How many hockey players have been able to skip the minor leagues and go straight to the NHL?
While it is rare, there are a handful of hockey players who have been able to skip the minor leagues and go straight to the NHL. Some of the most notable examples include:
Wayne Gretzky (1979) Mario Lemieux (1984) Connor McDavid (2015) Auston Matthews (2016) Jack Hughes (2019)
These players all possessed exceptional talent and were able to make an immediate impact at the NHL level. They were all drafted high in the NHL Entry Draft and were given the opportunity to play on a top line. They all also had the benefit of playing with some of the best players in the world, which helped them to develop their skills quickly.
Related questions and answers:
- How many players have skipped the minor leagues and gone straight to the NHL? 5
- Who was the first player to skip the minor leagues and go straight to the NHL? Gretzky
- Who was the most recent player to skip the minor leagues and go straight to the NHL? Jack Hughes
- Which team did McDavid play for when he skipped the minor leagues? Edmonton Oilers
- Which team did Matthews play for when he skipped the minor leagues? Toronto Maple Leafs
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