Only True NHL Fans Can Name All These 1st Overall Picks
- by Michael DeRosa
- – on
- in Sports
The NHL Entry Draft is one of the most important parts of each and every season. This is where teams are able to build up their prospect pool. The salary cap era has shown just how crucial it is to draft well, as teams can no longer just buy their teams. Free agency is still essential of course, but teams need prospects to build for their futures. Today's best teams all seem to have drafted well. The first overall pick of each year is expected to become something truly special, so it is why so many struggling teams are known to tank once they realize that they are out of playoff contention.
With all that has been stated thus far, in this quiz, the primary objective is to name all of these first overall picks. It is important to note that these players will be coming from a number of different decades, so legends and veterans are on the table. A common theme that will be seen is that a lot of these players have become Hockey Hall of Famers or are currently on the path of achieving that status. However, in other cases, there are players who can be labeled as busts who simply could not reach the level of expectation that comes with being a first overall selection.
Now, let's give this quiz a go!
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player would be drafted first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005. With this selection, the Penguins managed to become a dynasty again. He has led the team to three Stanley Cup championships as their captain, and there is a good chance that this number is only going to increase from here. At this point in time, he has already registered over 1,200 points. There is still plenty of time for him to accomplish even more, and that is not good news for rival fans. With all that has been stated, who is this top of the line first overall pick?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was one of the most hyped up prospects in the history of the NHL. This is why the Edmonton Oilers quickly took him with the 1st overall pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He has already become one of the best players in the NHL in such a short time period. Excluding his rookie season when he missed a lot of games due to a broken collarbone, he has gotten at least 100 points. Those numbers are definitely very impressive. It seems that he is the long-term face of the NHL. So, who is this absolute superstar?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. In his rookie season thus far, he has played in a very strong manner. He is quickly developing into a very reliable two-way defenseman, and it is not hard to believe that he is going to be a superstar shortly. He is managing to put up very solid numbers as well, so the future is bright for Buffalo. It is known that it takes a bit more time for defensemen to get used to the NHL, but this player already is doing so. Who is this blossoming star?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was drafted first overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs. In his short time in the NHL, he has already blossomed into a star. He clearly has been able to help turn the Maple Leafs around, as they now are legitimate contenders. In fact, it seems quite apparent that they are built to win for a long period of time with this player leading the charge. For a center, he is a fantastic goal scorer, and this is what has allowed him to become a powerful player. With that being said, who is this star?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was selected first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He is currently still playing there today, and is easily one of their most important players. There is no question that the Lightning made the correct call with this player, as he has a 60-goal season under his belt and has had no trouble being a point per game player each and every season. He is also locked up long-term with his current contract, so he is going to be the captain of the Lightning for many more seasons. Who is this star?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was the first overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. The lucky team who had the privilege of acquiring his services was the New York Islanders. With the team, he would quickly develop into a superstar and became their franchise player as a result. However, his individual success was not enough to bring this team much glory in the playoffs. Due to this, he would go on to sign a seven-year, $77 million deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is now playing for his hometown team and is thriving even more. Who is this absolute star?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
When the Chicago Blackhawks drafted this player first overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, it was the start of their dominance. This player would instantly make a major impact for the club. This is largely because of the fact that he was and still is their best offensive weapon. His best moment came when he scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in the 2010 NHL Finals. This would be just the beginning of his clutchness in the playoffs. He is still a 40-goal scorer in the NHL even after all of this time as well. With that being stated, who is this player?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
At the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, the Washington Capitals would find their franchise player with the first overall pick. He is easily the best natural goal scorer in the NHL at this present time. With eight 50-goal seasons, it is quite understandable that he is on the cusp of breaking Wayne Gretzky's goal record. For a number of years, critics would say that he was not a good leader because he could not lead the Capitals to the Stanley Cup. However, he finally did so last postseason and proved everyone wrong. It helped enhance his overall legacy. Who is this sensational hockey player?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
The Colorado Avalanche made a bit of gamble pick with the first overall selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. This player was not seen as the top prospect, but they decided they needed an elite center. Since then, this player has become one of the best players in the entire league, so it is clear that they ended up making the right call. His playmaking ability is helping him reach a very high status, and now he is seen as being a major impact player. He still has plenty of years left in his prime too. So, who is this star?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
It is rare to see a goalie selected first overall, but the Pittsburgh Penguins took this gamble with this player in 2003. It would prove to be a smart move by the team, as he would help lead them to three Stanley Cups during his time there. Today, he is currently the heart and soul of the Vegas Golden Knights. He is the sole reason why they had so much success in their inaugural season last year. Even with him continuing to grow in age, he is showing the league that he is still an elite goaltender. Who is this veteran?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
The Florida Panthers were looking for a top-two defenseman in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft. Due to this clear fact, they opted to take this player first overall. From the very start of his NHL career, he has shown the league that he is a very effective shutdown defenseman. To increase his value even more, he has also been able to provide a steady amount of offense. He may not be the flashiest first overall pick of this decade, but he sure has the ability to continue to blossom into a very solid player. With that being said, who is this first overall pick?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was drafted first overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils. During his draft year, he truly blossomed into a top-notch prospect playing overseas. Since his arrival to the NHL, he has shown a lot of promise. Although he is not producing at the same level of other recent first overall picks, it is clear that his ceiling is still high. He has the potential to be a point per game player, but it is just going to take a little extra time. When seeing how well his passing ability is, it is not hard to believe that.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was drafted by the Boston Bruins with the first overall pick way back in 1997. He is surprisingly still a very productive player in the NHL today, but he is no longer in Boston. The Bruins made a big error by trading this superstar in the middle of his prime to the San Jose Sharks. The package they received for him was also extremely weak, and it led to a rebuild. This player would become the best playmaker in the NHL during his prime and has managed to record over 1,000 assists in his career. Who is this future Hall of Famer?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In 2006, the St. Louis Blues were looking for a franchise defenseman. With the first overall selection, they opted to take Erik Johnson. Johnson had a lot of potential to be great, but it was seen as a gamble because of the fact that he seemed to be a long-term project. However, he would make the NHL after only one year of playing college. The Blues would trade him to the Colorado Avalanche in 2010-11, and he has been there ever since. Although he may not be the elite defenseman that he could have been, he is still a very solid top-four defenseman.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In 2001, the Atlanta Thrashers were lucky to take this player first overall. He would quickly become their franchise player because of his outstanding scoring ability. However, he would end up asking for a trade after seeing the direction the team was heading. From there, he would play for the New Jersey Devils. He would sign a 15-year contract, which is tied as the record for the longest contract ever, but would leave for the KHL shortly after. This was a move that was heavily disliked by the Devils' fans. Today, he is back in the NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, but has dropped off a little.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In 2002, the Columbus Blue Jackets would take the best player in the history of their franchise. This player was such a dominant scorer during his prime years because of the fact that he had both size and speed. He was the primary reason why Columbus had fans during his early years. However, after years of struggling, he would ask for a trade. He would get his wish and joined the New York Rangers. His time in New York was a mixed bag, as he would struggle at times, but also had a few strong seasons. He would play briefly with the Boston Bruins last season, before retiring due to head injuries.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
The Edmonton Oilers thought they had their franchise player when they drafted this star first overall in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. However, the team made a massive mistake by trading him prematurely to the New Jersey Devils for not much at all. Since then, he has become a legitimate MVP player, as evidenced by him winning the award in 2018. This is now seen as one of the worst trades in the history of the Edmonton Oilers, as they now are desperate for a star winger to play alongside their best center. With that being stated, who is this player?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Edmonton Oilers would take this player first overall. It has worked out quite nicely since, as he has developed into a top-notch two-way forward. Although his point totals do not scream superstar, it is important to note that he has never had offensively dominant linemates. This season was his best by far, as he had the chance to play with better players. This is a player who the Oilers need to keep in their long-term plans. He is a great defensive forward with the ability to be an offensive threat. Who is this player?
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was drafted first overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. He easily was one of the most hyped up prospects of that decade, as he had an immense amount of size with a scoring touch. For the most part, it is fair to state that he would go on to be an excellent player in Tampa Bay. He would lead the team to a Stanley Cup championship back in 2004. After a rocky tenure with the Philadelphia Flyers, he would go on to play his last season with the Los Angeles Kings in 2016.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In 2012, the Edmonton Oilers were once again blessed with another first overall selection. They would take this player with the pick, as he was an absolute beast with the Sarnia Sting while in juniors. His first season seemed strong, as he provided solid scoring for the team. However, he would never seem to find that touch again, and would find himself off the roster after just four seasons. After playing a year each with the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche, he decided to move to KHL to play professionally. He has since been labeled as one of the biggest busts ever.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, the New York Islanders shocked the world by choosing this goalie. It had been clear that the team needed more offense depth, but they instead went with this player, even though they already had a future Hall of Famer in their system with Roberto Luongo. However, they would flip Luongo and went on to choose this goalie instead. General Manager Mike Milbury would show even more confidence in this player by giving him a 15-year contract! However, injuries would derail this player from ever become a true star in the NHL. Now, he is seen as one of the worst first overall picks ever.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, the Atlanta Thrashers thought that they struck gold with this player. He was seen as a future franchise player, as he played a complete game. However, he simply never could never become a star in the NHL. Although he was not a bad hockey player, he underperformed immensely compared to what he could have been. The Thrashers would eventually give up on him, and he would be traded to the Dallas Stars. While playing there, he notoriously missed an empty net on a breakaway, which then led to the other team scoring. It would lead to him losing an NHL job, and he would never return.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
The Ottawa Senators had the first overall selection in the 1996 NHL Entry draft. They would end up drafting this player, and it was a pretty solid selection, He would never become an NHL superstar, but he was a very serviceable defenseman and was able to play for many seasons. The Senators also were the only team he played for in the NHL, so they definitely got the most of him. In fact, he holds the record for the most games played with the Senators. At the end of the day, he was not a franchise player, but he sure was a loyal one.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
Although this player would end up being drafted first overall by the Ottawa Senators, he would quickly be traded. The New York Islanders were the team that picked him up. He would not disappoint in his rookie season, as he would be rewarded the Calder Memorial Trophy for a truly spectacular year. He would continue to be a top-notch player for a handful of years, but a serious eye injury would slow him down. He would have serious vision loss, but he would return to the NHL and would still be productive. Although the injury would take away from him being a star, he was still solid after, and that deserves a ton of praise.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
With the first overall selection in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft, the Florida Panthers were quick to take this player. This made a lot of sense, as he had an abundance of upside. He was the perfect balance of size and skill, so he was seen as a player who was going to be a star. For a duration of his time in the NHL, it is clear that he reached expectations. He was a bit of a late bloomer, but he found his game when he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. He would find his way back to Florida at the end of his time in the league, however.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
The first overall pick of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft was one of the most hyped up prospects of all-time. This player was an absolute superstar while playing in juniors. He possessed a lot of confidence from the start as well, as he claimed that he would be the best player of that draft. However, he would soon become one of the biggest busts in the NHL's history. When he was focused and actually trying, he was a serviceable top-six forward, but this was a rarity. His lack of effort would make him find his way out of the league far earlier than anyone predicted.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In the 1992 NHL Entry Draft, the Tampa Bay Lightning would select this player first overall. This defenseman would quickly make a name for himself because of his ability to contribute offensively. It can be stated that he was an extremely underrated player during his time in the league. This may come as a shock to some, as he was a first overall pick. He was never a complete star necessarily, but he was a threat to get 40 points per season. In 20 NHL seasons, he would go on to register 638 career points, which is not too shabby at all for an NHL defenseman.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was supposed to be the franchise star of the Quebec Nordiques. The team would select him with the first overall selection in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. However, the relationship proved to be rocky from the start, as this player refused to put on the jersey. He would hold out an entire season, as he demanded a trade from the team. He would end up being moved to the Philadelphia Flyers and became a superstar there. Head injuries would shorten his time in the NHL, but that did not stop him from making the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
The Quebec Nordiques would take this superstar first overall in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. However, he would only play four seasons there and would end up on the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the Leafs, he would develop into one of the best players in the entire NHL. As a result of this clear fact, he would soon become their captain. Today, he is considered to be one of the best players to ever wear the jersey. Although he would never win a Stanley Cup, his individual achievements were plenty enough for him to make the Hockey Hall of Fame.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
The Minnesota North Stars would make the best pick in their history with the first overall selection in the 1988 NHL Entry Draft. Although the team would relocate to Dallas, this player would remain the face of the franchise. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players to ever come from the United States. This is quite understandable, as he had over 1,000 points in his time in the NHL. He would go on to lead the Stars to their lone Stanley Cup in 1999. At the end of the day, this clearly was a spectacular selection by the team.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
The Buffalo Sabres selected this player first overall in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. There is no question that he would quickly end up being a spectacular player in the NHL. During his prime years, he would hit the 100-point plateau on numerous occasions, which of course, would help raise his overall value. By the end of his time in the NHL, he would rack up 1,327 points in 1,294 games. It is a bit surprising that he is not a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, as he clearly did more than enough to make it. Perhaps it will change in the future.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was drafted first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft. From the very start of his tenure there, he would be a fan favorite. This is largely because of the fact that he was a solid goal scorer, but also was tough as nails. He definitely can be noted as one of the best power forwards of his time. Although he did not necessarily reach the numbers as other first overall picks around him, he was a marvelous leader and a very hard working player. This is why the team would retire his number 17.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
With the first overall pick in the 1986 NHL Entry Draft, the Detroit Red Wings would take this player. However, he would end up being a late bloomer in the NHL, so he never seemed to grow into a top-notch player for the Red Wings. However, after being traded to the Edmonton Oilers, he began to find his offensive game and looked like an elite player. This would continue to be the case during the second half of his time in the league. Although he never was a Hall of Famer, it is clear that he definitely was a very solid player in the NHL.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
In the 1983 NHL Entry Draft, the Minnesota North Stars would take this player first overall. It was seen as a gamble from the very start, as this player only played in high school competitions. However, the team felt confident that he would be an amazing NHL player. However, he would never develop into the superstar that they had hoped for, and this would result in him being a journeyman. Although he would end up registering a decent amount of career points, it is clear that he did not reach the level of expectations that comes with being a first overall pick.
Who is this 1st overall pick?
This player was drafted first overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1971 NHL Entry Draft. This would turn out to be the best decision ever made by the franchise. He would go on to lead the team to five Stanley Cup championships during his time there. As for his individual success, he would register over 1,200 with the team in under 1,000 games. He was the best player of his era for a number of years as well. He would finish his career with short stints with the New York Rangers and Quebec Nordiques, but he will forever be remembered as a Hab.