NHL Draft: Best Picks, No. 100 Or Later, Since 2006

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Apr 21, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Pavel Datsyuk (13) looks on after losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in game five of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Amalie Arena. Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Detroit Red Wings 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Great NHL Draft Picks Can Be Found In Surprising Places

I’m on a bit of an NHL draft binge when it comes to my posts on Blackhawk Up. I recently published a piece looking at other players the Chicago Blackhawks could’ve selected with their first overall picks in each of the last 10 drafts. I’ve also looked at the best draft choices for the Blackhawks since 2000.

We’re going to go a little off the Blackhawks track with this post and take a look at the top NHL draft pick in each of the last 10 drafts to be selected at No. 100 or later.

The biggest find I can immediately think of in this range comes from a Blackhawks rival, the Detroit Red Wings. They picked Pavel Datsyuk 171st overall in 1998 draft, and look how he turned out. He may be on his way out of the organization now (at age 37), but that turned out to be quite a steal.

With that, let’s get started with the 2006 draft and work our way to the present.

Mar 18, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets center Mathieu Perreault (85) collides with Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Trevor van Riemsdyk (57) during the second period at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /

2006

Top 100-or-higher pick: C Mathieu Perreault, 177th overall, Washington Capitals

Honorable mention: G Reto Berra, 106th overall, St. Louis Blues; LW Matt Beleskey, 112th overall, Anaheim Ducks; G Chad Johnson, 125th overall, Pittsburgh Penguins; C Andrew MacDonald, 160th overall, New York Islanders; LW Viktor Stalberg, 161st overall, Toronto Maple Leafs; C Leo Komarov, 180th overall, Toronto Maple Leafs; RW Derek Dorsett, 189th overall, Columbus Blue Jackets

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This one comes down to Perreault, Komarov and Dorsett. While Komarov is the only All-Star in this group, I think his inclusion in 2016’s exhibition was more a product of Toronto needing a representative than him being an incredible player. He had a fine 2015-16 season, to be sure, but Perreault is a better player, in my opinion.

Perreault had just 9 goals this season after posting 18 each of the last two regular seasons, but he also added a career-best 32 assists in the 2015-16 season. His shooting percentage was also an atrocious 6.8 percent, down from his 14.0 career mark, meaning he’s probably due for an uptick next season for a Jets squad that has to be better than this year’s.

Perreault isn’t a big guy, checking in at 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, but he just knows how to get to scoring areas on the ice. He’s been dynamite with the Anaheim Ducks and now Winnipeg Jets since parts of four lackluster seasons in Washington, so maybe he needed a change of scenery. Or maybe the Caps should’ve given him more time to develop.

May 11, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Jamie Benn (14) looks up during a stoppage in play against the St. Louis Blues during the second period in game seven of the second round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

2007

Top 100-or-higher pick: LW Jamie Benn, 129th overall, Dallas Stars

Honorable mention: LW Dwight King, 109th overall, Los Angeles Kings; Jake Muzzin, 141st overall, Pittsburgh Penguins; G Scott Darling, 153rd overall, Phoenix Coyotes; LW Patrick Maroon, 161st overall, Philadelphia Flyers; LW Carl Hagelin, 168th overall, New York Rangers; C Nick Bonino, 173rd overall, San Jose Sharks; D Justin Braun, 201st overall, San Jose Sharks

Some decent players in this bunch, but Benn and Braun really stand out. Braun and his fantastic beard are competing for a Stanley Cup right now, while Benn became part of hockey’s most-potent offensive line this season.

Benn gets the nod just because of how special an offensive talent he’s become. He posted a league-best 87 points in 82 games last season, then followed that up with 89 points in 82 games this year, good for second in the league. And he did some of this without almost-constant linemate Tyler Seguin, who can’t seem to avoid the late-season injury bug.

Benn has turned being picked 129th overall into team captaincy and a near-point-per-game NHL career through seven years. And the scary thing is, he’s probably entering his prime now, set to turn 27 this offseason. We very well may see Benn break the 100-point barrier real soon.

Next: 2008 And 2009 Drafts

Apr 17, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Gustav Nyquist (14) skates with the puck as Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn (55) defends during the second period in game three of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

2008

Top 100-or-higher pick: RW Gustav Nyquist, 121st overall, Detroit Red Wings

Honorable mention: RW Dale Weise, 111th overall, New York Rangers; D T.J. Brodie, 114th overall, Calgary Flames; D Jared Spurgeon, 156th overall, New York Islanders; RW Cam Atkinson, 157th overall, Columbus Blue Jackets; D Jason Demers, 186th overall, San Jose Sharks

Nyquist certainly isn’t on a Benn level, but I think he’s certainly a talented guy. The scene right now in Detroit is a little wonky, what with Datsyuk shipping out and the Wings possibly being coached by a group of players instead of Jeff Blashill. So Nyquist may not be in the best of situations to have his potential utilized.

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But he’s been alright so far with the Wings, and it’s honestly better than anyone else and pick 100 or beyond can say. Nyquist posted 48 points in just 57 games in the 2013-14 season before falling back to Earth a bit with 54 and 43 points in each of the last two campaigns, during which he played all 82 games. His ice time dropped precipitously under Blashill, going from a 16:39 average in Mike Babcock’s final year to 15:10 this season.

I think Nyquist has the chance to separate himself from this group as the best of 2008’s higher-numbered picks, as he’ll be just 27 years old when the 2016-17 season starts. But he may need a change of scenery, or for the Wings to get their act together behind the scenes.

Apr 9, 2016; Columbus, OH, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Marcus Kruger (22) against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets won 5-4 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

2009

Top 100-or-higher pick: Marcus Kruger, 149th overall, Chicago Blackhawks

Honorable mention: D Mattias Ekholm, 102nd overall, Nashville Predators; D Sami Vatanen, 106th overall, Anaheim Ducks; LW Mike Hoffman, 130th overall, Ottawa Senators; C Anders Lee, 152nd overall, New York Islanders

I originally was going to take Hoffman, as I think he’s showing the ability to be the best 100-or-later pick in the 2009 class. But then I remembered Kruger has already helped his team to a pair of Stanley Cups, and I had to give the Swede the nod.

Kruger may not have the offensive prowess of Hoffman, who set career highs for goals (29) and assists (30) this season (Kruger’s career highs are 9 and 20). But Kruger knows his role and has played it to a T, as one of the league’s best defensive centers. His play was critical to the 2013 and 2015 Cups for Chicago, as he was on the ice for the game-winning goal in ’13 and teamed with Andrew Shaw and Andrew Desjardins to form a dominant shutdown line in ’15.

Hoffman will definitely go on to be the better offensive player of the two, and he has decent defensive skills as a forward. But Kruger has already made far more contributions to his drafting team at the NHL level, and that can’t be overlooked.

Next: 2010 And 2011 Draft

May 1, 2016; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman John Klingberg (3) skates against the St. Louis Blues during game two of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center. The Blues win 4-3 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

2010

Top 100-or-higher pick: D John Klingberg, 131st overall, Dallas Stars

Honorable mention: G Petr Mrazek, 141st overall, Detroit Red Wings; RW Brendan Gallagher, 147th overall, Montreal Canadiens; RW Jesper Fast, 157th overall, New York Rangers

It’s a small group in 2010, but Klingberg would probably lead it no matter the size. While part of that has to do with me being pretty high on him personally, it also has to do with Klingberg showing he’s going to be a force on the blue line while not even 24 years old.

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After potting 40 points in 56 games in his rookie season last year and finishing fifth in Calder Trophy voting, Klingberg ramped up his production this season (10 goals, 48 assists). He finished fifth in the league among defensemen in points and fourth in helpers, and he’s also taking on other teams’ toughest competition while eating nearly 23 minutes of ice time per game.

Klingberg fell off a bit in the playoffs this year (4 points in 13 games), but he projects to have a really bright future ahead of him in this league. That’s especially good for Dallas, which has suspect defense and even more suspect goaltending.

Apr 23, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Andrew Shaw (65) with the puck during the third period in game six of the first round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the St. Louis Blues at the United Center. Chicago won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

2011

Top 100-or-higher pick: C/W Andrew Shaw, 139th overall, Chicago Blackhawks

Honorable mention: LW Johnny Gaudreau, 104th overall, Calgary Flames; D Jyrki Jokipakka, 195th overall, Dallas Stars; LW Ondrej Palat, 208th overall, Tampa Bay Lightning

Since I went with Kruger over Hoffman, I guess I have to do the same with Shaw over Gaudreau and Palat, even though both of the latter two project as better NHLers than Shaw.

Gaudreau has already made an All-Star Game and finished third in Calder Trophy voting two seasons ago while also carrying Calgary to a surprising playoff berth. Palat finished second in Calder Trophy voting three seasons ago and has played for a Stanley Cup. Gaudreau has reached 78 points in a season, and Palat has hit 64.

Shaw has never cracked 40 points in a season, and he wasn’t a top-10 finisher for the Calder Trophy in his rookie season. But he’s found a niche on the Blackhawks and helped them to Cups in 2013 and 2015, much like Kruger. He has 35 points in 67 postseason games, stepping up at just the right time.

So, for now, Shaw wins this race. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see Gaudreau or even Palat earn this honor for the 2011 class as time goes on.

Next: 2012, 2013, 2014 And 2015 Drafts

Feb 9, 2016; St. Louis, MO, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (30) makes a save in the game against the St. Louis Blues during the second period at Scottrade Center. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports /

2012

Top 100-or-higher pick: G Connor Hellebuyck, 130th overall, Winnipeg Jets

Honorable mention: C Cedric Paquette, 101st overall, Tampa Bay Lightning; C/LW Andreas Athanasiou, 110th overall, Detroit Red Wings; G Linus Ullmark, 163rd overall, Buffalo Sabres

I think Athanasiou will be the winner of this honor in the future, but it’s Hellebuyck for now. Hellebuyck made the most of a rough situation in Winnipeg this season and made his bid for the starting netminder post moving forward, which is a pretty lemonade-out-of-lemons moment.

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Hellebuyck secured 13 wins in 26 starts in his first NHL action, posting a .918 save percentage and 2.34 goals-against average. He also earned a spot on Team North America in the upcoming World Cup of Hockey.

He was inexplicably sent down when Ondrej Pavelec got healthy, but he should be strongly considered for an NHL spot next season out of training camp. Athanasiou is going to be a star in the league, in my opinion, so he may supplant Hellebuyck in this spot soon.

2013

Top 100-or-higher pick: C Tyler Motte, 121st overall, Chicago Blackhawks

Honorable mention: C Andrew Copp, 104th overall, Winnipeg Jets; G Kristers Gudlevskis, 124th overall, Tampa Bay Lightning

The last three classes are a lot more difficult to determine this for, as most of the guys who were drafted at No. 100 or later have not yet cracked the NHL. Motte is among that group, having recently finished up at the University of Michigan before seeing eight games’ worth of action in the AHL this season. Motte posted seven points in those games.

The 21-year-old also was part of the United States team in the IIHF World Championships, posting a goal and two assists in 10 games. He’s going to get a chance to compete for a Blackhawks roster spot in this year’s training camp, but he’ll need some more AHL seasoning. Still, the kid looks like an extremely promising pick at No. 121.

May 9, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators left wing Viktor Arvidsson (38) and center Ryan Johansen (92) celebrate Arvidsson /

2014

Top 100-or-higher pick: LW Viktor Arvidsson, 112th overall, Nashville Predators

Honorable mention: LW Oskar Lindblom, 138th overall, Philadelphia Flyers

Fun fact: Devon Toews, the brother of Jonathan Toews, was selected by the New York Islanders four picks before the one used on Arvidsson. Unfortunately for Captain Serious’ brother, he hasn’t had as much of an impact on his NHL organization as Arvidsson has had on the Preds.

Arvidsson has become a useful bottom-six player for Nashville. After a short stint with the team last season, he spent 56 regular-season games with the club this year, potting 8 goals and adding 8 assists. He also contributed a Western Conference semifinal series-extending overtime goal against San Jose in these Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Next: Blackhawks Future Friday: Mark McNeill

2015

Top 100-or-higher pick: LW Kirill Kaprizov, 135th overall, Minnesota Wild

Honorable mention: None

It’s almost too early to make this pick, but I’m going with Kaprizov because he has already made a nice impact on the international scene. He was part of Team Russia’s IIHF U-18 team in 2014 and its World Junior Ice Hockey Championships squad this year. He has 14 points across 15 international tournament games.

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Great NHL Draft Picks Can Be Found In Surprising Places

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