All-Decade Draft: Highlighting the best first-rounders of the past 10 years

Now that the order is officially set, Sportsnet’s draft insider Sam Cosentino makes his predictions on all 31 first-round picks of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Draft season is (finally!) upon us, and as we look ahead at the next class of NHL hopefuls it’s also a good time to look back at those drafted before them in recent history — and examine the compelling, comparative questions that emerge by doing so.

Who was the best No. 1 overall pick over the last decade? The best fifth-overall selection? No. 23? Just for fun, we’ve reflected on the first-round picks since the 2010 draft — and highlighted the best players drafted at each first-round slot during that timespan.

For each draft spot, from No. 1 to 30 (we didn’t count 31, as the sample size is simply too small just yet) we picked one player who’s proven to be the best of his peers from that draft slot throughout the last 10 years.

For picks one through 10, we also included the full list of fellow picks for added context, which doubles as a good glimpse of the kind of talent that has landed in those top spots over the past 10 years.

While some choices proved tough to assess — most of the first-rounders taken just last year, for example, have yet to make their mark on the league, complicating their ranking — others stand out as both early-pick slam dunks and late first-round steals. Keep in mind, this is a current ranking — meaning, a few years from now, this list could look a lot different. (Spoiler alert: That 2015 draft class? Turns out, it really was really good.)

Let’s dig in.

No. 1 overall: Connor McDavid | 2015, Edmonton Oilers
General manager: Peter Chiarelli

The first 10 years of the 2000's brought more first-overall franchise-changers and future Hall of Famers than not – Marc-Andre Fleury (2003), Alex Ovechkin (2004), Sidney Crosby (2005), Patrick Kane (2007), Steven Stamkos (2008), and John Tavares (2009) among them.

The second decade of the century looks like it's on track for much of the same, highlighted by some of today's best young stars and no-brainer No. 1 picks. It's no surprise Connor McDavid, who was also Edmonton's fourth first-overall pick of the decade, is the cream of this crop. The two-time Art Ross Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award winner and 2016-17 MVP still hasn't yet hit his prime.

It'll be fun to see how soon-to-be first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere sets the tone for the next decade of No. 1s.

Full list of No. 1 overall picks of the last decade: Taylor Hall (2010 Oilers), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011 Oilers), Nail Yakupov (2012, Oilers), Nathan MacKinnon (2013, Avalanche), Aaron Ekblad (2014, Panthers), Connor McDavid (2015, Oilers), Auston Matthews (2016, Maple Leafs), Nico Hischier (2017, Devils), Rasmus Dahlin (2018, Sabres), Jack Hughes (2019, Devils)

No. 2 overall: Jack Eichel | 2015, Buffalo Sabres
General manager: Tim Murray

The slot that gave us Evgeni Malkin in 2004 (Penguins), Drew Doughty in 2008 (Kings) and newly-crowned Cup champ and reigning Conn Smythe winner Victor Hedman (2009, Lightning) in the first decade of the 2000's also brought us Jack Eichel in 2015, who since landing in Buffalo hasn't been able to come close to the promised land that those listed before him have.

He'll forever be compared to McDavid, the lone 2015 prospect drafted ahead of him, which puts him in an unenviable position. His elite skill, strong leadership, and dynamic playmaking as one of the finest players in the game today would've seen him taken first overall in most other draft classes.

Full list of No. 2 overall picks of the last decade: Tyler Seguin (2010, Bruins), Gabriel Landeskog (2011, Avalanche), Ryan Murray (2012, Blue Jackets), Aleksander Barkov (2013, Panthers), Sam Reinhart (2014, Sabres), Jack Eichel (2015, Sabres), Patrik Laine (2016, Jets), Nolan Patrick (2017 Flyers), Andrei Svechnikov (2018 Hurricanes), Kaapo Kakko (2019 Rangers)

No. 3 overall: Leon Draisaitl | 2014, Edmonton Oilers
General manager: Craig MacTavish

With back-to-back seasons surpassing 100 points and a trophy cabinet that's already filling up nicely, Draisaitl would be the top pick of a 2014 redraft (though, David Pastrnak might have something to say about that).

Full list of No. 3 overall picks of the last decade: Erik Gudbranson (2010, Panthers), Jonathan Huberdeau (2011, Panthers), Alex Galchenyuk (2012, Canadiens), Jonathan Drouin (2013, Lightning), Leon Draisaitl (2014, Oilers), Dylan Strome (2015, Coyotes), Pierre-Luc Dubois (2016, Blue Jackets), Miro Heiskanen (2017, Stars), Jesperi Kotkaniemi (2018, Canadiens), Kirby Dach (2019, Blackhawks)

No. 4 overall: Cale Makar | 2017, Colorado Avalanche
General manager: Joe Sakic

How much do you value an offensive weapon (a.k.a Mitch Marner) versus an elite lockdown defender (hello, Seth Jones)? Okay, now how about we take both? That's where Makar comes in.

Of the three fourth-overall picks we've highlighted here, he's got the smallest sample size to look at, but this year's Calder Memorial Trophy winner has wasted no time making his mark on the league and will no doubt be one of the best blue liners in the game in the next few years -- if he's not there already.

Fun fact: Just last year, the Avalanche again had the fourth-overall pick thanks to a trade with the Ottawa Senators -- and again picked up another elite defenceman, this time in Bowen Byram. Bright days ahead for Colorado's blue line.

Full list of No. 4 overall picks of the last decade: Ryan Johansen (2010, Columbus), Adam Larsson (2011, Devils), Griffin Reinhart (2012, Islanders), Seth Jones (2013, Predators), Sam Bennett (2014, Flames), Mitch Marner (2015, Maple Leafs), Jesse Puljujarvi (2016, Oilers), Cale Makar (2017, Avalanche), Brady Tkachuk (2018, Senators), Bowen Byram (2019, Avalanche)

No. 5 overall: Elias Pettersson | 2017, Vancouver Canucks
General manager: Jim Benning

In Pettersson, Benning got first-overall talent at a fifth-overall draft spot. When you look at that 2017 draft, which featured Nico Hischier and Nolan Patrick at the top two spots, it's picks three through five (Miro Heiskanen, Makar, Pettersson) who would be vying for that top spot in a redraft.

Full list of No. 5 overall picks of the last decade: Nino Niederreiter (2010, Islanders), Ryan Strome (2011, Islanders), Morgan Rielly (2012, Maple Leafs), Elias Lindholm (2013, Hurricanes), Michael Dal Colle (2014, Islanders), Noah Hanifin (2015, Hurricanes), Olli Juolevi (2016, Canucks), Elias Pettersson (2017, Canucks), Barrett Hayton (2018, Coyotes), Alex Turcotte (2019, Kings)

No. 6 overall: Matthew Tkachuk | 2016, Calgary Flames
General manager: Brad Treliving

In a star-studded class that saw Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine taken one-two, the Flames picked up a real gem at sixth overall in Tkachuk -- and in doing so, landed their future leading score, top agitator, and fan favourite in Calgary.

Full list of No. 6 overall picks of the last decade: Brett Connolly (Lightning, 2010), Mika Zibanejad (2011, Senators), Hampus Lindholm (2012, Ducks), Sean Monahan (2013, Flames), Jake Virtanen (2014, Canucks), Pavel Zacha (2015, Devils), Matthew Tkachuk (2016, Flames) Cody Glass (2017, Golden Knights), Filip Zadina (2018, Red Wings), Moritz Seider (2019, Red Wings)

No. 7 overall: Quinn Hughes | 2018, Vancouver Canucks
General manager: Jim Benning

Before this season, we probably would've said this slot belongs to Mark Scheifele (2011, Jets) -- he is, after all, one of the most valuable, smartest, and most complete centres in the game. But what Quinn Hughes did for Vancouver's blue line this year, instantly becoming their top rearguard and challenging Makar for the Calder all year, makes GM Jim Benning's seventh-overall selection in 2018 one of his all-time best selections.

Full list of No. 7 overall picks of the last decade: Jeff Skinner (2010, Hurricanes), Mark Scheifele (2011, Jets), Mathew Dumba (2012, Wild), Darnell Nurse (2013, Oilers), Haydn Fleury (2014, Hurricanes), Ivan Provarov (2015, Flyers), Clayton Keller (2016, Coyotes), Lias Andersson (2017, Rangers), Quinn Hughes (2018, Canucks), Dylan Cozens (2019, Sabres)

No. 8 overall: Zach Werenski | 2015, Columbus Blue Jackets
General manager: Jarmo Kekalainen

A stacked 2015 draft class on offence (McDavid, Eichel, Strome, Marner) pushed Werenski back, and he wasn't even the first defenceman taken -- Noah Hanifin and Ivan Provorov went before him that year.

Full list of No. 8 overall picks of the last decade: Alexander Burmistrov (2010, Thrashers), Sean Couturier (2011, Flyers), Derrick Pouliot (2012, Penguins) Rasmus Ristolainen (2013, Sabres), William Nylander (2014, Maple Leafs), Zach Werenski (2015, Blue Jackets), Alexander Nylander (2016, Sabres), Casey Mittelstadt (2017, Sabres), Adam Boqvist (2018, Blackhawks), Philip Broberg (2019, Oilers)

No. 9 overall: Dougie Hamilton | 2011, Boston Bruins
General manager: Peter Chiarelli

Hamilton is two teams removed from the one that took him ninth overall, but there's no doubt he's found his fit in Carolina as one of the premier puck-movers in the league.

Full list of No. 9 overall picks of the last decade: Mikael Granlund (2010, Wild), Dougie Hamilton (2011, Bruins), Jacob Trouba (2012, Jets), Bo Horvat (2013, Canucks), Nikolaj Ehlers (2014, Jets), Timo Meier (2015, Sharks), Mikhail Sergachev (2016, Canadiens), Michael Rasmussen (2017, Red Wings), Vitali Kravtsov (2018, Rangers), Trevor Zegras (2019, Ducks)

No. 10 overall: Mikko Rantanen | 2015, Colorado Avalanche
General manager: Joe Sakic

Vasily Podkolvin, whose contract in Russia gave teams pause and held them back from calling his name earlier, could very well prove to be a gift from the Hockey Gods to the Canucks -- his performance overseas suggest that will be the case. But we'll have to wait and see on that one.

Rantanen, who broke out in 2017-2018 and has scored at better than a point-per-game pace since, is our clear standout right now. He's also another reminder of just how elite that 2015 class was.

Full list of No. 10 overall picks of the last decade: Dylan McIlrath (2010, Rangers), Jonas Brodin (2011, Wild), Slater Koekkoek (2012, Lightning), Valeri Nichushkin (2013, Stars), Nicholas Ritchie (2014, Ducks), Mikko Rantanen (2015 Avalanche), Tyson Jost (2016, Avalanche), Owen Tippett (2017, Panthers), Evan Bouchard (2018, Oilers), Vasily Podkolvin (2019, Canucks)

No. 11 overall: Filip Forsberg | 2012, Washington Capitals
General manager: George McPhee

His emergence in 2014-2015 helped usher in the Nashville Predators' most successful stretch, and he remains a leader on the team as the club looks to recalibrate for another shot at contention.

His name brings about painful memories for Capitals faithful, as Forsberg was sent to Nashville for Martin Erat and Michael Latta -- a trade that, well... didn't exactly pan out for Washington.

No. 12 overall: Max Domi | 2013, Phoenix Coyotes
General manager: Don Maloney

An up-and-down start to his career in Arizona brought a fresh start in Montreal, where he's become an important part of the rebuilding Canadiens.

No. 13 overall: Josh Morrissey | 2013, Winnipeg Jets
General manager: Kevin Cheveldayoff

One of the more underrated defencemen in today's game, Morrissey should be counted among the best Canadian blue liners going forward.

No. 14 overall: Charlie McAvoy | 2016, Boston Bruins
General manager: Don Sweeney

The top-pairing rearguard has been a mainstay on the Bruins' blue line since his debut in 2017.

No. 15 overall: Dylan Larkin | 2014, Detroit Red Wings
General manager: Ken Holland

Erik Brannstrom, who was picked in 2018, might blossom into being the best at the 15th spot with a few more years, but Dylan Larkin is our standout at this slot from the past decade. Now, imagine what he'll be able to do once Steve Yzerman is done crafting this club.

No. 16 overall: Vladimir Tarasenko | 2010, St. Louis Blues
General manager: Larry Pleau

A few more years of watching Mathew Barzal light it up on Long Island will probably change this, but Tarasenko's impact in St. Louis -- former GM Larry Pleau's parting gift to the Blues -- and clutch play with the 2019 Cup champs puts him atop our list.

No. 17 overall: Kyle Connor | 2015, Winnipeg Jets
General manager: Kevin Cheveldayoff

Having been drafted one year before Patrik Laine came along and making his debut during Laine's rookie year, Connor is one of the more underrated playmakers out there. Back-to-back-to-back 30-plus goal seasons gives Connor the team lead in goals since he became a full-time NHLer in 2017-18.

No. 18 overall: Thomas Chabot | 2015, Ottawa Senators
General manager: Bryan Murray

We've only just seen the beginning of what speedster Liam Foudy can do, but we've seen enough from Chabot to know he's a star who's just getting started -- and one of the most important pillars of the Senators' rebuilt (and still-rebuilding) blue line.

No. 19 overall: Andrei Vasilevskiy | 2012, Tampa Bay Lightning
General manager: Steve Yzerman

Goaltenders aren't often drafted in the first round -- because they tend to be slower to develop, they can be tougher to assess at a younger age -- but this one was clearly a slam-dunk for Tampa Bay, who relied heavily on Vasilevskiy throughout their Cup run all the way to the top.

No. 20 overall: Robert Thomas | 2017, St. Louis Blues
General manager: Doug Armstrong

Ville Heinola gave us a glimpse of the future of the Jets' blue line, and it looks bright. But we'll put Thomas, whose emergence during the Blues' incredible Cup run in 2018-19 and versatility in Year Two makes him a soon-to-be top-six lock in St. Louis, on our list for now.

No. 21 overall: Colin White | 2015, Ottawa Senators
General manager: Bryan Murray

Not the most lucrative draft slot based on this past decade's picks at 21, but in Colin White the Senators have an offensive threat that can help propel their rebuild forward.

No. 22 overall: Ilya Samsonov | 2015, Washington Capitals
General manager: Brian MacLellan

When it comes to goalies, you've got to plan ahead. Braden Holtby had just completed one of his most impressive campaigns when the Capitals drafted Samsonov back in 2015 with the hopes they'd found their next next great netminder. Five years later, he's taken over the throne and the spotlight's officially shifted to him while Holtby appears to be heading to free agency.

No. 23 overall: Brock Boeser | 2015, Vancouver Canucks
General manager: Jim Benning

Another star of that stacked 2015 class -- and another excellent pick made by Benning since he took the reins in 2014.

No. 24 overall: Kevin Hayes | 2010, Chicago Blackhawks
General manager: Stan Bowman

This one comes down to two players, and they're both on the Flyers. While Travis Konecny (another 2015 gem!) has the higher ceiling, it's Hayes who stood out during the playoffs, and he gets the edge... for now.

No. 25 overall: David Pastrnak | 2014, Boston Bruins
General manager: Peter Chiarelli

Chiarelli's final draft of his Bruins tenure brought one heck of a parting gift -- and one of the biggest first-round steals to be had.

No. 26 overall: Evgeni Kuznetsov | 2010, Washington Capitals
General manager: George McPhee

Vegas' Shea Theodore (2013, Ducks) gets a good, long look as one of the game's next great rearguards, but Kuznetsov's consistent scoring (particularly during the Capitals' Stanley Cup run, when he tallied 32 points in 24 games) makes him the star at 26th overall.

No. 27 overall: Vladislav Namestnikov | 2011, Tampa Bay Lightning
General manager: Steve Yzerman

You could argue on a technicality that, of the players drafted 28th overall in the past 10 years, it's Nolan Foote (2019, Lightning) who's had the biggest impact -- he was, after all, a big piece of the puzzle that convinced the New Jersey Devils to send forward Blake Coleman to Tampa Bay in a trade with the eventual Stanley Cup champs. But for the sake of selecting those currently in the league, Namestnikov -- another Lightning pick -- gets the nod here.

Though he has yet to really settle into a market long-term, the production has been there and he remains a strong free-agency option for teams looking for secondary scoring.

No. 28 overall: Charlie Coyle | 2010, San Jose Sharks
General manager: Doug Wilson

Coyle is one of the few players on this list who didn't actually suit up for the team that drafted him, as he was dealt to Minnesota as part of a package for Brent Burns in 2011. That Burns turned into a stud defenceman certainly hurt the perception of Coyle, but Coyle's steady scoring presence followed by his resurgence with the Bruins last year makes him a success as far as late first-rounders go.

No. 29 overall: Rasmus Sandin | 2018, Toronto Maple Leafs
General manager: Kyle Dubas

Dubas' first draft pick as an NHL GM, Rasmus' career is still ahead of him but his strong development with the AHL's Marlies have him trending in the direction of a top-four d-man on a blue line that needs more of those.

No. 30 overall: Rickard Rackell | 2011, Anaheim Ducks
General manager: Bob Murray

Rackell has reached the 40-point plateau in all but one of his six seasons as a full-time NHLer, twice surpassing 50 with his best seasons coming in 2017-18 at 69 points.

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