With the 2011 NHL draft trailing us for 14 years, we can finally talk about the biggest steals in the draft. Apart from the absolute first round, there is still a lot of talent in the remaining six rounds. Let’s introduce who is the most outstanding.
Round 2: Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Saad, William Karlsson
In the second round of stacking, these three were the best players in the 2011 draft.
Nikita Kucherov needs little introduction. Tampa Bay Lightning, a three-time Art Rose Trophy winner, two-time Ted Lindsay Award winner, two-time Ted Lindsay Award winner and two-time Stanley Cup winner, consolidated himself as one of the greatest offensive players of his time.
Brandon Saad may not have Kucherov’s hardware or flash, but his career was long and productive. He is also the Chicago Blackhawks’ two Stanley Cup champions in 935 NHL games. He scored a career-high 53 points in both 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons and remains a reliable addition to the competitive team.
Then there is William Karlsson, one of the infamous “primitive inappropriate” chosen by the Las Vegas Golden Cavaliers in the expansion draft. After scoring six goals and 25 points with Columbus Blue Jackets, he broke out with 43 goals and 78 points in his inaugural season in Las Vegas. Karlsson, the BYNG Trophy Champion and now the Stanley Cup champion, has proven to be one of the biggest steals in the draft.
Honors: Boone Jenner, Scott Mayfield, Matthew Nieto
Round 3: Vincent Trocheck, Blake Coleman, Jordan Binnington
Vincent Trocheck is a fanatical forward for the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers, establishing himself as a great NHL player on the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers. He is known for his skill-to-body combination and he scored a career-high 77 points in the 2023-24 season, cementing his position as a reliable two-way center.
Blake Coleman, another two-time Stanley Cup champion, The Lightning, has long been considered a depth piece until it joined the Calgary flame. There, he burst out with a career-high 30 goals and 54 points in 2023-24, although he played last season with a more modest 15 goals, 39-point campaign. With a $4.9 million annual signing by 2026-27, Coleman will hope to rediscover his score while continuing to bring perseverance and versatility to Calgary’s roster.
Jordan Binnington is one of the most interesting goalkeepers in the NHL, and his star rise is legendary. In the 2018-19 season, he rose from AHL Netminder to the Blues’ starter almost overnight, eventually turning the St. Louis starter to the first Stanley Cup. He has remained the team’s number one goalkeeper ever since. Last season, Binnington scored a .900 savings percentage with a record of 28-22-5. Although these numbers are not elite, he is still a reliable starter and cornerstone in the Blues’ network.
Honorable mentions: Adam Lowry, Nick Cousins
Round 4: Johnny Gaudreau, Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Johnny Gaudreau is the Hobey Baker Award winner at Boston College, the BYNG Trophy winner of the Lady of Flame and the owner of the 2021-22 career-best 40-goal, 115-point season, and Johnny Gaudreau is a true NHL star. After signing with the Blue Jacket in the summer of 2022, he continued to hand over elite offensive numbers before he unfortunately laid off employees in the summer of 2024. The world of hockey still misses him very much. rest in peace.
Related: The biggest steal at the 2010 NHL Draft
Jean-Gabriel Pageau is often seen as a deeper player, dividing a strong NHL career division between the Ottawa Senators and the New York Islanders. While his career-high 43 regular season points didn’t stand out, Pago’s true value shines in the playoffs, where he consistently improves his game. The reliability of that playoffs made him a sneaky steal in his own right.
Honorable Reilly
Round 5: Sean Curry, Andrew Shaw
Sean Kuraly may not be the most gorgeous player, but his value as a depth move forward is obvious. With a career high of 14 goals and 30 points in the 2021-22 season, Kuraly offers perseverance, body and reliable two-way game. He is currently wearing a blue jacket, although many fans remember his time with the Boston Bruins best, where he portrays his reputation as a hard-working bottom six.
Although Andrew Shaw has never played in the NHL since the 2020-21 season, he has made a lasting impression in his career. Shaw, who has won the Stanley Cup twice, is the Chicago Blackhawks, is the definition of the pest – a tough, ruthless forward who is subjected to the skin of his opponent when he contributes on the offense. His career highest score was in 2018-19, when he was a member of the Montreal Canadaens, but his resilience, energy and tricks mattered the most.
Honorable Name: Nick Seeler
Round 6: Josh Manson, Dylan Demero
Josh Manson was never known for his offensive game, with a career-high 37 points in the 2017-18 season. What makes him valuable is his stable, physical presence in the back end. Manson is a true defensive defender, his perseverance and edge performance make life difficult for the opponent’s forward every time he steps on the ice.
Dylan Demelo’s Boutique is very similar to Manson. Although his physical level is not the same, he is useless in shutting down opponents’ offense. His career high of 31 points in the 2023-24 season proves that he can contribute when he needs to, but like Manson, his phone card is a sense of reliability and defensiveness.
Together, both represent the types of fragments that may not pile up scores, but are essential on the controversial blue line.
Honorary nomination: Travis Boyd
Round 7: Ondrej Palat, Ryan Dzingel
Ondrej Palat is one of the best late steals in recent memory, ranked 208th by the Chargers in the 2011 draft. He quickly became a key part of their core, scoring a career-high 63 points in the 2014-15 season and winning two Stanley Cups in the process. Now, with the New Jersey Devil, Parlat is not his former offensive force, but he is still a reliable, effective contributor who can be strengthened when it is most important.
Ryan Dzingel, like Shaw, ended his NHL career a few years ago, with his last game in the 2021-22 season. His best season was in 2018-199, when he scored 56 points in 78 games, but his career was through bounces in the league, suiting five different teams. Even with all the moves, Dzingel played 404 NHL games, a strong reward for players selected outside the early rounds, and the clear signs he was a steal in his own right.
Honorary mentions: Colin Blackwell, Anton Fosberg
The final thought
When it comes to theft, the 2011 draft class was a real mix of packages. Some late-stage options bloomed to become true NHL stars, while others viewed careers as stable in-depth clips that had a clear impact on their team. All in all, it was a good year for drafting, not the deepest, but still yielding some great value and memorable careers.
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