I just want to mention how hit-and-miss the 2000 NHL Entry Draft really was. I would like to also mention Rick DiPietro is still being paid by the Islanders for the buyout of his contract. In this series, I will re-draft the first round of each NHL Entry Draft, starting with the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
1. Marian Gaborik – New York Islanders
Marian Gaborik was drafted third overall by the Minnesota Wild. The New York Islanders selected Rick DiPietro with the first overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
2. Henrik Lundqvist – Atlanta Thrashers
Henrik Lundqvist was drafted in the seventh round at 205th overall by the New York Rangers. The Atlanta Thrashers selected Dany Heatley with the second overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
3. Justin Williams – Minnesota Wild
Justin Williams was drafted 28th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers. The Minnesota Wild selected Marian Gaborik with the third overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
4. Dany Heatley – Columbus Blue Jackets
Dany Heatley was drafted second overall by the Atlanta Thrashers. The Columbus Blue Jackets selected Rostislav Klesla with the fourth overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
5. Brooks Orpik – New York Islanders
Brooks Orpik was drafted 18th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The New York Islanders selected Raffi Torres with the fifth overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
6. Niklas Kronwall – Nashville Predators
Niklas Kronwall was drafted 29th overall by the Detroit Red Wings. The Nashville Predators selected Scott Hartnell with the sixth overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
7. Scott Hartnell – Boston Bruins
Scott Hartnell was drafted sixth overall by the Nashville Predators. The Boston Bruins selected Lars Jonsson with the seventh overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
8. John-Michael Liles – Tampa Bay Lightning
John-Michael Liles was drafted in the fifth round at 159th overall by the Colorado Avalanche. The Tampa Bay Lightning selected Nikita Alexeev with the eighth overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
9. Antoine Vermette – Calgary Flames
Antoine Vermette was drafted in the second round at 55th overall by the Ottawa Senators. The Calgary Flames selected Brent Krahn with the ninth overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
10. Alexander Frolov – Chicago Blackhawks
Alexander Frolov was drafted 20th overall by the Los Angeles Kings. The Chicago Blackhawks selected Mikhail Yakubov with the 10th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
11. Lubomir Visnovsky – Chicago Blackhawks
Lubomir Visnovsky was drafted in the fourth round at 118th overall by the Los Angeles Kings. The Chicago Blackhawks selected Pavel Vorobiev with the 11th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
12. Paul Martin – Anaheim Ducks
Paul Martin was drafted in the second round at 62nd overall by the New Jersey Devils. The Anaheim Ducks selected Alexie Smirnov with the 12th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
13. Ron Hainsey – Montreal Canadiens
Ron Hainsey was drafted 13th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
14. Steve Ott – Colorado Avalanche
Steve Ott was drafted 25th overall by the Dallas Stars. The Colorado Avalanche selected Vaclav Nedorost with the 14th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
15. Deryk Engelland – Buffalo Sabres
Deryk Engelland was drafted in the sixth round at 194th overall by the New Jersey Devils. The Buffalo Sabres selected Artem Kryukov with the 15th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
16. Matt Hendricks – Montreal Canadiens
Matt Hendricks was drafted in the fifth round at 131st overall by the Nashville Predators. The Montreal Canadiens selected Marcel Hossa with the 16th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
17. Jarret Stoll – Edmonton Oilers
Jarret Stoll was drafted in the second round at 46th overall by the Calgary Flames. The Edmonton Oilers selected Alexei Mikhnov with the 17th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
18. Matthew Lombardi – Pittsburgh Penguins
Matthew Lombardi was drafted in the seventh round at 215th overall by the Edmonton Oilers. The Pittsburgh Penguins selected Brooks Orpik with the 18th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
19. Paul Gaustad – Arizona Coyotes
Paul Gaustad was drafted in the seventh round at 220th overall by the Buffalo Sabres. The Arizona Coyotes selected Krys Kolanos with the 19th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
20. Antti Miettinen – Los Angeles Kings
Antti Miettinen was drafted in the seventh round at 224th overall by the Dallas Stars. The Los Angeles Kings selected Alexander Frolov with the 20th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
21. Dominic Moore – Ottawa Senators
Dominic Moore was drafted in the third round at 95th overall by the New York Rangers. The Ottawa Senators selected Anton Volchenkov with the 21st overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
22. Brad Boyes – New Jersey Devils
Brad Boyes was drafted 24th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The New Jersey Devils selected David Hale with the 22nd overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
23. Raffi Torres – Vancouver Canucks
Raffi Torres was drafted fifth overall by the New York Islanders. The Vancouver Canucks selected Nathan Smith with the 23rd overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
24. Nick Schultz – Toronto Maple Leafs
Nick Schultz was drafted in the second round at 33rd overall by the Minnesota Wild. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Brad Boyes with the 24th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
25. Tomas Kopecky – Dallas Stars
Tomas Kopecky was drafted in the second round at 38th overall by the Detroit Red Wings. The Dallas Stars selected Steve Ott with the 25th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
26. Ilya Bryzgalov – Washington Capitals
Ilya Bryzgalov was drafted in the second round at 44th overall by the Anaheim Ducks. The Washington Capitals selected Brian Sutherby with the 26th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
27. Mike Rupp – Boston Bruins
Mike Rupp was drafted in the third round at 76th overall by the New Jersey Devils. The Boston Bruins would draft Martin Samuelsson with the 27th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
28. Rick DiPietro – Philadelphia Flyers
Rick DiPietro was drafted first overall by the New York Islanders. The Philadelphia Flyers selected Justin Williams with the 28th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
29. Kurtis Foster – Detroit Red Wings
Kurtis Foster was drafted in the second round at 40th overall by the Calgary Flames. The Detroit Red Wings selected Niklas Kronwall with the 29th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
30. Rostislav Klesla – St. Louis Blues
Rostislav Klesla was drafted fourth overall by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The St. Louis Blues selected Jeff Taffe with the 30th overall pick in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.
Final Thoughts:
While most won’t agree with the list, this is how I would re-draft the first round of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. One of the major things to consider is how certain players would fit into the teams they were redrafted to.
