So, You Didn't Get Drafted. Relax!

Many hopes and dreams will be realized when the NHL Entry Draft gets underway this Friday. Thousands of kids and young adults have been waiting for the day that some NHL team (even the Florida Panthers) calls their name and brings them down to put on their new sweater.

Not every talented hockey player, however, will hear their name called during the draft. Due to teams' prejudices (the player is too small!), a lack of scouting, or just a lack of skill, many kids will not be drafted by an NHL club, and their NHL dreams may be shattered in the process.

Being passed over in the draft, however, is hardly a death sentence. Teams are always looking for more talent, and a little perseverance and a lot of production in the lower tiers of hockey can go a long way for a non-drafted player.

Take Ed Belfour and Curtis Joseph. These gentlemen were two of the better goalies of our era, and were never drafted by any NHL club. Not even a sniff! If teams can miss the boat on two very adept netminders, you know they are passing over a lot of other quality players.

The list of undrafted NHLers is surprisingly large, and should give hope to any kid who doesn't get drafted this year.

Look at the list below ... it really has a bit of everything, like a good Irish stew: Stars, secondary scorers, grinders, fighters, goalies ... Makes you wonder how many scouts aren't doing their jobs very well.

(This list compiled by 'Chili' over at HFBoards.com)

Avery Sean

Belfour Ed

Bergeron Marc-Andre

Blake Jason

Bouillon Francis

Bourque Rene

Boyle Dan

Brashear Donald

Brookbank Wade

Burrows Alexandre

Conklin Ty

Cowan Jeff

Cullen Mark

Danis Yann

Delmore Andy

deVries Greg

Downey Aaron

Dubielewicz Wade

Dupuis Pascal

Eaton Mark

Fedotenko Ruslan

Fiddler Vern

Giordano Mark

Glumac Mike

Godard Eric

Gorges Josh

Gratton Josh

Halpern Jeff

Hamilton Jeffrey

Hartigan Mark

Healey Eric

Hoggan Jeff

Ivanans Raitis

Jacina Greg

Johnson Mike

Jones Randy

Joseph Curtis

Klemm Jon

Kunitz Chris

Langdon Darren

Larose

Lebda Brett

Lessard Junior

Madden John

McDonald Andy

Meyer Freddy

Michalek Zbynek

Montador Steve

Mowers Mark

Orr Colton

Ortmeyer Jed

Penner Dustin

Pock Thomas

Pothier Brian

Preissing Tom

Rafalski Brian

Regehr Richie

Reinprecht Steven

Rheaume Pascal

Rismiller Patrick

Robitaille Randy

Roloson Dwayne

Ryan Matt

Rycroft Mark

Rypien Rick

Sanford Curtis

Sejna Peter

Shelley Jody

Simpson Todd

St Louis Martin

Suchy Radoslav

Sutton Andy

Vandermeer James

Vigier JP

Weaver Mike

Westcott Duvie

White Todd

Williams Jason