Location: Marine Midland Arena Dates: June 27, 1998 First Overall Pick: Vincent Lecavalier (Tampa Bay Lightning)Players with NHL Experience: 132
The 1998 NHL entry draft was the 36th NHL entry draft. It was held on June 27 at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York. A total of 258 players were drafted.
The last active players in the NHL from this draft class were Brian Gionta, Mike Fisher and Francois Beauchemin, who all retired after the 2017–18 season.
Biggest Steals of the 1998 NHL Draft
Karlis Skrastins (Nashville Predators – 230th Overall)
136 points in 832 career games
Michael Ryder (Montreal Canadiens – 216th Overall)
484 points in 806 career games
5-time 20-goal scorer
2011 Stanley Cup winner
Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings – 171st Overall)
918 points in 953 career games
4-time Lady Byng Trophy winner
3-time Selke Trophy winner
2-time Stanley Cup winner
1-time All-Star
2024 Hockey Hall of Fame inductee
Andrei Markov (Montreal Canadiens – 162nd Overall)
575 points in 980 career games
3-time 50-point scorer
Chris Neil (Ottawa Senators – 161st Overall)
250 points in 1,026 career games
Biggest Busts of the 1998 NHL Draft
Michael Henrich (Edmonton Oilers – 13th Overall)
Mathieu Chouinard (Ottawa Senators – 15th Overall)
0 points in 1 career game
1998 NHL Draft Selections by Round
Round 1
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 1 C Vincent Lecavalier Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) 2 C David Legwand Plymouth Whalers (OHL) 3 D Brad Stuart Regina Pats (WHL) 4 D Bryan Allen Oshawa Generals (OHL) 5 D Vitaly Vishnevski Torpedo Yaroslavl 2 (Russia-2) 6 RW Rico Fata London Knights (OHL) 7 C Manny Malhotra Guelph Storm (OHL) 8 C Mark Bell Ottawa 67’s (OHL) 9 C Mike Rupp Erie Otters (OHL) 10 C Nik Antropov Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk (Russia-2) 11 RW Jeff Heerema Sarnia Sting (OHL) 12 LW Alex Tanguay Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 13 RW Michael Henrich Barrie Colts (OHL) 14 G Patrick DesRochers Sarnia Sting (OHL) 15 G Mathieu Chouinard Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) 16 LW Eric Chouinard Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 17 D Martin Skoula Barrie Colts (OHL) 18 D Dmitri Kalinin Traktor Chelyabinsk (Russia) 19 D Robyn Regehr Kamloops Blazers (WHL) 20 RW Scott Parker Kelowna Rockets (WHL) 21 D Mathieu Biron Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) 22 LW Simon Gagne Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 23 C Milan Kraft HC Plzen Jr. (Czech Jr.) 24 D Christian Backman Vastra Frolunda HC Jr. (Sweden Jr.) 25 D Jiri Fischer Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) 26 D Mike Van Ryn Michigan (CCHA) 27 C Scott Gomez Tri-City Americans (WHL)
Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning, Oct. 27, 2011 (Photo by John Russell/NHLI via Getty Images)
Round 2
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 28 LW Ramzi Abid Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) 29 RW Jonathan Cheechoo Belleville Bulls (OHL) 30 D Kyle Rossiter Spokane Chiefs (WHL) 31 C Artem Chubarov Dynamo Moskva (Russia) 32 RW Stephen Peat Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 33 C Blair Betts Prince George Cougars (WHL) 34 LW Andrew Peters Oshawa Generals (OHL) 35 D Petr Svoboda BK Havlickuv Brod (Czech-2) 36 RW Chris Nielsen Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 37 LW Christian Berglund Farjestad BK Jr. (Sweden Jr.) 38 G Philippe Sauve Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) 39 D John Erskine London Knights (OHL) 40 RW Randy Copley Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) 41 D Maxim Linnik St. Thomas (WOHL) 42 D Jason Beckett Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) 43 D Ossi Vaananen Jokerit Jr. (Finland Jr.) 44 C Mike Fisher Sudbury Wolves (OHL) 45 C Mike Ribeiro Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) 46 C Justin Papineau Belleville Bulls (OHL) 47 RW Norm Milley Sudbury Wolves (OHL) 48 D Jonathan Girard Laval Titan College Francais (QMJHL) 49 G Jomar Cruz Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 50 RW Jaroslav Kristek HC Ziln (Czech) 51 D Ian Forbes Guelph Storm (OHL) 52 D Bobby Allen Boston College (H-East) 53 C Steve Moore Harvard (ECAC) 54 LW Alexander Zevakhin CSKA Moskva (Russia) 55 LW Ryan Barnes Sudbury Wolves (OHL) 56 LW Tomek Valtonen Ilves (Finland) 57 C Tyler Bouck Prince George Cougars (WHL) 58 LW Chris Bala Harvard (ECAC)
Mike Fisher (Photo by Derek Cain/NHLI via Getty Images)
Round 3
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 59 C Todd Hornung Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 60 C Denis Arkhipov Ak Bars Kazan (Russia) 61 D Joe DiPenta Boston University (H-East) 62 D Paul Manning Colorado College (WCHA) 63 D Lance Ward Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 64 C Brad Richards Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) 65 LW Eric Laplante Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 66 G Jason LaBarbera Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 67 D Alex Henry London Knights (OHL) 68 RW Jarkko Ruutu HIFK (Finland) 69 G Jamie Hodson Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 70 D Kevin Holdridge Plymouth Whalers (OHL) 71 LW Erik Cole Clarkson (ECAC) 72 LW Dmitry Afanasenkov Torpedo Yaroslavl 2 (Russia-2) 73 C Pat O’Leary Armstrong HS (High-MN) 74 D Julien Vauclair HC Lugano (Swiss) 75 D Francois Beauchemin Laval Titan College Francais (QMJHL) 76 G Alexei Volkov Krylja Sovetov Moskva 2 (Russia-3) 77 LW Mike Pandolfo St. Sebastian’s School (High-MA) 78 C Peter Nordstrom Farjestad BK (Sweden) 79 LW Evgeny Lazarev Kitchener (MWJHL) 80 C David Cameron Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) 81 RW Justin Morrison Colorado College (WCHA) 82 RW Brian Gionta Boston College (H-East) 83 D Matt Walker Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 84 G Jake McCracken Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 85 LW Geoff Koch Michigan (CCHA) 86 C Gabriel Karlsson HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.)
Brad Richards, Tampa Bay Lightning (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
Round 4
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 87 LW Alexei Ponikarovsky Dynamo Moskva 2 (Russia-2) 88 D Kent Sauer North Iowa Huskies (USHL) 89 LW Ryan Jardine Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 90 D Regan Darby Tri-City Americans (WHL) 91 C Josef Vasicek HC Slavia Praha Jr. (Czech Jr.) 92 LW Eric Beaudoin Guelph Storm (OHL) 93 RW Tommy Westlund Brynas IF (Sweden) 94 C Matthias Trattnig Maine (H-East) 95 RW Andy Burnham Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 96 D Mikko Jokela HIFK (Finland) 97 G Chris Madden Guelph Storm (OHL) 98 D Rob Davison North Bay Centennials (OHL) 99 C Shawn Horcoff Michigan State (CCHA) 100 D Ryan Vanbuskirk Sarnia Sting (OHL) 101 LW Petr Schastlivy Torpedo Yaroslavl (Russia) 102 RW Shaun Sutter Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) 103 LW Kip Brennan Sudbury Wolves (OHL) 104 RW Miroslav Zalesak HKm Nitra (Slovakia) 105 RW Pierre Dagenais Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) 106 LW Krys Barch London Knights (OHL) 107 RW Chris Corrinet Princeton (ECAC) 108 G Dany Sabourin Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL) 109 D Jean-Philippe Morin Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) 110 G Scott Myers Prince George Cougars (WHL) 111 C Brent Hobday Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) 112 D Viktor Wallin HV71 Jr. (Sweden Jr.) 113 G Kristian Antila Ilves Jr. (Finland Jr.) 114 LW Boyd Kane Regina Pats (WHL)
Shawn Horcoff
Round 5
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 115 D Jay Leach Providence (H-East) 116 G Josh Blackburn Lincoln Stars (USHL) 117 D Jaroslav Spacek Farjestad BK (Sweden) 118 RW Mike Siklenka Lloydminster (AJHL) 119 LW Anton But Torpedo Yaroslavl 2 (Russia-2) 120 RW Brent Gauvreau Oshawa Generals (OHL) 121 D Curtis Rich Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 122 RW Patrick Leahy Miami (Ohio) (CCHA) 123 C Jiri Dopita HC Vsetin (Czech) 124 LW Francis Belanger Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) 125 C Erik Wendell Maple Grove HS (High-MN) 126 RW Morgan Warren Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 127 LW Brandon Coalter Oshawa Generals (OHL) 128 D Paul Elliott Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) 129 D Robert Schnabel Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 130 D Gavin McLeod Kelowna Rockets (WHL) 131 D Tomas Kloucek HC Slavia Praha Jr. (Czech Jr.) 132 LW Andrei Bashkirov Fort Wayne Komets (IHL) 133 D Joe Rullier Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL) 134 D Rob Scuderi Boston College (H-East) 135 G Andrew Raycroft Sudbury Wolves (OHL) 136 D David Ytfeldt Leksands IF (Sweden) 137 C Aaron Goldade Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 138 D Martin Beauchesne Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL) 139 C Garrett Prosofsky Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 140 D Rick Bertran Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 141 LW K.C. Timmons Tri-City Americans (WHL) 142 RW Calle Steen Hammarby IF (Sweden-3) 143 LW Ryan Flinn Laval Titan College Francais (QMJHL) 144 LW Oleg Smirnov Kristall Elektrostal (Russia) 145 RW Mikael Samuelsson Sodertalje SK (Sweden)
Rob Scuderi (Rich Kane/Icon SMI)
Round 6
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 146 C Sergei Kuznetsov Torpedo Yaroslavl 2 (Russia-2) 147 RW Craig Brunel Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) 148 D Chris Ovington Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 149 LW Paul Cabana Fort McMurray (AJHL) 150 RW Trent Hunter Prince George Cougars (WHL) 151 LW Adam DeLeeuw Barrie Colts (OHL) 152 LW Gordie Dwyer Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 153 C Pavel Patera AIK (Sweden) 154 D Allan Rourke Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 155 D Kevin Clauson Western Michigan (CCHA) 156 D Kent Huskins Clarkson (ECAC) 157 D Brad Voth Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) 158 C Jari Viuhkola Karpat Jr. (Finland Jr.) 159 D Trevor Ettinger Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) 160 C Rickard Wallin Farjestad BK Jr. (Sweden Jr.) 161 RW Chris Neil North Bay Centennials (OHL) 162 D Andrei Markov Khimik Voskresensk (Russia-2) 163 D Tomas Zizka HC Ziln (Czech) 164 RW Ales Kotalik HC Ceske Budejovice (Czech) 165 LW Ryan Milanovic Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 166 G Jonathan Pelletier Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) 167 D Alexander Ryazantsev Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL) 168 G Antero Niittymaki TPS Jr. (Finland Jr.) 169 C Jan Fadrny HC Slavia Praha (Czech) 170 C Andrei Troschinsky Torpedo Ust-Kamenogorsk (Russia-2) 171 C Pavel Datsyuk Dynamo-Energiya Yekaterinburg (Russia) 172 LW Jacques Lariviere Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 173 C Niko Kapanen HPK (Finland)
Pavel Datsyuk (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
Round 7
174 C Brett Allan Swift Current Broncos (WHL) 175 G Cam Ondrik Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) 176 D B.J. Ketcheson Peterborough Petes (OHL) 177 RW Vincent Malts Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) 178 D Jesse Fibiger Minnesota-Duluth (WCHA) 179 D Nate Forster Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) 180 RW Stefan Lundqvist Brynas IF (Sweden) 181 C Jonathan Gagnon Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) 182 D Evgeny Korolev London Knights (OHL) 183 C Tyler Arnason Fargo-Moorhead Ice Sharks (USHL) 184 C Don Smith Clarkson (ECAC) 185 D Robert Mulick Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 186 G Mike Morrison Phillps-Exeter Academy (High-NH) 187 C Erik Westrum Minnesota (WCHA) 188 D Michel Periard Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL) 189 D Andrei Kruchinin Lada Togliatti (Russia) 190 C Tommi Hannus TPS Jr. (Finland Jr.) 191 C Brad Moran Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 192 RW Radek Duda HC Sparta Praha (Czech) 193 G Rastislav Stana HC Kosice Jr. (Slovakia Jr.) 194 C Oak Hewer Soo Greyhounds (OHL) 195 C Tomas Divisek HC Slavia Praha (Czech) 196 C Joel Scherban London Knights (OHL) 197 C Brad Twordik Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 198 D Jeremy Goetzinger Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) 199 RW Erik Jensen Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) 200 C Scott Perry Boston University (H-East)
Round 8Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 201 C Craig Murray Penticton (BCHL) 202 C Martin Bartek Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL) 203 RW Ian Jacobs Ottawa 67’s (OHL) 204 C Graig Mischler Northeastern (H-East) 205 C David Bernier Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 206 D Jonas Frogren Farjestad BK Jr. (Sweden Jr.) 207 LW Johan Witehall Leksands IF (Sweden) 208 LW Jaroslav Svoboda HC MBL Olomouc (Czech-2) 209 G Frederik Brindamour Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL) 210 D Sean Griffin Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 211 C Mark Kosick Michigan (CCHA) 212 D Jim Fahey Catholic Memorial School (High-MA) 213 D Christian Lefebvre Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) 214 RW Justin Hansen Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) 215 D Dwight Wolfe Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 216 RW Michael Ryder Hull Olympiques (QMJHL) 217 C Jim Henkel New England Jr. Coyotes (EJHL) 218 RW David Moravec HC Vitkovice (Czech) 219 LW Curtis Valentine Bowling Green (CCHA) 220 RW Mike Farrell Providence (H-East) 221 D Daniel Hulak Swift Current Broncos (WHL) 222 RW Lubomir Pistek HC Slovan Bratislava Jr. (Slovakia Jr.) 223 RW Sergei Verenikin Torpedo Yaroslavl 2 (Russia-2) 224 G Mika Lehto Assat (Finland) 225 LW Yevgeny Pastukh Torpedo Yaroslavl 2 (Russia) 226 D David Petrasek HV71 (Sweden) 227 C Marko Ahosilta KalPa Jr. (Finland Jr.) 228 RW Michal Travnicek HC Litvinov Jr. (Czech Jr.)
Round 9
Pick Team Pos. Player Junior Team 229 D Chris Lyness Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) 230 D Karlis Skrastins TPS (Finland) 231 C Adrian Wichser EHC Kloten (Swiss) 232 D Jason Metcalfe London Knights (OHL) 233 LW Pelle Prestberg Farjestad BK (Sweden) 234 D Kevin Mitchell Guelph Storm (OHL) 235 D Jan Mertzig Lulea HF (Sweden) 236 D Sergei Rostov Dynamo Moskva 2 (Russia-2) 237 D Ben Blais Walpole (EJHL) 238 LW Alexandre Couture Sherbrooke Faucons (QMJHL) 239 C Brent McDonald Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 240 D Andrei Yershov Khimik Voskresensk (Russia-2) 241 LW Maxim Spiridonov London Knights (OHL) 242 RW Jason Doyle Owen Sound Platers (OHL) 243 C Petr Hubacek HC Kometa Brno (Czech-2) 244 C Toby Petersen Colorado College (WCHA) 245 G Andreas Andersson HV71 (Sweden) 246 LW Rastislav Pavlikovsky Utah Grizzlies (IHL) 247 RW Darcy Harris Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 248 G Matthew Yeats Olds (AJHL) 249 RW Edo Terglav Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) 250 RW Radek Matejovsky HC Slavia Praha (Czech) 251 C Blake Evans Tri-City Americans (WHL) 252 C Martin Cibak HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas (Slovakia) 253 D Bruno St. Jacques Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) 254 C Matt Hussey Avon Old Farms School (High-CT) 255 C John Pohl Red Wing HS (High-MN) 256 LW Petja Pietilainen Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 257 C Ryan Held Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 258 D Sergei Skrobot Dynamo Moskva 2 (Russia-2)
Karlis Skrastins, Dallas Stars, 11/20/2010 (Kimberly/Flickr courtesy Creative Commons)
