Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 52nd Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 53rd overall, highlighted by Travis Hamonic and William Karlsson. There are now 52 days left until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll look at the last ten players drafted 52nd overall.

2006 - Keith Seabrook, D (Washington Capitals)

Brother of Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook, Keith didn't pan out the same way his brother did. He had a decent junior career and some solid AHL seasons, but played last year in the ECHL and is now retired.

2007 - Oscar Moller, LW (Los Angeles Kings)

Moller had some small stints in the NHL, but spent the majority of his time in North America in the AHL and then went on to play in Europe, mainly for Skelleftea AIK of the SHL. He played this season with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.

2008 - Brandon Burlon, D (New Jersey Devils)

Burlon hasn't yet made it to the NHL, but unlike most of the other players who haven't made it yet, Burlon is still in the Devils organization developing with the team. Time is running out for him at age 26, but he could potentially be a late bloomer.

2009 - Richard Panik, RW (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Panik has been a flashy player his whole career, but has never seemed to find a stable NHL job. He spent a few years with the Lightning before being placed on waivers and claimed by the Maple Leafs, where he spent one season and then later on was dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks. Has totaled 47 points in 181 NHL games so far.

2010 - Philip Lane, RW (Arizona Coyotes)

Lane is still developing in the Coyotes organization afer a decent junior career with the Brampton Battallion, but needs to continue to work on his offensive game.

2011 - Miikka Salomaki, LW (Nashville Predators)

Salomaki has been a nice depth addition to a growing Preds team who are currently in the second round of the playoffs. He's a solid two way forward and is looking like a good future asset for the Preds.

2012 - Teodors Blugers, C (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Blugers has been a solid NCAA player since being drafted, but has failed to produce in his short AHL stint with the Wilkes/Barre-Scranton Penguins, without a point in 16 games.

2013 - Justin Bailey, LW (Buffalo Sabres)

Bailey has so far been a solid addition to the Sabres AHL team, the Rochester Americans. He's put up 45 points in 70 games for them and could potentially develop into a solid power forward in the NHL.

2014 - Maxim Letunov, C (St Louis Blues)

Letunov has since been traded to the Arizona Coyotes, but nevertheless has been a great producer for the University of Connecticut, finishing this year with 40 points in 36 games, and adds depth to an already stacekd forward pool.

2015 - Jeremy Lauzon, D (Boston Bruins)

Lauzon has proven to be a very solid prospect for the Bruins, recording 50 points in 46 games on the QMJHL powerhouse Rouyn-Noranda Huskies as a defenseman. He will likely head back to the Q for one final year before making the jump to the AHL.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 52ND: Richard Panik

Let's be honest, this is probably the overall weakest list I've done so far, for both current players and prospects. Panik is a decent player, but hasn't played more than third line minutes during his career. He's still been an effective player, however.

RUNNER UP: Miikka Salomaki

POTENTIAL STEALS: Maxim Letunov, Jeremy Lauzon