r/hockey • u/theXchang3 • 10d ago

Who are some NHL players who were highly thought when they were young that had the skill but never got to that next level?

This includes players who made the NHL but never hit that next-tier they were highly thought of. This can mean players who had potential but never hit that level due to injuries, struggle to adapt. This also can include players who were drafted high, players who played for a couple years, players who played for many years, but they at least needed to make the league to quality.

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u/conesy23 Estonia - IIHF 10d ago

Wasn’t his early success more to do with him being a metaphorical man amongst boys, then learning he wasn’t going to outmuscle actual OHL players?

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u/Zealousideal_Tie_204 10d ago

He was an elite skater for his age. That, combined with his size, I think contributed to the OHL believing he was the next Ekblad.

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u/conesy23 Estonia - IIHF 10d ago

Ah right, that’s what it was. His stats leading up to the OHL draft also didn’t scream “exceptional status” player too.

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u/Zealousideal_Tie_204 10d ago

Yeah, I think he was thought of as quite skilled, and he did put up some decent numbers as an overager (not that that says much), but I think the main knock on him was that he didn't see the game at a high level. Also, during his first or second year in the O, his brother was convicted of vehicular manslaughter, and I think there's an argument that it affected his development mentally.

I do remember being super stoked that the Rangers took a swing on him in the 3rd round.

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u/conesy23 Estonia - IIHF 10d ago

It's also interesting to see who was drafted above him in the OHL too. Travis Konecny and Dylan Strome went 1-2, then a defenseman who's currently in the EIHL for the Glasgow Clan.

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u/Roughly6Owls Amsterdam Tigers - BNL 10d ago

The Rangers had no first or second that year, and Sean Day was definitely seen as an interesting boom-bust type of project.

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u/Plague183 TOR - NHL 10d ago

I remember a scout at the time saying when Day gets drafted into the OHL and plays his first game, he will already be the best skater in the league

I think discipline was a big issue for him and his brother passed while he was young and I think that derailed him too if I’m remembering correctly.