Scouts: hardest position to reach in the NHL? See rest...?

At any given time, there are roughly

60 NHL goaltenders (30 teams x 2)

210 NHL defencemen (30 teams x 7)

420 NHL forwards (30 teams x 14)

So, since only 8-9% of the available positions are for goaltenders, it is the hardest position to make the NHL in.

Also, since goaltenders tend to have longer careers (in terms of years) they get drafted at less than an 8-9% rate.

The numbers are

24% of all defencemen drafted eventually play an NHL game

21% of all forwards drafted play in the NHL

17% of all goaltenders drafted eventually play in the NHL (including the great Jimmy Waite)

I am not a scout, but IMO, it must be goaltender. You can only have 60 in the NHL at a time, as opposed to 120 at each of the forward positions and 210 defensemen. In addition, the careers of the best tenders last longer than many forwards. Heck, even I could pass for a backup NJ Devils goaltender.

i think it would be harder for a goalie to get drafted because there arent as many goalies than any other position, the next position that would probalby be hard to be is a defenceman

when a defenceman gets drafted it would generally take longer to develop him and get the player to the NHL level than a forward so i would say the easiest would be a forward and the easiest of the forwards would be a LW/RW player because Centers need to be able to see the ice better than forwards and have a good F O%

I would immagine that it would be easier as a good goaltender than a good skater. Although there is more available positions for skaters there is also a bench full of them on every team when most Non-professional teams have 1-2 goalies.

Defensemen definitely have a longer adjustment period than forwards do. Overall, however, I have to agree with the goaltender position being the hardest one to crack at the elite level.

Goalie is probably the toughest position to get. I also think its the toughest position to play in hockey period.

I think it is the equipment manager. There are only 30 and they are there for like 30 years. Everywhere else there is much more turn over! ;->