The first members of the 2003 EntryDraft's first round to make their debuts were Eric Staal of the CarolinaHurricanes (No. 2) and Nathan Horton of the Florida Panthers (No. 3) on Oct. 9of that year. Marc-Andre Fleury of the Pittsburgh Penguins (No. 1) soonfollowed on Oct. 10.

Other names, in what's considered the deepest openinground in draft history, would gradually follow in the next few years: ThomasVanek, Ryan Suter, Dion Phaneuf, Dustin Brown, Brent Seabrook, Zach Parise,Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Mike Richards, Corey Perry and 16 others. Even defenseman ShawnBelle, drafted No. 30 by the St. Louis Blues and playing 16 NHL games from2006-2011, made the show (and played a little with Edmonton this season).

But not Hugh Jessiman, the Dartmouth College forward draftedNo. 12 overall.

He remained in college for another two seasons before debutingwith the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack and the ECHL's Charlotte Checkers in 2005-06.By 2008, he was a member of theNashville Predators organization. This season, he started with the ChicagoBlackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, before coming to the FloridaPanthers organization in the Michael Frolik trade, having toiled with theRochester Americans in the AHL ever since.

Until tonight.

GeorgeRichards of the Miami Herald reports that Jessiman's been recalled and willmake his long, long, long, long awaited NHL debut tonight against the New Jersey Devils, becoming the lastmember of the 2003 draft's first round to do so.

Provided there's no calamity in the pregame skate (this isHugh Jessiman we're talking about here), you have to feel good for the guy. He hasn't had the easiest go of it, as an ankle injury back in his junior season at Dartmouth may have changed thecourse of his development. His career highlights have included a memorablenickname ("HugeSpecimen") and being commonly mentioned as one ofthe biggest draft busts of all-time.

Skating out for what could look like an AHL team after theirtrade deadline sell-off doesn't change any of that. And no, his NHL debut doesn't change the fact the Rangers drafted him ahead of Zach Parise, Ryan Getzlaf, Mike Richards and Ryan Kesler. But it would remove his namefrom being an ignominious hockey trivia question; baby steps, Hugh.

This is one postgame interview we'dlove to hear.