In June 2004, Washington Capitals made winger Alex Ovechkin their first overall pick. At No. 2, the Pittsburgh Penguins return to the No. 2 Center Evgeni Mulkin.
Posted at 10:15 am
Ovechkin could join Wayne Gretzky as the all-time leading scorer and he helped Washington deliver the cup.
Malkin has just 981 games, three Stanley Cups, two scoring championships, the Heart Trophy (MVP) and the Con-Smith Trophy (awarded to the best player in the series) with 1,146 points making him one of the best centers of his generation.
Four years later, center Steven Stamkos was created first in Lightning and second by defenseman Drew Doty through the Los Angeles Kings. Stamkos is nearing the 500-goal mark and trying to win his third consecutive Stanley Cup. Doty has won two Stanley Cups in Los Angeles and is a three-time Norris Trophy finalist (top defenseman). One won.
John Tavares is the 2009 vintage top scorer with nearly 400 goals, followed by second-place finisher Victor Headman, who has already been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Buffalo Sabers and Carolina Hurricanes are very happy with their respective picks, Rammus Dalin and Andrei Svechnikov.
Furthermore, we are now seeing a very polarizing debate over the identity of the Canadian first choice …
