The first round of the 2023 NHL Draft takes place tonight in Nashville. For 32 young men, their dreams will come true and the futures of NHL franchises will be impacted by decisions made by general managers and scouts around the league. Steve Larmer wasn’t a first round pick, but he went on to become one of just nine players from the to appear in 1,000 games.
When the Blackhawks arrived at the draft in 1980, they hoped to impact the future of the franchise. They did that when they selected Denis Savard third overall (thanks, Habs!). But the 1980 draft class was a very good one for the Hawks. They also drafted Steve Ludzik in the second round, Troy Murray in the third and Carey Wilson in tꦫhe fourth. However, Chicago waited all the way until the sixth round to select Larmer.
Not only is Larmer one of only nine players from that draft to appear in at least 1,000 career regular-season games, but he’s one of only six members of the 1980 draft class to reach 1,000 career points. Two of the other five — Jari Kurri and Bernie Nicholls — were selected in the fourth round. Larmer doing it as a sixth-round pick is impressive.
It’s also incredibly rare that a player selected in the sixth round of his draft goes on to that level of production in an NHL career.
Here’s the complete list of players drafted in the sixth round or later in NHL history who appeared in at least 1,000 games played and produc✱ed at least 1,000 points. There are eight players who can claim those statistical accomplishments after being passed over for at least five full rounds.
6th Round
Brett Hull (1984) – 1,269 games, 1,391 points (741 goals, 650 assists)
Daniel Alfredsson (1994) – 1,246 games, 1,157 points (444 goals, 713 assists)
Steve Larmer (1980) – 1,0💞06 games, 1,012 points (441 goals, 571 assists)
7th Round
Doug Gilmour (1982) – 1,474 games, 1,414 points (450 goals, 964 assists)
Joe Pavelski (200🐟3) – 1,250 games, 1,001 points (449 goals, 5🎀52 assists)
8th Round
Theo Fleury (1987) – 1,084🎀 games, 1,088 points (455 goals, 633 assists)
9th Round
Luc Robitaille (1984) – 1,431 games, 1,394 points (668 go🌳als, 726 assists)
15th Round
Dave Taylor (1975) – 1,111 games, 1,069 points (431 goa🌳ls, 638 assists)
NOTE: the last three players to make this list wouldn’t have been drafted today; the NHL draft is now limited to seven rounds.
