Biggest Steals From the 2014 NHL Draft – The Hockey Writers – NHL Entry Draft

With the 2014 NHL Draft now 11 years behind us, it is time to look at the biggest steals from the draft in Rounds 2-7. In a draft with some fantastic players taken, let’s see which teams made the best selections.

Round 2: Ivan Barbashev, Brandon Montour, Christian Dvorak

A two-time Stanley Cup champion, first in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues and then in 2023 with the Vegas Golden Knights, Ivan Barbashev has played a crucial middle-six role in both Cup runs. Drafted 33rd overall from the Moncton Wildcats of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), Barbashev has proven to be a reliable playoff performer and a great center option for Vegas. With a career high of 60 points in the 2021-22 season, he has more than justified his draft position.

Drafted 55th overall by the Anaheim Ducks, Brandon Montour has developed into a top-tier defenseman. His career high came in 2022-23, when he racked up an impressive 73 points. A Stanley Cup champion with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24, Montour is now a key piece of the Seattle Kraken’s blue line, coming off a solid 41-point season in 81 games.

Christian Dvorak remains one of the more puzzling cases from this draft. With a career high of 18 goals and 38 points during the 2019-20 season, it’s difficult to understand how he’s still being paid $5.4 million per year until next offseason by the Philadelphia Flyers. That said, Dvorak is a steady third-line center who was absolutely dominant in junior with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), tallying a ridiculous 121 points in 59 games during the 2015-16 season. Drafted 58th overall by the Arizona Coyotes, he certainly qualifies as a steal, even if his NHL career leaves something to be desired.

Honorable Mentions: Marcus Pettersson, Thatcher Demko, Ryan Donato

Round 3: Brayden Point, Elvis Merzlikins, Warren Foegele

A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Brayden Point has cemented himself as one of the best players in the NHL. Drafted 79th overall from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL), Point reached a career high of 51 goals and 95 points in the 2022-23 season, showcasing his elite scoring ability. Simply put, he’s among the league’s premier stars; not much else needs to be said.

Although originally from Latvia, Elvis Merzlikins played all of his junior and professional hockey in…