How Many Draft Picks Actually Play in the NHL?

With the 2024 NHL draft now in the books; many fans and teams are looking brightly towards, and intently forward to the future. Since it is always encouraging to add a nice fusion of youth and skill to a team’s potential winning formula. However, not every draft pick is going to pan out. In fact, the majority won’t. Therefore, you may just wonder… how many draft picks actually play in the NHL?

Every year there are hundreds of selections. Hundreds of guys flocking to the league and hoping to make their biggest wish come true. Get picked, make a roster and play as a professional hockey player before thousands of fans.

The NHL draft is an essential step to making all of the above a reality. The draft typically goes for seven rounds. Which results in over 200 picks. These picks will be scrutinized and assessed with only the best of the crop left standing in the end.

However, to really get a sense on just how tough and stressful it is for a draft pick. You have to look at the math. What do the stats seem to indicate? Pro Ice Hockey performed an interesting study and sadly the findings do not suggest very great odds. They reveal,

“The truth is that very few players taken in the NHL draft will ever play in the NHL. In order to get an accurate read of how many drafted players played at least 200 games in the NHL, a study by proicehockey.about.com looked at the drafts between 1990 and 1999. Of the 2,600 hundred players drafted just 494 or 19% played in at least 200 contests. 63% of first round picks played but less than 25% of second round picks survived and only 12% of third rounder selections. Former NHL general manager Doug MacLean said his math over the last decade showed that only 15% of second round picks ever become impact players.”

How Many Draft Picks Actually Play in the NHL?

Rough. However, it is a team’s sole responsibility and job to identify, locate and snag the best talent out there. So unfortunately, if a guy can’t show or demonstrate promise; he has to go.

However, this is also what fans want in the end. A competitive team roster that is entertaining to watch and that can win. To achieve that, this is the process.

Therefore, Sports are not easy. And to be the best it’s not about being handed a participation award. You have to put the work in and hope to get chosen based on merit, talent and ability.

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