Kris Chucko Jersey Card

Not every first-rounder from the 2004 draft class played in the NHL; A.J. Thelen (12th overall, Minnesota Wild) and Andy Rogers (30th overall, Tampa Bay Lightning), for instance, haven't. Kris Chucko, chosen 24th overall with the Calgary Flames, played 2 games with the team in 2008-09, as he was being groomed for a bottom-six grinding winger role with middle-six upside due to his speed, hockey sense and 6'2", 198-pound physique.

His defensive play kept him from being relegated to the ECHL during his five-season AHL career, but his lack of consistent offensive production save for the '08-09 season didn't warrant any call-ups, either.

He also may have lacked discipline on the ice, as his penalty minute count usually surpassed his number of games played.

It wasn't any of that that put an end to his career, however: he suffered a serious concussion in December 2009 limiting him to 41 games that year and another one in October 2010 that ended his season after just two contests.

He didn't have a contract for the following season and had to consider his future quality of life.

Here he is wearing the Flames' red (home) uniform, on card #FT-KC from Upper Deck's 2009-10 Ice set and Fresh Threads sub-set:

It features a black jersey swatch from a rookie photo shoot.

After retiring, the Burnaby, BC native moved to Minnesota - where he had played NCAA hockey with the Golden Gophers at university - and turned to banking; he is currently a manager and VP for at U.S. Bank.