Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
sports

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

List of first overall NHL draft picks

none


none

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. The draft has grown, and in 2021, 223 players were selected over seven rounds.

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. 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. Twelve 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 and Connor Bedard . 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

Image:Billy Harris 1973.JPG|Billy Harris, drafted by the New York Islanders in 1972. Image:Mario Lemieux 2005.jpg|Mario Lemieux, drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1984. Image:Mats Sundin 1997.jpg|Mats Sundin, drafted by the Quebec Nordiques in 1989, the first European player to be picked first overall. Image:AlexOvechkin-Warmup.JPG|Alexander Ovechkin, drafted by the Washington Capitals in 2004. Image:SidneyCrosby.jpg|Sidney Crosby, drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005. Image:Steven Stamkos Lightning 2012-02-12.JPG|Steven Stamkos, drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2008. Image:Connor McDavid 2-FEB-2022.jpg|Connor McDavid, drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in 2015. Image:Connor Bedard rookie closeup.jpg|Connor Bedard, drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023. ;Key

¤No games played in the NHL
DraftSelected byPlayerNationalityPositionAmateur/junior/former clubLeague
1963Montreal CanadiensForwardSt. Michael's BuzzersCJBHL
1964Detroit Red Wings¤ForwardComité des jeunes (Rosemont)QC Midget
1965New York Rangers¤ForwardMontreal Rangers Jr. BQC Jr. B
1966Boston BruinsDefencemanEstevan BruinsSJHL
1967Los Angeles Kings‡¤DefencemanGarson Native SonsNOHA
1968Montreal CanadiensGoaltenderDrummondville RangersQMJHL
1969Montreal CanadiensForwardMontreal Junior CanadiensOHA
1970Buffalo Sabres‡#ForwardMontreal Junior CanadiensOHA
1971Montreal Canadiens*ForwardQuebec RempartsQMJHL
1972New York Islanders‡ForwardPeterborough PetesOHA
1973New York Islanders#DefencemanOttawa 67'sOHA
1974Washington CapitalsDefencemanRegina PatsWCHL
1975Philadelphia FlyersForwardVictoria CougarsWCHL
1976Washington CapitalsDefencemanLondon KnightsOHA
1977Detroit Red WingsForwardHamilton FincupsOHA
1978Minnesota North Stars^ForwardOttawa 67'sOHA
1979Colorado RockiesDefencemanLondon KnightsOHA
1980Montreal CanadiensForwardRegina PatsWHL
1981Winnipeg Jets#ForwardCornwall RoyalsQMJHL
1982Boston BruinsDefencemanBillings BighornsWHL
1983Minnesota North StarsForwardMount Saint Charles MountiesUSHS-RI
1984Pittsburgh Penguins#ForwardLaval VoisinsQMJHL
1985Toronto Maple LeafsDefenceman1Saskatoon BladesWHL
1986Detroit Red WingsForwardMichigan State SpartansCCHA
1987Buffalo Sabres*ForwardGranby BisonsQMJHL
1988Minnesota North Stars*ForwardPrince Albert RaidersWHL
1989Quebec Nordiques*ForwardNacka HKSwe-2
1990Quebec NordiquesForwardCornwall RoyalsOHL
1991Quebec Nordiques*ForwardOshawa GeneralsOHL
1992Tampa Bay Lightning‡DefencemanHC ZlinCS-1HL
1993Ottawa SenatorsForwardVictoriaville TigresQMJHL
1994Florida PanthersDefencemanWindsor SpitfiresOHL
1995Ottawa Senators^DefencemanDetroit Junior Red WingsOHL
1996Ottawa SenatorsDefencemanPrince Albert RaidersWHL
1997Boston Bruins*ForwardSault Ste. Marie GreyhoundsOHL
1998Tampa Bay LightningForwardRimouski OceanicQMJHL
1999Atlanta Thrashers‡ForwardLong Beach Ice DogsIHL
2000New York IslandersGoaltenderBoston University TerriersHEA
2001Atlanta ThrashersForwardSpartak MoscowRUS-2
2002Columbus Blue JacketsForwardLondon KnightsOHL
2003Pittsburgh PenguinsGoaltenderCape Breton Screaming EaglesQMJHL
2004Washington Capitals**** ^ForwardDynamo MoscowRSL
2005Pittsburgh Penguins****ForwardRimouski OcéanicQMJHL
2006St. Louis BluesDefencemanU.S. NTDPNAHL
2007Chicago Blackhawks**** ^ForwardLondon KnightsOHL
2008Tampa Bay Lightning****ForwardSarnia StingOHL
2009New York Islanders****ForwardLondon KnightsOHL
2010Edmonton Oilers****ForwardWindsor SpitfiresOHL
2011Edmonton Oilers****ForwardRed Deer RebelsWHL
2012Edmonton OilersForwardSarnia StingOHL
2013Colorado Avalanche**** ^ForwardHalifax MooseheadsQMJHL
2014Florida Panthers**** ^DefencemanBarrie ColtsOHL
2015Edmonton Oilers****ForwardErie OttersOHL
2016Toronto Maple Leafs**** ^ForwardZSC LionsNLA
2017New Jersey Devils****ForwardHalifax MooseheadsQMJHL
2018Buffalo Sabres****DefencemanFrolunda HCSHL
2019New Jersey Devils****ForwardU.S. NTDPUSHL
2020New York Rangers CanadaForwardRimouski OcéanicQMJHL
2021Buffalo Sabres CanadaDefencemanMichigan WolverinesBig Ten
2022Montreal Canadiens****SlovakiaForwardTPSLiiga
2023Chicago Blackhawks**** ^CanadaForwardRegina PatsWHL
2024San Jose Sharks****CanadaForwardBoston University TerriersHockey East
2025New York Islanders****CanadaDefencemanErie OttersOHL

;Notes

  1. Wendel Clark was drafted as a defenceman

First overall picks by team

; Color key

: Has never been awarded a first overall pick : Franchise is defunct

TeamLast #1 overall pickTotal picks awarded/madeTrades/Notes
Montreal Canadiens20224(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)20195(3)Traded pick to Bruins in 1982
Florida Panthers20145(2)Traded pick to Blue Jackets in 2002
Traded pick to Penguins in 2003
Traded pick to Lightning in 1998
Washington Capitals20044(3)Traded pick to Flyers in 1975
Tampa Bay Lightning20084(3)Traded pick to Jets (Thrashers) in 1999
Pittsburgh Penguins20053(3)Acquired pick from Panthers in 2003
Boston Bruins19972(3)Acquired pick from Devils (Rockies) in 1982
Winnipeg Jets
(formerly Atlanta Thrashers)20011(2)Acquired pick from Lightning in 1999
California Golden Seals/Cleveland Barons (defunct)19711(0)Traded pick to Canadiens in 1971
Columbus Blue Jackets20020(1)Acquired pick from Panthers in 2002
Philadelphia Flyers19750(1)Acquired pick from Capitals in 1975
Colorado Avalanche
(formerly Quebec Nordiques)20134
New York Islanders20255
Edmonton Oilers201544 picks were awarded between the years 2010 and 2015; 3 of them awarded in consecutive years (2010, 2011, 2012)
Buffalo Sabres20214
Detroit Red Wings19863
Ottawa Senators19963
Dallas Stars
(formerly Minnesota North Stars)19882(3)Acquired pick from Penguins in 1983
Toronto Maple Leafs20162
New York Rangers20202Held first overall pick in the 2020 draft despite taking part in the playoffs, whose format was changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chicago Blackhawks20232
St. Louis Blues20061
Arizona Coyotes (inactive)
(formerly Winnipeg Jets)19811
Los Angeles Kings19671
San Jose Sharks20241
Vancouver CanucksN/A0
Anaheim DucksN/A0
Calgary Flames
(formerly Atlanta Flames)N/A0
Vegas Golden KnightsN/A0
Carolina HurricanesN/A0
Seattle KrakenN/A0
Nashville PredatorsN/A0
Minnesota WildN/A0
Utah MammothN/A0

References

;General

;Specific

References

  1. "NHL Draft History". [[National Hockey League]].
  2. "NHL Draft History–2021 Stats". [[National Hockey League]].
  3. Kreiser, John. (2011-06-24). "Inside the Draft numbers". National Hockey League.
  4. "HHOF Time Capsure–The 1960s–10 High Draft Picks That Failed To Pan Out". [[Hockey Hall of Fame]].
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about List of first overall NHL draft picks — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report