Hey, Did You Watch The Draft?

You know how many kids from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft played a game - one single game - in the NHL last year? Six. Do you know how many played in the NHL from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft? 22. That's 28 of the best young players that NHL teams coveted who played in the NHL out of the 449 players picked. 11 of those players played less than five games. Outside of the top few selections in either class, most of these players aren't ready for the NHL as proven by the reluctance to dress these players for NHL games.

I'm happy for all the players picked tonight and tomorrow, but we need to stop talking about everything they do well and everything that can be improved. They're still kids, and they should entirely be coachable at this point in their careers if something in their games need to change. But let's keep this in perspective by saying that only 93 of the 217 players chosen in the 2018 draft have skated in the NHL, and just 41 have skated in more than 82 games in their careers.

The NHL Entry Draft is fun and it's exciting to see new players and a handful of trades made, but let's keep in mind that majority of the players picked won't skate in the NHL at any point in their careers.

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!