#8. Dallas Stars
Actual: Scott Glennie
Re-Draft: Chris Kreider
This was hands down the biggest bust in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. At the time, this seemed like a great draft pick because Glennie, who is a 6-foot-one, 200 pound center had 89 and 91 points in his last two years in junior.
However, Glennie could never crack the Stars roster and subsequently played six years in the American Hockey League. There is a silver lining as Glennie was part of a Calder Cup winning Texas Stars team, but unfortunately that’s not what Dallas wanted with the eighth overall pick.
What Dallas would have preferred is someone like Chris Kreider. In Kreider’s last seven seasons in New York, he’s averaging 22 goals per season. His teammates have called him a ‘freak athlete’ because of his speed and ability to shoot the puck.
Dallas missed the playoffs four consecutive seasons after this draft and it probably has a lot to do with their scouting department and unfortunate ability to miss out on great players like Kreider.
#9. Ottawa Senators
Actual: Jared Cowen
Re-Draft: Nick Leddy
The curious case of Jared Cowen. Traded in the Dion Phaneuf deal between Ottawa and Toronto, Cowen was bought out by the Leafs and then never seen again.
As a high draft-pick, Cowen seemed like he could fit into the NHL. Standing tall at 6-foot-five, 240 pounds, he was the prototypical Western Hockey League defenseman, helping his Spokane Chiefs win the 2008 Memorial Cup. However, his career never transpired as a professional and Ottawa is regretting this pick.
Ottawa should have still gone with a defenseman at the number-nine spot, but instead they should have gone with Nick Leddy. “Steady Leddy” is what NHL coaches dream of. He’s a great puck-moving defenseman with incredible skating ability and rarely misses a game.
#10. Edmonton Oilers
Actual: Magnus Paajarvi
Re-Draft: Anders Lee
There are a few things certain in life: Death, taxes and the Edmonton Oilers screwing up their first round draft pick. In Paajarvi’s rookie season, he performed adequately with 15 goals but things went downhill quickly.
It took nine seasons for Paajarvi to hit double-digit goals in a season again before just recently heading to the KHL. It’s actually impressive he stayed in the league for as long as he did.
Anders Lee on the other hand, is one of the most underrated players in the NHL. As the current captain of the New York Islanders, Lee has bloomed into a prolific goal-scorer. He has five 20-goal seasons in his last six campaigns, while eclipsing the 40-goal mark in 2017-18.
Originally drafted as the 152nd overall selection, Lee has been a steal for the Islanders and is a player that Connor McDavid would desperately love playing beside in Edmonton.