NHL teams will yet again be scouring the free-agent bargain bin as the salary cap rises just $1 million for the second consecutive year.

Whether it's competitive squads looking to round out their roster, clubs on the outside of the playoff picture hoping to unearth a hidden gem, or rebuilding teams identifying players they could flip at the trade deadline, the market for inexpensive NHLers never dries up.

Last season, the Washington Capitals landed Marcus Johansson, Erik Gustafsson, and Sonny Milano for a combined $2.65 million. All three are expected to get notable raises on their next contracts.

Daniel Sprong didn't sign until October and became the second-most cost-effective scorer in the league not on an entry-level contract.

The Florida Panthers went all the way to the Stanley Cup Final with a lineup filled with numerous cheap depth players, including Nick Cousins, Eric and Marc Staal, and Colin White.

Here are nine of the most intriguing players from the 2023 unrestricted free-agent class that are projected to sign for less than $2.5 million, per Evolving Hockey.

Pius Suter

Suter scored at the lowest rate and played the fewest minutes of his three-year NHL career last season. Despite the dip in production, he remained an effective even-strength presence for the Detroit Red Wings and was among the league's best penalty killers.

His 13.1 expected goals above replacement in 2022-23 is the fifth most among free-agent forwards, and the highest mark by one projected to sign for less than $2.5 million.

Suter hasn't reached the playoffs yet, but he's posted positive on-ice Corsi, expected goals, and actual-goal results relative to his teammates in each of his three seasons.

Detroit limited opponents to 6.06 expected goals per 60 when Suter was on the penalty kill. That's the eighth-lowest mark among forwards that played at least 100 shorthanded minutes last season.

On the younger side for an unrestricted free agent, the 27-year-old Suter is an excellent candidate to become an impactful bottom-six forward on a cheap deal for a contending team.

Potential fits: Hurricanes, Penguins, Maple Leafs

Connor Brown

Brown almost feels like a forgotten player. After all, he only made four goalless appearances last season after tearing his ACL.

Brown is likely not on this list without that injury. Coming off of a three-year deal that had a $3.6-million cap hit, his next contract is one of this summer's more difficult projections. Is there a team still willing to give him a multi-season commitment around the same price point, or does Brown opt to take a short-term contract to rehabilitate his value?

In three seasons with the Ottawa Senators, Brown averaged top-line minutes and was an effective offensive winger that chipped in on both special teams. If his injury does drive down his cap hit, he'll make a team very happy in 2023-24.

Potential fits: Oilers, Jets, Lightning

Jonathan Drouin

A change of scenery is exactly what Drouin needs to revitalize his career.

There's no denying Drouin's talent, particularly as a playmaker, but his recent lack of goal-scoring leaves a lot to be desired. He's managed just 17 goals in 163 games since the start of the 2019-20 season, a rate worse than the likes of Curtis Lazar, Adam Erne, and Chris Tierney.

Drouin's time in Montreal was turbulent. He was shoehorned into an ill-fitting position, and he failed to meet the lofty expectations put on him based on his place of birth and how he was acquired.

Moving on from that situation will allow Drouin to start fresh. There's upside on a short-term "prove-it" deal for the 28-year-old if he's used in a sheltered, offensive role.

A reunion with Halifax Mooseheads teammate Nathan MacKinnon would certainly be fun.

Potential fits: Blackhawks, Avalanche, Panthers

Evgenii Dadonov

A positive end to Dadonov's season with the Dallas Stars helped his stock.

The 34-year-old tallied seven goals and 25 points in 39 total games across the end of the regular season and playoffs, far exceeding his 18 points across 50 contests with Montreal.

Aside from this past season with the Canadiens and a 2020-21 stint with a young Ottawa Senators squad, Dadonov has consistently produced since returning to the NHL in 2017-18.

An inexpensive deal makes a lot of sense for talented teams looking to round out their depth up front with an effective complementary scorer.

Potential fits: Bruins, Avalanche, Wild

Matthew Phillips

Note: Stats are from AHL games.

The most attractive Group 6 UFA of the year may be Phillips.

A player becomes this type of free agent if they're 25 years old, have completed three or more professional seasons, and have played fewer than 80 NHL games. As a result, Phillips enters unrestricted free agency early on the heels of another splendid offensive season in the AHL.

The diminutive winger scored over 30 goals for the second straight season, setting career highs with 36 tallies and 76 points.

Despite his prowess with Calgary's AHL affiliate, Phillips has only played three NHL games. He never played more than 10 minutes this past season.

Whether the 5-foot-7 winger sinks or swims in the NHL remains to be seen, but Phillips is at least deserving of a chance to show what he's got in the big leagues.

Potential fits: Bruins, Blackhawks, Jets

Connor Mackey

Another Group 6 UFA, Mackey finished the season in the Coyotes' top four and featured in a similar role for the United States at the World Championships.

Though he's likely not a second-pairing blue-liner on a contending team, Mackey showed enough promise as a 6-foot-2 defenseman to warrant further NHL minutes.

Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2020, Mackey posted good results in two AHL campaigns before 2022-23 but was unable to break into the Flames' deep defense group. A trade deadline move to Arizona saw him get a chance to play regular NHL minutes for the first time.

In a free-agent class full of older, uninspiring defensemen, Mackey could draw more interest than anticipated with his positive end to the previous campaign.

Potential fits: Panthers, Kings, Capitals

Lucas Carlsson

Note: Stats are from AHL games.

There's no free-agent defenseman that ticks the "low-risk, high-reward" box quite like Carlsson.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old blue-liner had a breakout offensive campaign in the AHL, scoring 20 goals and 54 points in 61 games. Despite being a Group 6 UFA, he has a fair bit of NHL experience.

Carlsson played 40 games with the Panthers in 2021-22 and has logged 60 total games across parts of four seasons. He recorded nine points in that stint with Florida and posted positive underlying metrics in the process.

If his upside isn't enough, Carlsson can also chip in as a part-time goaltender.

With the lack of exciting free-agent depth defensemen, Carlsson is a good bet to join a team looking to add offense from the backend, even if he's only a third-pair option.

Potential fits: Coyotes, Hurricanes, Canucks

Alex Lyon

It's easy to forget the Panthers likely don't make the playoffs if not for Lyon's end-of-season heroics.

The 30-year-old was thrust into the backup role when Spencer Knight left the team, and he suddenly became the starter at the end of March with a hot stretch of play.

In total, Lyon went 9-4-2 with a .915 save percentage in the regular season before losing the gig to Sergei Bobrovsky after Game 3 against the Boston Bruins.

Lyon has been an AHL mainstay for seven years and has consistently been among the league's best goalies with a career .912 save percentage. He's accumulated 39 NHL appearances but hadn't had a stretch of play quite like he showed this season.

Considering he turns 31 in December, it's unlikely Lyon parlays his impressive run into a full-time NHL gig. But as both his Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights showed this season, it's vital in today's NHL to have multiple goaltenders you trust.

Lyon proved he's at the very least one of the best third-string netminders available, and he could be rewarded with a one-way contract as a result.

Potential fits: Red Wings, Islanders, Lightning

Joey Daccord

Note: Stats are from AHL games.

Since turning pro at the end of the 2018-19 campaign, Daccord has been among the AHL's most consistent netminders. He has a career .918 save percentage in 98 regular-season AHL games but has only played a combined 19 NHL contests.

After a strong campaign with the Coachella Valley Firebirds, Daccord found another level in the Calder Cup playoffs. Starting all 26 postseason games for Seattle's affiliate, he posted a .926 save percentage as the Firebirds lost the AHL championship in overtime in Game 7.

Last summer, we saw third-stringer Charlie Lindgren land a three-year contract with a cap hit of $1.1 million to become a full-time NHL backup with the Capitals.

Lindgren had more success in his small NHL sample than Daccord, but he was also older. Daccord will be 27 years old by the start of the 2023-24 campaign.

As teams continue to put more emphasis on goaltending depth, Daccord could be in line for a one-way contract and a chance to win an NHL backup gig.

Potential fits: Senators, Sharks, Golden Knights

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The Carolina Hurricanes are nearing a deal to reacquire defenseman Tony DeAngelo from the Philadelphia Flyers, reports TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The Flyers would retain 50% of DeAngelo's $5-million cap hit and would receive a prospect in return, adds LeBrun. The swap will likely be finalized Sunday.

DeAngelo spent the 2021-22 campaign in Carolina and put up 10 goals and 51 points in 64 games. He played out the bulk of that season on a pair with Jaccob Slavin. The Hurricanes controlled 67.2% of the goals and 60.3% of the expected goals with the duo on the ice at five-on-five, according to Evolving Hockey.

Carolina traded DeAngelo and a 2022 seventh-rounder to the Flyers last July in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick, a 2023 third-round pick, and a 2022 fourth-round pick. He was a pending restricted free agent at the time and signed a two-year, $10-million extension with Philadelphia soon after.

DeAngelo led all Philadelphia defensemen with 42 points in 70 games this campaign, but he was also a team-worst minus-27 while averaging 22 minutes of ice time per contest.

His minus-15.1 defensive goals above replacement was also the worst mark among all NHL skaters in 2022-23.

Flyers head coach John Tortorella scratched DeAngelo for the last five games of the season. DeAngelo said he respected the veteran bench boss but called the decision "ridiculous."

Tortorella said in February that the Flyers needed to work with DeAngelo on his defensive game, adding that his struggles in his own zone stuck out more in Philadelphia than in Carolina.

The Hurricanes may be adding a familiar face to their blue line for the new season, but another one may be on the way out.

Carolina will reportedly trade rearguard Brett Pesce this offseason if the two sides can't agree on an extension. Pesce can become an unrestricted free agent next summer and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.

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The Carolina Hurricanes signed captain Jordan Staal to a four-year contract extension worth $2.9 million per season, reports The Athletic's Pierre LeBrun.

Staal was due for unrestricted free agency July 1 upon the expiry of the 10-year, $60-million pact he signed with the Canes in 2012.

The 34-year-old has been a two-way force throughout his tenure in Raleigh, racking up 397 points in 742 contests while earning Selke Trophy votes in eight different campaigns. He's worn the 'C' in Carolina for five seasons.

Staal also racked up 32 points in 63 playoff games with the Hurricanes. The franchise qualified for the postseason in five consecutive years, reaching the Eastern Conference Final twice.

Carolina had just over $24 million in financial wiggle room for the upcoming offseason before Staal's extension, according to Cap Friendly.

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The Los Angeles Kings traded defenseman Sean Durzi to the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for a 2024 second-round pick, the teams announced Saturday.

Durzi, 24, has one year remaining on his current pact and carries a $1.7-million cap hit. He can become a restricted free agent once it expires.

The second-round pick heading to Los Angeles originally belonged to the Montreal Canadiens, but the Coyotes acquired it from Montreal in the Christian Dvorak trade in September 2021.

"Sean is a reliable two-way defenseman who has good vision and contributes offensively," Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong said. "He will be a very good addition to our blue line, and we look forward to having him on our roster this season."

Durzi potted a career-high nine goals and 38 points in 72 games this campaign - his second in the NHL - while averaging just under 20 minutes of ice time per contest. He registered 16 points on the power play.

Originally selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft, Durzi has 65 points in 136 career regular-season games, as well as two goals and two assists in 13 playoff contests.

The Kings acquired him from the Maple Leafs in January 2019 as part of the package for veteran blue-liner Jake Muzzin.

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The Colorado Avalanche acquired forward Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators for pending unrestricted free agent forward Alex Galchenyuk, the teams announced Saturday.

Nashville is retaining 50% of Johansen's $8-million cap hit. He has two years remaining on his contract.

Johansen accrued 12 goals and 28 points in 55 games last season. He didn't play after being cut on the leg by a skate Feb. 21. The 30-year-old is one campaign removed from scoring 26 goals and 63 points.

"Ryan is a talented, veteran center who helps our top six," Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement. "He gives us size in the middle of the ice and brings leadership and experience to our roster. We look forward to adding him to our team."

Johanson is expected to slide into the Avalanche's second-line center role. Colorado lost Nazem Kadri in free agency last summer and struggled to fill the 87-point void he left. Pending unrestricted free agent J.T. Compher registered 17 goals and 52 points as Colorado's primary second-line center in 2022-23.

Galchenyuk played 11 games with the Avalanche, failing to record a point. In 42 contests with their AHL affiliate, he tallied 16 goals and 42 points.

If the Predators don't sign the 29-year-old before July 1, Nashville will lose Galchenyuk's rights and he'll become an unrestricted free agent.

Galchenyuk has now been traded six times. He's played for seven teams over the past six seasons.

Nashville is already retaining $250,000 on Mattias Ekholm's contract following his trade to the Edmonton Oilers in February. The club has one retention slot available for the next two seasons.

The Avalanche now have just under $16 million in cap space, which includes the expected LTIR designation for captain Gabriel Landeskog, per CapFriendly. The Predators have $19.5 million available entering the offseason.

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We'll be the first to admit: The 2023 unrestricted free-agent class is thin.

If you want someone to blame, point your finger at Nathan MacKinnon, David Pastrnak, Dylan Larkin, and Bo Horvat, who stripped the market of its star power by signing extensions with their current squads within the past nine months.

Luckily for us, a potentially red-hot trade market and some 2024 UFAs can make this summer extremely interesting, as squads will have to get more creative to make major improvements to their teams.

Here are five of the most intriguing squads heading into the free-agency period on July 1.

Winnipeg Jets

This summer may very well belong to wayward Winnipeg.

July 1 isn't a big day for the Jets in the sense that they'll be landing some big fish on the UFA market, but the early days of the offseason can mark a significant turning point for the organization.

Franchise mainstays Blake Wheeler, Mark Scheifele, and Connor Hellebuyck are set to become UFAs in 2024 and are all eligible to sign extensions on July 1. The problem is, none of them seem particularly interested in doing that. Oh, and pending restricted free agent Pierre-Luc Dubois has made it abundantly clear (again) that he wants to get the hell out of dodge.

For those keeping track at home, that's four key players who might've already played their last game in a Jets jersey. General manager Kevin Cheveldayoff isn't too keen on a rebuild, meaning the Jets will have to retool on the fly, but that's hard to do when you're potentially staring down three major holes in the lineup. No disrespect to Wheeler, but Dubois, Scheifele, and perennial Vezina Trophy candidate Hellebuyck are the major players here.

Luckily for Cheveldayoff, this UFA class isn't particularly strong, so he should be able to fetch a boatload for this disgruntled faction of his core. In terms of Scheifele and Hellebuyck (the former has a 10-team no-move clause, while the latter has no such protection), ripping off the Band-Aid now would benefit Winnipeg a lot more than losing them for nothing a year from now.

Get the right players back in a trade and fill out the rest with some UFA signings (with no internal successor for Hellebuyck in sight, Cheveldayoff would likely have to knock on some free agents' doors), and maybe the Jets can survive a summer exodus bruised but not broken.

Pittsburgh Penguins

The Penguins should be spitting nails this offseason after an inconsistent, frustrating 2022-23 campaign that saw them miss the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.

The guy tasked with righting the ship is new president of hockey operations Kyle Dubas, who's currently serving as Pittsburgh's interim general manager.

The Penguins are the oldest team in the league, so getting faster and younger will be on Dubas' priority list. One way to do that would be to dump Jeff Carter ($3.125 million, one year until UFA) and Mikael Granlund ($5 million, two years until UFA), whose contracts are an eyesore for a squad that'll be looking to build a competent bottom six. However, Carter carries a full no-movement clause, and a buyout would be ineffective since the Penguins would still have to pay out his full salary because he's on a 35-plus contract.

It'd take some wizardry, but it'd definitely be worth the Penguins' while if Dubas can pull it off. It'd free up more cap space for some fresh blood, not to mention the fact that underrated winger Jake Guentzel has one more year on his deal and is eligible to sign an extension on July 1.

Another pressing issue for Dubas: Is pending UFA goaltender Tristan Jarry the guy? Hellebuyck's potential availability as a replacement should certainly grab Dubas' attention, but the Penguins might find it difficult to compete with other suitors who boast flashier prospect pools. If the price is too high to swing a trade, why not make a pitch for Stanley Cup champion Adin Hill on the free-agent market?

Dubas may be inheriting a bunch of question marks, but one thing is for certain: Futility can't be an option, as Pittsburgh's aging-yet-ageless core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang gets closer to "Last Dance" territory with each passing season.

Toronto Maple Leafs

Let's check in with Dubas' ex, shall we?

Look, the 2023-24 Maple Leafs are going to look a lot different than the squad that just won the franchise's first playoff series since 2004. It might not be the earth-shattering changes that some fans have been craving, but new general manager Brad Treliving will have to transform Toronto's supporting cast.

The Maple Leafs have 13 pending UFAs who saw NHL action this season. Four of them - Alex Kerfoot, Michael Bunting, David Kampf, and Justin Holl - have played key roles on the team for multiple campaigns. Others - like Noel Acciari, Ryan O'Reilly, and Luke Schenn - impressed after being brought in around the trade deadline.

There are too many spots to fill by just promoting from within, so Treliving will have to spend some money to fill in the gaps. Could J.T. Compher be a fit, or has his strong 2022-23 campaign priced him out of the Leafs' range? Is Toronto interested in bringing back O'Reilly, or will he be more inclined to go to the highest bidder in a thin market? Kampf has been a reliable soldier for two campaigns, and a reunion wouldn't break the bank, but he'd fetch more money elsewhere. Treliving has $9.143 million to work with, but some of that will have to go to pending RFA goalie Ilya Samsonov.

Despite those question marks, how Treliving handles the core four forwards - Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares - will define his first summer in Toronto. Matthews and Nylander each have one year remaining on their current pacts and are eligible to sign extensions on July 1, with the former being labeled as a "priority" by Treliving.

Prior to Treliving's hiring, president Brendan Shanahan reportedly informed the foursome that they likely won't be moved. Even if Treliving wanted to make a major shakeup, any departure from the core group will get a lot trickier come Canada Day. Matthews' and Marner's full no-move clauses kick in on July 1, while Nylander will submit a 10-team no-trade list.

Boston Bruins

The Bruins have caught our eye for a couple of reasons, but let's start with the most obvious: Patrice Bergeron.

Just like last season, the soon-to-be-six-time Selke Trophy winner's NHL future is in doubt. He staved off retirement last summer by signing a one-year, $2.5-million pact, but whether he's going to put pen to paper again is still up in the air. Bergeron has previously stated that he won't play anywhere else, so it'll be Boston or bust.

It isn't like Bergeron can't handle the NHL anymore, either. The 37-year-old put up 27 goals and 58 points in 78 games while logging typically stellar underlying numbers (Boston outscored teams 46-18 with him on the ice at five-on-five - insanity).

David Krejci, 37, is in a similar boat. He contributed with an impressive 40 assists and 56 points in 70 games during his return to the NHL after a year overseas, but he also hasn't decided if he's hanging up his skates yet.

The Bruins will be in an interesting spot if they both retire, seeing as they'd be out both of their top-six centers. Unfortunately for them, there's a dearth of suitable replacements available on the free-agent market. O'Reilly might be closest to fitting the bill, but he slotted in as a third-line center in Toronto and is already 32 years old, so a long-term pact could get dicey. The Bruins will be competitive no matter what, but the best outcome here would be if Bergeron and Krejci opted to stick around in Beantown.

Now for problem No. 2: The Bruins currently have 15 active roster players under contract and only $4.937 million to fill out the rest. That isn't ideal. That wouldn't even be enough to retain pending UFA Tyler Bertuzzi, who was a great fit in Boston. Money is going to have to be moved out to put together a full lineup. Does Taylor Hall get traded? How about Jeremy Swayman? There are plenty of decisions to come for general manager Don Sweeney.

Colorado Avalanche

After finding out that captain Gabriel Landeskog would miss the entire 2023-24 season in May, Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland acknowledged that his absence "potentially opens up avenues that weren't available to us this past season" in free agency.

Colorado technically has just over $8.5 million at its disposal after acquiring Ryan Johansen, but they will have an extra $7 million to work with since Landeskog will be placed on long-term injured reserve to start the new campaign.

So, what could those potential avenues look like? Colorado has plenty of holes to fill, seeing as it only has seven forwards, five defensemen, and two goalies on its active roster currently under contract. Some cash will have to go to pending RFAs Alex Newhook and Bowen Byram, but they're projected to combine for a $5.526-million cap hit, so there's still some room there. Bringing back pending UFA Evan Rodrigues also wouldn't break the bank.

Luckily for the Avs, they're an attractive destination for free agents. They won the Stanley Cup in 2022 and, despite a litany of injuries, finished in first place in the Central Division this season. This particular market also suits Colorado, which doesn't need a game-breaker.

Another facet to consider: It wouldn't be ideal for Colorado to get bogged down in a pricey, long-term pact for a UFA. That could get sticky real quick if Landeskog is healthy for 2024-25. The team is also going to be paying MacKinnon $12.6 million starting this season, and it has an extension for Devon Toews (2024 UFA) to think about. Those parameters might bar a reunion with Compher, who filled in well as the Avalanche's second-line center this season and could fetch upwards of $5 million on his next pact.

So, why not get funky with it and bring in a veteran like O'Reilly or Patrick Kane on a short-term deal? O'Reilly, in particular, would be neat, seeing as he played the first six seasons of his career in Colorado and could certainly go for a little redemption in Denver. He'd also fill a position of need as a center, while his leadership could soften the blow of another Landeskog-less season.

(Salary source: CapFriendly)
(Analytics sources: Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey)

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Budding superstars whose names were called in the 2003 NHL Draft strode to the stage in Nashville to shake hands with Gary Bettman and soak in the pageantry of the event.

Marc Methot, the No. 168 overall pick, was asleep in Ottawa when the Columbus Blue Jackets phoned his house. His mother nudged him awake after 9 a.m. that Sunday morning. Demoralized by his slide, Methot heard he was the first player taken in the sixth round.

"Even then, I wasn't happy," Methot recalled recently. "I was so competitive. Seeing a lot of those names picked ahead of me, I was pissed off. Inevitably, it propelled me forward. The motivation that I used, having to prove people wrong from that point on, honestly was one of the big driving aspects of me making the jump to the NHL."

Columbus nailed the pick. Raw and physically immature at 18 years old, Methot evolved into a shutdown defenseman and 13-year NHLer. He beat the odds - the vast majority of late-round selections don’t sniff the NHL - and was a solid player in a transcendent class.

The 2003 draft produced 16 1,000-game skaters, six 400-goal snipers, eight NHL captains, and a dozen participants in the epic Canada-United States 2010 Olympic final. The cohort's award winners include Corey Perry (Hart and Rocket Richard Trophies), Marc-Andre Fleury (Vezina), Brent Burns (Norris), and Patrice Bergeron (five Selkes, plus seven additional nominations).

Eight of the top-45 picks - Perry, Fleury, Burns, Bergeron, Eric Staal, Ryan Suter, Jeff Carter, and Zach Parise - remain in the league two decades later. The same goes for Joe Pavelski (pick No. 205), Jaroslav Halak (No. 271), and Brian Elliott (No. 291, the second-last selection). Per CapFriendly, Pavelski and those two goaltenders have combined to earn about $140 million in career salary despite generating minimal draft buzz.

Their durability spotlights the class' depth. Including Methot, 15 players chosen in the fifth round or beyond played more than 500 games. Seven became productive contributors by way of Rounds 8 and 9, which the NHL abolished in 2005.

Their journeys provide the roadmap for how to make it as an unheralded prospect. Today's late bloomers could take inspiration from them when the draft returns to Nashville next week.

Viewers marvel at Connor Bedard's gifts and ludicrous junior production. Media coverage focuses on a few dozen of his peers - the class of 2023's surefire and potential first-rounders. Scores of players will be drafted at later stages without eliciting fanfare, as was the case in 2003.

What was it like to fly below the radar in that loaded draft? What skill enhancements or stylistic adjustments helped certain late-rounders achieve NHL longevity? How was luck on their side, and how did they create their own luck en route to realizing the dream?

Five members of the '03 class shared memories and wisdom with theScore.

"I look at the draft as the first step. The work starts after that," said Lee Stempniak, the fifth-round selection who broke into the league with the St. Louis Blues and appeared in 911 games.

"You'd be foolish to say that a first-round pick doesn't get more opportunities than later-round picks or undrafted guys. But at the end of the day, you need to be able to play."

Use doubts as fuel

Stempniak was a 20-year-old sophomore at Dartmouth in 2003. Passed over in two previous drafts, he got the chance to impress scouts who showed up to watch his star linemate, eventual first-round pick Hugh Jessiman. A Blues official phoned Stempniak at school that June 22 to welcome him to the organization.

"It was pretty anticlimactic," Stempniak said. "But it was cool nonetheless."

Recollections of being selected vary by the prospect. United States Hockey League All-Star Drew Miller found out he went in Round 6 when his dad read the news online. The Pittsburgh Penguins' chief scout left a voice message for ninth-rounder Matt Moulson while the Cornell freshman was out practicing lacrosse, his summer sport.

The events of the day frustrated Nate Thompson, another sixth-rounder who attended the draft in person. Thompson's stock slipped after his Western Hockey League season admittedly was underwhelming. He recalls his agent mentioning that some NHL evaluators thought he'd top out as a decent minor leaguer.

"I've always had a chip on my shoulder when I play," said Thompson, who skated in 844 games. "If I made the NHL and I could stick, I knew I could make myself valuable enough to be a player that teams would want."

Every late-rounder has shortcomings to neutralize or doubts to squelch. Moulson, cut from Triple-A youth teams in the Toronto area at age 16, heard forever that his skating wasn't NHL-caliber. Miller hails from an NHL family - goalie Ryan Miller is his older brother, and cousins Kelly, Kevin, and Kip were longtime pros - but was slight as a teenager. He had to learn how to sidestep hits merely "to survive on the ice."

Shy and overshadowed by barrel-chested peers in the Ontario Hockey League, Methot pored over the results of the draft for motivation. Seeing certain defensemen taken earlier than him provided fuel.

"Maybe it was a little shortsighted at the time, but I was thinking, 'I'm better than this guy. I'm better than this guy,'" Methot said.

He focused on personal progression, doing what he could to gradually raise his game as touted players plateaued.

"Even as a 15-year-old, I was writing myself little sticky notes above my bedroom door. Goals, what to achieve in the offseason, where I wanted to see myself," Methot said.

"My parents never told me to do that. That was something that came to me, and I was by no means an exceptional player. It goes to show the drive needed to make that next step."

Continuously improve

A winding pathway to the pros supplies ample time for skill development. Over four seasons at Dartmouth, Stempniak shouldered major minutes and was encouraged to take chances in head coach Bob Gaudet's unrestrictive offensive system.

"I got to play in a lot of big situations, make some mistakes, learn from those mistakes, and have a confidence with the puck that's really hard to get once it's taken away from you," Stempniak said.

Like Methot, Miller, and Thompson, Moulson refined his skill set over several American Hockey League seasons. He signed with the Los Angeles Kings instead of Pittsburgh out of college and benefited from the tutelage of Mike O'Connell, the Kings' director of player development who walked him through video clips in the Manchester Monarchs' dressing room.

Moulson studied Monarchs practice tape and footage of each of his shifts. O'Connell emphasized that Moulson, a prolific shooter and net-front scorer, had attributes that could offset his clunky skating at the next level.

"I remember him telling me to watch Andrew Brunette, who also wasn't a great skater but had a lot of success in the NHL," Moulson said. "I used to watch game after game of Colorado when (Brunette) was with them."

“I realized I had other assets that could be valuable in the NHL."

Adjustments made in the minors can springboard a player up the ranks. Feisty and slippery, Miller found ways to gain body position on big defenders to be able to crash the opposing crease.

An adept skater and puck-mover at 6-foot-4, Methot lacked an aggressive streak that could've hastened his rise. However, the game got easier for him as he grinded in the gym to add strength and stayed disciplined year-round.

"I never drank much. I wasn't a big fan of going out with the guys all the time and getting loaded," Methot said. "I was a bit of a hermit. Hyperfocused on my diet, on training, on playing good hockey games. I wasn't just content playing in the American league. I think that's a mindset a lot of the NHL guys have."

They also commit to being students of the sport. When Stempniak joined the Blues, head coach Mike Kitchen schooled him on certain nuances, urging him to work after practice on redirecting pucks and one-timing them to the far post. Assistant coach Curt Fraser drilled Stempniak on cutbacks and passes to the point.

Stempniak became a reliable depth scorer. Coveting what he brought, playoff contenders dealt for him at four different trade deadlines.

"If you put in the time, you can make gains," Stempniak said. "The game is all about those marginal gains that ultimately make you a better player."

Luck out

NHL careers take shape when talent, drive, and luck intersect. Guys who make it capitalize on fortunate breaks and fleeting chances to shine. When Methot's London Knights won the 2005 Memorial Cup during the NHL lockout year, his overtime goal to beat Sidney Crosby's Rimouski Oceanic in the round robin enhanced his stature as a prospect.

Moulson, a newcomer to the New York Islanders in September 2009, was in the lineup for an exhibition game in Calgary when Dion Phaneuf crushed and injured Kyle Okposo with an open-ice hit. The ensuing fracas led to ejections. When the dust settled, Moulson ascended to the power play and scored twice on recent Vezina winner Miikka Kiprusoff.

Two Islanders forwards, Sean Bergenheim and Doug Weight, nursed groin injuries during that training camp. Seeking an offensive spark, head coach Scott Gordon elevated Moulson to John Tavares' wing. They clicked instantly. Moulson, the breakout star of that preseason, stuck with New York on a two-way contract and proceeded to pot 30 goals in three straight seasons.

"All these things in my life and all these things in the hockey world were perfectly aligned," Moulson said. "I finally got my chance, and I was not ready to let go of it."

Being cut can be a watershed moment. The Islanders waived Thompson in the midst of Moulson's star turn in 2009-2010. That the Tampa Bay Lightning claimed him bought time for Thompson to establish a niche as a heart-and-soul center and ace faceoff taker.

Tampa Bay waived Miller that same season just as injuries struck the Detroit Red Wings. Miller's defensive aptitude and willingness to grind helped him remain with that franchise for eight years.

Timing is everything, Stempniak said. Rather than languish in the minors for long, he debuted with the Blues following his college graduation and the NHL lockout. Laden with expensive veterans, St. Louis plugged players with cheap contracts into the lineup to squeeze under the salary cap.

St. Louis summoned Stempniak from the AHL during a mid-year losing skid. He promptly scored in three straight games, exhibiting his NHL readiness. Stempniak's role increased, he withstood the roster churn that accompanied the Blues' 30th-place finish, and he set career highs in goals (27) and points (52) the next season.

"For me, everything was based on hard work. Extra time on the ice. Extra time in the gym. Trying to be coachable. Trying to soak up everything I could from all of the veteran players," Stempniak said. "My first year, it was Doug Weight. It was Eric Weinrich. It was Keith Tkachuk. It was Barret Jackman. It was Scott Young. Guys who had been extremely successful in the NHL in a lot of different situations."

Trust the process

Miller's introduction to the NHL happened in the postseason. A rookie pro and Black Ace in 2007, he dressed in Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Final when Anaheim Ducks teammate Chris Kunitz broke his hand. Miller threw a hard hit to create the turnover in the offensive zone that led to Anaheim's opening goal of the series.

"I got my name on the Cup. I got my day with the Cup. I got a ring because I played in the finals," Miller said. "Someone gets hurt, and they picked my name. I'm in there playing with Andy McDonald and Teemu Selanne in the Stanley Cup Final. I'm like, 'Holy crap.'"

Methot toiled in the minors for three seasons before he made the Blue Jackets' roster out of training camp in 2008. A Columbus Dispatch reporter asked him at that camp about the frustration of struggling to break through. Set to be a free agent the following summer, Methot said he'd happily move on if Columbus didn't want him.

"I remember putting that pressure on myself. It was almost unintentional. I think I was just venting to somebody, and that happened to be the newspaper," Methot said. "Some of the veterans gave me the gears that day when I came into the rink, regarding those comments. But I used it. It made me self-aware of my position and that I'd better damn well pull it together now."

Methot fulfilled his potential once he overcame a mental block: "It was getting past the fact that you're (facing) all these guys you used to play as in video games." Star-struck as an NHL call-up, he tended to be able to string together a few good games before his performance declined. Consistency came with maturity.

Most paths to the show aren't linear, Stempniak said. Effort and resilience keep a prospect on track.

"Playing in the NHL, it's an amazing job, but it's a job," he said. "There's pressure. For most people, there's a lot of hard days in terms of not playing well, expectations, adversity.

"That's some of the challenge: putting in the work and not seeing that instant reward or instant gratification, but knowing and trusting that two years from now, three years from now, four years from now, it's going to pay off."

He would know. Stempniak played long enough to suit up for 10 franchises, tied for second most in history. Traded to his hometown Ottawa Senators in 2012, Methot was Erik Karlsson's defense partner when the Swedish virtuoso won his second Norris Trophy. Thompson, an everyday NHLer until recently, was the oldest player in the AHL this past season.

Fellow hidden gems continue to touch up their resumes. Halak and Elliott - the 26th and 28th goalies drafted in 2003 - shared the Jennings Trophy in 2012 as Blues netminding partners. The Dallas Stars left the bench to mob Pavelski in April when he tallied his 1,000th NHL point on a dexterous tip.

They all spent plenty of time in the company of legends. Some members of their draft class are bound for the Hall of Fame.

"It is neat to see a lot of the players - not just mainstays, but some superstars - who happened to be in that draft," Methot said. He laughed, adding: "It gives me a legitimate excuse to tell people why I went in the sixth round."

Nick Faris is a features writer at theScore.

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