Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 59th Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players taken 60th overall, highlighted by Tomas Tatar, Jimmy Hayes, and Stephen Johns. There are 59 days left until the draft, so today we'll look at the last ten players drafted 59th overall.

2006 - Codey Burki, C (Colorado Avalanche)

Burki never played a single NHL game since being drafted. He bounced around between the AHL and ECHL, and is now playing in Switzerland for EHC Olten.

2007 - Drew Schiestel, D (Buffalo Sabres)

Like Burki, Schiestel never panned out in the NHL. While in North America, he was an AHL regular with 240 games under his belt, and is now playing in Denmark for Rungsted Seier Capital.

2008 - Tyler Beskorowany, G (Dallas Stars)

Yet another player who never panned out in the NHL, Beskorowany spent the majority of his career playing in the ECHL and AHL, and is now playing for Nurnberg Ice Panther of the DEL.

2009 - Brandon Pirri, LW (Chicago Blackhawks)

Pirri is the first player on this list to have stablized a solid NHL career to date. He played a handful of games with the Blackhawks, then spent time with the Florida Panthers and currently plays for the Anaheim Ducks. He's recorded a total of 80 points in 166 NHL games.

2010 - Jason Zucker, LW (Minnesota Wild)

Zucker has spent his entire career to date with the Minnesota Wild, and has established himself as a regular top nine forward for them. The California Product has a total of 61 points in 169 games as an effective penalty killer for the WIld.

2011 - Rasmus Bengtsson, D (Florida Panthers)

Bengtsson has spent almost his entire career playing in Europe, most recently (and currently) with IF Bjorkloven of Allsvenskan in Sweden, where he's totaled 10 points in 24 games.

2012 - Boo Nieves, C (New York Rangers)

Nieves has yet to appear in an NHL game, but he's improved his offensive game over the years. He finished his season this year with the University of Michigan with 31 points in 35 games and has appeared in eight games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers' affiliate, recording five points.

2013 - Eric Comrie, G (Winnipeg Jets)

Comrie was hailed as one of the nation's top goaltending prospects last season, playing on Canada's WJC team alongside of Zach Fucale, and spent this season with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.

2014 - Brandon Halverson, G (New York Rangers)

Halverson spent his past few seasons playing for the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds of the OHL, and was on Team USA for the WJC this season. He is eligible to play in the AHL next year.

2015 - Julius Nattinen, C (Anaheim Ducks)

Nattinen moved to North America after being selected by the Anaheim Ducks last season and this year recorded 71 points in 52 games with the Barrie Colts.

TOP PLAYER DRAFTED 59TH: Brandon Pirri

This list is without a doubt weaker than yesterday's, but Pirri isn't all that bad. He scored 20 goals last season and is still young, and could definitely do it again.

RUNNER UP: Jason Zucker

POTENTIAL STEALS: Eric Comrie, Brandon Halverson, Julius Nattinen