• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
NHL Entry Draft

1990 NHL Re-draft: Possibly the Best Draft Class Ever (Part I of II)

By Ed Sarno June 23rd, 2015

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Let’s kick this off with a fun trivia question that is sure to stump your hockey pals. Who are the only two people drafted in 1990 that still lace up their NHL skates today? One is easy, the other, not so much. Answer at the bottom of this post.

Now on to my 1990 NHL Re-draft. Last week marked the 25th anniversary of perhaps the greatest draft class in NHL history. Looking back now, it gave us the goalie with the most wins in NHL history, a multi-generational freak, a 500+ goal scoring American, a 500+ goal scoring Slovak and the top three defensemen in Dallas Stars history.

https://twitter.com/CanadaTeams/status/610991398708350976

At the time, the buzz going into the draft was focused on “The Four Aces, Plus A Superstar Netminder” as described in The Hockey News Draft Preview ’90 edition. The cover of their magazine featured photos of Petr Nedved, Mike Ricci, Keith Primeau and Owen Nolan. They were certainly right about the draft having four aces and a superstar netminder, they just didn’t have the names exactly right.

Before we get started a couple of logistical items. I kept teams with their original draft slots (i.e. New Jersey, Winnipeg, Buffalo and Calgary) instead of their draft day traded slots.  I also took team needs and draft tendencies into consideration.

1990 NHL Redraft Picks 1-5

1. Quebec Nordiques
Coming off a season where the Nordiques gave up a whopping 407 goals against (39 short of the NHL record Washington 74-75), defense was the clear need. A young Joe Sakic and incoming rookie Mats Sundin welcome arguably the best goaltender in NHL history. Imagine how this would have spiced up an already nasty rivalry with Montreal.
Actual pick: Owen Nolan
Re-draft pick: Martin Brodeur drafted by NJ 1st round (20th overall)

1990 NHL Redraft

(Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports)

2. Vancouver Canucks
Add another jersey to the Traveling Jagrs. Imagine a 1991-92 Canucks team with rookie winger Pavel Bure and Jagr. His 1802 career points trail only Gretzky, Messier and Howe all time. If McDavid and Eichel are generational players, Jagr still playing at 43 years old is multi-generational.
Actual pick: Petr Nedved
Re-draft pick: Jaromir Jagr drafted by Pitt 1st round (5th overall)

3. Detroit Red Wings
How about adding Keith Tkachuk upfront with a young Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Bob Probert. Tkachuk is one of three 500+ goal scores from the 1990 class. Tkachuk slid in the real draft due to injuries and questions about his skating.
Actual pick: Keith Primeau
Re-draft pick: Keith Tkachuk drafted by Winn 1st round (19th overall)

1990 NHL Redraft

Keith Tkachuk was arguably the last true goal scorer on the roster {svictoria – Flickr}

4. Philadelphia Flyers
Though no longer the Flyers GM at the time, Bob Clarke was one of the few NHL people who had Jagr rated as #1 overall going into the draft. Only one Flyer player scored more than 21 goals in 90-91 (Rick Tocchet). Therefore with scoring at a premium the Flyers land the last 500+ goal scorer of the 1990 NHL Re-draft, Peter Bondra.
Actual pick: Mike Ricci
Re-draft pick: Peter Bondra drafted by Wash 8th round (156th overall)

5. Pittsburgh Penguins
At the time, Super Mario was competing with Gretzky as the most dominant player in the NHL. With Jagr off the board it is the ideal spot for Owen Nolan. Who knows how many more goals Nolan would have scored skating on a line with #66.
Actual pick: Jaromir Jagr
Redraft pick: Owen Nolan drafted by Que 1st round (1st overall)1990 NHL Redraft

1990 NHL Redraft Picks 6-10

6. New York Islanders
They chose center Scott Scissons who would go on to play 2 career NHL games. Given a mulligan that Dustin Johnson would appreciate, the Isles choose Slava Kozlov.  He played in 1182 games 356 goals, 497 assists, 853 points.
Actual pick: Scott Scissons
Redraft pick: Slava Kozlov drafted by Det 3rd round (45 overall)

7. Los Angeles Kings
Going into 90-91, the Kings were loaded upfront with Gretzky and co. The blue line featured Steve Duchesne, an aging Larry Robinson and rookie Rob Blake. Can you imagine the highlight reel plays a Sergei Zubov- Gretzky combination would have created?
Actual pick: Darryl Sydor
Redraft pick: Sergei Zubov drafted by NYR 5th round (85th overall)

https://youtu.be/GmsEBfdLfnk

8. Minnesota North Stars
The North Stars were thin on defence so this is one pick I wouldn’t change. Hatcher played 1045 career games and put up a respectable 331 points to go along with 1581 PIM. Hatcher was captain of Dallas Stars only Stanley Cup winner in 1999.
Actual pick: Derian Hatcher
Redraft pick: Derian Hatcher drafted by Minn 1st round (8th overall)

9. Washington Capitals
The Capitals drafted defenseman John Slaney who had a fantastic junior career but never fully reached expectations in the NHL. Redrafting now Darryl Sydor makes perfect sense. The pick also marks a run of 3 defensemen who were pivotal to the Dallas Stars 1999 Cup.
Actual pick: John Slaney
Redraft pick: Darryl Sydor drafted by LA 1st round (7th overall)

10. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Leafs wanted to go defence here but with the big three of the 1990 NHL Redraft off the board they will table the need. Knowing they must act now the Leafs choose Felix Potvin. Potvin will be an upgrade over Peter Ing who played the most games in net for the Leafs in 90-91.
Actual pick: Drake Berehowsky
Redraft pick: Felix Potvin drafted by Tor 2nd round (31st overall)

1990 NHL Redraft

(Flickr/Eric Colquhoun)

Stay tuned for my 1990 NHL Redraft picks 11-21.  Is there anyone you would add/replace from my 1-10?

Trivia answer: Jaromir Jagr and Wes McCauley (NHL Referee)

 

  • Tags
  • 1990 NHL Draft
  • Jaromir Jagr
  • Martin Brodeur
  • Sergei Zubov
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 20th 12:37 PM
Archives

3 Best Trades in Senators History

Jan 20th 12:15 PM
Washington Capitals

Capitals Plagued by Inconsistency & Lack of Effort on Opening Road Trip

Jan 20th 12:05 PM
Winnipeg Jets

3 Takeaways from Jets’ Thrilling Overtime Victory Over the Senators

Jan 20th 11:55 AM
Philadelphia Flyers

Flyers See the Goalie Depth They Hoped for With Elliott Shutout

Jan 20th 11:45 AM
Arizona Coyotes

Brassard Fills Role as Wily Coyote Off the Bench

Jan 20th 11:35 AM
Pittsburgh Penguins

Penguins’ Third Line a Bright Spot During Slow Start

Jan 20th 11:25 AM
Colorado Avalanche

Looking Back at Colin Wilson’s Consistent 11-Year NHL Career

Jan 20th 11:15 AM
Edmonton Oilers

Oilers Struggling Early With Scoring & Non-Existent Power Play

Jan 20th 10:45 AM
Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Rewarded With Bobby Ryan’s Red-Hot Start

Jan 20th 10:35 AM
New York Rangers

Rangers’ Schedule Means Quinn Needs Adaptability Behind the Bench

Editor’s Picks
World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

World Junior Championship All-Time Leading Scorers

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

2021 Guide To the World Junior Championship

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information