The 2017 NHL Draft featured high-end talent at all three positions, headlined by Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar. Owen Cameron takes a look at what changes would be made if general managers across the league had a second chance to make their picks.
The 2017 NHL draft featured a ton of historic moments for the league and produced some of the best talent in world.
It had the first ever Swiss-born player to be drafted first overall, and the first top-five pick from the Alberta Junior Hockey League in NHL history.
There is a lot of high-end talent in this class, so who goes ahead of one another if they were re-drafted today?
Considering the talent, organizational fit, and positional need for each franchise, this exercise aims to explore what each team selecting in the top-10 of the 2017 draft would do if given a second chance.
1. New Jersey Devils: Cale Makar, Defenseman
Original Pick: Nico Hischier, Center
It's not a huge shocker to see Cale Makar here at the first pick. He is a Stanley Cup champion, a Conn Smythe winner, and has two Norris Trophies. While Hischier is a great player, if you inserted Makar into the New Jersey Devils’ lineup over the same amount of time, they would be considered perennial Cup contenders.
Makar has also produced offense at a pace few at his position have ever been able to, amassing 413 points in 369 games over the last five seasons. Makar isn’t like most offensive-defenseman; he’s truly elite in his own zone and is one of the best rush defenders in the entire sport.
2. Philadelphia Flyers: Nick Suzuki, Center
Original Pick: Nolan Patrick, Center
Injuries derailed Nolan Patrick from becoming a star in the NHL. While fans can look back and say the team he was the wrong pick, Patrick was arguably the best player available at the time of the draft. In this scenario, the Philadelphia Flyers still get a center, and a phenomenal one at that.
If Rick Tocchet had Nick Suzuki, the 2026 Selke Trophy winner, he would be bouncing off the walls with excitement.
Suzuki does everything you could ask a top player and a leader on your team to do. This past year was his coming-out party with 72 assists and 101 points, and there's no reason to believe he can't reach new heights with the Montreal Canadiens this season.
3. Dallas Stars: Miro Heiskanen, Defenseman
Original Pick: Miro Heiskanen, Defenseman
Nothing changes for the Dallas Stars here, but there's a real argument to be made that they could go with their second-round pick in this draft, Jason Robertson. Ultimately, Heiskanen has been more consistent throughout his career and plays a more premium position.
Heiskanen had 63 points in 77 games last season for the Stars, and the way he impacts the game in all three zones is elite. It’s hard to find top defensemen who are high-end skaters, offensive producers, and have the brain to play any style of hockey, but Heiskanen does it all effortlessly.
4. Colorado Avalanche: Martin Necas, Right Wing
Original Pick: Cale Makar, Defenseman
The Colorado Avalanche get Martin Necas much earlier in this exercise than in real life. NHL teams value pace and skating, and for Colorado, that's been their philosophy for quite some time. Necas fits that mold perfectly.
The Czechian forward broke out this past season while playing alongside Nathan MacKinnon, eclipsing the 100-point mark, with 38 of those being goals. When you’re building a team around a player like MacKinnon, you need players who can keep up with his high-octane style of play, and Necas has proven he can excel in that role.
5. Vancouver Canucks: Robert Thomas, Center
Original Pick: Elias Pettersson, Center
The Vancouver Canucks still take a center, but they get a more reliable player in Robert Thomas. His game has matured so much over the years, morphing into one of the game's most complete, two-way talents.
Thomas is an amazing building block and would have fit alongside players like J.T. Miller and Bo Horvat, making Vancouver's forward group more defensively responsible. Thomas finished with 64 points in 64 games last season and has proved in the past that he can perform in the playoffs, making him an easy choice for the Canucks in this exercise.
6. Vegas Golden Knights: Jason Robertson, Left Wing
Original Pick: Cody Glass, Center
Cody Glass never found his footing as a top-six forward, but he’s turned his career around and has become a really solid bottom-six player. But when selecting with the sixth-overall pick, you’re not really going for that.
Instead, the Vegas Golden Knights get Jason Robertson, who leads this class in goals with 213 and has two 45-goal campaigns under his belt.
Robertson has had 70-plus points in five consecutive years, including a 109-point season in 2022-23. Vegas has never lacked goal scoring, but when you have a true finisher like Robertson it takes a load off of others around him, allowing them to just play their game.
7. New York Rangers: Nico Hischier, Center
Original Pick: Lias Andersson, Center
Nico Hischier falls to the seventh spot in this re-draft only because the gap between these top players is so minimal. He had a strong case in the 2022-23 season for the Selke Trophy, but unfortunately for him, he was going up against Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron.
The New York Rangers have been a team that historically houses a lot of high-end, second-line centers, and Hischier fits that profile. What he brings to this team that most players can’t is elite defense and consistent year-to-year offensive production. Hischier has had five seasons with at least 60 points and has been the Devils' captain since the 2020-21 season.
8. Buffalo Sabres: Elias Pettersson, Center
Original Pick: Casey Mittlestadt, Center
This is a slight drop for Elias Pettersson as the Buffalo Sabres snag him at No. 8, getting a huge discount on a player who was looking like a top-three player in this class at one point. Buffalo would land a high-upside player who has elite offensive traits, and when he’s with the right players, he can sometimes look like a top player in the league.
In a disastrous 2025-26 season for the Canucks, Pettersson still managed to put up 51 points in 74 games. If you look back just a few years, he had a 102-point season with 39 goals in 2022-23. The foundational game-breaking talent he possesses hasn't been on full display since, but there's no denying he's one of the top players from this class.
9. Detroit Red Wings: Owen Tippett, Right Wing
Original Pick: Michael Rasmussen, Center
The Detroit Red Wings walk away with Owen Tippett, who adds to the list of elite goal-scorers this draft class contains. He’s an amazing skater who’s essentially a lock for 20 goals every season. Detroit is missing consistency throughout its lineup, and Tippett provides a high motor with great skill, especially off the rush.
Tippett fit really well with Tocchet's system, leading to a 28-goal season that ties his career high. The Red Wings would gain some sustainability and a player who, if played alongside the right players, can provide a huge impact on a Cup-contending roster.
10. Florida Panthers: Drake Batherson, Right Wing
Original Pick: Owen Tippett, Right Wing
Drake Batherson fits the Florida Panthers perfectly. He has size, skill, and he’s not afraid to impose his will physically. Batherson has been very reliable throughout his career and saw a considerable uptick in his production last season.
He finished the 2025-26 season with a career-high 33 goals and 71 points, which would give the Panthers an elite middle-six winger who can provide offense while not abandoning his team's identity. Batherson is sixth in this class in goals and will continue to climb that ladder as he remains one of the most consistent talents this class has to offer.
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