What Happened to the 24 Players Drafted Before David Pastrnak?

What Happened to the 24 Players Drafted Before David Pastrnak?

The 2014 NHL draft was loaded with young talent  as teams looked to bolster their rosters with   future All-Stars. However, there was arguably  no better pick than the Boston Bruins selecting   David Pastrnak, their franchise right winger  with the 25th pick overall. Fast forward 10  

Years and this pick will now go down as one  of the biggest draft steals in NHL history. But who were the 24 players drafted before him?  And how could so many teams not see the phenomenal   potential in Pastrnak? In today’s video we’ll be  going over all 24 players drafted before Pasta,  

And how their careers have panned  out thus far. Let’s dive right in! Aaron Ekblad was the top-rated defenseman in  the 2014 NHL Draft, though debate surrounded   whether he should be the first overall pick.  The Florida Panthers ultimately chose Ekblad  

As their first overall pick, envisioning him as  a franchise-defining player for their defense. He   began impressively, with 12 goals and 39 points  in his rookie season, earning an All-Star spot   in 2015. Despite injuries slowing his scoring  progress, Ekblad reached over 65 points twice,  

With potential for another strong season in  2023-24. Despite setbacks, he remains an elite   NHL defenseman, instrumental in the Panthers’  first playoff series victory in over 20 years. Following Aaron Ekblad’s selection as the first  overall pick, the Buffalo Sabres swiftly chose  

Sam Reinhart as the second overall pick to boost  their young, high-scoring talent for rebuilding.   Despite his high draft position, Reinhart endured  a slow start in the NHL, playing only nine games   with the Sabres in 2014-15 before returning to  the Kootenay Ice to complete his junior career.  

From the 2015-16 season onwards, Reinhart became  a consistent presence on the Sabres’ roster. While   his 2018-19 season saw success with 22 goals and  65 points, expectations were higher for the second   overall pick. Traded to the Florida Panthers  in 2020-21, Reinhart flourished, achieving  

Back-to-back 30-plus goal seasons and setting a  new career-high in goals in the 2023-24 season. The Edmonton Oilers made a significant move  selecting Leon Draisaitl as the third overall pick   in the 2014 NHL Draft, aiming to add a big-bodied,  highly skilled center to their lineup. Despite not  

Being the draft’s top skater, Draisaitl was  expected to develop into an all-around star. The Oilers’ decision paid off immensely.  Draisaitl emerged as a top-tier scorer and   playmaker since joining the team, slightly  overshadowed by Connor McDavid’s exceptional   talent. His standout 2022-23 season,  scoring 52 goals and totaling 128 points,  

Firmly established him as one of the league’s  elite players. With a promising future,   Draisaitl remains a prominent  figure in the Oilers’ resurgence. Despite Sam Bennett’s inability to perform  a single pull-up at the 2014 NHL combine,   he was recognized as one of the draft’s top North  American skaters. The Calgary Flames valued his  

Potential as the ‘best all-around forward’ and  drafted him fourth overall. While his NHL debut   in the 2015 playoffs showed promise, subsequent  seasons saw him struggle to exceed the 30-point   mark, accumulating a combined minus-40 rating over  three years. In 2021, the Flames traded Bennett to  

The Florida Panthers, where he experienced  a resurgence. Excelling in a top-six role,   he secured a four-year extension, solidifying  his importance to the Panthers’ lineup. Michael Dal Colle’s exceptional playmaking skills,   highlighted by a standout 95-point  season with the Oshawa Generals,  

Made him a standout in a draft filled with  offensive talent. Selected fifth overall by   the New York Islanders, he was seen as an ideal  complement to star center John Tavares. However,   Dal Colle struggled to secure a consistent roster  spot with the Islanders, tallying only seven  

Points in 32 games up to the 2018-19 season and  10 points in 53 games in 2019-20. He spent most   of his North American playing days in the AHL, and  now finds himself currently playing in Germany. The 2013-14 season proved disastrous for  the Vancouver Canucks, leading to changes  

In management and coaching. Despite missing  the playoffs, they aimed to revitalize with a   top-ten pick in the 2014 NHL Draft, selecting  Jake Virtanen. His early career was plagued   by injuries, hindering his development. Despite  finding consistency in later seasons, he struggled  

To meet expectations as a power forward. Amidst  uncertainty about his future, a sexual misconduct   allegation and declining performance led to  the Canucks buying out his contract in 2021.   Virtanen then played in the KHL and Swiss  league before joining the German DEL league.

Selected as the second defenseman in the 2014  NHL Draft, Haydn Fleury arrived at the Carolina   Hurricanes with high expectations. With a strong  physical presence and impressive scoring history   in the WHL, he showed promise. After a season  in the AHL, he made the Hurricanes’ opening  

Night roster in 2017-18 but struggled to make  an impact. Challenges persisted in 2018-19,   including injuries and limited ice time due to the  team’s defensive depth. In 2021, he was traded to   the Anaheim Ducks, then claimed by the Seattle  Kraken in the expansion draft. Fleury signed  

With the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022, where he  still plays bouncing in and out of the lineup. Selected eighth overall by the Toronto Maple  Leafs in the 2014 NHL Draft, William Nylander   emerged as a standout player for the team.  Making his full-time NHL debut in 2016-17,  

He thrived alongside Auston Matthews,  contributing significantly to the team’s   playoff push with 22 goals and 61 points.  Nylander continued to impress in 2017-18,   solidifying his status as an offensive force with  20 goals and 61 points. Recognizing his value,   the Maple Leafs secured Nylander’s future with an  eight-year, $92-million contract in the 2023-24  

Season, cementing his role as a cornerstone  player in their quest for a Stanley Cup. Selected ninth overall by the Winnipeg Jets,  Nikolaj Ehlers brought exceptional offensive   skills honed in the QMJHL. Transitioning to  the NHL in 2015-16, he found his scoring touch,  

Reaching a peak in 2016-17 with 25 goals and  64 points. His stellar performance earned him   a significant seven-year, $42-million extension  with the Jets, solidifying his importance to   the franchise. Ehlers continued to shine,  notching 29 goals and 60 points in 2017-18,   establishing himself as a key scorer for  Winnipeg. With expectations high, he’s poised  

To maintain his 20 to 30-goal contributions as  the Jets pursue playoff success in the future. Nick Ritchie, a prominent forward from the 2014  NHL Draft, garnered attention for his size and   skill, earning him the tenth overall pick by the  Anaheim Ducks. After brief AHL and NHL stints in  

2015-16, he secured a full-time role with the  Ducks in 2016-17, showcasing physical play   alongside 14 goals and 28 points. However, a trade  to the Boston Bruins at the 2020 deadline marked a   challenging turn, with Ritchie struggling to find  consistency in the NHL. Currently, he competes  

In the Finnish Elite League, facing uncertainty  due to suspension issues with his Finnish club. In the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, the Nashville  Predators selected Kevin Fiala as the 11th   overall pick, recognizing his dynamic offensive  skills despite his smaller stature. After limited  

Appearances with the Predators from 2014 to 2016,  Fiala had his first full NHL season in 2017-18,   tallying 48 points. He was subsequently traded  to the Minnesota Wild in 2019. Fiala’s career   took off with the LA Kings, where he became  a key contributor over the last two seasons,  

As they aim to secure their  first Stanley Cup since 2014. Selected 12th overall by the Arizona Coyotes,  Brendan Perlini was highly touted after an   impressive stint with the Niagara IceDogs  in the OHL. Making his debut in 2016-17,   he became a full-time player the following season,  scoring 17 goals. Traded to the Chicago Blackhawks  

In early 2018-19, he later played with the Detroit  Red Wings before heading to Switzerland in 2020.   Returning to North America, including a stint in  Edmonton in 2021-22, Perlini now competes in the   AHL with the Charlotte Checkers, aiming  for an NHL roster spot in the future.

Selected 13th in the 2014 NHL Draft, Jakub  Vrana’s career ignited with a Stanley Cup   win alongside the Washington Capitals in 2018.  Transitioning to a full-time player in 2017-18,   he contributed to the Capitals’ triumph.  Traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Anthony  

Mantha in 2020-21, Vrana showed promise with  22 goals and 10 assists in 42 games. However,   injuries and time in the NHL’s Player  Assistance Program hindered his consistency,   challenging his long-term impact  in Detroit following the trade. The Dallas Stars drafted Finnish defenseman  Julius Honka as the 14th overall pick following  

A standout season with the Swift Current Broncos,  where he tallied 56 points in 60 games. Making his   NHL debut in the 2016-17 season, Honka struggled  to secure a permanent role with the Stars until   2018-19. After stints in the Finnish league,  he returned briefly to the Stars in 2020 but  

Ultimately signed a two-year contract with  the Swedish League in May 2021. Currently,   he competes in the Swiss League as his  NHL career didn’t progress as expected. The Detroit Red Wings struck gold in the  2014 NHL Entry Draft with Dylan Larkin,  

A cornerstone player in their rebuild. Joining  the team in 2015-16 after a standout season at the   University of Michigan, Larkin made an immediate  impact, scoring in his NHL debut and becoming a   mainstay in the lineup. Progressing swiftly, he  became alternate captain in 2018-19 and was later  

Named team captain in 2020-21. While he may not  reach the heights of players like Pastrnak from   the same draft, Larkin has unquestionably  been a valuable asset for the Red Wings The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Sonny  Milano at number 16, attracted by his  

Skillful play and impressive performances  in the U.S. National Team program and   World Junior Hockey Championship. Despite  initially committing to Boston College,   Milano chose the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers, a  move that proved fruitful with a successful   season of 22 goals and 68 points. However, he  struggled to secure a consistent roster spot  

With the Jackets from 2015 to 2020. Traded to the  Anaheim Ducks in February 2020, Milano has since   navigated between the NHL and AHL, currently  within the Washington Capitals organization. The Philadelphia Flyers drafted defenseman Travis  Sanheim with the 17th overall pick in the 2014  

NHL Draft, recognizing his potential at 6-foot-3  from his junior career with the Calgary Hitmen   in the WHL. Sanheim seamlessly transitioned to  professional play, starting with the AHL’s Lehigh   Valley Phantoms in 2016 before earning a spot on  the Flyers’ main roster for the 2017-18 season.  

Now 27, he plays a crucial top-six defenseman role  for the Flyers, often overlooked but contributing   significantly to the team’s success with his  size and defensive prowess against top opponents. Selected 18th overall by the Minnesota  Wild in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft,  

Alex Tuch’s tenure with the team didn’t  reach significant heights. In June 2017,   he was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights,  where he flourished as a middle-six forward,   tallying 139 points in 249 games over four  seasons. Despite signing a seven-year extension  

With Vegas in 2018, Tuch was eventually dealt,  along with draft picks and prospect Peyton Krebs,   to the Buffalo Sabres in the blockbuster  trade for Jack Eichel. Now a key power   forward for the Sabres, Tuch plays a vital role  in their quest to regain relevance in the NHL.

The Tampa Bay Lightning took a risk on Tony  DeAngelo, selecting him 19th overall despite   character concerns. While he demonstrated talent,  issues persisted, leading to a trade to the   Arizona Coyotes during the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.  DeAngelo’s NHL debut came with the Coyotes, later  

Moving to the New York Rangers in 2017. Despite  regular NHL play, behavioral incidents led to   his contract buyout in 2020-21. He then joined the  Carolina Hurricanes for the 2021-22 season before   signing with the Philadelphia Flyers briefly and  returning to Carolina, where he currently plays.

Nick Schmaltz, drafted 20th overall by the  Chicago Blackhawks, initially appeared poised   to lead the team’s new generation of centers. His  NHL debut in the 2016-17 season showed promise,   with six goals and 22 assists as a  rookie. However, subsequent seasons   didn’t meet expectations, leading to his  trade to the Arizona Coyotes early in the  

2018-19 season. This move proved beneficial  for the Coyotes, as Schmaltz consistently   provides them with 40 to 60 points per season  and remains with the organization today. Robby Fabbri, despite his smaller stature,  displayed exceptional skill as a forward  

Prospect in the 2014 draft, boasting 87 points  in 58 games with the Guelph Storm. Joining the   Blues in the 2015-16 season, he remained with them  until 2018-19, aside from a brief AHL stint for   conditioning. Despite two severe knee injuries,  Fabbri proved highly productive for the Blues,  

Contributing to their Stanley Cup win  in 2019, although he didn’t play in all   playoff games. Traded to the Detroit Red Wings  in 2019-20, he continues his career with them. Considered one of the top international prospects  in the 2014 NHL draft, Kasperi Kapanen surprised  

Many by falling to the 22nd overall pick, where  the Pittsburgh Penguins selected him. However,   his time with the Penguins was short-lived as he  was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs just over a   year later, with Phil Kessel going the other way.  Kapanen performed well in Toronto until December  

2020 when he was traded back to the Penguins  for prospects and draft picks. Since then,   he has struggled to replicate his earlier success  and currently plays for the St. Louis Blues. Out of the 30 players chosen in the first round,  only Conner Bleackley has never made an appearance  

In an NHL game. The Colorado Avalanche opted  not to sign him to an entry-level contract,   eventually trading his rights to the Arizona  Coyotes at the 2016 trade deadline. However,   the Coyotes also chose not to sign him.  Bleackley re-entered the 2016 NHL Entry Draft,  

Where the St. Louis Blues selected  him and signed him to an Entry Level   Contract. Despite this opportunity,  he never managed to break into the NHL   and has spent years moving between the  AHL and ECHL, where he currently plays.

In 2014, Jim Benning used the first-round pick  obtained from the Ryan Kesler trade to select   Jared McCann as the 24th overall pick for the  Canucks. McCann had an impressive junior career,   amassing 27 goals and 62 points in his  draft year in the OHL. He transitioned  

To the NHL with Vancouver in 2015-16 but  was soon traded to the Florida Panthers.   McCann became a full-time NHL player with the  Panthers in 2017-18 before being traded to the   Penguins in 2018-19. He remained a regular in  Pittsburgh until the 2021-22 expansion draft,  

Where the Seattle Kraken selected him,  and he continues to play for them today. And there you have it, those are the 24  players drafted before David Pastrnak,   and how their careers have panned out  so far. So, how would you redrafted the  

2014 first round? Does Pasta go first  overall? Let us know in the comments,   and as always don’t forget to like, subscribe and  turn on the notification bell for more videos.

Every NHL fan knows that David Pastrnak is an absolute STUD! But did you know he was taken 25th overall in the 2014 NHL Draft? How could 24 teams completely overlook his raw talent. Well, in todays video — we find out what happened to the 24 players drafted before Pasta.

Chapters:
0:00 – Intro
0:40-4:26 – Picks 1-5
4:26-9:13 – Picks 6-12
9:13-13:06 – Picks 13-18
13:06-16:48 – Picks 19-24

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