50 years of the NHL Draft

1963 NHL Draft

1st pick - Garry Monahan

Montreal Canadiens

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
748	116	169	285	484

Playing Career: 1967-1982
Junior Team: Peterborough Petes
Born: Oct 20, 1946 Barrie, ON
Height: 6'0Weight: 185Shot: Left

Draft Notes: Of the 21 players selected in the 1963 draft only five, including Monahan, would go on to play in the NHL. Peter Mahovlich (2nd pick) was the only player taken to win a Stanley Cup while Jim McKenny (17th pick) was the only player to play in an All-Star Game.

Hall of Famers: None

Steal of the Draft: Gerry Meehan (Toronto, Round 4, 21st overall) was taken with the final pick of the draft. Meehan played 670 games over a serviceable 10-year career.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

1964 NHL Draft

1st pick - Claude Gauthier

Detroit Red Wings

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
-	-	-	-	-

Playing Career: Gauthier never played in the NHL
Junior Team: Rosemont (Quebec Midget)

1964 Draft Notes: Of the 24 players selected in the draft only nine would go on to play in the NHL. Syl Apps, Jr., Jim Dorey, Tim Ecclestone and Mike Pelyk all played over 200 games and enjoyed solid careers while Ken Dryden turned into a star.

Hall of Famers: Ken Dryden (1983)

Steal of the Draft: Dryden (Boston, Round 3, 14th overall) was an amazing third-round catch by the Bruins, who shortsightedly traded him to Montreal the same day. Dryden would go on to play seven full seasons and part of an eighth in the NHL, all with Montreal, winning six Stanley Cups, five Vezina trophies, the 1972 Calder Trophy and the 1971 Conn Smythe.

1965 NHL Draft

1st pick - Andre Veilleux

New York Rangers

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
-	-	-	-	-

Playing Career: Veilleux never played in the NHL
Junior Team: Montreal Rangers (Jr. B)

1965 Draft Notes: The minimum age for the draft was raised from 16- to 18-years-old in 1965. Due to the new age restrictions, the talent pool was very weak as many of the players meeting the age requirements had already been sponsored or turned professional. Only 11 picks were made, the fewest ever in an NHL Draft. Of those 11, only two would go on to play in the NHL.

Hall-of-Famers: None

Steal of the draft: Pierre Bouchard (Montreal, Round 1, 5th overall) was the only player in the Draft to play more than 100 career NHL games. He would go on to play parts of 12 seasons and won five Cups with Montreal.

1966 NHL Draft

1st pick - Barry Gibbs

Boston Bruins

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
796	58	224	282	945

Playing Career: 1967-1980
Junior Team: Estevan (SJHL)
Born: Sep 28, 1948 Lloydminster, SK
Height: 5'11Weight: 195Shot: Right

1966 Draft Notes: The draft took place on April 25 which remains the earliest in history. All 24 eligible picks were made. 14 of the players selected went on to play in the NHL the most from any draft until the format was changed in 1969.

Hall-of-Famers: Brad Park (2nd pick)

Steal of the draft: Don Luce (New York Rangers, Round 3, 14th overall) would become one of the longest-serving and most popular players for the Buffalo Sabres, who acquired him in 1971.

Photos: Steve Babineau/Getty Images

1967 NHL Draft

1st pick - Rick Pagnutti

Los Angeles Kings

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
-	-	-	-	-

Playing Career: Pagnutti never played in the NHL
Junior Team: Garson Native Sons

1967 Draft Notes: The 1967 draft was the first to include expansion teams. The league also increased the eligibility age from 18 to 20 - this would become the standard for the next 11 years. In an odd note, the St. Louis Blues would draft an ineligible player with their first pick and then passed in all subsequent rounds. Only three of the 18 players selected ever played in the NHL.

Hall-of-Famers: None

Steal of the draft: Pierre Bouchard (Montreal, Round 1, 5th overall) was the only player in the Draft to play more than 100 career NHL games. He would go on to play parts of 12 seasons and won five Cups with Montreal.

Photos courtesy of the Rochester Americans

1968 NHL Draft

1st pick - Michel Plasse

Montreal Canadiens

GP	W	L	T	GAA
299	92	136	54	3.79

Playing Career: 1970-1982
Junior Team: Drummondville Rangers
Born: Jun 1, 1948 - Montreal, QC
Height:5'11Weight: 175

Draft Notes: The 1968 draft was the first to have its selection order based on the reverse order of finish from the previous season. This was also the first draft to feature traded picks, as the Oakland Seals gave up their No. 1 selection in a deal with Montreal.

Hall of Famers: None

Steal of the Draft: Curt Bennett (St. Louis, Round 2, 16th overall) would play parts of 10 NHL seasons and played in two All-Star games for the Atlanta Flames.

Photos: Rogers Photo Archive/Getty Images (front), Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (back)

1969 NHL Draft

1st pick - Rejean Houle

Montreal Canadiens

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
635	161	247	408	395

Playing Career: 1969-1983
Junior Team: Montreal Junior Canadiens
Born: Oct 25, 1949 Rouyn-Noranda, QC
Height:5'11Weight: 165

Draft Notes: This was the first NHL draft after the end of direct sponsorship of junior hockey. It formed the template for the NHL Draft for years to come.

Hall of Famers: Bobby Clarke (17th)

Steal of the Draft: Butch Goring (Los Angeles, Round 5, 51st overall) spent parts of 11 seasons with the Kings before a trade to the Islanders kick-started their dynasty in 1980. Conn Smythe winner in 1981.

Photos: Steve Babineau/Getty Images

1970 NHL Draft

1st pick - Gilbert Perreault

Buffalo Sabres

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1191	512	814	1326	500

Playing Career: 1971-1987
Junior Team: Montreal Junior Canadiens
Born: Nov 13, 1950 Victoriaville, QC
Height:6'1Weight: 180

Draft Notes: Since Buffalo and Vancouver were both expansion teams heading into the draft, the first overall selection was determined by spinning a wheel split between the two teams.

Hall of Famers: Perreault, Darryl Sittler (8th), Billy Smith (59th)

Steal of the Draft: Billy Smith (Los Angeles, Round 5, 59th overall) would win four Cups with the Islanders – who took him in the 1972 expansion draft - and be elected to the Hall of Fame after 18 NHL seasons.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), Melchior DiGiacomo/Getty Images (back)

1971 NHL Draft

1st pick - Guy Lafleur

Montreal Canadiens

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1127	560	793	1353	399

Playing Career: 1971-1991
Junior Team: Quebec Remparts
Born: Sep 20, 1951 Thurso, QC
Height:6'0Weight: 185

Draft Notes: Montreal acquired the first overall pick a year prior from California anticipating the elite talent available in the 1971 draft. The team would ensure California got the first-overall pick by trading Ralph Backstrom to the Kings and helping them pass the Seals in the standings.

Hall of Famers: Lafleur, Marcel Dionne (2nd), Larry Robinson (20th)

Steal of the Draft: Larry Robinson (Montreal, Round 2, 20th overall) doesn't seem like such a steal by modern second-round standards, but was the Canadiens fourth selection in the draft.

Photos: Steve Babineau/NHL/Getty Images

1972 NHL Draft

1st pick - Billy Harris

New York Islanders

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
897	231	327	558	394

Playing Career: 1972-1984
Junior Team: Toronto Marlboros
Born: Jan. 29, 1952 Toronto, ON
Height:6'0Weight: 197

Draft Notes: The New York Islanders won the first overall pick over their expansion cousins, the Atlanta Flames, on a coin toss.

Hall of Famers: Steve Shutt (4th), Bill Barber (7th)

Steal of the Draft: Peter McNab (Buffalo, Round 6, 85th overall) would post six consecutive 35-plus goal seasons with the Bruins in the 1970s and was outscored by only Barber and Shutt in his draft class.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

1973 NHL Draft

1st pick - Denis Potvin

New York Islanders

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1060	310	742	1052	1356

Playing Career: 1973-1988
Junior Team: Ottawa 67s
Born: Oct 29, 1953 Hull, QC
Height:6'0Weight: 205

Draft Notes: The 1973 draft was the first to allow teams to sign their picks immediately after drafting them in an effort to prevent young talent from being lured to the World Hockey Association.

Hall of Famers: Potvin, Lanny McDonald (4th), Bob Gainey (8th)

Steal of the Draft: Dave Lewis (New York Islanders, Round 3, 33rd) was a serviceable 1,000-game man in the NHL. Good value for a third-rounder in a draft devoid of elite talent outside the first round.

Photos: Tony Triolo/SI/Getty Images (front), Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (back)

1974 NHL Draft

1st pick - Greg Joly

Washington Capitals

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
365	21	76	97	250

Playing Career: 1974-1983
Junior Team: Regina Pats
Born: May 30, 1954 Rocky Mountain House, AB
Height:6'0Weight: 190

Draft Notes: This draft was held via conference call in efforts to prevent tampering from the newly-formed World Hockey Association. Sabres GM Punch Imlach invented a player to take in the 11th round, selecting fictional Japanese forward Taro Tsujimoto.

Hall of Famers: Clark Gillies (4th), Bryan Trottier (22nd), Mark Howe (25th)

Steal of the Draft: Charlie Simmer (California, Round 3, 39th overall) would make brief stops with the Golden Seals and Cleveland Barons before playing on the Kings' "Triple Crown Line".

Photos courtesy of the Washington Capitals

1975 NHL Draft

1st pick - Mel Bridgman

Philadelphia Flyers

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
975	252	449	701	1625

Playing Career: 1975-1989
Junior Team: Victoria Cougars
Born: Apr 28, 1955 Trenton, ON
Height:6'0Weight: 190

Draft Notes: The Flyers traded a pair of players and their first-rounder to the Capitals to move up 17 spots to take Bridgman. The Capitals were coming off what is still the worst season in modern NHL history.

Hall of Famers: None

Steal of the Draft: Dave Taylor (Los Angeles, Round 15, 210th overall) was taken so late that he'd have been the final pick in a modern draft. He Ranks near the top of most Kings offensive career records.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), Steve Babineau/NHL/Getty Images (back)

1976 NHL Draft

1st pick - Rick Green

Washington Capitals

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
845	43	220	263	588

Playing Career: 1976-1992
Junior Team: London Knights
Born: Feb 20, 1956 Belleville, ON
Height:6'3Weight: 220

Draft Notes: Both the California Golden Seals and Kansas City Scouts took part in the 1976 draft. Less than two months later, California would become the Cleveland Barons and Kansas City would become the Colorado Rockies.

Hall of Famers: Bernie Federko (7th)

Steal of the Draft: Mike Liut (St. Louis, Round 4, 56th overall) put in some incredible performances over his career in St. Louis and Hartford and won the 1980-81 Lester B. Pearson Trophy.

Photos courtesy of the Washington Capitals

1977 NHL Draft

1st pick - Dale McCourt

Detroit Red Wings

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
532	194	284	478	124

Playing Career: 1977-1984
Junior Team: Hamilton Fincups
Born: Jan 26, 1957 Falconbridge, ON
Height:5'10Weight: 180

Draft Notes: The 1977 draft was the first in NHL history where every player picked in the first round played at least 80 career games in the NHL.

Hall of Famers: Mike Bossy (15th), Rod Langway (36th)

Steal of the Draft: Pete Peeters (Philadelphia, Round 8, 135th overall) was a four-time All-Star and won a Vezina Trophy over a 13-year NHL career.

Photos: Steve Babineau/NHL/Getty Images

1978 NHL Draft

1st pick - Bobby Smith

Minnesota North Stars

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1077	357	679	1036	915

Playing Career: 1978-1993
Junior Team: Ottawa 67s
Born: Feb 12, 1958 North Sydney, NS
Height:6'4Weight: 210

Draft Notes: The Montreal Canadiens drafted Fetisov in the 12th round in hopes of luring the 20-year-old Russian blueliner to North America. He would be re-drafted by New Jersey in 1983 and make his NHL debut in 1989.

Hall of Famers: Viacheslov Fetisov (201st)*

Steal of the Draft: Craig MacTavish (Boston, Round 9, 153rd overall) played more games than anyone else taken in the draft, winning four Stanley Cups along the way. Not bad for a ninth-rounder.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), Denis Brodeur/NHL/Getty Images (back)

1979 NHL Draft

1st pick - Rob Ramage

Colorado Rockies

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1044	139	425	564	2224

Playing Career: 1979-1994
Junior Team: London Knights
Born: Jan 11, 1959 Byron, ON
Height:6'2Weight: 210

Draft Notes: The Rockies would not select again until the fourth round after selecting Ramage first overall. Of the 21 players taken in the first round, 11 would eclipse 1,000 NHL games.

Hall of Famers: Mike Gartner (4th), Ray Bourque (8th), Michel Goulet (20th), Mark Messier (48th), Glenn Anderson (69th)

Steal of the Draft: Mark Messier (Edmonton, Round 3, 48th overall) was the jewel of what was clearly a very, very deep draft. Edmonton's draft day haul would also include Anderson and Kevin Lowe.

Photos: Steve Babineau/NHL/Getty Images

1980 NHL Draft

1st pick - Doug Wickenheiser

Montreal Canadiens

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
556	111	165	276	286

Playing Career: 1980-1990
Junior Team: Regina Pats
Born: Regina Pats
Height:6'1Weight: 196

Draft Notes: The Canadiens acquired the first overall selection as a result of a trade made in 1976. The trade sent Ron Andruff and Sean Shanahan to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for the opportunity to swap 1980 first-rounders.

Hall of Famers: Denis Savard (3rd), Larry Murphy (4th), Paul Coffey (6th), Jari Kurri (69th)

Steal of the Draft: Hakan Loob (Calgary, Round 9, 181st overall) only played six NHL seasons but made a huge impact, scoring 50 goals in 1987-88 and helping the Flames to two Stanley Cup Finals.

Photos: Paul Kennedy/SI/Getty Images (front), Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (back)

1981 NHL Draft

1st pick - Dale Hawerchuk

Winnipeg Jets

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1188	518	891	1409	740

Playing Career: 1981-1997
Junior Team: Cornwall Royals
Born: April 4, 1963 Toronto, ON
Height:5'11Weight: 185

Draft Notes: The 1981 to draft remains the only one to date to feature four Hall-of-Famers selected in the first round.

Hall of Famers: Hawerchuk, Ron Francis (4th), Grant Fuhr (8th), Al MacInnis (15th)

Steal of the Draft: Chris Chelios (Montreal, Round 2, 40th overall) played more NHL games than all but four players in the league's history and 492 more than the combined careers of the four players the Canadiens took ahead of him in 1981.

Photos: Denis Brodeur/NHL/Getty Images (front), Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (back)

1982 NHL Draft

1st pick - Gord Kluzak

Boston Bruins

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
299	25	98	123	543

Playing Career: 1982-1991
Junior Team: Billings Bighorns
Born: March 4, 1964 Climax, SK
Height:6'4Weight: 210

Draft Notes: Three of the Hartford Whalers' top-six career point-getters were taken in this draft. Hartford selected Kevin Dineen 56th overall and Ray Ferraro 88th while New Jersey took Pat Verbeek 43rd.

Hall of Famers: Hall-of-Famers: Scott Stevens (5th), Doug Gilmour (134th)

Steal of the Draft: : Doug Gilmour (St. Louis, Round 7, 134) would prove his playoff mettle in Calgary, Toronto and Montreal and play nearly five-times as many games as Kluzak.

1983 NHL Draft

1st pick - Brian Lawton

Minnesota North Stars

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
483	112	154	266	401

Playing Career: 1983-1993
Junior Team: Mount Saint Charles Academy
Born: June 29, 1965 New Brunswick, NJ
Height:6'0Weight: 180

Draft Notes: A large influx of European talent was snapped up in 1983 including the Devils and Canadiens attempting to lure elite Russian talents like Tretiak and Fetisov. The St. Louis Blues did not participate in the draft. .

Hall of Famers: Pat LaFontaine (3rd), Steve Yzerman (4th), Cam Neely (9th), Vladislav Tretiak* (138th), Viacheslav Fetisov (145th)

Steal of the Draft: Dominik Hasek (Chicago, Round 10, 199th overall) would be pushed out of Chicago by Ed Belfour but will be a Hall-of-Famer for his 1990s dominance in Buffalo.

Photos courtesy of the Dallas Stars

1984 NHL Draft

1st pick - Mario Lemieux

Pittsburgh Penguins

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
915	690	1033	1723	834

Playing Career: 1985-2006
Junior Team: Laval Voisins
Born: Oct 5, 1965 Montreal, QC
Height:6'4Weight: 200

Draft Notes: The draft would produce three Calder Trophy winners (Lemieux, Robitaille and Gary Suter) and one Cy Young Award winner, with the Kings taking future Atlanta Braves great Tom Glavine in the fourth round.

Hall of Famers: Lemieux, Patrick Roy (51st), Brett Hull (117th), Luc Robitaille (171st)

Steal of the Draft: Luc Robitaille (Los Angeles, Round 9, 171st overall) may not have had the star-power of Lemieux, but the Kings would justify a ninth-round pick on their franchise goals leader.

Photos: Denis Brodeur/NHL/Getty Images (front), Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (back)

1985 NHL Draft

1st pick - Wendel Clark

Toronto Maple Leafs

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
793	330	234	564	1690

Playing Career: 1985-2000
Junior Team: Saskatoon Blades
Born: Oct 25, 1966 Kelvington, SK
Height:5'11Weight: 197

Draft Notes: Clark would not be the only high-profile Leaf in this draft. Future general manager John Ferguson Jr. and future coach Paul Maurice were both taken in the draft's final six selections.

Hall of Famers: Joe Nieuwendyk (27th), Igor Larionov (214th)

Steal of the Draft: Bill Ranford (Boston, Round 3, 52nd overall) would be one of the most dominant goalies in the world in the early 1990s winning a Conn Smythe with Edmonton in 1990 and Canada Cup MVP in 1991.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

1986 NHL Draft

1st pick - Joe Murphy

Detroit Red Wings

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
779	233	295	528	810

Playing Career: 1987-2001
Junior Team: Michigan State University
Born: Oct 16, 1967 London, ON
Height:6'1Weight: 190

Draft Notes: The Oilers used the draft's final selection on Tony Hand, the first British-born and –trained player drafted into the NHL. He would score over 3,000 career points in various British pro leagues.

Hall of Famers: Brian Leetch (9th)

Steal of the Draft: Adam Graves (Detroit, Round 2, 22 overall), who would emerge as a 50-goal scorer and two-time Cup winner, would be taken outside the first round of a draft with limited star power.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

1987 NHL Draft

1st pick - Pierre Turgeon

Buffalo Sabres

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1294	515	812	1327	452

Playing Career: 1987-2007
Junior Team: Granby Bisons
Born: Aug 28, 1969 Rouyn-Noranda, QC
Height:6'1Weight: 195

Draft Notes: Six of the draft's top eight picks were involved in the "Piestany Punch-Up" at the 1987 World Junior Hockey Championships.

Hall of Famers: Brendan Shanahan (2nd), Joe Sakic (15th)

Steal of the Draft: Theoren Fleury (Calgary, Round 8, 166th overall) likely fell so far by virtue of being just five-foot-six. He would play 15 NHL seasons winning a Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold medal.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), Denis Brodeur/NHL/Getty Images (back)

1988 NHL Draft

1st pick - Mike Modano

Minnesota North Stars

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1499	561	813	1374	926

Playing Career: 1988-2011
Junior Team: Prince Albert Raiders
Born: Jun 7, 1970 Livonia, MI
Height:6'3Weight: 212

Draft Notes: Top pick Mike Modano would go on to become the highest scoring American in NHL history. It also featured two of only nine players in the history of the NHL to reach the 3,000 penalty minute plateau, Tie Domi and Rob Ray.

Cream of the Crop: Modano, Teemu Selanne (10th), Rob Blake (70th)

Steal of the Draft: Alexander Mogilny (Buffalo, Round 5, 89th overall) would become one of the deadliest snipers of the 90s once Russian players became regular fixtures in the NHL.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), Denis Brodeur/NHL/Getty Images (back)

1989 NHL Draft

1st pick - Mats Sundin

Quebec Nordiques

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1346	564	785	1349	1093

Playing Career: 1990-2009
Junior Team: Nacka HK
Born: : Feb 13, 1971 Bromma, SWE
Height:6'5Weight: 231

Draft Notes: Sundin was was the first European to be taken number one. The final draft before the fall of the Berlin Wall also started the NHL careers of Sergei Fedorov and Pavel Bure.

Cream of the Crop: Sundin, Nicklas Lidstrom (53rd), Sergei Fedorov (74th), Pavel Bure (113th)

Steal of the Draft: Arturs Irbe (Minnesota, Round 10, 196th overall) was impressive internationally, but his time in the NHL should not be undercut. Leading improbable playoff runs in San Jose and Carolina, Irbe was great value for a 10th-rounder.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), Rick Stewart/Getty Images (back)

1990 NHL Draft

1st pick - Owen Nolan

Quebec Nordiques

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1200	422	463	885	1793

Playing Career: 1990-2010
Junior Team: Cornwall Royals
Born: Feb 12, 1972 Belfast, NI
Height: 6'1Weight: 205

Draft Notes: The Flames and Devils swapped picks on draft day in what would become a goalie swap. Calgary moved up to 13 to take Trevor Kidd. The Devils used Calgary's pick on Martin Brodeur.

Cream of the Crop: Jaromir Jagr (5th), Martin Brodeur (20th)

Steal of the Draft: Peter Bondra (Washington, Round 8, 156th overall) was the leading light of post-split Slovakia in the mid-90s and a shrewd pick-up for the Caps, who nabbed the 500-goal man deep in the draft.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), Robert Laberge/Getty Images (back)

1991 NHL Draft

1st pick - Eric Lindros

Quebec Nordiques

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
760	372	493	865	1398

Playing Career: 1992-2007
Junior Team: Oshawa Generals
Born: Feb 28, 1973 London, ON
Height: 6'4Weight: 230

Draft Notes: The '91 Draft went down in infamy when Lindros refused to accept life in Quebec. He held out for the entire 1991-92 season before the Nordiques were forced to deal him to Philadelphia.

Cream of the Crop: Lindros, Scott Niedermayer (3rd), Peter Forsberg (6th)

Steal of the Draft: Chris Osgood (Detroit, Round 3, 54th overall) benefitted from playing behind a lot of Red Wings talent, but he's still one of only 10 goalies to reach 400 career wins.

Photos: S. Levy/Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images (front), Robert Laberge/Getty Images (back)

1992 NHL Draft

1st pick - Roman Hamrlik

Tampa Bay Lightning

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1379	155	482	637	1400

Playing Career: 1992-Pres.
Junior Team: HC Zlin
Born: April 12, 1974 Zlin, CZE
Height: 6'2Weight: 206

Draft Notes: The expansion Tampa Bay Lightning and Ottawa Senators took turns selecting the first pick of each round, with the Lightning getting the odd rounds and the Senators taking the even ones.

Cream of the Crop: Sergei Gonchar (14th)

Steal of the Draft: Nikolai Khabibulin (Winnipeg Jets, Round 9, 204th overall) has proven well worth a ninth-round selection winning 300-plus games, a Stanley Cup and an Olympic gold.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), Elsa/Getty Images (back)

1993 NHL Draft

1st pick - Alexandre Daigle

Ottawa Senators

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
616	129	198	327	186

Playing Career: 1993-2006
Junior Team: Victoriaville Tigres
Born: Feb 7, 1975 Montreal, QC
Height: 6'0Weight: 200

Draft Notes: Some say the Senators intentionally lost games to get the number one pick, leading to the introduction of the Draft Lottery in 1995. Daigle is considered by many to be one of the biggest ever draft busts.

Cream of the Crop: Chris Pronger (2nd)

Steal of the Draft: Pavol Demitra (Ottawa Senators, Round 9, 227th overall) would light up NHL scoresheets for parts of 16 seasons but would be traded to St. Louis after playing less than 60 games for Ottawa.

Photos: M Campanelli/Getty Images (front), Elsa/Getty Images (back)

1994 NHL Draft

1st pick - Ed Jovanovski

Florida Panthers

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1085	136	358	494	1452

Playing Career: 1995-Pres.
Junior Team: Florida Panthers
Born: June 26, 1976 Windsor, ON
Height: 6'3Weight: 218

Draft Notes: The 1994 draft would feature four goalies to either win or be runner-up for the Vezina trophy – Jose Theodore (44th), Marty Turco (124th), Tim Thomas (217) and Evgeni Nabokov (219th).

Hall of Famers: Daniel Alfredsson (133rd); Tim Thomas (217th)

Steal of the Draft: Tim Thomas (Quebec Nordiques, Round 9, 217th overall) would take more than a decade to get a regular NHL job but still won the 2011 Conn Smythe Trophy.

Photos: Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images (front), Robert Laberge/Getty Images (back)

1995 NHL Draft

1st pick - Bryan Berard

Ottawa Senators

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
619	76	247	323	500

Playing Career: 1996-2008
Junior Team: Detroit Junior Red Wings
Born: March 5, 1977 Woonsocket, RI
Height: 6'1Weight: 195

Draft Notes: Following Lindros' footsteps, Berard would refuse to report to the team that drafted him. The team would trade him to the Islanders with Martin Straka in return for number-two pick Wade Redden and goaltender Damian Rhodes.

Cream of the Crop: Jarome Iginla (11th)

Steal of the Draft: Miikka Kiprusoff (San Jose Sharks, Round 5, 116th overall) got lost in the San Jose crease shuffle behind Evgeni Nabokov. He would win a Vezina Trophy and lead the Flames to within one win of the 2004 Stanley Cup.

Photos: The Canadian Press

1996 NHL Draft

1st pick - Chris Phillips

Ottawa Senators

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1025	65	191	256	671

Playing Career: 1997-Pres.
Junior Team: Prince Albert Raiders
Born: March 9, 1978 Calgary, AB
Height: 6'3Weight: 216

Draft Notes: The Winnipeg Jets participated in their final NHL Draft before officially moving to Phoenix nine days later. They would use one of their two first-rounders to select Daniel Briere.

Cream of the Crop: Zdeno Chara (56th)

Steal of the Draft: Tomas Kaberle (Toronto Maple Leafs, Round 8, 204th overall) was the cornerstone of the Maple Leafs power play for over a decade. He is still active and won the Cup with Boston in 2011.

Photos: Glenn Cratty/Getty Images (front), The Canadian Press (back)

1997 NHL Draft

1st pick - Joe Thornton

Boston Bruins

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
1077	324	754	1078	963

Playing Career: 1997-Pres.
Junior Team: Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
Born: July 2, 1979 London, ON
Height: 6'4Weight: 235

Draft Notes: Five 1997 first-rounders would win Olympic gold with Team Canada. Eric Brewer won gold in 2002, while Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Roberto Luongo and Brenden Morrow won in 2010.

Cream of the Crop: Thornton, Roberto Luongo (4th)

Steal of the Draft: Brian Campbell (Buffalo Sabres, Round 6, 156th overall) has been a weapon in every offence he's been part of, eclipsing 50 points in three of the last five seasons.

Photos: The Canadian Press

1998 NHL Draft

1st pick - Vincent Lecavalier

Tampa Bay Lightning

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
998	373	469	842	717

Playing Career: 1998-Pres.
Junior Team: Rimouski Oceanic
Born: April 21, 1980 Ile Bizard, QC
Height: 6'4Weight: 208

Draft Notes: The 1998 draft was good to the Montreal Canadiens… eventually. Current Habs Andrei Markov, Brian Gionta, Erik Cole and Scott Gomez were all taken in '98 as were former Habs Alex Tanguay, Mike Ribeiro and Michael Ryder.

Cream of the Crop: Brad Richards (64th), Pavel Datsyuk (171st)

Steal of the Draft: Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings, Round 6, 171st overall) is the poster-boy for the Wings' scouting staff. Regarded as the NHL's most skilled player and selected in the sixth round.

Photos: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images (front), The Canadian Press (back)

1999 NHL Draft

1st pick - Patrik Stefan

Atlanta Thrashers

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
455	64	124	188	158

Playing Career: 1999-2007
Junior Team: Long Beach Ice Dogs
Born: April 21, 1980 Pribram, CZE
Height: 6'2Weight: 210

Draft Notes: Vancouver Canucks DM Brian Burke made draft day deals with the Blackhawks, Lightning and Thrashers to acquire the picks necessary to draft the Sedin twins second and third overall respectively.

Cream of the Crop: Daniel Sedin (2nd), Henrik Sedin (3rd), Ryan Miller (138th), Henrik Zetterberg (210th)

Steal of the Draft: Zetterberg (Detroit Red Wings, Round 7, 210th overall) continued Detroit's knack for landing elite talent in the late rounds of the draft.

Photos: The Canadian Press

2000 NHL Draft

1st pick - Rick DiPietro

New York Islanders

GP	W	GAA	SV%	SO
315	130	2.86	.903	16

Playing Career: 2000-Pres.
Junior Team: Boston University
Born: Sep 19, 1981 Winthrop, MA
Height: 6'1Weight: 190

Draft Notes: The Islanders were so sold on DiPietro as their goaltender of the future that they engineered a lopsided draft-day deal with Florida that sent the Panthers Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen in exchange for Mark Parrish and Oleg Kvasha.

Cream of the Crop: Marian Gaborik (3rd), Henrik Lundqvist (205th)

Steal of the Draft: Lundqvist (New York Rangers, Round 7, 205th overall) has already won an Olympic gold medal and may soon add a Vezina or Hart Trophy to his resume.

Photos: The Canadian Press

2001 NHL Draft

1st pick - Ilya Kovalchuk

Atlanta Thrashers

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
779	406	379	785	498

Playing Career: 2001-Pres.
Junior Team: Spartak Moscow
Born: April 15, 1983 Tver, RUS
Height: 6'2Weight: 235

Draft Notes: The Ottawa Senators reaped a great fortune from the New York Islanders receiving the second overall pick (Jason Spezza) and Zdeno Chara in a package for disgruntled captain Alexei Yashin.

Cream of the Crop: Kovalchuk (1st)

Steal of the Draft: While the '01 class may not produce many Hall-of-Famers, there were quality players all over the board, most notably Patrick Sharp (Philadelphia Flyers, Round 3, 95th overall).

Photos: The Canadian Press

2002 NHL Draft

1st pick - Rick Nash

Columbus Blue Jackets

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
674	289	258	547	568

Playing Career: 2002-Pres.
Junior Team: London Knights
Born: June 16, 1984 Brampton, ON
Height: 6'4Weight: 218

Draft Notes: The Florida Panthers won the Draft Lottery and then traded the pick to Columbus. They still wound up with the pre-draft consensus number-one pick, nabbing Jay Bouwmeester third overall.

Cream of the Crop: Nash, Duncan Keith (54th)

Steal of the Draft: Jonathan Ericsson, (Detroit Red Wings, Round 9, 291st overall) the last pick in '02, has turned into a dependable force on the Wings' back end and has represented Sweden at the Worlds. Not bad for "Mr. Irrelevant".

Photos: The Canadian Press

2003 NHL Draft

1st pick - Marc-Andre Fleury

Pittsburgh Penguins

GP	W	GAA	SV%	SO
434	226	2.68	.909	22

Playing Career: 2003-Pres.
Junior Team: Cape Breton Screaming Eagles
Born: Nov 28, 1984 Sorel, QC
Height: 6'1Weight: 172

Draft Notes: Viewed as one of the strongest drafts of all-time, 13 2003 first-rounders have reached the 100-career-goals plateau before the age of 28.

Cream of the Crop: Fleury, Eric Staal (2nd), Tomas Vanek (5th), Zach Parise (17th), Corey Perry (28th), Shea Weber (49th)

Steal of the Draft: The St. Louis Blues are currently reaping the rewards of two ninth-round sleepers, goalies Jaroslav Halak (Montreal Canadiens, 271st overall) and Brian Elliott (Ottawa Senators, 291st overall).

Photos: The Canadian Press

2004 NHL Draft

1st pick - Alexander Ovechkin

Washington Capitals

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
553	339	340	679	372

Playing Career: 2005-Pres.
Junior Team: Dynamo Moscow
Born: Sep 17, 1985 Moscow, RUS
Height: 6'2Weight: 233

Draft Notes: The Florida Panthers had attempted to take Ovechkin one year prior in the ninth round of the drfat, claiming that leap years made him eligible in 2003 when his birthday was two days after the eligibility cut-off.

Cream of the Crop: Ovechkin (1st), Evgeni Malkin (2nd)

Steal of the Draft: Pekka Rinne (Nashville Predators, Round 8, 258th overall) has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy the past two years. Excellent value for a pick they don't even make anymore.

Photos: The Canadian Press

200 NHL Draft

1st pick - Sidney Crosby

Pittsburgh Penguins

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
434	223	386	609	401

Playing Career: 2005-Pres.
Junior Team: Rimouski Oceanic
Born: Aug 7, 1987 Cole Harbour, NS
Height: 5'11Weight: 200

Draft Notes: Due to the 2004-05 lockout a weighted, league-wide lottery was held to determine who got the first overall choice. The Penguins won what is often referred to as "The Sidney Crosby Sweepstakes".

Cream of the Crop: Crosby (1st), Bobby Ryan (2nd), Carey Price (5th), Jonathan Quick (72nd)

Steal of the Draft: Keith Yandle (Phoenix Coyotes, Round 4, 105th overall) put together back-to-back All-Star campaigns in 2010-11 and 2011-12 to reward the Coyotes for their use of a fifth-rounder.

Photos: The Canadian Press

2006 NHL Draft

1st pick - Erik Johnson

St. Louis Blues

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
298	27	100	127	189

Playing Career: 2007-Pres.
Junior Team: US NTDP
Born: March 21, 1988 Bloomington, MN
Height: 6'5Weight: 227

Draft Notes: The 2006 Draft would produce a Calder Trophy nominee in four of the following five seasons, including Jordan Staal, Jonathan Toews, Nicklas Backstrom, Kris Versteeg and Michael Grabner.

Cream of the Crop: Jonathan Toews (3rd), Phil Kessel (5th), Claude Giroux (22nd)

Steal of the Draft: Boston got themselves years worth of grit out of their third and fourth picks of the draft, nabbing Milan Lucic (50th) and Brad Marchand (71st overall) outside the first round.

Photos: The Canadian Press

2007 NHL Draft

1st pick - Patrick Kane

Chicago Blackhawks

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
399	126	243	369	182

Playing Career: 2007-Pres.
Junior Team: London Knights
Born: Nov 19, 1988 Buffalo, NY
Height: 5'10Weight: 178

Draft Notes: The Chicago Blackhawks won the 2007 Draft Lottery despite finishing fifth overall and having only an eight percent chance at winning the top pick.

Cream of the Crop: Kane (1), Logan Couture (9th)

Steal of the Draft: Jamie Benn (Dallas Stars, Round 5, 129 overall) is emerging as a dangerous power forward and an excellent use of a fifth-rounder.

Photos: The Canadian Press

2008 NHL Draft

1st pick - Steven Stamkos

Tampa Bay Lightning

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
325	179	150	329	217

Playing Career: 2008-Pres.
Junior Team: Sarnia Sting
Born: Feb 7, 1990 Markham, ON
Height: 6'1Weight: 196

Draft Notes: The Draft was held in Ottawa to make up for the fact that the 2005 Draft – originally scheduled there – was a scaled-back affair with few top prospects making the trip.

Cream of the Crop: Stamkos, Drew Doughty (2nd), Erik Karlsson (15th)

Steal of the Draft: Many believe Anders Lindback (Nashville Predators, Round 7, 207th overall) would be well on his way to being a standout keeper by now if he weren't stuck behind Pekka Rinne in Nashville.

Photos: The Canadian Press

2009 NHL Draft

1st pick - John Tavares

New York Islanders

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
243	84	118	202	101

Playing Career: 2009-Pres.
Junior Team: London Knights
Born: Sep 20, 1990 Mississauga, ON
Height: 6'0Weight: 206

Draft Notes: The first round featured a record seven Swedes taken, highlighted by Victor Hedman (2nd), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (6th) and Magnus Paajarvi (10th).

Cream of the Crop: Tavares (1st), Matt Duchene (3rd)

Steal of the Draft: Ryan O'Reilly (Colorado Avalanche, Round 2, 33rd overall) led the Avalanche in points in 2011-12, ahead of stars like Paul Stastny, and lottery picks like Matt Duchene and Gabriel Landeskog.

Photos: The Canadian Press

2010 NHL Draft

1st pick - Taylor Hall

Edmonton Oilers

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
126	49	46	95	63

Playing Career: 2010-Pres.
Junior Team: Windsor Spitfires
Born: Nov 14, 1991 Calgary, AB
Height: 6'1Weight: 194

Draft Notes: Billed as "Taylor vs. Tyler", the Edmonton Oilers took Taylor Hall as the first overall pick, leaving the Boston Bruins with Tyler Seguin, whom some believe to be just as good.

Cream of the Crop: Hall (1st), Tyler Seguin (2nd), Jeff Skinner (7th)

Steal of the Draft: While it'll take a while to find the true steal from 2010 yeat, you have to like Mark Stone (Ottawa Senators, Round 6, 178th overall) leading Team Canada at the 2012 World Juniors and making his NHL debut in a Playoff game for Ottawa.

Photos: The Canadian Press

2011 NHL Draft

1st pick - Ryan Nugent-Hopkins

Edmonton Oilers

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
62	18	34	52	16

Playing Career: 2011-pres.
Junior Team: Red Deer Rebels
Born: Apr. 12, 1993 Burnaby, BC
Height: 6'1Weight: 175

Draft Notes: In its first draft since relocating from Atlanta, Winnipeg used its first pick in 2011 (Mark Scheifele) to announce that the new team would be named the Jets.

 

Cream of the Crop: Nugent-Hopkins (1st), Gabriel Landeskog (2nd), Sean Couturier (8th)

Steal of the draft: Too early to tell, but Andrew Shaw (Chicago Blackhawks, Round 5, 139th overall) was the only player outside the top-10 to play in upwards of 30 games in 2011-12.

Photos: The Canadian Press (front), Jeff Vinnick/Getty Images (back)

2012 NHL Draft

1st pick - To Be Made

Edmonton

GP	G	A	PTS	PIM
-	-	-	-	-

2012 Draft Order (top 5)
Edmonton Oilers
Columbus Blue Jackets
Montreal Canadiens
New York Islanders
Toronto Maple Leafs

Draft Notes
The Edmonton Oilers won the 2012 NHl Draft Lottery and leapfrogged the Columbus Blue Jackets for the right to pick first overall. Should the Oilers choose to keep the pick it will be the first time since the Quebec Nordiques (1989-91) that a team has had three straight first overall selections. Russian forward Nail Yakupov is widely regarded as the top prospect for the draft.

Photo: NHL Images/Getty Images