The 1983 NHL Draft: Where Are They Now?

It’s been over 30 years since the 1983 NHL Draft Where are those players now?

The 1983 NHL Draft Where Are They Now?

In 1983, the NHL Draft was a very different event than it is today. It was held in Montreal, and only 21 players were chosen in the first round. The overall talent level was not as high as it is now, and there were no real superstars in the bunch. However, many of the players chosen in that draft went on to have successful NHL careers. Here is a look at what some of those players are doing now:

Pat LaFontaine was the third overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft and he went on to have a Hall of Fame career. He played for several teams during his 15-year career, including the Buffalo Sabres New York Islanders and New York Rangers He retired in 1998 and is now an NHL ambassador and special advisor to the sabres.

Kevin Dineen was drafted fifth overall by the Hartford Whalers He had a very successful 18-year career, playing for several different teams. He won a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992 and represented Canada at the 1994 World Cup of Hockey. He is now the Head Coach of the Florida Panthers

Steve Yzerman was drafted fourth overall by the Detroit Red Wings and he went on to have a Hall of Fame career with that team. He is currently the General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning

The first overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

The 1983 NHL Draft was held on June 8, 1983, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. The first overall pick was made by the Minnesota North Stars who selected Neal Broten from the University of Minnesota

Here is a look at where the first overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft is now:

Neal Broten – Retired from professional hockey in 1997 after a 20-year career. He is currently an Assistant Coach for his alma mater, the University of Minnesota

The second overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

In 1983, the second overall pick in the NHL Draft was Sylvain Turgeon. He was drafted by the Hartford Whalers and went on to play in the NHL for 15 years. He played for the Whalers, Quebec Nordiques, Montreal Canadiens Philadelphia Flyers, and Dallas Stars He retired in 1998 with 526 career goals and 1,027 career points.

The third overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

The third overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft was Cam Neely of the Vancouver Canucks He was traded to the Boston Bruins in 1986 and went on to have a Hall of Fame career, scoring 604 goals and 1,017 points in 726 games. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2005.

The fourth overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

The 1983 NHL Draft was held on June 9, 1983, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec. A total of 274 players were drafted.

The fourth overall pick in the draft wasdefenseman Craig Ludwig, who was drafted by the Minnesota North Stars Ludwig played a total of 1,256 games in his NHL career scoring 60 goals and 285 assists. He won a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999. Ludwig retired from the NHL in 2001.

Ludwig is now a color commentator for the Dallas Stars television broadcasts.

The fifth overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

The fifth overall pick in the 1983 NHL draft was Mike Eruzione, a left winger from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Eruzione is best known for scoring the game-winning goal for the United States men’s national ice Hockey Team against the Soviet Union at the 1980 Winter Olympics an event popularly known as the “Miracle on Ice”.

After his Olympic heroics, Eruzione returned to his college hockey team, the University of Wisconsin–Madison, and helped them win the 1981 NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament. He turned professional after his junior year, signing with the Detroit Red Wings However, he never played a game for Detroit, spending most of his time with their minor league affiliate, the Adirondack Red Wings He retired from Professional Hockey in 1986.

Eruzione now works as a Motivational Speaker and corporate spokesperson. He also makes occasional appearances on television; he has appeared in episodes of Miracle (2004), The Game 365 (2006), and NHL Revealed: A Season Like No Other (2013).

The sixth overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

Picked sixth overall in the 1983 NHL Draft by the Hartford Whalers, Sylvain Turgeon never quite lived up to his potential in the NHL. He had a few good seasons, but was never able to become a true star. After 11 seasons in the NHL, Turgeon retired in 1994 with 515 points in 794 games.

The seventh overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

The seventh overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft was future All-Star defenseman Scott Stevens. Stevens was drafted by the Washington Capitals and went on to play 22 seasons in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup three times. He is currently a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame

The eighth overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

In 1983, the New Jersey Devils selected Craig Billington with the eighth overall pick in the NHL Draft

Billington played 11 seasons in the NHL, most notably with the Devils and the Boston Bruins He was a two-time All-Star and helped lead the Bruins to the 1990 Stanley Cup Finals.

After retiring from playing in 1998, Billington became a goaltending coach. He has worked with several NHL Teams including the Colorado Avalanche Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins Currently, he is the director of player development for the New Jersey Devils

The ninth overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft

The ninth overall pick in the 1983 NHL Draft was center Pat LaFontaine, who was selected by the New York Islanders LaFontaine went on to have a Hall of Fame career, playing 15 seasons in the NHL and finishing with 1,013 points. He retired in 1998 and his number 16 was retired by the Islanders in 2006.