Road to the 2016 NHL Draft: 51st Overall

By Alex Hobson

Welcome back to my "Road to the Draft" series. Yesterday, we took a look at the last ten players drafted 52nd overall, highlighted by Richard Panik and Miikka Salomaki. There are now 51 days remaining until the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, so today we'll take a look at the last ten players drafted 51st overall.

2006 - Nigel Williams, D (Colorado Avalanche)

Drafted as a punishing defensive defenseman, Williams has a successful junior career but never made it to the big leagues, playing for four different AHL teams before retiring from the game after the 2010-11 series.

2007 - Keven Veilleux, C (Pittsburgh Penguins)

Veilleux was drafted as a huge centre with good offensive upside, but also never made it to the NHL. He's currently playing for the Cornwall River Kings of the LNAH.

2008 - Derek Stepan, C (New York Rangers)

Stepan has enjoyed a very solid NHL career to date with the New York Rangers, playing regular top six minutes on the team. He's put up 305 points in 434 NHL games.

2009 - Brian Dumoulin, D (Carolina Hurricanes)

Dumoulin never made it with the Hurricanes, but after developing in the AHL with the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Penguins for a few years, he's now a regular defenseman on the Penguins' d core.

2010 - Calle Jarnkrok, C (Detroit Red Wings)

Jarnkrok never played for the Red Wings, but he's slowly been growing his career after being traded to the Nashville Predators during the 2013-14 season. He recorded 30 points in 81 games for the Preds this season.

2011 - Alexander Ruuttu, C (Phoenix Coyotes)

Ruuttu never made it to North America after being drafted by the Coyotes, and is currently still playing in Europe, most recently in Sweden's Allsvenskan league. He's committed to KalPa of the SM-Liiga next season.

2012 - Dalton Thrower, D (Montreal Canadiens)

Thrower hasn't quite made it in the NHL, or even the AHL. After a solid junior career, Thrower now plays for the Brampton Beast of the ECHL.

2013 - Robert Hagg, D (Philadelphia Flyers)

Hagg, a two way defenseman capable of playing a pure defensive game has been slowly, but steadily growing in the AHL. He's recorded a total of 35 points in 144 AHL games.

2014 - Jack Dougherty, D (Nashville Predators)

After being drafted out of the USNTDP, Dougherty spent this season playing for the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL, recording 52 points in 68 games. He's likely going to make the full time transition to the AHL next year.

2015 - Brendan Guhle, D (Buffalo Sabres)

Guhle is a solid two way defenseman who continues to work on his offensive game. He recorded 28 points in 63 games for the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL this season.

BEST PLAYER DRAFTED 51st: Derek Stepan

There's no doubt that Stepan is the best player to be drafted 51st overall. He's not only a regular 50 point producer on a contending team, he's also young and could still improve. He should be a quality centre for years to come.

RUNNER UPS: Calle Jarnkrok and Brian Dumoulin

POTENTIAL STEALS: Robert Hagg, Jack Dougherty, Brendan Guhlev