Biggest Draft Bust in NHL History

[duckfever8]

I was watching this thing on the top 10 draft busts in NFL history on the NFL Network, and that got me thinking about who the biggest draft bust in hockey history was. Names like Patrik Stefan come to mind. The amatuer draft is also a couple months away, so that also kind of got me thinking about this.

I'd say Patrik Stefan is.

[tyler289]

Stefan and Daigle are certainly up there.

[DrJones]

I'll take the guy who was fired today as the Lightning GM, Brian Lawton.

- Lawton was more highly touted than Stefan, and was predicted by some to be the "American Gretzky"; he chose number 98
- other than the Sedins, Stefan's draft year (99) was weak; in the entire first round, the only other non-duds were Tim Connolly, Barret Jackman, and Marty Havlat
- in Lawton's year (83), Steve Yzerman, Cam Neely, Pat LaFontaine, Tom Barrasso, John MacLean, Dave Gagner, and Russ Courtnall all went in the top 12 of the first round

[Money99]

Lawton gets my vote too with Daigle a close second.
I think most consider Daigle at the top. With internet, sports coverage, etc. his career was under the limelight more than Lawton's. But if they had the coverage in '83 like they do now, I'm sure Lawton would be considered the biggest bust from any generation.

Stefan was a major bust but his draft year was considered weak to begin with.

The other notable name is Jimmy Mann.
The 1979 draft is considered by many to be the deepest of them all and yet the Jets picked the biggest bust that year.

I still remember reading a quote from their head scout where he said "If you don't draft this Mann, I'll quit".

[metallicatz]

Daigle was the first one that popped into my mind.

[duckfever8]

I thought of a couple more, Michel Reisen and Pavel Brendl.

[SPTO]

Daigle's name is the one that immediately jumps to mind.

That's some crazy stuff you brought up there about Lawton DrJones.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by duckfever8

I thought of a couple more, Michel Reisen and Pavel Brendl.

Here's another great Rangers pick:
Hugh Jessiman

The 2003 draft is considered the 2nd deepest draft year outside of 1979.
You could have thrown a dart at the top 30 prospects and found a regular NHLer.
During this draft I remember people chanting "Getzlaf" when the Rangers were on the board. Instead, they went with Jessiman who has yet to play one NHL game and even spent some time in the ECHL trying to find his game.

Notable players taken after Hugh in the first-round:
Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, Robert Nilsson, Zach Parise, Eric Fehr, Ryan Getzlaf, Brent Burns, Ryan Kesler, Mike Richards and Corey Perry.
This doesn't even include serviceable NHLers such as Patrick Eaves and Steve Bernier.

Good 'ole Sather strikes again!