Alexander Radu-who? That's what people in Nashville are saying these days about the one-time Predator who took his 30- or 40-goal potential to the KHL two summers ago and left Music City will an offensive void. The reason? Look no further than 23-year-old Patric Hornqvist.
After an underwhelming rookie campaign, Hornqvist has emerged as the Preds’ best goal scorer, burying 26 goals through 68 games — enough to place him among the top 25 in the NHL. More than Corey Perry and Vincent Lecavalier. More than Evgeni Malkin and Pavel Datsyuk. More than Eric Staal and Thomas Vanek.
The other thing about Hornqvist: he was the last player chosen in the 2005 NHL Draft. Mr. Irrelevant is far from, well, irrelevant.
One of the commentators on On The Fly, the NHL Network's nightly recap and highlight show, said Hornqvist's play this season has made him perhaps the best seventh-round pick ever. Since the draft was cut to seven rounds in 2005 — the year Hornqvist was selected — it’s hard to argue that there’s been a better seventh-round pick to play in the NHL in that time span — Derek Dorsett (189th overall in 2006) and Carl Gunnarsson (194th overall in 2007) might be the other top ones. But "ever" might be a bit of an exaggeration. Here's a look at some notable players drafted in the seventh round or later since 2000.
2004: Troy Brouwer (214th overall); Matt Hunwick (224th); Chris Campoli (253rd); Pekka Rinne (258th); Mark Streit (279th)
2003: Joe Pavelski (205th); Tobias Enstrom (239th); Dustin Byfuglien (245th); Shane O’Brien (250th); Matt Moulson (263rd); Jaroslav Halak (271st); Brian Elliott (291st, second to last in ninth round)
2002: Max Talbot (234th); Petr Prucha (240th); Dennis Wideman (241st); Jonathan Ericsson (291st, last in draft)
2001: Derek Boogaard (202nd); Cristobal Huet (214th); David Moss (220th); Johnny Oduya (233rd); Marek Svatos (227th, last pick in seventh round); Ryan Hollweg (238th); Milan Jurcina (241st)
2000: Henrik Lundqvist (205th); Matthew Lombardi (215th); Antti Miettinen (224th)
Other Mr. Irrevelants: 1994: Kim Johnsson (286th, last in 11th round); 1980: Bruins broadcaster Andy Brickley (210th, last in 10th round)
Poll
Who is the best player chosen in the seventh round of later since 2000?
Patric Hornqvist (7 votes)
Henrik Lundqvist (152 votes)
Mark Streit (8 votes)
Joe Pavelski (14 votes)
Pekka Rinne (8 votes)
Jaroslav Halak (6 votes)
195 total votes


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