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Who are the top #1 overall picks in NHL history? Here is our top 10 countdown:
Note: Updated in 2022.
10. Mats Sundin (1989): the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs for over a decade, Sundin was the first European-born player drafted first overall; he is the Maple Leafs’ all-time leader in career goals and points and became just the second Swede inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
9. Mike Modano (1988): currently the NHL’s all-time leader in goals and points scored by an American-born player, Modano spent all but one season of his career with the Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars franchise and amassed 561 goals and 813 assists for 1,374 career points.
8. Patrick Kane (2007): on pace to potentially be the greatest American player ever, Kane was the first US-born player to win the Hart and Ross Trophies and has won three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks while amassing over 1,100 career points.
7. Dale Hawerchuk (1981): with 103 points as a rookie (45 goals and 58 assists) in 1981-1982, Hawerchuk was then the youngest player in NHL history to score 100 points in a season; over his 16-year career, he reached 100+ points 6x and accumulated 1,409 career points (518 goals and 891 assists).
6. Gilbert Perreault (1970): the inaugural draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres franchise, Perreault played his entire career in Buffalo and centered the famed “French Connection” line to the tune of 512 goals and 814 assists for 1,326 career points; he remains the Sabres’ career leader in most offensive categories.
5. Denis Potvin (1973): taking over the mantle of best defenseman in the NHL upon Bobby Orr’s retirement, Potvin won three Norris Trophies while leading the New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cups, and retired with the most career goals and points by a defenseman.
4. Guy Lafleur (1971): the career scoring leader for the fabled Montreal Canadiens franchise, Lafleur won two Hart Trophies, three Ross Trophies, and three Pearson Awards and was the first NHL player with six straight seasons of 50+ goals and 100+ points, while also leading the 1970s Canadiens dynasty to five Stanley Cups.
3. Alex Ovechkin (2004): the greatest goal-scorer of this generation, Ovechkin has won the Richard Trophy 9x and has scored 30+ goals in every full season of his career thus far, including 50+ 9x; moreover, his trophy case includes three Hart Trophies, a Ross Trophy, and three Pearson Awards, as well as a Conn Smythe Trophy in leading the Washington Capitals to their first Stanley Cup.
2. Sidney Crosby (2005): dubbed “The Next One” and considered the heir apparent to Wayne Gretzky, Crosby has done it all in his NHL career so far while also serving as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins for well over a decade: 1,400+ career points, Hart Trophies (2x), Ross Trophies (2x), Richard Trophies (2x), Pearson Awards (3x), Conn Smythes (2x), and Stanley Cups (3x).
1. Mario Lemieux (1984): despite being slowed by illness and injury at various points in his career, Lemieux is one of the game’s all-time legends – his accomplishments and accolades include 690 goals (second highest goals-per-game average in NHL history) and 1,033 assists for 1,723 career points, three Hart Trophies, six Ross Trophies, four Pearson Awards, and two Conn Smythes while leading the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in the early 1990s.
Agree/Disagree? As always, debate/discuss, and leave your thoughts and comments below.
Note: All statistics as of time of publication.
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Countdown 24: Top 10 Tight Ends in NFL History
