Top 10 Best Draft Steals in NHL History

In sports, a “draft steal” is refers to a player that is picked late in the draft but ends up being a much better player than expected. In other words, a draft steal is a player picked late that would have been picked much earlier in the draft had each general manager had hindsight on their side. For this list, there are a few criteria:

• The player must have been picked at #100 or later in their respective draft year

• Goalies are not on this list since they are regularly picked later in the draft

• The list is weighed by a combination of draft number and career success, meaning there is a chance that better players would be lower on the list if their position was #100 compared to a player with a slightly less successful career that was pick at #200

• Players’ qualifications for this list are heavily weighed by how much success they brought the team that drafted them. A player may have been picked late in the draft that turned out to be a success, but if they didn’t have much success on the team that drafted them, they are less likely to qualify for this list.

• Essentially, this list is a ranking of the pick itself for the team, not necessarily the player

10 - Dustin Byfuglien - Chicago Blackhawks - 2003 Pick #245

In 2003, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Dustin Byfuglien 245th overall. Byfuglien would become an impact player for the Blackhawks who would often finish in the 35 point category. However, his most notable role on the Blackhawks came in the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, where he scored 11 goals, five of which were game-winning goals, including three in the Western Conference Finals, en route to the 2010 Stanley Cup.

Byfuglien would be traded to the Atlanta Thrashers the next season, becoming the Winnipeg Jets shortly after, where Byfuglien was a consistent top two defenceman on the team until he retired during the 2018-2019 season. Byfuglien’s significant role in helping Chicago achieve their first Stanley Cup in 49 years qualifies him for this list given that he was picked at #245 by the team.

9 - Jamie Benn - Dallas Stars - 2007 Pick #129

In 2007, the Dallas Stars selected Jamie Benn 129th overall. Benn went on to have a successful career, captaining the Stars since the 2013-2014 season, winning the Art Ross Trophy in the 2014-2015 season, and leading the team to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2020. Benn continued to captain his team to three consecutive Western Conference Finals spanning from 2023-2025. Benn just recently signed a 1-year $1 million contract extension with the Dallas Stars. Jamie Benn’s 956 career points rank him second in franchise history behind Mike Modano. Not bad for someone picked at #129.

8 - Pavel Bure - Vancouver Canucks - 1989 Pick #113

In 1989, the Vancouver Canucks selected Pavel Bure 113th overall. Pavel Bure was rightfully given the nickname “The Russian Rocket” due to his unprecedented speed. Bure was an immediate point per game player on the Canucks when he debuted in the 1991-1992 season, winning the Calder Trophy. His best season came two years later in 1993-1994, where he recorded 60 goals and 107 points in 76 games. Then. in the playoffs, he would record 16 goals and 31 points in 24 games, where the Canucks were one win away from winning the Stanley Cup.

Bure would eventually be traded to the Florida Panthers, then later the New York Islanders, but had the most success with the Canucks. Bure recorded two 60 goal seasons with the Canucks, a separate 51 goal season, and finished first in shorthanded goals in franchise history with 24.

7 - Steve Larmer - Chicago Blackhawks - 1980 Pick #120

In 1980, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Steve Larmer 120th overall. Despite being picked late, Larmer played four games in the 1980-1981 season. He would only play another three the following year, but then exploded for 90 points in the 1982-1983 season, winning the Calder Trophy. Although Larmer only eclipsed the 100 point mark once in his career, his consistency was extremely valuable, where he never had a season below 70 points in his 11 full seasons with the Blackhawks. He also shined in the playoffs, where in 1985, 1989, and 1990, Larmer recorded more than a point per game in each playoff run, where the Blackhawks would go to the semi-finals in each of those three post-seasons. In 1992, the Blackhawks would go all the way to the Stanley Cup Finals before being swept by the Penguins.

Larmer would eventually win the Stanley Cup in 1994 on the New York Rangers, but his contribution to the Blackhawks far surpassed the expectations of a player picked 120th overall.

6 - Daniel Alfredsson - Ottawa Senators - 1994 Pick #133

In 1994, the Ottawa Senators selected Daniel Alfredsson 133th overall. Daniel Alfredsson is the longest tenured captain in franchise history, where he led the team from 1999-2003, with the Senators having tremendous regular season success in that time. From 2002-2003 to 2006-2007, the Senators were among the best teams in the league, and even went to the finals in 2007 before losing to the Anaheim Ducks. Alfredsson’s 1108 career points is by far the most in franchise history, where he leads the franchise in goals, assists, powerplay goals, and shorthanded goals. Alfredsson was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2022.

5 - Joe Pavelski - San Jose Sharks - 2003 Pick #205

In 2003, the San Jose Sharks selected Joe Pavelski 205th overall. Joe Pavelski would debut in the 2006-2007 season, quickly becoming a notable player in a middle six role. Pavelski would continuously improve, and quickly became recognized as a player who came up big in important moments. Pavelski entered his prime in the 2013-2014 season, and with his continued success and leadership, Pavelski was named captain of the Sharks in the 2015-2016 season. That very season, Pavelski would lead the Sharks to their first Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history before ultimately losing to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Pavelski would continue to be an important player for the Sharks before finishing his career in Dallas, where he continued to defy the aging process and set his career high with 81 points in the 2021-2022 season. Pavelski’s 761 points with the Sharks puts him at third all time in franchise history, behind only Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton.

4 - Luc Robitaille - Los Angeles Kings - 1984 Pick #171

In 1984, the Los Angeles Kings selected Luc Robitaille 171st overall. Robitaille would have three separate stints with the Kings, where he played his first eight years in Los Angeles, would come back in the late 1990s for four seasons, and then finished his career out with the Kings from 2003-2006. Robitaille was an integral part of the team in the late 80s and early 90s, collecting four different seasons of over 100 points, which included two 50+ goal season and one 60+ goal season. Robitaille sits third for points in franchise history with 1,154, behind only Marcel Dionne and Anze Kopitar. Luc Robitaille is also second all-time among left wingers in both goals and points behind Alexander Ovechkin.

Robitaille was close to helping with bringing the Kings their first Stanley Cup in 1993 with his 125 regular season points and 22 playoff points, but came up short against the Montreal Canadiens in the finals. Luc Robitaille would eventually win his lone Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002.

3 - Gary Suter - Calgary Flames - 1984 Pick #180

In 1984, the Calgary Flames selected Gary Suter 180th overall. Suter played his first season in 1985-1986, winning the Calder Trophy for best rookie as a result of scoring 68 points as a defenceman. Suter would also play an important role in helping the Flames go to their first Stanley Cup Finals in franchise history that same year, although his games were limited in the playoffs due to injury. Suter recorded a career high 91 points in 1987-1988, and followed it up with a point per game season in 1988-1989. Although he was an important member of the Flames, Suter did not play a significant role in their 1989 Stanley Cup win due to a jaw injury suffered in the first round against the Vancouver Canucks. Despite this, he would continue to thrive for the Flames for the next five seasons before eventually moving on to the Chicago Blackhawks, and finishing his career with the San Jose Sharks.

Despite Suter’s undeniable success, he remains to be a controversial player due to his hit on Wayne Gretzky at the 1992 Canada cup, his cross-check on Paul Kariya in the 1997-1998 season, among other instances.

2 - Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit Red Wings - 1998 Pick #171

In 1998, the Detroit Red Wings selected Pavel Datsyuk 171st overall. Pavel Datsyuk was fittingly given the nickname “The Magic Man” due to his unique skill, vision, creativity, and puck handling abilities. In addition to his offensive abilities, Datsyuk was also known to be one of the best two-way forwards of all time, winning three Selke trophies. Datsyuk was able to execute his strict defensive capabilities while simultaneously portraying sportsmanship and maintaining low penalty minutes, winning four consecutive Lady Bing trophies from 2005-2006 to 2008-2009. Datsyuk would win two Stanley Cups, one in his rookie season in 2001-2002 and one in 2007-2008. Datsyuk would come close again in 2008-2009 but was impacted by injuries. Pavel Datsyuk was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2024 and remains to be one of the most well-rounded players in NHL history.

1 - Henrik Zetterberg - Detroit Red Wings - 1999 Pick #210

In 1999, the Detroit Red Wings selected Henrik Zetterberg 210th overall. Just one year after “stealing” Pavel Datsyuk, the Red Wings out did themselves with their 1999 steal. Although Pavel Datsyuk is widely regarded as the better player, Zetterberg being picked 39 spots later and also putting up a similarly impressive career gives him the edge as the greatest draft steal in NHL history. While Zetterberg has fewer trophies than Datsyuk, Zetterberg displayed tremendous consistency, where he continuously performed and stayed healthy, never playing in a full season without scoring at least 50 points from 2005-2018.

Where Zetterberg really shined was the playoffs, where he won the Conn Smythe Trophy for playoff MVP in 2008; scoring 13 goals and 27 points in 22 games, while simultaneously displaying tremendous defensive abilities. Zetterberg came close again the following year with 24 points in 23 games played, but this time the Red Wings lost to the Penguins after defeating them in the previous year.

Zetterberg also displayed tremendous leadership, taking over from Nicklas Lidstrom as team captain in 2012, and even winning the King Clancy Trophy in 2014-2015 for his leadership abilities.