Will the NHL ever see another dominant rookie? Of the last 20 number one draft picks, only one has gone on to attain Mario Lemieux-like greatness. That was Mario Lemieux.
2004 - Alexander Ovechkin: Washington Capitals
2003 - Marc-Andre Fleury: Pittsburgh Penguins
2002 - Rick Nash: Columbus Blue Jackets
2001 - Ilya Kovalchuk: Atlanta Thrashers
2000 - Rick DiPietro: York Islanders
1999 - Patrik Stefan: Atlanta Thrashers
1998 - Vincent Lecavalier: Tampa Bay Lightning
1997 - Joe Thornton: Boston Bruins
1996 - Chris Phillips: Ottawa Senators
1995 - Bryan Berard: Ottawa Senators
1994 - Ed Jovanovski: Florida Panthers
1993 - Alexandre Daigle: Ottawa Senators
1992 - Roman Hamrlik: Tampa Bay Lightning
1991 - Eric Lindros: Quebec Nordiques
1990 - Owen Nolan: Quebec Nordiques
1989 - Mats Sundin: Quebec Nordiques
1988 - Mike Modano: Minnesota North Stars
1987 - Pierre Turgeon: Buffalo Sabres
1986 - Joe Murphy: Detroit Red Wings
1985 - Wendel Clark: Toronto Maple Leafs
1984 - Mario Lemieux: Pittsburgh Penguins
Some have seen tremendous success in the pros (e.g. Turgeon, Modano, Sundin, Lindr… just kidding) as have many number twos, threes, etc. A few may still prove unstoppable (Nash, Kovalchuk, Heatley, Ovechkin). However, the NHL has never seen such a dry spell of truly game-breaking talent, and may never again. Is it the talent? The way the game is played? Or am I way off base?
[Editor's note: Tim e-mailed me this article, and I'm happy to be able to share it on Just Wide. If other readers have thoughts they want to share, they're encouraged to e-mail them to me.]