The 2017 NHL Draft - a gold mine for NHL talent?
If you take a look back to the 2017 NHL entry-draft, you will notice a higher number of established NHLers, more-so than the average draft year.
The 2017 draft held the narrative of first inaugural draft for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas GM George Mcphee had three picks in the first-round; and he set his plan in-motion with three solid picks. Starting out with Cody Glass at 6 followed by Nick Suzuki at pick 13 (centre from the OHL's Guelph Storm) and finally Erik Brannstrom with the 15 overall pick (defenceman out of the Swedish league)
2017's crop of prospects filled out each position; NHL gm's had lots to think about.
The night begun with the New Jersey Devil's selecting Swiss centre Nico Hischier first overall; captain of the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads.
The second overall pick was held by the Philadelphia Flyers, and they used it to select Canadian centre Nolan Patrick from the WHL's Brandon Wheat King's.
Rounding out the top-3 picks was the Dallas Stars, who selected Finnish defenseman, Miro Heiskanen (Liiga- HIFK).
The league-wide consensus best player of the 2017 NHL draft class, looking back now is defenceman Cale Makar, overwhelmingly.
Makar was selected at fourth-overall by the Colorado Avalanche out of the BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League), a future commit to UMass (University of Massachusetts).
Makar has flourished right before NHL fans eyes; winning the Calder Trophy, then the Norris Trophy, a Stanley Cup championship and finally a Conn Smythe Trophy. All before his 23rd Birthday.
Here's how the final 28-picks of the first-round unfolded:
5. Elias Pettersson, C, Timra, Hockey Allsvenskan - Vancouver Canucks
6. Cody Glass, C, Portland Winter Hawks, OHL - Nashville Predators
7. Lias Andersson, C, HV71, SHL - Los Angeles Kings
8. Casey Middelstadt, C, Greenbay Gamblers, USHL - Buffalo Sabres
9. Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City Americans, WHL - Detroit Red Wings
10. Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL - Philadelphia Flyers
11. Gabriel Vilardi, C, Windsor Spitfires, OHL - LA Kings
12. Martin Necas, C, HC Kometa Brno, Czech Extraliga - Carolina Hurricanes
13. Nick Suzuki, C, Guelph Storm, OHL - Montreal Canadiens
14. Callan Foote, D, Kelowna Rockets, WHL - Tampa Bay Lightning
15. Erik Brannstrom, D, JV71, SHL - Ottawa Senators
16. Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City Americans, WHL - Calgary Flames
17. Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle BK, SHL - Toronto Maple Leafs
18. Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP, Liiga - Boston Bruins
19. Josh Norris, C, USNTDP, USHL - Ottawa Senators
20. Robert Thomas, C, London Knights, OHL - St. Louis Blues
21. Filip Chytil, C, PSG Zlin, Czech Extraliga - New York Rangers
22. Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane Chiefs, WHL - Edmonton Oilers
23. Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL - Pittsburgh Pengiuns
24. Kristian Vesalainen, RW, Frolunda HC, SHL - Winnipeg Jets
25. Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State, NCHC - Pittsburgh Penguins
26. Jake Oettinger, G, Boston University, HE - Dallas Stars
27. Morgan Frost, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL - Philadelphia Flyers
28. Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL - Colorado Avalanche
29. Henri Jokiharju, D, Portland Winter Hawks, WHL - Buffalo Sabres
30. Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Sioux City Musketeers, USHL - Nashville Predators
31. Klim Kostin, C/LW, Dynamo Moscow, KHL - St. Louis Blues
32. Conor Timmins, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL - Arizona Coyotes
Follow-up piece in the works about each players progression, and statistics since being drafted.
| POLL | ||
Which draft class was better!? | ||
| 2017 | 23 | 31.1 % |
| 2018 | 16 | 21.6 % |
| 2019 | 17 | 23 % |
| 2022 | 18 | 24.3 % |
| List of polls | ||
