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Jakester · 11-08-2014, 12:51 AM

While the top 10 prospects in any draft tend to get the most attention going into the draft, great teams draft NHL calibre players in all rounds and they also acquire NHL calibre amateur players outside the draft. Out of curiosity I looked up the rosters of the two most successful teams in terms of Stanley cup wins this decade so far, the LA Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks. Below are the players who were part of at least one Stanley Cup winning team for each of these clubs, who were drafted or otherwise acquired as amateurs by that club. I have noted the year, round, and overall number for each player (spoilered for size). Players drafted in the top 10 are in bold.

LA Kings (2012 & 2014):

Spoiler!

Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013)

Spoiler!

To summarize, LA had one player that they drafted in the top 10 on their two Stanley Cup winning teams: Drew Doughty. Chicago had two: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. While Doughty played an important role on both of LA's Stanley Cup winning teams, I don't think you can call him the decisive factor on either team. I do think that Kane and Toews, together, make Chicago a great team rather than just a good one. Chicago doesn't win two Stanley Cups without Kane and Toews, but they don't win without Bolland, Crawford (2013 only), Hjalmarsson, Keith, Niemi (2010 only), Saad (2013 only), Seabrook, or Shaw (2013 only) either.

That's why I'm much more interested in the sleepers that will be picked in the latter part of the first round or after the first round. A McDavid or an Eichel may lift a good team to greatness, but on their own, they will not make a bad team great, good, or even average.

11-08-2014, 12:51 AM	#654
Jakester Scoring Winger Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Vancouver, BC Exp:	While the top 10 prospects in any draft tend to get the most attention going into the draft, great teams draft NHL calibre players in all rounds and they also acquire NHL calibre amateur players outside the draft. Out of curiosity I looked up the rosters of the two most successful teams in terms of Stanley cup wins this decade so far, the LA Kings and the Chicago Blackhawks. Below are the players who were part of at least one Stanley Cup winning team for each of these clubs, who were drafted or otherwise acquired as amateurs by that club. I have noted the year, round, and overall number for each player (spoilered for size). Players drafted in the top 10 are in bold. LA Kings (2012 & 2014): Spoiler! Dustin Brown - 2003, 1st Round, 13th Overall Kyle Clifford - 2009, 2nd Round, 39th Overall Drew Doughty - 2008, 1st Round, 2nd Overall Martin Jones - Undrafted Free Agent, 2008 Dwight King - 2007, 4th Round, 109th Overall Anze Kopitar - 2005, 1st Round, 11th Overall Trevor Lewis - 2006, 1st Round, 17th Overall Alec Martinez - 2007, 4th Round, 95th Overall Jake Muzzin - Drafted in 2007 (5th Round, 141st Overall) by Pittsburgh. Did not sign, picked up as a free agent by LA in 2010. Jordan Nolan - 2009, 7th Round, 186th Overall Tanner Pearson - 2012, 1st Round, 30th Overall Jonathan Quick - 2005, 3rd Round, 72nd Overall Tyler Toffoli - 2010, 2nd Round, 47th Overall Slava Voynov - 2008, 2nd Round, 32nd Overall Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013) Spoiler! Brian Bickell - 2004, 2nd Round, 41st Overall Dave Bolland - 2004, 2nd Round, 32nd Overall Brian Bollig - Undrafted Free Agent, 2010 Troy Brouwer - 2004, 7th Round, 214 Overall Adam Burish - 2002, 9th Round, 282nd Overall Dustin Byfuglien - 2003, 8th Round, 245rd Overall Corey Crawford - 2003, 2nd Round, 52nd Overall Jordan Hendry - Undrafted Free Agent, 2006 Niklas Hjalmarsson - 2005, 4th Round, 108th Overall Patrick Kane - 2007, 1st Round, 1st Overall Duncan Keith - 2002, 2nd Round, 54th Overall Marcus Krueger - 2009, 5th Round, 149th Overall Antti Niemi - Undrafted Free Agent, 2008 Brandon Saad - 2011, 2nd Round, 43rd Overall Brent Seabrook - 2003, 1st Round, 14th Overall Andrew Shaw - 2011, 5th Round, 139th Overall Jonathan Toews, 2006, 1st Round, 3rd Overall To summarize, LA had one player that they drafted in the top 10 on their two Stanley Cup winning teams: Drew Doughty. Chicago had two: Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. While Doughty played an important role on both of LA's Stanley Cup winning teams, I don't think you can call him the decisive factor on either team. I do think that Kane and Toews, together, make Chicago a great team rather than just a good one. Chicago doesn't win two Stanley Cups without Kane and Toews, but they don't win without Bolland, Crawford (2013 only), Hjalmarsson, Keith, Niemi (2010 only), Saad (2013 only), Seabrook, or Shaw (2013 only) either. That's why I'm much more interested in the sleepers that will be picked in the latter part of the first round or after the first round. A McDavid or an Eichel may lift a good team to greatness, but on their own, they will not make a bad team great, good, or even average.