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1982 NHL entry draft

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft was the 20th annual selection meeting of the National Hockey League (NHL), held on June 9, 1982, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, where the league's 21 teams chose 252 amateur players across 12 rounds in reverse order of the previous season's standings.^[1]^[2] The draft introduced significant eligibility changes, mandating that European players enter through the draft rather than as free agents, resulting in 35 selections of European players from various countries, including those from Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union, while also setting a record with 62 American players chosen, 26 of whom hailed from Minnesota high schools.^[3]^[4]^[5] The Boston Bruins held the first overall pick and selected defenseman Gord Kluzak from the Billings Bighorns of the Western Hockey League, a towering 6-foot-4 prospect expected to anchor their blue line, though injuries limited his NHL impact to 299 games over seven seasons.^[2]^[4] The Minnesota North Stars followed with right winger Brian Bellows from the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League at second overall, a prolific scorer who went on to play 1,188 NHL games and accumulate 1,022 points.^[2]^[4] Other key first-round selections included defenseman Gary Nylund (third overall, Toronto Maple Leafs), center Ron Sutter (fourth overall, Philadelphia Flyers), future Hall of Famer Scott Stevens (fifth overall, Washington Capitals), and another Hall of Famer, defenseman Phil Housley (sixth overall, Buffalo Sabres), whose offensive prowess led to 1,232 points in 1,495 games.^[2]^[4]^[6] Beyond the top picks, the draft yielded additional standouts in later rounds, such as forward Dave Andreychuk (16th overall, Buffalo Sabres), who amassed 1,338 points including a league-leading 52 goals in 1993–94 and won the Stanley Cup in 2004, and forward Doug Gilmour (134th overall, seventh round, St. Louis Blues), a future Hart Trophy winner and two-time All-Star who recorded 1,414 points in 1,474 games.^[2]^[7] The event underscored the growing internationalization of the sport and the importance of depth scouting, as non-playoff teams like the Bruins benefited from high picks to rebuild, influencing the eventual adoption of a draft lottery system in subsequent years.^[3]

Background and Context

Historical Significance

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft marked the 20th annual selection process in league history, held following the conclusion of the 1981–82 season when the NHL consisted of 21 teams amid its ongoing expansion phase.^[8] This draft occurred during a period of stabilization after the 1979 merger with the World Hockey Association, which had added four new franchises and brought the league to its largest size to date.^[9] The Colorado Rockies, one of the league's more recent additions through relocation from the Kansas City Scouts in 1976, participated in the draft before their impending move to New Jersey for the 1982–83 season, symbolizing the fluid franchise landscape of the era.^[9] The early 1980s NHL was dominated by established dynasties, particularly the New York Islanders, who secured four consecutive Stanley Cup championships from 1980 to 1983, creating a challenging environment for rebuilding teams seeking talent to compete.^[10] Many franchises prioritized defensive reinforcements and young prospects to counter the Islanders' balanced attack and physical play. The draft's emphasis on such needs was evident in the selection of multiple high-profile defensemen in the early rounds, contributing to its reputation as a particularly strong class at that position.^[11] A notable trend in the 1982 draft was the record-high selection of 62 American players out of 252 total picks, underscoring the growing popularity and development of hockey in the United States during this period.^[3] This influx reflected increased scouting efforts in U.S. junior leagues and high schools, helping to diversify the talent pool beyond traditional Canadian sources and foreshadowing the NHL's future internationalization. The class ultimately produced several future stars, including Hall of Famers and long-term contributors, bolstering team rosters for years to come.^[11]

Eligibility and Selection Rules

The eligibility criteria for the 1982 NHL Entry Draft encompassed amateur players primarily from North American junior leagues, colleges, and European clubs, with a focus on those under 20 years of age. Specifically, North American amateur players born between January 1, 1962, and September 15, 1964, were eligible, while all European players born before September 15, 1964, were also included without age restrictions for that group.^[3] This marked the first draft in which European players were required to enter the NHL through the draft process rather than as unrestricted free agents, allowing teams to select talents from countries like Czechoslovakia and the Soviet Union without needing prior permission from national federations, though actual signing often remained challenging due to international agreements.^[3] The selection process followed the established NHL format of the era, with the 21 participating teams picking in reverse order of their 1981–82 regular-season standings. Non-playoff teams (the five worst finishers) selected first in that inverse order, followed by the 16 playoff teams in reverse order of their regular-season performance, ensuring that struggling clubs had priority access to top prospects.^[3]^[12] Teams could trade draft rights prior to or during the event, leading to compensatory picks in cases where player rights were exchanged, such as adjustments for free agent signings or prior trades; for instance, the Boston Bruins received additional selections after the Colorado Rockies signed their restricted free agent Dwight Foster.^[13]^[14] In total, the draft consisted of 252 selections across 12 rounds, with every one of the league's 21 teams required to participate by using or trading their picks, resulting in a comprehensive replenishment of amateur talent pools.^[3]^[12]

Event Details

Date and Location

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 9, 1982, at the Montreal Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.^[1]^[3] The venue, home to the Montreal Canadiens, served as a fitting location given Montreal's longstanding prominence as the epicenter of professional hockey and the site of the NHL's headquarters during that era.^[1] As the third consecutive public draft since the format's introduction in 1980, the event featured in-person proceedings attended by team representatives, scouts, and media personnel, reflecting increasing visibility for the selection process.^[2]

Draft Order and Participating Teams

The draft order for the 1982 NHL Entry Draft was determined by the inverse order of the 1981–82 regular season standings, with the five non-playoff teams selecting first in reverse order of their finish, followed by the 16 playoff teams in reverse order of their regular-season performance.^[3] Ties in standings were broken primarily by playoff results, prioritizing non-playoff teams and then accounting for postseason advancement among tied playoff clubs.^[15] The original first overall pick belonged to the Colorado Rockies, the league's worst-performing team with an 18–49–13 record and 49 points, but was acquired by the Boston Bruins via a prior trade. All 21 NHL teams participated in the draft, reflecting the league's composition following the 1979 integration of four World Hockey Association franchises (Edmonton Oilers, Hartford Whalers, Québec Nordiques, and Winnipeg Jets) and with no expansions occurring in 1982.^[12] The first-round picking order, incorporating trades, is as follows:

Position	Team
1	Boston Bruins
2	Minnesota North Stars
3	Toronto Maple Leafs
4	Philadelphia Flyers
5	Washington Capitals
6	Buffalo Sabres
7	Chicago Black Hawks
8	New Jersey Devils
9	Buffalo Sabres
10	Pittsburgh Penguins
11	Vancouver Canucks
12	Winnipeg Jets
13	Québec Nordiques
14	Hartford Whalers
15	New York Rangers
16	Buffalo Sabres
17	Detroit Red Wings
18	New Jersey Devils
19	Montréal Canadiens
20	Edmonton Oilers
21	New York Islanders

Several first-round selections were acquired through trades, altering the original order for certain teams. For instance, the Buffalo Sabres held three first-round picks (positions 6, 9, and 16) due to prior transactions: the sixth pick originated from the Los Angeles Kings in a 1980 deal involving defenseman Jerry Korab, while the ninth came from the Calgary Flames in a June 1982 trade that sent goaltender Don Edwards and defenseman Richie Dunn to Calgary.^[14] Other notable trades included the Boston Bruins acquiring the first pick from the New Jersey Devils in a 1981 deal involving forward Dwight Foster, and the Minnesota North Stars obtaining the second pick from the Detroit Red Wings in an August 1981 transaction that included forwards Greg Smith and Don Murdoch.^[14]

Selections by Round

Round One

The first round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft saw 21 selections, primarily from Canadian major junior leagues including the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), with a few from U.S. high school and college programs.^[2] These picks represented the top available amateur talents, with teams prioritizing defensemen and forwards expected to contribute quickly to rebuilding rosters.^[4] Notable trades prior to the draft influenced several selections, particularly for the Buffalo Sabres, who acquired multiple high picks to bolster their prospect pool.^[13] The following table lists all first-round picks, including the player's position, nationality, drafting team, amateur team, age at the time of the draft (calculated from birthdate as of June 1982), and key prior league achievements from the 1981-82 season where available.

Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	Drafting Team	Amateur Team	Age	Prior Achievements
1	Gord Kluzak	D	Canada	Boston Bruins	Billings Bighorns (WHL)	19	Recorded 9 goals and 24 assists for 33 points in 38 regular-season games.^[16]
2	Brian Bellows	LW	Canada	Minnesota North Stars	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)	17	Led OHL with 45 goals and 97 points in 47 games, earning Red Tilson Trophy as league MVP.^[17]
3	Gary Nylund	D	Canada	Toronto Maple Leafs	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)	18	Tallied 10 goals and 68 points in 72 games, anchoring the Winter Hawks' defense.^[18]
4	Ron Sutter	C	Canada	Philadelphia Flyers	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)	18	Posted 34 goals and 91 points in 72 games, leading team in scoring.^[19]
5	Scott Stevens	D	Canada	Washington Capitals	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)	18	Contributed 7 goals and 50 points in 66 games, plus strong defensive play.
6	Phil Housley	D	USA	Buffalo Sabres	South St. Paul HS (USHS-MN)	18	Scored 31 goals and 65 points in 22 high school games, a rare offensive output for a defenseman.^[20]
7	Ken Yaremchuk	C	Canada	Chicago Black Hawks	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)	18	Notched 41 goals and 98 points in 71 games.^[21]
8	Rocky Trottier	RW	Canada	New Jersey Devils	Billings Bighorns (WHL)	18	Amassed 13 goals and 21 assists for 34 points in 28 games.^[22]
9	Paul Cyr	LW	Canada	Buffalo Sabres	Victoria Cougars (WHL)	18	Led WHL with 70 goals and 143 points in 71 games.
10	Rich Sutter	RW	Canada	Pittsburgh Penguins	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)	18	Recorded 28 goals and 70 points in 72 games, twin of Ron Sutter.^[23]
11	Michel Petit	D	Canada	Vancouver Canucks	Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)	18	Had 14 goals and 58 points in 66 games.
12	Jim Kyte	D	Canada	Winnipeg Jets	Cornwall Royals (OHL)	18	Posted 12 goals and 39 points in 65 games.^[24]
13	David Shaw	D	Canada	Quebec Nordiques	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)	18	Contributed 9 goals and 40 points in 66 games.
14	Paul Lawless	LW	Canada	Hartford Whalers	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)	18	Scored 39 goals and 93 points in 65 games.
15	Chris Kontos	LW	Canada	New York Rangers	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)	18	Tallied 46 goals and 106 points in 66 games.^[25]
16	Dave Andreychuk	LW	Canada	Buffalo Sabres	Oshawa Generals (OHL)	18	Recorded 15 goals and 53 points in 59 games.
17	Murray Craven	C	Canada	Detroit Red Wings	Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)	18	Posted 30 goals and 85 points in 72 games.
18	Ken Daneyko	D	Canada	New Jersey Devils	Seattle Breakers (WHL)	18	Had 10 goals and 44 points in 65 games.
19	Alain Héroux	LW	Canada	Montreal Canadiens	Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)	18	Scored 61 goals and 126 points in 72 games.^[26]
20	Jim Playfair	D	Canada	Edmonton Oilers	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)	18	Contributed 11 goals and 47 points in 72 games.
21	Pat Flatley	RW	Canada	New York Islanders	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)	18	Recorded 28 goals and 69 points in 65 games.

Buffalo's selections at picks 6, 9, and 16 were particularly strategic; the #6 pick was acquired from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenseman Jerry Korab on March 10, 1980, while the #9 pick came from the Calgary Flames via a trade involving future considerations and picks, allowing Buffalo to select three first-rounders in a single draft.^[13] Other notable transactions included the Boston Bruins' #1 pick originally belonging to the New Jersey Devils through prior deals, and the New Jersey Devils receiving the #8 pick via an option swap with the Colorado Rockies.^[13]

Round Two

The second round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft consisted of 21 selections, spanning picks 22 through 42 overall, where teams targeted mid-tier prospects to bolster defensive depth and forward lines with players primarily from Canadian junior leagues such as the WHL, QMJHL, and OHL, as well as emerging American high school and college talents.^[2] Unlike the star-studded first round, these picks emphasized versatile defenders and skilled wingers with solid junior production, though no major trades directly impacted the round's order.^[2] Notable among them were selections like Tomas Sandström, a power forward from Swedish leagues who had shown scoring prowess in lower divisions, and Gary Leeman, a Regina Pats standout with 66 points in the WHL the prior season.^[4]

Pick	Player	Position	Age	Nationality	Drafting Team	Amateur Team/League
22	Brian Curran	D	18	CA	Boston Bruins	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
23	Yves Courteau	RW	18	CA	Detroit Red Wings	Laval Voisins (QMJHL)
24	Gary Leeman	RW	18	CA	Toronto Maple Leafs	Regina Pats (WHL)
25	Peter Ihnacak	C	25	CZ	Toronto Maple Leafs	TJ Sparta Praha (Czechoslovakia)
26	Mike Anderson	C	18	US	Buffalo Sabres	North St. Paul HS (High-MN)
27	Mike Heidt	D	18	CA	Los Angeles Kings	Calgary Wranglers (WHL)
28	Rene Badeau	D	18	CA	Chicago Blackhawks	Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
29	Dave Reierson	D	18	CA	Calgary Flames	Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL)
30	Jens Johansson	D	21	SE	Buffalo Sabres	Pitea IF (Sweden-2)
31	Jocelyn Gauvreau	D	18	CA	Montreal Canadiens	Granby Bisons (QMJHL)
32	Kent Carlson	D	20	US	Montreal Canadiens	St. Lawrence University (ECAC)
33	David Maley	LW	19	US	Montreal Canadiens	Edina HS (High-MN)
34	Paul Gillis	C	18	CA	Quebec Nordiques	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)
35	Mark Paterson	D	18	CA	Hartford Whalers	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
36	Tomas Sandström	RW	18	SE	New York Rangers	Fagersta AIK (Sweden-2)
37	Richard Kromm	LW	18	CA	Calgary Flames	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
38	Tim Hrynewich	LW	18	CA	Pittsburgh Penguins	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
39	Lyndon Byers	RW	18	CA	Boston Bruins	Regina Pats (WHL)
40	Scott Sandelin	D	18	US	Montreal Canadiens	Hibbing HS (High-MN)
41	Steve Graves	LW	18	CA	Edmonton Oilers	Soo Greyhounds (OHL)
42	Vern Smith	D	18	CA	New York Islanders	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)

This round highlighted the draft's international flavor, with selections from Europe and U.S. high schools complementing the dominant Canadian junior contingent, reflecting teams' strategies to diversify scouting post-first round.^[2]

Round Three

The third round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 8 in Montreal, consisted of picks 43 through 63, with teams continuing to target depth players primarily from North American junior leagues such as the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL, alongside two selections from Czechoslovakia.^[2] These picks included a mix of forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders, many aged 18, reflecting the draft's focus on emerging talent from high school, university, and major junior circuits.^[27]

Overall Pick	Drafting Team	Player	Position	Nationality	Age	Amateur Team (League)
43	New Jersey Devils	Pat Verbeek	RW	Canada	18	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
44	Detroit Red Wings	Carmine Vani	LW	Canada	18	Kingston Canadians (OHL)
45	Toronto Maple Leafs	Ken Wregget	G	Canada	18	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
46	Philadelphia Flyers	Miroslav Dvorak	D	Czechoslovakia	30	TJ Motor Ceske Budejovice (Czech)
47	Philadelphia Flyers	Bill Campbell	D	Canada	18	Montreal Juniors (QMJHL)
48	Los Angeles Kings	Steve Seguin	W	Canada	18	Kingston Canadians (OHL)
49	Chicago Black Hawks	Tom McMurchy	RW	Canada	18	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
50	St. Louis Blues	Mike Posavad	D	Canada	18	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
51	Calgary Flames	Jim Laing	D	United States	21	Clarkson University (ECAC)
52	Pittsburgh Penguins	Troy Loney	LW	Canada	18	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
53	Vancouver Canucks	Yves Lapointe	LW	Canada	19	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
54	New Jersey Devils	Dave Kasper	C	Canada	18	Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL)
55	Quebec Nordiques	Mario Gosselin	G	Canada	19	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
56	Hartford Whalers	Kevin Dineen	RW	Canada	18	University of Denver (WCHA)
57	New York Rangers	Corey Millen	C	United States	18	Cloquet HS (High-MN)
58	Washington Capitals	Milan Novy	C	Czechoslovakia	30	TJ Kladno (Czech)
59	Minnesota North Stars	Wally Chapman	C	United States	18	Edina HS (High-MN)
60	Boston Bruins	Dave Reid	LW	Canada	18	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
61	Montreal Canadiens	Scott Harlow	LW	United States	18	East Bridgewater HS (High-MA)
62	Edmonton Oilers	Brent Loney	LW	Canada	18	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
63	New York Islanders	Garry Lacey	LW	Canada	18	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)

Among the third-round selections, several players demonstrated strong performances in their prior seasons, establishing their value as prospects. For instance, Pat Verbeek recorded 37 goals and 51 assists for 88 points in 66 games with the Sudbury Wolves in the OHL during 1981-82, earning the Emms Family Award as the league's top rookie.^[28] Ken Wregget posted a 19-12-0 record with a 4.13 goals-against average and one shutout in 36 games for the Lethbridge Broncos in the WHL that year.^[29] Troy Loney contributed 26 goals and 31 assists for 57 points in 71 games with the same Broncos team, showcasing his physical presence as a power forward.^[30] No trades were directly associated with third-round picks during the draft proceedings.^[2]

Round Four

The fourth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft featured 21 selections, emphasizing depth with a mix of North American junior league standouts and international prospects, as teams sought balanced rosters beyond the top-tier talents chosen earlier.^[2] Picks highlighted emerging defensemen like Ulf Samuelsson from Sweden and Timo Jutila from Finland, alongside goaltenders and forwards from major Canadian junior circuits. No trades were executed specifically during this round.^[13] The selections are detailed in the following table, including each player's position, age at the time of the draft (June 8, 1982), nationality, and amateur club with league. Basic stats reflect their status as eligible amateurs, primarily from junior or high school leagues, with prior achievements tied to their roles in those teams (e.g., key contributors in scoring or defense).^[2]^[27]

Overall Pick	Drafting Team	Player	Position	Age	Nationality	Amateur Team (League)
64	Los Angeles Kings	Dave Gans	C	18	CAN	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
65	Calgary Flames	Dave Meszaros	G	19	CAN	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)
66	Detroit Red Wings	Craig Coxe	LW	18	USA	St. Albert Saints (AJHL)
67	Hartford Whalers	Ulf Samuelsson	D	18	SWE	Leksands IF (Sweden)
68	Buffalo Sabres	Timo Jutila	D	18	FIN	Tappara (Finland)
69	Montreal Canadiens	John Devoe	RW	18	USA	Edina High School (USHS-MN)
70	Chicago Black Hawks	Bill Watson	RW	18	CAN	Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL)
71	Vancouver Canucks	Shawn Kilroy	G	20	CAN	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
72	Calgary Flames	Mark Lamb	C	18	CAN	Billings Bighorns (WHL)
73	Toronto Maple Leafs	Vladimir Ruzicka	C	19	TCH	TJ Litvinov (Czechoslovakia)
74	Winnipeg Jets	Tom Martin	LW	18	CAN	Kelowna Spartans (BCJHL)
75	Winnipeg Jets	Dave Ellett	D	18	CAN	Ottawa 67's (CJHL)
76	Quebec Nordiques	Jiri Lala	RW	21	TCH	Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia)
77	Philadelphia Flyers	Mikael Hjalmarsson	W	19	SWE	Modo Hockey (Sweden)
78	New York Rangers	Chris Jensen	RW	18	CAN	Kelowna Spartans (BCJHL)
79	Buffalo Sabres	Jeff Hamilton	W	20	CAN	Providence College (ECAC)
80	Minnesota North Stars	Bob Rouse	D	18	CAN	Billings Bighorns (WHL)
81	Minnesota North Stars	Dusan Pasek	C	22	TCH	HC Slovan Bratislava (Czechoslovakia)
82	Los Angeles Kings	Dave Ross	G	19	CAN	Seattle Breakers (WHL)
83	Edmonton Oilers	Jaroslav Pouzar	LW	30	TCH	Motor Ceske Budejovice (Czechoslovakia)
84	New York Islanders	Alan Kerr	RW	18	CAN	Seattle Breakers (WHL)

Ages and nationalities are verified from draft records and player profiles; TCH denotes Czechoslovakia. Prior league achievements for these draftees generally included strong performances in their respective junior or senior amateur leagues, such as Samuelsson's defensive reliability in Sweden's top division and Lamb's scoring contributions in the WHL, though specific metrics varied by player.^[4]^[31]

Round Five

The fifth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, encompassing overall picks 85 through 105, saw teams selecting a mix of forwards, defensemen, and one notable older European prospect to bolster organizational depth amid varying mid-draft needs for skilled juniors and high school talents.^[32] No trades were associated with these selections.^[2]

Pick	Team	Player	Position	Nationality	Amateur Team
85	New Jersey Devils	Scott Brydges	D	USA	White Bear Lake Mariner (Minn. HS)
86	Detroit Red Wings	Brad Shaw	D	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
87	Toronto Maple Leafs	Eduard Uvira	D	Czech	Jihlava (Czechoslovakia)
88	Hartford Whalers	Ray Ferraro	C	Canada	Penticton Knights (BCJHL)
89	Washington Capitals	Dean Evason	C	Canada	Kamloops Junior Oilers (WHL)
90	Los Angeles Kings	Darcy Roy	LW	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
91	Chicago Black Hawks	Brad Beck	D	Canada	Penticton Knights (BCJHL)
92	St. Louis Blues	Scott Machej	LW	Canada	Calgary Wranglers (WHL)
93	Calgary Flames	Lou Kiriakou	D	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)
94	Pittsburgh Penguins	Grant Sasser	C	USA	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
95	Los Angeles Kings	Ulf Isaksson	LW	Sweden	Solna AIK (Elitserien)
96	Winnipeg Jets	Tim Mishler	C	USA	East Grand Forks (Minn. HS)
97	Quebec Nordiques	Phil Stanger	D	Canada	Seattle Breakers (WHL)
98	Philadelphia Flyers	Todd Bergen	C	Canada	Prince Albert Raiders (SJHL)
99	Toronto Maple Leafs	Sylvain Charland	LW	Canada	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
100	Buffalo Sabres	Bob Logan	LW	Canada	Montreal West Island (Quebec Jr. A)
101	Minnesota North Stars	Marty Wiitala	C	USA	Superior (Wis. HS)
102	Boston Bruins	Bob Nicholson	D	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
103	Montreal Canadiens	Kevin Houle	LW	USA	Acton-Boxborough (Mass. HS)
104	Edmonton Oilers	Dwayne Boettger	D	Canada	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)
105	New York Islanders	Rene Breton	C	Canada	Granby Bisons (QMJHL)

These picks represented longer-term developmental projects, with many players aged 17-19 hailing from major junior leagues like the OHL, WHL, and QMJHL, alongside high school and international selections.^[27]^[2]

Round Six

The sixth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, consisting of picks 106 through 126, featured selections primarily from North American junior leagues, with a few international prospects, as teams sought depth in forwards, defensemen, and goaltenders.^[2] Notable picks included Philadelphia's selection of goaltender Ron Hextall at 119th overall, who later became a Stanley Cup-winning netminder, and New York Rangers' choice of forward Tony Granato at 120th, a future NHL All-Star and U.S. Olympic contributor.^[4] No trades were reported involving these selections during the draft process.^[2] The table below details all 21 picks, including player name, position, nationality, drafting team, and amateur club.

Pick	Team	Player	Position	Nationality	Amateur Team
106	New Jersey Devils	Mike Moher	RW	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
107	Detroit Red Wings	Claude Vilgrain	C	Haiti/Canada	Laval Voisins (QMJHL)
108	Toronto Maple Leafs	Ron Dreger	LW	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
109	Hartford Whalers	Randy Gilhen	C	Canada	Winnipeg Warriors (WHL)
110	Washington Capitals	Ed Kastelic	W	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
111	Buffalo Sabres	Jeff Parker	RW	Canada	White Bear Lake Mariner (USHS-MN)
112	Chicago Black Hawks	Mark Hatcher	D	USA	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)
113	St. Louis Blues	Perry Ganchar	RW	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
114	Calgary Flames	Jeff Vaive	C	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
115	Toronto Maple Leafs	Craig Kales	RW	USA	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)
116	Vancouver Canucks	Taylor Hall	LW	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
117	Montreal Canadiens	Ernie Vargas	C	USA	Coon Rapids (USHS-MN)
118	Calgary Flames	Mats Kihlström	D	Sweden	Södertälje SK (SWE-2)
119	Philadelphia Flyers	Ron Hextall	G	Canada	Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
120	New York Rangers	Tony Granato	LW	USA	Northwood School (USHS-NY)
121	Buffalo Sabres	Jacob Gustavsson	G	Sweden	Almtuna IS (SWE-2)
122	Minnesota North Stars	Todd Carlile	D	USA	North St. Paul (USHS-MN)
123	Boston Bruins	Bob Sweeney	C	USA	Acton-Boxborough (USHS-MA)
124	Montreal Canadiens	Michael Dark	D	Canada	Sarnia Sting (WOHL)
125	Edmonton Oilers	Raimo Summanen	LW	Finland	Kiekko-Reipas Lahti (FIN)
126	New York Islanders	Roger Kortko	C	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Round Seven

The seventh round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft featured 21 selections, from the 127th to the 147th overall picks, as teams continued to scout depth talent primarily from North American junior leagues, high schools, and emerging international circuits.^[2] This round is historically notable for introducing Soviet players to the draft, beginning with Viktor Nechaev, a 27-year-old forward from SKA Leningrad in the Soviet league, selected 132nd overall by the Los Angeles Kings; Nechaev's selection represented a breakthrough in global scouting, as he became the first Soviet-trained athlete drafted into the NHL, reflecting gradual changes in player eligibility rules that allowed for international amateurs.^[27] Two additional Soviet players followed later in the round: Sergei Kapustin (141st, New York Rangers) from Spartak Moscow and Viktor Zhluktov (143rd, Minnesota North Stars) from CSKA Moscow, underscoring the round's pioneering role in broadening the NHL's talent pool beyond North America.^[2] No trades were recorded specifically affecting seventh-round picks during the draft process.^[27] The selections emphasized forwards and defensemen, with basic career statistics (NHL games played, goals, assists, and points) included where applicable for players who reached the league; most draftees did not advance to professional play, highlighting the speculative nature of late-round choices.

Overall	Team	Player	Position	Nationality	Amateur Team	NHL Stats (GP/G/A/Pts)
127	New Jersey Devils	Paul Fulcher	LW	CA	London Knights (OHL)	0/0/0/0
128	Detroit Red Wings	Greg Hudas	D	US	Windsor Spitfires (WOHL)	0/0/0/0
129	Toronto Maple Leafs	Dominic Campedelli	D	US	Cohasset HS (MA)	2/0/0/0
130	Hartford Whalers	Jim Johannson	C	US	Rochester Mayo HS (MN)	0/0/0/0
131	Quebec Nordiques	Daniel Poudrier	D	CA	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)	25/1/5/6
132	Los Angeles Kings	Viktor Nechaev	C	Soviet	SKA Leningrad (USSR)	3/1/0/1
133	Chicago Black Hawks	Jay Ness	C	US	Roseau HS (MN)	0/0/0/0
134	St. Louis Blues	Doug Gilmour	C	CA	Cornwall Royals (OHL)	1474/450/964/1414
135	Calgary Flames	Brad Ramsden	RW	CA	Peterborough Petes (OHL)	0/0/0/0
136	Pittsburgh Penguins	Brent Couture	D	CA	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)	0/0/0/0
137	Vancouver Canucks	Parie Proft	D	CA	Calgary Wranglers (WHL)	0/0/0/0
138	Winnipeg Jets	Derek Ray	LW	US	Seattle Breakers (WCJHL)	0/0/0/0
139	Toronto Maple Leafs	Jeff Triano	D	CA	Toronto Marlboros (OHL)	0/0/0/0
140	Philadelphia Flyers	Dave Brown	RW	CA	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)	729/45/52/97
141	New York Rangers	Sergei Kapustin	LW	Soviet	Spartak Moscow (USSR)	0/0/0/0
142	Buffalo Sabres	Allen Bishop	D	CA	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)	0/0/0/0
143	Minnesota North Stars	Viktor Zhluktov	LW	Soviet	CSKA Moscow (USSR)	0/0/0/0
144	Boston Bruins	John Meulenbroeks	D	CA	Brantford Alexanders (OHL)	0/0/0/0
145	Montreal Canadiens	Hannu Järvenpää	RW	FI	Kärpät Oulu (FinD1)	114/11/26/37
146	Edmonton Oilers	Brian Small	RW	CA	Ottawa 67's (OHL)	0/0/0/0
147	New York Islanders	John Tiano	C	US	Winthrop HS (MA)	0/0/0/0

Round Eight

The eighth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, held on June 9, 1982, at the Montreal Forum, featured selections of 21 players, continuing the draft's emphasis on North American junior leagues and emerging college talent, with a few international picks. These late-round choices often served as developmental prospects, with teams scouting for hidden potential in less prominent amateur circuits.^[2]

Pick	Team	Player	Position	Nationality	Amateur Team
148	New Jersey Devils	John Hutchings	D	Canadian	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
149	Detroit Red Wings	Pat Lahey	C	Canadian	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
150	Montreal Canadiens	Steve Smith	D	Canadian	St. Lawrence University (ECAC)
151	Hartford Whalers	Mickey Kramptoich	C	American	Hibbing HS (High-MN)
152	Washington Capitals	Wally Schreiber	RW	Canadian	Regina Pats (WHL)
153	Los Angeles Kings	Peter Helander	D	Swedish	Skellefteå AIK (Sweden)
154	Chicago Black Hawks	Jeff Smith	LW	Canadian	London Knights (OHL)
155	St. Louis Blues	Chris Delaney	LW	American	Boston College (ECAC)
156	Calgary Flames	Roy Myllari	D	Canadian	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
157	Pittsburgh Penguins	Peter Derksen	LW	Canadian	Portland Winter Hawks (WHL)
158	Vancouver Canucks	Newell Brown	C	Canadian	Michigan State University (CCHA)
159	Winnipeg Jets	Guy Gosselin	D	American	Rochester Marshall HS (High-MN)
160	New York Rangers	Brian Glynn	C	American	Buffalo Jr. Sabres (NAHL)
161	Philadelphia Flyers	Alain Lavigne	RW	Canadian	Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)
162	New York Rangers	Jan Karlsson	D	Swedish	Kiruna AIF (Sweden-2)
163	Buffalo Sabres	Claude Verret	C	Canadian	Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL)
164	Minnesota North Stars	Paul Miller	D	American	Crookston HS (High-MN)
165	Boston Bruins	Tony Fiore	C	Canadian	Montreal Juniors (QMJHL)
166	Montreal Canadiens	Tom Koliouspoulos	RW	American	Fraser HS (High-MI)
167	Edmonton Oilers	Dean Clark	D	Canadian	St. Albert Saints (AJHL)
168	New York Islanders	Todd Okerlund	RW	American	Burnsville HS (High-MN)

No trades were recorded specifically involving eighth-round picks during the draft process.^[2]

Round Nine

The ninth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, spanning picks 169 through 189, saw teams selecting additional prospects to bolster organizational depth, primarily from Canadian major junior leagues, U.S. collegiate and high school programs, and select European clubs.^[27]^[2] These choices reflected the draft's progression into later rounds, where selections often targeted unsigned juniors or emerging college talents with potential for minor-league development. No trades were associated with these picks.^[2]

Overall Pick	Drafting Team	Player	Position	Nationality	Amateur Team
169	New Jersey Devils	Alan Hepple	D	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
170	Detroit Red Wings	Gary Cullen	C	Canada	Cornell University (ECAC)
171	Toronto Maple Leafs	Miroslav Ihnacak	F	Czechoslovakia	HC Kosice (Czech)
172	Hartford Whalers	Kevin Skilliter	D	Canada	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
173	Washington Capitals	Jamie Reeve	G	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
174	Los Angeles Kings	Dave Chartier	D	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
175	Chicago Black Hawks	Phil Patterson	RW	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
176	St. Louis Blues	Matt Christensen	C	USA	Aurora-Hoyt Lakes H.S. (Minn.)
177	Calgary Flames	Ted Pearson	F	Canada	University of Wisconsin (WCHA)
178	Pittsburgh Penguins	Greg Gravel	C	Canada	Windsor Spitfires (OHL)
179	Vancouver Canucks	Don McLaren	RW	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
180	Winnipeg Jets	Tom Ward	D	USA	Richfield H.S. (Minn.)
181	Quebec Nordiques	Mike Hough	RW	Canada	Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
182	Philadelphia Flyers	Magnus Roupe	LW	Sweden	Färjestads BK Karlstad (SEL)
183	New York Rangers	Kelly Miller	LW	USA	Michigan State University (CCHA)
184	Buffalo Sabres	Rob Norman	RW	Canada	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
185	Minnesota North Stars	Pat Micheletti	C	USA	Hibbing H.S. (Minn.)
186	Boston Bruins	Doug Kostynski	C	Canada	Kamloops Junior Oilers (WHL)
187	Montreal Canadiens	Brian Williams	C	Canada	Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
188	Edmonton Oilers	Ian Wood	G	Canada	Penticton Knights (BCJHL)
189	New York Islanders	Gord Paddock	D	Canada	Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Round Ten

The tenth round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, encompassing picks 190 through 210, featured selections primarily of junior hockey prospects and a few European players, reflecting teams' strategies to stockpile depth options from various leagues such as the WHL, OHL, and international circuits.^[2] These picks represented longshot investments, with most draftees coming from amateur teams in North America and Europe, and no immediate trades were associated with these selections.^[2]

Overall	Drafting Team	Player	Position	Nationality	Amateur Team
190	New Jersey Devils	Brent Shaw	RW	CA	Seattle Breakers (WHL)
191	Detroit Red Wings	Brent Meckling	D	CA	Calgary (AJHL)
192	Toronto Maple Leafs	Leigh Verstraete	RW	CA	Calgary Wranglers (WHL)
193	New York Rangers	Simo Saarinen	D	FI	HIFK (Finland)
194	Washington Capitals	Juha Nurmi	C	FI	Tappara (Finland)
195	Los Angeles Kings	John Franzosa	G	US	Brown (ECAC)
196	Chicago Black Hawks	James Camazzola	LW	CA	Penticton (BCJHL)
197	St. Louis Blues	John Shumski	C/RW	US	RPI (ECAC)
198	Calgary Flames	Jim Uens	C/RW	CA	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
199	Pittsburgh Penguins	Stu Wenaas	D	CA	Winnipeg Warriors (WHL)
200	Vancouver Canucks	Alain Raymond	LW	CA	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)
201	Winnipeg Jets	Mike Savage	LW	CA	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)
202	Quebec Nordiques	Vincent Lukac	RW	SK	ASD Dukla Jihlava (Czechoslovakia)
203	Philadelphia Flyers	Tom Allen	G	US	Michigan Tech (CCHA)
204	New York Rangers	Bob Lowes	C	CA	Prince Albert (SJHL)
205	Buffalo Sabres	Mike Craig	G	CA	Billings Bighorns (WHL)
206	Minnesota North Stars	Arnold Kadlec	D	CZ	TJ Litvinov (Czechoslovakia)
207	Boston Bruins	Tony Gilliard	LW	CA	Niagara Falls Flyers (OHL)
208	Montreal Canadiens	Bob Emery	D	US	Matignon HS (High-MA)
209	Edmonton Oilers	Grant Dion	D	CA	Cowichan Valley (BCJHL)
210	New York Islanders	Eric Faust	D	CA	Henry Carr (MetJBHL)

Round Eleven

The eleventh round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft featured 21 selections, spanning overall picks 211 through 231, as teams continued to fill out their prospect pools with late-round choices primarily from junior leagues, colleges, and high schools across North America and Europe.^[2]

Overall	Team	Player	Position	Nationality	Amateur Team
211	New Jersey Devils	Scott Fusco	LW	USA	Harvard (ECAC)
212	Detroit Red Wings	Mike Stern	LW	Canada	Oshawa Generals (OHL)
213	Toronto Maple Leafs	Tim Loven	D	USA	Red River HS (High-ND)
214	Hartford Whalers	Martin Linse	C	Sweden	Djurgardens IF (Sweden)
215	Washington Capitals	Wayne Prestage	C	Canada	Seattle Breakers (WHL)
216	Los Angeles Kings	Ray Shero	LW	USA	St. Lawrence (ECAC)
217	Chicago Black Hawks	Mike James	D	Canada	Ottawa 67's (OHL)
218	St. Louis Blues	Brian Ahern	LW	USA	Henry Sibley HS (High-MN)
219	Calgary Flames	Rick Erdall	C	USA	Minnesota (WCHA)
220	Pittsburgh Penguins	Chris McCauley	RW	Canada	London Knights (OHL)
221	Vancouver Canucks	Steve Driscoll	LW	Canada	Cornwall Royals (OHL)
222	Winnipeg Jets	Bob Shaw	RW	Canada	Penticton (BCJHL)
223	Quebec Nordiques	Andre Martin	D	Canada	Montreal Juniors (QMJHL)
224	Philadelphia Flyers	Rick Gal	LW	Canada	Lethbridge Broncos (WHL)
225	New York Rangers	Andy Otto	D	USA	Northwood School (High-NY)
226	Buffalo Sabres	Jim Plankers	D	USA	Cloquet HS (High-MN)
227	Minnesota North Stars	Scott Knutson	C	USA	Warroad HS (High-MN)
228	Boston Bruins	Tommy Lehman	C	Sweden	Stocksunds IF (Sweden-3)
229	Montreal Canadiens	Darren Acheson	C	Canada	Fort Saskatchewan (AJHL)
230	Edmonton Oilers	Chris Smith	G	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
231	New York Islanders	Pat Goff	D	USA	Alexander Ramsey HS (High-MN)

No trades were recorded specifically involving these eleventh-round selections prior to the draft.^[13]^[2]

Round Twelve

The twelfth and final round of the 1982 NHL Entry Draft featured 21 selections, concluding the event with a total of 252 picks across all rounds.^[2] These late-round choices primarily targeted prospects from junior, college, and international leagues, with most developing in minor professional circuits rather than reaching the NHL. Among the selections, Dan Dorion emerged as a notable late-round success, appearing in 4 NHL games for the New Jersey Devils and recording 1 goal and 1 assist during the 1987-88 season.^[33] The following table lists all twelfth-round picks, including the overall selection number, drafting team, player name, nationality, and amateur team or league:

Overall	Team	Player	Nationality	Amateur Team
232	New Jersey Devils	Dan Dorion	USA	Austin Mavericks (USHL)
233	Detroit Red Wings	Shaun Reagan	Canada	Brantford Alexanders (OHL)
234	Toronto Maple Leafs	Jim Appleby	Canada	Winnipeg Warriors (WHL)
235	Hartford Whalers	Randy Cameron	Canada	Winnipeg Warriors (WHL)
236	Washington Capitals	Jim Holden	Canada	Peterborough Petes (OHL)
237	Los Angeles Kings	Mats Ulander	Sweden	AIK (Sweden)
238	Chicago Black Hawks	Bob Andrea	Canada	Dartmouth (MVJHL)
239	St. Louis Blues	Peter Smith	USA	Maine (NCAA-Ind.)
240	Calgary Flames	Dale Thompson	Canada	Calgary (AJHL)
241	Pittsburgh Penguins	Stan Bautch	USA	Hibbing HS (High-MN)
242	Vancouver Canucks	Shawn Green	Canada	Victoria Cougars (WHL)
243	Winnipeg Jets	Jan Urban Ericson	Sweden	AIK (Sweden)
244	Quebec Nordiques	Jozef Lukac	Czechoslovakia	HK Dukla Trencin (Czech.)
245	Philadelphia Flyers	Mark Vichorek	USA	Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
246	New York Rangers	Dwayne Robinson	Canada	New Hampshire (ECAC)
247	Washington Capitals	Marco Kallas	USA	St. Louis (NAJHL)
248	Quebec Nordiques	Jan Jasko	Czechoslovakia	HC Slovan Bratislava (Czech.)
249	Boston Bruins	Bruno Campese	Canada	Northern Michigan (CCHA)
250	Montreal Canadiens	Bill Brauer	USA	Edina HS (High-MN)
251	Edmonton Oilers	Jeff Crawford	Canada	Regina Pats (WHL)
252	New York Islanders	Jim Koudys	Canada	Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

The draft process wrapped up on June 9, 1982, at the Montreal Forum, finalizing team rosters with emerging talent scouted from diverse amateur backgrounds.^[2]

Draftees by Nationality

Canadian Players

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft featured 155 Canadian players among the 252 total selections, accounting for over 60% of all draftees and underscoring Canada's enduring dominance in producing NHL talent.^[4] These players were drawn almost exclusively from Canadian major junior hockey, with the Western Hockey League (WHL), Ontario Hockey League (OHL), and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) serving as the primary pipelines.^[2] A breakdown by league reveals contributions from the WHL (59 players), OHL (64 players), and QMJHL (24 players); the remaining Canadians came from other junior circuits such as Tier II leagues.^[2] Regionally, this translated to strong representation from Ontario (via the OHL), Quebec (QMJHL), and western provinces including Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia (WHL).^[2] The concentration in these areas highlighted the robust development systems in Canada's heartland provinces, where major junior programs scouted and nurtured the bulk of prospects. Canadian junior leagues exerted a commanding influence on the draft's early stages, providing most of the first-round selections, including the first five picks.^[2] This trend reflected the superior depth and competitiveness of Canadian amateur hockey at the time, with teams prioritizing domestic talent for its proven track record in high-stakes environments. Key examples of Canadian draftees illustrate the geographic and league diversity, as shown in the table below for select first-round picks by team:

Team	Player	Province	Junior League
Boston Bruins	Gord Kluzak	Saskatchewan	WHL
Minnesota North Stars	Brian Bellows	Ontario	OHL
Toronto Maple Leafs	Gary Nylund	British Columbia	WHL
Philadelphia Flyers	Ron Sutter	Alberta	WHL
Pittsburgh Penguins	Rich Sutter	Alberta	WHL

Gord Kluzak, born in Climax, Saskatchewan, was the top overall selection after starring with the Billings Bighorns in the WHL.^[34] Brian Bellows, from St. Catharines, Ontario, went second overall following a standout season with the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL.^[35] The Sutter twins, both from Viking, Alberta, exemplified family legacies in the draft, with Ron taken fourth by Philadelphia after leading the Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) and Rich selected tenth by Pittsburgh from the same team.^[36] Other notable Canadians included Quebec natives like Michel Petit (21st overall, Vancouver Canucks, from the Sherbrooke Castors in the QMJHL) and Ontario products such as Scott Stevens (fifth overall, Washington Capitals, Kitchener Rangers, OHL).^[2]

American Players

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft featured a record 62 American players selected, eclipsing the previous high of 47 from 1981 and signaling a breakout year for U.S. talent in the league's amateur selection process.^[3] These draftees predominantly emerged from domestic amateur circuits, with more than half originating from U.S. high schools, alongside contributions from NCAA college programs and the United States Hockey League (USHL).^[3] Representation was concentrated in hockey hotbeds like Minnesota and Massachusetts, where robust youth and scholastic systems fostered elite prospects; Minnesota alone supplied 26 players, many via high school ranks, exemplified by defenseman Phil Housley of South St. Paul High School, chosen sixth overall by the Buffalo Sabres.^[3]^[37] This influx underscored the expanding infrastructure of American hockey, including enhanced scouting and development pathways, which broadened the NHL's player diversity amid ongoing Canadian numerical superiority.^[3]

European and Other Players

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft represented a pivotal moment in the league's internationalization efforts, as teams selected 36 players from European countries, a notable increase from prior years that reflected evolving eligibility rules requiring such prospects to enter via the draft rather than as free agents. These selections spanned multiple rounds and originated from domestic leagues across the continent, underscoring the NHL's growing scouting presence in Europe despite logistical and political hurdles.^[4]^[27]^[3] Sweden led the European contingent with 14 draftees, mostly from the Elitserien (SEL), highlighting the league's interest in Scandinavian skill and physicality. Notable among them were forward Tomas Sandström (New York Rangers, 2nd round, 36th overall) from Färjestads BK Karlstad and defenseman Ulf Samuelsson (Hartford Whalers, 4th round, 67th overall) from Leksands IF, alongside later-round picks like Mats Kihlström (Calgary Flames, 6th round, 118th overall) from Södertälje SK. Finland added 5 selections from the SM-liiga, including forward Raimo Summanen (Edmonton Oilers, 6th round, 125th overall) from Kiekkoreipas Lahti and defenseman Simo Saarinen (New York Rangers, 10th round, 193rd overall) from HIFK Helsinki. Czechoslovakia contributed 7 players, primarily from the national Extraliga, including forwards like Milan Nový (Washington Capitals, 3rd round, 58th overall) and Jaroslav Pouzar (Edmonton Oilers, 4th round, 83rd overall), as well as defenseman Miroslav Dvořák (Philadelphia Flyers, 3rd round, 46th overall). These players hailed from clubs such as HC Kladno and Motor České Budějovice, and several, including Nový, Pouzar, and Dvořák, had secured prior government permission to pursue NHL opportunities, easing their potential transitions amid Cold War tensions. Other Czech selections, like Vladimir Růžička (Toronto Maple Leafs, 4th round, 73rd overall) and Dušan Pašek (Minnesota North Stars, 4th round, 81st overall from Bratislava), were more speculative picks aimed at securing future rights if releases were granted. Slovakia (then part of Czechoslovakia) had 6 draftees. The Soviet Union yielded 3 draftees from its domestic league, such as Viktor Nechaev (Los Angeles Kings, 7th round, 132nd overall) from SKA Leningrad, selected on speculation due to strict emigration controls; Nechaev later defected to join the Kings, becoming the first Soviet-trained player to appear in an NHL game. Additional Soviet picks included Sergei Kapustin (New York Rangers, 7th round, 141st overall) from Spartak Moscow and Viktor Zhluktov (Minnesota North Stars, 7th round, 143rd overall) from CSKA Moscow. Germany contributed 1 player.^[27]^[38]^[3]

Country	Number of Players	Notable Examples (Round, Team, Amateur Club)
Sweden	14	Tomas Sandström (2, NY Rangers, Färjestads BK); Ulf Samuelsson (4, Hartford, Leksands IF); Jens Johansson (2, Buffalo, Piteå HC)
Czechoslovakia	7	Milan Nový (3, Washington, HC Kladno); Jaroslav Pouzar (4, Edmonton, Motor České Budějovice); Miroslav Dvořák (3, Philadelphia, HC České Budějovice)
Finland	5	Raimo Summanen (6, Edmonton, Kiekkoreipas Lahti); Hannu Järvenpää (7, Montréal, Kärpät Oulu); Simo Saarinen (10, NY Rangers, HIFK)
Soviet Union	3	Viktor Nechaev (7, Los Angeles, SKA Leningrad); Sergei Kapustin (7, NY Rangers, Spartak Moscow); Viktor Zhluktov (7, Minnesota, CSKA Moscow)
Slovakia (then Czechoslovakia)	6	Dušan Pašek (4, Minnesota, HC Slovan Bratislava)
Germany	1	Gerd Liebmann (12, NY Islanders, ESV Kaufbeuren)

This draft's European selections were complicated by permission issues, as NHL teams negotiated release fees with European clubs and governments, particularly in Eastern Bloc nations where defections posed risks; the speculative nature of many picks, especially for Soviets, exemplified the era's barriers to true global talent integration.^[3]^[27]

Notable Draftees

Hall of Fame Inductees

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft produced four players who were later inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, highlighting the class's exceptional depth in producing elite talent, particularly on defense and at forward. These inductees include two first-round defensemen selected consecutively—Scott Stevens and Phil Housley—as well as high-scoring forwards Dave Andreychuk and Doug Gilmour, who were taken later in the first and seventh rounds, respectively. This representation underscores the draft's contribution to the Hall's player category, with all four earning induction for their longevity, offensive prowess, and championship impact.^[2]^[4] Scott Stevens, selected fifth overall by the Washington Capitals, was a cornerstone defenseman known for his physicality and leadership over a 22-season career spanning 1,635 regular-season games. He accumulated 908 points (196 goals, 712 assists) while earning a plus-395 rating, and won three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils in 1995, 2000, and 2003, including the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2000. Stevens was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007.^[39]^[40] Phil Housley, taken immediately after Stevens at sixth overall by the Buffalo Sabres, redefined offensive defense for American-born players, amassing 1,232 points (338 goals, 894 assists) in 1,495 games across 21 seasons with eight teams. He led all U.S.-born defensemen in career scoring and represented Team USA in multiple international tournaments, including the 1996 World Cup of Hockey victory. Housley earned his Hockey Hall of Fame induction in 2015.^[37]^[41] Dave Andreychuk, drafted 16th overall by the Buffalo Sabres, became the NHL's all-time leader in power-play goals with 274 over his 22-year career, totaling 1,338 points (640 goals, 698 assists) in 1,639 games—the sixth-most games played at the time of his retirement. He captained the Tampa Bay Lightning to their first Stanley Cup in 2004 and was eligible for Hall consideration starting in 2010 but waited until his ninth year of eligibility for induction in 2017.^[42] Doug Gilmour, a seventh-round steal at 134th overall by the St. Louis Blues, overcame early oversights to forge a 20-season career with 1,414 points (450 goals, 964 assists) in 1,474 games, highlighted by a franchise-record 127 points for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1992-93, when he finished second in Hart Trophy voting. Known for his tenacity and playmaking, Gilmour led Toronto to consecutive Conference Finals appearances and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.^[43]^[44]

Players with Significant NHL Careers

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft produced several players who forged durable and impactful careers in the league without achieving Hall of Fame induction, contributing through consistent performance, longevity, and key roles on contending teams. Among the most notable was Brian Bellows, selected second overall by the Minnesota North Stars. Over 17 seasons, Bellows amassed 485 goals and 537 assists for 1,022 points in 1,188 regular-season games, primarily as a skilled left winger known for his scoring touch and power-play contributions.^[45] He spent the bulk of his career with the North Stars, where he set a franchise record with 342 goals in 753 games, including a career-high 55 goals in 1989-90, before moving to the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and Washington Capitals.^[35] Bellows also won a Stanley Cup with Montreal in 1993, adding 14 points in 12 playoff games that postseason.^[46] Ken Daneyko, drafted 18th overall in the first round by the New Jersey Devils, exemplified defensive reliability and team loyalty across 20 NHL seasons, all with New Jersey. He appeared in 1,283 games, recording 36 goals and 142 assists for 178 points while accumulating 2,516 penalty minutes, earning the nickname "Mr. Devil" for holding franchise records in games played and penalties.^[47] Daneyko's physical, stay-at-home style anchored the Devils' blue line during their rise, contributing to three Stanley Cup championships in 1995, 2000, and 2003, where he played 175 playoff games and tallied 22 points.^[48] Other draftees with substantial tenures included Pat Verbeek, taken 43rd overall in the third round by the New Jersey Devils, who skated in 1,424 games over 20 seasons, scoring 522 goals and 540 assists for 1,062 points—ranking him among the era's top goal scorers despite his 5-foot-9 frame.^[49] Verbeek played for the Devils, Hartford Whalers, New York Rangers, Dallas Stars, and Detroit Red Wings, winning a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars in 1999.^[50] Ray Ferraro, selected 88th overall in the fifth round by the Hartford Whalers, compiled 408 goals and 490 assists in 1,258 games across 18 seasons with Hartford, the New York Islanders, Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, and St. Louis Blues, highlighted by two 40-goal seasons and consistent 50-plus point output in nine campaigns.^[51]

Player	Draft Position (Team)	NHL Games	Goals	Assists	Points	Notable Highlights
Brian Bellows	2nd (Minnesota North Stars)	1,188	485	537	1,022	Stanley Cup (1993); Franchise goals record with North Stars
Ken Daneyko	18th (New Jersey Devils)	1,283	36	142	178	3 Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003); Devils' games/penalties records
Pat Verbeek	43rd (New Jersey Devils)	1,424	522	540	1,062	Stanley Cup (1999); Only player with 500+ goals and 2,500+ PIM
Ray Ferraro	88th (Hartford Whalers)	1,258	408	490	898	2x 40-goal scorer; 9x 50+ points

Legacy and Impact

Team Outcomes and Contributions

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft yielded mixed results for teams, with some franchises reaping long-term benefits from key selections that bolstered playoff runs and championships, while others grappled with injuries and underperformance among high picks. Overall, 62 draftees appeared in at least one NHL game, and 37 played 100 or more, providing varying degrees of roster stability and impact across the league. Among the 21 teams, Buffalo and Boston each had four such contributors, highlighting the draft's potential for depth despite uneven star power.^[2]^[3] The Buffalo Sabres emerged as one of the draft's biggest beneficiaries, selecting offensive defenseman Phil Housley sixth overall and power forward Dave Andreychuk sixteenth overall, both of whom anchored the team's resurgence in the 1980s. Housley, a Calder Trophy finalist in his rookie year, tallied 558 points in 608 games with Buffalo from 1982 to 1990, including 77 points in 1983-84, and contributed 27 playoff points in 35 games during postseason appearances in 1983 (Wales Conference Finals) and 1984 (division finals). Andreychuk complemented this with 174 goals in his first six seasons, peaking at 38 in 1983-84, and added 12 playoff goals across eight postseasons, helping drive four 100-point regular seasons between 1983 and 1988. These draftees, alongside Paul Cyr (471 games, 151 goals with Buffalo), elevated the Sabres from mediocrity to consistent contenders, though the team fell short of a Stanley Cup.^[37]^[52] The New Jersey Devils built a defensive cornerstone from the draft, most notably with Ken Daneyko, chosen eighteenth overall, who played all 1,283 of his NHL games with the franchise as a rugged stay-at-home defender. Daneyko's physicality and reliability were integral to the Devils' identity, earning him a spot on three Stanley Cup-winning teams in 1995, 2000, and 2003, where he logged 143 playoff games. Complementing him was Pat Verbeek, selected 43rd overall in the third round, who played 1,424 NHL games total, including 518 with New Jersey and contributions to their first playoff berth in 1988; two 1982 draftees contributed over 100 games to this era.^[48]^[49]^[53]^[54] Conversely, the Boston Bruins' investment in first overall pick Gord Kluzak proved costly due to persistent knee injuries that limited his output. Kluzak managed 123 points in 299 games from 1982 to 1991, with a career-high 39 points in 1985-86, but underwent 11 surgeries, missing full seasons in 1984-85 and 1986-87 and appearing in just 13 games over his final three years. His absence strained Boston's blue line during Stanley Cup Final runs in 1988 and 1990, despite support from three other draftees who exceeded 100 games.^[55]^[2] The Edmonton Oilers, amid their mid-1980s dynasty, gained reliable depth from fourth-rounder Jaroslav Pouzar (84th overall), a skilled Czech forward who posted 82 points in 186 games from 1982 to 1987, including contributions to Stanley Cup triumphs in 1984 and 1985. Pouzar's playmaking aided the high-scoring attack led by Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier, though the Oilers' core success stemmed more from prior drafts; only one 1982 selection reached 100 games for the team.^[56]^[2]

Team	Draftees with 100+ NHL Games	Notable Stanley Cup Contributions
Buffalo Sabres	4	Playoff cores for 1983-88 runs (Housley, Andreychuk)
New Jersey Devils	2	3 Cups (1995, 2000, 2003; Daneyko, Verbeek)
Boston Bruins	4	Limited due to Kluzak injuries; supported 1988/90 Finals
Edmonton Oilers	1	2 Cups (1984, 1985; Pouzar depth)

Unique Historical Aspects

The 1982 NHL Entry Draft marked a pivotal shift in league policy regarding European players, as it was the first under a new rule requiring all Europeans seeking to join the NHL to enter via the draft rather than as unrestricted free agents.^[3] This change aimed to standardize access and prevent teams from bypassing the draft process, leading to the selection of several established professionals from behind the Iron Curtain in later rounds. Notable examples included Soviet center Victor Nechaev, drafted 132nd overall in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Kings; Nechaev, already 27 and a defector playing professionally in Sweden, became the first Soviet-trained player to appear in the NHL shortly after.^[57] Similarly, Czech forwards Ivan Nový (252nd overall, 12th round, Washington Capitals) and Jaroslav Pouzar (84th overall, fourth round, Edmonton Oilers), both in their late 20s with extensive professional experience in Czechoslovakia, exemplified this unprecedented inclusion of older, pro-level talents. The draft also set a benchmark for American participation, with a record 62 U.S.-born players selected out of 252 total picks, surpassing the previous high of 47 from 1981 and underscoring the growing depth and competitiveness of American hockey development programs.^[3] This surge reflected investments in U.S. junior leagues and high school talent pipelines, signaling a broader diversification of the NHL's talent pool beyond traditional Canadian dominance.^[58] Defensively, the 1982 class stood out for its exceptional quality and quantity at the position, particularly in the early rounds, where six of the top 12 selections were defensemen—a concentration that produced multiple future NHL stalwarts.^[2] Standouts included first-overall pick Gord Kluzak (Boston Bruins), third pick Gary Nylund (Toronto Maple Leafs), fifth pick Scott Stevens (Washington Capitals), sixth pick Phil Housley (Buffalo Sabres), and seventh pick Steve Smith (Edmonton Oilers), highlighting teams' emphasis on bolstering blue lines amid the era's physical, defensive-oriented play.^[2] This draft represented the final one before significant evolutions in European scouting protocols, as subsequent years saw expanded NHL presence in international markets and adjustments to player rights retention that facilitated greater cross-Atlantic movement.^[3]

References

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Draft Hosts | NHL Records
Draft Hosts. Year. Draft. Location. Venue. Start Date. End Date. # Drafted. 2025 ... June 9, 1982. June 9, 1982. 252. 1981. Entry. Montreal, QC, CAN. Montreal ...
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1982 NHL Entry Draft | Hockey-Reference.com
252 Selections Table. Round 1, NHL Scoring Stats, NHL Goalie Stats. Overall, Team, Player, Nat. Pos, Age, To, Amateur Team, GP, G, A, PTS, +/-, PIM, GP, W ...Missing: key notable
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1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Quick Facts
Eligible For Draft: All North American amateur players born between January 1, 1962, and September 15, 1964, and all European players born before September 15, ...Missing: summary key
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1982 NHL Entry Draft - Elite Prospects
NHL Entry Draft 1982 - full list of selections with facts and stats.Missing: summary key notable
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1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Round 1 Selections
1. Boston, Gord Kluzak, D Billings, WHL, Canada · 2. Minnesota, Brian Bellows, RW, Kitchener, OHL, Canada · 3. Toronto, Gary Nylund, D Portland, WHL, Canada · 4.
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Doug Gilmour Stats And News | NHL.com
Gilmour was passed over in the 1981 NHL Draft, but the St. Louis Blues selected him in the seventh round (No. 134) in the 1982 NHL Draft and immediately sent ...
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1982 NHL Entry Draft - The Hockey Writers
Rocky Trottier (New Jersey Devils – 8th Overall). 10 points in 38 career games ; Alain Heroux (Montreal Canadiens – 19th Overall). 0 career games ; Jim Playfair ( ...Missing: summary key facts notable
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Jun 22, 2016 · Since the first round of expansion in 1967, the League has grown from the Original Six to 31 teams. Here's a brief history of expansion in the NHL.
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Which NHL Draft year gave us the best class at each position?
Jun 27, 2023 · Same with trying Dave Andreychuk's class of 1982, which gives us Brian Bellows and then dries up. And maybe the best of them all, Alexander ...
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1981-82 NHL Summary - Hockey-Reference.com
Check out the Eastern, Western Conference and Playoff series Standings, Statistics, Leaders and more for the 1981-82 NHL season on Hockey-Reference.com.1981-82 NHL Standings · Schedule and Results · 1981-82 NHL Leaders · Debuts
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1982 NHL Entry Draft Pick Transactions
8, 1-8. Blues. Bruins. Rockies. Traded • Rob Ramage to Blues for • 1982 first round pick (#8-Rocky Trottier) • 1983 first round pick (#6-John MacLean) on 1982- ...
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1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Traded Picks
NJ (then COL) got rights to restricted free agent Dwight Foster, 1982 No. 1 (Ken Daneyko) and 1982 No. 10 (Tony Gilliard). BOS also got 1982 No. 2 (Brian ...
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All-Time Playoff Formats | NHL Records
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1982 NHL Entry Draft Picks at hockeydb.com
This is the list of players selected in the 1982 NHL Entry draft. There were 252 prospects selected across 12 rounds. Also included is each player's career ...Missing: summary key notable
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Pat Verbeek Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com
Statistics of Pat Verbeek, a hockey player from Sarnia, ONT born May 24 ... 1981-82, Sudbury Wolves, OHL, 66, 37, 51, 88, 180, --, --, --, --, --. 1982-83 ...
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Ken Wregget Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com
Statistics of Ken Wregget, a hockey player from Brandon, MAN born Mar 25 ... 1981-82, Lethbridge Broncos, WHL, 36, 0, 0, 1713, 118, 0, 1, 4.13, 19, 12, 0, 899 ...
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Troy Loney Hockey Stats and Profile at hockeydb.com
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Statistics of Dave Ellett, a hockey player from Cleveland, OH born Mar 30 1964 who was active from 1981 to 2000.Missing: nationality | Show results with:nationality<|control11|><|separator|>
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1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Round 5 Selections
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Phil Housley Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title
How many goals did Phil Housley have? Phil Housley had 338 goals over his career. How many points did Phil Housley have? Phil Housley had 1,232 points over ...
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Viktor Nechayev - Stats, Contract, Salary & More - Elite Prospects
Viktor Nechayev was the first Soviet trained player to play (October 17, 1982) and score a goal (October 20, 1982) in the NHL.
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Scott Stevens Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title
Full Name: Ronald Scott Stevens ; Position: D • Shoots: Left ; Born: April 1, 1964 in Kitchener, Ontario ca ; Draft: Washington, 1st round (5th overall), 1982 NHL ...
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Induction Showcase - Scott Stevens - Hockey Hall of Fame
In 1635 regular season games, Stevens collected 196 goals and 712 assists for 908 points, impressive for a defensive specialist. Equally impressive were the ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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Phil was drafted sixth overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft, and joined the Sabres on defence that fall. He had an outstanding rookie ...Missing: amateur | Show results with:amateur
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Hockey Hall of Fame - 2017 Induction Celebration - Dave Andreychuk. Born in Hamilton, Ontario on September 29, 1963, Dave Andreychuk enjoyed a long and ...
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Doug Gilmour Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title
How many goals did Doug Gilmour have? Doug Gilmour had 450 goals over his career. How many points did Doug Gilmour have? Doug Gilmour had 1,414 points over ...<|control11|><|separator|>
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In 1980-81, his first year with the Royals, Gilmour was 5'9" and 150 pounds. ... In 2011, Doug Gilmour was selected for Induction to the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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Brian Bellows ; Shoots: Right ; Born: September 1, 1964 in St. Catharines, Ontario ca ; Draft: Minnesota, 1st round (2nd overall), 1982 NHL Entry ; Amateur Teams: ...Missing: birthplace | Show results with:birthplace
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2 pick in the 1982 NHL Draft ... He was traded to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim early in the 1996-97 season and he had 28 points (15 goals, 13 assists) in 62 games.Missing: American | Show results with:American
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Position: D • Shoots: Left. 6-1, 215lb (185cm, 97kg). Born: April 17, 1964 in Windsor, Ontario ca. Draft: New Jersey, 1st round (18th overall), 1982 NHL Entry.
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Pat Verbeek Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title
: New Jersey, 3rd round (43rd overall), 1982 NHL Entry. Amateur Teams: Sudbury Wolves. 1x Cup Winner. 12 16 16 16 17 16 16 15. +7. Become a Stathead & surf this ...Missing: 1981-82 OHL
[44]
Pat Verbeek Stats And News | NHL.com
The native of Sarnia, Ontario, finished his 20-season NHL career with 522 goals and 2,905 penalty minutes, by far the most of any member of the League's 500- ...
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### Summary of Dave Andreychuk's Early Career with Buffalo Sabres
[47]
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Ken Daneyko. Selected in first round. No. 18 overall by New Jersey. Born April 17, 1964. Position: Defense Height: 6-1 Weight: 195 ; BEFORE THE DRAFT ; Last Team: ...
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Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils carries the Stanley Cup holds up the Stanley Cup. #3 Ken Daneyko. Seasons with the Devils: 1982 - 2003. Number Retired ...
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Gord Kluzak Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Title
Full Name: Gordon Glen Kluzak ; Position: D ; Shoots: Left ; Born: March 4, 1964 in Climax, Saskatchewan ca ; Draft: Boston, 1st round (1st overall), 1982 NHL Entry.Missing: birthplace | Show results with:birthplace
[50]
1982 NHL Entry Draft -- Victor Nechaev - Hockey Draft Central
Born in Siberia, Nechaev was not one of the Soviet Union's top players and had not even played on the national team. He was a 27-year-old, nine-year Soviet ...
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A record 38 percent – 97 out of the 252 players drafted in 1987 – are American. June 1, 1988. Mike Modano becomes the second American-born player ever selected ...June 8, 1983 · June 21, 1986 · June 21, 2003