10 Best First-Round Drafted Goalies in NHL History & Grading Red Wings’ First Round Picks of the Last Decade
Also, some "Today in Hockey History", revisiting the Sabres' failed 2015 draft class, ranking Don Sweeney's drafts with the Bruins, and more.
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Today in Hockey History: June 24
Two NHL seasons concluded on this date, one in a very memorable fashion. June 24 has also hosted four different NHL Entry Drafts over the years, which welcomed plenty of star power into the league and saw an Eastern Conference team win the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl traditionally awarded to squads in the Western Conference. Let’s begin our daily look back at all the history made on this date.
10 Best First-Round Drafted Goalies in NHL History
Historically, 12,474 players have been drafted in the NHL Amateur (1963-1978) and Entry Drafts (1979-present), with 1,421 (11 percent) being first-round selections. Statistically, there have only been 68 goalies to hear their name called in the first round, which accounts for just 4.8 percent of the selections.
Revisiting The Sabres’ Failed 2015 Draft Class
Of the numerous reasons for the decade of futility that was the 2010s for the Buffalo Sabres, their constant inability to cultivate their own talent was perhaps the biggest. With three separate general managers (GMs) at the helm at various points from 2010 to 2019, the team either drafted well but failed to develop players, or just drafted badly altogether. With that being said, their biggest debacle of the decade doesn’t get talked about nearly enough.
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Today in Hockey History: June 23
On this date, the Hockey Hall of Fame opened its doors to the greatest player who ever laced up a pair of skates in the National Hockey League. Also, we saw a pair of historic first-overall draft picks made on June 23. So let’s begin our daily trip back in time to relive all the best moments.
Grading the Red Wings’ First Round Picks of the Last Decade
2024 will mark the 12th straight year that the Detroit Red Wings have made a selection in the first round of the NHL Draft. That’s a stretch of time that spans two general managers, the decline and eventual end of the Red Wings’ status as a playoff contender, and a full-scale rebuild that began somewhere between 2017 and 2019. That’s a lot of opportunities to add talent, particularly in the first rounds of each of those drafts.
Boston Bruins: Ranking Don Sweeney’s Entry Drafts
The two-day 2024 Entry Draft is set to kick off in Las Vegas on Friday night (June 28). Because of busy trade deadlines, the Boston Bruins are not scheduled to pick until the fourth round on Saturday (June 29). General manager (GM) Don Sweeney used his first-round pick in a trade to acquire Tyler Bertuzzi. The Black and Gold’s second-round pick belongs to the Anaheim Ducks as it was used at the trade deadline in March 2022 to acquire Hampus Lindholm. Their third-round pick went to the Washington Capitals in the Garnet Hathaway trade in Feb. 2023.
Today in Hockey History: June 22
A pair of games were played on June 22, and both of them saw the winner move two within one win of the National Hockey League’s ultimate prize. This date has also seen a very memorable first-overall draft pick, the sale of an “Original Six” franchise, and plenty of moves off the ice. The THW time machine is fired up and ready to take on our daily trip through the decades.