I don't think MJ was a reference point at the time
I dunno, Marques Johnson was pretty good at the time.
I don't think MJ was a reference point at the time
Adam Oates. How damn crazy. is that?
Panarin. Also absurdly crazy. Prob. under developed and russian factors too.
Martin St Louis
Dino Ciccarelli
I dont thinl Gretzky would count, there was a buzz around him already at 15.
But he was heaveily questioned of size matters. Wich id weird cause LeFleur was having succes in that time, and he was a small stature.
Daniel Alfredsson was passed on in miliple draft, ubtil he was 20.
Look at his account and his number of messages.Lol do you know what the WHA was?
You should maybe research things before ranting.
While not technically undrafted, fatty Brett Hull was passed over entirely in two drafts for being fat. Finally he was selected in the 6th round by the Flames in his third year of eligibility. Ended up with nearly 750 goals, pretty good for the fattie.
You’re probably new to hockey, so I can give you a brief recap.
In the 70s, there was another pro league called the WHA that was trying to compete against the NHL.
Gretzky signed his first pro contract with the Indianapolis Racers before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers, who were part of the WHA in the 70s. Three other NHL franchises used to be part of the WHA as well (Quebec Nordiques who became the Colorado Avalanche, old Winnipeg Jets that became the Arizona Coyotes and the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes).
Gretzky was never eligible to the draft, due to strange legal circumstances surrounding him. He was also considered to be a pro player coming from the WHA and was never eligible for the Calder trophy either (award for best rookie in the NHL)
Yeah while Gretzky is the technically right answer, it's not like he went undrafted because nhl teams passed on him.
St. Louis is the more fun answer because size was the reason he was passed...
Would Tim Thomas kinda count since we don't do 9 rounds anymore?
NHL Totals | 1431 | 668 | 726 | 1394 | 1177 |
Luc Robitaille
- round 9 #171 overall 1984 NHL Entry Draft
seems like a better 9th round pick[TFOOT] [/TFOOT]
NHL Totals 1431 668 726 1394 1177
Interesting fact about that draft for Kings. They drafted a HOF pitcher in the 4th round in Tom Glavine.Good catch! I had no idea Robitaille was a 9th :O
I said thomas bc I thought he was undrafted then looked him up and wow 9th round by Quebec? Far cry from when he started his career in the nhl ahha
Oates > St. Louis
Hull and Neely both went 50 goals in 50 games with him as their #1C. He didn't win individual trophies because he played in the same era as Gretzky and Lemieux.
You for real?A GOAT-level player being undrafted? Seriously? How the fk does that happen? Did every team pass up on Gretzky and not think he could've been the MJ of the NHL? Jesus christ. That's extremely absurd not gonna lie. Imagine if this happened in the NBA where every team passed Lebron and out of nowhere he dominated the league. Though it's sorta happening to Jokic but still. A GOAT level player being passed by EVERY DAMN team?
The NHL wanted Gretzky to go back into the draft. In fact the agreement they made with the WHA would have seen this happen becuase of Gretzky's age but Gretzky had signed a personal services contract with Peter Pocklington rather than a standard players contract. This gave Pocklington control over where Gretzky played.
Kessel's room as a kid must have been plastered with Brett Hull posters.
Luc Robitaille
- round 9 #171 overall 1984 NHL Entry Draft
seems like a better 9th round pick[TFOOT] [/TFOOT]
NHL Totals 1431 668 726 1394 1177
A 20 year long contract to be precise.Yeah that's what I was referring to. You'd never see something like this ever happen again in the NHL, and it had to happen to the best player of all time. Pocklington realized that Gretzky was a once in a lifetime player and fortunately had enough legal grounds to retain him for the Oilers.
It was Dennis Murphy and Gary Davidson. For the same purpose too.Pretty sure it was created by the same guys