Draft Madness, Part 2

We continue our look at the last ten years of draftees with 1999 and 2000:

1999 Draft
1. Patrik Stefan
2. Daniel Sedin
3. Henrik Sedin
5. Tim Connolly
7. Kris Beech
8. Taylor Pyatt
26. Martin Havlat
40. Alex Auld
42. Mike Commodore
44. Jordan Leopold
76. Frantisek Kaberle
91. Mike Comrie
94. Chris Kelly
115. Ryan Malone
138. Ryan Miller
213. Alexandre Giroux
217. Garnet Exelby
222. George Parros

It's fascinating to look back on this draft class after the most recent season and postseason, for a few reasons. One, you wonder at Patrick Stefan (he of the botched empty net play fame) going above the Sedin twins after their stupendous regular season and playoff performances. And two, a name like Chris Kelly that maybe wasn't known before this season is suddenly a little more familiar with Ottawa's recent Cup quest. On the Caps front, you have our own little boomerang, Kris Beech, and Alexandre Giroux, who has shown flashes of brilliances but may end up being a career AHLer like...well, like Kris Beech, sadly.
Steal of the Draft: Ryan Miller, 138th Overall (It's not like I was going to say Exelby...please.)

2000 Draft
1. Rick DiPietro
2. Dany Heatley
3. Marian Gaborik
4. Rostislav Klesla
5. Raffi Torres
6. Scott Hartnell
16. Marcel Hossa
18. Brooks Orpik
21. Anton Volchenkov
26. Brian Sutherby
28. Justin Williams
43. Matt Pettinger
44. Ilja Bryzgalov
46. Jarret Stoll
62. Paul Martin
68. Joel Lundqvist
97. Niclas Wallin
124. Michel Ouellet
159. John-Michael Liles
205. Henrik Lundqvist
215. Matthew Lombardi*
220. Paul Gaustad

An interesting draft, with the Lundqvist twins, Dany Heatley, and our boys Sutherby and Pettinger, but no pick is more fascinating than the number one selection of goalie, banana cream pie lover, and general dreamboat (sorry, but come on) Rick DiPietro. The Islanders raised some eyebrows making him their first pick and what do you know, they continue to raise eyebrows with him to this day. One thing is for sure - looks like Ricky's got this team wrapped around his little finger.
Steal of the Draft: Henrik Lundqvist, 205th Overall; I would say Matthew Lombardi, but as you'll see tomorrow, his story does not end with the 2000 draft.

Next up: 2001 and 2002...