Eurolanche

Nordiques no. 1 picks in 90´s

Quebec Nordiques, predecessor of today´s team from Denver, Colorado had two possibilities to pick as first in the NHL entry drafts in 90s. Even though in the name of this article I mentioned only 90´s, we will also take a look on the NHL entry draft in 1989. Simply because since 1989 till 1991, Quebec had three times in a row the right to pick first of all teams.

1989

The year is 1989 and season 88-89 just came to an end. “Only” 21 teams battled for the most prestigious hockey trophy in the world and Calgary Flames is the team to celebrate winning of this trophy. Mario Lemiuex won for the second time in a row Art Ross Trophy with 199 points (beating Gretzky with 168 points) and Quebec had a bad season. Team finished on 30^th place that gives them the right to pick first in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. Quebec´s management knows very well that they need some good forward, someone who can score many goals. Multiple choices are available. There is Canadian Left Winger Dave Chyzowski who scored 139 points in 68 games in the past season for Kamloops Blazers (WHL). There is also young center Stu Barnes who scored even 141 points in 70 matches also in WHL. Both of these players look very promising and since they are Canadians, they are used the local style, they know the language and seem like good picks. Quebec decides otherwise though and picks Mats Sundin - 18-year old from Sweden playing in the Swedish second-tier league only. He became the first European-born player drafted first overall in NHL history ever. He stays in Sweden for next season and plays in Elite Swedish league for Djurgardens IF, wins with the club league championship. His debut is in season 90-91 and Sundin finished second in team scoring, just behind Joe Sakic with 59 points. The rest of the story we already know.

1990

Probably the worst season in Quebec´s history. Team gathered only 31 points from 80 games played and ended up on the last spot. That gives them the right for the first pick again and very interesting players there are on the list! At this point, Canadian team was too worried probably about picking again European player so they pass on Jaromir Jagr or Petr Nedved and choses Owen Nolan instead. Young talented kid originally born in Belfast, Ireland (with Canadian citizenship) spent 5 seasons in Quebec and also played couple of games for Avalanche. Apart from his rookie season, he got every season very closely to an average of 1 point per game and is still very well recognized in Quebec. Still passing on players like Jagr, Nedved or Primeau was a big risk.

1991

Despite the good players gathered in last two NHL Entry drafts, Nordiques finished season again on the 30^th spot. So after the season, everybody is focusing on the upcoming draft. Possible choices are very interesting again and especially another Swedish forward Peter Forsberg looks promising. But there are also other players like Pat Fallon who scored 138 points in the past season (WHL) or Scott Niedermayer, one of the best defenders in last couple of years on draft. Quebec picks Eric Lindros. Strong Canadian Centre who just scored impressive 149 in 57 matches for Oshawa Generals (OHL). Lindros refuses to play for Nordiques and is traded one year later for Forsberg and couple of draft picks to Flyers. Arguably, Lindros was one of the most talented players ever been in the entry drafts, however we all know how his career went and in the end, I think we can be very happy for getting Forsberg instead.

As a conclusion to this article; not even a high number of scoring points in lower leagues mean that player will be a star. Of course Sundin was an extraordinary player, but getting him was a huge risk, that paid out very well in the end. Joe Sakic remembers this draft very well, so maybe he will do something similar and pick again European name from the list of potential picks nr. 1?

Sources of photos: wordpress and EPSN