This time last year, the Colorado Avalanche were getting pity votes for the NHL All Star Team and seemed destined to win the Nolan Patrick Sweepstakes. While the team did finish dead last by a wide margin, Colorado lost out on the first-overall NHL Draft pick (which the New Jersey Devils used to select Nico Hischier anyway), and no one is saying their All Star nominee is a pity vote.
Cale Makar
Colorado dropped all the way to the fourth-overall draft selection, which they used to pick defenseman Cale Makar. While the youngster is having a modest season at the University of Massachussets — one goal and eight assists in 16 games — he tore it up at the IIHF World Junior Championship.