; Ben Bishop, John Gibson, and Connor Hellebuyck for USA","<strong>USA</strong> matches <strong>Canada</strong> within ~1.2 points on both the 200+ GP and Elite-tier rates; reached-NHL is the exception, where <strong>Canada</strong> leads by 3.7 percentage points"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"scout-file-mario-saraceno-nyi-1980-2026","publishDate":"2026-06-02","series":"S10 · Scout File","seriesFilter":"scout gm","title":"<strong>Mario Saraceno</strong>'s 46 seasons scouting for <strong>New York Islanders</strong> (1980-81 to 2025-26) — the longest single-organization tenure on the file","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Mario Saraceno served New York Islanders across 46 consecutive seasons as Amateur Scout, Pro Scout, and Scout (1980-81 through 2025-26) — the longest single-organization scouting tenure documented in the staff file. Islanders drafted 417 players across the 45 draft classes inside that tenure; 175 reached the NHL and 83 played 200+ NHL games."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Zdeno Chara","Draft Year":1996,"Round":"R3 #56","Position":"D","NHL GP":1680,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"John Tavares","Draft Year":2009,"Round":"R1 #1","Position":"F","NHL GP":1266,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Bryan McCabe","Draft Year":1993,"Round":"R2 #40","Position":"D","NHL GP":1135,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Wade Redden","Draft Year":1995,"Round":"R1 #2","Position":"D","NHL GP":1023,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Jared Spurgeon","Draft Year":2008,"Round":"R6 #156","Position":"D","NHL GP":1012,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Brock Nelson","Draft Year":2010,"Round":"R1 #30","Position":"F","NHL GP":1001,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Pat LaFontaine","Draft Year":1983,"Round":"R1 #3","Position":"F","NHL GP":865,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Zigmund Palffy","Draft Year":1991,"Round":"R2 #26","Position":"F","NHL GP":684,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Devon Toews","Draft Year":2014,"Round":"R4 #108","Position":"D","NHL GP":541,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Noah Dobson","Draft Year":2018,"Round":"R1 #12","Position":"D","NHL GP":468,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Saraceno's role title appears across three forms in the staff file (Amateur Scout, Pro Scout, Scout) — this post documents organizational picks across all titles","Five carprod-Elite outcomes drafted during the tenure: Pat LaFontaine (R1 #3, 1983), Zigmund Palffy (R2 #26, 1991), John Tavares (R1 #1, 2009), Devon Toews (R4 #108, 2014), and Noah Dobson (R1 #12, 2018) — span 35 years from LaFontaine to Dobson","Two of the tenure's most-decorated picks came in rounds 3 and 6: Zdeno Chara (R3 #56, 1996, 1,680 NHL GP) and Jared Spurgeon (R6 #156, 2008, 1012 NHL GP)"]}],"tags":["Scout","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"scout","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-r1-200gp-cluster-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-05-29","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Czechia</strong>'s first-rounders reach 200 NHL games at 86.7% (2005–2018) — leading <strong>Switzerland</strong>, <strong>Finland</strong>, <strong>USA</strong>, <strong>Sweden</strong>, <strong>Canada</strong> in a tight cluster","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across the 2005-2018 window, six major drafting nations cluster between 57% and 87% on first-round 200-GP conversion. Czechia leads at 86.7% (15 picks), Switzerland at 85.7% (7), Finland at 78.3% (23), USA at 77.1% (96), Sweden at 73.8% (42), Canada at 66.8% (199). Russia trails at 57.1% (28)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Country":"Slovenia","R1 picks":1,"Reached NHL":"1 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"<strong>1 (100.0%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Austria","R1 picks":1,"Reached NHL":"1 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"<strong>1 (100.0%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Latvia","R1 picks":1,"Reached NHL":"1 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"<strong>1 (100.0%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Czechia","R1 picks":15,"Reached NHL":"15 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"<strong>13 (86.7%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Switzerland","R1 picks":7,"Reached NHL":"7 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"<strong>6 (85.7%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Finland","R1 picks":23,"Reached NHL":"23 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"<strong>18 (78.3%)</strong>"},{"Country":"USA","R1 picks":96,"Reached NHL":"91 (94.8%)","200+ GP":"<strong>74 (77.1%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Denmark","R1 picks":4,"Reached NHL":"4 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"<strong>3 (75.0%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Sweden","R1 picks":42,"Reached NHL":"39 (92.9%)","200+ GP":"<strong>31 (73.8%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Canada","R1 picks":199,"Reached NHL":"188 (94.5%)","200+ GP":"<strong>133 (66.8%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Russia","R1 picks":28,"Reached NHL":"27 (96.4%)","200+ GP":"<strong>16 (57.1%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Germany","R1 picks":2,"Reached NHL":"1 (50.0%)","200+ GP":"<strong>1 (50.0%)</strong>"},{"Country":"Slovakia","R1 picks":3,"Reached NHL":"2 (66.7%)","200+ GP":"<strong>0 (0.0%)</strong>"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Sweden's 42 R1 picks ranks third by volume behind Canada (199) and USA (96); Russia and Finland sit at 28 and 23 respectively","Canada's 199 R1 picks is the largest cohort by volume — 4.7× Sweden's 42 — and converts at 66.8% on the 200-GP rate","Sample sizes vary widely: the 86.7% <strong>Czechia</strong> rate rests on 15 picks"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T20:27"},{"slug":"nation-report-sweden-2011-r1-700gp-careers","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Sweden</strong>'s 2011 first-round cohort produced five 700+ NHL game careers — the most of any Swedish R1 class 2005–2018","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Sweden averaged 3.0 first-round NHL picks per year across 2005-2018 (42 R1 picks across 14 classes). Three classes produced six or more R1 picks: 2009 (7), 2011 (6), and 2018 (6). The 2011 cohort returned five 700+ NHL game careers — more than any other Swedish R1 class in the window."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Gabriel Landeskog","Pick":"#2","Team":"COL","NHL GP":798,"PTS":606,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Adam Larsson","Pick":"#4","Team":"NJD","NHL GP":1012,"PTS":266,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Mika Zibanejad","Pick":"#6","Team":"OTT","NHL GP":1011,"PTS":817,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Jonas Brodin","Pick":"#10","Team":"MIN","NHL GP":915,"PTS":278,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"},{"Player":"Oscar Klefbom","Pick":"#19","Team":"EDM","NHL GP":378,"PTS":153,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Rickard Rakell","Pick":"#30","Team":"ANA","NHL GP":862,"PTS":563,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Five of six 2011 R1 picks reached 700+ NHL games — the highest count from any Swedish R1 class across 2005-2018","Four of the six 2011 R1 picks landed inside the top ten — Landeskog (#2), Adam Larsson (#4), Zibanejad (#6), and Brodin (#10)","By rate, the 2013 Swedish R1 cohort (<strong>Elias Lindholm</strong>, <strong>Alexander Wennberg</strong>, <strong>Andre Burakovsky</strong>) saw all three play 700+ NHL games"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"league-report-khl-vs-liiga-2010-2020","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S03 · League Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Liiga</strong> draftees reached 200 NHL games at 54.3% to the <strong>KHL</strong>'s 22.7% across 2010–2018 drafts — both below the 40-pick line to rank","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Finland's <strong>Liiga</strong> produced 35 NHL draftees across the 2010–2018 drafts; 19 (54.3%) reached 200 NHL games. Russia's <strong>KHL</strong> produced 22; 5 (22.7%) reached the 200-game threshold. Both leagues fall below the 40-pick threshold that qualifies a feeder league for ranking, so neither carries a league rank — but the conversion gap is more than twofold from these small samples."},{"type":"table","data":[{"League":"Liiga","Drafted":35,"Reached NHL":"25 (71.4%)","200+ GP":"19 (54.3%)","Elite":3},{"League":"KHL","Drafted":22,"Reached NHL":"13 (59.1%)","200+ GP":"5 (22.7%)","Elite":1}]},{"type":"list","items":["Both leagues' draftees reached the NHL at comparable rates (<strong>Liiga</strong> 71.4%, <strong>KHL</strong> 59.1%) — the gap opens at the 200-game threshold","<strong>Liiga</strong> produced 3 Elite-tier carprod careers in the window; <strong>KHL</strong> produced 1","Neither league cleared 40 picks in 2010–2018 — <strong>Liiga</strong> 35, <strong>KHL</strong> 22 — so both sit among the present-but-unranked pipelines, alongside <strong>Allsvenskan</strong> (27)"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"league-report-ncaa-highest-reach-rate-2010-2020","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S03 · League Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>NCAA</strong>-drafted skaters reached the NHL at 70.8% from 2010–2018 — 2nd of nine ranked feeder leagues, behind <strong>SHL</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Of 72 <strong>NCAA</strong>-drafted skaters from the 2010–2018 drafts, 51 reached the NHL (70.8%) — 2nd of the nine ranked feeder leagues, behind Sweden's <strong>SHL</strong> (72.7%) and ahead of every North American pipeline. 28 reached 200+ NHL games (38.9%), again 2nd on the conversion ladder behind <strong>SHL</strong> (40.9%)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"League":"NCAA","Drafted":72,"Reached NHL":"51 (70.8%)","200+ GP":"28 (38.9%)","Elite":6},{"League":"SHL","Drafted":44,"Reached NHL":"32 (72.7%)","200+ GP":"18 (40.9%)","Elite":1},{"League":"USHL","Drafted":240,"Reached NHL":"141 (58.8%)","200+ GP":"66 (27.5%)","Elite":4},{"League":"OHL","Drafted":344,"Reached NHL":"201 (58.4%)","200+ GP":"110 (32.0%)","Elite":9},{"League":"WHL","Drafted":274,"Reached NHL":"138 (50.4%)","200+ GP":"60 (21.9%)","Elite":6}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>NCAA</strong> produced 6 Elite-tier carprod careers — 3rd-most among feeder leagues, behind <strong>OHL</strong> (9) and level with <strong>WHL</strong> (6)","<strong>NCAA</strong>'s NHL-reach rate (70.8%) is 12 points clear of the <strong>USHL</strong> (58.8%) and the <strong>OHL</strong> (58.4%), the next North American leagues","<strong>NCAA</strong> leads every North American feeder league on both NHL-reach and 200-game conversion; only Sweden's <strong>SHL</strong> ranks higher on each"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"league-report-ohl-vs-ushl-2010-2020","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S03 · League Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>OHL</strong> vs <strong>USHL</strong> across drafts 2010–2018: near-identical NHL-reach rates, <strong>OHL</strong> ahead on 200-game conversion by 4.5 points","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"The <strong>OHL</strong> and <strong>USHL</strong> drafted similar volumes (344 vs 240) and reached the NHL at near-identical rates (58.4% vs 58.8%). The <strong>OHL</strong> pulled ahead at the 200-game threshold (32.0% vs 27.5%) and produced 9 carprod-Elite outcomes to <strong>USHL</strong>'s 4."},{"type":"table","data":[{"League":"OHL","Drafted":344,"Reached NHL":"201 (58.4%)","200+ GP":"110 (32.0%)","Elite":9},{"League":"USHL","Drafted":240,"Reached NHL":"141 (58.8%)","200+ GP":"66 (27.5%)","Elite":4}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>OHL</strong> produced 9 carprod-Elite outcomes to the <strong>USHL</strong>'s 4 — and tops every ranked feeder league on Elite volume","Reach rate (58.4% vs 58.8%) sits within statistical noise — <strong>USHL</strong>'s drafted players reached the NHL at a fractionally higher rate, the <strong>OHL</strong> at a higher 200-game rate","<strong>USHL</strong> totals include players who passed through the <strong>USNTDP</strong> — the program plays its games as a USHL franchise, so its NHL-producing draftees count toward the <strong>USHL</strong> share in this table"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"league-report-power-rankings-2010-2020","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S03 · League Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"Major feeder leagues 2010–2018: <strong>SHL</strong> (40.9%) and <strong>NCAA</strong> (38.9%) top the 200-game NHL conversion ladder, <strong>MHL</strong> floors at 17.1%","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across 2010–2018 drafts, nine feeder leagues with 40+ NHL draftees sort on the 200-game conversion ladder. <strong>SHL</strong> and <strong>NCAA</strong> sit at the top (40.9% and 38.9%); <strong>MHL</strong> anchors the ranked group at 17.1%. The spread is roughly 24 percentage points. Three smaller pipelines — <strong>Liiga</strong>, <strong>Allsvenskan</strong>, <strong>KHL</strong> — posted high conversion on fewer than 40 picks, below the line to rank."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Rank":1,"League":"SHL","Drafted":44,"Reached NHL":"32 (72.7%)","200+ GP":"18 (40.9%)","Elite":1},{"Rank":2,"League":"NCAA","Drafted":72,"Reached NHL":"51 (70.8%)","200+ GP":"28 (38.9%)","Elite":6},{"Rank":3,"League":"OHL","Drafted":344,"Reached NHL":"201 (58.4%)","200+ GP":"110 (32.0%)","Elite":9},{"Rank":4,"League":"USHL","Drafted":240,"Reached NHL":"141 (58.8%)","200+ GP":"66 (27.5%)","Elite":4},{"Rank":5,"League":"QMJHL","Drafted":170,"Reached NHL":"83 (48.8%)","200+ GP":"43 (25.3%)","Elite":3},{"Rank":6,"League":"WHL","Drafted":274,"Reached NHL":"138 (50.4%)","200+ GP":"60 (21.9%)","Elite":6},{"Rank":7,"League":"Sweden U20","Drafted":120,"Reached NHL":"48 (40.0%)","200+ GP":"24 (20.0%)","Elite":1},{"Rank":8,"League":"High-MN","Drafted":52,"Reached NHL":"17 (32.7%)","200+ GP":"10 (19.2%)","Elite":0},{"Rank":9,"League":"MHL","Drafted":41,"Reached NHL":"18 (43.9%)","200+ GP":"7 (17.1%)","Elite":1}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>CHL</strong> aggregate (<strong>OHL</strong>+<strong>QMJHL</strong>+<strong>WHL</strong>) 2010–2018: 788 drafted, 213 reached 200 NHL games (27.0%) — the largest single-feeder pool by volume","<strong>SHL</strong> leads the nine ranked leagues on both NHL-reach (72.7%) and 200-game conversion (40.9%); <strong>NCAA</strong> is 2nd on each","<strong>Liiga</strong> (54.3% over 35 picks) and <strong>Allsvenskan</strong> (40.7% over 27) cleared top-tier conversion but fall below the 40-pick threshold to rank among the nine"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"league-report-chl-ohl-qmjhl-whl-2010-2020","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S03 · League Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"Inside the <strong>CHL</strong> 2010–2018: <strong>OHL</strong>'s 32.0% 200-game conversion leads <strong>QMJHL</strong> (25.3%) and <strong>WHL</strong> (21.9%)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"The <strong>Canadian Hockey League</strong>'s three member leagues produced 788 NHL draftees from the 2010–2018 drafts — 213 of whom reached 200 NHL games. The conversion split: <strong>OHL</strong> 32.0% (110 of 344), <strong>QMJHL</strong> 25.3% (43 of 170), <strong>WHL</strong> 21.9% (60 of 274). The spread inside the same junior umbrella is 10.1 percentage points."},{"type":"table","data":[{"League":"OHL","Drafted":344,"Reached NHL":"201 (58.4%)","200+ GP":"110 (32.0%)","Elite":9},{"League":"QMJHL","Drafted":170,"Reached NHL":"83 (48.8%)","200+ GP":"43 (25.3%)","Elite":3},{"League":"WHL","Drafted":274,"Reached NHL":"138 (50.4%)","200+ GP":"60 (21.9%)","Elite":6}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>CHL</strong> aggregate 2010–2018: 788 drafted, 422 reached the NHL (53.6%), 213 played 200+ NHL games (27.0%)","<strong>OHL</strong> produced 9 Elite-tier carprod careers — the most of any feeder league, and half the <strong>CHL</strong>'s 18 (<strong>QMJHL</strong> 3, <strong>WHL</strong> 6)","Volume sits with the <strong>OHL</strong> — 344 NHL draftees, roughly 2× the <strong>QMJHL</strong>'s 170; <strong>WHL</strong> in the middle at 274"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-lak-ohl-pipeline-2010-2020","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Los Angeles Kings</strong> drew 35.3% of their 2010–2020 league-identified picks from the OHL — nearly 2× the leaguewide OHL share of 19.6%","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Of the 68 <strong>Los Angeles Kings</strong> picks with an identified draft league across the 2010–2020 drafts, 24 — 35.3% — came from the <strong>OHL</strong>. The leaguewide <strong>OHL</strong> share over the same window was 19.6%; <strong>LAK</strong> drew from the <strong>OHL</strong> at roughly 1.8× the leaguewide rate. League origin is complete through 2020; 2019–2020 classes remain early reads for career outcomes."},{"type":"table","data":[{"League":"OHL","Picks":24,"Team share":"35.3%","Leaguewide share":"19.6%"},{"League":"USHL","Picks":12,"Team share":"17.6%","Leaguewide share":"15.7%"},{"League":"WHL","Picks":5,"Team share":"7.4%","Leaguewide share":"16.1%"},{"League":"NCAA","Picks":5,"Team share":"7.4%","Leaguewide share":"4.0%"},{"League":"Sweden U20","Picks":5,"Team share":"7.4%","Leaguewide share":"7.5%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["The <strong>OHL</strong> pipeline's most-established outcomes: <strong>Tyler Toffoli</strong> (R2 #47, 2010, 969 NHL games) and <strong>Tanner Pearson</strong> (R1 #30, 2012, 778); the 2019–2020 <strong>OHL</strong> picks — <strong>Arthur Kaliyev</strong> (R2 #33, 2019) and <strong>Quinton Byfield</strong> (R1 #2, 2020) — remain early reads, still maturing toward a stable carprod tier","<strong>LAK</strong>'s <strong>WHL</strong> share (7.4%) ran well below the leaguewide 16.1% — the team under-drew from Western Canada relative to the league","<strong>NCAA</strong> share (7.4%) ran nearly 2× the leaguewide 4.0% — a small but distinct over-index on the college pool"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-nyr-european-pro-pipeline-2010-2020","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>New York Rangers</strong> drew 17.9% of their 2010–2020 league-identified picks from European pro leagues — 6.0 points above the leaguewide 11.9%","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Of the 67 <strong>New York Rangers</strong> picks with an identified draft league across the 2010–2020 drafts, 12 came from European professional leagues (<strong>SHL</strong>, <strong>Liiga</strong>, <strong>KHL</strong>, <strong>Allsvenskan</strong>, <strong>Czechia</strong>, <strong>MHL</strong>) — 17.9% of the total. The leaguewide European-pro share over the same window was 11.9%; <strong>NYR</strong> drew from European pro leagues at roughly 1.5× the leaguewide rate. League origin is complete through 2020; 2019–2020 classes remain early reads for career outcomes."},{"type":"table","data":[{"League":"Liiga","Picks":4,"Team share":"6.0%","Leaguewide share":"2.3%"},{"League":"SHL","Picks":2,"Team share":"3.0%","Leaguewide share":"2.8%"},{"League":"Allsvenskan","Picks":2,"Team share":"3.0%","Leaguewide share":"1.5%"},{"League":"Czechia","Picks":2,"Team share":"3.0%","Leaguewide share":"0.8%"},{"League":"KHL","Picks":1,"Team share":"1.5%","Leaguewide share":"1.4%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Top Euro-pro outcome: <strong>Pavel Buchnevich</strong> (R3 #75, 2013, KHL, 674 NHL games); the 2017–2019 selections — <strong>Filip Chytil</strong> (R1 #21, 2017, Czechia), <strong>Kaapo Kakko</strong> (R1 #2, 2019, Liiga), <strong>Nils Lundkvist</strong> (R1 #28, 2018, SHL) — remain early reads, still maturing","By volume, <strong>NYR</strong>'s top three feeders were <strong>WHL</strong> (13, 19.4%), <strong>OHL</strong> (10, 14.9%), and <strong>USHL</strong> (9, 13.4%) — North American junior remained the largest pool","<strong>NYR</strong> over-indexed strongest on <strong>Czechia</strong> (3.0% vs leaguewide 0.8%, nearly 4×) and <strong>Liiga</strong> (6.0% vs 2.3%, 2.6×)"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-anaheim-2011-four-200-gp-careers","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Anaheim Ducks</strong> 2011 draft: seven picks, four 200-GP NHL careers across forward, defenseman, and goaltender","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Anaheim Ducks</strong>' 2011 draft produced four NHL careers of 500+ games from seven picks. The class spans three position groups: two Top-Line forwards (Rickard Rakell, William Karlsson), a Bottom-Pair defenseman (Josh Manson), and a franchise goaltender (John Gibson). All four selected outside the lottery range."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Rickard Rakell","Pick":"R1 #30","Pos":"F","NHL GP":862,"PTS":563,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"William Karlsson","Pick":"R2 #53","Pos":"F","NHL GP":752,"PTS":446,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Josh Manson","Pick":"R6 #160","Pos":"D","NHL GP":705,"PTS":201,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"John Gibson","Pick":"R2 #39","Pos":"G","NHL GP":563,"PTS":"—","Tier":"Elite Goalie"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Both forwards are Top-Line carprod outcomes — <strong>Rickard Rakell</strong> (563 points, 862 games) and <strong>William Karlsson</strong> (446 points, 752 games) — and <strong>Karlsson</strong> later anchored VGK's Selke-conversation 2C role","<strong>Josh Manson</strong>'s R6 #160 selection became a 705-game NHL defenseman — the deepest pick of the four by draft slot","<strong>John Gibson</strong> (R2 #39) has carried 563 NHL games for the franchise; the class delivered NHL outcomes across all three position groups in the same year"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"the-franchise-edmonton-2015-and-2018-classes","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Edmonton Oilers</strong>' 2015 and 2018 draft classes: Elite-tier anchors plus role-player density from low pick counts","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Edmonton Oilers</strong>' 2015 and 2018 classes both produced Elite-tier carprod outcomes — Connor McDavid (R1 #1, 2015) and Evan Bouchard (R1 #10, 2018) — from low-volume draft years (six and five picks respectively). The non-Elite picks in both classes contributed NHL role-player careers, not just zeros."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Connor McDavid","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #1","Pos":"F","NHL GP":794,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Evan Bouchard","Draft":2018,"Pick":"R1 #10","Pos":"D","NHL GP":429,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"John Marino","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R6 #154","Pos":"D","NHL GP":443,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"},{"Player":"Ryan McLeod","Draft":2018,"Pick":"R2 #40","Pos":"F","NHL GP":379,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Ethan Bear","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R5 #124","Pos":"D","NHL GP":275,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Caleb Jones","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R4 #117","Pos":"D","NHL GP":255,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Michael Kesselring","Draft":2018,"Pick":"R6 #164","Pos":"D","NHL GP":190,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["2015 class: 6 picks, 4 reached the NHL (66.7%), 4 played 200+ games — every NHL-reach in the class crossed the 200-game threshold","2018 class: 5 picks, 4 reached the NHL (80.0%), 2 played 200+ games (<strong>Bouchard</strong>, <strong>McLeod</strong>) plus <strong>Kesselring</strong> at 190 GP and trending up","Three of the four non-McDavid 2015 picks who reached the NHL are defensemen — <strong>Marino</strong> at 2nd-Pair tier across 443 games, <strong>Bear</strong> and <strong>Jones</strong> at Bottom-Pair-grade across 200+"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"the-franchise-sjs-2011-2012-depth-contributors","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>San Jose Sharks</strong> 2011 + 2012 drafts: <strong>Hertl</strong> anchors the Top-Line slot, four other picks reached 500+ NHL games in depth roles","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across <strong>San Jose Sharks</strong>' 2011 and 2012 drafts (12 picks combined), <strong>Tomas Hertl</strong> (R1 #17, 2012, 873 GP) is the class's Top-Line carprod outcome. Four additional picks reached 500+ NHL games as 4th Line or Bottom Pair contributors: Matt Nieto (R2 #47, 2011, 705 GP), Dylan DeMelo (R6 #179, 2011, 718 GP), Chris Tierney (R2 #55, 2012, 649 GP), and Sean Kuraly (R5 #133, 2011, 644 GP)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Tomas Hertl","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #17","Pos":"F","NHL GP":873,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Matt Nieto","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R2 #47","Pos":"F","NHL GP":705,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Dylan DeMelo","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R6 #179","Pos":"D","NHL GP":718,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Chris Tierney","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R2 #55","Pos":"F","NHL GP":649,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Sean Kuraly","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R5 #133","Pos":"F","NHL GP":644,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Five of the 12 picks across both classes crossed 500 NHL games — the bulk of <strong>SJS</strong>'s NHL value from these years sits in the 4th Line / Bottom Pair tiers, not in single high-end careers","<strong>DeMelo</strong>'s R6 #179 selection became a 718-game NHL defenseman — the deepest-drafted pick across both classes to clear 500 games","Two of the four post-<strong>Hertl</strong> 500-game careers (<strong>Kuraly</strong>, <strong>DeMelo</strong>) were second-half-of-the-draft picks (R5 and R6)"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"the-franchise-vancouver-2014-mccann-demko-forsling","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Vancouver Canucks</strong>' 2014 draft: two picks produced 500+ NHL game careers — <strong>McCann</strong> and <strong>Forsling</strong> — plus Vezina-finalist goalie <strong>Demko</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Vancouver Canucks</strong>' 2014 draft produced two picks that crossed 500 NHL games: <strong>Jared McCann</strong> (R1 #24, F, Top Line, 720 GP) and <strong>Gustav Forsling</strong> (R5 #126, D, Top Pair, 557 GP, two-time Stanley Cup with <strong>Florida</strong>). <strong>Thatcher Demko</strong> (R2 #36, G, 242 NHL GP) is the <strong>Canucks</strong>' Vezina-finalist starter. Seven picks, five reached the NHL, four played 200+ games."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Jared McCann","Pick":"R1 #24","Pos":"F","NHL GP":720,"PTS":438,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Gustav Forsling","Pick":"R5 #126","Pos":"D","NHL GP":557,"PTS":220,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Jake Virtanen","Pick":"R1 #6","Pos":"F","NHL GP":317,"PTS":99,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Thatcher Demko","Pick":"R2 #36","Pos":"G","NHL GP":242,"PTS":"—","Tier":"Spot Starter"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Forsling</strong> reached the NHL via <strong>Chicago</strong>, <strong>Carolina</strong>, and <strong>Florida</strong>; he played in two Stanley Cup Finals with <strong>Florida</strong> and lifted the Cup in 2024","<strong>McCann</strong>'s 720 NHL games include stops with <strong>Vancouver</strong>, <strong>Florida</strong>, <strong>Pittsburgh</strong>, <strong>Toronto</strong>, and <strong>Seattle</strong> — his Top-Line tier reads to a 30+ goal Seattle scoring season","<strong>Demko</strong> developed into the <strong>Canucks</strong>' #1 goaltender, posting Vezina-finalist seasons in 2023-24"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"the-franchise-boston-2010-2016-four-elite-picks","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Boston Bruins</strong> drafted five carprod-Elite skaters from 2005–2018 — tied for the most of any NHL franchise","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Boston Bruins</strong> produced five carprod-Elite skaters across the 2005–2018 drafts: <strong>Brad Marchand</strong> (R3 #71, 2006), <strong>Tyler Seguin</strong> (R1 #2, 2010), <strong>Dougie Hamilton</strong> (R1 #9, 2011), <strong>David Pastrnak</strong> (R1 #25, 2014), and <strong>Charlie McAvoy</strong> (R1 #14, 2016). That count ties <strong>Boston</strong> with <strong>Toronto Maple Leafs</strong> and <strong>Tampa Bay Lightning</strong> for the most carprod-Elite skaters of any franchise — five each."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Brad Marchand","Draft":2006,"Pick":"R3 #71","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1152,"PTS":1034,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"David Pastrnak","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #25","Pos":"F","NHL GP":833,"PTS":933,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Tyler Seguin","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1016,"PTS":824,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Dougie Hamilton","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"D","NHL GP":912,"PTS":540,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Charlie McAvoy","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R1 #14","Pos":"D","NHL GP":573,"PTS":361,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three forwards plus two defensemen reached Elite tier — position split runs F-heavy","<strong>Brad Marchand</strong>'s R3 #71 selection (2006) and <strong>David Pastrnak</strong>'s R1 #25 (2014) are both second-half-of-R1-or-later picks that became 800-game NHL careers at Elite tier","<strong>Marchand</strong>'s 1,034 carprod PTS lead the five Elite outcomes; <strong>Pastrnak</strong>'s 933 are second"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-buffalo-hagel-r6-159-elite","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Buffalo Sabres</strong> selected three Elite-tier carprod outcomes 2015–2018 — including <strong>Brandon Hagel</strong> at R6 #159","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Buffalo Sabres</strong>' 2015–2018 drafts produced three carprod-Elite outcomes: Jack Eichel (R1 #2, 2015), Rasmus Dahlin (R1 #1, 2018), and Brandon Hagel (R6 #159, 2016). Hagel was selected 151 picks after Buffalo's top-15 pick that year — the deepest Elite-tier outcome on the franchise from drafts 2005–2018."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Jack Eichel","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":690,"PTS":698,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Rasmus Dahlin","Draft":2018,"Pick":"R1 #1","Pos":"D","NHL GP":586,"PTS":434,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Brandon Hagel","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R6 #159","Pos":"F","NHL GP":446,"PTS":371,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Sam Reinhart","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":839,"PTS":679,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Rasmus Ristolainen","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #8","Pos":"D","NHL GP":820,"PTS":318,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"},{"Player":"Jake McCabe","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R2 #44","Pos":"D","NHL GP":723,"PTS":196,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Hagel</strong>'s R6 #159 selection is one of the deepest carprod-Elite outcomes across any franchise's 2005–2018 drafts","Two of the three Elites (<strong>Hagel</strong>, <strong>Reinhart</strong>) were traded out before establishing their NHL form; the third (<strong>Dahlin</strong>) became <strong>Buffalo</strong>'s captain","Across 120 picks in the window, <strong>Buffalo</strong> reached 200+ NHL games on 24 of them — three of which crossed into Elite tier"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-detroit-2010-2016-five-tier-mix","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Detroit Red Wings</strong> drafted 14 players who reached 500+ NHL games from 2005–2018 — without a carprod-Elite outcome","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Detroit Red Wings</strong>' 2005–2018 drafts produced 14 players with 500+ NHL games and no carprod-Elite outcome — a depth-heavy profile that places the franchise 13th of 31 on 500-GP volume. <strong>Dylan Larkin</strong> (R1 #15, 2014, Top Line) is the franchise's only Top-Line carprod forward of the window; nine of the 14 500-GP careers are 2nd-Line, 3rd-Line, 4th-Line, or depth contributors."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Dylan Larkin","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #15","Pos":"F","NHL GP":808,"PTS":643,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Tyler Bertuzzi","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R2 #58","Pos":"F","NHL GP":567,"PTS":358,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Filip Hronek","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R2 #53","Pos":"D","NHL GP":533,"PTS":287,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Gustav Nyquist","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R4 #121","Pos":"F","NHL GP":914,"PTS":536,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Tomas Tatar","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R2 #60","Pos":"F","NHL GP":927,"PTS":488,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Anthony Mantha","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #20","Pos":"F","NHL GP":588,"PTS":357,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Calle Jarnkrok","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R2 #51","Pos":"F","NHL GP":774,"PTS":300,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Darren Helm","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R5 #132","Pos":"F","NHL GP":823,"PTS":265,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Nick Jensen","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R5 #150","Pos":"D","NHL GP":694,"PTS":172,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Brendan Smith","Draft":2007,"Pick":"R1 #27","Pos":"D","NHL GP":741,"PTS":137,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three of the 14 careers reached Top-Line or Top-Pair carprod tier: <strong>Dylan Larkin</strong> (R1 #15, 2014, F), <strong>Tyler Bertuzzi</strong> (R2 #58, 2013, F), and <strong>Filip Hronek</strong> (R2 #53, 2016, D)","Three 500+ GP careers came from R2 picks (<strong>Calle Jarnkrok</strong>, <strong>Tomas Tatar</strong>, <strong>Justin Abdelkader</strong>) and four from R3–R5 (<strong>Darren Helm</strong>, <strong>Mattias Janmark</strong>, <strong>Anthony Mantha</strong>, <strong>Gustav Nyquist</strong>)","<strong>Detroit</strong> drafted 105 players across 2005–2018 — the third-most of any franchise, behind <strong>Chicago</strong> (122) and <strong>Buffalo</strong> (108) — yet none reached carprod-Elite tier"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-florida-2010-2014-late-round-forwards","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Florida Panthers</strong>' 2010–2014 drafts produced five 700+ NHL game forwards — <strong>Hyman</strong> at R5 #123 and <strong>Trocheck</strong> at R3 #64 the deep-pick gets","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Florida Panthers</strong>' 2010–2014 drafts produced five forwards who reached 700+ NHL games: <strong>Jonathan Huberdeau</strong> (R1 #3, 2011), <strong>Aleksander Barkov</strong> (R1 #2, 2013), <strong>Vincent Trocheck</strong> (R3 #64, 2011), <strong>Nick Bjugstad</strong> (R1 #19, 2010), and <strong>Zach Hyman</strong> (R5 #123, 2010). Two of the five were deep-round selections — <strong>Trocheck</strong> at R3 #64 and <strong>Hyman</strong> at R5 #123."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Jonathan Huberdeau","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #3","Pos":"F","NHL GP":962,"PTS":807,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Vincent Trocheck","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R3 #64","Pos":"F","NHL GP":868,"PTS":631,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Aleksander Barkov","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":804,"PTS":782,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Aaron Ekblad","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #1","Pos":"D","NHL GP":804,"PTS":406,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Nick Bjugstad","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R1 #19","Pos":"F","NHL GP":821,"PTS":336,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Zach Hyman","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R5 #123","Pos":"F","NHL GP":711,"PTS":489,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Four of the five 700+ forwards reached Top-Line carprod tier or better (<strong>Huberdeau</strong>, <strong>Trocheck</strong>, <strong>Hyman</strong> Top Line; <strong>Barkov</strong> Elite); <strong>Bjugstad</strong> filled a 3rd-Line role","Two #1-#3-overall picks (<strong>Barkov</strong> 2013, <strong>Ekblad</strong> 2014) became cornerstone players — one Elite forward, one Top-Pair defenseman","<strong>Hyman</strong>'s R5 #123 selection became a 711-game Top-Line career — the deepest Florida pick of the 2010-2014 window to reach Top-Line tier"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-montreal-gallagher-r5-147","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Montreal Canadiens</strong>' 2010 draft: <strong>Brendan Gallagher</strong> (R5 #147) became the class's deepest 800+ NHL game career","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Montreal Canadiens</strong> selected <strong>Brendan Gallagher</strong> 147th overall in the fifth round of 2010. He has played 911 NHL games across 11 seasons — and at 147th overall, the deepest 800-game career <strong>Montreal Canadiens</strong> drafted in the 2005–2018 window."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Brendan Gallagher","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R5 #147","Pos":"F","NHL GP":911,"PTS":487,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Alexander Galchenyuk","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #3","Pos":"F","NHL GP":654,"PTS":354,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Mikhail Sergachyov","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"D","NHL GP":630,"PTS":369,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Artturi Lehkonen","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R2 #55","Pos":"F","NHL GP":660,"PTS":336,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Jesperi Kotkaniemi","Draft":2018,"Pick":"R1 #3","Pos":"F","NHL GP":518,"PTS":203,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Gallagher</strong>'s R5 #147 slot is the deepest of any Montreal 800-game pick in the window — <strong>Ryan McDonagh</strong> (R1 #12) and <strong>Max Pacioretty</strong> (R1 #22) reached the mark from round one","Two top-three picks in the window (<strong>Galchenyuk</strong> 2012, <strong>Kotkaniemi</strong> 2018) settled into 2nd-Line and 3rd-Line carprod tiers respectively","<strong>Sergachyov</strong> reached Top-Pair tier — but his Cup-winning run came after the trade to <strong>Tampa Bay</strong>"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-ottawa-three-elite-tiers","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Ottawa Senators</strong> drafted three carprod-Elite skaters from 2005–2018 — and rank fourth of 31 on established-career volume","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Ottawa Senators</strong> produced three carprod-Elite skaters across the 2005–2018 drafts: Erik Karlsson (R1 #15, 2008), Mark Stone (R6 #178, 2010), and Thomas Chabot (R1 #18, 2015). The franchise's standout draft strength is volume: its 29 players who reached 200+ NHL games rank fourth of 31, tied with <strong>Buffalo Sabres</strong>, <strong>St. Louis Blues</strong>, and <strong>Edmonton Oilers</strong>."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Erik Karlsson","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #15","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1159,"PTS":922,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mark Stone","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R6 #178","Pos":"F","NHL GP":766,"PTS":699,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Thomas Chabot","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #18","Pos":"D","NHL GP":569,"PTS":335,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mika Zibanejad","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #6","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1011,"PTS":817,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Mike Hoffman","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R5 #130","Pos":"F","NHL GP":745,"PTS":487,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Two Elite-tier defensemen (<strong>Erik Karlsson</strong>, <strong>Thomas Chabot</strong>) plus one Elite-tier forward (<strong>Mark Stone</strong>) — the three span 2008-2015","<strong>Mark Stone</strong>'s R6 #178 selection is the deepest Elite-tier skater on <strong>Ottawa</strong> franchise — he captained <strong>Vegas Golden Knights</strong> to the 2022-23 Stanley Cup","<strong>Erik Karlsson</strong>'s 922 carprod PTS lead the three — and the franchise's 2005–2018 cohort overall"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-tampa-bay-deep-picks-kucherov-point-palat","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Tampa Bay Lightning</strong>'s 2011–2015 drafts: three deep-round forwards became NHL stars — <strong>Kucherov</strong> (R2 #58), <strong>Point</strong> (R3 #79), <strong>Palat</strong> (R7 #208)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Tampa Bay Lightning</strong> drafted three of the deepest-impact NHL forwards of the era out of rounds 2–7: Nikita Kucherov (R2 #58, 2011, Elite, 2018-19 Hart), Brayden Point (R3 #79, 2014, Elite), and Ondrej Palat (R7 #208, 2011, 2nd Line). All three were selected after the top 50; together they account for over 2,400 NHL games and two Stanley Cups."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Nikita Kucherov","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R2 #58","Pos":"F","NHL GP":879,"PTS":1124,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Brayden Point","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R3 #79","Pos":"F","NHL GP":720,"PTS":685,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Ondrej Palat","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R7 #208","Pos":"F","NHL GP":905,"PTS":516,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Andrei Vasilevskiy","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #19","Pos":"G","NHL GP":598,"PTS":"—","Tier":"Elite Goalie"},{"Player":"Anthony Cirelli","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R3 #72","Pos":"F","NHL GP":582,"PTS":333,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Radko Gudas","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R3 #66","Pos":"D","NHL GP":885,"PTS":211,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Two Elite-tier outcomes came from R2 and R3 — <strong>Kucherov</strong> went on to win the Hart Trophy (2018-19) and two Stanley Cups; <strong>Point</strong> won two Cups","<strong>Palat</strong>'s R7 #208 selection became a 905-game NHL career — among the deepest-drafted multi-Cup-winning forwards of the era","<strong>Vasilevskiy</strong>'s R1 #19 (2012) developed into <strong>Tampa</strong>'s long-tenure starting goaltender (Vezina 2018-19)"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"the-franchise-carolina-defenseman-pipeline-2010-2015","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Carolina Hurricanes</strong> drafted six defensemen who reached 500 NHL games from 2005–2018 — 5th of 31 on blue-line volume","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Carolina Hurricanes</strong>' 2005–2018 drafts produced six defensemen who reached 500 NHL games — 5th of 31 franchises. Three reached Top-Pair carprod tier (<strong>Justin Faulk</strong>, <strong>Noah Hanifin</strong>, <strong>Jaccob Slavin</strong>) and three landed at 2nd-Pair or Bottom-Pair (<strong>Brett Pesce</strong>, <strong>Jack Johnson</strong>, <strong>Brian Dumoulin</strong>)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Justin Faulk","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R2 #37","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1058,"PTS":498,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Noah Hanifin","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #5","Pos":"D","NHL GP":829,"PTS":353,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Jaccob Slavin","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R4 #120","Pos":"D","NHL GP":784,"PTS":307,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Brett Pesce","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R3 #66","Pos":"D","NHL GP":736,"PTS":222,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"},{"Player":"Jack Johnson","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R1 #3","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1228,"PTS":341,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Brian Dumoulin","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R2 #51","Pos":"D","NHL GP":788,"PTS":192,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Jaccob Slavin</strong>'s R4 #120 (2012) is the deepest-drafted of the six — a Top-Pair carprod outcome from the fourth round","Four of the six were selected outside the first round: <strong>Justin Faulk</strong> (R2 #37, 2010), <strong>Brian Dumoulin</strong> (R2 #51, 2009), <strong>Slavin</strong> (R4 #120, 2012), <strong>Brett Pesce</strong> (R3 #66, 2013)","<strong>Jack Johnson</strong>'s 1,228 NHL games are the most of any <strong>Carolina</strong> 2005–2018 defenseman"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-chicago-2010-2016-role-player-density","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Chicago Blackhawks</strong> drafted 11 forwards who reached 500 NHL games from 2005–2018 — 5th of 31, anchored by <strong>Patrick Kane</strong> and <strong>Jonathan Toews</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Chicago Blackhawks</strong>' 2005–2018 drafts produced 11 forwards with 500+ NHL games — 5th of 31 — and 19 who reached 200 games, 3rd of 31 on forward volume. <strong>Patrick Kane</strong> (R1 #1, 2007) and <strong>Jonathan Toews</strong> (R1 #3, 2006) anchor the group at Elite tier; the other nine span Top-Line to 4th-Line carprod outcomes."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Patrick Kane","Draft":2007,"Pick":"R1 #1","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1369,"PTS":1400,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Jonathan Toews","Draft":2006,"Pick":"R1 #3","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1149,"PTS":912,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Alex DeBrincat","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R2 #39","Pos":"F","NHL GP":696,"PTS":595,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Teuvo Teravainen","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #18","Pos":"F","NHL GP":827,"PTS":552,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Nick Schmaltz","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #20","Pos":"F","NHL GP":670,"PTS":497,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Brandon Saad","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R2 #43","Pos":"F","NHL GP":984,"PTS":538,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Kevin Hayes","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R1 #24","Pos":"F","NHL GP":805,"PTS":446,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Phillip Danault","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #26","Pos":"F","NHL GP":786,"PTS":411,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three additional Top-Line carprod forwards: <strong>Teuvo Teravainen</strong> (R1 #18, 2012), <strong>Alex DeBrincat</strong> (R2 #39, 2016), and <strong>Nick Schmaltz</strong> (R1 #20, 2014)","<strong>Marcus Kruger</strong>'s R5 #149 (2009) is <strong>Chicago</strong>'s deepest 500+ GP forward selection in the window, at 520 games; <strong>Andrew Shaw</strong> (R5 #139, 2011) is next at 544","<strong>Patrick Kane</strong>'s 1,400 carprod PTS lead the 11 forwards; <strong>Toews</strong>'s 912 are second"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-colorado-three-top-10-elites-2013-2017","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Colorado Avalanche</strong>'s 2013–2017 drafts produced three carprod-Elite outcomes from top-10 R1 picks: <strong>MacKinnon</strong>, <strong>Rantanen</strong>, <strong>Makar</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Colorado Avalanche</strong> produced three carprod-Elite players from top-10 R1 picks in a five-year window: Nathan MacKinnon (R1 #1, 2013, Hart 2023-24), Mikko Rantanen (R1 #10, 2015), and Cale Makar (R1 #4, 2017, two-time Norris, 2021-22 Conn Smythe). All three reached top-line / top-pair production within four NHL seasons of their draft."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Nathan MacKinnon","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #1","Pos":"F","NHL GP":950,"PTS":1142,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mikko Rantanen","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #10","Pos":"F","NHL GP":716,"PTS":782,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Cale Makar","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R1 #4","Pos":"D","NHL GP":470,"PTS":507,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Gabriel Landeskog","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":798,"PTS":606,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Bowen Byram","Draft":2019,"Pick":"R1 #4","Pos":"D","NHL GP":328,"PTS":150,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Two Elite-tier forwards (<strong>MacKinnon</strong>, <strong>Rantanen</strong>) plus one Elite-tier defenseman (<strong>Makar</strong>) — distributed across forward and blue line","<strong>MacKinnon</strong>'s 1,142 carprod PTS lead the four 700+ GP players in the window; <strong>Makar</strong>'s 507 points are the most of any defenseman <strong>Colorado</strong> drafted 2005-2018","<strong>Landeskog</strong> (R1 #2, 2011) anchored the Top-Line slot before the Elites arrived; <strong>Byram</strong> (R1 #4, 2019) added another Top-Pair defenseman to the blue line"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-new-jersey-bratt-r6-162-hischier-r1-1","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>New Jersey Devils</strong>' 2016–2017 drafts: <strong>Hischier</strong> (R1 #1) and <strong>Bratt</strong> (R6 #162) both became Top-Line carprod outcomes from opposite ends of the draft","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>New Jersey Devils</strong> selected <strong>Nico Hischier</strong> first overall in 2017 and <strong>Jesper Bratt</strong> 162nd overall (R6) in 2016. Both became Top-Line carprod-tier forwards; <strong>Bratt</strong>'s R6 #162 selection is the deepest Top-Line outcome on the franchise from drafts 2005–2018."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Jesper Bratt","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R6 #162","Pos":"F","NHL GP":634,"PTS":518,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Nico Hischier","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R1 #1","Pos":"F","NHL GP":609,"PTS":488,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Damon Severson","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R2 #60","Pos":"D","NHL GP":855,"PTS":348,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Adam Larsson","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #4","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1012,"PTS":266,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Blake Coleman","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R3 #75","Pos":"F","NHL GP":693,"PTS":325,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Pavel Zacha","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #6","Pos":"F","NHL GP":706,"PTS":405,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Bratt</strong>'s R6 #162 selection produced 518 carprod points — leading the <strong>Devils</strong>' 2005–2018 forwards on points-per-game","<strong>Severson</strong> (R2 #60, 2012) is the franchise's only Top-Pair-tier defenseman across the window — an 855-game NHL career","<strong>Adam Larsson</strong>'s R1 #4 selection became a Bottom-Pair-tier 1,012-game NHL career"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-nyi-2014-2018-dobson-barzal-toews","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>New York Islanders</strong>' 2014–2018 drafts: <strong>Devon Toews</strong> (R4 #108) and <strong>Noah Dobson</strong> (R1 #12) both reached Elite carprod tier, <strong>Barzal</strong> (R1 #16) Top Line","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>New York Islanders</strong> produced two carprod-Elite defensemen from 2014–2018: Devon Toews (R4 #108, 2014) and Noah Dobson (R1 #12, 2018). <strong>Toews</strong>'s R4 #108 selection is the deepest Elite-tier defenseman the franchise drafted in the 2005–2018 window. <strong>Mathew Barzal</strong> (R1 #16, 2015) anchored the Top-Line forward slot."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Devon Toews","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R4 #108","Pos":"D","NHL GP":541,"PTS":302,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Noah Dobson","Draft":2018,"Pick":"R1 #12","Pos":"D","NHL GP":468,"PTS":277,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mathew Barzal","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #16","Pos":"F","NHL GP":611,"PTS":534,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Brock Nelson","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R1 #30","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1001,"PTS":652,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Adam Pelech","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R3 #65","Pos":"D","NHL GP":642,"PTS":175,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"},{"Player":"Ryan Pulock","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #15","Pos":"D","NHL GP":636,"PTS":237,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Toews</strong>'s R4 #108 selection became a 541-game NHL career — the deepest carprod-Elite defenseman across Islanders' 2005–2018 drafts","<strong>Toews</strong> reached Elite tier after the trade to <strong>Colorado</strong> in 2020; <strong>Dobson</strong> reached Elite tier with <strong>Islanders</strong>","<strong>Brock Nelson</strong>'s R1 #30 selection produced a 1,001-game NHL career with New York Islanders"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-philadelphia-2011-2015-tier-mix","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Philadelphia Flyers</strong>' 2011–2015 drafts produced five 700+ NHL game players — <strong>Shayne Gostisbehere</strong> (R3 #78, 2012) the lone carprod-Elite outcome","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Philadelphia Flyers</strong>' 2011–2015 drafts produced five players with 700+ NHL games — <strong>Sean Couturier</strong> (R1 #8, 2011, Selke 2019-20), <strong>Ivan Provorov</strong> (R1 #7, 2015), <strong>Scott Laughton</strong> (R1 #20, 2012), <strong>Travis Konecny</strong> (R1 #24, 2015), and <strong>Shayne Gostisbehere</strong> (R3 #78, 2012) — the last of these the franchise's lone carprod-Elite outcome of the window."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Sean Couturier","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #8","Pos":"F","NHL GP":952,"PTS":579,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Shayne Gostisbehere","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R3 #78","Pos":"D","NHL GP":744,"PTS":462,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Travis Konecny","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #24","Pos":"F","NHL GP":723,"PTS":544,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Ivan Provorov","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #7","Pos":"D","NHL GP":778,"PTS":313,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Travis Sanheim","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #17","Pos":"D","NHL GP":660,"PTS":250,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Scott Laughton","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #20","Pos":"F","NHL GP":745,"PTS":289,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Gostisbehere</strong>'s R3 #78 selection became the franchise's only carprod-Elite defenseman of the window — 462 points across 744 NHL games","Two Top-Pair-tier defensemen (<strong>Provorov</strong>, <strong>Sanheim</strong>) plus <strong>Gostisbehere</strong> at Elite gave <strong>Philadelphia</strong> three top-tier blueliners drafted within four years","<strong>Couturier</strong>'s 952 NHL games include the 2019-20 Selke Trophy — the deepest of the franchise's first-round forwards by impact at the defensive position"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-pittsburgh-r3-77-and-r3-80","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Pittsburgh Penguins</strong>' 2010–2013 drafts: two R3 forwards became Top-tier NHL careers — <strong>Bryan Rust</strong> (R3 #80) and <strong>Jake Guentzel</strong> (R3 #77)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Pittsburgh Penguins</strong> selected two third-round forwards across 2010 and 2013 who became long-term NHL contributors: <strong>Bryan Rust</strong> (R3 #80, 2010, Top Line, 710 GP, two Stanley Cups) and <strong>Jake Guentzel</strong> (R3 #77, 2013, Elite, 681 GP, one Stanley Cup). Both selected within three picks of each other in the same round."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Jake Guentzel","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R3 #77","Pos":"F","NHL GP":681,"PTS":659,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Bryan Rust","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R3 #80","Pos":"F","NHL GP":710,"PTS":500,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Olli Maatta","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #22","Pos":"D","NHL GP":804,"PTS":210,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Kasperi Kapanen","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #22","Pos":"F","NHL GP":568,"PTS":238,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Oskar Sundqvist","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R3 #81","Pos":"F","NHL GP":545,"PTS":177,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Teodors Blugers","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R2 #52","Pos":"F","NHL GP":453,"PTS":169,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Both R3 forwards became multi-Stanley-Cup champions: <strong>Rust</strong> (2016, 2017 with <strong>Pittsburgh</strong>); <strong>Guentzel</strong> (2016, 2017 with <strong>Pittsburgh</strong>)","<strong>Guentzel</strong>'s R3 #77 selection reached carprod-Elite tier — the deepest of Pittsburgh's three window Elite outcomes, alongside <strong>Sidney Crosby</strong> (R1 #1) and <strong>Kris Letang</strong> (R3 #62)","<strong>Maatta</strong>'s R1 #22 (2012) became a 804-game NHL career across <strong>PIT</strong>, <strong>CHI</strong>, <strong>LAK</strong>, and <strong>DET</strong> at Bottom-Pair tier"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-minnesota-kaprizov-r5-135","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Minnesota Wild</strong>'s <strong>Kirill Kaprizov</strong> (R5 #135, 2015) is the deepest carprod-Elite skater the franchise drafted in the 2005–2018 window","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Minnesota Wild</strong> drafted <strong>Kirill Kaprizov</strong> (R5 #135, 2015, 2020-21 Calder Trophy) in the fifth round — the franchise's lone carprod-Elite skater of the 2005–2018 window, and at 135th overall its deepest Elite-tier selection."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Kirill Kaprizov","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R5 #135","Pos":"F","NHL GP":397,"PTS":475,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mikael Granlund","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"F","NHL GP":960,"PTS":651,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Alex Tuch","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #18","Pos":"F","NHL GP":615,"PTS":448,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Nick Leddy","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R1 #16","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1074,"PTS":423,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Kaprizov</strong>'s 475 carprod points across 397 NHL games — a 1.20 per-game rate — followed five seasons in the KHL before his 2020-21 debut","<strong>Mikael Granlund</strong> (R1 #9, 2010) and <strong>Alex Tuch</strong> (R1 #18, 2014) give the franchise two Top-Line forward outcomes from the window's first rounds","<strong>Jonas Brodin</strong> and <strong>Joel Eriksson Ek</strong> anchor a Top-Pair-tier blue line, rounding out the franchise's window upper tier"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-nashville-saros-r4-99-fiala-arvidsson","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Nashville Predators</strong>' 2012–2014 drafts: <strong>Juuse Saros</strong> (R4 #99, 2013) became the franchise goaltender; two Top-Line forwards drafted at R1 #11 and R4 #112","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Nashville Predators</strong> selected <strong>Juuse Saros</strong> 99th overall (R4) in 2013; he has played 467 NHL games as the franchise's starting goaltender (Vezina Trophy nomination 2021-22, 2022-23). The same window produced two Top-Line carprod forwards: <strong>Kevin Fiala</strong> (R1 #11, 2014) and <strong>Viktor Arvidsson</strong> (R4 #112, 2014, deeper of the two by 101 picks)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Juuse Saros","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R4 #99","Pos":"G","NHL GP":467,"PTS":"—","Tier":"Bonafide #1"},{"Player":"Kevin Fiala","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #11","Pos":"F","NHL GP":707,"PTS":527,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Viktor Arvidsson","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R4 #112","Pos":"F","NHL GP":682,"PTS":428,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Seth Jones","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #4","Pos":"D","NHL GP":912,"PTS":473,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Samuel Girard","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R2 #47","Pos":"D","NHL GP":608,"PTS":242,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"},{"Player":"Colton Sissons","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R2 #50","Pos":"F","NHL GP":756,"PTS":228,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Saros</strong>'s R4 #99 selection became the <strong>Predators</strong>' long-term starting goaltender — two consecutive Vezina nominations (2021-22, 2022-23)","<strong>Arvidsson</strong>'s R4 #112 selection is the deepest Top-Line forward on the franchise; <strong>Fiala</strong>'s R1 #11 reached Top-Line with <strong>Minnesota</strong> after the 2019 trade","<strong>Seth Jones</strong>'s R1 #4 became the franchise's highest-pedigree blueliner — a 900-game NHL Top-Pair career across <strong>NSH</strong>, <strong>CBJ</strong>, and <strong>CHI</strong>"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-dallas-klingberg-robertson-deep-elites","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Dallas Stars</strong>' 2010 and 2017 drafts: two deep-pick carprod-Elite outcomes — <strong>John Klingberg</strong> (R5 #131) and <strong>Jason Robertson</strong> (R2 #39)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Dallas Stars</strong> produced two carprod-Elite outcomes across 2005–2018 from second-half-of-the-draft selections: <strong>John Klingberg</strong> (R5 #131, 2010) and <strong>Jason Robertson</strong> (R2 #39, 2017). The two are separated by seven drafts and 92 picks — both reached top-line / top-pair production in their NHL primes."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"John Klingberg","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R5 #131","Pos":"D","NHL GP":700,"PTS":434,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Jason Robertson","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R2 #39","Pos":"F","NHL GP":456,"PTS":489,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Miro Heiskanen","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R1 #3","Pos":"D","NHL GP":552,"PTS":346,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Roope Hintz","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R2 #49","Pos":"F","NHL GP":521,"PTS":421,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Radek Faksa","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #13","Pos":"F","NHL GP":766,"PTS":232,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Esa Lindell","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R3 #74","Pos":"D","NHL GP":766,"PTS":249,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Klingberg</strong>'s R5 #131 selection is the deepest Elite-tier defenseman across all 2005–2018 franchise drafts; <strong>Robertson</strong>'s R2 #39 is the deepest Elite-tier forward selected by <strong>Dallas</strong>","The 2017 class added two top-tier outcomes in one year: <strong>Heiskanen</strong> (R1 #3, Top Pair) and <strong>Robertson</strong> (R2 #39, Elite)","<strong>Hintz</strong>'s R2 #49 (2015) became a Top-Line carprod forward — three Top-Line-or-better forward outcomes (<strong>Robertson</strong>, <strong>Hintz</strong>, <strong>Faksa</strong>'s defensive tier) anchor the window"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-st-louis-2010-2017-tier-spread","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>St. Louis Blues</strong> drafted two Elite skaters plus three Top-Pair defensemen from 2005–2018 — a blue line that ranks 7th of 31 on 500-game volume","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>St. Louis Blues</strong>' 2005–2018 drafts produced two carprod-Elite outcomes — <strong>Alex Pietrangelo</strong> (R1 #4, 2008, D) and <strong>Robert Thomas</strong> (R1 #20, 2017, F) — plus three Top-Pair defensemen: <strong>Erik Johnson</strong> (R1 #1, 2006), <strong>Colton Parayko</strong> (R3 #86, 2012), and <strong>Vince Dunn</strong> (R2 #56, 2015). Its six 500-game defensemen rank 7th of 31."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Alex Pietrangelo","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #4","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1087,"PTS":634,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Robert Thomas","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R1 #20","Pos":"F","NHL GP":530,"PTS":460,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Erik Johnson","Draft":2006,"Pick":"R1 #1","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1023,"PTS":347,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Vince Dunn","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R2 #56","Pos":"D","NHL GP":623,"PTS":330,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Colton Parayko","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R3 #86","Pos":"D","NHL GP":800,"PTS":313,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Colton Parayko</strong>'s R3 #86 (2012) and <strong>Vince Dunn</strong>'s R2 #56 (2015) are second-half-of-the-draft Top-Pair outcomes — Parayko at 800 NHL games, Dunn at 623","<strong>Alex Pietrangelo</strong> captained <strong>St. Louis</strong> to the 2019 Stanley Cup before signing with <strong>Vegas</strong> in 2020","<strong>Robert Thomas</strong> (R1 #20, 2017) is the franchise's only Elite-tier forward of the window — 530 NHL games through 2024-25"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-calgary-three-elite-picks-2011-2016","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Calgary Flames</strong>' 2011–2016 drafts produced three carprod-Elite outcomes from R1, R3, and R4 — <strong>Tkachuk</strong>, <strong>Fox</strong>, <strong>Gaudreau</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Calgary Flames</strong> produced three carprod-Elite players from a five-year window: <strong>Johnny Gaudreau</strong> (R4 #104, 2011), <strong>Matthew Tkachuk</strong> (R1 #6, 2016), and <strong>Adam Fox</strong> (R3 #66, 2016). <strong>Fox</strong>'s R3 #66 selection reached Elite tier after the trade to <strong>NYR</strong> (Norris Trophy 2020-21)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Johnny Gaudreau","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R4 #104","Pos":"F","NHL GP":763,"PTS":742,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Matthew Tkachuk","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R1 #6","Pos":"F","NHL GP":673,"PTS":670,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Adam Fox","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R3 #66","Pos":"D","NHL GP":486,"PTS":422,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Sean Monahan","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #6","Pos":"F","NHL GP":896,"PTS":631,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Rasmus Andersson","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R2 #53","Pos":"D","NHL GP":617,"PTS":278,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Andrew Mangiapane","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R6 #166","Pos":"F","NHL GP":560,"PTS":259,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Two of the three Elite picks (<strong>Fox</strong>, <strong>Tkachuk</strong>) were traded to other franchises before reaching peak production; <strong>Gaudreau</strong> established his Elite tier with <strong>Calgary</strong>","<strong>Gaudreau</strong>'s R4 #104 selection is the deepest Elite-tier forward across <strong>Calgary</strong>'s 2005–2018 drafts","Six 500+ NHL game players from the 2011–2016 drafts — three Elite, plus Top-Line, Top-Pair, and 3rd-Line tier representation"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-winnipeg-scheifele-connor-hellebuyck","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Winnipeg Jets</strong>' 2011–2015 drafts: two Elite forwards (<strong>Scheifele</strong>, <strong>Connor</strong>) plus <strong>Connor Hellebuyck</strong> (R5 #130) — the franchise's three highest-impact picks of the window","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Winnipeg Jets</strong> selected three of the franchise's most impactful players across 2011–2015: <strong>Mark Scheifele</strong> (R1 #7, 2011, Elite), <strong>Kyle Connor</strong> (R1 #17, 2015, Elite), and <strong>Connor Hellebuyck</strong> (R5 #130, 2012). <strong>Hellebuyck</strong> went on to win the 2019-20 and 2023-24 Vezina Trophies and the 2024-25 Hart Trophy."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Mark Scheifele","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #7","Pos":"F","NHL GP":961,"PTS":906,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Kyle Connor","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #17","Pos":"F","NHL GP":695,"PTS":674,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Connor Hellebuyck","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R5 #130","Pos":"G","NHL GP":625,"PTS":"—","Tier":"Elite Goalie"},{"Player":"Nikolaj Ehlers","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"F","NHL GP":756,"PTS":591,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Jacob Trouba","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"D","NHL GP":906,"PTS":358,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Josh Morrissey","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #13","Pos":"D","NHL GP":739,"PTS":428,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Hellebuyck</strong>'s R5 #130 selection is one of the deepest-drafted goaltenders to win the Hart Trophy on the file (2024-25, 11th NHL season)","Two Top-Pair defensemen drafted in the same three-year window (<strong>Trouba</strong> 2012, <strong>Morrissey</strong> 2013); <strong>Trouba</strong> reached Top-Pair with <strong>Rangers</strong> after the 2019 trade","<strong>Scheifele</strong>'s 906 carprod PTS lead the franchise's 2005-2018 draftees; <strong>Connor</strong> has crossed 650 in fewer NHL seasons"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-vegas-2017-2020-entry-draft-record","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Vegas Golden Knights</strong>' 2017–2020 entry drafts: 34 picks, 7 reached 200+ NHL games — <strong>Nick Suzuki</strong> (R1 #13, 2017) the Top-Line outcome","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Vegas Golden Knights</strong> joined the NHL via the 2017 expansion draft and entered their first entry draft in June 2017. Across their first four entry drafts (2017–2020), the franchise selected 34 players; seven reached 200+ NHL games. <strong>Nick Suzuki</strong> (R1 #13, 2017) became the only Top-Line-tier carprod outcome of the group — selected by <strong>Vegas</strong> and traded to <strong>Montreal</strong> the following year in the Max Pacioretty deal."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Nick Suzuki","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R1 #13","Pos":"F","NHL GP":537,"PTS":476,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Nicolas Hague","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R2 #34","Pos":"D","NHL GP":426,"PTS":98,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Peyton Krebs","Draft":2019,"Pick":"R1 #17","Pos":"F","NHL GP":378,"PTS":132,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Cody Glass","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R1 #6","Pos":"F","NHL GP":322,"PTS":118,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Erik Brannstrom","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R1 #15","Pos":"D","NHL GP":294,"PTS":77,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Pavel Dorofeyev","Draft":2019,"Pick":"R3 #79","Pos":"F","NHL GP":231,"PTS":140,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Vegas</strong> entered the league in 2017 — the entry-draft history begins five years after most NHL franchises in this analysis window","<strong>Suzuki</strong>'s R1 #13 selection reached Top-Line tier with <strong>Montreal</strong>; <strong>Glass</strong> (R1 #6, 2017) and <strong>Brannstrom</strong> (R1 #15, 2017) developed into 4th-Line / Bottom-Pair NHL roles after expansion-era moves","<strong>Dorofeyev</strong>'s R3 #79 (2019) is the deepest carprod-2nd-Line outcome on the franchise to date"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-franchise-seattle-2021-2024-early-draft-history","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S13 · The Franchise","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"<strong>Seattle Kraken</strong>'s first four entry drafts (2021–2024): 36 picks, <strong>Matty Beniers</strong> (R1 #2, 2021) the franchise's first 2nd-Line-tier outcome","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Seattle Kraken</strong> entered the NHL via the 2021 expansion draft and held their first entry draft in July 2021. Across 2021–2024, the franchise selected 36 players; the carprod-tier file currently classifies one as 2nd-Line (<strong>Beniers</strong>) with the rest of the early classes still in establishment phase. The franchise's draft outcomes are immature relative to other franchises in the 2010–2020 default window."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Matty Beniers","Draft":2021,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":331,"PTS":187,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Shane Wright","Draft":2022,"Pick":"R1 #4","Pos":"F","NHL GP":169,"PTS":71,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Ryker Evans","Draft":2021,"Pick":"R2 #35","Pos":"D","NHL GP":176,"PTS":51,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Berkly Catton","Draft":2024,"Pick":"R1 #8","Pos":"F","NHL GP":66,"PTS":17,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"},{"Player":"Jani Nyman","Draft":2022,"Pick":"R2 #49","Pos":"F","NHL GP":40,"PTS":7,"Tier":"Tier 6 - Depth"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Seattle</strong>'s draft history begins in 2021 — four years of mature drafts versus 11 (2010–2020) for most other NHL franchises in this analysis","<strong>Beniers</strong>'s R1 #2 (2021) won the 2022-23 Calder Trophy — the franchise's first major NHL award from its entry-draft pipeline","Tier outcomes will mature further as 2022–2024 classes accumulate NHL seasons; the current snapshot captures the franchise's first four-draft window"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"position-report-selke-bergeron-six-2005-2024","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S02 · Position Report","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"<strong>Patrice Bergeron</strong> (R2 #45, 2003) won six Selke Trophies from 2005-06 to 2024-25 — the most of any player in the window; 10 of 20 Selkes went to non-R1 picks","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Patrice Bergeron</strong>, drafted 45th overall (R2) by <strong>Boston</strong> in 2003, won the Frank J. Selke Trophy six times between 2011-12 and 2022-23 — the most of any player across the 20-season post-lockout window. <strong>Pavel Datsyuk</strong> (R6 #171, 1998) won three; <strong>Aleksander Barkov</strong> (R1 #2, 2013) added three more by 2024-25. Half of the 20 Selke trophies in the window went to non-R1 picks."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Patrice Bergeron","Draft":2003,"Pick":"R2 #45","Selkes":6,"Team":"BOS","Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Pavel Datsyuk","Draft":1998,"Pick":"R6 #171","Selkes":3,"Team":"DET","Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Aleksander Barkov","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #2","Selkes":3,"Team":"FLA","Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Rod Brind'Amour","Draft":1988,"Pick":"R1 #9","Selkes":2,"Team":"STL → CAR","Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Anze Kopitar","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R1 #11","Selkes":2,"Team":"LAK","Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Jonathan Toews","Draft":2006,"Pick":"R1 #3","Selkes":1,"Team":"CHI","Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Sean Couturier","Draft":2011,"Pick":"R1 #8","Selkes":1,"Team":"PHI","Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Ryan Kesler","Draft":2003,"Pick":"R1 #23","Selkes":1,"Team":"VAN","Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Ryan O'Reilly","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R2 #33","Selkes":1,"Team":"COL → STL","Tier":"Top Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Non-R1 Selke wins (10 of 20, 50%): <strong>Patrice Bergeron</strong> R2 #45 (6 wins), <strong>Pavel Datsyuk</strong> R6 #171 (3 wins), <strong>Ryan O'Reilly</strong> R2 #33 (1 win)","<strong>Datsyuk</strong>'s R6 #171 selection (1998) is the deepest-drafted Selke winner of the window — three consecutive trophies (2007-08, 2008-09, 2009-10)","<strong>Barkov</strong>'s three-trophy run (2020-21, 2023-24, 2024-25) is the most recent dynasty at the position; <strong>Bergeron</strong>'s six-win run is the longest on the file"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"scout-file-thomas-gradin-vancouver-1994-2024","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S10 · Scout File","seriesFilter":"scout gm","title":"<strong>Thomas Gradin</strong>'s 30 seasons scouting for <strong>Vancouver Canucks</strong> (1994-95 to 2023-24) — Amateur Scout, Head Scout, then Scout","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Thomas Gradin</strong> served <strong>Vancouver Canucks</strong> across 30 consecutive seasons as Amateur Scout, Head Scout, and Scout (1994-95 through 2023-24). Vancouver drafted 216 players across the 30 draft classes inside that tenure; 79 reached the NHL and 34 played 200+ NHL games."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Henrik Sedin","Draft":1999,"Pick":"R1 #3","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1330,"PTS":1070,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Daniel Sedin","Draft":1999,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1306,"PTS":1041,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Bo Horvat","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"F","NHL GP":881,"PTS":618,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Jared McCann","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #24","Pos":"F","NHL GP":720,"PTS":438,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Alexander Edler","Draft":2004,"Pick":"R3 #91","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1030,"PTS":439,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Ryan Kesler","Draft":2003,"Pick":"R1 #23","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1001,"PTS":560,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Kevin Bieksa","Draft":2001,"Pick":"R5 #151","Pos":"D","NHL GP":808,"PTS":278,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Pair"},{"Player":"Matt Cooke","Draft":1997,"Pick":"R6 #144","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1046,"PTS":398,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Gradin's role title appears across three forms in the staff file (Amateur Scout, Head Scout, Scout) — the post documents organizational picks across all titles","Six Top-Line forward outcomes drafted during the tenure: <strong>Henrik Sedin</strong> (R1 #3, 1999), <strong>Daniel Sedin</strong> (R1 #2, 1999), <strong>Bo Horvat</strong> (R1 #9, 2013), <strong>Jared McCann</strong> (R1 #24, 2014), <strong>Brock Boeser</strong> (R1 #23, 2015), and <strong>Elias Pettersson</strong> (R1 #5, 2017)","Two of the tenure's most-decorated late-round picks: <strong>Alexander Edler</strong> (R3 #91, 2004, Top Pair D, 1,030 NHL GP) and <strong>Matt Cooke</strong> (R6 #144, 1997, 1,046 NHL GP)"]}],"tags":["Scout","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"scout","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"scout-file-lorne-davis-edmonton-1980-2008","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S10 · Scout File","seriesFilter":"scout gm","title":"<strong>Lorne Davis</strong>'s 28 seasons scouting for <strong>Edmonton Oilers</strong> (1980-81 to 2007-08) — the franchise's dynasty era and the rebuild","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Lorne Davis</strong> served <strong>Edmonton Oilers</strong> across 28 consecutive seasons as a Scout (1980-81 through 2007-08). Edmonton drafted 291 players across the 28 draft classes inside that tenure; 123 reached the NHL and 45 played 200+ NHL games. The tenure spans the Oilers' dynasty era (five Cups, 1984-90) and the subsequent rebuild."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Andrew Cogliano","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R1 #25","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1294,"PTS":464,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Ryan Smyth","Draft":1994,"Pick":"R1 #6","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1270,"PTS":842,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Jason Arnott","Draft":1993,"Pick":"R1 #7","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1244,"PTS":938,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Jordan Eberle","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #22","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1140,"PTS":783,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Miroslav Satan","Draft":1993,"Pick":"R5 #111","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1050,"PTS":735,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Jeff Petry","Draft":2006,"Pick":"R2 #45","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1048,"PTS":394,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Sam Gagner","Draft":2007,"Pick":"R1 #6","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1043,"PTS":529,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Kelly Buchberger","Draft":1985,"Pick":"R9 #188","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1182,"PTS":308,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Four Top-Line forwards drafted during the tenure — <strong>Ryan Smyth</strong>, <strong>Jason Arnott</strong>, <strong>Jordan Eberle</strong>, and <strong>Miroslav Satan</strong>; <strong>Jeff Petry</strong>'s Top-Pair-D career rounds out the upper tier","<strong>Kelly Buchberger</strong>'s R9 #188 selection (1985) became a 1,182-game NHL career — the deepest-drafted 1,000-game player during the tenure","<strong>Miroslav Satan</strong> (R5 #111, 1993) and <strong>Jason Chimera</strong> (R5 #121, 1997) round out a deep set of R5+ NHL careers from the dynasty-era drafts"]}],"tags":["Scout","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"scout","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"offenseman-lak-lineage-1980-2008","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S16 · The Offenseman","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"<strong>Los Angeles Kings</strong> drafted four Elite-tier offensemen across 28 years — from <strong>Larry Murphy</strong> (1980) to <strong>Drew Doughty</strong> (2008)","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Four defensemen drafted by <strong>Los Angeles Kings</strong> reached carprod Elite tier — second-most behind <strong>Montreal Canadiens</strong>' six across the 55-player Elite-offenseman population. The lineage spans 28 years: <strong>Larry Murphy</strong> (1980) and <strong>Rob Blake</strong> (1988) anchor the early generation; <strong>Lubomir Visnovsky</strong> (2000) the middle; <strong>Drew Doughty</strong> (2008) the modern."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Larry Murphy","Draft":1980,"Pick":"R1 #4","NHL GP":1615,"PTS":1217,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Drew Doughty","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #2","NHL GP":1279,"PTS":709,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Rob Blake","Draft":1988,"Pick":"R4 #70","NHL GP":1270,"PTS":774,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Lubomir Visnovsky","Draft":2000,"Pick":"R4 #118","NHL GP":883,"PTS":495,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Two of the four Elite offensemen were second-half-of-the-draft selections: <strong>Rob Blake</strong> (R4 #70, 1988) and <strong>Lubomir Visnovsky</strong> (R4 #118, 2000)","<strong>Larry Murphy</strong>'s 1,217 carprod points are the most of the four — and fourth among all offensemen on the file, behind <strong>Paul Coffey</strong>, <strong>Al MacInnis</strong>, and <strong>Phil Housley</strong>","<strong>Drew Doughty</strong> won the 2015-16 Norris Trophy with <strong>LAK</strong>; <strong>Rob Blake</strong> won the 1997-98 Norris also with <strong>LAK</strong>"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"offenseman-2005-2010-cohort-eleven-elites","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S16 · The Offenseman","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"Eleven offensemen reached Elite carprod tier from the 2005–2010 draft window — anchored by the 2008 class's record five","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Eleven defensemen drafted between 2005 and 2010 reached carprod Elite tier — a dense six-year cohort anchored by the 2008 class's record five (<strong>Drew Doughty</strong>, <strong>Alex Pietrangelo</strong>, <strong>Erik Karlsson</strong>, <strong>John Carlson</strong>, <strong>Roman Josi</strong>); the other six span 2005–2010 across six organizations."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Kris Letang","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R3 #62","Team":"PIT","NHL GP":1235,"PTS":804,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Erik Karlsson","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #15","Team":"OTT","NHL GP":1159,"PTS":922,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Victor Hedman","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R1 #2","Team":"TBL","NHL GP":1164,"PTS":811,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"John Carlson","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #27","Team":"WSH","NHL GP":1159,"PTS":785,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Roman Josi","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R2 #38","Team":"NSH","NHL GP":1030,"PTS":779,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Drew Doughty","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #2","Team":"LAK","NHL GP":1279,"PTS":709,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Alex Pietrangelo","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #4","Team":"STL","NHL GP":1087,"PTS":634,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Keith Yandle","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R4 #105","Team":"PHX","NHL GP":1109,"PTS":617,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Tyson Barrie","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R3 #64","Team":"COL","NHL GP":822,"PTS":505,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"P.K. Subban","Draft":2007,"Pick":"R2 #43","Team":"MTL","NHL GP":834,"PTS":465,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"John Klingberg","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R5 #131","Team":"DAL","NHL GP":700,"PTS":434,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Six of the 11 (<strong>Letang</strong>, <strong>Josi</strong>, <strong>Yandle</strong>, <strong>Subban</strong>, <strong>Barrie</strong>, <strong>Klingberg</strong>) were drafted outside the first round; <strong>Klingberg</strong>'s R5 #131 (2010) is the deepest","Seven Norris trophies came out of the cohort across 2010-11 to 2024-25: <strong>Erik Karlsson</strong> (3, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2022-23), <strong>Drew Doughty</strong> (2015-16), <strong>Victor Hedman</strong> (2017-18), <strong>Roman Josi</strong> (2019-20), plus <strong>P.K. Subban</strong> (2012-13)","<strong>Erik Karlsson</strong>'s 922 carprod PTS lead the cohort; <strong>Drew Doughty</strong>'s 1,279 NHL games lead on games played"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"offenseman-erik-karlsson-three-time-norris","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S16 · The Offenseman","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"<strong>Erik Karlsson</strong> (R1 #15, 2008): three Norris Trophies, 922 carprod points — the most points of any offenseman drafted 2005–2020","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Erik Karlsson</strong>, selected 15th overall by <strong>Ottawa Senators</strong> in 2008, reached carprod Elite tier and produced 922 NHL points across 1,159 games. His career line — three Norris Trophies (2011-12, 2014-15, 2022-23), one assists title (2015-16), 11 All-Star selections — is the highest-scoring offenseman record on the file from drafts 2005–2020."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Erik Karlsson","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #15","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1159,"PTS":922,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Victor Hedman","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1164,"PTS":811,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Kris Letang","Draft":2005,"Pick":"R3 #62","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1235,"PTS":804,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"John Carlson","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #27","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1159,"PTS":785,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Roman Josi","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R2 #38","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1030,"PTS":779,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three Norris Trophies — 2011-12 (<strong>Ottawa</strong>), 2014-15 (<strong>Ottawa</strong>), and 2022-23 (<strong>San Jose</strong>) — across three NHL franchises (<strong>OTT</strong>, <strong>SJS</strong>, <strong>PIT</strong>)","<strong>Karlsson</strong>'s 922 carprod points are the most of any defenseman drafted 2005–2020, ahead of <strong>Victor Hedman</strong> (811) and <strong>Kris Letang</strong> (804); among the cohort's 1,000-game defensemen his 0.80 carprod points per game also leads","<strong>Karlsson</strong> reached Elite tier in his fourth NHL season (2011-12, age 21) — among the fastest Elite ascents on the file"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-finland-three-elites-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Finland</strong> produced three carprod-Elite NHL forwards from 158 draftees (2005–2018) — <strong>Barkov</strong>, <strong>Aho</strong>, and <strong>Rantanen</strong>","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Finland</strong> produced 158 NHL draftees across the 2005-2018 window; 80 reached the NHL (50.6%) and 34 played 200+ NHL games (21.5%). Three reached carprod Elite tier — all forwards: <strong>Aleksander Barkov</strong> (R1 #2, 2013, FLA), <strong>Sebastian Aho</strong> (R2 #35, 2015, CAR), and <strong>Mikko Rantanen</strong> (R1 #10, 2015, COL). A fourth Finnish draftee reached Elite tier in goal — <strong>Tuukka Rask</strong> (R1 #21, 2005) — making four Elite outcomes once the carsave ladder is included."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Aleksander Barkov","Draft":2013,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":804,"PTS":782,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mikko Rantanen","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #10","Pos":"F","NHL GP":716,"PTS":782,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Sebastian Aho","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R2 #35","Pos":"F","NHL GP":756,"PTS":711,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Mikael Granlund","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"F","NHL GP":960,"PTS":651,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Teuvo Teravainen","Draft":2012,"Pick":"R1 #18","Pos":"F","NHL GP":827,"PTS":552,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Roope Hintz","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R2 #49","Pos":"F","NHL GP":521,"PTS":421,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Patrik Laine","Draft":2016,"Pick":"R1 #2","Pos":"F","NHL GP":537,"PTS":412,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Erik Haula","Draft":2009,"Pick":"R7 #182","Pos":"F","NHL GP":840,"PTS":368,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Aleksander Barkov</strong> won three Selke Trophies (2020-21, 2023-24, 2024-25) and the Lady Byng (2018-19) — the <strong>Finland</strong> cohort's most-decorated player","Two Elite-tier outcomes came from the 2015 class: <strong>Sebastian Aho</strong> (R2 #35) and <strong>Mikko Rantanen</strong> (R1 #10) — <strong>Aho</strong>'s R2 #35 is the deepest Finnish Elite outcome of the window","<strong>Patrik Laine</strong> (R1 #2, 2016, WPG) is the highest-pedigree Finnish forward of the window after <strong>Barkov</strong> — both went R1 #2 overall, three years apart. <strong>Roope Hintz</strong> (R2 #49, 2015, DAL) joins <strong>Aho</strong> as a Top-Line-or-better Finnish forward drafted in the second round"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-switzerland-200gp-conversion-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-05-28","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Switzerland</strong>'s 36.4% NHL 200-game conversion (2005–2018) leads all major drafting nations — anchored by <strong>Roman Josi</strong>'s 1,030-game Norris-winning career","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Switzerland</strong> produced 33 NHL draftees across the 2005-2018 window; 22 reached the NHL (66.7%) and 12 played 200+ NHL games (36.4%). The 200-game conversion rate leads all nations with 30+ picks in the window — ahead of <strong>Sweden</strong> (26.0%), <strong>Canada</strong> (25.4%), and <strong>Czechia</strong> (25.0%). <strong>Roman Josi</strong> (R2 #38, 2008, NSH) anchors the cohort at Elite tier and won the 2019-20 Norris Trophy."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Roman Josi","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R2 #38","Pos":"D","NHL GP":1030,"PTS":779,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Kevin Fiala","Draft":2014,"Pick":"R1 #11","Pos":"F","NHL GP":707,"PTS":527,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Nico Hischier","Draft":2017,"Pick":"R1 #1","Pos":"F","NHL GP":609,"PTS":488,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Timo Meier","Draft":2015,"Pick":"R1 #9","Pos":"F","NHL GP":698,"PTS":479,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Nino Niederreiter","Draft":2010,"Pick":"R1 #5","Pos":"F","NHL GP":1030,"PTS":497,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Luca Sbisa","Draft":2008,"Pick":"R1 #19","Pos":"D","NHL GP":549,"PTS":112,"Tier":"Tier 4 - Bottom Pair"},{"Player":"Yannick Weber","Draft":2007,"Pick":"R3 #73","Pos":"D","NHL GP":499,"PTS":91,"Tier":"Tier 5 - Depth"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Switzerland</strong>'s 36.4% 200-GP rate (12 of 33) is more than 10 points above the next-highest nation (<strong>Sweden</strong> at 26.0%) — small-sample caveat applies (33 picks vs <strong>Canada</strong>'s 1,282)","Three Top-Line forwards drafted in five years (<strong>Fiala</strong> 2014, <strong>Meier</strong> 2015, <strong>Hischier</strong> 2017); <strong>Nico Hischier</strong> is <strong>Switzerland</strong>'s first #1-overall pick","<strong>Roman Josi</strong> won the 2019-20 Norris Trophy with <strong>Nashville</strong> — the only Swiss Norris winner on the file"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"offenseman-historical-lineage-top10","publishDate":"2026-05-26","series":"S16 · The Offenseman","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"55 offensemen have reached Elite carprod tier in the dataset — <strong>Paul Coffey</strong> leads at 1,527 career points","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across the full dataset, 55 defensemen have reached carprod Elite — the offenseman archetype. Paul Coffey leads on career points; Chris Chelios on career games (1,651). The top ten by points produced 14,238 NHL games and 11,057 career points combined."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Paul Coffey","Draft":"R1 #6 '80","Team":"EDM","NHL GP":1409,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":1527},{"Player":"Al MacInnis","Draft":"R1 #15 '81","Team":"CGY","NHL GP":1416,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":1268},{"Player":"Phil Housley","Draft":"R1 #6 '82","Team":"BUF","NHL GP":1495,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":1232},{"Player":"Larry Murphy","Draft":"R1 #4 '80","Team":"LAK","NHL GP":1615,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":1217},{"Player":"Nicklas Lidstrom","Draft":"R3 #53 '89","Team":"DET","NHL GP":1564,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":1142},{"Player":"Brian Leetch","Draft":"R1 #9 '86","Team":"NYR","NHL GP":1205,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":1014},{"Player":"Chris Chelios","Draft":"R2 #40 '81","Team":"MTL","NHL GP":1651,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":946},{"Player":"Brent Burns","Draft":"R1 #20 '03","Team":"MIN","NHL GP":1579,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":945},{"Player":"Erik Karlsson","Draft":"R1 #15 '08","Team":"OTT","NHL GP":1159,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":922},{"Player":"Gary Suter","Draft":"R9 #180 '84","Team":"CGY","NHL GP":1145,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite","PTS":844}]},{"type":"list","items":["Gary Suter (R9 #180, 1984) is the deepest pick on the top-10-by-points list — drafted at slot 180 by Calgary, played 1,145 games at Elite production","Four of the top 10 are Americans (Housley, Leetch, Chelios, Suter) — the rest of the list is four Canadians and two Swedes (Lidstrom, Karlsson)","Across the 55 Elite-tier offensemen in the dataset, four came undrafted (Steve Duchesne, Brian Rafalski, Dan Boyle, Torey Krug)"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"offenseman-2015-2018-elite-class","publishDate":"2026-05-26","series":"S16 · The Offenseman","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"Nine offensemen reached Elite carprod tier from the 2015–2018 draft window — <strong>Quinn Hughes</strong>, <strong>Cale Makar</strong>, <strong>Zach Werenski</strong>, <strong>Rasmus Dahlin</strong> among them","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"An offenseman is a defenseman whose game runs on offense-creating skill — players who receive the high pass, activate through the neutral zone, and attack from the back end. Across the 2015–2018 draft window, nine offensemen have reached carprod Elite tier. Eight came from the first round; one (Adam Fox) came from R3, the deepest pick across this 4-draft window to reach the tier."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Cale Makar","Draft":"R1 #4 '17","Team":"COL","NHL GP":470,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Quinn Hughes","Draft":"R1 #7 '18","Team":"VAN","NHL GP":507,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Zach Werenski","Draft":"R1 #8 '15","Team":"CBJ","NHL GP":642,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Rasmus Dahlin","Draft":"R1 #1 '18","Team":"BUF","NHL GP":586,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Charlie McAvoy","Draft":"R1 #14 '16","Team":"BOS","NHL GP":573,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Thomas Chabot","Draft":"R1 #18 '15","Team":"OTT","NHL GP":569,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Evan Bouchard","Draft":"R1 #10 '18","Team":"EDM","NHL GP":429,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Noah Dobson","Draft":"R1 #12 '18","Team":"NYI","NHL GP":468,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Adam Fox","Draft":"R3 #66 '16","Team":"CGY","NHL GP":486,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Five of the nine were drafted inside the top ten — Dahlin (#1), Makar (#4), Hughes (#7), Werenski (#8), Bouchard (#10)","Adam Fox (R3 #66, 2016) is the deepest pick in this 4-draft window to reach Elite — drafted by Calgary, traded twice before establishing in New York","All nine play heavy minutes on the offensive blue line; the archetype's modern wave is concentrated in this draft window"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"nation-report-sweden-200gp-cluster-2005-2018","publishDate":"2026-05-26","series":"S17 · Nation Report","seriesFilter":"t1 league","title":"<strong>Sweden</strong>, <strong>Canada</strong>, and <strong>Czechia</strong> cluster within one percentage point atop NHL 200-GP conversion rate (2005–2018) — <strong>USA</strong> sits just behind, <strong>Finland</strong> and <strong>Russia</strong> trail by 4+ points","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"The ranking is on rate, not volume: Canada leads raw 200-GP totals with 326, against Sweden's 82 and Czechia's 25 — but per pick the three converge inside 0.6 of a point, at 26.0%, 25.4%, and 25.0%. USA's 24.2% sits about 0.8 of a point off that cluster, nearer to it than to the field below; the real drop-off is Finland (21.5%) and Russia (17.9%), 4.5 and 8.1 points behind Sweden's pace."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Country":"Canada","Drafted":1282,"NHL":"664 (51.8%)","200+ GP":"326 (25.4%)","Elite":"30 (2.3%)"},{"Country":"USA","Drafted":777,"NHL":"374 (48.1%)","200+ GP":"188 (24.2%)","Elite":"19 (2.4%)"},{"Country":"Sweden","Drafted":315,"NHL":"162 (51.4%)","200+ GP":"82 (26.0%)","Elite":"7 (2.2%)"},{"Country":"Russia","Drafted":173,"NHL":"81 (46.8%)","200+ GP":"31 (17.9%)","Elite":"5 (2.9%)"},{"Country":"Finland","Drafted":158,"NHL":"80 (50.6%)","200+ GP":"34 (21.5%)","Elite":"4 (2.5%)"},{"Country":"Czechia","Drafted":100,"NHL":"59 (59.0%)","200+ GP":"25 (25.0%)","Elite":"1 (1.0%)"},{"Country":"Slovakia","Drafted":41,"NHL":"16 (39.0%)","200+ GP":"6 (14.6%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"},{"Country":"Switzerland","Drafted":33,"NHL":"22 (66.7%)","200+ GP":"12 (36.4%)","Elite":"1 (3.0%)"},{"Country":"Germany","Drafted":24,"NHL":"6 (25.0%)","200+ GP":"5 (20.8%)","Elite":"1 (4.2%)"},{"Country":"Denmark","Drafted":16,"NHL":"9 (56.2%)","200+ GP":"5 (31.2%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"},{"Country":"Latvia","Drafted":13,"NHL":"9 (69.2%)","200+ GP":"3 (23.1%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"},{"Country":"Belarus","Drafted":9,"NHL":"3 (33.3%)","200+ GP":"2 (22.2%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"},{"Country":"Norway","Drafted":9,"NHL":"1 (11.1%)","200+ GP":"0 (0.0%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"},{"Country":"Italy","Drafted":8,"NHL":"1 (12.5%)","200+ GP":"0 (0.0%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"},{"Country":"Slovenia","Drafted":3,"NHL":"2 (66.7%)","200+ GP":"1 (33.3%)","Elite":"1 (33.3%)"},{"Country":"Austria","Drafted":2,"NHL":"2 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"1 (50.0%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"},{"Country":"England","Drafted":2,"NHL":"0 (0.0%)","200+ GP":"0 (0.0%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"},{"Country":"France","Drafted":2,"NHL":"1 (50.0%)","200+ GP":"1 (50.0%)","Elite":"0 (0.0%)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Canada</strong> produced 1,282 draftees — over 4× <strong>Sweden</strong>'s 315 — yet the two converted within 0.6 of a percentage point on the 200-GP rate (Canada 25.4%, Sweden 26.0%)","<strong>Switzerland</strong> (36.4% on 33 picks) clears the cluster on rate but sits outside it on sample size — its cohort is a tenth of Canada's volume, and the only nations rating higher, Austria and France, drafted just two players apiece","<strong>USA</strong>'s 24.2% trails the cluster by under a point and clears the next pipelines, <strong>Finland</strong> (21.5%) and <strong>Russia</strong> (17.9%), by 2.7 and 6.3 points — the 4+ point conversion gap opens below USA, not at it"]}],"tags":["Free","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"scout-file-hakan-andersson-detroit-1990-2008","publishDate":"2026-05-26","series":"S10 · Scout File","seriesFilter":"scout gm","title":"<strong>Hakan Andersson</strong>'s 19 seasons with <strong>Detroit</strong> (1989-90 to 2007-08) — Scout, then Director of European Scouting — covered Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, and Niklas Kronwall","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Hakan Andersson served Detroit Red Wings across 19 consecutive seasons: thirteen as a Scout (1989-90 through 2001-02), then six as Director of European Scouting (2002-03 through 2007-08). Detroit drafted 169 players across the 19 draft classes inside that tenure; 55 reached the NHL and 31 played 200+ NHL games."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Henrik Zetterberg","Draft Year":1999,"Round":"R7 #210","Position":"F","NHL GP":1082,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Pavel Datsyuk","Draft Year":1998,"Round":"R6 #171","Position":"F","NHL GP":953,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Vyacheslav Kozlov","Draft Year":1990,"Round":"R3 #45","Position":"F","NHL GP":1182,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Niklas Kronwall","Draft Year":2000,"Round":"R1 #29","Position":"D","NHL GP":953,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"},{"Player":"Keith Primeau","Draft Year":1990,"Round":"R1 #3","Position":"F","NHL GP":909,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Tomas Holmstrom","Draft Year":1994,"Round":"R10 #257","Position":"F","NHL GP":1026,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Gustav Nyquist","Draft Year":2008,"Round":"R4 #121","Position":"F","NHL GP":914,"Tier":"Tier 3 - 2nd Line"},{"Player":"Mike Knuble","Draft Year":1991,"Round":"R4 #76","Position":"F","NHL GP":1068,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Valtteri Filppula","Draft Year":2002,"Round":"R3 #95","Position":"F","NHL GP":1056,"Tier":"Tier 4 - 3rd Line"},{"Player":"Martin Lapointe","Draft Year":1991,"Round":"R1 #10","Position":"F","NHL GP":991,"Tier":"Tier 5 - 4th Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Andersson's role title changed from Scout to Director of European Scouting for the 2002-03 season — this post documents organizational picks across both titles","72 of the 169 Detroit picks during the tenure were European-nationality players; 12 of those 72 reached 500+ NHL games","Two carprod-Elite outcomes drafted during the tenure: Pavel Datsyuk (R6 #171, 1998) and Henrik Zetterberg (R7 #210, 1999)"]}],"tags":["Scout","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"scout","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"position-report-d-elite-draft-spread","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S02 · Position Report","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"49.0% of drafted Elite defensemen came from outside the first round — only 30.3% of drafted Elite forwards did","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Among the dataset's drafted Elite defensemen, nearly half went in round 2 or later. For drafted Elite forwards, the equivalent share is under a third — the top of the draft over-indexes for elite forward production. (Undrafted Elite players are counted separately below.)"},{"type":"table","data":[{"Position":"Forwards","Elite total":89,"Top 10":46,"11-31":16,"Outside R1":27,"Outside-R1 share":"30.3%"},{"Position":"Defensemen","Elite total":51,"Top 10":16,"11-31":10,"Outside R1":25,"Outside-R1 share":"49.0%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Forwards account for 46 of the 62 Elite players drafted in the top 10 (74%) — defensemen for 16 (26%)","Defensemen are more likely than forwards to reach Elite from picks 32-124: 18 D Elite players vs 15 F Elite players in that band","Among undrafted Elite players (8 total), the split is even — 4 forwards, 4 defensemen","Deepest Elite picks in the file — three forwards drafted outside the top 75 and three defensemen drafted outside the top 60 still reached Elite (see table)"]},{"type":"table","data":[{"Pos":"F","Player":"Mark Stone","Pick":"R6 #178","Year":2010,"GP":766},{"Pos":"F","Player":"Johnny Gaudreau","Pick":"R4 #104","Year":2011,"GP":"763"},{"Pos":"F","Player":"Jake Guentzel","Pick":"R3 #77","Year":2013,"GP":681},{"Pos":"D","Player":"John Klingberg","Pick":"R5 #131","Year":2010,"GP":700},{"Pos":"D","Player":"Keith Yandle","Pick":"R4 #105","Year":2005,"GP":"1,109"},{"Pos":"D","Player":"Adam Fox","Pick":"R3 #66","Year":2016,"GP":486}]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-12T22:18"},{"slug":"position-report-top10-elite-forwards-share","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S02 · Position Report","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"Among 2005–2018 draftees, top-10 picks produced Elite forwards over defensemen 18 to 10 (64.3%) — above the 58.3% forward share across the full Elite pool","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Of the 28 carprod-Elite skaters drafted in the top 10 across 2005–2018, 18 are forwards (64.3%). That forward share sits above the position's 58.3% share of all Elite skaters in the window (35 forwards, 25 defensemen) — the forward tilt is sharpest at the very top of the draft."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Cohort":"Top-10 Elite","Forwards":18,"Defensemen":10,"F share":"64.3%"},{"Cohort":"All Elite (2005–2018)","Forwards":35,"Defensemen":25,"F share":"58.3%"},{"Cohort":"Top-10 Producers","Forwards":65,"Defensemen":28,"F share":"69.9%"},{"Cohort":"All Producers (2005–2018)","Forwards":177,"Defensemen":112,"F share":"61.2%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Top-10 Elite production runs 1.8× more forwards than defensemen (18 vs 10)","The forward share is highest in the top 10 (64.3%) and falls to 53.8% by picks 11-31 — the forward tilt is a top-of-draft effect","Producers (career tier rank ≤ 2) show the same pattern: 69.9% forwards in the top 10 against 61.2% across the window's full Producer pool","By round 3, the Elite split actually tips to defensemen (4 D to 3 F) — the position skew inverts in the deep rounds"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-number-pick4-higher-than-pick3","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"Pick #4 has reached Elite at 18.5% — higher than pick #3's 10.7%","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"The top-5 Elite production curve is non-monotonic across the 1991-2018 drafts. Pick #4 produces Elite careers at 18.5%, against pick #3's 10.7%. The slot order does not match the production order at picks 3 through 5."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Pick slot":"#1","Sample":26,"Elite rate":"50.0%"},{"Pick slot":"#2","Sample":27,"Elite rate":"40.7%"},{"Pick slot":"#3","Sample":28,"Elite rate":"10.7%"},{"Pick slot":"#4","Sample":27,"Elite rate":"18.5%"},{"Pick slot":"#5","Sample":27,"Elite rate":"7.4%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Pick #4 produces Elite at a 7.8-point premium over pick #3","The cliff from pick #2 (40.7%) to pick #3 (10.7%) is the steepest drop within the top-5","Pick #5 falls to 7.4% — the inversion at picks 3-4 is unique to that adjacent pair"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-number-2020-lowest-r1-mature","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"Early read: the 2020 first round is tracking at 13.3% Elite + Top Line — lowest since 2010, but the class isn't mature yet","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"The 2020 NHL Entry Draft class isn't mature yet — the cutoff for a settled read is 2018 — but its first round has so far produced Elite + Top Line players at just 12.9%, the lowest first-round rate of any class from 2010 on and well under half the mature-class average of 30.1%. Expect it to climb as the cohort develops."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Year":2014,"R1 elite rate":"46.7%"},{"Year":2015,"R1 elite rate":"46.7%"},{"Year":2010,"R1 elite rate":"30.0%"},{"Year":2011,"R1 elite rate":"30.0%"},{"Year":2013,"R1 elite rate":"30.0%"},{"Year":2016,"R1 elite rate":"30.0%"},{"Year":2017,"R1 elite rate":"29.0%"},{"Year":2012,"R1 elite rate":"26.7%"},{"Year":2018,"R1 elite rate":"22.6%"},{"Year":2019,"R1 elite rate":"19.4%"},{"Year":2020,"R1 elite rate":"12.9%"}]},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Tim Stutzle","Pick":"#3","Team":"OTT","NHL GP":447,"PTS":409,"Tier":"Tier 1 - Elite"},{"Player":"Lucas Raymond","Pick":"#4","Team":"DET","NHL GP":400,"PTS":330,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Seth Jarvis","Pick":"#13","Team":"CAR","NHL GP":375,"PTS":279,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Line"},{"Player":"Jake Sanderson","Pick":"#5","Team":"OTT","NHL GP":303,"PTS":181,"Tier":"Tier 2 - Top Pair"}]},{"type":"list","items":["As an early read, the 2020 class has produced 5 Elite + Top Line/Top Pair players so far — under a quarter of the settled 2015 class's 21, with years of development ahead","Among the settled classes (2005–2018), 2014 and 2015 lead at 46.7%; the still-maturing 2020 class is tracking at 12.9%","The 2020 class players are ~24 years old as of the 2025-26 season — outcomes for this draft year may still resolve materially with another 5+ years of NHL data","<strong>Caveat for 2019 / 2020</strong>: these classes are still maturing — their core players are entering NHL prime (age 24-25 in 2026), so current Elite + Top Line counts may climb as those cohorts accumulate more NHL seasons"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-number-1-in-87-tier1-elite","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"Across 12,883 NHL draft picks in the dataset, 148 players have reached Elite — roughly 1 in 87","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"The dataset spans 62 draft classes from 1964 through 2025 — 12,883 total NHL Entry Draft selections. 148 of those players have reached Elite career production. The base rate works out to 1 in 87."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Cohort":"All drafted players ('64-'25)","Count":"12,883"},{"Cohort":"Elite players","Count":148},{"Cohort":"Rate","Count":"1.15% (~1 in 87)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Of the 148 Elite players, 62 (41.9%) were drafted in the top 10; 16 (10.8%) at pick 125 or later","Eight Elite players came through undrafted free-agent paths (5.4% of the Elite pool): Wayne Gretzky, Adam Oates, Martin St-Louis, Steve Duchesne, Dan Boyle, Brian Rafalski, Artemi Panarin, Torey Krug.","Elite production concentrates at the top of the draft — 62 of the 148 came from the top 10 — and nearly vanishes in the deep rounds: no Elite skater drafted in round 7 has emerged since the modern 7-round format began in 2005"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-record-kucherov-r2-hart-winner","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S07 · The Record","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Nikita Kucherov: drafted 58th overall in the second round of 2011, won the Hart Trophy in 2018-19","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Tampa Bay selected Kucherov 58th overall in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, from the MHL. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2018-19 and back-to-back Stanley Cups across 2019-20 and 2020-21 — all from a second-round selection."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Field":"Drafted","Value":"R2 #58 (TBL, '11)"},{"Field":"Feeder league","Value":"MHL (Russia)"},{"Field":"NHL debut","Value":"'13-14"},{"Field":"Hart Trophy","Value":"'18-19"},{"Field":"Stanley Cup","Value":"'19-20, '20-21"},{"Field":"Career tier on file","Value":"Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["His Hart came in his sixth NHL season; Tampa Bay's two Cup wins followed in his seventh and eighth seasons"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-record-makar-three-trophy-arc","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S07 · The Record","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Cale Makar won the Calder, two Norris Trophies, and a Conn Smythe in his first six NHL seasons","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Colorado selected Makar fourth overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, from the AJHL. His career through 2024-25 includes a Calder Trophy (2019-20), two Norris Trophies (2021-22, 2024-25), a Conn Smythe Trophy (2021-22), and a Stanley Cup."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Award":"Calder Memorial Trophy","Season":"'19-20"},{"Award":"James Norris Memorial Trophy","Season":"'21-22"},{"Award":"Conn Smythe Trophy","Season":"'21-22"},{"Award":"Stanley Cup","Season":"'21-22"},{"Award":"James Norris Memorial Trophy","Season":"'24-25"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Makar is one of three players in NHL history to win the Calder, Norris, and Conn Smythe trophies — alongside Bobby Orr and Brian Leetch","His Conn Smythe in 2021-22 came in his third NHL season; the second Norris in 2024-25 came in his sixth","Makar was drafted from the AJHL — a tier-2 Canadian junior league — and developed for two years in the NCAA at UMass"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-undrafted-77-modern-200-gp","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S08 · The Undrafted","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"77 undrafted skaters born 1990 or later have played 200+ NHL games — two of them reached Elite","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"The modern undrafted path is more populated than its top achievements suggest. 77 skaters born 1990 or later have gone undrafted and reached 200 or more NHL games. Two of them — Artemi Panarin and Torey Krug — reached Elite career production."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Artemi Panarin","Born":1991,"NHL GP":830,"PO GP":77,"Tier":"Elite","Accolades":"'16 Calder (CHI)"},{"Player":"Torey Krug","Born":1991,"NHL GP":778,"PO GP":82,"Tier":"Elite","Accolades":"—"},{"Player":"Jonathan Marchessault","Born":1990,"NHL GP":778,"PO GP":102,"Tier":"Top Line","Accolades":"'23 Cup + Conn Smythe (VGK)"},{"Player":"Nate Schmidt","Born":1991,"NHL GP":823,"PO GP":100,"Tier":"2nd Pair","Accolades":"'25 Stanley Cup (FLA)"},{"Player":"Brenden Dillon","Born":1990,"NHL GP":"1,056","PO GP":84,"Tier":"Bottom Pair","Accolades":"—"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Two Elite outcomes among 77 modern undrafted 200-game players — a 2.6% Elite rate, well below the leaguewide base but on a small sample","Of the 77, 21 have reached 500+ NHL games; one — Brenden Dillon at 1,056 — has crossed 1,000. None have reached 1,500.","Brenden Dillon leads the modern undrafted pool by games played (1,056 NHL GP)","<strong>Artemi Panarin</strong> and <strong>Jonathan Marchessault</strong> are the only undrafted players in the 77-player pool to win a major individual trophy — Calder 2015-16 (CHI) and Conn Smythe 2022-23 (VGK) respectively. (Mark Giordano's 2018-19 Norris was won as an undrafted player but he was born 1983 — outside this post's 1990+ window.)"]},{"type":"source","text":"Prospect Probabilities Model · DraftResearch dataset."}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-undrafted-panarin-krug-1991","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S08 · The Undrafted","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Artemi Panarin and Torey Krug — both born 1991, both undrafted, both Elite","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Two of the dataset's eight undrafted Elite skaters share a birth year. Panarin and Krug were both born in 1991 and both signed NHL contracts after going through their eligible drafts unselected. Both reached Elite career production."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Field":"Birth year","Panarin":1991,"Krug":1991},{"Field":"Path to NHL","Panarin":"KHL (7 seasons), signed CHI '15","Krug":"NCAA Michigan State, signed BOS '12"},{"Field":"NHL GP","Panarin":830,"Krug":778},{"Field":"Career tier","Panarin":"Elite","Krug":"Elite"},{"Field":"Position","Panarin":"F","Krug":"D"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Panarin came through the KHL for seven seasons before signing with Chicago in 2015; Krug came through the NCAA before signing with Boston in 2012","Both went undrafted across multiple eligibility years before signing NHL contracts as free agents"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-1-percent-calder-norris-conn-smythe-trio","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S09 · The 1%","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Three players in NHL history have won the Calder, Norris, and Conn Smythe Trophies: Bobby Orr, Brian Leetch, and Cale Makar","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across NHL history, three defensemen have won all three of the Calder Memorial Trophy (rookie of the year), James Norris Memorial Trophy (top defenseman), and Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP). Cale Makar joined the club via his 2021-22 Conn Smythe — half a century after Bobby Orr first did it."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Bobby Orr","Calder":"'66-67","Norris":"8× ('67-68 through '74-75)","Conn Smythe":"'69-70, '71-72"},{"Player":"Brian Leetch","Calder":"'88-89","Norris":"'91-92, '96-97","Conn Smythe":"'93-94"},{"Player":"Cale Makar","Calder":"'19-20","Norris":"'21-22, '24-25","Conn Smythe":"'21-22"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Orr's eight-year stretch of Norris wins (1967-68 through 1974-75) is unmatched at the position","Makar joined the club in his third NHL season — Leetch took six and Orr's Conn Smythe came in his fourth"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T20:27"},{"slug":"the-1-percent-datsyuk-pick-100-plus-multi-selke","publishDate":"2026-05-17","series":"S09 · The 1%","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Pavel Datsyuk is the only player drafted at pick 100 or later to win three or more Selke Trophies","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Six players have won the Frank J. Selke Trophy three or more times — Patrice Bergeron (6), Bob Gainey (4), Pavel Datsyuk (3), Jere Lehtinen (3), Aleksander Barkov (3), and Guy Carbonneau (3). Datsyuk is the only one drafted at pick 100 or later — 171st overall by Detroit in 1998. He is, in fact, the only player drafted that deep to win a Selke at all."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Multi-Selke winner":"Patrice Bergeron","Selke wins":6,"Draft":"R2 #45 ('03)"},{"Multi-Selke winner":"Pavel Datsyuk","Selke wins":3,"Draft":"R6 #171 ('98)"},{"Multi-Selke winner":"Jere Lehtinen","Selke wins":3,"Draft":"R4 #88 ('92)"},{"Multi-Selke winner":"Aleksander Barkov","Selke wins":3,"Draft":"R1 #2 ('13)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Of the multi-Selke winners tracked on the file (Bergeron, Datsyuk, Lehtinen, Barkov), three were drafted outside the first round — but only Datsyuk fell past pick 100","<strong>Datsyuk</strong>'s #171 selection is 83 picks deeper than the next-deepest multi-Selke winner on the file (Lehtinen, #88)","<strong>Datsyuk</strong> won his three Selkes consecutively, 2007-08 through 2009-10 (Gainey and Carbonneau, the two earlier multi-Selke winners, are not individually on the file)"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"position-report-calder-non-r1-winners","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S02 · Position Report","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"Four of 20 Calder Trophy winners since 2005-06 were not first-round picks","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across the post-lockout window's 20 Calder Memorial Trophy seasons, four winners were not first-round picks. The deepest drafted is Kirill Kaprizov (R5 #135, 2015); Steve Mason (R3 #69, 2006), Lane Hutson (R2 #62, 2022), and undrafted Artemi Panarin (signed out of the KHL) complete the group."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Winner":"Steve Mason","Season":"'08-09","Draft":"R3 #69 ('06, CBJ)"},{"Winner":"Artemi Panarin","Season":"'15-16","Draft":"Undrafted — signed CHI '15"},{"Winner":"Kirill Kaprizov","Season":"'20-21","Draft":"R5 #135 ('15, MIN)"},{"Winner":"Lane Hutson","Season":"'24-25","Draft":"R2 #62 ('22, MTL)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["16 of 20 Calder winners since 2005-06 came from the first round; three were drafted in R2 or later (Mason, Kaprizov, Hutson) and one (Panarin) was undrafted","The six Calder winners drafted #1 overall in the window: Alex Ovechkin (2004), Patrick Kane (2007), Nathan MacKinnon (2013), Aaron Ekblad (2014), Auston Matthews (2016), Connor Bedard (2023)","Artemi Panarin is the only undrafted Calder winner in the 20-year window — signed by Chicago as a free agent out of the KHL in 2015"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-number-post-lockout-r2-nhl-rate","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"Post-lockout Round 2 picks reach 200+ NHL games at 31.9% — up from 27.7% before the lockout","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Second-round picks from the post-lockout era (2005-2020) become established NHLers — 200+ career games — at 31.9%, up from 27.7% in the 1993-2004 era. The modern second round converts picks into real careers at a meaningfully higher rate than its historical counterpart."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Era":"Pre-lockout ('93-'04)","R2 picks":375,"Reached 200+ GP":104,"Rate":"27.7%"},{"Era":"Post-lockout ('05-'20)","R2 picks":495,"Reached 200+ GP":158,"Rate":"31.9%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["The 4.2-point gain is roughly a 15% relative increase in the rate at which second-round picks become established NHLers","Sample sizes are large: 375 pre-lockout second-round picks versus 495 post-lockout","The trend reverses at the deep end of the draft — pick 156+ established rate fell from 10.8% to 7.5% over the same split"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T20:27"},{"slug":"the-number-post-lockout-deep-picks-decline","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"Pick 156+ established-NHLer rate has fallen from 10.8% pre-lockout to 7.5% post-lockout","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"On the rate that matters most for deep picks — becoming an established NHLer (200+ career games) — pick 156 and later has declined from 10.8% before the lockout (1993-2004) to 7.5% after (2005-2020). Raw NHL-reach (any game) barely moved at the back of the draft (27.5% to 27.1%); it's the conversion into real careers that thinned out."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Era":"Pre-lockout ('93-'04)","156+ picks":1419,"Reached 200+ GP":153,"Rate":"10.8%"},{"Era":"Post-lockout ('05-'20)","156+ picks":939,"Reached 200+ GP":70,"Rate":"7.5%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["The decline concentrates at the back of the draft: on the same 200+ GP bar, three of the four deepest pick bands fell post-lockout — picks 63-93 (21.8%→17.6%), 125-155 (11.6%→10.3%), and 156+ (10.8%→7.5%) — while every band inside the top 62 held or rose","Average career games for 156+ picks fell too: from 69.4 pre-lockout to 46.5 post-lockout","The samples are large enough to be reliable: 1,419 pre-lockout picks at 156+ versus 939 post-lockout"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T20:27"},{"slug":"the-number-post-lockout-top5-tighter","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"Post-lockout top-5 picks have reached 200+ NHL games at 95.7% — up from 92.8% pre-lockout","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across the post-lockout 2005-2018 window, 67 of 70 top-5 picks reached 200+ NHL games — a 95.7% conversion rate against the pre-lockout (1980-2004) rate of 92.8% (116 of 125). NHL-reach itself is essentially full in both windows (100% post-lockout, 99.2% pre-lockout); 200+GP is the load-bearing differentiation."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Era":"Pre-lockout ('80-'04)","Top-5 picks":125,"200+ GP":"116 (92.8%)"},{"Era":"Post-lockout ('05-'18)","Top-5 picks":70,"200+ GP":"67 (95.7%)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Both windows have 100% (or near-100%) NHL-reach rates — every top-5 pick plays at least one NHL game","The 2.9-point post-lockout gain on 200+GP comes despite a shorter sample window (14 years vs 25)","Three top-5 picks in the post-lockout window haven't reached 200 NHL games; the cluster is too small to surface — sample-size constraint"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T20:27"},{"slug":"the-record-ryan-oreilly-survivor-conn-smythe","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S07 · The Record","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Ryan O'Reilly: drafted 33rd overall in 2009, traded twice, Conn Smythe winner in 2018-19","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"O'Reilly was selected by Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, pick 33 overall. After 16 NHL seasons split across five organizations, he has reached 1,233 NHL games."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Field":"Drafted","Value":"R2 #33 (COL, '09)"},{"Field":"Career NHL GP","Value":"1,233"},{"Field":"Conn Smythe","Value":"'18-19 (STL)"},{"Field":"Selke Trophy","Value":"'18-19"},{"Field":"Stanley Cup","Value":"'18-19"},{"Field":"Career tier","Value":"Top Line"}]},{"type":"list","items":["O'Reilly's 1,233 NHL games is the most of any 2009 draftee taken outside the first round — <strong>John Tavares</strong> (R1 #1, NYI) leads the class at 1,266 NHL games","He won the Conn Smythe and the Selke in the same 2018-19 season, his first year with St. Louis after a trade from Buffalo","His move from Buffalo to St. Louis in July 2018 came after three NHL organizations in nine seasons"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-record-adam-fox-r3-norris-winner","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S07 · The Record","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Adam Fox: drafted 66th overall by Calgary in 2016, traded twice, won the Norris Trophy in his second NHL season","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Fox was selected by Calgary Flames in the third round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. Two trades later he debuted for New York Rangers in 2019. He won the 2020-21 James Norris Memorial Trophy — the deepest-drafted modern-era Norris winner taken in round 3 or later."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Field":"Drafted","Value":"R3 #66 (CGY, '16)"},{"Field":"Trades pre-debut","Value":"2 (CGY → CAR → NYR)"},{"Field":"NHL debut","Value":"'19-20"},{"Field":"Norris Trophy","Value":"'20-21 (second NHL season)"},{"Field":"Career tier on file","Value":"Elite"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Fox is one of only three Norris Trophy winners drafted in round 3 or later — alongside Nicklas Lidstrom (R3 #53) and Zdeno Chara (R3 #56)","Both of his pre-debut trades came without him having played an NHL game — first from Calgary to Carolina (2018), then from Carolina to Rangers (2019)","His 2020-21 Norris came in just his second NHL season, after his 2019-20 debut with New York Rangers"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"the-undrafted-mike-keane-1161-games","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S08 · The Undrafted","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Mike Keane went undrafted and played 1,161 NHL games — the fourth-most of any undrafted player in the dataset","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Keane was eligible for the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and was not selected. He signed with Montreal Canadiens as an undrafted free agent and played 1,161 NHL games across 17 seasons."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Undrafted NHL GP leader":"Wayne Gretzky","Career NHL GP":"1,408","Note":"Pre-merger WHA path (data oddity)"},{"Undrafted NHL GP leader":"Adam Oates","Career NHL GP":"1,337","Note":"HHOF"},{"Undrafted NHL GP leader":"Steve Thomas","Career NHL GP":"1,235","Note":"—"},{"Undrafted NHL GP leader":"Mike Keane","Career NHL GP":"1,161","Note":"—"},{"Undrafted NHL GP leader":"Mark Giordano","Career NHL GP":"1,148","Note":"Norris ('18-19)"},{"Undrafted NHL GP leader":"Martin St-Louis","Career NHL GP":"1,134","Note":"Hart, Art Ross ('03-04)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Mike Keane is the only undrafted player to win the Stanley Cup with three franchises — Montreal (1993), Colorado (1996), and Dallas (1999).","Keane sits fourth among undrafted players on career NHL games — between Steve Thomas (1,235) and Mark Giordano (1,148)","He entered the league with Montreal in 1988-89 as a 21-year-old college free agent","His final NHL appearance was with Vancouver in 2003-04, 19 years after his draft eligibility"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"the-undrafted-1000-gp-nine-players","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S08 · The Undrafted","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Brenden Dillon is the first undrafted player born after 1983 to reach 1,000 NHL games","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Brenden Dillon reached his 1,000th NHL game during the 2024-25 season; he now sits at 1,056. He is one of 17 undrafted players in the dataset to clear the threshold — and the first born after 1983; the others were born between 1961 and 1983 (the table below lists the highest-games entrants)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Wayne Gretzky","Born":1961,"NHL GP":"1,408"},{"Player":"Adam Oates","Born":1962,"NHL GP":"1,337"},{"Player":"Steve Thomas","Born":1963,"NHL GP":"1,235"},{"Player":"Mike Keane","Born":1967,"NHL GP":"1,161"},{"Player":"Mark Giordano","Born":1983,"NHL GP":"1,148"},{"Player":"Martin St-Louis","Born":1975,"NHL GP":"1,134"},{"Player":"Jamie Macoun","Born":1961,"NHL GP":"1,128"},{"Player":"Steve Duchesne","Born":1965,"NHL GP":"1,113"},{"Player":"Brenden Dillon","Born":1990,"NHL GP":"1,056"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Dillon's entry extends the cohort birth-year range from 22 years (1961-1983) to 29 years (1961-1990)","On the file, <strong>Wayne Gretzky</strong> (Hart) and <strong>Mark Giordano</strong> (Norris 2018-19) are the cohort's tracked individual-trophy winners; <strong>Martin St-Louis</strong> also won the 2003-04 Hart and Art Ross, but those aren't recorded in his file accolades (a known data gap)","Dillon's 1,056 NHL GP is the lowest of those shown — he crossed the threshold most recently"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-1-percent-kaprizov-only-calder-pick-100-plus","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S09 · The 1%","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Kirill Kaprizov is the only modern-era Calder Trophy winner drafted at pick 100 or later","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Kaprizov (R5 #135, 2015 — won 2020-21) is the only Calder Trophy winner of the modern era drafted at pick 100 or later. The other recent non-R1 Calder winners (Lane Hutson R2 #62, 2024-25; Artemi Panarin undrafted, 2015-16) were taken inside the top 65 or signed as free agents."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Calder winner with deep draft":"Kirill Kaprizov","Draft slot":"#135 (R5, '15)","Calder season":"'20-21"},{"Calder winner with deep draft":"Lane Hutson","Draft slot":"#62 (R2, '22)","Calder season":"'24-25"},{"Calder winner with deep draft":"Artemi Panarin","Draft slot":"Undrafted (signed '15)","Calder season":"'15-16"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Of the 20 Calder winners across 2005-06 → 2024-25, 16 were first-round picks and 10 were taken in the top three overall","<strong>Kaprizov</strong>'s Calder came five seasons after his draft year — the longest draft-to-Calder gap of any winner in the window"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-1-percent-hart-and-conn-smythe-club","publishDate":"2026-05-14","series":"S09 · The 1%","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Thirteen players in NHL history have won both the Hart Trophy and the Conn Smythe — Connor McDavid is the most recent addition","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across NHL history, thirteen players have won both the Hart Memorial Trophy (regular-season MVP) and the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) in their careers. McDavid joined the club with his 2023-24 Conn Smythe win, adding to his three Hart trophies (2016-17, 2020-21, 2022-23)."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Connor McDavid","Doubled":2024},{"Player":"Alex Ovechkin","Doubled":2018},{"Player":"Sidney Crosby","Doubled":2016},{"Player":"Patrick Kane","Doubled":2016},{"Player":"Evgeni Malkin","Doubled":2012},{"Player":"Joe Sakic","Doubled":2001},{"Player":"Mario Lemieux","Doubled":1991},{"Player":"Mark Messier","Doubled":1990},{"Player":"Wayne Gretzky","Doubled":1985},{"Player":"Bryan Trottier","Doubled":1980},{"Player":"Guy Lafleur","Doubled":1977},{"Player":"Bobby Orr","Doubled":1970},{"Player":"Jean Beliveau","Doubled":1965}]},{"type":"list","items":["McDavid is the fourth player of the past decade to complete the double — joining Patrick Kane and Sidney Crosby (both 2016) and Alex Ovechkin (2018)","The list spans 60 years of NHL history, from Jean Beliveau in the 1960s to McDavid in 2023-24"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T20:27"},{"slug":"the-record-stone-klingberg-2010-deep-round-elites","publishDate":"2026-05-11","series":"S07 · The Record","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Mark Stone and John Klingberg: the 2010 draft is the only modern-era class to produce two Elite players from rounds 5 or 6","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Both players were drafted in 2010 after pick 125. Both reached Elite career production. No other class in the post-2005 modern 7-round draft era has produced two Elite players from rounds 5 or later."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Field":"Pick","Stone":"R6 #178","Klingberg":"R5 #131"},{"Field":"Team","Stone":"OTT","Klingberg":"DAL"},{"Field":"Position","Stone":"F","Klingberg":"D"},{"Field":"Career NHL GP","Stone":766,"Klingberg":700},{"Field":"Career tier","Stone":"Elite","Klingberg":"Elite"},{"Field":"Accolades","Stone":"'23 Cup (VGK)","Klingberg":""}]},{"type":"list","items":["Across the full draft file, 24 Elite careers came from pick 125 or later; only five are from the post-2005 7-round era — <strong>Klingberg</strong> and <strong>Stone</strong> (2010), <strong>Connor Hellebuyck</strong> (2012), <strong>Kirill Kaprizov</strong> (2015), and <strong>Brandon Hagel</strong> (2016)","2010 is the only one of those years to produce two such Elite players — <strong>Klingberg</strong> (R5 #131) and <strong>Stone</strong> (R6 #178)","Tyler Seguin (R1 #2) is 2010's only top-of-class Elite — <strong>Stone</strong> and <strong>Klingberg</strong> were drafted 176 and 129 picks later"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-record-bergeron-six-selke-trophies","publishDate":"2026-05-11","series":"S07 · The Record","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Patrice Bergeron is the all-time Selke Trophy leader with six wins — he was drafted 45th overall","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Bergeron was selected by Boston in the second round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, pick 45 overall. He won the Frank J. Selke Trophy six times before retiring in 2023 — more than any other player in NHL history."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Patrice Bergeron","Selke wins":6,"Seasons":"'12, '14, '15, '17, '22, '23","Drafted":"R2 #45 ('03)"},{"Player":"Pavel Datsyuk","Selke wins":3,"Seasons":"'08, '09, '10","Drafted":"R6 #171 ('98)"},{"Player":"Jere Lehtinen","Selke wins":3,"Seasons":"'98, '99, '03","Drafted":"R4 #88 ('92)"},{"Player":"Aleksander Barkov","Selke wins":3,"Seasons":"'21, '24, '25","Drafted":"R1 #2 ('13)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Bergeron</strong>'s six Selke Trophies are the most in the award's history — three clear of the next cleanly-tracked total on the file (<strong>Datsyuk</strong>, <strong>Lehtinen</strong>, and <strong>Barkov</strong>, three each)","Three of the file's tracked multi-Selke winners were drafted outside the first round — <strong>Bergeron</strong> (R2 #45), <strong>Datsyuk</strong> (R6 #171), and <strong>Lehtinen</strong> (R4 #88)","Among active players, <strong>Aleksander Barkov</strong> leads the multi-Selke count with three — all won between 2020-21 and 2024-25"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-number-top5-vs-r4-9x-career","publishDate":"2026-05-11","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"Top-5 picks have played 7× the NHL games of round-4 picks, on average","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Across the post-lockout 2005-2018 window, top-5 picks have played an average of 819 NHL games. Picks 61-124 — rounds 3 and 4 of the modern draft — have averaged 114, a 7.2× career-volume gap. NHL-reach and 200+GP rates illustrate where the divergence opens."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Pick range":"1-5","Picks":70,"Reached NHL":"70 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"67 (95.7%)","Avg NHL GP":819},{"Pick range":"6-10","Picks":70,"Reached NHL":"70 (100.0%)","200+ GP":"61 (87.1%)","Avg NHL GP":585},{"Pick range":"11-15","Picks":70,"Reached NHL":"67 (95.7%)","200+ GP":"51 (72.9%)","Avg NHL GP":505},{"Pick range":"16-30","Picks":210,"Reached NHL":"191 (91.0%)","200+ GP":"119 (56.7%)","Avg NHL GP":380},{"Pick range":"31-60","Picks":420,"Reached NHL":"294 (70.0%)","200+ GP":"142 (33.8%)","Avg NHL GP":204},{"Pick range":"61-124","Picks":894,"Reached NHL":"436 (48.8%)","200+ GP":"165 (18.5%)","Avg NHL GP":114},{"Pick range":"125-217","Picks":1236,"Reached NHL":"366 (29.6%)","200+ GP":"119 (9.6%)","Avg NHL GP":57}]},{"type":"list","items":["NHL-reach holds at 100% through the top 10, drops to 95.7% at picks 11-15, and falls steadily after pick 30","200+GP rate falls 8.6 points from picks 1-5 to 6-10, then 14.2 more to picks 11-15; the steepest single-step drop is from picks 16-30 to 31-60 (22.9 points), where the established rate nearly halves from 56.7% to 33.8%","Average NHL GP for the top 5 (819) is 14× the average for picks 125-217 (57); 200+GP rates differ by a factor of 10×"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T20:27"},{"slug":"the-number-r5plus-goalies-outproduce-r1","publishDate":"2026-05-11","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"More NHL goalies with 500+ career games came from round 5 or later than from round 1","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"60 goalies in the dataset have played 500 or more NHL games. 18 were drafted in round 5 or later. 16 were drafted in round 1. Round 5+ outproduces round 1 in the 500-game cohort."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Goalies with 500+ NHL GP, by draft round":"Round 1","Count":16,"Share":"26.7%"},{"Goalies with 500+ NHL GP, by draft round":"Round 2","Count":10,"Share":"16.7%"},{"Goalies with 500+ NHL GP, by draft round":"Round 3","Count":7,"Share":"11.7%"},{"Goalies with 500+ NHL GP, by draft round":"Round 4","Count":4,"Share":"6.7%"},{"Goalies with 500+ NHL GP, by draft round":"Round 5+","Count":18,"Share":"30.0%"},{"Goalies with 500+ NHL GP, by draft round":"Undrafted","Count":5,"Share":"8.3%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Round 5+ produces more 500-game goalies than rounds 3 and 4 combined (18 vs 11)","38.3% of NHL goalies with 500+ games were either drafted in round 5 or later, or went undrafted entirely","The pattern reflects the position's documented long development timeline — career outcomes resolve later than skater outcomes do"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-number-tier1-elite-outside-top10","publishDate":"2026-05-11","series":"S06 · The Number","seriesFilter":"t1","title":"58.1% of Elite players in the dataset were drafted outside the top 10","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"148 players in the dataset have reached Elite career production. 62 were drafted in the top 10 (41.9%). The remaining 86 — the majority — came from picks 11 or later."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Draft slot":"Top 10","Elite count":62,"Share":"41.9%"},{"Draft slot":"Picks 11-31","Elite count":29,"Share":"19.6%"},{"Draft slot":"Picks 32-124","Elite count":33,"Share":"22.3%"},{"Draft slot":"Picks 125+","Elite count":16,"Share":"10.8%"},{"Draft slot":"Undrafted","Elite count":8,"Share":"5.4%"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Picks 11-124 alone produced 62 Elite players — matching the top-10 total","Picks 125+ contributed 16 Elites, including Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Robitaille, Kaprizov, Stone, and Klingberg","Eight Elite careers came from undrafted free agents (Gretzky, Oates, Giordano, St-Louis, and four others)"]}],"tags":["Free","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-undrafted-adam-oates-1420-points","publishDate":"2026-05-11","series":"S08 · The Undrafted","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Adam Oates went undrafted in 1985 and scored 1,420 NHL points — second only to Wayne Gretzky among undrafted scorers","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Oates was eligible for the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and was not selected. He signed with Detroit Red Wings as a college free agent and played 19 NHL seasons."},{"type":"table","data":[{"GP":"1,337","carprod PTS":"1,420","SZN":19}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Oates</strong>'s 1,420 carprod points rank second among all undrafted skaters on the file, behind only <strong>Wayne Gretzky</strong> (2,720)","He entered the NHL with <strong>Detroit Red Wings</strong> in 1985-86 as a 23-year-old free agent out of the RPI college program"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-undrafted-marchessault-conn-smythe","publishDate":"2026-05-11","series":"S08 · The Undrafted","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Jonathan Marchessault went undrafted in 2011 — and won the 2022-23 Conn Smythe Trophy with Vegas","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Marchessault was eligible for the 2011 NHL Entry Draft and was not selected. He signed as an undrafted free agent and went on to play 778 NHL games — reaching Top Line career production. In 2022-23 he won the Stanley Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy with Vegas Golden Knights."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Conn Smythe winner":"Jonathan Marchessault","Season":"'22-23","Draft status":"Undrafted ('11)"},{"Conn Smythe winner":"Henrik Zetterberg","Season":"'07-08","Draft status":"R7 #210 ('99)"},{"Conn Smythe winner":"Tim Thomas","Season":"'10-11","Draft status":"R9 #217 ('94)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Six Conn Smythe winners since 2007-08 were drafted outside the first round or undrafted: <strong>Henrik Zetterberg</strong> (R7 #210), <strong>Tim Thomas</strong> (R9 #217), <strong>Jonathan Quick</strong> (R3 #72), <strong>Duncan Keith</strong> (R2 #54), <strong>Ryan O'Reilly</strong> (R2 #33), and <strong>Jonathan Marchessault</strong> (undrafted)","His career on file: 778 NHL games, Top Line career production, with <strong>Florida</strong> and <strong>Vegas</strong> the two organizations he established himself with"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-record-tim-thomas-vezina-conn-smythe","publishDate":"2026-05-09","series":"S07 · The Record","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Tim Thomas: drafted 217th in 1994, the only pick-200+ player to win both Vezina and Conn Smythe","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Quebec selected Thomas in the 9th round of 1994 out of the University of Vermont. He won the Vezina twice and the Conn Smythe once — both Vezina seasons coming after his 33rd birthday."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Award":"Vezina Trophy","Season":"'08-09","Notes":"BOS; 36 wins, .933 SV%"},{"Award":"Vezina Trophy","Season":"'10-11","Notes":"BOS; .938 SV% set the modern single-season record"},{"Award":"Conn Smythe Trophy","Season":"'10-11","Notes":"Stanley Cup champion; .940 SV% across 25 playoff games"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Three Vezina winners on the file were drafted at pick 200 or later — <strong>Tim Thomas</strong> (#217), <strong>Henrik Lundqvist</strong> (#205), and <strong>Pekka Rinne</strong> (#258); only <strong>Thomas</strong> also won a Conn Smythe","His 2010-11 Conn Smythe came in his 8th NHL season, 17 years after his draft year","<strong>Pekka Rinne</strong> (#258, 2004) was drafted even later than Thomas but won the Vezina without a Conn Smythe; <strong>Henrik Lundqvist</strong> (#205) rounds out the three pick-200+ Vezina winners"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-1-percent-giordano-undrafted-norris","publishDate":"2026-05-09","series":"S09 · The 1%","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Mark Giordano: the only undrafted player with 1,000+ NHL games to win a Norris Trophy","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Seventeen players on the file went undrafted and reached 1,000 NHL games. Of those, exactly one — Mark Giordano — won the James Norris Memorial Trophy."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Undrafted player":"Wayne Gretzky","Career NHL GP":"1,408","Major award on file":"Hart, Art Ross (×many)"},{"Undrafted player":"Adam Oates","Career NHL GP":"1,337","Major award on file":"—"},{"Undrafted player":"Mike Keane","Career NHL GP":"1,161","Major award on file":"—"},{"Undrafted player":"Mark Giordano","Career NHL GP":"1,148","Major award on file":"Norris ('18-19)"},{"Undrafted player":"Steve Duchesne","Career NHL GP":"1,113","Major award on file":"—"}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Giordano</strong> signed with <strong>Calgary</strong> as an undrafted free agent in 2004, two years after his draft-eligibility year; his Norris came in his 13th NHL season at age 35","<strong>Wayne Gretzky</strong> — also undrafted, and the cohort's most decorated with multiple Harts and Art Ross titles — never won a Norris as a forward; among undrafted 1,000-game players, <strong>Giordano</strong> holds that trophy alone","The other undrafted 1,000-game players carry no major award on the file — the Norris is <strong>Giordano</strong>'s distinction in the group"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-1-percent-tier1-elite-pick-156-plus","publishDate":"2026-05-09","series":"S09 · The 1%","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Nine carprod-Elite skaters were drafted at pick 156 or later (1993–2020) — <strong>Datsyuk</strong> and <strong>Zetterberg</strong> from back-to-back Detroit drafts","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Nine skaters drafted at pick 156 or later between 1993 and 2020 reached carprod-Elite tier. Detroit alone produced two of them in consecutive draft years — <strong>Pavel Datsyuk</strong> (#171, 1998) and <strong>Henrik Zetterberg</strong> (#210, 1999). Five Elite-tier goaltenders (<strong>Lundqvist</strong>, <strong>Rinne</strong>, <strong>Thomas</strong>, <strong>Vokoun</strong>, <strong>Cechmanek</strong>) came from the same deep-pick range."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player":"Henrik Zetterberg","Pick":210,"Year":1999,"NHL GP":"1,082","PTS":960},{"Player":"Andrei Markov","Pick":162,"Year":1998,"NHL GP":990,"PTS":566},{"Player":"Tomas Kaberle","Pick":204,"Year":1996,"NHL GP":984,"PTS":560},{"Player":"Pavel Datsyuk","Pick":171,"Year":1998,"NHL GP":953,"PTS":918},{"Player":"Dustin Byfuglien","Pick":245,"Year":2003,"NHL GP":869,"PTS":522},{"Player":"Pavol Demitra","Pick":227,"Year":1993,"NHL GP":847,"PTS":756},{"Player":"Mark Streit","Pick":262,"Year":2004,"NHL GP":786,"PTS":434},{"Player":"Mark Stone","Pick":178,"Year":2010,"NHL GP":766,"PTS":699},{"Player":"Brandon Hagel","Pick":159,"Year":2016,"NHL GP":446,"PTS":371}]},{"type":"list","items":["<strong>Mark Streit</strong> at pick 262 (2004) is the deepest skater on the list","Four of the nine were drafted in rounds that no longer exist — the modern 7-round format has produced only <strong>Stone</strong> (2010) and <strong>Hagel</strong> (2016)","Detroit's 1998-1999 back-to-back of <strong>Datsyuk</strong> and <strong>Zetterberg</strong> accounts for two of the nine"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Monthly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"the-undrafted-torey-krug-2009","publishDate":"2026-05-09","series":"S08 · The Undrafted","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Torey Krug went undrafted in 2009 — and outplayed 79 of 107 players from that draft class","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Krug went unselected through the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He signed with Boston as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and recorded 778 NHL games and 481 points across 13 seasons."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Player (2009 class)":"Ryan O'Reilly","Career NHL GP":"1,233","Draft slot":"R2 #33"},{"Player (2009 class)":"Matt Duchene","Career NHL GP":"1,195","Draft slot":"R1 #3"},{"Player (2009 class)":"Oliver Ekman-Larsson","Career NHL GP":"1,137","Draft slot":"R1 #6"},{"Player (2009 class)":"Tyson Barrie","Career NHL GP":822,"Draft slot":"R3 #64"},{"Player (2009 class)":"Erik Haula","Career NHL GP":840,"Draft slot":"R7 #182"},{"Player (2009 class)":"Torey Krug (undrafted)","Career NHL GP":778,"Draft slot":"signed '12"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Of the 107 players from the 2009 draft who reached the NHL, 28 played more games than Krug","The full 2009 draft had 210 picks; the other 103 never recorded an NHL game","Krug's 481 carprod points are more than any 2009 draftee taken outside the first round except O'Reilly, Reilly Smith, Anders Lee, Tyson Barrie, Tomas Tatar, and Mike Hoffman"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"},{"slug":"the-record-kaprizov-2015-draft-gap","publishDate":"2026-05-09","series":"S07 · The Record","seriesFilter":"t2","title":"Kaprizov produced an Elite career from pick 135 — the deepest-drafted Calder winner of the 2005-2024 window. The median 2015 fifth-round pick played zero NHL games.","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"Minnesota selected Kaprizov 135th overall in the fifth round of 2015 from the KHL. He played 397 NHL games and reached Elite career production — the only Elite outcome from the 2015 fifth round."},{"type":"table","data":[{"2015 R5 metric":"Players drafted","Value":30},{"2015 R5 metric":"Median career NHL GP","Value":0},{"2015 R5 metric":"Players to reach 200 NHL games","Value":8},{"2015 R5 metric":"Players to reach Elite","Value":"1 (Kaprizov)"},{"2015 R5 metric":"Players to win a major award","Value":"1 (Kaprizov, Calder '20-21)"}]},{"type":"list","items":["Of the 30 players drafted in the 2015 fifth round, eight reached 200+ NHL games and <strong>Kaprizov</strong> is the only Elite outcome","<strong>Kaprizov</strong> is the deepest-drafted Calder winner of the 2005-2024 window (pick 135); his Calder in 2020-21 came in his first NHL season, six years after his draft year"]}],"tags":["Reviewed","Weekly"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t2","data_version":"2026-06-15T15:29"},{"slug":"position-report-hellebuyck-ninth-goalie-hart","publishDate":"2026-05-09","series":"S02 · Position Report","seriesFilter":"t1 class","title":"<strong>Connor Hellebuyck</strong> (R5 #130, 2012) is the eighth goaltender in NHL history — and the deepest-drafted since <strong>Dominik Hasek</strong> — to win the Hart Trophy","content":[{"type":"paragraph","text":"<strong>Connor Hellebuyck</strong> won the 2024-25 Hart Memorial Trophy, becoming the eighth goaltender in NHL history and the first since <strong>Carey Price</strong> (2014-15) to be named the NHL's most valuable player. The Hart has gone to a goalie five times in the modern era (post-1990): <strong>Dominik Hasek</strong> twice, <strong>Jose Theodore</strong>, <strong>Price</strong>, and <strong>Hellebuyck</strong>. Among Hart-winning goaltenders, only <strong>Hasek</strong> (R10 #199, 1983) was drafted deeper than <strong>Hellebuyck</strong>'s R5 #130."},{"type":"table","data":[{"Season":"2024-25","Winner":"Connor Hellebuyck","Team":"WPG","Draft":"R5 #130 ('12)"},{"Season":"2014-15","Winner":"Carey Price","Team":"MTL","Draft":"R1 #5 ('05)"},{"Season":"2001-02","Winner":"Jose Theodore","Team":"MTL","Draft":"R2 #44 ('94)"},{"Season":"1997-98","Winner":"Dominik Hasek","Team":"BUF","Draft":"R10 #199 ('83)"},{"Season":"1996-97","Winner":"Dominik Hasek","Team":"BUF","Draft":"R10 #199 ('83)"},{"Season":"1961-62","Winner":"Jacques Plante","Team":"MTL","Draft":"Pre-draft era"},{"Season":"1953-54","Winner":"Al Rollins","Team":"CHI","Draft":"Pre-draft era"},{"Season":"1949-50","Winner":"Chuck Rayner","Team":"NYR","Draft":"Pre-draft era"},{"Season":"1928-29","Winner":"Roy Worters","Team":"NYA","Draft":"Pre-draft era"}]},{"type":"list","items":["No goaltender had won the Hart in the ten seasons between <strong>Carey Price</strong> (2014-15) and <strong>Hellebuyck</strong>'s 2024-25 award","Goalies have won one Hart per decade since the mid-1990s — <strong>Hasek</strong> (1990s), <strong>Theodore</strong> (2000s), <strong>Price</strong> (2010s), <strong>Hellebuyck</strong> (2020s)","Only <strong>Hasek</strong> (R10 #199, 1983) was drafted deeper than <strong>Hellebuyck</strong> among the eight goaltenders to win the Hart — <strong>Theodore</strong> (R2 #44) and <strong>Price</strong> (R1 #5) went earlier"]}],"tags":["Free","Per Draft Class"],"channels":["Blog"],"tier":"t1","data_version":"2026-06-12T15:00"}]