NHL Prospects Running out of Time to Prove Themselves

Not every pick in an NHL draft pans out. While some become league superstars, others battle to adjust to the speed at the game's highest level. Many never make it at all, but some plug away in the hockey version of purgatory—bouncing between the minors and the NHL until they become a regular in one or the other. 

Because of the incredible investment teams put into their higher picks, they're not quick to quit on a prospect. Eventually, though, the league's general managers have to make a decision on each player. They can get some value on the trade market for a player who still has some upside, dedicate themselves to more development time or, in extreme cases, just cut bait. 

For some of the players on this list of NHL prospects who are running out of time to prove themselves, those decisions have already been made by their original clubs and they're on their second chance (in extreme cases, their third). They may have been trying to establish themselves as bigger pieces in the NHL or are still trying to carve out a regular role. Some may have yet to see more than a game or two in the top league. 

These aren't fresh-faced teenagers. These are players a few years removed from their draft years but haven't yet celebrated their 25th birthdays. For whatever reason, they just haven't lived up to their potential. 

Time is ticking for each of them. Read on to see who made the list. 

8. Ryan Spooner, Boston Bruins

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How They Got Him

Ryan Spooner is a bit of an exception on this list because he wasn't taken until the second round of the 2010 NHL draft (45th overall) by the Boston Bruins. 

How He's Progressing

The versatile center has also played the wing for the Bruins and had a huge breakout season last season. He spent the entire year in the NHL for the first time, scoring 13 goals and 49 points in 80 games. Until this year, there was a nice upward trend in his numbers as a professional.

However, he has struggled to take another step forward and is now hearing his name in trade rumours, according to CSNNE.com's Joe Haggerty (via the Hockey News).

The Crystal Ball Says

There are some major impact players from the first round of the same draft, including ex-Bruin Tyler Seguin, Vladimir Tarasenko, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Taylor Hall and Jeff Skinner, so it's understandable the Bruins may be a little impatient at this point of the 24-year-old's career.

He is extremely inconsistent and streaky, but that may have something to do with the way he bounces around the lineup. It's easy to imagine him hitting new heights if he does get a fresh start somewhere else. 

7. Nikita Zadorov, Colorado Avalanche

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How They Got Him

Nikita Zadorov was a key piece of the return in the trade that sent center Ryan O'Reilly to the Buffalo Sabres. The Colorado Avalanche also got a first-round pick in the 2015 draft, Mikhail Grigorenko and J.T. Compher. Zadorov was the Sabres' top pick in the 2013 NHL draft at 16th overall. 

How He's Progressing

When it comes to a defenseman with Zadorov's set of skills, it's critically important he carves out a niche on the power play or produces points and scoring opportunities at even strength as a puck-mover. His deficiencies in his own end and slow progression in Buffalo are what led to his trade early in his development.

Unfortunately, his numbers haven't improved at the NHL level with his new team—he has no goals and six assists in 48 games with the Avs. 

The Crystal Ball Says

Considering his position and the steep learning curve that comes with it, as well as the fact he's still just 21, Zadorov isn't a lost cause. If the Avs stay patient with the eager Russian, their investment could pay off. Despite recently suffering his first healthy scratch with the team this year, he seems to have the right attitude. 

6. Derrick Pouliot, Pittsburgh Penguins

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How They Got Him

The Pittsburgh Penguins drafted defenseman Derrick Pouliot eighth overall in the 2012 NHL draft after a solid second full season with the WHL's Portland Winterhawks, passing over fellow first-round defensemen like Jacob Trouba, Cody Ceci and Olli Maatta. 

How He's Progressing

The 22-year-old had Pens fans somewhat excited when he earned significant playing time in his first year as a pro, suiting up for 34 games in 2014-15 and netting a pair of goals and seven points. Sadly, that and his seven assists in 22 games last year have been the highlights so far.

He was a healthy scratch down the stretch and in the playoffs for the Stanley Cup champs, and Pouliot was recently sent back to the minors for more development after playing just one NHL game this season. 

The Crystal Ball Says

It's going to be tough for Pouliot to bump a healthy Olli Maatta or Brian Dumoulin this season, so until he's needed to fill in for an injured player, the minors is probably the best place for him to improve his play. Dumoulin and Justin Schultz are both restricted free agents this summer, and veteran Trevor Daley is set to become an unrestricted free agent, so the Pens can be patient with Pouliot for another year. 

5. Nail Yakupov, St. Louis Blues

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How They Got Him

The Edmonton Oilers traded away the underachieving top pick of the 2012 NHL draft last summer. The St. Louis Blues only had to give up prospect Zach Pochiro and a conditional third round pick in 2017—which turns into a second-rounder if he scores 15 goals for the Blues this season.

How He's Progressing

Yakupov had a stellar rookie campaign with 17 goals and 31 points in the lockout-shortened 48-game season in 2012-13, but he has seen his numbers and value steadily decline.

The Oilers grew tired of his inconsistency and inability to commit to better defense, and things haven't changed with the Blues. Yakupov has been a healthy scratch in 12 of the last 19 games and is on pace for eight goals and less than 20 points.

The Crystal Ball Says

It sure looks like that second-round pick is safe from the Oilers' clutches. Yakupov is 23 and has been in the NHL for five seasons now and still can't manage to produce like a top pick. He says all the right things about being a good teammate and working hard, and the team has little to lose by giving him every opportunity to show he can put it all together, but time is definitely ticking. 

4. Griffin Reinhart, Edmonton Oilers

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How They Got Him

The Edmonton Oilers were desperate for some solutions on a thin and aging blue line before the 2015 NHL draft and parted ways with first- and second-round picks to pick up Griffin Reinhart from the New York Islanders. Despite being a fourth overall draft pick in 2012, Reinhart only saw action in eight regular-season games with the Isles in 2014-15.

How He's Progressing

Reinhart had a stellar junior career with the Western Hockey League's Edmonton Oil Kings and has been decent at the American Hockey League level, but his skills aren't translating in the NHL. The Oilers gave him just 29 games with the big club last season, and he's spent the rest of his time with the AHL's Bakersfield Condors.

He failed to make the Oilers out of camp this year and has been passed over as a recall repeatedly in favor of younger defensemen. 

The Crystal Ball Says

Reinhart is only 22 and is in the last year of his entry-level deal, but the pending restricted free agent will have to take advantage of his next NHL opportunity to get an offer or extension this summer. It's hard to believe he has one foot out the door with the Oilers already, but if he spends some more time in the AHL and gains some skills and confidence there, he may make an impact at the NHL level in another year or two. 

3. Mark McNeill, Chicago Blackhawks

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How They Got Him

Mark McNeill was the Chicago Blackhawks' first-round pick in the 2011 NHL draft (18th overall). The Hawks landed Brandon Saad in the second round that year.  

How He's Progressing

It's a little surprising that the big-bodied center has had just one game in the NHL in the past few years. He has improved his point total in each of his last three seasons with the AHL's Rockford IceHogs but is on pace this year for only a dozen goals—although his point pace is on par with his previous overall output. 

The Crystal Ball Says

The Blackhawks signed McNeill to a one-year deal this season, and given his somewhat disappointing start as a sniper after back-to-back 20-goal AHL campaigns, the team could use him as a trade chip for a team looking to take a chance on a 23-year-old prospect in need of a fresh start.

On the other side of the coin, the Blackhawks are annually looking for younger players to take on supporting roles in the NHL as they work their way under the salary cap. 

2. Jarred Tinordi, Arizona Coyotes

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How They Got Him

In the trade known as the NHL's attempt to bury NHL All-Star John Scott in the minors, the Montreal Canadiens sent defenseman Jarred Tinordi to the Arizona Coyotes for Scott and defenseman Victor Bartley. Tinordi was drafted by the Habs in the first round of the 2010 NHL draft. 

How He's Progressing

The Canadiens didn't do Tinordi any favors in his early development, pinballing him back and forth between the NHL and the minors for four seasons. They kept waiting for the big rearguard to show an offensive side to his game and become a consistent shutdown defender in his own end but gave up last year.

It was later discovered he failed a drug test for performance-enhancing drugs and was suspended 20 games. 

The Crystal Ball Says

The 24-year-old is looking like a career minor leaguer now. On a team like the Coyotes, he still wasn't able to crack the top seven, so the team demoted him to the American Hockey League after his suspension was over. The Coyotes signed him to a one-year deal, so the suspension wasn't a huge concern, but his play in the minors this time around will determine whether he ever gets another chance with the team. 

1. Brett Connolly, Washington Capitals

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How They Got Him

After the Boston Bruins failed to extend Brett Connolly a qualifying offer last spring, the Washington Capitals picked him up as an unrestricted free agent, signing him to a one-year deal worth $850,000, according to CapFriendly.com. 

How He's Progressing

Is the third team the charm for the 24-year-old? He showed promise with the Tampa Bay Lightning after the Bolts took him with the sixth overall pick in the 2010 NHL draft, but his AHL offense has not materialized in the big league.

The Bruins parted with a pair of second-round picks to get him but let him go for nothing after one season. With the high-octane Caps, he has three goals and four points in 16 games in a bottom-six role that has seen him scratched often.

The Crystal Ball Says

"Reply hazy, try again." At least that's what the Magic 8-Ball says every time I shake it. If he can't produce with the quality of depth forwards the Capitals have, he's probably not going to make it anywhere. He's a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights, but the Caps will need to see more consistent glimpses of his gifts to bother with a qualifying offer. 

Stats courtesy of NHL.com.