Patrick Kane went first overall in the 2007 NHL draft and he's proved his worth as the top pick. The second-best player, however, wasn't discovered until 128 selections later.
Patrick Kane went first overall in the 2007 NHL draft and he's proved his worth as the top pick. The second-best player, however, wasn't discovered until 128 selections later.
The Chicago Blackhawks endured a dismal decade in the late 1990s and early 2000s, making the playoffs only once in a 10-year span. But the franchise experienced a remarkable turnaround thanks to their first-round picks in 2006 and 2007. One year after taking Jonathan Toews third overall in ’06, the Hawks scooped Patrick Kane with the No. 1 selection in ’07. The superstar duo led Chicago to three Stanley Cup championships between 2010 and 2015.
Here’s a look at the original top 10 draft picks in 2007, followed by a redo of the top 10 with the benefit of hockey hindsight.
2007 NHL draft: The original top 10
1. Patrick Kane, Chicago
2. James van Riemsdyk, Philadelphia
3. Kyle Turris, Phoenix
4. Thomas Hickey, Los Angeles
5. Karl Alzner, Washington
6. Sam Gagner, Edmonton
7. Jakub Voracek, Columbus
8. Zach Hamill, Boston
9. Logan Couture, San Jose
10. Keaton Ellerby, Florida
2007 NHL draft: The top 10 do-over (with original draft position in parentheses)
1. Patrick Kane (1st, Chicago)
2. Jamie Benn (129th, Dallas)
3. P.K. Subban (43rd, Montreal)
4. Logan Couture (9th, San Jose)
5. Jakub Voracek (7th, Columbus)
6. Max Pacioretty (22nd, Montreal)
7. Ryan McDonagh (12th, Montreal)
8. David Perron (26th, St. Louis)
9. Wayne Simmonds (61st, Los Angeles)
10. James van Riemsdyk (2nd, Philadelphia)
Honorable mentions: Kyle Turris (3rd, Phoenix); Kevin Shattenkirk (14th, Colorado); Jake Muzzin (141st, Pittsburgh); Alec Martinez (95th, Los Angeles); Sam Gagner (6th, Edmonton).
Notable:
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