The 10 Best First Drafts in NHL History – Hockey Writers – NHL Entry Draft

Ultimately, Kölzig makes this list because he played the sixth-most games of any netminder drafted in the first round (719) and collected the 10th-most wins (303). Of course, some would argue that another player deserves this spot, but it is true that without him and the South African goalkeeper between the pipes, the Capitals would not have found success in the late 1990s.

9. Camera Ward

25th general 2002 – Carolina Hurricanes

Cam Ward was a rookie during the 2006 Playoffs when he came in to save the Carolina Hurricanes’ season and lead the team to their one and only Stanley Cup title. Although winning the Conn Smythe that year was his greatest achievement, he became one of 29 recipients to collect 330 wins in NHL history.

In addition, he is one of only 30 pitchers to appear in 700 games, spanning his 14-year tenure. Although he never won any regular season awards, Ward was a long-time member of the Hurricanes, where he owned many of the team’s records.

8. Tuukka Rask

21st overall 2005 – Toronto Maple Leafs

Although Tuukka Rask was originally a draft pick for the Toronto Maple Leafs, he did not play for the team; instead, he went to the Boston Bruins in a trade. In addition, he made Toronto regret their decision by winning the Stanley Cup, Vezina, and Jennings Trophy while breaking many Bruins records.

Furthermore, there is an argument that Rask is the greatest Finnish netminder in league history. Of course, there are other candidates, but the most recent success in Bruins history would not have happened without him between the pipes. Although it hasn’t happened yet, his number 40 can/should still go for goals.

7. Carey Price

5th overall 2005 – The Montreal Canadiens

Carey Price will enter the Hockey Hall of Fame as a first-ballot candidate. As the Montreal Canadiens’ leading netminder (361), he became the last goaltender (2014-15) to win the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award until Connor Hellebuyck did so in 2024-25.

Unfortunately, Price never won a Stanley Cup and appeared in the finals only once. Despite the gap in his CV, it cannot be denied that he is one of the best footballers of his generation, who managed the game at the world level.

6. Andrei Vasilevskiy

19th overall 2012 – Tampa Bay Lightning

Andrei Vasilevskiy is the youngest netminder on the roster (31), earning his spot after just nine seasons. To date, he has won two Stanley Cup titles, the Conn Smythe and the Vezina Trophy, while winning 370 games.

In addition, Vasilevskiy has already played in four Stanley Cup Finals, a feat matched by few netminders on this list. Of course, the Tampa Bay Lightning may not compete for the length of his career, but if he continues to stay the course, there’s a good chance he could hit 500 wins.

5. Roberto Luongo

4th overall 1997 – New York Islanders

Although Roberto Luongo is a Hall of Fame netminder, who owns the winningest records for two franchises and teams, some may argue that he deserves a higher spot on this list. However, ranking him ahead of multiple Stanley Cup winners on his resume is difficult.

However, Luongo cracks the top five as the fourth winningest goaltender in league history and a two-time Olympic gold medalist. Although he found more success in Vancouver, he is best remembered in Florida for returning there to finish his career, where he became a household name.

4. Tom Barrasso

5th overall 1983 – The Buffalo Sabres

It may have taken Tom Barrasso 17 years to be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, but they arrived in 2023. Although it took a long time, he is more than worthy of a resume that includes two Stanley Cup titles, a Jennings, a Vezina, and a Calder Trophy, the last two of which he won as an 18-year-old in high school.

In fact, Barrasso is on the short list of players who have completed their diplomas and found immediate success in the NHL. Considering no one made that incredible leap, he will always have a special place in hockey history. Finally, his inclusion was long overdue but well deserved.

3. Grant Fuhr

8th overall 1981 – Edmonton Oilers

Grant Fuhr is a legend in the Edmonton community, not for being a local boy but for guiding the Edmonton Oilers to five Stanley Cup titles in the 1980s. Although he had below-par career numbers and goals against average, he is 12th all-time in wins and a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Surprisingly, Fuhr’s trophy case is empty, with only two trophies, the Vezina and the Jennings. However, he owns the record for games played in a single season (79), a mark that will not be matched forever.

2. Marc-Andre Fleury

1st overall 2003 – The Pittsburgh Penguins

Marc-Andre Fleury was still playing at a high level for the Minnesota Wild at age 40, and his recent play improved his chances of becoming the first Hall of Famer upon retirement. Given that he is still the last netminder to be selected for the first time and one of only three in history, it is safe to say that he will always rank at or near the top of any goalie list.

In the end, he became only the fourth goalkeeper to qualify for 1,000 games. While the winning streak may not be possible, he just won the Vezina Trophy and still enjoys playing, so there’s a good chance he’ll finish his career as one of the top scorers in the league.

1. Martin Brodeur

20th overall 1990 – New Jersey Devils

One of the leading debates in hockey is whether Martin Brodeur is the greatest goaltender of all time. Although the Quebec native is the winningest netminder to ever play professional hockey, many attribute his success to the New Jersey Devils’ trap system.

Regardless of which side of the debate you’re on, there’s no denying that Brodeur is the best goaltender selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft. Even though he didn’t spend his entire career in New Jersey, he retired as the only pitcher in league history to play more than 1,200 games and win more than 600. Despite what others may achieve, it cannot be denied that his legacy will forever be unmatched.

Historical Perspective

As mentioned, there were only 68 goaltenders eligible for this list. A number of them have yet to make their NHL debuts, so they are included among the eight who have never skated in the league. In addition, 53 goalkeepers have collected at least one win, and four others have lost revenue (no wins) during their short tenure.

According to numbers obtained from NHL.com, there have been 866 goals in league history, meaning only six percent of those names came in the first round of the Entry Draft. While making the NHL is no easy feat, achieving that goal as the netminder’s top-ranked prospect is one of the highest honors a player can achieve.