10 Hidden Gems
Not every superstar is drafted in the first round. Here are 10 players who were selected in the fourth round and beyond. Seven became Hall of Famers and the other three are likely heading there.
GLENN ANDERSON 4TH ROUND, EDMONTON OILERS, 1979
Drafted 69th overall out of NCAA Denver, the Burnaby, B.C., native scored 498 goals in 1129 regular season games, 93 more in playoffs and won six Stanley Cups. Hockey Hall of Fame member.
BILLY SMITH 5TH ROUND, LOS ANGELES KINGS, 1970
Left unprotected by the Kings in the 1972 expansion draft, Battlin’ Billy was scooped up by the Islanders and backstopped them to four straight Stanley Cups. Is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
DOUG GILMOUR 7TH ROUND, ST. LOUIS BLUES, 1982
Considered too small — he was listed at 175 but was probably 165 — Gilmour proved to be an outstanding two-way centre and team leader. Wound up playing 1,474 regular-season games and collected 450 goals and 1,414 points. Won a Stanley Cup with the Flames in ’89 and a Selke Trophy as a Leaf in ’93. Hockey Hall of Fame member.
BRETT HULL 6TH ROUND, CALGARY FLAMES, 1984
The Flames chose Golden Brett with 117th pick but dealt him to the Blues in 1988 where he blossomed into a prolific scorer and an eventual member of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
LUC ROBITAILLE 9TH ROUND, LOS ANGELES KINGS, 1984
Despite being a tremendous scorer in junior, Lucky Luc fell to 171st overall in the ’84 draft due to perceived poor skating ability. Somehow he managed to manoeuvre himself around the ice to score 668 regular-season goals and 58 more in the playoffs. Rookie of the year in 1987 and Stanley Cup champ with Detroit in 2002. Hockey Hall of Fame member.
PAVEL BURE 6TH ROUND, VANCOUVER CANUCKS, 1989
The Canucks “stole” him in the ’89 draft at 113th overall when most teams thought he was ineligible. Scored 60 goals twice and 50 or more five times in a Hall of Fame career cut short by knee problems.
HENRIK LUNDQVIST 7TH ROUND, NEW YORK RANGERS, 2000
Has one Vezina and has been nominated four other times.
DOMINIK HASEK 10TH ROUND, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS, 1983
Won six Vezina, two Hart and two Lindsay trophies.
JARI KURRI 4TH ROUND, EDMONTON OILERS, 1980
Lightning struck twice for the Oilers when they took the Finn in the exact same spot, 69th overall, where they had taken Anderson the year before. Perfect complementary player to Wayne Gretzky. Netted 601 regular-season goals and won five Cups. Hockey Hall of Fame member.
PAVEL DATSYUK 6TH ROUND, DETROIT RED WINGS, 1998
Already has two Stanley Cups, three Selke and four Lady Byng trophies on his mantle.