NHL Teams Rely Heavily on Undrafted Players for Success In a surprising trend, many of the National Hockey League's top-performing teams are finding success thanks to players who were overlooked in the annual draft. Despite being passed over by scouts and general managers, these undrafted players are proving themselves to be invaluable assets to their respective teams. From playoff heroes to consistent contributors, the list of undrafted players making a significant impact in the NHL is growing, and it's forcing teams to reevaluate their approach to player development. As the league continues to evolve, it's becoming increasingly clear that sometimes the best players aren't the ones with the highest draft picks.

How undrafted players became so vital to NHL teams' success  ESPN