The NHL’s top late-round steals since 2020

Last season, we ran a series on the top draft steals dating back to 2019 – and you folks seemed to love it.

There have been plenty of talented players taken 100th overall or later in recent memory, some of whom have already become impact NHLers. Player development has gotten so much better over time, with the Fog of War being less prevalent as video scouting continues to expand. There’s less guessing going on – this isn’t your NHL 26 Franchise Mode.

If you can convert any late-rounders into actual NHL players, that’s a score. They don’t need to be the next Pavel Datsyuk. Even just a few fill-in games are better than nothing. But as you’ll see below, sometimes you find gold where you least expect it.

Today, we’re looking at the top late-round steals from the draft dating back to 2020. Some have been traded from their initial destinations, while others are already selling plenty of jerseys for their clubs. We’ve skipped the 2025 draft, given that it was conducted four months ago:

2020: Devon Levi, G (Buffalo Sabres)

Drafted: Seventh round, 212th overall (by Florida Panthers)
Also Considered: Nils Aman, C (Vancouver Canucks via Colorado Avalanche, 167th); Louis Crevier, D (Chicago Blackhawks, 188th)

Aman has played 132 games already, which is more than anyone drafted after the 84th pick in the 2020 draft. But Levi is the one with the most promise and perhaps the only late-round pick with a legit chance of becoming an impact player. By all counts, a lot of the shine has worn off over the past few years. The Sabres have given Levi a few chances, but most evaluators will agree he was rushed to the NHL too quickly.

Fortunately, they’ve worked hard to fix that. Instead of thrusting him into a backup gig this year, especially when Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen got hurt, the Sabres kept him focusing on development. The 23-year-old has been one of the AHL’s top goaltenders over the past three years (he had seven shutouts in 2024-25), including this year while he shares the net with veteran Alexandar Georgiev. It feels like the Sabres will clear space for Levi by next season if he keeps this up, and hopefully regains his status as one of the best goaltending prospects in the game.

2021: Jackson Blake, RW (Carolina Hurricanes)

Drafted: Fourth round, 109th overall
Also Considered: Emil Lilleberg, D (Tampa Bay Lightning via Arizona Coyotes, 107th); Joshua Roy, LW (Montreal Canadiens, 150th)

Nobody listed here is as rich as Blake is going to be after signing an eight-year contract extension this summer. Blake is coming off a solid rookie season with the Hurricanes, where he had 17 goals and 17 assists for 34 points in 80 games. This year, the 22-year-old is already on pace for 55 points while adding even more physicality to his already impressive toolkit.

When in doubt, draft from good hockey bloodlines. Jackson’s father, Jason, spent 13 seasons in the NHL, tallying 486 points in 871 games while often playing top six roles. The same goes for Blake, who has settled in nicely alongside Logan Stankoven and Nikolaj Ehlers on Carolina’s second unit. Blake is quick, hits hard, and has a great shot release, making him dangerous in more ways than one.

2022: Victor Mancini, D (Vancouver Canucks)

Drafted: Fifth round, 159th overall (by New York Rangers)
Also Considered: Noah Laba, C (New York Rangers, 111th); Nikita Grebenkin, RW (Philadelphia Flyers via Toronto Maple Leafs, 135th)

Mancini hasn’t found a full-time NHL gig just yet, and has spent the past two years bouncing around the NHL and AHL. But he was a big part of the Abbotsford Canucks’ championship win last year and has been the big team’s primary call-up whenever they’ve needed a defenseman. In spurts, he’s good – his analytics haven’t been too shabby, either. Given he was a key part of the trade that sent J.T. Miller to the Big Apple, getting some actual utility out of the 6-foot-3 defender is a win for the Canucks. At the very least, he can handle himself physically and is good in his own zone, even if his offensive game needs work.

Don’t be surprised if Laba ends up getting the mantle for 2020 down the line. He never gives up on a play, skates well and can hold his own defensively. He has a big body, and his playing style feels perfectly suited for the bottom six. Laba only became an NHLer this year, so there’s still plenty of time for him to continue growing his game. For now, though, I’m giving him an honorable mention spot.

2023: Emmitt Finnie, LW (Detroit Red Wings)

Drafted: Seventh round, 201st overall
Also Considered: Luca Cagnoni, D (San Jose Sharks, 123rd); Charles-Alexis Legault, D (Carolina Hurricanes, 139th)

Finnie went from nearly getting passed over in 2023 to becoming a serious Calder Trophy candidate two years later. A hot preseason thrust Finnie into full-time duty, skipping Grand Rapids altogether and earning him a spot in Detroit’s top six. Finnie had eight points in October, putting him fourth in team scoring and fourth among all rookies, too. A second-to-none work ethic and a boatload of confidence have made Finnie untouchable – there’s no way they’re sending him down to the AHL now.

Cagnoni deserves some praise, too. The 5-foot-9 defender lacks the obvious size teams crave from defenders. But it’s rare to find a 20-year-old capable of putting up 52 points in their first year in the AHL. He even looked good with the big club in San Jose, too. Cagnoni’s small frame likely won’t help his full-time NHL odds, but he’s been so productive at every level and betting against him could be a mistake.

2024: Vojtech Hradec, C (Utah Mammoth)

Drafted: Sixth round, 167th overall
Also Considered: Miroslav Holinka, C (Toronto Maple Leafs, 151st), Kieron Walton, C (Winnipeg Jets, 187th)

Hradec is increasingly looking like an NHL-caliber player each day. His pro numbers might not look like much, but playing 18 minutes a night against pro-level players at 20 years old is nothing to scoff at. Drafted as an overager, Hradec is an absolute beast in front of the net. It’s hard not to be when you’re 6-foot-4, but Hradec can’t be pushed around. I like his defensive game, too – he’ll lock in and give it his all because he never backs down from a challenge.

Walton also deserves some love. Like Hradec, Walton is massive, standing tall at 6-foot-6. But unlike most bigger forwards, Walton’s game is built more around skill. He more than doubled his offensive totals last year compared to his draft campaign, finishing with 92 points. He’s already averaging a goal per game as a 19-year-old, putting him on track for 109 points. Walton will likely need to improve his speed and defensive-zone coverage to establish himself as an NHLer, but I still love his game right now.

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