With the NHL design of 2011 14 years behind us, we can finally talk about the biggest stealing of the design. In addition to an absolutely charged first round, there is still a lot of talent in the remaining six rounds. Let’s go who stood out the most.
Second round: Nikita Cooks, Brandon Saad, William Karlsson
In a stacked second round, these three stand out as some of the best players of the 2011 design.
Nikita Kucherov needs little introduction. A triple winner of Art Ross Trophy, a Hart Trophy winner, a double Ted Lindsay Award winner and a double Stanley Cup champion, the Tampa Bay Lightning Forward has cemented itself as one of the biggest attacking players of his era.
Brandon Saad may not have Kucherov’s hardware or flash, but he has career a long, productive career. Played with 935 NHL games, he is also a double Stanley Cup champion at the Chicago Blackhawks. He achieved a career-high 53 points in both the 2015–16 and 2016–17 seasons and remains a Reliable complementary piece For fighting teams.
Then there is William Karlsson, one of the infamous “original misfits” selected by the Vegas Golden Knights in their expansion. After he had only set six goals and 25 points with the Columbus Blue Jackets, he broke out for 43 goals and 78 points in the inaugural season of Vegas. Karlsson, a Lady Byyn Trophy winner and now a Stanley Cup champion, has proven to be one of the largest steals of the design.
Honorable mentions: Boone Jenner, Scott Mayfield, Matthew Nieto
Third round: Vincent Trocheck, Blake Coleman, Jordan Binnington
A spicy top-six attacker with Stints on the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers, Vincent Trocheck has settled as a fantastic NHL player. Known for combining skills with physicality, he hit a career-high 77 points in the 2023–24 season and confirmed his place as a reliable center for two directions.
Blake Coleman, another double Stanley Cup champion with lightning, has long been considered more a depth party until he joins the Calgary Flames. There he broke out with a career-high 30 goals and 54 points in 2023–24, although he followed it with a more modest 15 goal, 39-point campaign last season. Signed at $ 4.9 million a year up to and including 2026–27, Coleman will rediscover his scoring touch and at the same time continue to bring grit and versatility in the Line -up of Calgary.
Jordan Binnington is one of the most entertaining goalkeepers of the NHL to look at, and his rise to staring is the stuff of the legend. Recalled during the 2018–19 season, he went from a little less from the American Hockey League (AHL) to the starter of the blues almost at night, eventually with St. Louis to his first Stanley Cup. Since then he has remained the most important goalkeeper of the team. Last season, Binnington posted a record of 28-22-5 with a .900 savings percentage. Although those figures are not elite, it remains a reliable starter and a cornerstone in the net before the blues.
Honorable mentions: Adam Lowry, Nick Cousins
Fourth round: Johnny Gaudreau, Jean-Gabriel Pageau
Winner of the Hobey Baker Award on Boston College, a Lady Byng Trophy receiver with the Flames, and the owner of a career-best 40 goal, 115-point season in 2021-22, Johnny Gaudreau was a real NHL star. After signing with the Blue Jackets in the summer of 2022, he continued to deliver elite offensive figures before his life was tragically demolished in the summer of 2024. One of the greatest steels of all time, Gaudreau’s legacy Like an exciting, game-changing winger, lives on. The hockey world still misses him a lot. Rest in peace.
Related: Largest Steals of the NHL concept of 2010
Often seen as a depth player, Jean-Gabriel Pageau has a strong NHL career distributed that is divided between the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders. Although his career height of 43 points in the regular season does not jump off the page, the real value of Pageau in the play-offs shines, where he consistently raises his game. That reliability after the season makes him a sneaky stem in itself.
Honorous mention: Mike Reilly
Fifth round: Sean Kuraly, Andrew Shaw
Sean Kuraly may not be the flashest player, but his value as a depth attacker is clear. With a career height of 14 goals and 30 points in the 2021–22 season, Kuraly Grit, physicality and reliable two -way game offers. He is currently at the Blue Jackets, although many fans remember him the best of his time at the Boston Bruins, where he has his reputation as a Hard-working Bottom-Six presence.
Although Andrew Shaw has not played NHL match since the 2020–21 season, he left a lasting impression during his career. A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, Shaw was the definition of a teasing, a grim, ruthless attacker who came under the skin of the opponent while he was attacking. His career High came in 2018–19 with 47 points as a member of the Montreal Canadiens, but he will be the most remembered because of his toughness, energy and talent for the performance when it mattered the most.
Honorous mention: Nick Seeler
Sixth round: Josh Manson, Dylan Demelo
Josh Manson is never known for his attacking competition, with a career height of 37 points in the 2017-18 18 season. What makes him valuable is his steady, physical presence on the back. A real defensive defender, Manson plays with Grit and Edge, making life difficult to prevent himself every time he gets on the ice.
Dylan Demelo is cut from a very similar cloth like Manson. Although he does not play with the same level of physicality, he is just as effective in Opponents close. He set a career high of 31 points during the 2023–24 season, which shows that he can contribute offensively when needed, but just like Manson, his business card is reliability and defensive awareness.
Together both represent the type of stay at home who may not stack points, but are indispensable pieces for a warring blue line.
Honorous mention: Travis Boyd
Seventh round: Ondrej Palat, Ryan Dzingel
One of the best late-round steals in the recent memory, Ondrej Palat was generally taken by the Lightning in the 2011 design. He soon became an important part of their core, placing a career-high 63 points in the 2014-15 season and two Stanley Cups won en route. Now with the New Jersey Devils, Palat is not entirely the attacking force he once wasBut he remains a reliable, effective contribution that can increase if it matters the most.
Ryan Dzingel closed his NHL career a few years ago, just like Shaw, with his last game during the 2021–22 season. His best season came in 2018–19, when he recorded 56 points in 78 games, but his career was determined by bouncing around the competition and tackling for five different teams. Even with all that movement, Dzingel has carved 404 NHL games – a strong return for a player who was set up outside the early rounds, and a clear sign that he was a stem in his own.
Honorous mentions: Colin Blackwell, Anton Forsberg
Last thoughts
The draft class 2011 was a real mixed bag when it came to stealing. Some late choices flourished to real NHL stars, while others were playing career as stable depths that had a noticeable impact for their teams. All in all, it was a decent concept year – not the deepest, but one that still produced a number of excellent picks and memorable careers.
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