NHL Draft History – 3rd Pick Overall

Welcome to a brand new series here at The Hockey Writers called “Road to the Draft.” In this series, our draft contributors will count down from 32nd overall all the way to first overall and revisit each player taken with that pick between 2010 and 2020.

The goal of this series is to reflect on some of the biggest steals and some of the biggest busts taken in the first round over the past 10 years, as well as to shine a light on some players who could potentially see themselves taken with the corresponding pick at the upcoming 2021 NHL Draft.

1968 – Jim Pritchard (Defenseman, Montreal Canadiens)
1969 – Don Tannahill (Left Winger, Boston Bruins)
1970 – Reggie Leach (Right Winger, Boston Bruins) 
1971 – Jocelyn Guevremont (Defenseman, Vancouver Canucks) 
1972 – Don Lever (Left Winger, Vancouver Canucks) 
1973 – Dennis Ververgaert (Right Winger, Vancouver Canucks) 
1974 – Rick Hampton (Defenseman, California Seals) 
1975 – Ralph Klassen (Center, California Seals) 
1976 – Glen Sharpley (Center, Minnesota North Stars)
1977 – Robert Picard (Defenseman, Washington Capitals)
1978 – Wayne Babych (Right Winger, St. Louis Blues)
1979 – Mike Foligno (Right Winger, Detroit Red Wings)
1980 – Denis Savard (Center, Chicago Blackhawks)
1981 – Bobby Carpenter (Center, Washington Capitals)
1982 – Gary Nylund (Defenseman, Toronto Maple Leafs)
1983 – Pat LaFontaine (Center, New York Islanders)
1984 – Ed Olczyk (Center, Chicago Blackhawks)
1985 – Craig Wolanin (Defenseman, New Jersey Devils)
1986 – Neil Brady (Center, New Jersey Devils)
1987 – Glen Wesley (Defenseman, Boston Bruins)
1988 – Curtis Leschyshyn (Defenseman, Quebec Nordiques)
1989 – Scott Thornton (Center, Toronto Maple Leafs) 
1990 – Keith Primeau (Center, Detroit Red Wings)
1991 – Scott Niedermayer (Defenseman, New Jersey Devils)
1992 – Mike Rathje (Defenseman, San Jose Sharks)
1993 – Chris Gratton (Center, Tampa Bay Lightning) 
1994 – Radek Bonk (Center, Ottawa Senators)
1995 – Aki-Petteri Berg (Defenseman, Los Angeles Kings)
1996 – J.P. Dumont (Right Winger, New York Islanders)
1997 – Olli Jokinen (Center, Los Angeles Kings)
1998 – Brad Stuart (Defenseman, San Jose Sharks)
1999 – Henrik Sedin (Center, Vancouver Canucks)
2000 – Marian Gaborik (Right Winger, Minnesota Wild)
2001 – Alexandr Svitov (Center, Tampa Bay Lightning)
2002 – Jay Bouwmeester (Defenseman, Florida Panthers)
2003 – Nathan Horton (Right Winger, Florida Panthers)
2004 – Cam Barker – (Defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks)
2005 – Jack Johnson (Defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes)
2006 – Jonathan Toews (Center, Chicago Blackhawks)
2007 – Kyle Turris (Center, Pheonix Coyotes)
2008 – Zach Bogosian (Defenseman, Atlanta Thrashers)
2009 – Matt Duchene (Center, Colorado Avalanche)

All stats and information were courtesy of Elite Prospects and Hockey Reference