Jarome Iginla - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/cbd14502-7079-4c18-ab97-5fc3bbf59f4a.jpeg] Jarome Iginla - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images The 2025 Draft will take place in June 2025, with the Pittsburgh Penguins selecting 11th overall. This year will be the second time in franchise history that the team will pick 11th, following Bob Smith in the 1967 Draft. Previously, we looked at the top 10 active 11th overall picks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/top-5-active-11th-overall-picks-in-the-nhl] who played in the NHL during the 2024-25 season. Today, we will expand that list to include all 11th overall picks in history, which consists of 57 players. There was no 11th pick in 2021, which the Arizona Coyotes forfeited [https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29746833/coyotes-forfeit-two-draft-picks-combine-testing-violations]. So, who are the top 11th overall picks in NHL history? Let's find out. 10. JEFF FRIESEN (1994 - SAN JOSE SHARKS) 893 GP - 218 G - 298 A - 516 PTS -- Stanley Cup 2003 Jeff Friesen [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/f/friesje01.html] was the San Jose Sharks' top pick in the 1994 Draft. He played seven seasons with the club, scoring a career high 31 goals and 63 points in 1997-98. Friesen was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team in 1995 and won the Stanley Cup with the New Jersey Devils in 2003. Top 5 Active 11th Overall Picks In The NHL [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/e129d228-3761-40d2-bb83-99d906dcb671.jpeg] Top 5 Active 11th Overall Picks In The NHL The <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> will select 11th overall at the upcoming <a href="https://www.nhl.com/news/new-york-islanders-win-2025-nhl-draft-lottery-top-pick">2025 Draft</a>. Although the club fell out of the top ten, it should still be able to draft a top prospect who can eventually make an impact in the league. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/top-5-active-11th-overall-picks-in-the-nhl] 9. MIKE SILLINGER (1989 - DETROIT RED WINGS) 1049 GP - 240 G - 308 A - 548 PTS Mike Sillinger [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/s/sillimi01.html] is just one of 11 players drafted 11th overall to appear in 1,000 NHL games and is one of ten players to collect over 500 points. A veteran of 17 seasons with 12 teams, his best year came in 2005-06 when he scored 32 goals and 63 points. 8. JOHN ANDERSON (1977 - TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS) 814 GP - 282 G - 349 A - 631 PTS John Anderson [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/a/anderjo01.html] played 12 seasons in the NHL, including eight with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he was a four-time 30-goal scorer in the 1980s. Moreover, Anderson collected another 30-goal campaign with the Hartford Whalers. He scored at least 15 goals every season except his rookie campaign in 1977-78. 7. FILIP FORSBERG (2012 - WASHINGTON CAPITALS) Filip Forsberg - Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/bf9f951d-a61a-4d01-bb33-3d8e17e15e6d.jpeg] Filip Forsberg - Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images 780 GP - 318 G - 363 A - 681 PTS Filip Forsberg [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/f/forsbfi01.html] is only the fourth player drafted 11th overall to score at least 40 goals in a season, achieving the feat in 2021-22 and 2023-24. As a 13-year veteran with the Nashville Predators, Forsberg is the franchise leader in goals, ranking second in assists and points. He was named to the 2015 NHL All-Rookie Team. 6. SCOTT YOUNG (1986 - HARTFORD WHALERS) 1181 GP - 342 G - 415 A - 757 PTS -- Stanley Cup 1991, 1992 Scott Young [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/y/youngsc01.html] played 17 seasons in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 1991 and 1992. An eight-time 20-goal scorer, he tallied a career-high 40 in 2000-01 at 33. As of 2025, Young is the sixth-highest scoring 11th overall pick in history. Revisiting The Last Time Penguins Selected 11th Overall: 1967 [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/75fb5191-b38a-493a-b115-83de300904e4.jpeg] Revisiting The Last Time Penguins Selected 11th Overall: 1967 The Pittsburgh Penguins finished with the ninth-worst record in the NHL and were slated to be drafted 9th overall at the 2025 Draft, but dropped two spots after the New York Islanders and Utah Hockey Club moved up. [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins/players/revisiting-the-last-time-penguins-selected-11th-overall-1967] 5. BRIAN ROLSTON (1991 - NEW JERSEY DEVILS) 1256 GP - 342 G - 419 A - 761 PTS -- Stanley Cup 1995 Brian Rolston [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/r/rolstbr01.html] won the Stanley Cup in his rookie season and would skate over 1,200 games over 17 seasons with five clubs. He was a four-time 30-goal scorer, reaching at least 20 in six campaigns. As of 2025, Rolston is the 24th highest-scoring American-born skater, four points ahead of Young. 4. IVAN BOLDIREV (1969 - BOSTON BRUINS) 1052 GP - 361 G - 505 A - 866 PTS -- Stanley Cup 1972 Ivan Boldirev [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/b/boldiiv01.html] was the highest scoring 11th overall pick for decades, amassing 866 points in 1,052 games with six clubs, including three Original Six franchises: Boston, Chicago, and Detroit. He was a five-time 30-goal scorer and tallied at least 20 in ten of his 15 NHL seasons. 3. JEFF CARTER (2003 - PHILADELPHIA FLYERS) Jeff Carter - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/726abfd7-a4e8-4664-8dd7-6eea53dbc2fa.jpeg] Jeff Carter - Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images 1321 GP - 442 G - 409 A - 851 PTS -- Stanley Cup 2012, 2014 Jeff Carter [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/c/carteje01.html] was a premier scorer in the late 2000s and early 2010s, tallying a career-high 46 goals in 2008-09. A four-time 30-goal scorer, he also collected 11 campaigns with at least 20 goals and reached double digits in all 17 NHL seasons. As a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Los Angeles Kings, Carter also collected 47 goals and 84 points in 133 career playoff games. 2. ANZE KOPITAR (2005 - LOS ANGELES KINGS) 1454 GP - 440 G - 838 A - 1278 PTS -- Stanley Cup 2012, 2014 Anze Kopitar [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/kopitan01.html] will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer when he retires. Besides winning two Stanley Cups, he's a two-time Selke and Lady Byng Trophy winner, with the Mark Messier Leadership Award on his mantle. The current captain of the Kings is on the verge of becoming the franchise's all-time leading scorer, thanks to 16 seasons with more than 60 points and 14 years with 20 or more goals. 1. JAROME IGINLA (1995 - DALLAS STARS) 1554 GP - 625 G - 675 A - 1300 PTS As of 2025, Jarome Iginla [https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/i/iginlja01.html] is the only 11th overall pick inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Ultimately, he was one of hockey's greatest snipers, scoring over 40 goals four times while collecting 12 seasons with 30 or more. A multi-time award winner, Iginla ranks 38th in scoring with 1,300 points and 17th all-time. He is one of only 21 players all-time to reach 600 goals. Unfortunately, a Stanley Cup win was the only thing missing from his NHL resume.
