Greatest NHL Draft Picks by Slot

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Jun 25, 2014

Greatest NHL Draft Picks by Slot

No. 1: Mario Lemieux, Pittsburgh Penguins (1984)

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images; David E. Klutho

No doubt — since the start of the NHL Draft in 1963, this was the best pick ever made, at No 1 or later. Over the course of 17 seasons, Lemieux averaged 1.883 points per game, second only to Wayne Gretzky's 1.921, and he did it despite missing the prime of his career because of cancer and a wonky back. Without Lemieux and his six Art Ross trophies, three Hart trophies and two Stanley Cups, it's likely that the NHL would not have survived in Pittsburgh. — Honorable mentions: Guy Lafleur (Canadiens, 1971); Denis Potvin (Islanders, 1973)

No. 2: Brad Park, New York Rangers (1966)

If not for Bobby Orr, Park would be remembered as the greatest defenseman of his era. A six-time Norris Trophy runner-up and a five-time first-team All-Star, this second overall choice was tougher than a cheap steak in his own zone, but his offensive ability is what defined his game. A precise passer to the very end, he was 36 when he set a Detroit Red Wings record for assists in a season, with 53, in 1983-84. — Honorable mentions: Marcel Dionne (Red Wings,1971); Chris Pronger (Whalers, 1993)

No. 3: Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils (1991)

There weren't many defensemen who could skate the way he could, but that's only one of the reasons why Niedermayer is remembered as one of the all-time greats and gets our nod as the best No. 3 overall pick of all time. The silky smooth puck mover also matured into one of the game's elite shutdown blueliners, leading New Jersey to three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, ‘04). He then left for Anaheim, where he played a key role in the Ducks’ 2007 championship. — Honorable mentions: Jonathan Toews (Blackhawks, 2006); Pat Lafontaine (Islanders, 1983)

No. 4: Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings (1983)

Over the course of a 23-year career spent entirely in Detroit, he came very close to bypassing Gordie Howe as the greatest player in Red Wings history. Chosen behind Brian Lawton, Sylvain Turgeon, and Pat LaFontaine in '83, Yzerman scored 692 goals, and his 1,755 points is the sixth most of all time. The gutsy and supremely skilled center also led Detroit to three Stanley Cups (1997, ‘98, 2002). The 1,303 games over 19 seasons that he served as the Red Wings’ captain is the longest tenure in league history. — Honorable mentions: Ron Francis (Whalers, 1981); Mike Gartner (Capitals, 1979)

No. 5: Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins (1990)

Among Jagr's highlights still playing at 44 years old: most career game-winning goals (133); most career overtime goals (19); most career assists by a right wing (1,119); and most career goals, assists and points by a European-born player (749, 1,119 and 1,868, respectively). Along with his two Stanley Cups (1991, ‘92) and five Art Ross Trophies, those numbers make him the greatest European-born player ever as well as the best No. 5 overall choice ever made. — Honorable mentions: Tom Barrasso (Sabres, 1983); Rick Vaive (Canucks, 1979)

No. 6: Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers (1980)

He will always be remembered as one of the most beautiful skaters, and one of the most gifted blueliners, of all time. A four-time Stanley Cup champion (1984, ’85, ’87 and ’91) and a three-time Norris Trophy winner (1985, ’86, ’95), he holds the record for most goals in a season by a defenseman (48). He also ranks second behind only Raymond Bourque for career goals (396), assists (1,135), and points (1,531) by a defenseman. — Honorable mentions: Peter Forsberg (Flyers, 1991); Doug Wilson (Blackhawks, 1977)

No. 7: Bernie Federko, St. Louis Blues (1976)

Federko's talent was obscured because he played on a string of mediocre St. Louis teams, but the center was a gifted playmaker who got the most out of his teammates. He was the first player to record at least 50 assists in 10 consecutive seasons, and he broke the 100-point barrier four times. Federko set franchise marks for career assists (721) and points (1,073). — Honorable mentions: Bill Barber (Flyers, 1972); Shane Doan (Jets, 1995)

No. 8: Raymond Bourque, Boston Bruins (1979)

Boston stole this pick from the Kings (to whom the Bruins traded journeyman goalie Ron Grahame), then used it to acquire arguably the second greatest defenseman of all-time. In 22 NHL seasons, Bourque won five Norris trophies, was a first-team All-Star 13 times and set career marks for defensemen with 410 goals, 1,169 assists and 1,579 points. He capped his career — some would say tragically — by winning the Cup with the Avalanche in 2001. — Honorable mentions: Darryl Sittler (Maple Leafs, 1970); Grant Fuhr (Oilers, 1981)

No. 9: Cam Neely, Vancouver Canucks (1983)

Disenchanted with his defense, Vancouver gave up on Neely after just three seasons and sent the winger to the Bruins in what now is regarded as one of the worst trades in NHL history. In Boston, Neely matured into arguably the game’s greatest power forward, the ultimate combination of finesse (three 50-goal seasons) and brawn (116 career fights). — Honorable mentions: Brian Leetch (Rangers, 1986); Mike Bullard (Penguins, 1980)

No. 10: Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg Jets (1988)

Selanne was special right from the start, scoring 76 goals for Winnipeg to set a rookie record that will probably never be broken. In 21 seasons with the Jets, Ducks, Sharks and Avalanche, he scored 684 goals, good for 11th all-time, and became one of hockey’s greatest ambassadors. — Honorable mentions: Bobby Holik (Whalers, 1989); Martin Lapointe (Red Wings, 1991)

No. 11: Jarome Iginla, Dallas Stars (1995)

He never played a game for Dallas, but the deal that sent the winger to the Flames worked out pretty well for both sides. The Stars won a Cup with Joe Nieuwendyk, and Calgary got a player who was the face of the franchise for the next 17 years. Iginla scored at least 30 goals in 11 consecutive seasons and twice topped the 50-goal mark (2002, ’08), on the way to 611 career goals ... and counting. A dead-lock for the Hall of Fame. — Honorable mentions: Anze Kopitar (Kings, 2005); Jeff Carter (Flyers, 2003)

No. 12: Marian Hossa, Ottawa Senators (1997)

He's never quite established himself as a superstar during his 16-year career, but he has been an exceptional two-way forward at each of his five NHL stops. A three-time Stanley Cup winner, Hossa has scored at least 30 goals in eight seasons, and is just 14 shy of 500 career goals. — Honorable mentions: Gary Roberts (Flames, 1984); Tony Tanti (Blackhawks, 1981)

No. 13: Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Hartford Whalers (1995)

Is this the unluckiest slot in the entire first round? It has certainly been the least productive. Giguere has the hardware of an all-time great: As the Ducks’ goalie in 2003, he became just the fifth player from a losing Stanley Cup finalist to win the Conn Smythe Trophy; four years later, he backstopped Anaheim to its only Cup. But as his 262-216-25-50 record suggests, he was just a slightly above average goaltender during his 13 NHL seasons. — Honorable mentions: Craig Janney (Bruins, 1986); Ron Duguay (Rangers, 1977)

No. 14: Ken Dryden, Boston Bruins (1964)

For Boston, he’s the one who got away. The Bruins believed their system was stacked in goal,with Gerry Cheevers and Bernie Parent, so they basically gave Dryden to the Canadiens in June 1964. The goalie made Boston rue that decision seven years later, when he led Montreal to a stunning first-round upset over the heavily favored Bruins and, ultimately, an unlikely Stanley Cup — the first of six Cups that Dryden would win in his brief but brilliant eight-year career. — Honorable mentions: Rick Middleton (Rangers, 1973); Brian Propp (Flyers, 1979)

No. 15: Joe Sakic, Quebec Nordiques (1987)

He owns practically every offensive record in franchise history, and ranks eighth on the NHL's all-time list for points (1,641). He’s also 11th in assists (1,016) and 14th in goals (625). Sakic scored 30 or more goals nine times, ranks seventh for playoff goals (84) and points (188), and holds the league record for postseason overtime goals (eight). — Honorable mentions: Mike Bossy, (Islanders, 1977); Al MacInnis (Flames, 1981)

No. 16: Dave Andreychuk, Buffalo Sabres

(1982) He didn’t possess many tools, but those he had — a sturdy frame, soft hands and the ability to take a beating in the crease — were enough to make him one of the most prolific scorers in history. He scored 640 goals in his 24-year career, good for 14th all-time, and also holds the NHL record for most career power play goals (274). — Honorable mentions: Al Secord (Bruins, 1978); Markus Naslund (Penguins, 1991)

No. 17: Bobby Clarke, Philadelphia Flyers (1969)

Philadelphia didn't just get any player when it drafted Clarke — it got the player who would define the franchise. The center was the heart and soul of two Stanley Cup winners (1974, ’75), and won the Hart Trophy three times. After retiring with 1,210 points in 1,144 games, Clarke devoted 19 years to running the Flyers, guiding them to three Cup finals. — Honorable mentions: Zach Parise (Devils, 2003); Jason Allison (Capitals, 1993)

No. 18: Barry Pederson, Boston Bruins (1980)

The tumor discovered in his shoulder in the summer of 1984 was benign, but it nevertheless sidetracked one of the most promising careers in NHL history. Pederson was a dynamic scorer, setting Boston records with 44 goals and 92 points as a rookie and averaging 105 points in each of his first three seasons. He played a depth role on the Penguins’ 1991 Stanley Cup championship team. — Honorable mentions: Glen Murray (Bruins, 1991); Petr Sykora (Devils, 1995)

No. 19: Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks (2003)

Getzlaf has been one of the top centers in the game for nearly a decade. A power forward blessed with elite vision, he's led Anaheim in assists in each of the past nine seasons, and four times has finished among the league's top 10 scorers. — Honorable mentions: Keith Tkachuk (Jets, 1990); Olaf Kolzig (Capitals, 1989)

No. 20: Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils (1990)

Not a bad spot to have picked up arguably the greatest goalie of all-time. Brodeur was a model of consistency throughout his career, winning at least 40 games eight times. He is the NHL record holder for career wins (691) and shutouts (125), and he’s won four Vezina trophies and five Jennings trophies. He also backstopped New Jersey to three Stanley Cup titles (1995, 2000, ’03). — Honorable mentions: Larry Robinson (Canadiens, 1971); Michel Goulet (Nordiques, 1979)

No. 21: Dennis Maruk, California Golden Seals (1975)

The diminutive speedster had some of the best hands of his era, scoring 30 goals as a rookie and topping out at 60 with the Capitals in 1981-82. Maruk played at nearly a point-per-game pace for 14 seasons, scoring 356 goals and 878 points in 888 games with California, Cleveland, Minnesota and Washington. — Honorable mentions: Kevin Lowe (Oilers, 1979); Saku Koivu (Canadiens, 1993)

No. 22: Bryan Trottier, New York Islanders (1974)

He was Jonathan Toews before Jonathan Toews, a ferocious three-zone player blessed with remarkable offensive instincts (524 goals, 1,425 points) and the work ethic of a fourth-liner. Trottier led New York to four straight Stanley Cups while becoming the youngest player to hit every scoring milestone from 200 to 900 career points. He later played for the Penguins, playing a supporting role in two more Cup wins. At the time of his retirement, he ranked sixth all-time in scoring. — Honorable mentions: Claude Giroux (Flyers, 2006); Rick Kehoe (Penguins, 1971)

No. 23: Ray Whitney, San Jose Sharks (1991)

He spent much of his career in minor markets, but his relative anonymity belies a long and productive NHL career. Renowned for his creative playmaking, Whitney played 19 seasons in the NHL, scoring 385 goals and 1,064 points. — Honorable mentions: Todd Bertuzzi (Islanders, 1993); Semyon Varlamov (Capitals, 2006)

No. 24: Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers (2003)

Through the first decade of his career, his list of accomplishments is impressive: a Memorial Cup, a World Junior gold medal, a Calder Cup, an Olympic gold medal and two Stanley Cups. His role has shrunk some — he played on the fourth line during the Kings’ Stanley Cup triumph over the Rangers in 2014 — but Richards is still revered for his on- and off-ice leadership. — Honorable Mention: Sean Burke (Devils, 1985); Daniel Briere (Coyotes, 1995)

No. 25: Mark Howe, Boston Bruins (1974)

He may have been drafted as left wing, but he made his mark as one of the top two-way defensemen of the 1980s. Howe was revered not only for his vision and accuracy, but also for his ability to make hard, crisp passes. A three-time runner-up for the Norris Trophy, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. — Honorable mentions: Cam Ward (Hurricanes, 2002); Brenden Morrow (Stars, 1997)

No. 26: Claude Lemieux, Montreal Canadiens (1983)

The legacy of "Pepe" goes well beyond being the most hated opponent of his era. The master of agitation was an accomplished sniper, scoring 20-plus goals nine times in his 18-season NHL career, including 41 for the Devils in 1992-93. Lemieux was at his best in the playoffs, where he scored 80 goals (ninth most in history) and won Cups with Montreal (1986), New Jersey (’95, 2000) and Colorado (1996). — Honorable mentions: Ziggy Palffy (Islanders, 1991); Cory Schneider (Canucks, 2004)

No. 27: Joe Nieuwendyk, Calgary Flames (1985)

It didn't take long for Nieuwendyk to prove he merited the status of a first-rounder. The big center won the Calder Trophy in 1988 after becoming just the second NHL player to score at least 50 goals as a rookie. He went on to score 564 goals and win Stanley Cups in Calgary (’89), Dallas (’99) and New Jersey (2003). He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011. — Honorable mentions: Scott Gomez (Devils, 1998); Tie Domi (Maple Leafs, 1988)

No. 28: Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks (2003)

He has established himself as a player fans love to hate, a relentless agitator who gets under your skin while he's lighting up the scoreboard. A Stanley Cup-winner in 2007, he earned both the Hart and Rocket Richard trophies with a 50-goal season in 2010-11. Perry has ranked among the top 10 goal scorers in five of the last six seasons. — Honorable mentions: Mike Richter (Rangers, 1985); Justin Williams (Flyers, 2000)

No. 29: Stephane Richer, Montreal Canadiens (1984)

The last of the true Flying Frenchman — and the last Montreal player to score 50 goals in a season — Richer might be the least heralded 400-plus goal scorer in NHL history. He was built like a power forward but played more like a waterbug,using speed and a wicked half-slapper to help both the Canadiens (1986) and the Devils (’95) to Stanley Cup championships. — Honorable mentions: Danny Gare (Sabres, 1974); Teppo Numminen (Jets, 1986)

No. 30: Randy Carlyle, Toronto Maple Leafs (1976)

Toronto fans may debate his value as a coach, but not as a player. Carlyle was a master of possession, a puck-moving defenseman with a hard edge who played more than 1,000 games over 17 seasons with the Leafs, the Penguins and the Jets. He scored a career-high 83 points for Pittsburgh in 1980-81, and won the Norris Trophy. — Honorable mentions: Sandis Ozolinsh (Sharks, 1991); Patrice Brisebois (Canadiens, 1989)