Why are the Stakes So High to Nail an NHL Draft Pick???

To understand why the NHL draft is so important, let’s first discuss where the journey begins. By reading this I hope you can better understand the differences between the NHL draft and other Professional leagues! This year’s draft is gonna be a wild one!

In all major professional sports leagues there is a special event once a year. Every year boys and girls get to live their greatest childhood dreams. They have the opportunity after so many years of hardwork, blood, sweat and tears to make it to the big leagues!!! It’s a special event packed with family and friends that supported the players throughout their entire journey. All of them hoping to get a shot at playing professionally.

In the NHL’s case, only 217 players total get drafted every year at the end of 7 rounds. Teams can draft players 17 (turning 18) to 20 year olds from each of the major junior leagues. The CHL, WHL, QMJHL, and the USHL. As well as European junior hockey leagues and NCAA teams. If a player goes undrafted and turns 20 years old, they’re free to sign professionally with any team.

Alright so now you’ve got the basics, so why is this such a big deal? Aren’t Drafts the same across all leagues? In overall concept this is mostly true. All leagues draft young men and women and sign them to entry level contracts. These League’s typically follow the same format of teams drafting one by one based off how their seasons ended, in a varying amount of rounds. (Though most have 7) it all sounds basically the same? So what’s so different between them? MONEY. It all comes back to the money.

More specifically the answer lies solely with the payroll structure itself of the NHL. It’s no secret these days the NHL is not the juggernaut it used to be in the early 90’s compared to other major sports. (ask Messier) The other leagues generate more revenue and have more cash to play with when it comes to building teams. Note: The graph below from 2019 showcases how the NBA has overtaken the NHL and continues to climb past it.

(The 2023 Salary caps among the big 4 major sports are currently set at: NHL 83.5 million, NFL 224 million, NBA 134 million, and the MLB has a luxury tax caps at 233 million)

The NHL draft is each team’s chance to add a possible superstar key piece to their team at an Entry level price. Struggling teams can rebuild from within via the draft. Lookin at you Philadelphia 👀 You’re able to secure a key piece that breathes new excitement into the fanbase without paying them very much…just yet. It’s a POSSIBLE win win win for the fans, the team, and the league itself.

Once more, only 217 players get taken each year. Typically, unless you’ve traded, you get 1 shot at selecting a player to revitalize your franchise. On average 49% of all players drafted make it to the NHL. This number jumps to a staggering 90% when it comes to your 1st round picks. You have potential future franchise leaders on your hands. You truly never know if someone will become Kucherov (Late 2nd rd pick future hall of famer) or Yakupov (Former 1st overall pick out of the league since 2018)

Missing on your 1st round picks can setback a team for years, something Philadelphia fans know painfully too well. Keep in mind, Unless your pick is a generational talent you won’t even see them as a full time NHL’er for 2-4 years depending on your teams player development/roster needs. If that player doesn’t pan out, your team’s reinforcements aren’t coming.

Everyone remembers the unfortunate story of Nolan Patrick drafted #2 overall in 2017. (Do yourself a favor and just don’t look at who we could have drafted instead of Nolan don’t hurt yourself) Chronic migraines kept him off the ice and we never saw his talents blossom. Hitting on that pick could have easily reshaped the last few years in Philadelphia, especially with Joel Farabee coming next year. Jay O’Brien? German Rubstov? Isaac Ratcliffe? Pascal Laberge? If any of these players became regular top/bottom six forwards how would the past few seasons played out? We’ll never know sadly. (Until some of them go on to have excellent careers with other teams as is the Philadelphia way) I digress…

Think about this for a second: Where was Chicago before Kane/Toews? Colorado without Mackinnon? Tampa Bay without Stamkos/Kucherov? Lest we forget the odds of Pittsburgh Nailing Fleury, Malkin, Crosby, and Letang in a 2 year span. I think it’s fair to say Pittsburgh was destined to win by landing Crosby, but imagine all 4 of those picks didn’t work out. Where would they be now as an organization? If your team is fortunate to hit on all their picks, rebuild plan times can get accelerated if not cut in half.

Nailing a draft pick is only have the victory, the other benefit is a homegrown star developed through the draft comes at a far more team friendly price with the Salary Cap the way it is. Restricted free agents up for contract extensions (especially based off player growth+performance) will always be cheaper than top commodity Unrestricted free agents. Not only did you successfully draft a top forward/defenseman for your team, but now youve secured them to a team friendly deal. Competitve roster construction becomes far easier, you can start to afford those key depth pieces for a playoff run. It all starts from within, and Nailing your draft picks. Team friendly deals stretched out to ensure long term chances at playoff success.

This year’s draft will surely be one for the record books, I anxiously await the next Flyer to put on that jersey. Personally, I hope Michkov falls to 7 😅 we shall see…

Written by: Anthony Spotts

@SpottsonGoal for Brotherlypuck.com

Photo credits: Axios sports, NHL.com