The Top 10 Players That Were Never Drafted

Just because you may be an undrafted player coming out of  the junior ranks or college hockey doesn't necessarily mean you may not get a shot in the NHL.

Here is a list of ten players that made the most of their opportunities and then some; the top ten undrafted players all time.

10. Martin St. Louis

St.Louis most likely will move up on this list once its all said and done, and why not, the Tampa Bay Lightning's answer to "Mighty Mouse" has been nothing short of brilliant. The three time Hobey Baker Award finalist for college player of the year was signed as a free agent by the Calgary Flames in 1998, but was released after just 69 games and picked up by the Lightning. Since then he has helped them win a Stanley Cup and scored 485 points in 539 games for Tampa. Nice move Craig Button!

9. Tim Kerr

Signed as a free agent by the Philadelphia Flyers, Kerr possessed unprecedented skill for his 6'3" 225 lb stature. If not for 5 shoulder operations, and a career plagued with bad luck he would have been one of the all time greats. In the four seasons Kerr played over 70 games he scored 54, 54, 58 and 58 goals, and had 48 in a 69 game campaign as well. In fact in his 655 games played Tim Kerr finished with 674 points. No wonder Bryan Trottier said the only way to stop him was to put chains around his arms and legs.

8. Borje Salming

A pioneer of European's in the NHL, Salming was signed as a free agent by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1973.  In 17 years in the NHL Salming had 787 points and was considered one of the best defencemen of his era. Ask fellow Swede's Niklas Lidstrom and Mats Sundin who they looked up to as a kid and the name Borje Salming will be mentioned without a doubt.

7. Steve Thomas

After scoring 51 goals and 54 assists in 70 games in 1983-84 with his junior club the Toronto Marlboros, the Maple Leafs signed Steve "Stumpy" Thomas to a contract. Though he put up decent numbers in just over two seasons with the Leafs he was soon dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks  where he became a bona-fide NHLer. In 1235 games played Thomas scored 421 goals and added 512 assists, good for 933 points. Not too shabby Stumpy.

6. Ed Belfour

After playing Tier Two hockey as an overage 21 year old, Belfour accepted a scholarship to the University of North Dakota in 1986-87. After going 29-4-0 in 34 games the Chicago Blackhawks quickly signed the undrafted goalie, and boy did it pay off in 1990-91 when the "Eagle" went 43-19-7 with a 2.47 goals against average in 74 games. Belfour is 484-320-125 lifetime, with a 2.49 goals against average and 76 shut-outs.

look for part 2 soon...