Nikos Tselios
The first-ever draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes (22nd overall at the 1997 Entry Draft), Nikos Tselios had the size (6’5″, 226) and bloodline (he is a cousin of NHL legend Chris Chelios) to be an intriguing pick. Possessing fair mobility for a player his size, Tselios also displayed offensive vision, putting up 21 goals and 39 assists with the OHL’s Plymouth Whalers.
Despite transitioning to the pro game relatively well with the Cincinnati Cyclones of the IHL, Tselios never looked totally comfortable after making the jump to the AHL. He saw action in two NHL games late in the 2001-02 season, going pointless while averaging 13:13 minutes in ice time. That would prove to be his only NHL action.
Tselios signed with the Phoenix Coyotes in the summer of 2003 but spent the rest of his playing career in the minor leagues, offset by a year split between Finland and Sweden.
What Might Have Been
When you look at the picks directly after Tselios, two names jump out. The first is Scott Hannan, a defenseman who played 1055 games in the NHL with San José, Colorado, Washington, Calgary, and Nashville. Hannan’s steady defensive play would have fit in well with the early 00’s Hurricanes and given them another layer of depth on the blueline. He was taken directly after Carolina selected Tselios.
The more intriguing possibility to me is Brenden Morrow, taken by the Dallas Stars three picks after Tselios. A talented two-way winger, Morrow amassed 575 points over 991 games while developing into a lead-by-example captain.
Excuse me while I imagine Morrow playing wing on a line with Rod Brind’Amour.