What Happened to the 57 Players Drafted Before Nikita Kucherov?

Nikita Kucherov has been lighting up the NHL since he was drafted 58th overall in the 2011 NHL draft. But who were the teams who passed on drafting Kucherov, and how could they not see the insane talented he possessed? In today's video, we revisit every player drafted before him.
Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:39-4:58 - Pick 1-10
4:59-8:20 - Pick 11-20
8:21-11:49 - Pick 21-30
11:50-15:25 - Pick 31-40
15:26-21:06 - Pick 41-57
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[@Koz4concern]

Your next video should be players picked before pavel datsyuk. 😂

[@beyond_thebench]

Would be a long one 😂

[@wofescwofesc4754]

2 full draft classes?

[@Vladdy89]

@@beyond_thebench Would be the jewel in the crown :))

[@Kshahdoo67]

Nah, before Panarin...

[@jansenwilliams3182]

6th rounder 😅

[@GTRxMan]

Goes to show how nobody really knows who is going to succeed in the league. Another case is Henrik Lundqvist, a Hall of Fame goalie who was drafted in the seventh round.

[@beyond_thebench]

Exactly! So many legends went laaate in the draft

[@barnyaaard]

amazingly though, there were FEW busts in the top 10... almost every player in the top ten, had a good career from 2011

[@tygod2410]

How about Pastrnak who was drafted 25th overall and is an elite goal scorer in the league now

[@user-kt8hf9tx6h]

Exactly, it’s a toss up really. Look at Tom Brady

[@artursfilipovs4923]

@@barnyaaard what about bustfrenniere?

[@myhighlights7758]

Panarin hasn't even been drafted at all lol

[@beyond_thebench]

Correct! Signed with the Hawks from the KHL

[@egzo8669]

Look at Ilya Nabokov goaltender from KHL. Will be another big steal

[@robjk8876]

Two big trades that involved Kucherov that never went through.: 1. In 2015 draft, we offered him and the 19th pick to panthers for the number one pick Ekblad, I think we offered a little more but that was the base. 2. The year we won 60 games and got swept by the blue jackets, that offseason there was a trade offer Kucherov for Draistl not sure who said no. I’m glad both didn’t go through, both amazing players but Kucherov skill, and drive is what made us win back to back cups. I been a bolts fan since 98. Lecavalier is underrated!

[@user-qv2kd3lh4r]

By the way two Stanley Cups might not happen, if it was no Kucherov in the roster

[@robjk8876]

@@user-qv2kd3lh4r hundred and ten percent agree.

[@MikeHarvey-ol7xr]

Lecavalier's between-the-legs goal against Montreal is one of my favorite Bolts' moments ever. First time I believed they would reach the Promised Land.

[@tuckeryt990]

I love these videos! Really entertaining, also thanks for the subtitles, english isn't native for me, so it helps a lot to understand some parts. Keep it going! 👍

[@beyond_thebench]

Thank u!

[@aerocynix]

Thanks man! I've already reached out multiple times.

[@Roacha9]

Love these type of vids! Thx bro!

[@beyond_thebench]

Thanks! They’re fun to do - glad you like!

[@Roacha9]

Maybe way too many players, but what about Marchand? :D@@beyond_thebench

[@beyond_thebench]

@@Roacha9Not too many! That’s a great idea

[@SaschaK28]

I'm just a random fan of a German 2nd league team and just found out we have 2 players in our team that are on this list! Ruutu and Lessio!

[@beyond_thebench]

Nice! Good players!

[@vladhook1434]

Я в Москве в 2011 Кучерова видел в составе ЦСКА...

[@faunbudweis]

Nice, the talent must have been obvious, right?

[@vladhook1434]

@@faunbudweis no, He was too young... And 58 place of draft show, that his talent was deep, deep inside...😁😁

[@QuoVadis84]

How on Earth his talent was deep inside if he was breaking international U18 records at that time lol 58th pick, well, the Russian Factor was really strong 10-15 years ago I could understand that talent was 'deep inside' with Panarin who wasn't even the part of the Russian U18 team

[@vladhook1434]

​@@QuoVadis84 there are players who can at the age of 18 at the level of adult players, Kucherov is not like that. His games in KHL were not impressive at all. Thanks to Yzerman, otherwise it would be #158.

[@user-dp9tz9ht3q]

​@@vladhook1434Айзерман, в отличте от скаутов, где много непрофессионалов, очевидно понимает, что такое хоккей😂

[@twintimeproductions8700]

Nice video! Your next video should be about the players picked before Kirill Kaprizov

[@beyond_thebench]

Totally! Thats a good one!

[@Zaharist]

Gonna be way toooo long video 😂

[@ariccua6101]

Top 10 picks: All solid NHLers 11th onwards: What happened.

[@beyond_thebench]

Right! Haha

[@spancherBob]

Nik Kucher 😎

[@beyond_thebench]

Kuuuuch

[@dummy7787]

Lol imagine the oilers with kuch

[@beyond_thebench]

Would not be fair haha

[@user-qv2kd3lh4r]

Yaskin got big injury in NHL, and after recovery, which took about a year, decided to move in KHL, 22/23 season became the best player of a season, and took Russian Art Ross trophy Edit: 22/23 season he was in SKA, 23/24 - Ak Bars

[@TheBoardandThebord]

what happens to the 134 players drafted before Kirill Kaprizov

[@beyond_thebench]

Great question! Have actually had a few people ask for that one!

[@user-le7gp1uw1f]

👍

[@user-kt9ez9fy5f]

Интересно кого б выбрали под 1 номером,если б знали о них то, что сейчас известно?)))))

[@user-vs1eg7kw5q]

Кучерова, скорее всего. Он реально историю переписывает, в то время как остальные в лучшем случае просто очень сильные игроки, а в худшем - вообще никакие

[@user-kt9ez9fy5f]

@@user-vs1eg7kw5q я даже не сомневаюсь,что любой нормальный адекватный менеджер взял бы его ,но в истории были разные подходы к выбору...

[@newvintage1554]

Just proves scouts jobs are like weather announcers

[@beyond_thebench]

😂😂😂

[@Deans-jm3uf]

To be fair there wasn’t a bust until 12th pick

[@FalloutUrMum]

Often Russian players are picked low because of the process it takes to bring them into the NHL

[@beyond_thebench]

There was a time when that factored in for sure. I wouldnt say that effects things so much now. But its something to consider for teams for sure. Especially if they’re being drafted from playing with a Russian team

[@Dhemize]

​@beyond_thebench I'd argue Matvei Mitchkov is an example of Russians falling in the draft because of the process it takes to get them over here. It definitely still happens. Don't kid yourself! Also, it would be 'affects' rather than 'effects' 👍

[@user-qv2kd3lh4r]

Yep it’s still a risk to take Russian guy on a draft. It’s not a good example, but Ivan Fedotov was drafted by Flyers, had a great season in KHL, in a national team, and signed contract with Philla, but CSKA bosses just put him in the army for a year, and now he plays for CSKA

[@debr4265]

​@@user-qv2kd3lh4rwell now he's a flyer😃

[@AVlad-eg3ds]

@@Dhemize, I would argue with Mitchkov example while agreeing with a 'Russian factor' in general. I think that his performance and his injury in 2022/2023 played a way more significant role in his overall draft position than anything else. And frankly speaking I think that he was still overestimated with the draft position his was chosen by.

[@HentragunGD]

this guy needs more recognition

[@beyond_thebench]

Us or Kuch?? Lol

[@andrewsutton2266]

He is nowadays

[@HentragunGD]

@@beyond_thebench kuch exploded. YOU need more recognition

[@beyond_thebench]

@@HentragunGD haha thanks man! Trying my best!

[@paolorossi8470]

@@HentragunGD Who is Kuch? Ah, you mean Kooch.

[@BommyYabbadabbadoobadoo32112]

It was actually a strong draft class, all players from 1-9 would upgrade any team significantly.

[@beyond_thebench]

Ya for sure!

[@algeborusas2775]

You can do this with any draft year. Some players are on their way up and others are on their way down.

[@beyond_thebench]

Ya definitely could

[@user-dp9tz9ht3q]

Тот, кто показывает хорошие результаты в юниорах, не обязательно будет показывать хорошие результаты во взрослой игре. Это так в любом виде спорта. Талант должен развиваться, но так происходит не всегда. Естественно, что шансы хорошо играть во взрослой команде больше у того, кто в юниорах играл хорошо. Но это только вероятность, %, но не обязательное следствие из одного в другое.

[@volt7708]

Но Кучеров и в юниорах отжигал. Его рекорд по очкам на ЮЧМ за всю историю (11+10) в 7 играх возможно держится до сих пор. Здесь даже не вопрос почему остальных выбрали выше, а почему его так низко. К скаутам очень большие вопросы. Он положил две амерам в группе. Положил две канадцам в матче за бронзу. И все это за 2 месяца до драфта. Что вам долбоебам еще надо? Причем Якупов и Григоренко из той сборной уйдут в следующем году в первом раунде, а Якупов и вовсе под первым номером. А сколько его в Тампе мурыжили в фарме, пока слава богу стекляшка Стемкос не сломался в очередной раз. Никита - это один из самых недооцененных игроков на моей памяти. Причем абсолютно непонятно по какой причине.

[@supern1ntendo104]

Tomas Jurco (№35) is currently playing for Avangard in KHL.

[@beyond_thebench]

Oh nice!

[@Hockeyreview101]

One with Jason Robertson would also be entertaining

[@beyond_thebench]

Ya thats a good one!

[@adilet2370]

And I guess Kaprizov

[@robmyckatyn]

what about Alex Burrows? undrafted. isn't a team in the league that would have loved to have him in his prime

[@beyond_thebench]

That’d be a long video 😂

[@barnyaaard]

Best bang for the buck other than Kutch....Karlson at 55...consistently terrible drafting..Arizona

[@beyond_thebench]

Ya Arizona…terrible 😂

[@samarchepas]

Drafting is just the start of the process though,they might have drafted potentially great players but failed to develop them properly (as a Habs fan, I've seen this happen a lot)

[@barnyaaard]

good point, I still remember all the talk about Beaulieu and how they were going to be careful not to blow it with him... well.. other than getting in a bar brawl, he didn't really pan out in MTL@@samarchepas

[@PaydoggProductions]

Not sure why you made it seem Klefbom is active when he hasn’t played in almost 4 years?

[@beyond_thebench]

Fair 😂

[@Chima4289]

How many of these guys became league MVPs?

[@beyond_thebench]

Just Kucherov !

[@NiimpaNii]

Clendenind playing in Finland, no Sweden

[@beyond_thebench]

Yep!

[@aerocynix]

Waiting for a response. Thanks!

[@aerocynix]

Hey man! How do i reach out.

[@beyond_thebench]

Email in channel details 🤘🏼

[@delilahknight6068]

You lost me at “Huberdeau has continued to shine brightly”. 🤨 Why are you making videos on a sport you clearly don’t follow?

[@beyond_thebench]

Actually, he’s really only had 2 really good years. The rest are just, good. If he can produce 65-70 points on an average Calgary team I think they’d take that. They wont be happy but they’d take it.

[@MikeHarvey-ol7xr]

None of them recorded 100 assists in a season. 😀

[@beyond_thebench]

They certainly didnt haha

[@Mengha]

It's pretty simple...he played in the MHL. Anybody who saw him at the U18's knew he would be a star, but nobody wanted to touch Russians that hadn't committed to NA.

[@beyond_thebench]

For sure!

[@VainoTatti]

Adam Clendening is playing in Finland…

[@beyond_thebench]

Is now yep!

[@XxNoMErcY99xX]

"Exavier Oullette" 😂 😂

[@beyond_thebench]

Ooooullette haha

[@user-fe6vb1jx5e]

NHL teams fear of losing a first round pick to Russian league. No NHL teams wants to pick a player like Radulov & have that player just leave the NHL for the Russian league

[@mrsvoyage]

Lucky arent ? Patrick roy traded him in the junior

[@beyond_thebench]

Good point! Haha

[@bobmyself8819]

Maybe the other teams put a high value in Character

[@beyond_thebench]

👀

[@user-je1li1vl5x]

По моему мнению, такие сумасшедшие результаты Кучеров достиг благодаря партнёрам: Поинту, Стэмкосу, Хедману и другим. Если посмотреть на статистику, то можно увидеть, что он больше отдает передач, но что бы было, если бы его партнеры были бы не такие забивающие? Сейчас в Тампе сильнейшая команда не только за всю историю клуба, но и возможно одна из сильнейших за всю историю лиги. In my opinion, Kucherov achieved such crazy results thanks to his partners: Point, Stamkos, Hedman and others. If you look at the stats, you can see that he's giving more assists, but what would happen if his partners weren't such scorers? Now Tampa has the strongest team not only in the club's history, but possibly one of the strongest in the league's history.

[@beyond_thebench]

For sure!!

[@user-vs1eg7kw5q]

Сейчас Куч тащит Тампу натурально в соло, у него гигантский отрыв от всех партнёров по очкам, это Харт в любой вселенной. Куч был бы хорош везде

[@AVlad-eg3ds]

По моему мнению, Пойнт, Стемкос и Хэдман недосчитались бы множества очков, если бы не Никита. Этот сезон показывает, что Никита тащит команду, когда команда не хочет, чтобы её тащили и просто разрывает противника в играх, когда команда играет. Сейчас в Тампе далеко не сильнейшая команда, они с большим трудом попали в плей-офф и если бы не Никита, то и не попали бы туда вовсе. В общем, у Никиты будет забивать и дерево. Не так много, как Пойнт или Стемкос, но больше среднестатистического игрока в НХЛ. Другое дело, что с более слабыми партнёрами, Никита сам бросать будет чаще и у него голов будет больше. Бросок у него - дай боже.

[@sheaandrus-oak6546]

10 to 15 in the NHL. The rest, WHO??

[@beyond_thebench]

Ya pretty much lol

[@rewindsea9229]

Gave up after pick number u ngl got tire of the "in 2011"

[@yadamsurensh4003]

Nugent Hopkins is ordinary 2-3rd shift player with average hockey IQ

[@Ratchetti]

With 100 points last season...

[@norespect]

Prowess.

[@beyond_thebench]

😂

[@keithketlo2096]

The Russian factor most likely why he dropped so far

[@AVlad-eg3ds]

I don't think so. Namestnikov and Hohlachev were drafted earlier than him, so... Nikita's strengths are his vision of the game and his attitude for the game, his hard continious work on himself - something that requires time to show results. That is the reason why Kucherov or Datsyuk were chosen so late, IMO. BTW, correct pronunciation for Hohlachev is with 'h' like in 'hotel' in both cases, not 'k'. And Yashkin has 'sh' in the middle, not 's'.

[@bob-rob]

This AI narration sucks

[@beyond_thebench]

A real dude actually!

[@Dhemize]

​@@beyond_thebench I also thought it was AI. Maybe put some more emotion or personality into it, less like a school slide show presentation and more like chatting with a friend. 👍

[@stepankuznec6977]

Никого не знаю...