Fansided

The 10 most loaded draft classes in NHL history

By C.L. Kohuss

Canadian hockey player Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins on the ice during a road game, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 1984. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
Canadian hockey player Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins on the ice during a road game, East Rutherford, New Jersey, 1984. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /
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American ice hockey player Mike Modano (left) poses with Lou Nanne, coach of the Minnesota North Stars, as they hold a North Stars jersey following Modano’s first round, first place selection in the NHL Entry Draft at Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, June 1988. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images)
American ice hockey player Mike Modano (left) poses with Lou Nanne, coach of the Minnesota North Stars, as they hold a North Stars jersey following Modano’s first round, first place selection in the NHL Entry Draft at Montreal Forum, Montreal, Quebec, June 1988. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios/Getty Images) /

3. 1988

1988 Was and still remains a huge leap for hockey in the United States with three of the top ten U.S.-born goal scorers being selected that year. The greatest of them all, Mike Modano, went first overall to the Minnesota North Stars and would eventually lead Dallas to a Stanley Cup title in ’99 and another Finals appearance against the New Jersey Devils in ’00.

Along the way he scored over 500 goals, 1,300 points, and leads the Stars franchise in pretty much every offensive category imaginable. Some will argue that he’s second to Chris Chelios as far as greatest overall U.S.-born hockey players, but that’s a moot point considering they played on opposite ends of the rink. Also, it’s clearly Modano, so we can just stop.

Seven picks later, Jeremy Roenick went to the Chicago Blackhawks and he currently sits third behind Modano and Phil Housley in total points with 1,216. He should be getting a call from the Hall in the next few years.

Tony Amonte? A fourth rounder who also played his best years with the Blackhawks, made five All-Star games and scored 416 goals in more than 1,000 contests. But aside from those three, this is still a heavy class stacked with big names.

D-man Rob Blake is in the Hall of Fame, Joe Juneau played in more than 800 games, as did pick No. 234 Claude Lapointe. Let’s not forget Alex Mogilny who went on to pop 473 goals, including an eye-watering 76 back in ’92-93. Unfortunately for him, Finnish Flash Teemu Selanne was also drafted in ’88, and he too dotted twine 76 times in 1993, which was his rookie (!) season. He ended his career with 684 goals and holds the title of best celly ever, hands down.

Others of note from that draft include Tie Domi, whose interactions with fans are some of the best things on the planet, Vancouver Canucks’ great Trevor Linden, Mark Recchi who scored 577 goals, 1,533 points, was a seven-time All-Star, won five Cups and recently made the Hall of Fame, and two-time Selke winner Rod Brind’Amour.

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