The Journey looks back at a few former prospects playing well in this year’s NHL playoffs and recaps the road they took to this point in their careers. 

Nikita Kucherov – Tampa Bay Lightning – Drafted 2011, 58th overall (TBL)

The third-year winger is currently tied with Reilly Smith (we'll get to him later) for the playoff-point lead with eight in just five contests. Kucherov tends to play best at this time of year, as his points-per-game number jumps from 0.67 per game in the regular season to 0.94 in the playoffs.

Drafted in the second round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, a round that could eventually have upwards of five NHL all-star level players, Kucherov only spent one season in North America before making his Tampa debut in 2013-14. Despite playing only 33 games in the QMJHL he definitely left his mark, tallying 29 goals and 63 points. If Steven Stamkos leaves in the offseason, Kucherov will be counted on to replace a good amount of his offensive responsibility.

Jamie Benn – Dallas Stars – Drafted 2007, 129th overall (DAL)

Dallas struck gold with Benn, selecting him in the fifth round of the 2007 draft. The Stars had the patience to let him develop into the player that he is today, which is among the most coveted forwards in the NHL by fantasy owners due to his multi-category consistency. Benn has rarely been able to show the same talent in the playoffs due to lack of opportunity. In his 10 playoff games, the BC native has 11 points, 25 SOG, and 23 hits, though.

A star player who was drafted from Junior A and played one full season in the BCHL before moving on to Kelowna of the WHL, Benn only needed 24 games in the playoffs for the AHL Texas Stars before making the jump to the NHL full time in 2011.

Reilly Smith – Florida Panthers – Drafted 2011, 69th overall (DAL)

Smith has been incredibly consistent this season for the surprising Panthers, and has continued his strong play thus far in the playoffs. Averaging 2.0 points per game over the first four games of Florida’s playoff series against the Islanders, Smith is tied with Kucherov for the playoff-point lead.

The 25-year-old winger has already been traded twice in his young career, once to Boston in the Tyler Seguin trade, and again for Jimmy Hayes this past offseason. Smith was not traded by his teams because he wasn’t working out for them, but rather he was a coveted asset that other teams sought as compensation for players they were moving on from. The 2011-12 Hobey Baker award finalist finished a decorated collegiate career at Miami University before turning pro at the end of his junior season.

Jake Muzzin – Los Angeles Kings – Drafted 2007, 141st overall (PIT)

Muzzin has been stellar in the Kings first four games of their first-round series against the Sharks. With a goal, two assists, 16 SOG, 15 hits and 12 blocked shots, the former fifth-round pick has impacted each game in multiple ways.

After not signing with the Penguins after being drafted, Muzzin re-entered the draft in 2009, where he went undrafted. Returning to captain the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds for an overage season, Muzzin broke out in a big way posting 67 points in 65 games while being named the OHL’s top defenseman. He signed a free agent contract with Los Angeles following the Greyhounds being eliminated from the playoffs.

John Carlson – Washington Capitals – Drafted 2008, 27th overall (WAS)

Carlson leads all defensemen with six points thus far in the playoffs, scoring three times on just 16 shots. All three of Carlson’s goals have come on the power-play, where the Capitals have held a huge advantage over Philadelphia in their four games played thus far in the series.

The player with the most pedigree on this list, drafted in the first round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, played one season in the USHL with the Indiana Ice and one season in the OHL with the London Knights before spending just 48 games in the AHL. Over the last three seasons, Carlson has developed into a top two-way defenseman in the NHL, scoring 131 points in his last 220 games.

Braden Holtby – Washington Capitals – Drafted 2008, 93rd overall (WAS)

Arguably the NHL’s top goaltender during the regular season, Holtby has continued his dominance into the playoffs. He has allowed only four goals in four games in Washington’s playoff series against the Flyers, and Holtby is currently sporting a 1.00 GAA and .966 save percentage.

Goaltenders all develop differently, and Holtby is proof that if you allow a player to develop at his own speed, it can pay real dividends. After ending his career with Saskatoon (WHL), Holtby played in the ECHL and had multiple AHL stints before sticking in the NHL as the Capitals No. 1 goaltender in 2013-14. Remarkably, in his last nine seasons, he has never finished a year with a GAA over 3.00.

Give Kevin a follow @kleblanchockey for NHL prospect talk and happenings.

* All statistics were as of Thursday, April 21.