As is customary, the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins had the “honor” of selecting the last player in the 2017 NHL Draft. That selection was Will Reilly, a 20-year-old defender currently playing at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
It appears that Reilly will not let his draft selection slot decide his future. As he told Sean Leahy of Puck Daddy “I don’t really care (about going last), to be honest with you. Someone’s got to go last. I’m just really happy to be drafted.”
Reilly can also gain motivation from players who share the designation of being selected last overall in their respective draft classes, yet went on to successful NHL careers. Interestingly enough, three players on this list, including the best, have played for the Penguins.
The NFL “affectionately” calls it final annual draft choice “Mr. Irrelevant,” but following ranking of the 10 greatest players selected last overall in NHL Draft history are proof that such a distinction need be anything but.
10. Sergei Pryakhin
Pryakhin was selected in the 12th round, 252nd overall in 1988 by the Calgary Flames. He went on to appear in 46 games over three seasons in Calgary, tallying 11 points.
Pryakhin also had 18 points in 21 games for the Salt Lake Golden Eagles of the IHL. But the majority of his success came playing overseas, in both Russia and Finland.
9. Zach Trotman
The Bruins selected Trotman in the seventh round, 210th overall in 2010. He has spent a majority of his professional career in the AHL with the Providence Bruins and most recently the Ontario Reign. Through five full seasons, he has 58 points in 159 AHL games.
He has also earned a few NHL stints in career, all with the Bruins, including one full season (2015-16). He has 12 points in 67 NHL games.
After his freshman year at Lake Superior State, Zach Trotman was the last overall pick in 2010. He spent two more seasons in college, then went on to spend the entire 2015-16 campaign in The Show. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
8. Paul Maurice
The Philadelphia Flyers selected Maurice in the 12th round, 252nd overall in 1985. Maurice never played in a professional hockey game, instead switching over to coaching after he finished his OHL career due to an eye injury.
Maurice first reached the NHL in 1995-96 as an assistant with the Hartford Whalers. He was named head coach the next year and has been a head coach in the NHL in all but two years since then. The two that he wasn’t a head coach of either the Hurricanes, Maple Leafs or Jets, he spent one coaching the AHL’s Toronto Marlies and one with Metallurg Magnitogorsk of the KHL.
7. Jay Henderson
The Bruins selected Henderson in the ninth round, 246th overall in 1997. He only went on to play 33 NHL games, all with Boston. He had four points, including one NHL goal in his NHL career, which all came during 16 games in 1999-00.
Henderson really impressed in the AHL, though, winning three Calder Cups with as many teams over a six-year stretch. His first title came in 1998-99 with Providence. He won in 2002-03 with the Houston Aeros, then again the next season with the Milwaukee Admirals.
Overall, he had 168 points in 384 regular-season AHL games and appeared in 75 playoff games.
6. Hans Jonsson
Jonsoon went to the Penguins in round 11, 286th overall in 1993. Interestingly enough, this makes him the first of two players on this list who was selected in this slot. The other was selected in the following year’s draft.
He played four seasons in Pittsburgh, appearing in 242 games and tallying 48 points.
5. Andy Brickley
The Flyers selected Brickley in the 10th round, 210th overall in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in 385 games during his career, playing for the Flyers, Penguins, Devils, Bruins and Jets. He scored 222 points during that time.
The Red Wings chose Ericsson with the last pick of 2002 after winning the Stanley Cup. Seven years later, he participated in their entire run to the 2009 final, and has been a fixture in their lineup ever since. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
4. Jonathan Ericsson
The Detroit Red Wings chose Ericsson with the 291st selection in 2002. This makes him the latest overall pick to make this list.
Ericsson has been a solid presence on the Detroit blue line since the 2009 playoffs, appearing in 529 regular-season games. He also won a silver medal with Team Sweden during the 2014 Winter Olympics.
3. Gerry Meehan
Meehan was drafted in the fourth round, 21st overall in the 1963 NHL Amateur Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. This small draft was the first official entry draft in NHL history.
Meehan played for the Flyers, Maple Leafs, Sabres, Canucks, Atlanta Flames and Capitals during his lengthy NHL career. Over that time he played 670 games, tallying 180 goals and 243 assists.
2. Kim Johnsson
Johnsson was selected in the 11th round, 286th overall by the New York Rangers in 1994. In total, he played in 739 games during his NHL career with the Rangers, Flyers, Wild and Blackhawks.
His best stretch of play came from the 2001-02 season through the 2003-04 season, when he totaled 41, 39, and 42 points for the Flyers, leading all Philadelphia defensemen. Overall, he had 284 points during his NHL career.
1. Patric Hornqvist
Hornqvist, who scored the game-winning goal in the Stanley Cup-deciding Game 6 for the Penguins was picked 230th overall in 2005 by the Nashville Predators. After six seasons in Nashville, he was traded to Pittsburgh.
In Pittsburgh, he has helped lead the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups, providing solid two-way play and a physical presence. Overall, he has 362 points in 579 NHL games.
Hornqvist was also recently featured in a another edition of “The Greatest,” which ranked the top Penguins-Predators connections.
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