Over the last 10 years, 2,170 players have been drafted between the third and seventh rounds in the NHL. Of these players, only 133 have played 82 or more games, which is just over 6%. Of those 133 players, only 30 (1.38%) are still with the teams that drafted them. Here are the teams with the most players who have played 82 or more games, listed from best to worst:
- Arizona/Utah: 7 players (None remain)
- Los Angeles Kings: 7 players (3 remain)
- Edmonton Oilers: 6 players (None remain)
- Nashville Predators: 6 players (1 remains)
- Tampa Bay Lightning: 6 players (1 remains)
- Chicago Blackhawks: 5 players (2 remain)
- Minnesota Wild: 5 players (1 remains)
- New Jersey Devils: 5 players (2 remain)
- Ottawa Senators: 5 players (1 remains)
- St. Louis Blues: 5 players (4 remain)
- Calgary Flames: 5 players (2 remain)
- Columbus Blue Jackets: 5 players (1 remains)
- Anaheim Ducks: 4 players (2 remain)
- Carolina Hurricanes: 4 players (1 remains)
- Winnipeg Jets: 3 players (None remain)
- Florida Panthers: 3 players (None remain)
- Boston Bruins: 3 players (1 remains)
- Buffalo Sabres: 3 players (1 remains)
- Washington Capitals: 3 players (1 remains)
- New York Rangers: 3 players (1 remains)
- Dallas Stars: 2 players (1 remains)
- Vegas Golden Knights: 2 players (1 remains)
- Toronto Maple Leafs: 2 players (1 remains)
- Philadelphia Flyers: 2 players (2 remain)
- San Jose Sharks: 2 players (None remain)
- Colorado Avalanche: 1 player (None remain)
- Pittsburgh Penguins: 1 player (None remain)
- Vancouver Canucks: 1 player (None remain)
Teams with ZERO successful picks: Seattle Kraken (joined league in 2021, limited data)
The author concludes that predicting players at a young age is difficult, and there might be more undrafted players who have played 82 games than those drafted in the 3rd to 7th rounds.
