5 of the Worst Detroit Red Wings Draft Picks
Claude Gauthier – Goaltender, 1964 1st round 3rd overall
Keeping the trend of first round goaltenders that never seem to really work out, Claude Gauthier was one of their worst picks. He never played a single game with the Red Wings, however, it was who they missed, that being Ken Dryden. Dryden who didn’t go until the 3rd round of the 1964 draft. He went on to be a great player and was a major part of five Stanley Cup championships. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 1983, in his first year of eligibility and has his number retired by the Montreal Canadiens in 2007.
While I understand that this was different time, I mean the draft was not what the draft is now in 1964. Hockey in 1946 was nothing like what hockey is today. This pick is somewhat reasonable. The scouting isn’t what it is now and so maybe the Red Wings didn’t have someone who could have seen Dryden. Yet, missing on him hurts when your team had the number one pick overall.
Next: Jakub Kindl