In a normal year, scouting hockey is marred by imperfection. Every year, high-end players get skipped over at the NHL draft for various reasons. Maybe they suffered through injuries. Maybe their team struggled, and it prevented scouts from getting a good read on them. Maybe their team was too good, forcing them down the depth chart with limited minutes and exposure opportunities. Or...maybe they just were not good enough. But thankfully, human development is nonlinear and therefore unpredictable. Teenage hockey players are far from a finished product on the ice as their games mature just as the rest of their body and mind do. That is why it is critical to track players as they move through their second and third years of draft eligibility (or fourth years of eligibility for some European players).
For those unfamiliar, North American players with birth dates from January 1st to September 15th will be eligible for three NHL drafts. Players with birth dates from September 16th to December 31st will be eligible for two NHL drafts. And for European players (in European leagues), extend that eligibility by one year in both cases. In the last decade, NHL scouts have increased the rate at which they are selecting “re-entry” candidates, or players previously passed over. Contract limits have made it critical for teams to spread out where they select players from, in addition to their age. This has made second- and third-year eligible U.S. and European-based players especially attractive. Additionally, the new NCAA eligibility rules could also make later-born CHL players more attractive as teams steer them towards the college route for additional development.
These players have had a lot of success in recent years, too. Look around the league, and you see these players everywhere. For example, Calgary Flames standout defender Mackenzie Weegar was one. Ottawa Senators standout forward Drake Batherson was one. So too was Winnipeg Jets starter Connor Hellebuyck. Pyotr Kochetkov, one of the top young netminders in the NH,L was also one.
Last year, eight “re-entry” candidates went in the top four rounds: Ilya Nabokov, Jesse Pulkkinen, Ondrej Becher, Pavel Moysevich, Trevor Hoskin, Chase Pietila, Dmitri Gamzin, and Blake Montgomery. Nabokov and Pulkkinen were taken in the second round. In total, there were 42 taken, right around the trend of other recent drafts (roughly about 20% of all players selected).
While you can read more about the many re-entry candidates that we have ranked in the ranking profiles part of our guide, here are our top ten previously passed-over players:
1. Kristian Epperson (W) - Saginaw (OHL) - McKeen's Rank - #55
Gritty winger out of the NTDP who formed instant chemistry with Michael Misa this year. Headed to the University of Denver next year to continue his development.
Photo: Mathias Bergeld / BILDBYRÅN
2. Petteri Rimpinen (G) - Kiekko-Espoo (Fin) - McKeen's Rank - #79
The Rookie of the Year in Liiga and the top goaltender at the World Juniors. Rimpinen isn’t huge, but you can’t overlook his success this year.
3. Caeden Herrington (D) - Lincoln (USHL) - McKeen's Rank - #89
One of the USHL’s top two-way defenders this year as a rookie of the New England prep scene. A dangerous scorer from the back-end is headed to the University of Vermont.
4. Francesco Dell’Elce (D) - Massachusetts (HE) - McKeen's Rank - #92
Two years after being a big draft snub out of the St. Andrew’s College program, Dell’Elce is back on the draft radar after a tremendous freshman season at UMass.
5. Yegor Borikov (W) - Dinamo Minsk (KHL) - McKeen's Rank - #93
Speedy Belarusian winger who was a force in the KHL playoffs, scoring 7 goals in 11 games for Dinamo Minsk.
6. Sam Laurila (D) - Fargo (USHL) - McKeen's Rank - #95
A detail-oriented two-way defender whose offensive game made big strides post-NTDP this year in the USHL. He was possibly the best defenseman in the USHL this past year.
7. Julius Sumpf (W) - Moncton (QMJHL) - McKeen's Rank - #127
Sumpf helped Moncton capture a QMJHL title this year and helped Germany avoid relegation at the World Juniors. The big center has pro-level attributes and keeps improving.
8. Brendan McMorrow (C) - Waterloo (USHL) - McKeen's Rank - #130
Another former NTDP member, McMorrow slid to center this year in the USHL and was one of the best players in the Clark Cup playoffs. He plays with sandpaper and has improved offensively.
9. Linards Feldbergs (G) - Sherbrooke (QMJHL) - McKeen's Rank - #136
The unsung hero of the World Juniors this year for Latvia, helping upset Canada. However, he was good all year in the QMJHL, too.
10. Finn McLaughlin (D) - Fgo-Mus (USHL) - McKeen's Rank - #144
A mobile, two-way defender who has captured the Clark Cup as USHL champion two years in a row. Last year, he played a minimal role with Fargo, but this year, he was a standout for Muskegon.