Lucky No. 24: A look at the success of past 24th overall picks

The Minnesota Wild will select 24th at the NHL Entry Draft, the first time the Wild has had a first-round pick since it chose Luke Kunin 15th overall in 2016. Though the Wild has never chosen 24th in franchise history, its selection will soon find himself in good company.
Here's a look at some of the most successful players picked 24th in recent NHL history.

Daniel Briere (1996)

From picking up four gold medals in international play to becoming a hockey executive, Briere has done it all. But his long career first began when he was selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996. Briere joined the franchise professionally in 1998.
The undersized forward made headlines for training with a World's Strongest Man competitor early in his career, then later for powering through the standings with offensive streaks. In his time as a Buffalo Sabre, he led the team to its first postseason berth in four years, even advancing to the conference final. During the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers, he led the League with 30 points.
Despite losing significant time to injuries throughout his career, Briere consistently picked up points and earned respect around the NHL, participating in two All-Star Games (including being named MVP in 2007) and earning votes for the Lady Byng Trophy three times and Hart Trophy once.
Retiring after a stint with the Colorado Avalanche in 2015, Briere ended his NHL career just shy of 1,000 games, picking up 696 points in that time -- including five hat tricks.

Alexander Steen (2002)

A face Wild fans know well thanks to his long tenure in St. Louis, Steen was actually drafted in 2002 by the Toronto Maple Leafs, with whom he played until midway through the 2008-09 season.
One of the most underrated but talented defensive centers in the League, Steen has earned votes for the Selke Trophy seven times over the course of his career -- all thanks to his time with and the system in St. Louis.
Although he missed time with a concussion in the 2013-14 season, Steen ended that year leading the Blues in points. He finished this most recent season with 898 career games and 578 points under his belt.

Mike Richards (2003)

Known as half of one of the most dynamic duos in recent NHL history along with Jeff Carter in Los Angeles, Richards was originally drafted 24th overall in 2003 by the Philadelphia Flyers. Part of a ridiculously strong draft class, Richards transferred a strong career in juniors to a lengthy NHL run.
RELATED: Complete Wild coverage of the 2018 NHL Draft is available at [wild.com/draftcentral.]
Drafted when he was captain of the Kitchener Rangers, Richards won a Memorial Cup in 2003 and led his team with 87 points. After the Rangers were eliminated in the 2005 playoffs, Richards joined the AHL's Philadelphia Phantoms, who won a Calder Cup championship that year -- in large part thanks to Richards and what he brought to the team, as he averaged over a point per game in the postseason run.
Playing in the NHL for the Flyers (and captaining the team for three seasons), Los Angeles Kings and ultimately the Washington Capitals, Richards played a total of 749 games and picked up 487 points over his 11 year career. Also strong defensively, the center earned votes for the Selke Trophy in six straight seasons, never winning but finishing second in 2008-09, the same year he earned votes for the Hart Trophy and All-Star Game.

T.J. Oshie (2005)

Oshie's name has been in the news a lot lately, thanks to his role on the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals squad. The former Warroad, Minn., high school player was selected by the St. Louis Blues in 2005. He'd spend nearly the next decade of his career with the Blues organization.
Oshie was instrumental in the Capitals' first-ever Cup win, scoring eight goals (six on the power play) and notching 13 assists in 24 postseason games. Spending most of his time on a line with Alexander Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom, it's no surprise that Oshie found the scoresheet time and time again.
In 665 career games, Oshie has picked up 464 points -- 310 coming in his 443 games in St. Louis, and 154 in his 222 games in Washington. He's also placed relatively high in the Selke voting twice, as well as in the voting for the Calder Trophy in his rookie year.

Mikael Backlund (2007)

The Calgary Flames selected the centerman from Vasteras HK in Sweden's HockeyAllsvenskan league in 2007.
After a slow start to his career, Backlund began to cement him place with the Flames as a reliable two-way center, even placing fourth in voting for the Selke Trophy in 2016-17 with 310 votes. Backlund is frequently relied upon to take offensive zone face-offs, thanks to his strong puck possession numbers.
Playing on the "3M Line" (a name Minnesotans might appreciate), Backlund was instrumental in helping Matthew Tkachuk adjust quickly and successfully to the NHL.
Backlund has notched 273 points in 543 career games, including a natural hat trick in 2016 and five points in 15 playoff games.

Kevin Hayes (2010)

Now a consistent player for the recently struggling Rangers, Hayes was drafted out of Boston College by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010.
After his rights expired in Chicago, Hayes signed with the Rangers in August 2014 and has played all of his 310 career games in a New York jersey. Though the Rangers regressed in the 2017-18 season, he spent time over the past two years centering a third line with Michael Grabner and J.T. Miller prior to the latter's trade to Tampa.
Despite New York's difficulties, Hayes has been a consistent player for the team, averaging nearly 44 points a season and boasting a plus-30 overall in his four seasons as a professional, including strong performances on the penalty kill. At 6-foot-5 and 217 pounds, the forward is also a physical force to be reckoned with.

Travis Konecny (2015)

Drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers in 2015, Konecny immediately made the jump from the OHL to the NHL, playing 70 games in the 2016-17 season and all but one in 2017-18.
Even before his NHL breakthrough, Konecny was making waves in juniors. He was drafted first overall in the 2013 OHL Priority Selection by the Ottawa 67's, then was named OHL Rookie of the Month in October of that year. At the end of the 2013-14 season, Konecny led all rookies in points and goals, and was named rookie of the year. Just the next year, he was named captain of the 67's.
In his 2016 NHL debut, Konecny notched two assists; just 11 days later, he scored his first NHL goal to clinch a win for Philadelphia.
Continuing to prove his effectiveness in clutch situations, the center scored six game-winners in his second professional season. He also notched his first career playoff goal in a win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2018.
Related:
- Fenton, Flahr prepare for new GM's first draft with Wild - Where Wild selects in 2018 NHL Draft - Minnesota has found success in all areas of draft - How 2017 Wild draft picks fared last season