The 2007 draft is quickly approaching and in just five days we'll find out who the newest victims Capitals are. So to commemorate this momentous occasion, it's time to take a look at ten years of draft "successes" (and I reserve the right to use that term loosely).
Let's start with 1997 and 1998:
1997 Draft
1. Joe Thornton
2. Patrick Marleau
3. Olli Jokinen
4. Roberto Luongo
5. Eric Brewer
12. Marian Hossa
13. Dan Cleary
23. Scott Hannan
27. Ben Clymer
47. Kristian Huselius
48. Henrik Tallinder
69. Maxim Afinogenov
78. Ville Nieminen
83. Joe Corvo
84. Adam Mair
161. David Aebischer
164. Todd Fedoruk
175. Johan Holmqvist
177. Ladislav Nagy
208. Andrew Ference
215. Scott Clemmensen
229. Karel Rachunek
With Thornton, Marleau and Hannan, this was a good year for the San Jose Sharks. Throw in Tallinder, Afinogenov and Mair, it wasn't bad for Buffalo. But come on, Caps fans - we know who the real success story of the 1997 draft class was...our very own Ben Clymer!
Steal of the Draft: Andrew Ference, 208th Overall
1998 Draft
1. Vincent Lecavalier
2. David Legwand
3. Brad Stuart
4. Bryan Allen
5. Vitali Vishnevsky
6. Rico Fata
12. Alex Tanguay
18. Dmitri Kalinin
19. Robyn Regehr
21. Mathieu Biron
22. Simon Gagne
27. Scott Gomez
29. Jonathan Cheechoo
32. Stephen Peat
39. John Erskine
44. Mike Fisher
64. Brad Richards
71. Erik Cole
72. Dmitry Afanasenkov
75. Francois Beauchemin
82. Brian Gionta
87. Alexei Ponikarovsky
91. Josef Vasicek
117. Jaroslav Spacek
135. Andrew Raycroft
150. Trent Hunter
161. Chris Neil
162. Andrei Markov
164. Ales Kotalik
168. Antero Niitymaki
171. Pavel Datsyuk
216. Michael Ryder
230. Karlis Skrastins
This was a huge year for the Southeast Division. Of the 33 players I've singled out, 11 of them were drafted by and/or have played for one of the illustrious teams below the Mason-Dixon Line. For the Caps, that includes my boy RRRRRico Fata, fan favorite Stephen Peat, professional traffic cone Mathieu Biron, and the only remnant of the draft here in DC, John "Caveman" Erskine.
Steal of the Draft: Michael Ryder, 216th Overall
Next up: 1999 and 2000...
3 comments:
I hope Eminger doesnt get sent away in a draft package with a pick.
You and me both...I'd like to see the Caps give some of the young guys time to really grow into their roles instead of just giving up.
Plus I love Emmy despite his occasional suckitude.
Brian Campbell was drafted in '97 as well (157) so I'd say that was indeed a pretty good year for the Sabres.
Interesting stuff! I don't find the draft particularly interesting, I guess because I don't really follow college/juniors enough to really know guys but it is pretty neat to look back at which teams drafted well and which teams didn't.
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