The best NHL draft pick ever, at every slot from No. 1 to 224

"Good memory: The Anaheim Ducks sent the pick to the Vancouver Canucks as compensation for hiring coach Randy Carlyle, and the pick was traded to the Kings for defenseman Brent Sopel at the deadline. And that's how Los Angeles ended up with a late second-round steal with the 61st pick. Every slot in the annual draft has produced one or more players that made the NHL. Some are legends. Some are trivia answers."

"Earlier this year, our colleague Ben Solak picked one quintessential player for every spot in the NFL draft. We've decided to do the same for the NHL draft, using the current format (picks 1 to 224) and ranking players since 1967 (i.e. the post-expansion era). Like Solak, we're defining "best" as some combination of "most talented" and "most successful," taking statistical impact, NHL awards history and career legacy into account. No ties -- there can be only one essential player for each draft slot."

Wayne Simmonds, drafted 61st overall in 2007 by the Los Angeles Kings, leads all No. 61 picks with 263 goals and 526 points in the NHL. The 61st pick originated as a compensatory selection Vancouver received from Anaheim, then was traded to Los Angeles for Brent Sopel. One quintessential player is selected for each NHL draft slot under the current 1–224 format, with rankings covering the post-expansion era beginning in 1967. "Best" combines talent and success through statistical impact, NHL awards, and career legacy. Reentered-draft players are credited by their second selection, and only NHL achievements are considered. Rationales are provided for the first 100 picks, with notes on controversial and notable selections thereafter.

Read at ESPN.com