In 1979 (the last year of 20 year old draft and the WHA forcing the issue by signing taking the cream of the 19 year olds) the first 30 picks had career averaging 749 games. picks 31-60 average career was 452 games ... 3 picks in the top 60 never made it to the NHL.... another 6 played less than 80 NHL games.... 21 out of the 30 played more than 80 NHL games!!
Taking the 1990 draft as an example of the 18 year old draft.... average career of top 30 - 566 games 31-60 240 games. 18 of the top 60 never played 1 NHL game.
10 more played less than 80 games..... 32 out of the 60 played more than 80 games (1 season)
Drafting 18 year old kids has made the NHL draft a crap shoot. It is almost impossible to predict how an 18 year old will do in the NHL ...... It was a lot easier evaluating 20 year olds.
1990 is not unique..... in 2000 there were 12 players drafted in the top 60 with no NHL games and 16 more with less than 80 games ......
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