NHL players that were drafted to other major league sports?

Question

Any Hockey players that were drafted into the NHL and decided to play pro in another sport?

I can think of some but don't know for sure!!!

Answer 1

Tom Glavine, drafted by the Kings, is the main one that comes to mind.

I believe that Adam Copeland (a.k.a. wrestling's "Edge") was in an NHL draft, but I don't know whether or not he was taken.

Some stars of other sports played hockey in college, such as Doug Flutie for Boston College.

Going the other direction, Wayne Gretzky played basketball in high school.

Answer 2

Glavine and McCaskill are the only NHL/MLB draftees I could think of but if you want some players who have been drafted by pro teams in more than one sport (and any sport applies) then one can add Bo Jackson to the list ..

Answer 3

This was before the draft, but stuntman Evil Knievel played minor pro hockey for a number of years but never made it to the NHL.

Going back a few years, former NHL goaltenders Gerry Cheevers of the Orr-Esposito era Bruins and Doug Favelle, Bernie Parent's backup with the Flyers, were high-scoring lacrosse players

Going 'way back, Lionel Conacher was an NHL all star and won two Stanley Cups, was a Canadian light-heavyweight boxing champion, played semi-pro baseball, and played pro football for the Toronto Argonauts in Canada, the team that kicked off Doug Flutie's career.

Answer 4

Contrary to what Jacob says

Paul Manning of Red Deer, Alberta was drafted 62nd overall by the Calgary Flames in 1998, was drafted out of high school by the New York Yankees with the 619th pick in the 1997 MLB draft.  Manning played 8 games with Columbus in 2002-03

Kirk McCaskill was drafted 64th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1981, and was drafted with the 88th pick of the MLB draft by the California Angels in 1982.  (Randy Johnson was taken with the 89th pick).  IN 1983, McCaskill played AA ball for California and in 1983-84, played 78 games for the Jets AHL affiliate (22 points)...........starting in 1985, he was a major league starting pitcher who went on to win 106 games.

Before being drafted by the Islanders, Clark Gillies played 2 years in the Houston Astros system in the early 70s

Answer 5

Tom Glavine comes to mind immediately.

Answer 6

That redheaded guy who played on the carolina hurricanes, hmmm i dont remember his name, his last name started with a "C". He played Baseball too, and was drafted into the MLB but chose to play hockey instead

Answer 7

Chris Drury the best i can think of he was used to be drafted to a little league baseball player but now he plays hockey. mind you he was really young when he started to play baseball then decides to play hockey. his number 23 i believe is his favorite baseball player, Don Mattingly who played for the yankees. Edit: hailey wickenheiser played hockey for team canada but one summer i believe 2004 summer she competed in baseball

EDIT:Vsevolod Bobrov was a soccer player for Russia but then switch to hockey and won a gold metal in 1956 Cortina d'Ampezzo but bobrov was not drafted in the NHL but did Play for his country does that count?

Answer 8

Tom Glavine is the only player drafted by an NHL team that was drafted in another sport. Glavine was drafted by both the Los Angeles Kings in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft as the 69th pick in the 4th round, and the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball organization in the 2nd round of the 1984 amateur baseball draft.

He is the only one; however, there have been other players from other sports to be drafted into 2 sports:

Danny Ainge - Ainge was selected in baseball's 1977 amateur draft by Toronto. He played 4 years with the Blue Jays, then decided to pursue basketball. He was chosen 31st overall in the 1981 NBA draft.

Tom Gwynn - Gwynn was drafted by the San Diego Padres of baseball and then he was selected the same day by the then-San Diego Clippers of the NBA in the 10th round in 1981. He played baseball and excelled.

Kenny Easley - Easley was drafted in the NFL by the Seattle Seahawks as their 4th pick in 1981. He was also picked by the Chicago Bulls in the 10th round but did not play for them.

These are all the players I can think of at the moment that have been drafted into 2 sports. Hope this is what you were looking for.

EDIT: LITY, you're right about Paul Manning and Kirk McCaskill. They  were 2 players I didn't think of. I knew there was more..I should of thought harder. Oh, well.