| Player |
Team |
Selection |
Could Have Picked? |
| 2005 |
Pittsburgh |
Sidney Crosby |
- |
| Note: Sid the Kid delivered for the Penguins, as well as the expectations of NHL fans. |
| 2004 |
Washington |
Alexander Ovechkin |
- |
| Note: Ovechkin lived up to his billing in 2005-06 with 52 goals and 106 points. |
| 2003 |
Pittsburgh |
Marc-Andre Fleury |
Eric Staal |
| Note: Goaltenders take time to develop, but you can't ignore Staal's 100 points in 2005-06. |
| 2002 |
Columbus |
Rick Nash |
None Comparable |
| Note: In his second season, Nash was the youngest 40-goal scorer since Jimmy Carson in 1988. |
| 2001 |
Atlanta |
Ilya Kovalchuk |
None Comparable |
| Note: Jason Spezza is great, but Kovalchuk is arguably the most exciting player in the league. |
| 2000 |
NY Islanders |
Rick DiPietro |
Dany Heatley (2nd) |
| Note: DiPietro made big strides on Long Island, but you can't dismiss Heatley's accomplishments. |
| 1999 |
Atlanta |
Patrik Stefan |
Martin Havlat (26th) |
| Note: Havlat has developed into a cornerstone for Ottawa, the same goes for Vancouver's Sedins. |
| 1998 |
Tampa Bay |
Vincent Lecavalier |
None Comparable |
| Note: The Rimouski grad was the pick of the litter in 1998, but Simon Gagne comes close. |
| 1997 |
Boston |
Joe Thornton |
None Comparable |
| Note: The former Greyhound is the complete package for the Sharks. Marian Hossa is right up there, too. |
| 1996 |
Ottawa |
Chris Phillips |
Derek Morris (13th) |
| Note: Phillips is a valuable blueliner in Ottawa, but Morris brings a lot of offence from the point. |
| 1995 |
Ottawa |
Bryan Berard |
Jarome Iginla (11th) |
| Note: With five 30-goal seasons, Iginla is one of the league's premier power forwards. |
| 1994 |
Florida |
Ed Jovanovski |
None Comparable |
| Note: 'Jovocop' is one of the most natural offensive talents from the blueline in the NHL today. |
| 1993 |
Ottawa |
Alexandre Daigle |
Chris Pronger (2nd) |
| Note: It took a short while, but Pronger emerged as a force on D. A Hart and Norris Trophy winner. |
| 1992 |
Tampa Bay |
Roman Hamrlik |
Alexei Yashin (2nd) |
| Note: Contract squabbles aside, Yashin was the Senators' franchise player for seven seasons. |
| 1991 |
Quebec |
Eric Lindros |
Peter Forsberg (6th) |
| Note: With two Stanley Cups and a Hart Trophy, Forsberg is considered the best player in the league today. |
| 1990 |
Quebec |
Owen Nolan |
Jaromir Jagr (5th) |
| Note: Jagr's Capital seasons haven't been great, but you can't ignore the Cups, trophies and scoring titles. |
| 1989 |
Quebec |
Mats Sundin |
None Comparable |
| Note: The Maple Leafs' captain is a model for consistency, with nine straight 70-plus point seasons. |
| 1988 |
Minnesota |
Mike Modano |
None Comparable |
| Note: The face of the Stars franchise is the club's all-time leader in points, goals, assists and games played. |
| 1987 |
Buffalo |
Pierre Turgeon |
Joe Sakic (15th) |
| Note: The best player in Avs history has averaged less than a point a game just twice in his 16-year career. |
| 1986 |
Detroit |
Joe Murphy |
Brian Leetch (9th) |
| Note: Leetch is without a doubt one of the greatest New York Rangers - and NHL defencemen - of all-time. |
| 1985 |
Toronto |
Wendel Clark |
Joe Nieuwendyk (27th) |
| Note: Leaf fans loved Clark, but Nieuwendyk emerged early as a prolific scorer and the NHL's top faceoff man. |
| 1984 |
Pittsburgh |
Mario Lemieux |
None Comparable |
| Note: Has any pro athlete meant more to the survival of a franchise? Mario delivered right from Day 1. |
| 1983 |
Minnesota |
Brian Lawton |
Steve Yzerman (4th) |
| Note: With three Cups and an 18-year captaincy, the only player more celebrated in Red Wings lore is Howe. |
| 1982 |
Boston |
Gord Kluzak |
Scott Stevens (4th) |
| Note: He's never won the Norris, but Stevens is the league's best stay-at-home defender. Three Stanley Cups. |
| 1981 |
Winnipeg |
Dale Hawerchuk |
Ron Francis (4th) |
| Note: Francis is 4th in all-time career points, but you won't hear much complaining about Hawerchuk, either. |
| 1980 |
Montreal |
Doug Wickenheiser |
Denis Savard (3rd) |
| Note: The Habs took the Western star over backyard talent Savard. Honourable mention to Paul Coffey (6th). |
| 1979 |
Colorado |
Rob Ramage |
Ray Bourque (8th) |
| Note: Boston's all-time leader in points, assists and games-played won the Stanley Cup with Colorado. |
| 1978 |
Minnesota |
Bobby Smith |
None Comparable |
| Note: Smith won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1986 and was a top scorer with the Habs and North Stars. |
| 1977 |
Detroit |
Dale McCourt |
Mike Bossy (15th) |
| Note: In just 10 seasons, Bossy tallied 573 goals and won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders. |
| 1976 |
Washington |
Rick Green |
Bernie Federko (7th) |
| Note: Federko is the Blues' leader in career games played, points and assists. Entered the HOF in 2002. |
| 1975 |
Philadelphia |
Mel Bridgeman |
Doug Jarvis (24th) |
| Note: Jarvis was the NHL's most durable player, appearing in 964 straight games without missing a beat. |
| 1974 |
Washington |
Greg Joly |
Bryan Trottier (22nd) |
| Note: Trottier was a scoring machine and a premier two-way centre. Honourable mention to Clark Gillies (4th). |
| 1973 |
NY Islanders |
Denis Potvin |
Lanny McDonald (4th) |
| Note: A real pick em', as both Hall of Famers were elite talents. Honourable mention to Bob Gainey (8th). |
| 1972 |
NY Islanders |
Billy Harris |
Steve Shutt (4th) |
| Note: Shutt holds the Habs' record for career points by a LW (776) and helped the team win four Cups. |
| 1971 |
Montreal |
Guy Lafleur |
Marcel Dionne (2nd) |
| Note: Once again, this is a pick em'. Dionne and The Flower were both equally dominant in their era. |
| 1970 |
Buffalo |
Gilbert Perreault |
Darryl Sittler (8th) |
| Note: Another 'push.' Both were elite scorers, and all that was missing were Stanley Cup victories. |
| 1969 |
Montreal |
Rejean Houle |
Bobby Clarke (17th) |
| Note: With leadership, toughness and scoring, no one has embodied the Flyers more than Clarke. |
