Many star players like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, and Nathan MacKinnon exist in the NHL. But there have also been many one-hit wonders, some of which you may not have heard of. These guys are what’s called NHL busts, and some of them have had excellent post-career endeavors.
Now, let’s look at a 10 NHL bust you had no idea found a better career path post-hockey.
How did these ten NHL Busts find a great career path after their playing days were over?
Rick DiPietro
ST. LOUIS – MARCH 9: Rick DiPietro #39 of the New York Islanders stops a shot by the St. Louis Blues in the third period on March 9 ,2004 at the Savvis Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The Blues defeated the Islanders 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Dipietro was drafted by the Islanders 1st overall in the 2000 NHL Draft. He only played with the team on and off until the 2012-13 season.
His contract was bought out in the 2013 off-season, and DiPietro was placed on waivers before agreeing to be paid $1.5 million over the next 16 years, a tally he is still being paid.
While Dipietro is still making $1.5 million every year and will do so until 2029, his career unfortunately ended in 2014, and he has taken his NHL intelligence to broadcasting and has been successful in doing so.
Alexandre Daigle
30 MAR 1995: ALEXANDRE DAIGLE OF THE OTTAWA SENATORS DURING THE SENATORS 7-0 LOSS TO THE BUFFALO SABRES AT THE AUD IN BUFFALO, NEW YORK. Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart/ALLSPORT
Daigle was the first overall pick in the 1993 NHL Draft, and he was quite the prospect after putting up 137 points in 53 games in his draft year.
The highly touted forward went on to score a career-best of just 51 points, doing so three times before retiring at just 25 years old.
Daigle returned for a brief stint two years later. He has since been a TV producer, finding success in his home country of Canada.
Daniel Tkaczuk
20 Sep 1998: Center Daniel Tkaczuk #40 of the Calgary Flames in action during a pre-season game against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, California. The Ducks defeated the Flames 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Elsa Hasch /Allsport
19 games from a 1st round pick would be a disappointment to any NHL fanbase. Calgary Flames fans can attest to this as their 1997 sixth-overall pick, Daniel Tkaczuk, did just that.
Tkaczuk played just 19 games after being selected, in which he scored just 11 points. That’s not bad for an NHL rookie, but the number of games played were bust-like nonetheless. However, that would be the last NHL action the 21-year-old would see before jumping around leagues and eventually retiring in 2012.
After his hockey career, Tkaczuk eventually found success behind the bench, becoming an assistant coach for four different teams, two in the OHL and two in the AHL, before becoming the president of an online hockey school called iHockeyTrainer. He also writes for The Hockey News.
Scott Scissons
Michael Scissons, chief executive officer of Syncapse Corp., speaks during a Bloomberg Television interview in New York, U.S., on Thursday, June 20, 2013. Scissons spoke about Facebook Inc., operator of the largest social network, adding video to its Instagram photo-sharing service. Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Scissons was drafted sixth overall by the New York Islanders and played just six NHL games, four of which were in the regular season.
The Saskatoon, Canada native scored 87 points in 61 games with his hometown Blades in the 1990 season before being drafted. However, his NHL totals would not be close to the 87 points he put up in his draft year. He wouldn’t score a single point in the NHL.
After his short stint as an NHLer, Scissons would find success elsewhere as he became a company owner in his hometown at Western Homes, a company founded by his grandfather in 1953.
Brian Lawton
1986: Left Wing Brian Lawton #8 of the Minnesota North Stars skates on the ice during a game. Brain Lawton played for the Minnesota North Stars from 1983-1984 and 1987-88. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images
Lawton was taken first overall by the now-defunct Minnesota North Stars in the 1983 NHL Draft and would go on to play just ten seasons in the league for multiple teams.
Considering most franchise stars who have been taken with a first-round pick have played at least 1,000 games with one franchise or split it between two, many believe the former NHL forward’s 483-game career is a bust. Remember to mention that his career was divided between six NHL franchises.
While Lawton may be an analyst on the NHL Network, he saw post-career success as a player agent, managing players such as Mike Modano and Sergei Federov.
Brian Finley
SUNRISE, FL – DECEMBER 13: Goaltender Brian Finley #31 of the Nashville Predators watches as the puck strikes the net in the third period from a shot by Nathan Horton #16 of the Florida Panthers on December 13, 2005 at the Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida. The Panthers defeated the Predators 7-3. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
Finley was drafted 6th overall in the first round of the NHL Draft by the Nashville Predators in 1999.
Since retiring, Finley has put his athletic skills to the test and has become a police officer with the York Regional Police, where he has been since 2009—a successful career post-hockey.
Dave Chyzowski
E.RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 27: New York Islander’s forward, Dave Chyzowski, waiting for the face off to take place during the game against the NJ Devils at the Meadowlands Arena ,East Rutherford, NJ, United States on September 27, 1992. (Photo by Steve Crandall/Getty Images
The Islanders have a rough draft history, as this player is another first-round pick, and he went second overall.
Chyzowksi scored only 31 points in 126 NHL games; however, he bounced around other professional leagues before retiring in 2007.
After his career, the winger was able to jump into marketing. He took over the position of director of marketing for the WHL’s Kamloops Blazers and is currently the director of marketing with the Merrit Centennials.
Brett Lindros
16 Nov 1995: Rightwinger Brett Lindros of the New York Islanders looks on during a game against the Los Angeles Kings at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. The Kings won the game, 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Glenn Cratty /Allsport
Lindros is the younger brother of hockey Hall of Famer Eric Lindros. The Islanders drafted him 9th overall in the 1994 NHL Draft. He played just 51 games before being forced to retire due to post-concussion syndrome.
Although it may not have been his fault that he was forced into retirement, he is still considered a bust even though he scored 147 points in his NHL tenure.
After playing in the show, Lindros would have a successful career and continue working with hedge fund HGC Investment Management.
Lars Jonsson
PHILADELPHIA – OCTOBER 28: Lars Jonsson #43 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks to outlet a pass against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the game at the Wachovia Center on October 28, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Penguins defeated the Flyers 8-2. (Photo by Len Redkoles/Getty Images)
Jonsson was drafted 7th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. However, the defenseman never played for the team.
He played only eight NHL games for the Philadelphia Flyers, where he had two assists before retiring in 2013.
The former NHLer eventually started a career in software development where he currently holds a title as a senior consultant at the CGI in Stockholm.
Nikita Filatov
OTTAWA, ON – JUNE 20: Sixth overall pick, Nikita Filatov of the Columbus Blue Jackets smiles as he is interviewed after being selected during the 2008 NHL Entry Draft at Scotiabank Place on June 20, 2008 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
Filatov was drafted 6th overall in the NHL Draft by the Columbus with whom he would only play 31 games tallying just 11 points after which he would be traded to Ottawa
His numbers wouldn’t get much better in the Canadian Capital as he would only put up 1 assist through 9 games with the team and after bouncing around professional leagues, he would call it a career in 2019.
Since his time on the show, the recently retired player has found a career as a player agent like his counterpart, Brian Lawton.
