The NHL entry draft, originally known as the NHL amateur draft, is a collective meeting in which the franchises of the National Hockey League (NHL) systematically select the exclusive rights to available amateur players who meet the eligibility requirements to play professional hockey in the NHL. First held in 1963, the draft prior to 1969 was a shorter affair. Any amateur player who was aged 17 years and older and was not already sponsored by an NHL club was eligible to be drafted. In 1969 the rules were changed so that any amateur player between the ages of 17 and 20 was eligible to be drafted.[1] The draft has grown, and in 2021, 223 players were selected over seven rounds.[2]
A total of 61 different players have been selected first. Of those, 44 have been Canadian, eight American, three Russian, two Czech, two Swedish, one Slovak and one Swiss. Every first overall pick taken between 1968 and 2016 has played in at least 299 NHL games.[3] Three players retired without having played an NHL game.
The Montreal Canadiens have had the most first overall picks of any other team, selecting six players first overall since 1963. The Anaheim Ducks, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Seattle Kraken, Vancouver Canucks and Vegas Golden Knights have never selected first overall. Five players have come from the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League, more than any other team. Thirteen players have won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's rookie of the year: Gilbert Perreault, Denis Potvin, Bobby Smith, Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux, Bryan Berard, Alexander Ovechkin, Patrick Kane, Nathan MacKinnon, Aaron Ekblad, Auston Matthews, Connor Bedard, and Matthew Schaefer. Nine have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame: Perreault, Potvin, Guy Lafleur, Eric Lindros, Hawerchuk, Lemieux, Pierre Turgeon, Mats Sundin and Mike Modano.
First overall picks
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Mats Sundin, drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989, the first European player to be picked first overall.
- Key
| bold | Active in the NHL |
| ‡ | Expansion team |
| ^ | Calder Memorial Trophy winner |
| * | Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame |
| # | Calder Memorial Trophy winner and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame |
| ¤ | No games played in the NHL[4] |
- Notes
- Wendel Clark was drafted as a defenceman
First overall picks by team
edit
- Color key
- Has never been awarded a first overall pick
- Franchise is defunct
| Team | Last #1 overall pick | Total picks awarded/made | Trades/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Canadiens | 2022 | 4(6) | Acquired pick from Devils (Rockies) in 1980 Acquired pick from the Golden Seals in 1971 |
| New Jersey Devils (formerly Kansas City Scouts/Colorado Rockies) |
2019 | 5(3) | Traded pick to Bruins in 1982
Traded pick to Canadiens in 1980 |
| Florida Panthers | 2014 | 5(2) | Traded pick to Blue Jackets in 2002 Traded pick to Penguins in 2003 Traded pick to Lightning in 1998 |
| Washington Capitals | 2004 | 4(3) | Traded pick to Flyers in 1975 |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 2008 | 4(3) | Traded pick to Jets (Thrashers) in 1999 |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 2005 | 3(3) | Acquired pick from Panthers in 2003
Traded pick to Stars (North Stars) in 1983 |
| Boston Bruins | 1997 | 2(3) | Acquired pick from Devils (Rockies) in 1982 |
| Winnipeg Jets (formerly Atlanta Thrashers) |
2001 | 1(2) | Acquired pick from Lightning in 1999 |
| California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons (defunct) | 1971 | 1(0) | Traded pick to Canadiens in 1971 |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 2002 | 0(1) | Acquired pick from Panthers in 2002 |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 1975 | 0(1) | Acquired pick from Capitals in 1975 |
| Colorado Avalanche (formerly Quebec Nordiques) |
2013 | 4 | |
| New York Islanders | 2025 | 5 | |
| Edmonton Oilers | 2015 | 4 | 4 picks were awarded between the years 2010 and 2015; 3 of them awarded in consecutive years (2010, 2011, 2012) |
| Buffalo Sabres | 2021 | 4 | |
| Detroit Red Wings | 1986 | 3 | |
| Ottawa Senators | 1996 | 3 | |
| Dallas Stars (formerly Minnesota North Stars) |
1988 | 2(3) | Acquired pick from Penguins in 1983 |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 2016 | 2 | |
| New York Rangers | 2020 | 2 | Held first overall pick in the 2020 draft despite taking part in the playoffs, whose format was changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 2023 | 2 | |
| St. Louis Blues | 2006 | 1 | |
| Arizona Coyotes (inactive) (formerly Winnipeg Jets) |
1981 | 1 | |
| Los Angeles Kings | 1967 | 1 | |
| San Jose Sharks | 2024 | 1 | |
| Vancouver Canucks | N/A | 0 | |
| Anaheim Ducks | N/A | 0 | |
| Calgary Flames (formerly Atlanta Flames) |
N/A | 0 | |
| Vegas Golden Knights | N/A | 0 | |
| Carolina Hurricanes | N/A | 0 | |
| Seattle Kraken | N/A | 0 | |
| Nashville Predators | N/A | 0 | |
| Minnesota Wild | N/A | 0 | |
| Utah Mammoth | N/A | 0 |
See also
editReferences
edit- General
- "Entry Draft Historic First selections". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- "NHL Entry Draft–All-time first-overall picks". Slam! Sports. Retrieved 2008-06-20.[dead link]
- "All-time No. 1 draft picks". ESPN. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- "Calder Memorial Trophy". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2006-04-23. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- "List of honored Players". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
- "50 Years of the 1st pick". The Sports Network. Archived from the original on 2012-06-18. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
- Specific
- ↑ "NHL Draft History". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 2001-01-28. Retrieved 2008-06-21.
- ↑ "NHL Draft History–2021 Stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2022-06-08.
- ↑ Kreiser, John (2011-06-24). "Inside the Draft numbers". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2011-06-24.
- ↑ "HHOF Time Capsure–The 1960s–10 High Draft Picks That Failed To Pan Out". Hockey Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on 2003-08-23. Retrieved 2008-06-20.