New York Rangers Top Five Draft Busts

May 13, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) takes the ice to play against the Washington Capitals in game seven of the second round of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Pavel Brendl, RW- (1999 First-round selection, fourth overall)

Back in 2009, an article was published on thehockeywriters.com asking the question: What happened to Pavel Brendl?

After successful seasons in his native land of Czechoslovakia and two seasons with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL, where he scored over a 100+ points in consecutive seasons, the Rangers drafted Brendl fourth overall of the 1999 Entry Draft.

Entering Rangers training camp, Brendl didn’t seem to keen on adjusting to the NHL game, particularly then-head coach John Muckler’s style of play. To make things worse, he showed up out of shape.

New York Rangers

After disappointing the coaching staff, he was returned to the WHL. Brendl would get one more chance to prove himself the following season’s training camp, but was part of the final cuts. He never played a game for the Rangers and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers, as part of the Eric Lindros trade.

He would play for two other teams (Carolina Hurricanes and then-Phoenix Coyotes), including the Flyers. He would appear in 78 games in his short career, only registering 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists).

It doesn’t appear likely that Brendl will return to the NHL, anytime soon. He has been playing overseas since 2006, having played in Slovakia last season.

Key players passed over by the Rangers in draft class: Martin Havlat, Taylor Pyatt, Tim Connolly

Next: Jaime Lundmark