The road to the National Hockey League (NHL) starts with the annual NHL Draft, as over 200 players get selected, with each and every one hoping they can find their path to the top.
The 2024 NHL Draft ran Friday-Saturday, June 28-29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas with 225 players selected, including a handful from Illinois. There were two Journal-area natives selected in the draft this year.
The Washington Capitals selected Morton Grove native and U.S. National Team Development Program (under-1...
FAQs
In total, the first round and subsequent rounds add up to 32 + 192 = 224 players being selected in the NHL draft. After being drafted, players typically continue developing in junior leagues, college hockey, or the AHL (American Hockey League) if they are ready for professional play.
How many rounds is the NHL Draft? ›
The format of seven rounds has been in place since the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. But the NHL's recent additions of the Vegas Golden Knights (2017) and the Seattle Kraken (2021), have increased total picks from 210 to 224; or two selections per round for the expansion franchises.
Which NHL team once drafted a player that didn't exist? ›
Taro Tsujimoto was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres in the 11th round of the 1974 draft. The team's official media guide still lists Tsujimoto alongside the other draft picks from 1974. He's noted as the 183rd overall selection in the draft, a centerman taken from the Tokyo Katanas.
How many Americans were drafted in the NHL? ›
Since 1963 and through 2023, a total 2,612 U.S. players have been selected in the NHL Draft.
Who has the first pick in the 2024 NHL draft? ›
The San Jose Sharks held the first overall pick for the first time in franchise history. The first three selections were Macklin Celebrini going to the San Jose Sharks, Artyom Levshunov being selected by the Chicago Blackhawks, and Beckett Sennecke being picked by the Anaheim Ducks. Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
What percent of NHL draft picks make it? ›
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.
Do NHL draft picks get paid? ›
Once a player is drafted, they do not immediately receive a salary or contract. Instead, they continue to develop in their amateur or junior league (such as NCAA, CHL, or European leagues) until they sign an NHL contract with the team that drafted them.
What is the draft cutoff age for NHL? ›
The NHL Draft is an annual event in which every franchise of the National Hockey League selects the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements (North American players 18-20 years old and Europeans of all ages entering the league for the first time, all others enter league as ...
Can you skip the NHL draft? ›
All players age 19 or older [(i) any player who will be age 18 on or before September 15 in the year in which such Entry Draft is held, or (ii) reaches his 19th birthday between September 16 and December 31, both dates included, next following Entry Draft, can attain eligibility by delivering to the League a written ...
Why was Gretzky not drafted? ›
As per the terms of the NHL-WHA merger, Gretzky was to have become eligible for the 1979 draft due to having already played professionally in the WHA. However, Gretzky had a personal services contract with Oilers owner Peter Pocklington. The NHL had originally expected the contract would be voided.
| Team | First | Last |
|---|
| Montreal Maroons | 1924 | 1938 |
| Brooklyn Americans^ | 1925 | 1942 |
| California Golden Seals^ | 1967 | 1976 |
| Kansas City Scouts | 1974 | 1976 |
16 more rowsAmong the current 32 NHL teams, ten have never won the Stanley Cup, with the oldest of them being the Vancouver Canucks and the Buffalo Sabres (53 seasons). The longest Stanley Cup drought in NHL history belongs to the Toronto Maple Leafs (56 seasons).
Which US state has the most NHL players? ›
Minnesota has produced the most players in NHL history (7432) and has the most active players (51).
What American born player has played the most NHL games? ›
Patrick Marleau has the most career games, with 1,779 games.
How many NHL players are African American? ›
In the current 2022-23 season, there are 22 black players on NHL rosters with at least 20 more on the cusp of reaching the league. Thirty black players with NHL experience attended team training camps prior to the start of the season. How many Black players have won the Stanley Cup?
How many players are eligible for draft? ›
In the US, there are just over a million players at the high school level. Of those, 73,712 make it to the NCAA level, representing just 7.3% of the talent pool. At any one time, just over 16,000 are draft eligible, which is only 1.6% of that college player pool. And then only 259 players will be drafted.
How many players are picked in the draft? ›
The NFL Draft consists of seven rounds. There are a total of 32 teams in the league. In each round of the draft, every team is given a selection. So a total of at least 224 players are drafted in the NFL every single year.
What players are eligible for NHL draft? ›
The NHL Draft is an annual event in which every franchise of the National Hockey League selects the rights to available amateur ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements (North American players 18-20 years old and Europeans of all ages entering the league for the first time, all others enter league as ...
How many undrafted players are in the NHL? ›
In total, there are 82 undrafted players currently sprinkled on NHL rosters. That's approximately 12 per cent of the league.
