Special Sub-Topic: NHL Draft Picks Gone Bad Click Here To Play: NHL Draft Picks Gone Bad

The Winnipeg Jets chose Aaron Ward in the first round (5th overall) of the 1991 NHL Entry Draft. Which player was chosen 6th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers?

Peter Forsberg. Peter Forsberg was eventually traded in the Eric Lindros deal and then he (Forsberg) went on to win two Stanley Cups in Colorado. Leclair played for Philly but was drafted by Montreal in 1987. Renberg was drafted in the 2nd round in 1990. Aaron Ward, although an NHL player, has never had more than 14 points in a season. Way to go Jets!

Ken Ellacott (12 NHL games - 0 NHL points) was drafted by Vancouver in the 3rd round (47th overall) of the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. What future Hall-of-Famer was drafted 48th overall by the Edmonton Oilers?

Mark Messier. Mark Messier went on to become part of the Oilers' dynasty that won 5 Stanley Cups in the 1980s and 1990. Kevin Lowe was drafted by Edmonton in 1979 but in the first round while Coffey was drafted in the first round in 1980 by Edmonton. Not bad picking by Edmonton. Incidentally, Gretzky was never drafted but signed as a free agent.

Dale Hoganson (90 NHL points over 10 NHL seasons) was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings 16th overall in the second round of 1969 NHL amateur draft. Who was drafted 17th overall (hint: He also won the Hart trophy three times)?

Bobby Clarke. Bobby Clarke was passed up by many teams including the Los Angeles Kings. Oh WHAT A MISTAKE! Bobby won the Hart three times and led his team to 2 Stanley Cups.
Bobby Orr also won the Hart trophy three times but was actually never drafted (before drafts were instituted). Gilbert Perreault never won the Hart trophy but was a very good player (he was drafted first overall in 1970). Phil Esposito won the Hart trophy twice but again was never officially drafted.

Thomas Rundqvist was chosen in the tenth round (198th overall) of the 1983 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens. Which goaltender was chosen 199th overall in 1983?

Dominik Hasek. Can you believe he was passed up 198 times! Hasek was arguably the best goalie of the last decade and finally got his chance to win the cup in Detroit in 2002. Thomas Rundqvist recorded only 1 point in games with the Montreal Canadiens.
Ed Belfour was never drafted (signed as a free agent by Chicago). Grant Fuhr was drafted by Edmonton but in the first round (8th overall) in 1981 while Vernon was drafted #56 overall in 1981. Thomas Rundqvist played 2 NHL games and last played in Austria.

Dmitri Klevakin was taken 86th overall in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. What player was chosen next by the Quebec Nordiques (subsequently Colorado Avalanche)? Hint: He was among the league leaders in scoring in 2002-2003

Milan Hejduk. Milan Hejduk was chosen 87th overall by the Quebec Nordiques and scored 50 goals in 2003 while Dmitri Klevakin never played in the NHL (he's actually never played outside Russia). Peter Forsberg was chosen in the first round of the 1991 Entry draft. Chris Drury was chosen in the third round of 1994 so don't be ashamed if you picked him. Be ashamed if you picked Jocelyn Thibault since he's a goaltender!

In the 1990 NHL Entry Draft, the Vancouver Canucks chose Shawn Antoski 18th overall. Which of these awesome players was not picked directly after him: in other words, which player listed below was chosen before Shawn Antoski and not either 19th, 20th or 21st overall in 1990?

Jaromir Jagr. Jaromir Jagr was chosen 5th overall in 1990 (that's a good pick). Keith Tkachuk went 19th, Brodeur went 20th, and Smolinski went 21st. All three have had great careers while Shawn Antoski played 183 games and recorded eight points? No wonder Vancouver's never won the cup!

In the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins picked up Stephane Quintal in the first round (#14 overall). Although this isn't such a bad pick, what Hart Memorial and Conn Smythe trophy winner was chosen 15th overall?

Joe Sakic. Joe Sakic was chosen by Quebec #15 overall (the Nordiques did a good job picking in the 1990's) and he went on to lead Colorado to 2 cups. Mario Lemieux did win both the Hart and the Conn Smythe but was drafted first overall in 1984.
Brian Leetch also won the Hart but never the Conn smythe (drafted 9th overall in 1986). Shanahan was drafted that year but was 2nd overall and he never won the Hart or the Conn Smythe.

Toby Ducolon was chosen in the third round (50th overall) of the 1984 NHL Entry Draft by the St. Louis Blues. Who did Montreal choose 51st overall to lead them to 2 Stanley Cups in 1986 and 1993?

Patrick Roy. Patrick Roy won the Conn Smythe trophy both years Montreal won the cup (and then once more with Colorado in 2001). The three other players also played for at least one of the Montreal cup victories but:
Damphousse was drafted by Toronto (6th overall 1986)
Naslund was drafted 37th overall in 1979
Lemieux was drafted 26th overall in 1983
Ducolon never played in the NHL.

What player was chosen 14th overall in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft just before Kovalev (15th New York Rangers) and Markus Naslund (16th overall)?

Pat Peake. Pat Peake (134 games - 69 points) was chosen 14th overall by the Washington Capitals. Incidentally, the three other players mentioned in the list were also chosen before Kovalev and Naslund but:
Wright went 12th overall to Edmonton
Stojanov went 7th overall to Vancouver
Ward went 5th overall to Winnipeg.

Normand Leveille was chosen 14th overall in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins. What defensemen was chosen 15th overall in 1981?

Al MacInnis. Al McInnis was chosen 15th overall by the Calgary Flames winning the cup with them in 1989 when he won the Conn Smythe trophy for best playoff performer. Chelios was also chosen in 1981 but, amazingly, he went later in the second round (40th overall by Montreal Canadiens). Kevin Lowe was Edmonton first round pick in 1979 (21st overall) while Bourque went 8th overall (Boston) in the same year. Leveille played 2 seasons recoring 42 points.

The first five picks of the 1990 NHL Entry draft were (in order) Owen Nolan, Petr Nedved, Keith Primeau, Mike Ricci, and Jaromir Jagr. What flop did the Islanders take 6th overall?

Scott Scissons. Scott Scissons was picked 6th overall in 1990 and despite a good scoring touch with the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL, he never could do it in the NHL. The three other players were also Islander picks (what a bunch of flops too) but were in the second round (Taylor), third round (Plante) and 5th round (Marinucci).

In 1989, the New Jersey Devils chose Jason Miller in the first round (18th overall). What Vezina trophy winner was chosen next (19th overall)?

Olaf Kolzig. Ollie the Goalie has put up some solid numbers since he was drafted and won the Vezina trophy in 2000. The other three goaltenders have also won Vezina trophies but Roy went 51st overall in 1984, Hasek went 199th overall in 1983 and Carey went 32nd overall in 1992 also by the Capitals. Jason Miller, incidentally, played 6 NHL games over 3 seasons and recorded no points, before moving to Germany.

The California Golden Seals picked Bruce Affleck 21st overall in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. What Art Ross, Hart and Conn Smythe winner went 22nd overall?

Bryan Trottier. Although all four players were Art Ross winners (awarded to the top point getter in the regular season), Bryan Trottier was chosen 22nd overall by the New York Islanders in the 1974 NHL Entry Draft. With picks like Bruce Affleck (280 games - 80 points), it's no wonder the California went belly up soon after. FYI:
Lafleur #1 overall 1971
Dionne #2 overall 1971 (good two picks)
Gretzky was never drafted.

Who did the Montreal pick 11th overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft when they had a shot at 40 goal scorer Marian Hossa (12th overall - Ottawa)?

Jason Ward. Jason Ward was picked ahead of Marian Hossa who has had 3 straight 30 goal seasons (29 goals in 1999-2000). The three other players are also first rounders from the 1997 NHL draft. Daniel Tkaczuk was chosen 6th overall (Calgary) and only has 11 points in 19 games. Brad Ference went 10th overall and has 29points in 182 games while Michel Riesen was chosen by Edmonton and only has 1 NHL point.

What 3 time James Norris trophy winner was chosen 6th overall immediately after Darren Veitch (5th overall) in the 1980 NHL Entry Draft?

Paul Coffey. Paul Coffey won the James Norris trophy in 1985, 1986, and 1995. He was chosen 6th overall in the 1980 NHL entry draft by the Edmonton Oilers. The other three defensemen also all won the James Norris (Langway twice, Bourque 5 times, and Chelios three times). Darren Veitch (511 games - 257 points) was drafted by the Washington Capitals but also played for Detroit and Toronto before he finished his career in the WCHL with the Phoenix Mustangs.