The 112th overall pick first became a thing in 1970, when the open-ended NHL Amateur Draft lumbered through a total of thirteen rounds. Defenseman Jeff Rotsch of the University of Wisconsin went to the St. Louis Blues at 112 as the only pick of the tenth round. St. Louis kept the draft going by making three more selections while the league’s other 13 teams stood pat. Rotsch never played professionally.
Last year, the 112th pick of the draft was U.S. high-schooler Javon Moore, who was chosen by the Ottawa Senators.
With no picks in the first three rounds, the Florida Panthers (barring trade) will take Friday off and open its draft on Saturday with the 112th pick, which they acquired from the Calgary in the monster deal that brought Keith Tkachuk to South Florida and sent Jonathan Huberdeau, MacKenzie Weegar, Cole Schwindt and this year’s first-rounder (32nd overall) to the Flames.
So, what can we expect with what is now the 16th pick of fourth round? Not much…
In the 55 years that the draft has included a 112th overall pick, only 11 players taken at that spot have suited up in 100 or more NHL games, including Boston Bruins defenseman Parker Wotherspoon, who is now at 108 games after appearing in 55 tilts during the 2024-25 campaign.
There are another 11 players who have managed to get time in the league, with their participation ranging from two games (Jamie Tardif, Class of 2003) to 94 games (Jacob Moverare, Class of 2016).
Los Angeles’ Moverare is bubbling under the century mark after making 49 appearances for the Kings last season. Pittsburgh’s Jack St. Ivany (2018), who has played 33 games over the last two seasons could also join the 100 Club at some point.
While those numbers seem a tad bit grim on the surface, there have been some gems mined at slot 112, with the brightest being defenseman Doug Crossman, who was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round of the 1979 Entry Draft, one of, if not the greatest draft in NHL history.
After three seasons in Chicago, Crossman was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers where he had a fruitful run and appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals, losing both to the Edmonton Oilers. Crossman played in a total of 914 regular season games, the most-ever among players selected 112th, and his 359 assists and 464 points are also the highest totals for that particular spot.
Viktor Arvidsson, who just faced the Cats in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final, is the best forward selected 112th overall. Taken in 2014 by the Nashville Predators, Arvidsson has appeared in 613 games (second behind Crossman) and his 194 goals are the most for his draft position. He has amassed 195 helpers and 389 points, with both of those totals second only to Crossman.
Another forward of note is former Panther Colton Sceviour, who played four seasons for Florida from 2016 to 2020. Sceviour, who was originally drafted by the Dallas Stars, played the fourth-most games for a 112th pick (535) and finished his career with 66 goals and 156 points, two behind Matt Beleskey, a 2006 draftee who put up 158 points in 477 games with the Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins and New York Rangers
Other noteworthy blue-liners who were taken with the 112th overall pick include defensemen Dave Langevin and Rod Buskas.
Drafted by the New York Islanders in 1974, Langevin joined the franchise after a three-year stint in the WHA and promptly won four-straight Stanley Cups in the early 1980s. He finished his NHL career with 119 points in 513 games.
Selected in 1981 by the Pittsburgh Penguins, Buskas’ 556 career games are third-most behind Crossman and Arvidsson for a 112th pick. He racked up 1,294 PIM and 82 points during his career.
Goaltenders Philipp Grubauer (369 games), Damian Rhodes (309 games) and Alex Stalock (179 games) all made a mark in the league from the 112th spot. Grubauer, a Stanley Cup winner in 2018, is still active and leads the trio with 169 wins. Scott Bailey (Class of 1992) was the only other goalie taken at 112 to make it to the NHL. He appeared in a total of 19 games.
Forward Liam Reddox was the other player taken 112th overall who reached 100 NHL games. Reddox was selected in 2004 by the Oilers and played exactly 100 games for club, totaling 6 goals and 24 points before heading overseas for a successful run in Sweden that included winning two championships with Vaxjo HC.
Bill Zito and his scouting staff will have their work cut for them with this pick, which should firmly fall under the best player available category and get plenty of time to marinate. That’s fine, the two-time champs are in no need to rush.