1st Overall Picks Gone Bad Trivia Quiz

Answer: Doug Wickenheiser

Wickenheiser struggled with the pressure of being a can't-miss prospect, and the subsequent stardom of Denis Savard, picked #3 by Chicago. Wickenheiser was traded to St. Louis in 1984, where he had several successful seasons. Wickenheiser died of cancer in 2001.

Answer: Patrik Stefan

Stefan, the number one pick in 1999, has had two bad concussions. He scored only 22 goals his first three years with the Thrashers.

Answer: Greg Joly

Joly had 97 points and 21 goals in 9 NHL seasons with the Capitals and Red Wings.

Answer: Alexandre Daigle

Daigle, selected 1st overall in 1993 and given a huge 5 million dollar contract, struggled in the NHL. He had stints with Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and the N.Y. Rangers. In 2000, he decided to go to L.A. and try to become an actor. He is dubiously remembered for a set of 1993 hockey cards, in which one had him posing in a nurse's outfit. Weird, huh?

Answer: Gord Kluzak

Kluzak, a defenceman selected #1 in 1982, had many knee operations (very much like Bruin legend Orr) and struggled through nine seasons in pain. He played 299 career games for Boston, scoring 25 goals and 123 points. He subsequently became a Bruins TV commentator.

Answer: Bryan Berard

Berard, drafted #1 overall by Ottawa in 1995, was traded to the Islanders in 1996 after failing to sign with Ottawa. The Islanders traded him to Toronto in 1999. After a horrible on-ice accident blinded Berard in one eye in 2000, he signed as a free agent with the N.Y. Rangers in 2001. He again signed as a free agent with Boston in 2002.

Answer: Wendel Clark & Mats Sundin

Tried to fool you there. On June 28, 1994, Toronto traded Clark, Sylvain Lefebvre, and Landon Wilson to Quebec for Mats Sundin, Todd Warriner and Garth Butcher.

It's true that Turgeon and LaFontaine were traded for each other, but LaFontaine was picked #3 overall in 1983. Berard and Redden were traded for each other, but Berard was #1 in 1995 and Redden was #2 that same year. Hamrlik and Murphy were each #1 overall, but were never traded for each other.

Answer: Eric Lindros

Lindros, taken 1st overall in 1991, was the third straight #1 overall pick by Quebec. Nolan went in 1990, Sundin in 1989. Forsberg was not selected first by Quebec, but was 6th overall by Philadelphia in 1991. Forsberg was later traded to Quebec in the big deal to acquire Lindros. The Nordiques moved to Colorado in 1995 and became the Avalanche, winning the Stanley Cup later that spring.

Answer: Brian Lawton

Lawton, selected first overall in 1983 by the North Stars, scored 71 goals and 162 points in five season for Minnesota. He actually began his career wearing #99.

Too bad such notables as Pat LaFontaine, Steve Yzerman, Tom Barrasso, Russ Courtnall & Cam Neely all followed Lawton in that draft...

Answer: Joe Murphy

Murphy, selected #1 out of Michigan State in 1986, was traded to the Oilers in 1989 after scoring 14 goals in 85 games for Detroit. He scored 69 goals for Edmonton in 222 games, winning the Stanley Cup with them in 1990.