The aughts and the aught-nots: NHL draft-ees from 2000-2009

Pumped for the upcoming NHL season? Samesies.

Let's get nostalgic for a moment and look back at the first and last draft picks in the aught's, plus some extras, and see where they're at now and whether they lived up to their hype. Get comfortable, folks. *Spoiler alert: most of them did.

2000

#1: Rick DiPietro, Goalie, NY Islanders

Rico was drafted first overall in 2000 by the New York Islanders, the team he currently plays for. Last season he was the ranked 68th goalie overall in the league, and only played 8 games. His best record was in ‘06-’07 with a win-loss record of 32-19.

#293: Lauri Kinos, Defence, St.Louis Blues

In the same year, the St. Louis Blues drafted an unknown boy, aged 20 at the time, by the name of Lauri Kinos. He remains unknown since he didn’t play one year with the NHL.

2001

#1: Ilya Kovalchuk, Left Winger, Atlanta Thrashers

When young Ilya was still just a boy of 18 years, not even legal to drink yet, he was drafted first overall by the Atlanta Thrashers. He played with Hotlanta his entire career, until mid-way the ’09-’10 season where he was traded to the New Jersey Devils. With the Devils he will stay, having recently signed a 15-year, $100-million contract. The End.

#289: Henrik Bergfors, Defence, Tampa Bay Lightning

If he made it into the NHL his nickname would’ve been Smorgasbord. But he didn’t, so...

2002

#1: Rick Nash, Left Winger, Columbus Blue Jackets

Nasher was drafted by the Jacks first overall and still plays with them. He ranks 36th in the league for points. He’s also a Gemini.

#291: Jonathan Ericsson, Defence, Detroit Red Wings

Here we go, finally someone who’s shakin’ things up a little. Johnny E was drafted LAST overall by the Detroit Red Wings, the team he still plays for. (So far these guys are as loyal as dogs.) He’s been back and forth the last few years playing between the NHL and the AHL, but he sits at a cool 160th in points in the league.

2003

#1: Marc-Andre Fleury, Goalie, Pittsburgh Penguins

Oui, oui, Fleury, the goalie, for... okay I spent two minutes thinking of another rhyming word but couldn’t come up with anything. Rebounds was drafted first overall by Pittsburgh, yes the team he still plays for, blah blah blah. He’s 9th overall in the league for goalies.

#292: Arseny Bondarev, Left Winger, New Jersey Devils

This Russian didn’t play one game in the NHL.

BUT #291 in the 2003 draft did. Brian Elliott, goalie for the Ottawa Senators, was drafted this year and he currently sits 16th overall in the league for goalies. See kids? Alls you gotta do is stay in skewl and work hard.

Fun fact: #271, also known as Jaroslav Halak, former spit-fire goalie for the Montreal Canadiens (who drafted him) was drafted this same year, too. He just signed with the St Louis Blues. Did you know Halak is a Slovack? I love rhyme time.

Oooooo wee, this was a big year.

2004

#1: Alexander Ovechkin, Left Winger, Washington Capitals

Have you heard of this guy? Me neither. Apparently he still plays for the Caps and he sits in 3rd in the league overall, but I think it must be some mistake.

#291: John Carter, Centre, Philadelphia Flyers

Oh shit, John Carter! I can’t believe this guy was drafted last he’s so phenomenal!

2005

#1: Sidney Crosby, Centre, Pittsburgh Penguins

My homeboy, Crosby, not to be confused with Troy Crosby, the goalie who was drafted by Montreal in 1984 240th overall. It’s Sidney, not to be confused with Sidney Veysey, the centre who was drafted 182nd overall by Vancouver in 1975.

#230: Patric Hornqvist, Right Winger, Nashville Predators

Here’s another heroic story of a man who defied gravity and rose from the ashes of last place like a phoenix who something something. Drafted by the same team he plays for, Hornqy busted his butt and finally had his first NHL appearance two years ago. Go get ‘em!

Some notables of this year:

5th overall: Carey Price, Goalie, drafted by and still plays for the Montreal Canadiens

21st overall: Tuukka Rask, Goalie, drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs and much to the chagrin of Toronto currently plays for Boston.

2006

#1: Erik Johnson, Defence, St Louis Blues

EJ was drafted first overall beating out Jordan Staal who was drafted second by Pittsburgh, and Jonathan Toews who was chosen third by Chicago. But who really has the last laugh? #2 and #3 have both won a Cup, so...

#213: Justin Krueger, Defence, Carolina Hurricaines

Krugsie never saw the big ice.

2007

#1: Patrick Kane, Right Winger, Chicago Blackhawks

Kaner, Big K, the Cabbie Killer. Still playing with the ‘Hawks, an ’09-’10 Stanley Cup champ at only 21-years old, and still playing with the ladies’ hearts.

#211: Trent Vogelhuber, Right Winger, Columbus Blue Jackets

Vogels hasn’t played in the NHL yet, but he’s still in skew (school).

2008

#1: Steven Stamkos, Centre, Tampa Bay Lightning

Stammy still plays for Tampa and he is killing it. He ranked 1st overall in the league for goals last year (well, tied at first with 2005 first overall draft pick, Sidney Crosby) and he is a ripe 20-years old. He was born in the 90’s (!).

#211: Jesper Samuelsson, Centre, Detroit Red Wings

Uh, he’s in Sweden right now.

2009

#1: John Tavares, Centre, NY Islanders

He had his first NHL experience last season with the Islanders, totaling 24 goals and 30 assists. Not bad for his first year. Not bad at all.

#211: Petteri Simila, Goalie, Montreal Canadiens

Alls I know is, he’s 6’6”, 189lbs, and is from Finland.

And finally, in case you care, here are the number 2's:

2000: Dany Heatley, Atlanta Thrashers

2001: Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators

2002: Kari Lehtonon, Atlanta Thrashers

2003: Eric Staal, Centre, Carolina Hurricanes

2004: Evengi Malkin, Centre, Pittsburgh Penguins

2005: Bobby Ryan, Right Winger, Anaheim Ducks

2006: Jordan Staal, Centre, Pittsburgh Penguins

2007: James Van Riemsdyk, Left Winger, Philadelphia Flyers

2008: Drew Doughty, Defence, Los Angeles Kings

2009: Victor Hedman, Defence, Tampa Bay Lightning