It is right around this time in the season where junior players who are in their 20-year old year will get a look from pro teams or head to college. For some players, it is a chance to continue their pursuit of a dream of playing in the NHL one day, however long it may be, while for others, it will lead them to other opportunities in life. This year is no different, as three of the 20-year olds in the WHL have signed on with NHL teams. Tyler Lewington of Medicine Hat signed with Washington, Tyrell Goulbourne (Kelowna) will start his pro career in the Flyers' system after signing with them earlier in the week, and Justin Hickman (Seattle), whose WHL career ended in January due to injury, will find new life in the Boston system, as he signed with them.
For these guys, and possibly more like them, not being drafted to the NHL is not the end of a dream, but it may very well be the beginning of something new. For proof, one only has to look to Tampa Bay and another undrafted WHL alumnus in Tyler Johnson, who is one of the team's best players outside of Steven Stamkos. There are other players who weren't drafted, yet have found success, with Mark Giordano, Josh Gorges, and Tyler Bozak among the current group finding various degrees of success in the NHL while former players such as Joe Mullen, Ed Belfour, and Wayne Gretzky are Hall of Famers.
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