Canadian players in the NHL Draft
6 206 Canadian players have been picked in 54 NHL Drafts from 1973 to 2026, 800 of them in the first round and 100 among the first three picks. 36 Canadian players have gone at number 1, most recently Gavin McKenna (2026). The biggest class came in 1974, with 202. 1987 had the most in the first round, 21.
2020s
565 Canadians
2026JUN 26–JUN 27 · Buffalo, NY, USA
Cohort: 2008
Latest68
Canadians
10
Round 1
TOR#1Gavin McKenna
2025JUN 27–JUN 28 · Los Angeles, CA, USA
Cohort: 2007
85
Canadians
19
Round 1
NYI#1Matthew Schaefer
2024JUN 28–JUN 29 · Las Vegas, NV, USA
Cohort: 2006
86
Canadians
18
Round 1
SJS#1Macklin Celebrini
2023JUN 28–JUN 29 · Nashville, TN, USA
Cohort: 2005
87
Canadians
13
Round 1
CHI#1Connor Bedard
2022JUL 7–JUL 8 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 2004
87
Canadians
9
Round 1
SEA#4Shane Wright
2021JUL 23–JUL 24 · Virtual
Cohort: 2003
83
Canadians
16
Round 1
BUF#1Owen Power
2020OCT 6–OCT 7 · Virtual
Cohort: 2002
69
Canadians
19
Round 1
NYR#1Alexis Lafrenière
Draft statistics of all time
Highest draft picks
The best draft picks
Mark Messier
EDMNo. 48 in 1979 · 1756 GP
694G 1193A1887P
Ron Francis
HFDNo. 4 in 1981 · 1731 GP
549G 1249A1798P
Sidney Crosby
PITNo. 1 in 2005 · 1432 GP
657G 1111A1768P
4
Steve Yzerman
DETNo. 4 in 1983 · 1514 GP
692G 1063A1755P
5
Mario Lemieux
PITNo. 1 in 1984 · 915 GP
690G 1033A1723P
6
Joe Sakic
QUENo. 15 in 1987 · 1378 GP
625G 1016A1641P
7
Ray Bourque
BOSNo. 8 in 1979 · 1612 GP
410G 1169A1579P
8
Joe Thornton
BOSNo. 1 in 1997 · 1714 GP
430G 1109A1539P
9
Mark Recchi
PITNo. 67 in 1988 · 1652 GP
577G 956A1533P
10
Paul Coffey
EDMNo. 6 in 1980 · 1409 GP
396G 1135A1531P
2010s
822 Canadians2019JUN 21–JUN 22 · Vancouver, BC, CAN
Cohort: 2001
64
Canadians
11
Round 1
CHI#3Kirby Dach
2018JUN 22–JUN 23 · Dallas, TX, USA
Cohort: 2000
69
Canadians
10
Round 1
ARI#5Barrett Hayton
2017JUN 23–JUN 24 · Chicago, IL, USA
Cohort: 1999
77
Canadians
11
Round 1
PHI#2Nolan Patrick
2016JUN 24–JUN 25 · Buffalo, NY, USA
Cohort: 1998
86
Canadians
11
Round 1
CBJ#3Pierre-Luc Dubois
2015JUN 26–JUN 27 · Sunrise, FL, USA
Cohort: 1997
77
Canadians
12
Round 1
EDM#1Connor McDavid
2014JUN 27–JUN 28 · Philadelphia, PA, USA
Cohort: 1996
77
Canadians
13
Round 1
FLA#1Aaron Ekblad
2013JUN 30 · Newark, NJ, USA
Cohort: 1995
97
Canadians
17
Round 1
COL#1Nathan MacKinnon
2012JUN 22–JUN 23 · Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Cohort: 1994
100
Canadians
14
Round 1
CBJ#2Ryan Murray
2011JUN 24–JUN 25 · St. Paul, MN, USA
Cohort: 1993
77
Canadians
15
Round 1
EDM#1Ryan Nugent-Hopkins
2010JUN 25–JUN 26 · Los Angeles, CA, USA
Cohort: 1992
98
Canadians
15
Round 1
EDM#1Taylor Hall
2000s
1064 Canadians2009JUN 26–JUN 27 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1991
102
Canadians
16
Round 1
NYI#1John Tavares
2008JUN 20–JUN 21 · Ottawa, ON, CAN
Cohort: 1990
118
Canadians
17
Round 1
TBL#1Steven Stamkos
2007JUN 22–JUN 23 · Columbus, OH, USA
Cohort: 1989
101
Canadians
15
Round 1
PHX#3Kyle Turris
2006JUN 24 · Vancouver, BC, CAN
Cohort: 1988
81
Canadians
11
Round 1
PIT#2Jordan Staal
2005JUL 30 · Ottawa, ON, CAN
Cohort: 1987
108
Canadians
14
Round 1
PIT#1Sidney Crosby
2004JUN 26–JUN 27 · Raleigh, NC, USA
Cohort: 1986
122
Canadians
11
Round 1
CHI#3Cam Barker
2003JUN 21–JUN 22 · Nashville, TN, USA
Cohort: 1985
129
Canadians
19
Round 1
PIT#1Marc-Andre Fleury
2002JUN 22–JUN 23 · Toronto, ON, CAN
Cohort: 1984
104
Canadians
10
Round 1
CBJ#1Rick Nash
2001JUN 23–JUN 24 · Sunrise, FL, USA
Cohort: 1983
103
Canadians
12
Round 1
OTT#2Jason Spezza
2000JUN 24–JUN 25 · Calgary, AB, CAN
Cohort: 1982
96
Canadians
9
Round 1
NYI#5Raffi Torres
1990s
1306 Canadians1999JUN 26 · Boston, MA, USA
Cohort: 1981
106
Canadians
9
Round 1
NSH#6Brian Finley
1998JUN 27 · Buffalo, NY, USA
Cohort: 1980
127
Canadians
14
Round 1
TBL#1Vincent Lecavalier
1997JUN 21 · Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Cohort: 1979
129
Canadians
16
Round 1
BOS#1Joe Thornton
1996JUN 22 · St. Louis, MO, USA
Cohort: 1978
135
Canadians
16
Round 1
OTT#1Chris Phillips
1995JUL 8 · Edmonton, AB, CAN
Cohort: 1977
137
Canadians
16
Round 1
NYI#2Wade Redden
1994JUN 28–JUN 29 · Hartford, CT, USA
Cohort: 1976
150
Canadians
17
Round 1
FLA#1Ed Jovanovski
1993JUN 25 · Quebec City, QC CAN
Cohort: 1975
137
Canadians
16
Round 1
OTT#1Alexandre Daigle
1992JUN 19 · Montreal, QC CAN
Cohort: 1974
132
Canadians
9
Round 1
SJS#3Mike Rathje
1991JUN 21 · Buffalo, NY USA
Cohort: 1972
137
Canadians
13
Round 1
QUE#1Eric Lindros
1990JUN 15 · Vancouver, BC CAN
Cohort: 1970
116
Canadians
15
Round 1
DET#3Keith Primeau
1980s
1417 Canadians1989JUN 16 · Bloomington, MN USA
Cohort: 1969
135
Canadians
16
Round 1
NYI#2Dave Chyzowski
1988JUN 10 · Montreal, QC CAN
Cohort: 1970
131
Canadians
18
Round 1
VAN#2Trevor Linden
1987JUN 13 · Detroit, MI, USA
Cohort: 1969
114
Canadians
21
Round 1
BUF#1Pierre Turgeon
1986JUN 21 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1968
153
Canadians
14
Round 1
DET#1Joe Murphy
1985JUN 15 · Toronto, ON, CAN
Cohort: 1967
153
Canadians
16
Round 1
TOR#1Wendel Clark
1984JUN 9 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1966
144
Canadians
15
Round 1
PIT#1Mario Lemieux
1983JUN 8 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1965
143
Canadians
16
Round 1
HFD#2Sylvain Turgeon
1982JUN 9 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1964
149
Canadians
20
Round 1
BOS#1Gord Kluzak
1981JUN 10 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1963
136
Canadians
18
Round 1
WIN#1Dale Hawerchuk
1980JUN 11 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1961
159
Canadians
19
Round 1
MTL#1Doug Wickenheiser
1970s
1032 Canadians1979AUG 9 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1959
108
Canadians
20
Round 1
CLR#1Rob Ramage
1978JUN 15 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1958
167
Canadians
17
Round 1
MNS#1Bobby Smith
1977JUN 14 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1957
139
Canadians
17
Round 1
DET#1Dale McCourt
1976MAY 27 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1956
103
Canadians
16
Round 1
WSH#1Rick Green
1975JUN 3 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1955
162
Canadians
17
Round 1
PHI#1Mel Bridgman
1974MAY 28–MAY 30 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1954
202
Canadians
16
Round 1
WSH#1Greg Joly
1973MAY 15 · Montreal, QC, CAN
Cohort: 1953
151
Canadians
16
Round 1
NYI#1Denis Potvin