Regardless of the pool format, it can be tempting for some hockey fans to target one or two players from their favorite team toward the end of the draft. Defenseman Mike Matheson, who has 20 points after 30 games with the Montreal Canadiens, was undoubtedly a smart late choice for many Quebecers.

However, other generally avoided hockey players had a start to the season that exceeded expectations across the NHL. Also, hats off to the poolers who picked the following players before, in a desperate gesture, choosing Juraj Slafkovsky, Josh Anderson, Kaiden Guhle or Samuel Montembeault! Without taking anything away from Habs officials, here are five options that would have otherwise been more profitable:

1 – William Karlsson

With a total of 28 points in 31 games (prior to Sunday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators), forward William Karlsson is surprising many with the Vegas Golden Knights this season. He is on track to significantly surpass his point total of 53 points from last year. The 30-year-old Swede is now a sought-after selection among pool players. In the 2017-2018 season, his first in Vegas, he totaled 78 points, including 43 goals. Rightly or wrongly, his star had since faded.

2 – Oliver Bjorkstrand

Not long ago, Dane Oliver Björkstrand was considered a future star for the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old forward, who joined the Seattle Kraken in July 2022, could finally have his best season in the National Hockey League. He has 25 points in 32 games since the start of the season.

Getty Images via AFP

3-Travis Sanheim

When a pool requires a minimum number of defensemen, Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Sanheim has the makings of a solid hole card. After scoring 23 points in 81 games last season, the Manitobans are on the verge of surpassing that score after around thirty games. Sanheim benefits from the fact that he is the Flyers’ most frequently used defender, especially on the power play.

Getty Images via AFP

4- John Jason Peterka

The German John-Jason Peterka may not yet come close to his compatriots Leon Draisaitl and Tim Stützle, but at only 21 years old, the young Buffalo Sabers striker has something to surprise. After 32 games with the Sabers this season, he scored 12 goals and added 10 assists. By maintaining this pace, he was able to end the campaign with an honest harvest of 56 points.

Getty Images via AFP

5- Connor Ingram

You have to be pretty brave to add an Arizona Coyotes goalie to your hockey pool. Saskatchewan’s Connor Ingram has 12 wins, including three shutouts, with the Coyotes this season. Only Thatcher Demko of the Vancouver Canucks and Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins have recorded as many shutouts since the start of the season. We won’t go so far as to say Ingram would have been a relevant choice in a pool, but still…

Getty Images via AFP