With the draft on the horizon, we thought it could be a superb time to remind you of which groups have by no means picked first in the NHL Entry Draft.
Written by former contributor James Tanner and initially printed on Sept. 7, 2015.
It’s no secret that the first-overall draft choose represents an enormous likelihood for groups to change into annual Stanley Cup opponents.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning all picked first total throughout a five-year interval between 2004 and 2008, and it’s no coincidence that every one 5 groups have been among the many NHL’s best all through the 2010s. Positive, you’ve your exceptions — the Detroit Pink Wings and Los Angeles Kings come to thoughts — however for essentially the most half, selecting first total is a key element to icing an incredible crew.
With that being mentioned, let’s check out the 9 franchises which have by no means picked first within the draft.
Anaheim Geese
Whereas the Geese have a Stanley Cup and the pleasure of getting dressed Scott Niedermayer, Teemu Selanne, Chris Pronger, Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry, and Paul Kariya, they’ve by no means had the highest choose.
The very best the Geese ever picked was second, they usually did it twice: in 2005 (Bobby Ryan), and in 1994 (Oleg Tverdovsky). Their 2021 first-round choose — Mason McTavish — was the No. 3-overall choice.
Calgary Flames
The Flames joined the NHL out of Atlanta in 1972 and have by no means picked first total. Amazingly, earlier than selecting Sam Bennett fourth total in 2014, the very best they’d ever picked whereas in Calgary was sixth in 1992 after they selected Cory Stillman.
Because the Atlanta Flames, they picked second the primary two years of their existence, choosing Jacques Richard in 1972 and Tom Lysiak in 1973. Their finest choose was Brett Hull within the 1984 draft after he had been handed over with nobody taking him in every of the 2 earlier drafts. Sadly, that was additionally the yr Mario Lemieux was picked, so we are able to’t even say the Flames received a de facto No. 1 that yr!
Carolina Hurricanes
Lengthy reside the Whale. Who is aware of what would have occurred if the homeowners of the NHL’s finest all-time jerseys had been just a little luckier within the draft? Would they’ve received a Stanley Cup in Hartford and subsequently saved the Whale? It’s doable, but when the Whalers couldn’t succeed with Ron Francis (fourth total choose in 1981) because the face of their franchise, there’s a superb likelihood nobody may have introduced a championship to Hartford.
The franchise has picked second 4 occasions since becoming a member of the NHL:
One last notice: The Whalers/Hurricanes franchise has been in existence since 1979 and is the third-oldest crew to have by no means picked first within the draft.
Minnesota Wild
The Wild have solely been round since 2000-01, so the truth that they’ve by no means picked first isn’t actually a mathematical shock in a now 32-team league. The very best they’ve picked was after they took Marian Gaborik third in 2000.
Nashville Predators
The Predators joined the NHL two years earlier than the Wild, and just like the Wild, they’ve by no means had the highest choose. They did as soon as have the No. 2 choose as soon as and chosen David Legwand. The most effective draft they’ve had, nonetheless, is the 2003 Draft after they used their first choose on Ryan Suter at No. 7 and Shea Weber at No. 49.
Seattle Kraken
Although the 2021 NHL Draft was the one draft the Seattle Kraken participated in, they did come shut to picking first total. As a substitute, the Kraken wound up with the second-overall choose and selected middle Matty Beniers out of the College of Michigan.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks joined the NHL in 1970 and are the longest-serving NHL crew to by no means have the highest choose within the draft. Of their first draft, they picked Dale Tallon at No. 2 and didn’t choose that top once more till 1988, after they took Trevor Linden.
In 1999, they made up for by no means getting the primary choose by choosing each Daniel and Henrik Sedin with the No. 2 and three picks. That’s the yr when Patrik Stefan was the highest choose, so the Canucks primarily received two No. 1-overall picks.
Vegas Golden Knights
When the Vegas Golden Knights entered the league in 2017, the franchise was awarded the sixth-overall choose after the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Flyers, and Dallas Stars snuck into the highest three. There, the Golden Knights selected middle Cody Glass.
Happily or sadly, that’s the closest Vegas has come to a No. 1-overall choice. They’ve been a playoff crew since becoming a member of the NHL and haven’t had the luxurious of a lottery choose.
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