The NHL Entry Draft, originally known as the NHL Amateur Draft, is an annual event where franchises of the National Hockey League (NHL) select amateur players who meet eligibility requirements to play professional hockey in the NHL.
First held in 1963, the draft was initially a shorter event.
Before 1969, any amateur player aged 17 or older who was not already sponsored by an NHL club was eligible for selection. In 1969, the rules were changed to include amateur players between the ages of 17 and 20.
The draft has since expanded, and in 2021, 223 players were selected over seven rounds.
NHL #1 Draft Picks
Below is a list of all NHL #1 draft picks from the inception of the draft.
| Year | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Connor Bedard | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2022 | Juraj Slafkovsky | Montreal Canadiens |
| 2021 | Owen Power | Buffalo Sabres |
| 2020 | Alexis Lafrenière | New York Rangers |
| 2019 | Jack Hughes | New Jersey Devils |
| 2018 | Rasmus Dahlin | Buffalo Sabres |
| 2017 | Nico Hischier | New Jersey Devils |
| 2016 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 2015 | Connor McDavid | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2014 | Aaron Ekblad | Florida Panthers |
| 2013 | Nathan MacKinnon | Colorado Avalanche |
| 2012 | Nail Yakupov | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2011 | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2010 | Taylor Hall | Edmonton Oilers |
| 2009 | John Tavares | New York Islanders |
| 2008 | Steven Stamkos | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 2007 | Patrick Kane | Chicago Blackhawks |
| 2006 | Erik Johnson | St. Louis Blues |
| 2005 | Sidney Crosby | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2004 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals |
| 2003 | Marc-Andre Fleury | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 2002 | Rick Nash | Columbus Blue Jackets |
| 2001 | Ilya Kovalchuk | Atlanta Thrashers |
| 2000 | Rick DiPietro | New York Islanders |
| 1999 | Patrik Stefan | Atlanta Thrashers |
| 1998 | Vincent Lecavalier | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 1997 | Joe Thornton | Boston Bruins |
| 1996 | Chris Phillips | Ottawa Senators |
| 1995 | Bryan Berard | Ottawa Senators |
| 1994 | Ed Jovanovski | Florida Panthers |
| 1993 | Alexandre Daigle | Ottawa Senators |
| 1992 | Roman Hamrlik | Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 1991 | Eric Lindros | Quebec Nordiques |
| 1990 | Owen Nolan | Quebec Nordiques |
| 1989 | Mats Sundin | Quebec Nordiques |
| 1988 | Mike Modano | Minnesota North Stars |
| 1987 | Pierre Turgeon | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1986 | Joe Murphy | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1985 | Wendel Clark | Toronto Maple Leafs |
| 1984 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins |
| 1983 | Brian Lawton | Minnesota North Stars |
| 1982 | Gord Kluzak | Boston Bruins |
| 1981 | Dale Hawerchuk | Winnipeg Jets |
| 1980 | Doug Wickenheiser | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1979 | Rob Ramage | Colorado Rockies |
| 1978 | Bobby Smith | Minnesota North Stars |
| 1977 | Dale McCourt | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1976 | Rick Green | Washington Capitals |
| 1975 | Mel Bridgman | Philadelphia Flyers |
| 1974 | Greg Joly | Washington Capitals |
| 1973 | Denis Potvin | New York Islanders |
| 1972 | Billy Harris | New York Islanders |
| 1971 | Guy Lafleur | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1970 | Gilbert Perreault | Buffalo Sabres |
| 1969 | Rejean Houle | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1968 | Michel Plasse | Montreal Canadiens |
| 1967 | Rick Pagnutti | Los Angeles Kings |
| 1966 | Barry Gibbs | Boston Bruins |
| 1965 | Andre Veilleux | New York Rangers |
| 1964 | Claude Gauthier | Detroit Red Wings |
| 1963 | Garry Monahan | Montreal Canadiens |
This list will be updated following the conclusion of each NHL season.
Check out a list of the NHL Stanley Cup Champions.
