The Nux had a decent draft in 2001 taking RJ Umberger 16th and Kevin Bieksa in the 5th. They whiffed in 2002, but are showing their draft prowess with the selection of Ryan Kesler 23rd in 2003. 2004 turned up Cory Schneider in the late first round, Alex Edler in the 3rd, and Janik Hansen in the 9th. 2005s first rounder never got to show his full potential in the NHL as Luc Bourdon passed away tragically in a motorcycle accident, but he was a good pick, a real talent with a great shot and a hard edge...he'd look awfully good on the Nux back end right now. taken in the second round that year Mason Raymond is a lightning quick top six forward these days. That's six current roster players on the NHLs top team drafted in a five year span (all in four drafts total, and likely would be seven: RIP Luc Bourdon).
2006s Mike Grabner has finally found a home in Long Island after being traded on draft day last year to FLA, then released. Surprising a speedy winger with 24 points in his first 58 NHL games has had three homes arleady. He'll continue to improve. Sergei Shirokov taken in the 6th that year is leading the AHL Manitoba Moose in scoring and should challegen for top six minutes next year.
2007 was a whiff.
2008s first round pick became Major Junior player of the year. Cody Hodgson the tenth pick that year has battled injury ever since but is showing signs of top flight talent in the AHL. Yann Sauve at 41st that year is a sizable blue liner. 2009s third round pick of Kevin Connauton is looking like a future Power Play quarterback. They also snatched up Jordan Schroeder, a projected top ten pick, way back at 22 that year. His development has slowed in the AHL this year but there's no doubting his potential.
They get a B, would be a B+ but they had some big misses and no pick earlier than 4th round in 2010.
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