Anze Kopitar was the 11th name called at the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft, which begs the question: Who were those 10 prospects picked ahead of this 20-year-old centre who is already the most dangerous player on the Los Angeles Kings?
Hindsight is always 20-20. This is not a forum to slag amateur scouts, who have the toughest job in hockey trying to forecast how teenagers are going to play as pros. But, there's a fair chance the Columbus Blue Jackets, say, who had the sixth overall pick, might want to rethink their selection -- former Vancouver Giant and centre Gilbert Brule. Brule is in the minors; Kopitar is going to the all-star game.
Sidney Crosby was the unanimous No. 1 pick that year. The others were winger Bobby Ryan, defenceman Jack Johnson, winger Benoit Pouliot, goalie Carey Price, Brule, winger Jack Skille, winger Devin Setoguchi and defencemen Benoit Pouliot and Luc Bourdon.
