9 Best Active Undrafted Players in the NHL

The NHL draft isn’t the only place NHL franchises secure talent for the future. 

These players are the best of the active undrafted class, continually helping their team’s hockey odds at the BetMGM online sportsbook despite never hearing their name called at a draft.

Best Active NHL Players Who Were Never Drafted 

9. Jet Greaves (Columbus Blue Jackets)

What an impression Jet Greaves has made since entering the NHL in 2022-23. 

He played only 21 games in his first three seasons, but made an emphatic impression despite limited work in 2024-25, posting a 7-2-2 record, a 1.91 goals-against average, and a .938 save percentage over 11 games. 

In 2025-26, Greaves replaced Elvis Merzļikins as the Columbus Blue Jackets’ No. 1 goaltender. 

8. Chris Tanev (Toronto Maple Leafs)

If you ask any current or former teammates, they’ll bellow to the rafters about how influential Chris Tanev is. 

One of the best shot blockers in the league, he’s a defensive defenceman who always puts the team first. 

Tanev is a warrior who leads by example. However, he hasn’t achieved the desired playoff success, advancing to the conference finals just once in seven playoff appearances. 

7. Yanni Gourde (Tampa Bay Lightning)

One of the invaluable gems who enhances their level in the playoffs, Yanni Gourde, didn’t make his NHL debut until he was 24 years old. 

He has since won two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning and was an instrumental member of the squad in both runs.

6. Logan Thompson (Washington Capitals)

It didn’t take Logan Thompson long to adapt to life in the NHL. After playing 103 games with the Vegas Golden Knights, he was traded to the Washington Capitals, where he became the No. 1 netminder. 

Thompson was among the Vezina Trophy contenders in 2025-26, his best season since entering the league in 2020-21. 

5. Brandon Bussi (Carolina Hurricanes)

Brandon Bussi was the best story of the 2025-26 season among undrafted players. Despite never playing in the NHL, he acquitted himself with the confidence and maturity of a seasoned veteran. 

Bussi became the fastest goaltender to reach 25 wins, doing so in 29 games. 

After replacing Frederik Andersen in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final, he was one of the primary reasons the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Golden Knights and secured their second championship. 

4. Mats Zuccarello (Minnesota Wild)

Mats Zuccarello’s accomplished career has spanned 16 years. He spent nine years in the Big Apple with the New York Rangers before moving to the Minnesota Wild via a two-game stint with the Dallas Stars. 

He is second among undrafted players with 744 points, scoring 232 goals and 512 assists entering the 2026-27 season with the Wild. 

3. Jonathan Marchessault (Nashville Predators)

Jonathan Marchessault summited the peak of the sport by winning the 2023 Conn Smythe Trophy while leading the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup.

Marchessault has played for five teams since entering the league with the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2012-13. 

2. Artemi Panarin (Los Angeles Kings)

Inarguably the most skilled active undrafted player, Artemi Panarin is the only one who has averaged north of a point per game since his career began in 2015-16 with the Chicago Blackhawks. 

He has 954 points in 830 games. However, Panarin hasn’t yet advanced to a Stanley Cup Final. 

1. Sergei Bobrovsky (Florida Panthers)

Sergei Bobrovsky won two Vezina Trophies with the Blue Jackets (2012-13 and 2016-17) and consecutive Stanley Cups with the Florida Panthers (2024 and 2025).

He has enjoyed the most decorated career of any active undrafted player and is 44 wins away from reaching the 500-win milestone. 

Only three goalies have achieved that feat: Patrick Roy (551), Marc-André Fleury (575), and Martin Brodeur (691).