NHL Draft Trivia (First Overall Picks, Steals, Busts)
The NHL Draft creates dynasties, defines franchises, and produces endless debate about who should have been picked where. First overall picks carry enormous pressure, late-round steals become legendary, and draft busts haunt GMs for decades. Understanding draft history means knowing which teams nailed their picks and which ones whiffed spectacularly. This trivia covers the biggest names, smartest selections, and most infamous mistakes across NHL Draft history.
First Overall Picks
Q: Which player was selected first overall in the 1984 NHL Draft by the Pittsburgh Penguins?
A: Mario Lemieux.
Q: Which team drafted Sidney Crosby first overall in 2005?
A: The Pittsburgh Penguins.
Q: Which Russian winger was selected first overall in 2004 by the Washington Capitals?
A: Alex Ovechkin.
Q: Which Canadian center was drafted first overall in 2015 by the Edmonton Oilers?
A: Connor McDavid.
Q: Which franchise selected Auston Matthews first overall in 2016?
A: The Toronto Maple Leafs.
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Q: Who was the first European-born player to be selected first overall in the NHL Draft?
A: Mats Sundin in 1989 by the Quebec Nordiques.
Q: Which franchise drafted Steven Stamkos first overall in 2008?
A: The Tampa Bay Lightning.
Q: Which team drafted Taylor Hall first overall in 2010?
A: The Edmonton Oilers.
Q: Which franchise drafted John Tavares first overall in 2009?
A: The New York Islanders.
Q: Which defenseman went first overall in 2018 to the Buffalo Sabres?
A: Rasmus Dahlin.
Read more: 2025 NHL Free Agents: The Best Unsigned Hockey Players
Draft Steals
Q: Which Czech goaltender famously fell to 199th overall in 1990 and became a Hall of Famer?
A: Dominik Hašek.
Q: Which Detroit Red Wings legend was drafted 210th overall in 1989, becoming one of the greatest "steals" ever?
A: Nicklas Lidström.
Q: Which player taken 199th overall in 1998 became a long-time top-six forward and captain for the Detroit Red Wings?
A: Pavel Datsyuk.
Q: Which goalie drafted 69th overall in 2004 became the backbone of the Boston Bruins' 2011 Stanley Cup win?
A: Tuukka Rask.
Q: Which team drafted Jaromír Jágr fifth overall in 1990?
A: The Pittsburgh Penguins.
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Draft Busts
Q: Which first overall pick in 1993 is widely considered a draft "bust" for Ottawa, playing just a few NHL games?
A: Alexandre Daigle.
Q: Which team drafted Nail Yakupov first overall in 2012?
A: The Edmonton Oilers.
Draft Controversies
Q: Which player did the Quebec Nordiques draft first overall in 1991, only to see him demand a trade and become a star elsewhere?
A: Eric Lindros, who refused to play for Quebec and was eventually traded to Philadelphia.
Q: Which defenseman went second overall behind Daigle in 1993 and went on to a Hall of Fame career?
A: Chris Pronger, making Ottawa's choice look even worse in hindsight.
Q: Which team drafted Tyler Seguin second overall in 2010 via a pick acquired from Toronto?
A: The Boston Bruins, who later traded Seguin to Dallas.
Read more: All 32 NHL Teams Ranked for the 2025-2026 Season
Recent Drafts
Q: Which team drafted Cale Makar fourth overall in 2017?
A: The Colorado Avalanche.
Q: Which center, drafted third overall in 2014 by Florida, became the club's long-term captain?
A: Aleksander Barkov.
Q: Which team drafted Andrei Vasilevskiy in the first round in 2012?
A: The Tampa Bay Lightning.
Q: Which franchise took Carey Price fifth overall in the 2005 NHL Draft?
A: The Montreal Canadiens.
Q: Which Finnish winger was selected second overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016, right after Auston Matthews?
A: Patrik Laine.
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Q: Which Swiss forward became the first from his country taken first overall in 2017?
A: Nico Hischier by the New Jersey Devils.
Why Draft Trivia Matters
Draft knowledge separates casual fans from people who follow team building. Knowing which teams nailed late-round picks or whiffed on first overalls shows you understand roster construction beyond just watching games. Draft history also explains why certain dynasties formed and why other franchises struggled for decades.
The Art of Draft Evaluation
Scouts miss constantly. Players develop unpredictably. Late bloomers emerge, early phenoms flame out, and injuries derail promising careers. Understanding draft history means appreciating how difficult talent evaluation is and why even the smartest GMs make mistakes.
Draft Position vs. Career Success
First overall picks carry enormous pressure but aren't guaranteed superstars. Meanwhile, players like Datsyuk and Lidström drafted in the sixth round became legends. Draft position matters less than development, opportunity, and fit within team systems.
Read more: NHL Betting: The Ultimate Guide for the 2025/2026 Hockey Season
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