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Editor's note: This post was originally published in 2025 and has been updated for 2026.
The pressure of being a No. 1 overall pick in the NHL is quite intense. The team selecting at the top of the draft could have their pick of any player available and the franchise's hopes and dreams for a brighter future often reside on that No. 1 overall pick becoming a game-changing player.
The good news for NHL teams is that more often than not, the players taken at the top of the draft become star players worthy of the No. 1 selection. Of course, there are some unfortunate exceptions, but oftentimes the player in question is ultimately worthy of remembrance as a generational talent in some way.
With NHL Draft season officially in full swing, here is every No. 1 overall pick selected since 2000.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Every 1st overall NHL Draft pick since 2000
Continue reading...
The pressure of being a No. 1 overall pick in the NHL is quite intense. The team selecting at the top of the draft could have their pick of any player available and the franchise's hopes and dreams for a brighter future often reside on that No. 1 overall pick becoming a game-changing player.
The good news for NHL teams is that more often than not, the players taken at the top of the draft become star players worthy of the No. 1 selection. Of course, there are some unfortunate exceptions, but oftentimes the player in question is ultimately worthy of remembrance as a generational talent in some way.
With NHL Draft season officially in full swing, here is every No. 1 overall pick selected since 2000.
Every No. 1 overall NHL Draft pick since 2000
- 2000: G Rick DiPietro, New York Islanders
- 2001: F Ilya Kovalchuk, Atlanta Thrashers
- 2002: F Rick Nash, Columbus Blue Jackets
- 2003: G Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2004: F Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
- 2005: F Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
- 2006: D Erik Johnson, St. Louis Blues
- 2007: F Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks
- 2008: F Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning
- 2009: F John Tavares, New York Islanders
- 2010: F Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers
- 2011: F Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers
- 2012: F Nail Yakupov, Edmonton Oilers
- 2013: F Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
- 2014: D Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers
- 2015: F Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
- 2016: F Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
- 2017: F Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils
- 2018: D Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres
- 2019: F Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
- 2020: F Alexis Lafreniere, New York Rangers
- 2021: D Owen Power, Buffalo Sabres
- 2022: F Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens
- 2023: F Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks
- 2024: F Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks
- 2025: D Matthew Schaefer, New York Islanders
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Every 1st overall NHL Draft pick since 2000
Continue reading...
