Fun Draft Facts - 1996: year of the role player

[sprague11]

It's almost that time of year again, so here's some fun facts from the 1996 draft - One of the worst ever in terms of producing Bonefide NHL stars. Me and a couple friends attempted to redo the first round draft in hindsight and we all tapped out by the time the number 18 pick rolled around! This was around the time I took a serious break from the Hobby due to other interests (CD's, Girls, drumming) but still followed the NHL and Habs regularly. A lot of these guys showed up in 1995/96 product and in retrospect I'm glad I briefly took up the drums.

• The closest thing to a Hobby Star in this draft would be Zdeno Chara or Daniel Briere
• The 7th 8th and 9th round produced Top 4 defencemen (Kubina, Kaberla, Salo)
• Only 8 first rounders skated regulalry for an NHL team in 08/09
• 13 Defencemen went in the first round. Replace Philips, Zyuzin and Jackman with Kubina, Kaberla and Salo, how much better would those picks look?
• I thought Richard Jackman would become what Thomas Kaberle ended up being (that's blind Greyhounds love for you!). I also thought JP Dupont would be a big player for the Isles for years to come!
• I really hoped Danius Zubrus would be available for the Habs in the first round. Sadly I'd get my wish of seeing him skate for my team when the Habs traded Mark Recchi for him.
• Someone named Bubba went 109th overall. The Isles drafted him, and he played a handful of games with the Preds

 

[deepbluejacket]

1999 is often called the worst, but 1996 was pretty miserable. According to the Hockey News, 2011 is shaping up to be a 1999-level disaster. I will be interested to see if those draft picks are devalued as trade chips in the coming two seasons. Whereas a team may have been willing to trade player X for a 3rd round 2009 pick, they might want a 1st or 2nd rounder if it comes in 2011.

I was in college during this draft and had no money available for hockey cards, so I don't have tales of being burned stockpiling Zyuzins.

Mike

 

[JohnnyDrama]

At least '99 had the Sedins. That '96 draft was flat terrible.