This week, theScore will be selecting each NHL team's greatest all-time draft bust. This edition focuses on the Metropolitan Division, excluding the Vegas Golden Knights due to the fact that their drafts are too recent to consider anybody a bust.

Central | Metropolitan | Atlantic (Sunday)

Anaheim Ducks

The pick: Alexei Smirnov (No. 12, 2000)
GM responsible: Pierre Gauthier (1998-2002)
Could've drafted: Ron Hainsey (13), Brooks Orpik (18), Justin Williams (28), Niklas Kronwall (29)

The Ducks have logged a number of big first-round misses over the years. In 2006 and 2007, they selected Mark Mitera and Logan MacMillan, both at 19th overall, and neither player suited up for an NHL game. Though Smirnov played in 52 contests, he gets the edge here because he was drafted much earlier at 12th overall.

The Russian forward couldn't put it together on North American ice, quickly jumping back overseas to play in his home country after spending just three seasons with the Ducks organization. The 2000 draft produced several solid NHL players who would have served the Ducks better than Smirnov did.

Arizona Coyotes

The pick: Brandon Gormley (No. 13, 2010)
GM responsible: Don Maloney (2007-2016)
Could've drafted: Jaden Schwartz (14), Vladimir Tarasenko (16), Evgeny Kuznetsov (26)

One of the top-rated prospects entering the 2010 draft, Gormley was considered an intelligent, puck-moving defenseman. He was a former first overall selection in the QMJHL draft and had enjoyed success in that league with the Moncton Wildcats, tallying 70 points in 120 games across two seasons before entering the NHL draft. In fact, he was named the QMJHL's top prospect for 2010.

However, Gormley only ended up playing 58 NHL games, 32 of which came with the Coyotes. He was unable to develop as hoped, and he eventually opted to play overseas in 2017. The Coyotes had direly needed a prominent star, and they passed on both Tarasenko and Schwartz, who were selected shortly after Gormley.

Calgary Flames

The pick: Brent Krahn (No. 9, 2000)
GM responsible: Craig Button (2000-2003)
Could've drafted: Brad Boyes (24), Ilya Bryzgalov (44), Henrik Lundqvist (205)

When Rick DiPietro went off the board as the first overall pick in the 2000 draft, some other teams may have been thinking about fetching a goalie, too. The Flames quickly took the second netminder of the draft, selecting Krahn with the ninth pick.

A highly touted prospect, Krahn produced an extremely successful junior campaign with the WHL's Calgary Hitmen prior to being drafted. In the 1999-00 season, he posted a 33-6-0 record with a .912 save percentage and a 2.38 goals-against average. Despite his promise, Krahn only played in one NHL game while struggling with a recurring knee injury early in his career.

If the Flames were truly set on selecting a goalie in 2000, Lundqvist and Bryzgalov were available later during that draft.

Edmonton Oilers

The Pick: Nail Yakupov (No. 1, 2012)
GM responsible: Steve Tambellini (2008-2013)
Could've drafted: Morgan Rielly (5), Filip Forsberg (11), Tomas Hertl (17)

When the Oilers managed to win the draft lottery for the third straight year, the team must have figured it hit the gold mine. There wasn't much debate surrounding Edmonton's selections of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall in the previous two drafts, but the 2012 class was a little bit trickier. With no consensus top prospect, the Oilers decided to go with Russian forward Nail Yakupov.

Yakupov dazzled with the OHL's Sarnia Sting, compiling an impressive 80 goals and 170 points in 107 games across two seasons. However, his scoring prowess and offensive abilities never translated to the NHL.

In four seasons with the Oilers, Yakupov notched just 50 goals and 111 points in 252 games. After stints with the Colorado Avalanche and St. Louis Blues, he headed overseas to the KHL in 2018.

Excluding the last three top NHL picks, Yakupov's point total is the third-lowest among all first overall selections since 1963, and he's widely regarded as one of the league's biggest draft busts ever.

While the rest of the 2012 class didn't turn out to be that strong, the Oilers surely could have used the typical star power expected from a first overall pick.

Los Angeles Kings

The pick: Thomas Hickey (No. 4, 2007)
GM responsible: Dean Lombardi (2006-2017)
Could've drafted: Jakub Voracek (7), Logan Couture (9), Ryan McDonagh (12), Kevin Shattenkirk (14)

Hickey spent five seasons with the AHL's Manchester Monarchs after being drafted, never once getting called up for an NHL game with Los Angeles. The Kings eventually lost him on waivers to the New York Islanders in 2013. Though Hickey became a useful depth defender for the Islanders, it's pitiful that the Kings gaining absolutely nothing from a fourth overall pick.

Hickey did suffer a handful of injuries early in his career, possibly hampering his chances of producing for L.A. Nonetheless, the team passed on a number of future star players in 2007 with a rare top-five pick.

San Jose Sharks

The pick: Ty Wishart (No. 16, 2006)
GM responsible: Doug Wilson (2003 - present)
Could've drafted: Claude Giroux (22), Semyon Varlamov (23), Nick Foligno (28)

After Wishart showed promise as a big-bodied, two-way defenseman in the WHL, the Sharks must have figured they could use his 6-foot-4 frame on their blue line when he was available at No. 16.

Wishart didn't play a game in San Jose, but he was valuable as a piece in the Sharks' 2008 trade for Dan Boyle. Wishart went on to spend the majority of his time in the AHL, appearing in just 26 NHL games before heading to play overseas in 2013.

Though the Sharks used Wishart to acquire Boyle, they surely wouldn't have minded more immediate help from a younger body. With Joe Thornton leading the way up the middle and a young Joe Pavelski behind him, throwing Giroux into the mix would have made for a lethal trio of Sharks centers.

Vancouver Canucks

The pick: Dan Woodley (No. 7, 1986)
GM responsible: Jack Gordon (1985-1987)
Could've drafted: Brian Leetch (9), Scott Young (11), Tom Fitzgerald (17)

Woodley put up a solid 149 points in 125 games with the WHL's Portland Winter Hawks in the two seasons leading up to his draft. Armed with the seventh overall pick, the Canucks didn't hesitate to grab him.

In 1986-87, Woodley produced a good first professional season with the IHL's Flint Spirits, tallying 66 points in 69 games while also appearing in five NHL contests. However, Pat Quinn replaced Gordon as Canucks GM and quickly traded Woodley to the Canadiens for Jose Charbonneau. Woodley never played another NHL game, instead jumping around the minor leagues until his retirement in 1995.

Only eight players in NHL history have been drafted in the top 10 and played in fewer games than Woodley did. To make matters worse, the Canucks could have selected a future Hall of Famer in Leetch with their seventh selection.

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Pittsburgh Penguins fans are being recognized for their dedication to the team, as Forbes Magazine ranks them the ninth-most passionate fans across the four major North American sports.

The magazine's rankings take into account television ratings, game attendance, merchandise sales, and social media reach. Penguins fans were the highest-ranked among NHL fan bases, and the only hockey-based group to make the top 10 overall.

"Our fans are the greatest," Penguins president and CEO David Morehouse said, according to NHL.com. "We are so grateful for their support, and it's never a surprise to us when they're named the most passionate fans in the NHL. Because they are. We hope everyone is staying safe during this challenging time."

The Penguins currently hold the NHL's longest-ever sellout streak, which began in 2007, according to Yahoo's Andrew Lisa.

"The NHL's only team in the top 10 can thank All-Star Sidney Crosby, whose jersey has been a hot item since his 2005 debut," Forbes wrote. "Two Stanley Cups in the last five years help, as do 12 sellout seasons at PPG Paints Arena."

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While a number of different options remain on the table, the NHL may be leaning toward an unprecedented 24-team playoff format if the 2019-20 season resumes.

"On Wednesday, in the Return To Play committee call, I'm told that 16, 20, and 24 (teams) were again talked about as options," TSN's Pierre LeBrun said on Thursday's edition of "Insider Trading."

"Of those three, from talking to people around the league both on the teams' side and on the players' side, 24 teams seems to be gathering a bit of traction."

The format could potentially hand postseason berths to teams that weren't previously considered to be in the playoff race. Two examples are the Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens, who sit in 12th place in the Western and Eastern Conference, respectively.

The format's specifics aren't entirely known, but it would eliminate the need to finish the regular season.

"You could easily adopt a play-in format that trims 24 down to the traditional 16 playoff teams," TSN's Darren Dreger added. "And by doing that, you don't have regular-season games, you have three-to-six play-in games, and that means you can get through the process more quickly."

LeBrun added that no decisions have been made and that these are just conversations between the sides.

The league is reportedly hoping to open its team facilities in mid-to-late May to commence Phase 2 of its plan to return to the ice.

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The Washington Capitals are aware of the "unacceptable and offensive" comments forward Brendan Leipsic made privately on Instagram, according to The Washington Post's Samantha Pell.

"We will handle this matter internally," a team spokesperson said.

Screenshots surfaced on Wednesday of Leipsic making crude comments in a private group chat with his friends.

The NHL also released a statement on the matter.

"The National Hockey League strongly condemns misogynistic and reprehensible remarks made by players Brendan Leipsic and Jack Rodewald in a private group chat that has surfaced on social media," the statement said. "There is no place in our League for such statements, attitudes and behavior, no matter the forum. We will address this inexcusable conduct with the clubs and players involved."

Leipsic quickly issued an apology on Twitter on Wednesday:

The 25-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Capitals last summer. He previously spent time with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, Vancouver Canucks, and Los Angeles Kings.

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Although Edmonton Oilers star Leon Draisaitl was in the midst of the best year of his career before the 2019-20 season was paused, he admits the personal hardware at stake isn't at the top of his mind at the moment.

"There's more important things right now in the world going on and much more important than winning a trophy or anything like that," Draisaitl told TSN's Darren Dreger on "Dreger's Cafe."

When the season was paused on March 12, Draisaitl was running away in the Art Ross Trophy race with 110 points - 13 ahead of his teammate Connor McDavid. He was also seen as one of the front-runners in the race for the Hart Trophy.

The 24-year-old spent some time on a line with McDavid earlier this season, but ended up anchoring his own. Halfway through the year, the German was paired with Kailer Yamamoto and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and the trio began to wreak havoc on the ice.

"If I told you that I don't like playing with Connor I'd be lying into your face. Getting a chance to play with probably the best player in the world, it's special and it's a lot of fun, no question," Draisaitl added. "But you know the line that I had at the end there with Yamo and Nuge, we've been clicking and I think it made our team more dangerous and that's what we all want - we want a dangerous team and we don't want one dangerous line."

Draisaitl amassed 43 goals and 67 assists before the stoppage. Sitting fourth in the league in goals, he was also starting to sneak into the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy race.

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If the NHL does eventually return to the ice to finish off the 2019-20 season, teams won't be getting an unfair advantage in regards to training.

"Phase 2 can't really get started until the large majority of the NHL teams are able to open up and that means players coming back," TSN's Darren Dreger said Tuesday on "Insider Trading."

He continued: "Even though the majority of clubs may be able to open up, unless they can all open up at the same time or around the same time the NHL isn't going to allow players to go to their club facility again until the majority are able to do that."

With different guidelines set in place throughout North America for COVID-19, certain teams may be given the green light from their local government before others to return to work.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said last week that NHL players would not be exempt from the current strict quarantine policies if they enter the country.

Dreger added the NHL is "encouraged" by the markets that are loosening up, and the league is monitoring carefully for setbacks. He added the NHL remains hopeful it will be able to initiate Phase 2 in late May.

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Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford is set to face yet another tough decision when it comes to managing his goaltenders.

"I'll say this: If we are going to keep both (Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry), we'd have to move a few things around on our team," Rutherford said, according to The Athletic's Josh Yohe. "There is a way to do things and to make that work, yes. There are some very, very tough decisions ahead."

Murray and Jarry, both 25, are set to be restricted free agents at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season. With more than $68 million already committed to the Penguins' 2020-21 roster, keeping the pair will be an even bigger challenge with so much uncertainty surrounding the future of the salary cap.

Rutherford compared the current situation to a similar one he faced in 2017 when he let longtime goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury go to the Vegas Golden Knights in the expansion draft.

"Letting (Fleury) go was really tough," Rutherford said. "I'd have loved to have kept them both (Murray and Fleury). Both great goaltenders, both championship goaltenders. But with Marc-Andre's cap number, it was just too hard to do without disrupting the rest of the team. And we may be in that place again. The cap isn't going up. No way is that happening. But we don't know precisely what it will be. And we know we have very good goalies in our system.

"So, we have to make some tough decisions coming up."

Jarry greatly outplayed Murray in his first full NHL season. He compiled a 20-12-1 record with a .921 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average while earning a spot in the All-Star Game.

Murray, meanwhile, struggled at times. He put together a 20-11-5 record to go with a .899 save percentage and 2.87 goals-against average. Still, the 25-year-old has an impressive resume after previously leading the Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships.

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Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood sees himself suiting up for the New Jersey Devils for the foreseeable future.

"I don't really know exactly how it's all going to transpire but whatever it is, I like Jersey," Blackwood said, according to NHL.com's Mike Morreale. "I love playing here and I'd love to play here for a long time, so I'm sure we can figure something out and hopefully it can go smoothly."

Blackwood is set to hit restricted free agency at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season. He got his first taste as Devils No. 1 this season after being drafted 45th overall in 2015.

He hopes to be able to grow with the rest of New Jersey's young, talented core.

"I think it would be really exciting if we can all develop together," Blackwood said. "Guys like Jack (Hughes), Nico (Hischier), myself, (Jesper) Bratt, and (Pavel Zacha). If we all can stay together, stay in like a little group here and then as the years go on, we'll get better together and build that bond ... I think that's how you build a winning team.

"I want to be a part of that, and I see myself being a part of that. So it's definitely a place and a situation where I see myself being for a long time."

The 23-year-old netminder appeared in 47 games with the Devils this season, compiling a 22-14-8 record alongside a .915 save percentage and 2.77 goals-against average.

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British Columbia's provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is on board with the idea of Vancouver potentially being used as a hub city to host NHL games if the season resumes.

"There are ways that we can do it safely. I think it's an interesting idea," Dr. Henry said, according to The Daily Hive's Rob Williams. "I think there are ways that we could look at having games being played, perhaps in B.C. Hockey would be one that we could certainly look at.

She continued: "I would not see there being an (in-arena) audience for example, but we could broadcast the games. And there's ways that players can take precautions to ensure there's physical distancing."

The Canucks were reportedly one of several teams to make a pitch to the league to offer its city. The league has been considering the idea of using up to four cities to act as hubs to host games for a number of teams.

"When we think of hockey, which I love, people are wearing face masks. There's ways that players are protected when they're on the ice," Dr. Henry continued. "I absolutely think that these are the types of things that we need to think about how we can do them safely during this summer."

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday that for the time being, anyone entering Canada would have to abide by quarantine guidelines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The league is currently in the process of reviewing the proposals.

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Wayne Gretzky offered some sound advice to the top-ranked players of the 2020 draft class as they wait to begin their NHL careers.

Gretzky joined prospects Alexis Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, Tim Stuetzle, Jamie Drysdale, and Jake Sanderson in a video call last week to talk about the upcoming draft, life as an NHL player, and hockey in general.

"My advice to you is embrace every moment of it," Gretzky said, per NHL.com's Tom Gulitti. "It's the greatest game in the world. To play in the National Hockey League is a thrill, it's a pleasure, and it's an honor. And when you think you've worked hard, you work that much harder because there's nothing like being an NHL player.

"And if you get that early on in your mind how great the game is and everything that goes with it - the practices, the travel, the media - you'll embrace it that much quicker."

The draft, which was originally set to take place in Montreal on June 26 and 27, has been postponed indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league has reportedly been pondering the idea of holding it virtually in June.

"Everybody who loves the sport knows how great of a game it is," Gretzky added. "And I suspect all five of you are going to go on and have great careers and your families will be very proud, not only your mom and dad but your grandparents and youth coaches."

Lafreniere is No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's ranking of North American skaters, while Stuetzle is the top-ranked international skater. Byfield, Drysdale, and Sanderson are ranked Nos. 2-4, respectively, among North American skaters.

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