Let's say you're a projected first overall pick...

[Kane One]

I wouldn't want part of any player who wouldn't play their best. A player would have to be a piece of **** if they would do that to their current team.

A better move would be to inform the NHL team they have no interest in playing there and maybe they'll trade the pick.

 

[MISC*]

He could just tell the Oilers during the interview process not to pick him and have his agent put it out to the public.

 

[DonskoiDonscored]

Top picks don't drop significantly. It might work out for a projected top 5 guy to end up up out of the top 10 picks, but not for a projected top pick who would still go in the top 3 probably. They rate them not only for their stats, but for talent evaluated and having a so-so season doesn't change the talent level.

Top picks absolutely do drop due to mediocre seasons. In fact quite a few have dropped in the last few years.

Nick Ebert, Matt Mistele, Tyson Baillie (and Blake Clark although he had a horrendous season), just to name a few. All projected 1sts (Ebert was top 10, Mistele was top 15) that fell to the 6th/7th or went undrafted because of so-so seasons.

This year it's looking like Sean Day (2016 eligible, Top ~2 Projected) might fall to Top 20, and Travis Konecny (2015 eligible, Top 5 Projected) might fall to the Top 20.

 

[CaptainBenn]

Wasn't that his mom? What Karma BTW?

He didnt want to join and to play for the hurricanes, forcing the GM to trade him for ****

 

[Legionnaire]

Is this the plot to Slapshot 3?

 

[Rorschach]

He didnt want to join and to play for the hurricanes, forcing the GM to trade him for ****

Plus he didn't want to leave college despite being a top 2 pick in the draft, thus causing Anaheim to pass on him after losing the Crosby lottery by one pick too.

 

[glovesave_35]

Plus he didn't want to leave college despite being a top 2 pick in the draft, thus causing Anaheim to pass on him after losing the Crosby lottery by one pick too.

Looks like Anaheim got the better end of the stick on that one.

 

[Coily]

He didnt want to join and to play for the hurricanes, forcing the GM to trade him for ****

Wow, I never heard about that before. Guess it was the ultimate Karma since the Jackets were so terrible in 2012.

Is this the plot to Slapshot 3?

Such a bad movie. The plot was like Home alone meets the sandlot.

 

[PSGJ]

You'd betray your team mates if you did something like that, so no. The draft combine though, who cares about that? "Tanking" there could work.

 

[Trap Jesus]

Dumb. Your rep as a #1 pick can carry you for a while even if you are a bust, and it's usually more difficult to get playing time or even make better teams.

 

[PricePkPatch*]

Just have a fantastic year, try to break all the records and then pull an Eli Manning and say don't pick me or trade me or I'll just sit on the bench unhappy until you can leave.

Why be on the bench at all?

If you dont wanna play for a team, just dont sign with them. Period. Keep playing in junior, be re-drafted or have yours rights traded until you end up on a team you want.

There is a fine line between holding up and being unprofessional. Refusing to play for a certain team is not being unprofessional. Purposely playing badly certainly is.

 

[PricePkPatch*]

Just to add: the better you play, the easier it will be for the team who drafted you to trade you for a worthy return. Again, your goal shouldnt be to hurt them, but simply play on a less atrocious team.

 

[UnknownNasty]

You'd betray your team mates if you did something like that, so no. The draft combine though, who cares about that? "Tanking" there could work.

Players don't really drop because of their combine performance, unless there's a big red flag, for example signs that point towards having a heart issue or respiratory problems.