The NHL Draft is the best place for teams to restock their cupboards for the future and hopefully draft a generational talent that will change their franchise forever. Especially if that pick comes at the top of the draft in the coveted No. 1 overall spot.
With that pick, a team has carte blanche to select any player of their choosing. And more often than not, that player will be a talent that the team can build around for years and years to come. Not every NHL team has picked No. 1 overall — sorry Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild, among others — but over the years, some teams have gotten the chance to draft at that top spot way more than others.
As we enter another NHL Draft season, here are the teams who have the most No. 1 overall draft picks in history.
NHL teams with the most No. 1 overall draft picks in history
- Montreal Canadiens: 6
- New York Islanders: 5
- Colorado Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques: 4
- Edmonton Oilers: 4
- Buffalo Sabres: 4
- New Jersey Devils/Colorado Rockies: 3
- Washington Capitals: 3
- Tampa Bay Lightning: 3
- Pittsburgh Penguins: 3
- Detroit Red Wings: 3
- Ottawa Senators: 3
- Dallas Stars/Minnesota North Stars: 3
- Boston Bruins: 3
- Florida Panthers: 2
- Toronto Maple Leafs: 2
- New York Rangers: 2
- Chicago Blackhawks: 2
- Atlanta Thrashers: 2
- San Jose Sharks: 1
- St. Louis Blues: 1
- Utah Mammoth/Arizona Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets: 1
- Los Angeles Kings: 1
- Columbus Blue Jackets: 1
- Philadelphia Flyers: 1
