First Among Equals: CHLers Who Went #1 Overall in the NHL Draft

Originally published in Prospects Hockey in 2005

By Lucas Aykroyd

If you’re a highly touted CHL-trained prospect, there’s no better endorsement than being chosen number one overall in the NHL Entry Draft. Since the draft was instituted in 1969, 27 CHLers have earned that honour.

Of course, not every #1 pick fulfills his potential. For instance, the late Doug Wickenheiser, whom Montreal drafted in 1980 in lieu of Denis Savard, was projected as the big, offensively gifted center the Canadiens needed. He was coming off a 170-point campaign with the Regina Pats. However, Wickenheiser would post journeyman stats in 556 career NHL games with five clubs.

Alexandre Daigle quipped, “Nobody remembers who was picked second,” after Ottawa chose him first in the 1993 draft. Yet the former Victoriaville Tigres sniper was clearly outshone by other ’93 first-rounders like Chris Pronger and Paul Kariya. Daigle even quit hockey for two seasons. Still, he has made a nice comeback with the Minnesota Wild.

For #1 picks, it’s often more about handling the pressure than innate ability. As we revisit some of the best, remember that almost all these talents from the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL have taken heat at times for not surpassing, say, Gordie Howe or Bobby Orr. But they boast an awesome record of individual and team accomplishments, both in the NHL and international competition.

Dale Hawerchuk: 1981, Winnipeg Jets

Twice a Memorial Cup champion with the Cornwall Royals, Hawerchuk emerged as one of the top 1980’s NHL centers. He won the 1981 Calder Trophy with the first of his six 100-point-plus seasons. You couldn’t question his talent or work ethic, and he capably filled a defensive role in the 1987 Canada Cup. “Ducky” never captured a Stanley Cup or an MVP award, but he was facing Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux in their prime. He would compete for Buffalo, St. Louis, and Philadelphia before retiring in 1997.

Ed Jovanovski: 1994, Florida Panthers

Few players of Macedonian parentage have cracked the NHL. Fewer yet succeed when they only start playing hockey at age 11. But this blueliner beat the odds, honing a rough-and-tumble style with the Windsor Spitfires. That served Jovanovski well in his rookie NHL season, as Florida marched to the 1996 Stanley Cup finals with “JovoCop” throwing his weight around. His development with the Panthers stalled and he was traded to Vancouver in 1999, where he became an elite rushing defenseman. Jovanovski won Olympic gold with Canada in 2002.

Guy Lafleur: 1971, Montreal Canadiens

With 209 points in his final junior year with the Quebec Remparts, “The Flower” was expected to fill the retiring Jean Beliveau’s skates in Montreal. But only in his fourth season did Lafleur blossom into the electrifying NHL sniper we remember today. The Thurso native would rack up five Stanley Cups, two Hart Trophies, three Art Ross Trophies, one Conn Smythe Trophy, and six straight 50-goal seasons. Yet mere numbers can’t convey the thrill of Lafleur blazing down right wing and zinging a slapshot past some hapless goalie. “If it wasn’t for that guy, I’d have a couple of Stanley Cup rings,” said former Boston coach Don Cherry.

Vincent Lecavalier: 1998, Tampa Bay Lightning

For the first four years, it was uncertain which way Lecavalier’s NHL career would go. On draft day, the tall center was ridiculously dubbed “the Michael Jordan of hockey” by then-Tampa owner Art Williams. Later, he feuded with coach John Tortorella, who questioned his intensity. But in 2002-03, Lecavalier began performing with the confidence of his Rimouski Oceanic days, putting up 78 points. And things got even better in 2004. He dazzled with his skills as the Lightning won the Stanley Cup, and he was named World Cup MVP after Canada’s triumph.

Mario Lemieux: 1984, Pittsburgh Penguins

You could write a novel about Lemieux’s career. His 1987 Canada Cup-winning goal. His two Stanley Cup victories. His battle with cancer. His surprising 2000 comeback from retirement. His leadership in the last Olympics and World Cup. Whatever the scenario, the man who scored a CHL-record 282 points with Laval in 1984 has always shown a flair for the dramatic. With 17 individual NHL trophies, the Pittsburgh Penguins captain is arguably the best #1 pick of all time.

Eric Lindros: 1991, Quebec Nordiques

As an 18-year-old phenom, Lindros made headlines on draft day by refusing to don the Nordiques jersey. In 1992, Quebec dealt the former Oshawa General and Memorial Cup champ to Philadelphia for six other players (including Peter Forsberg), two first-round picks, and $15 million US. Since then, the 6-5, 237-pound center hasn’t quite lived up to his billing as “The Next One,” plagued by concussions and other injuries. But Lindros did capture the 1995 Hart Trophy, and he has two World Junior gold medals, plus Olympic and Canada Cup titles.

Mike Modano: 1988, Minnesota North Stars

The finest American talent ever to grace the WHL, this high-flying ex-Prince Albert center is the all-time leading scorer for the Dallas Stars franchise. At the 1988 draft, some debated whether Minnesota should have taken Trevor Linden instead. But Modano probably closed the door on that argument with his 1999 Stanley Cup conquest.

Rick Nash: 2002, Columbus Blue Jackets

Winning the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s top goal-scorer at age 19? Nice work if you can get it. What can this big left winger do for an encore after sharing that prize with Jarome Iginla and Ilya Kovalchuk in 2004? It’s tough to predict, but the 2001 CHL Rookie of the Year from the London Knights has a knack for close-in scoring that should give him a tremendous pro career.

Gilbert Perreault: 1970, Buffalo Sabres

Over his 17 seasons with Buffalo, Perreault defined class. Stickhandling and end-to-end rushes were this superb center’s calling card, whether in the NHL, international games, or Memorial Cup competition–where he led the Montreal Junior Canadiens to consecutive titles in 1969 and 1970. His awards include the Calder (1971) and the Lady Byng (1973).

Denis Potvin: 1973, New York Islanders

“Everybody talks about Mike Bossy, but Potvin was the core of that [Islanders] team,” said Wayne Gretzky. Much like Ray Bourque, this rugged rearguard could do it all: hit, skate, shoot, pass, and daunt opponents with his stamina. New York Rangers fans cursed Potvin for a hard check he once laid on Ulf Nilsson, but this erstwhile Ottawa 67’s stalwart had a reply for detractors: four Stanley Cups and three Norris Trophies.

Bobby Smith: 1978, Minnesota North Stars

Which Ottawa 67’s forward edged Wayne Gretzky for the 1978 OHL scoring crown? That’s right, Bobby Smith. The following season, he was the NHL Rookie of the Year. Later traded to Montreal, he partnered beautifully with Mats Naslund and Kjell Dahlin on the top line in 1986 and won his only Cup. Size, skill and smarts were Smith’s greatest assets. He served as Phoenix’s general manager from 1997 to 2001.

Joe Thornton: 1997, Boston Bruins

Thornton signed one of the sweetest NHL rookie contracts ever in 1997, but for a while Bruins fans weren’t so sweet on him. A graduate of the Sault-Ste-Marie Greyhounds, he stumbled to just seven points during his first year in Beantown. Since then, though, he’s become one of hockey’s top power forwards, finishing third in NHL scoring with 103 points in 2002-03. Thornton took flak for being blanked in last year’s playoffs before it was learned he had broken ribs. A Hall of Fame career may lie ahead for this 25-year-old.

Pierre Turgeon: 1987, Buffalo Sabres

Some criticize “Sneaky Pete” for soft play or indifferent post-season performances. But the ex-Granby Bisons playmaking center can point to his nearly 1300 career NHL points and 1993 Lady Byng Trophy. Through 2003-04, Turgeon was the 28th all-time points leader in league history.

Other CHL-Trained #1 Picks

Rejean Houle: 1969, Montreal Canadiens
Billy Harris: 1972, New York Islanders
Mel Bridgman: 1975, Philadelphia Flyers
Rick Green: 1976, Washington Capitals
Dale McCourt: 1977, Detroit Red Wings
Rob Ramage: 1979, Colorado Rockies
Gord Kluzak: 1982, Boston Bruins
Wendel Clark: 1985, Toronto Maple Leafs
Owen Nolan: 1990, Quebec Nordiques
Bryan Berard: 1995, Ottawa Senators
Chris Phillips: 1996, Ottawa Senators
Marc-Andre Fleury: 2003, Pittsburgh Penguins