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Every #1 Overall NHL Pick Since 1963 (Updated)

The first overall pick has been the NHL's premier spotlight since the draft's inception in 1963, when Garry Monahan went to Montreal. Over 62 years, the list has become a hall of fame roll call: Guy Lafleur (1971), Denis Potvin (1973), Mario Lemieux (1984), Sidney Crosby (2005), Connor McDavid (2015), and Connor Bedard (2023). The 2024 and 2025 picks, Macklin Celebrini and Matthew Schaefer, are already franchise cornerstones in San Jose and New York. This article covers every first overall pick, their impact, and how the draft has evolved.

January 25, 2026

The Draft Begins (1963-1969)

Early Years

The NHL draft started in 1963, though early picks were less hyped because teams could still sign players directly.

Early First Overall Picks:

1963: Garry Monahan (Montreal) - 748 games, 260 points, solid career
1964: Claude Gauthier (Detroit) - 9 games, minimal impact
1965: Andre Veilleux (Rangers) - 5 games, complete bust
1966: Barry Gibbs (Boston) - 655 games, solid defenseman
1967: Rick Pagnutti (Los Angeles) - 2 games, bust
1968: Michel Plasse (Montreal) - Goalie, 299 games
1969: Rejean Houle (Montreal) - 635 games, three Cups

The modern draft spectacle began around 1970 as scouting improved and media attention grew.

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Expansion Era Standouts (1970-1979)

Star Power Emerges

The 1970s produced legitimate franchise players:

Notable Picks:

1970: Gilbert Perreault (Buffalo) - 1,326 points, Sabres icon, Hall of Fame
1971: Guy Lafleur (Montreal) - 1,353 points, five Cups, legendary winger
1973: Denis Potvin (Islanders) - 1,052 points, four Cups, elite defenseman
1974: Greg Joly (Washington) - 365 games, disappointing
1977: Dale McCourt (Detroit) - 955 games, solid but not superstar

Lafleur and Potvin set the standard for what first overall picks should become: franchise-defining Hall of Famers.

Modern Era Begins (1980-2004)

Superstars Emerge

The draft became must-see television with generational talents:

Generational Picks:

1984: Mario Lemieux (Pittsburgh) - 1,723 points, three Harts, two Cups
1989: Mats Sundin (Quebec) - First European first overall, 1,349 points
1991: Eric Lindros (Quebec/Philadelphia) - Hart Trophy, dominant power forward
1997: Joe Thornton (Boston) - 1,539 points, Hart Trophy
2003: Marc-Andre Fleury (Pittsburgh) - 561 wins, three Cups

Notable Busts:

1993: Alexandre Daigle (Ottawa) - 327 points in 616 games, passed on Chris Pronger
1999: Patrik Stefan (Atlanta) - 188 points, passed on Sedin twins
2000: Rick DiPietro (Islanders) - Injuries destroyed career

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Post-Lockout Excellence (2005-2015)

Face of the League

NHL marketed first overall picks as franchise saviors:

Elite Class:

2005: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh) - 1,736+ points, three Cups, two Conn Smythes
2008: Steven Stamkos (Tampa Bay) - 1,218 points, two Cups, 600+ goals
2010: Taylor Hall (Edmonton) - Hart Trophy (2018), 700+ points
2012: Nail Yakupov (Edmonton) - 136 points in 350 games, bust
2013: Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado) - 1,093+ points, Hart Trophy, Cup champion
2015: Connor McDavid (Edmonton) - 1,159+ points, fastest to 1,000, three Harts

Crosby and McDavid represent the pinnacle of first overall success, becoming generational talents who defined their eras.

Modern Superstars (2016-2023)

Recent Elite Talent

Recent first overall picks delivering immediately:

Current Stars:

2016: Auston Matthews (Toronto) - 302+ goals in 482 games, multiple Rocket Richards
2017: Nico Hischier (New Jersey) - Devils captain, 400+ points
2018: Rasmus Dahlin (Buffalo) - Elite defenseman, 350+ points
2019: Jack Hughes (New Jersey) - 450+ points, elite playmaker
2020: Alexis Lafreniere (Rangers) - Developing, 200+ points
2021: Owen Power (Buffalo) - Top-pair defenseman
2022: Juraj Slafkovsky (Montreal) - Physical power forward, developing
2023: Connor Bedard (Chicago) - Generational talent, elite rookie season

Matthews and Hughes have already established themselves as franchise cornerstones. Bedard looks like the next McDavid-level talent.

The Newest Picks (2024-2025)

Building Blocks

The most recent first overall selections:

2024: Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks)

Elite two-way center
Franchise savior for rebuilding Sharks
Already making NHL impact

2025: Matthew Schaefer (New York Rangers)

Elite defenseman prospect
Franchise cornerstone potential
Building for future

Both players entered NHL as franchise cornerstones, expected to lead their teams for next decade.

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Success Rate By Era

How First Overall Picks Pan Out

Breaking down success rates across eras:

Superstar Tier (20%): Lemieux, Lafleur, Potvin, Ovechkin, Crosby, McDavid, Matthews. Franchise icons, multiple MVPs, scoring titles.

Franchise Players (40%): Stamkos, Thornton, Ekblad, Dahlin, Hughes. All-Star caliber, long-term starters, occasional hardware.

Solid NHL Players (25%): Hischier, Power, Lafreniere. Quality NHL regulars without superstar production.

Busts (15%): Daigle, Stefan, DiPietro, Yakupov. Failed to meet expectations due to injuries, attitude, or skill gaps.

Overall, roughly 60% of first overall picks become franchise cornerstones or better.

International Firsts

Breaking Barriers

Key nationality milestones:

First European: Mats Sundin (1989, Sweden). Proved Europeans could be first overall picks, opened doors for future international stars.

First American: Mike Modano (1988). First American-born first overall pick, Minnesota North Stars.

First Russian: Alexandre Ovechkin would have been (2004), but lockout canceled draft. Ilya Kovalchuk (2001) was first Russian first overall.

First Asian: None yet, but growing hockey markets could produce future first overall pick from Asia.

The Opportunity Cost

What Teams Passed On

The pain of missing generational talent:

1993: Ottawa Takes Daigle Over:

Chris Pronger (2nd, Hall of Fame defenseman)
Paul Kariya (4th, Hall of Fame winger)

1999: Atlanta Takes Stefan Over:

Daniel Sedin (2nd, 1,041 points)
Henrik Sedin (3rd, 1,070 points)

2000: Islanders Take DiPietro Over:

Dany Heatley (2nd, 791 points)
Marian Gaborik (3rd, 815 points)
Ilya Kovalchuk (1st via trade, 859 points)

These missed opportunities haunt franchises for decades.

The Verdict

First Overall Legacy

From Garry Monahan to Matthew Schaefer, the first overall pick represents the NHL's premier franchise-building opportunity. While not every pick becomes Mario Lemieux or Connor McDavid, roughly 60% deliver franchise-cornerstone value.

The evolution from afterthought (1960s) to must-see event (modern era) shows how important scouting and draft development have become.

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