Biggest NHL Draft Busts For Every Canadian Team

The NHL draft is one of the most critical times of the year, as it offers a chance to select the players who will be entrusted with each franchise’s future.

Sometimes it goes well. Other times, things go pear-shaped. 

A team often won’t know the result for years to come, as each draft pick requires time to mature in the hope that they will reach their full potential. 

Let’s look at the Canadian teams’ biggest draft mistakes throughout the years. 

Which Canadian Team Made the Biggest Mistake at the NHL Draft? 

Had the seven Canadian teams drafted some of the overlooked players in their respective drafts, it would likely have altered their Stanley Cup odds at the BetMGM sportsbook for years to come. 

7. Calgary Flames (2016) 

The Calgary Flames selected goaltender Tyler Parsons with the 54th pick in the 2016 draft. Parsons never played an NHL game, settling for AHL and ECHL action. 

Calgary passed up the opportunity to select Filip Gustavsson, one of the NHL’s elite netminders. They overlooked Joseph Woll, who would have also been a far superior option. 

At least they snagged Matthew Tkachuk with the sixth pick. Unfortunately, he departed for the greener pastures of Florida, where he won consecutive Stanley Cups. 

Honourable Mention: Drafted Daniel Tkaczuk at No. 6 in the 1997 draft; Could have picked Marian Hossa (No. 12).

5. Winnipeg Jets (2016)

The 2016 draft pops on this list three times, which might be the root of countless suppressed nightmares for Winnipeg Jets, Flames, and Vancouver Canucks fans. 

The Jets drafted Logan Stanley with the No. 18 pick when they could have grabbed Tage Thompson, Jordan Kyrou, and Alex DeBrincat. Ouch. 

Honourable Mention: Picked Ville Heinola with the No. 20 pick in the 2019 draft; Could have selected Shane Pinto, Jackson LaCombe, or Nick Robertson. 

5. Montreal Canadiens (2014)

The Montreal Canadiens drafted Nikita Scherbak with the 26th pick. He played 29 games with the team, lighting the lamp five times. 

The Canadiens could have selected Adrian Kempe, Ivan Barbashev, Ilya Sorokin, or Brayden Point, all of whom are household names. 

With Carey Price still in his prime at the time, Sorokin would have been an unlikely choice. Point or Kempe would have looked good in a Habs shirt, though. 

Honourable Mention: Canadiens picked Jarred Tinordi at No. 22 in 2010; Could have selected Yevgeni Kuznetsov, Charlie Coyle, Brock Nelson or Tyler Toffoli. 

4. Vancouver Canucks (2016)

The Flames weren’t the only Canadian team to draft a dud in 2016, as the Canucks selected Olli Juolevi with the No. 5 pick. 

Juolevi played 23 games with the Canucks in 2020-21 before moving on to the Florida Panthers, and subsequently, the Detroit Red Wings, where he suited up for a combined 18 contests. 

The Canucks missed out on Tkachuk, Clayton Keller, Charlie McAvoy, Jakob Chychrun, Tage Thompson, Kyrou, and DeBrincat. Ouch. 

Honourable Mention: Selected Patrick White at No. 25 in the 2007 draft; Could have selected David Perron or P.K. Subban.

3. Edmonton Oilers (2017)

In 2017, the Edmonton Oilers drafted Kailer Yamamoto with the 22nd overall pick. While he enjoyed a few solid seasons in Edmonton, the Oilers could have selected Jake Oettinger, who went to the Dallas Stars at No. 26. 

Imagine the Oilers with Oettinger between the pipes. Sounds like a guaranteed Stanley Cup to me. 

I think I can still hear Connor McDavid’s consternation. 

Honourable Mention: Drafted Nail Yakupov first overall in 2012; Could have picked Filip Forsberg 

2. Toronto Maple Leafs (2011)

Do you remember Tyler Biggs? Nor do I. 

The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Biggs with the 22nd pick in the 2011 draft, forgoing the opportunity to nab Markus Granlund, William Karlsson, and wait for it, Nikita Kucherov. 

Imagine how much pain the Maple Leafs would have spared their fan base had they selected the 2026 Hart Trophy winner. 

By the way, Biggs never played a game with the Maple Leafs. 

Honourable Mention: Selected Yegor Korshkov with the 31st pick in 2016; Could have drafted Kyrou, DeBrincat, Fox, or Hagel. 

1. Ottawa Senators (1993)

It’s hard to argue that a more abject decision has ever been made, with the Ottawa Senators selecting Alexandre Daigle, one of the worst first overall draft picks in NHL history.  

It gets even more painful for Senators fans when exploring who the team could have selected instead: That list includes Chris Pronger, Paul Kariya, Rob Niedermayer, Adam Deadmarsh, Saku Koivu, and Todd Bertuzzi. 

It’s no wonder the team still hasn’t won a Cup since returning to the nation’s capital. 

Honourable Mention: Selected Brian Lee with the No. 9 pick in 2005; Could have picked Anze Kopitar, Tuuka Rask, T.J. Oshie, Kris Letang, or Jonathan Quick.