NHL Draft Busts Still Hanging on to Roster Spots in 2015-16

NHL teams need to make their first-round selections count, and selections inside the top 10 should pay off with a quality player.

As Scott Cullen of TSN showed in his study on draft success, the risk in each season's draft actually begins at No. 3 overall. His look at the entire draft shows most impact players are high selections, and a top-10 pick needs to pay—or your favorite team has missed badly and it will adversely affect their future.

How many of those precious top-10 picks miss the mark? How many chances do they get to find the range in the NHL? Do the teams that miss out return to the lottery in the following seasons?

Here are six NHL draft busts still getting opportunities to find their way and the impact of their selection on the teams who drafted them.

Note: Players are ranked based on their draft year and the number of years they've struggled to become productive NHL regulars.

6. Brett Connolly, RW, Boston Bruins

Michael Dwyer/Associated Press

When Was He Drafted? Brett Connolly was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning No. 6 overall in the 2010 Entry Draft. 

The Impact On His Team: Connolly came to the NHL a year early, in 2011-12, but he could never grab a regular spot and spent a large part of his entry-level deal in the AHL. He was never a big part of the Lightning lineup.

Where Is He Now? The Lightning traded Connolly to the Boston Bruins for two significant draft picks. The Bruins are using Connolly in a more prominent role, including the power play. If he continues to play at current levels, the tag of draft bust may no longer apply to him.

5. Magnus Paajarvi, LW, St. Louis Blues

Paul Vernon/Associated Press

When Was He Drafted? Magnus Paajarvi was chosen No. 10 overall by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2009 draft. 

The Impact On His Team: Paajarvi debuted as an Oilers winger in 2010-11, scoring 15 goals and looking like a big part of the future. His speed and two-way acumen looked to be a nice fit for Edmonton. As the team continued to struggle, Paajarvi got lost in the shuffle and ended up in the AHL.

Where Is He Now? In the summer of 2013, GM Craig MacTavish dealt Paajarvi and a draft pick to the St. Louis Blues for David Perron. Since arriving in his new NHL city, Paajarvi has struggled to stay in the lineup and coach Ken Hitchcock has shown a preference for older wingers with more grit. Paajarvi's talent has him in the NHL for now, but he'll need to be productive to stay there.

4. Jared Cowen, D, Ottawa Senators

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

When Was He Drafted? Jared Cowen of the Ottawa Senators was chosen No. 9 overall in the 2009 draft. 

The Impact On His Team: The Senators are outstanding at the draft table, and one of the reasons is extreme patience. Cowen came right to the NHL when he turned pro and has been there for most of the time since then.

Where Is He Now? Cowen is struggling badly, and his play is impacting the team in a negative way. His possession number via HockeyAnalysis.com shows a player who cannot stay in the lineup if this continues.

Ken Warren from the Ottawa Citizen wrote recently about Cowen's difficulties, and quoted Senators general manager Bryan Murray finally criticizing the player after a long period of poor play. Cowen's draft number suggested a strong player in a major role and he is not close.

3. Luke Schenn, D, Philadelphia Flyers

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

When Was He Drafted? Luke Schenn was the No. 5 overall pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2008 Entry Draft. 

The Impact On His Team: Schenn went directly to the NHL, and despite struggles, held his value very well in Toronto. The Leafs traded him to the Philadelphia Flyers after four uneven but promising seasons, acquiring James van Riemsdyk for their troubles.

Where Is He Now? Schenn remains in Philadelphia, but has been moving down the depth chart since his arrival. In his first year in a Flyers uniform, he played over 21 minutes a night, but has been under 20 minutes for years now and is part of a struggling group of defenders.

Schenn is viewed as a draft bust—correctly—but there's a good chance he'll have a long career and be regarded differently once he's no longer a member of the Flyers and attached directly to the van Reimsdyk deal.

2. Thomas Hickey, D, New York Islanders

Mary Altaffer/Associated Press

When Was He Drafted? Thomas Hickey was the No. 4 overall selection by the Los Angeles Kings in 2007. He was a reach pick, having been ranked as the No. 13 player in the draft by Bob McKenzie of TSN. 

The Impact On His Team: Hickey never played for the Kings, he played for their AHL affiliate until being lost on waivers in January 2013 to the New York Islanders.

Where Is He Now? Although clearly a draft bust—the Kings lost him for nothing—Hickey has cobbled together a decent career with New York. He is a regular who has averaged over 18 minutes a night with the Islanders since his arrival. Currently out with an injury, Arthur Staple of New York Newsday reports he is back skating and will return at some point.

1. Jack Skille, RW, Colorado Avalanche

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

When Was He Drafted? Jack Skille was the No. 7 overall selection in 2005. The Chicago Blackhawks chose him after three straight years of grabbing defensemen in the first round.

The Impact On His Team: Skille played his first NHL games in 2007-08, but the Blackhawks had so much young talent—led by Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews—it was tough for him to break in. He finally emerged as a regular in 2010-11, but Chicago dealt him in February of 2011 to the Florida Panthers.

Where Is He Now? Skille is playing with the Colorado Avalanche, averaging just over nine minutes a night. He has two goals in 20 games and is not looking like a solution to any problems at this time. More than 10 years after he was drafted, Skille remains where he was in 2007—trying to establish himself as an NHL player.