Victor Olofsson, 181st overall/2014
Olofsson showed flashes throughout his career with the Buffalo Sabres, really turning on the jets between February and April 2022. During the 2021-22 season, he posted a career high 49 points and 29 assists to go along with 20 goals. And he did all of this in just 72 games, meaning that had he been healthy all season, Olofsson most likely would have encroached the 50 to 55-point range.
His best season overall, however, came during the COVID-19 shortened 2019-20 season. He scored 42 points (20 goals) in 54 games, converting 15.7 percent of his shots. For his efforts, Olofsson earned a top spot on the NHL All-Rookie Team and he finished seventh in voting for the Calder Trophy.
Olofsson is one of a few NHL players who has shown that draft status doesn’t always relegate one to the minors or a short hockey career. Given his prominence on the Sabres top scoring lines, Olofsson further proved that even late-round picks can evolve into core players for any NHL franchise.