A Look Back at the 2004 NHL Draft

The 2004 NHL Draft was held on June 26, 2004 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina It was the first time that the draft was held in the state of North Carolina and the first time that it was held in the Southeastern United States A total of 309 players were drafted.

Heading into the draft, the general consensus among scouts was that it lacked the overall talent of previous drafts, though it did have a few potential superstars in Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin. The draft ended up being quite top-heavy, with Ovechkin and Malkin being far and away the best players to come out of it. Of the top 10 picks in the draft, only one other player (Blake Wheeler) has even appeared in an NHL game let alone become a star.

In retrospect, it’s easy to say that Ovechkin and Malkin were can’t-miss prospects. They were both considered generational talents who were sure to change the fortunes of whichever team was lucky enough to draft them. And while they have both lived up to those expectations and then some, it’s worth remembering that not every player drafted in 2004 has been so fortunate.

The Top Picks of the 2004 NHL Draft

In the 2004 NHL Draft the top three picks were defenseman Luke Schenn, center Blake Wheeler, and left winger Andrew Ladd. All three players have gone on to have successful NHL careers.

Schenn was drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs and played parts of seven seasons with the team before being traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 2012. He is currently in his ninth NHL season and has tallied 21 goals and 106 assists in 723 career games.

Wheeler was drafted by the Phoenix Coyotes with the fifth overall pick but was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets) before he ever played a game for Phoenix. He has since become one of the Jets’ most important players, serving as captain since 2016. To date, he has amassed 202 goals and 348 assists in 819 career games.

Ladd was drafted fourth overall by the Carolina Hurricanes and won a Stanley Cup with the team in 2006. He was traded to Chicago in 2008 and won another Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010. He has also had stints with Winnipeg, Calgary, and today plays for the New York Islanders where he is serving as captain. In 837 career NHL games Ladd has recorded 189 goals and 205 assists.

The best players from the 2004 NHL Draft

The NHL Draft is always an exciting time for hockey fans It’s a time when each team’s future is on display, and the potential for greatness is palpable. The 2004 NHL Draft was no different, as it featured several players who have gone on to have successful NHL careers. In fact, many experts believe that the 2004 draft might be the best Draft Class in recent memory. Here’s a look at some of the best players from that class:

1. Alexander Ovechkin: The first overall pick in the 2004 NHL Draft Ovechkin has been one of the league’s most dominant players for over a decade now. He’s a three-time Hart Trophy winner as league MVP and has led the league in goals six times. He’s also a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2020.

2. Evgeni Malkin: The second overall pick in 2004, Malkin is another player who has had a remarkable NHL career He’s won two Hart Trophies, one Calder Trophy (as rookie of the year), and three Art Ross Trophies (as leading scorer). He’s also been a key member of two Stanley Cup winning teams with the Pittsburgh Penguins

3. Drew Doughty: Doughty was drafted second overall by the Los Angeles Kings and has been one of the league’s premier defenseman for over a decade now. He’s won two Norris Trophies (given to the league’s top defenseman) and was a key member of Los Angeles’ Stanley Cup championship team in 2012.

4. Jeff Carter: Carter was drafted 11th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers and has gone on to have a very successful NHL career He’s scored over 400 goals and 800 points in his career, and he was a key member of Los Angeles’ Stanley Cup championship team in 2014.

5. Corey Perry: Perry wasn’t drafted until 28th overall by the Anaheim Ducks but he’s still managed to have a very successful NHL career. He’s won one Hart Trophy, one Stanley Cup and Olympic gold medal with Team Canada

The biggest busts from the 2004 NHL Draft

In hindsight, the 2004 NHL Draft looks like one of the worst in recent memory. While there have been a few productive NHLers to come out of it, for the most part, it’s been a huge disappointment. In fact, many of the players drafted in the first round that year are already out of the league.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at the five biggest busts from the 2004 NHL Draft

1. A.J. Thelen: Thelen was taken 12th overall by the Minnesota Wild and was expected to be a big, physical defenseman with a decent offensive upside. However, he only played in three NHL Games and spent most of his time in the minors before retiring in 2012.

2. Ladislav Smid: Smid was drafted ninth overall by the Edmonton Oilers and was touted as a future top-pairing defenseman. He did play close to 500 games in the NHL but was never really able to live up to his potential and is now out of the league.

3. Blake Wheeler: Wheeler was taken fifth overall by Phoenix and then traded to Atlanta on draft day. He’s had a solid NHL career but has never really met expectations as a top-five pick.

4. Alexandre Picard: Picard was taken eighth overall by Carolina but was never able to crack their lineup on a full-time basis. He spent most of his career bouncing around the league as a depth defenseman before retiring in 2015.
5. Ryane Clowe: Clowe was taken sixth overall by San Jose but injuries derailed his career before he could reach his full potential. He last played in 2015-16 and is now retired from hockey

The most underrated players from the 2004 NHL Draft

As the NHL season comes to a close, it’s time to take a look back at the 2004 NHL Draft considered one of the best drafts in recent memory, it produced a number of high-impact players who are still making waves in the league today. But which players from that draft class are the most underrated? Here are a few names to keep an eye on:

-Mikhail Grabovski: A late bloomer, Grabovski didn’t break into the NHL until he was 24 years old. But since then, he’s been a consistent offensive force, racking up over 20 goals in five of his nine seasons. He’s also a strong Defensive Player and is currently enjoying a career year with the New York Islanders

-Blake Wheeler: Wheeler was drafted fifth overall by the Phoenix Coyotes, but didn’t make his debut with the team until he was 22 years old. Since then, he’s become one of the top wingers in the league, scoring over 20 goals in six of his seven seasons. He’s also an excellent playmaker, and is currently leading the Winnipeg Jets in scoring.

-Devan Dubnyk: Dubnyk was drafted 14th overall by the Edmonton Oilers but didn’t find his footing in the NHL until he was traded to the Minnesota Wild midway through last season. Since then, he’s been one of the best goalies in the league, posting a .936 save percentage and leading the Wild to the playoffs.

The biggest surprises from the 2004 NHL Draft

In the summer of 2004, the NHL draft was held in Raleigh, North Carolina
There were a number of big surprises during the event, many of which are still talked about today. Let’s take a look back at some of the most notable surprises from the 2004 NHL Draft

1. The Ottawa Senators selected defenseman Luke Schenn with the fifth overall pick.
Schenn went on to play 11 seasons in the NHL, but he never lived up to expectations as a top-five draft pick He finished his NHL career with just 36 goals and 149 points in 824 games.

2. The Pittsburgh Penguins selected goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury with the first overall pick.
Fleury was considered one of the best goaltending prospects in years, but he was still a surprise first overall pick. He’s gone on to have a very successful NHL career, winning three Stanley Cups with the Penguins and being named to the All-Star team twice.

3. The Chicago Blackhawks selected winger Blake Wheeler with the fifth overall pick.
Wheeler was widely considered a reach when he was drafted fifth overall, but he’s gone on to have a very successful NHL career. He’s currently one of the best wingers in the league and has played in two All-Star Games.

The best value picks from the 2004 NHL Draft

In the world of professional sports there is always talk about who got the best value in the draft. In the NHL, there are usually a few players who outperform their draft position and go on to have successful careers. The 2004 NHL Draft was no different, as there were several players who ended up becoming top-tier talents in the league. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best value picks from that draft.

One of the best values from the 2004 NHL Draft was Marc-Andre Fleury, who was selected first overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins Fleury has gone on to have a very successful career with the Penguins, winning three Stanley Cups with the team. He is also a two-time Olympic gold medalist and was named to the NHL All-Star team in 2008.

Another great value pick from that draft was Jeff Carter, who was taken 11th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter has become one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL, scoring over 30 goals in seven different seasons. He is a two-time Olympian and won a gold medal with Team Canada in 2010. He was also named to the NHL All-Star team in 2009.

Other notable players who were drafted later in the 2004 NHL Draft include Patrice Bergeron (45th overall), Duncan Keith (54th overall), and Cory Schneider (26th overall). All three of these players have gone on to have successful careers in the league and are respected members of their respective teams.

The worst picks from the 2004 NHL Draft

The NHL Draft is always full of surprises, and the 2004 Draft was no exception. While there were many Great players taken that year, there were also some colossal busts. Let’s take a look back at some of the worst picks from the 2004 NHL Draft

1. A.J. Thelen, D (12th overall, Minnesota Wild)
Thelen was touted as a future top-pairing defenseman, but he never even made it to the NHL level. He played just two seasons in the AHL before getting released by the Wild. He spent a few more years bouncing around minor leagues before finally retiring in 2013.

2. Blake Geoffrion, C (56th overall, Nashville Predators)
Geoffrion was supposed to be a Power Forward with good scoring touch, but he only managed to score 14 goals in parts of four NHL seasons with the Predators and Montreal Canadiens He was traded to Montreal in 2012 and retired two years later due to concussion concerns.

3. Jakub Klepis, C (16th overall, Ottawa Senators)
Klepis was another highly touted prospect who never quite lived up to expectations. He played just 43 games in the NHL before being shipped off to the Buffalo Sabres in 2007. He spent a few more years bouncing between the AHL and Europe before finally retiring in 2014.

4. Lakshan Ranasinghe, D (154th overall, Detroit Red Wings)
Ranasinghe is one of those players who you have to wonder why they ever thought he had a chance at making it to the NHL level. He never even made it out of Junior hockey before retiring in 2009.

The most interesting stories from the 2004 NHL Draft

The National Hockey League draft is an annual event in which NHL Teams select eligible amateur players to add to their rosters. The 2004 NHL Draft was held on June 26, 2004, and it featured some interesting stories. Here are a few of the most intriguing ones:

-The Calgary Flames used their first-round pick (26th overall) on Wojtek Wolski, a Polish-born player who was playing in the Ontario Hockey League Wolski had been drafted by the OHL’s Brampton Battalion in the second round of the 2002 import draft, but he opted to stay in Europe for another year before coming over to North America

-In the second round, the Boston Bruins selected defenseman Milan Lucic with the 50th overall pick. Lucic, who was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, would go on to play for Boston’s Stanley Cup winning team in 2011.

-The Phoenix Coyotes used their third-round pick (88th overall) on forward Martin Hanzal, a Czech-born player who was playing for HC Banska Bystrica in his home country. Hanzal would go on to become a key player for the Coyotes, playing in over 500 games for them.

What we’ve learned from the 2004 NHL Draft

The NHL Draft is always an interesting time for teams and fans alike. It’s a time when organizations have the opportunity to add new talent to their rosters, and it’s also a time when fans can get a glimpse of the future of their favorite teams

Every year, there are always a few players who stand out above the rest. In 2004, it was clear that Alexander Ovechkin was going to be a star. He was taken first overall by the Washington Capitals and he went on to have an incredible career. He’s won three MVP Awards and he’s been one of the league’s most electrifying players for more than a decade.

There are other players from the 2004 draft who have also had great careers. Patrice Bergeron, drafted 45th overall by the Boston Bruins has been one of the best two-way forwards in the league for many years. He’s won four Selke Trophies as the NHL’s best defensive forward, and he’s also been a key offensive player for the Bruins. He was a key part of Boston’s championship team in 2011.

Another player from that draft who has had a great career is Roman Josi. He was taken 38th overall by the Nashville Predators and he’s developed into one of the best defensemen in the league. He’s been named to the NHL All-Star team twice, and he’s helped lead Nashville to some deep playoff runs in recent years

So what can we learn from the 2004 NHL Draft? Well, it’s clear that there are always going to be some players who stand out above the rest. Alexander Ovechkin is proof of that. But it’s also clear that even players who are drafted outside of the first round can go on to have great careers. Patrice Bergeron and Roman Josi are living proof of that. So if you’re ever feeling down about your favorite team’s chances in the Draft Lottery just remember that there are always diamonds in the rough to be found on draft day.

A Look Back at the 2004 NHL Draft