1999 NHL entry draft
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was the 37th annual selection meeting where National Hockey League (NHL) franchises chose amateur players eligible for entry into the league, held on June 26, 1999, at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts.[1] It consisted of nine rounds comprising 272 total picks by the NHL's 27 franchises ahead of the 1999–2000 season, marking the first draft participation for the expansion Atlanta Thrashers as the league prepared to expand to 28 teams.[2][3] The Thrashers selected Czech center Patrik Stefan first overall, a choice that highlighted the team's high expectations for building a competitive roster from scratch.[4] The draft's most prominent selections came immediately after, as the Vancouver Canucks used the second and third overall picks on Swedish twin forwards Daniel Sedin and Henrik Sedin, respectively—a rare back-to-back brother selection that paid dividends over their Hall of Fame-worthy careers, with each brother accumulating over 1,000 NHL points and Henrik earning the Hart Memorial Trophy in 2010.[2][4] Other key talents included American goaltender Ryan Miller, taken 38th overall by the Buffalo Sabres and later a Vezina Trophy winner with 391 career wins, Czech forward Martin Havlat, selected 26th by the Ottawa Senators, who posted 594 points in 790 games, and Swedish forward Henrik Zetterberg, taken 210th overall by the Detroit Red Wings, who became a one-time Stanley Cup champion, Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2008, and tallied 960 points in 1,082 games.[2][4][5][6] While the Sedins anchored the class's success, the draft has been critiqued for its top-end busts, including Stefan (188 points in 455 games) and Pavel Brendl (4th overall by the New York Rangers, who managed just 11 goals in 78 NHL appearances), underscoring the risks of early selections in a transitional era for international scouting.[2]Overview
Event Summary
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft was held on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts. A total of 272 players were selected across nine rounds by the league's 28 franchises.[7] The expansion Atlanta Thrashers made the first overall selection, choosing Czech forward Patrik Stefan to kick off their inaugural draft and begin building their roster for entry into the NHL. The Vancouver Canucks followed by selecting Swedish twins Daniel Sedin second overall and Henrik Sedin third overall, a rare consecutive picking of siblings that highlighted the draft's international focus.[4] The event stood out for its prominent European representation, particularly from Sweden and the Czech Republic, with 15 European players chosen in the first round alone out of 28 total selections.[8] This influx underscored the growing global talent pool in the league at the turn of the millennium.[4]Historical Context
The NHL Entry Draft originated in 1963 as the NHL Amateur Draft, initiated by league president Clarence Campbell to formalize the selection of amateur players amid growing competition from other professional leagues.[9] Initially limited to four rounds and focused almost exclusively on Canadian talent, the draft evolved significantly over the decades, expanding eligibility in 1979 to include overage non-North American players and renaming it the NHL Entry Draft to reflect broader amateur sourcing.[10] By the late 1990s, the process had grown to nine rounds, incorporating advanced scouting techniques and accommodating league expansion, with seven new teams added between 1991 and 1999, culminating in the Atlanta Thrashers' entry as the 28th franchise for the 1999–2000 season.[9] This marked the Thrashers' inaugural participation in the entry draft, following their separate expansion draft on June 25, 1999, which stocked the roster from existing teams.[11] In the late 1990s, the NHL intensified its focus on international scouting, particularly from Europe, as barriers like the Iron Curtain fell and player mobility increased, leading to a surge in drafted Europeans.[12] The 1998 draft exemplified this trend, with 47 European players selected out of 258 total picks, representing about 18% of the class and setting a precedent for the integration of skilled overseas talent into North American professional hockey. This shift was driven by successes of earlier European pioneers, such as Sweden's Mats Sundin (drafted 1989) and Finland's Teemu Selanne (1990), which encouraged teams to invest in global evaluation networks.[12] Leading into the 1999 draft, expectations centered on high-profile European prospects, with Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin projected as the top two Europeans due to their playmaking prowess in the Swedish Elite League, potentially going in the first five picks. Czech forward Patrik Stefan emerged as a versatile top prospect, ranked No. 1 overall by Central Scouting for his size, skill, and performance in the International Hockey League, where he recorded 23 points in 20 games despite injury setbacks.[13] The class was noted for its depth in defensemen and goaltenders, offering teams multiple blue-chip options in those positions beyond the forward-heavy top end.[14] The absence of a labor lockout during the 1998–99 season, unlike the shortened 1994–95 campaign, provided scouts with a full 82-game slate across junior, college, and European leagues, enabling more comprehensive evaluations of prospects' development and performance under pressure.[15] This complete season of data, culminating in the retirement of Wayne Gretzky after 1,487 games, allowed for robust pre-draft assessments without the disruptions that had previously hampered talent identification.[15]Pre-Draft Developments
Expansion Impact and Team Positions
The entry of the Atlanta Thrashers as the NHL's 28th franchise for the 1999–2000 season significantly altered the draft structure, granting the expansion team the automatic first-overall selection to facilitate building a competitive roster from the outset.[16] This bypassed the traditional lottery process for Atlanta, ensuring they selected without competition for the top spot and shifting the focus of the pre-draft positioning to the existing 26 teams' performances from the 1998–99 regular season. The Thrashers' placement at the top of the order emphasized the league's strategy to support new entrants, while the remaining picks were determined by a combination of reverse standings and lottery mechanics among eligible teams. With 16 teams qualifying for the playoffs in 1998–99, the 11 non-playoff clubs—ranked in inverse order of their regular-season points totals—were eligible to participate in the draft lottery, which governed selections from the second through 12th overall positions.[17] Playoff teams, meanwhile, were slotted into picks 13 through 27 based on reverse order of their conference finishes, providing a predictable framework for the lower half of the first round. This setup created strategic incentives for rebuilding teams, as the lottery offered non-playoff squads a weighted opportunity to improve their position by up to four spots from their initial reverse-standings slot, with odds favoring the poorest performers to promote competitive balance. Among the non-playoff teams, the Tampa Bay Lightning held the worst record at 19–54–9 for 47 points, positioning them initially at No. 2 overall with the highest lottery odds (approximately 25% to win the first draw).[18] The Vancouver Canucks (23–47–12, 58 points) and New York Islanders (24–48–10, 58 points) tied for the next-worst marks, sharing strong chances to advance into the top five picks. Further down, the Chicago Blackhawks' 29–41–12 record yielded 70 points, placing them eighth among non-playoff teams and giving them a 3.7% lottery chance to jump up to as high as No. 4 overall, influencing pre-draft trade discussions around potential high selections. These standings not only set the baseline for lottery participation but also shaped team strategies, as the finalized top-12 order post-lottery directly impacted asset valuations and negotiations leading into the event.[18]Draft Lottery Process and Results
The 1999 NHL Draft Lottery took place on May 16, 1999, at the league's offices in New York City, involving the 11 teams that failed to qualify for the playoffs plus the expansion Atlanta Thrashers, who were automatically awarded the first overall pick as part of their entry into the league for the 1999–2000 season.[19][20] The lottery determined the selection order for picks 2 through 12 by allowing non-playoff teams to potentially improve their position by up to four spots from their reverse regular-season standings.[21][22] The selection process utilized a mechanical lottery machine containing 14 numbered balls (1 through 14), from which four balls were drawn without replacement to generate one of 1,001 possible four-digit combinations.[19] Each of the 11 non-playoff teams received an allocation of these combinations weighted inversely to their regular-season point totals, ensuring poorer-performing teams had better chances: the last-place Tampa Bay Lightning were assigned 250 combinations (roughly 25% odds), followed by 199 for the second-worst team, 149 for the third, 110 for the fourth, 80 for the fifth, 59 for the sixth, 43 for the seventh, 32 for the eighth (about 3.2%, held by the Chicago Blackhawks), 23 for the ninth, 17 for the tenth, and 11 for the eleventh (about 1.1%).[19][20] This draw was conducted up to four times if necessary, with winning teams securing the highest available pick among the top four non-playoff slots (overall picks 2–5) and being removed from further consideration, while the odds for remaining teams were recalculated proportionally for subsequent draws.[21][16] In the results, the Atlanta Thrashers retained the No. 1 pick. The Tampa Bay Lightning won the first draw, securing the No. 2 overall selection and retaining their position as the worst non-playoff team. The Vancouver Canucks won the second draw, moving up to No. 3 overall. The Chicago Blackhawks defied their slim 3.7% odds to win the third draw, advancing from the No. 8 non-playoff slot to No. 4 overall—the maximum allowable jump. The New York Islanders won the fourth draw, shifting to No. 5 overall, while the Florida Panthers held at No. 6, followed by unchanged positions for the Nashville Predators (No. 7), Calgary Flames (No. 8), Los Angeles Kings (No. 9), New York Rangers (No. 10), and Montreal Canadiens (No. 11). Picks 12 through 27 were then assigned to the 16 playoff teams in reverse order of their regular-season finishes.[19][20][21][22] The lottery outcomes generated significant buzz ahead of the draft, as they positioned multiple teams to target elite European talents like the Swedish Sedin twins, who were widely projected as top-three selections and heightened interest in the event's international flavor.[16]Draft Proceedings
Venue, Format, and Broadcast
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26 at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, an arena with a hockey capacity of 17,565 that served as the home of the Boston Bruins at the time.[1][23] The venue featured a central stage where NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and representatives from each of the league's 27 teams (plus the expansion Atlanta Thrashers) gathered to conduct the proceedings, creating an intimate setting for announcements amid the arena's expansive seating.[24] The draft followed the standard NHL format of that era, consisting of nine rounds completed in a single day, with a total of 272 players selected across all rounds.[1] Each team was allotted one pick per round in reverse order of the previous season's standings, though trades altered many selections; team representatives ascended to the stage to announce their choices, while Bettman personally introduced the first-round picks as per tradition.[4] Broadcast coverage was provided nationally in the United States by ESPN2 and in Canada by CTV Sportsnet, allowing fans across North America to follow the event live.[25] This draft marked the inaugural entry draft following the NHL's expansion to Atlanta, heightening anticipation as teams, including the new Thrashers with the first overall pick, scouted eligible prospects primarily aged 18 to 21 from major junior leagues, U.S. colleges, and European competitions.First Round Highlights and Selections
The first round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26, 1999, at the FleetCenter in Boston, Massachusetts, where NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman officially opened the proceedings. The Atlanta Thrashers, awarded the first overall selection through a series of pre-draft trades, chose Czech center Patrik Stefan from the Long Beach Ice Dogs of the International Hockey League (IHL), marking the expansion franchise's inaugural pick.[2] Vancouver Canucks general manager Brian Burke then secured the next two selections, drafting Swedish left winger Daniel Sedin second overall and his twin brother, center Henrik Sedin, third overall, both hailing from MoDo Hockey in Sweden's Elitserien league.[2] The New York Rangers followed with Czech right winger Pavel Brendl at fourth overall, selected from the Calgary Hitmen of the Western Hockey League (WHL).[2] The New York Islanders, benefiting from multiple high picks, addressed their forward and defensive needs by taking American center Tim Connolly fifth from the Erie Otters (Ontario Hockey League, OHL), Canadian left winger Taylor Pyatt eighth from the Sudbury Wolves (OHL), Slovak defenseman Branislav Mezei tenth from the Belleville Bulls (OHL), and Slovak defenseman Kristian Kudroc twenty-eighth from HC VTJ MEZ Michalovce of the Slovak 2. Liga.[2] A notable surprise occurred at the sixth pick, as the Nashville Predators opted for Canadian goaltender Brian Finley from the Barrie Colts (OHL), an early selection for a position not typically prioritized so high in the round.[2] The round featured a mix of North American juniors and international talents, with teams showing interest in European prospects throughout. For instance, the Ottawa Senators closed out the top half strongly by selecting Czech right winger Martin Havlat twenty-sixth overall from HC Trinec of the Czech Extraliga.[2] Defensive selections gained prominence later, exemplified by the St. Louis Blues' choice of Canadian defenseman Barret Jackman seventeenth from the Regina Pats (WHL).[2] The full list of first-round selections is as follows:| Pick | Team | Player | Position | Nationality | Pre-Draft Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlanta Thrashers | Patrik Stefan | C | Czech Republic | Long Beach Ice Dogs (IHL) |
| 2 | Vancouver Canucks | Daniel Sedin | LW | Sweden | MoDo Hockey (Sweden) |
| 3 | Vancouver Canucks | Henrik Sedin | C | Sweden | MoDo Hockey (Sweden) |
| 4 | New York Rangers | Pavel Brendl | RW | Czech Republic | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 5 | New York Islanders | Tim Connolly | C | United States | Erie Otters (OHL) |
| 6 | Nashville Predators | Brian Finley | G | Canada | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 7 | Washington Capitals | Kris Beech | C | Canada | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) |
| 8 | New York Islanders | Taylor Pyatt | LW | Canada | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 9 | New York Rangers | Jamie Lundmark | C | Canada | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) |
| 10 | New York Islanders | Branislav Mezei | D | Slovakia | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 11 | Calgary Flames | Oleg Saprykin | LW | Russia | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 12 | Florida Panthers | Denis Shvidki | RW | Ukraine | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 13 | Edmonton Oilers | Jani Rita | LW | Finland | Jokerit (Finland) |
| 14 | San Jose Sharks | Jeff Jillson | D | United States | Michigan (CCHA) |
| 15 | Phoenix Coyotes | Scott Kelman | C | Canada | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 16 | Carolina Hurricanes | David Tanabe | D | United States | Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 17 | St. Louis Blues | Barret Jackman | D | Canada | Regina Pats (WHL) |
| 18 | Pittsburgh Penguins | Konstantin Koltsov | RW | Belarus | Severstal Cherepovets (Russia) |
| 19 | Phoenix Coyotes | Kirill Safronov | D | Russia | SKA St. Petersburg (Russia) |
| 20 | Buffalo Sabres | Barrett Heisten | LW | United States | Maine (H-East) |
| 21 | Boston Bruins | Nick Boynton | D | Canada | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 22 | Philadelphia Flyers | Maxime Ouellet | G | Canada | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 23 | Chicago Blackhawks | Steve McCarthy | D | Canada | Kootenay Ice (WHL) |
| 24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | Luca Cereda | C | Switzerland | HC Ambri-Piotta (Swiss) |
| 25 | Colorado Avalanche | Mikhail Kuleshov | LW | Russia | Severstal Cherepovets (Russia) |
| 26 | Ottawa Senators | Martin Havlat | RW | Czech Republic | HC Trinec (Czech) |
| 27 | New Jersey Devils | Ari Ahonen | G | Finland | JYP Jr. (Finland Jr.) |
| 28 | New York Islanders | Kristian Kudroc | D | Slovakia | HC VTJ MEZ Michalovce (Slovakia-2) |
Player Selections
First Round Picks
The first round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft featured 28 selections, showcasing a blend of emerging talent from North America and Europe, with Canadians comprising the largest group at nine picks and Europeans accounting for a significant portion of the top selections, underscoring the draft's international diversity.[2]| Pick | Player | Nationality | NHL Team | Pre-Draft Team | Position | Height | Weight | Scouting Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrik Stefan | Czech Republic | Atlanta Thrashers | Long Beach Ice Dogs (IHL) | C | 6'2" | 192 lbs | Highly skilled center known for playmaking abilities.[26] |
| 2 | Daniel Sedin | Sweden | Vancouver Canucks | MoDo Hockey (Sweden) | LW | 6'2" | 183 lbs | Creative winger with excellent vision and scoring touch. |
| 3 | Henrik Sedin | Sweden | Vancouver Canucks | MoDo Hockey (Sweden) | C | 6'2" | 183 lbs | Intelligent center excelling in faceoffs and passing. |
| 4 | Pavel Brendl | Czech Republic | New York Rangers | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) | RW | 6'0" | 210 lbs | Powerful right winger with strong shot and physical presence. |
| 5 | Tim Connolly | United States | New York Islanders | Erie Otters (OHL) | C | 6'1" | 195 lbs | Talented center with high hockey IQ and puck-handling skills. |
| 6 | Brian Finley | Canada | Nashville Predators | Barrie Colts (OHL) | G | 6'2" | 196 lbs | Athletic goaltender with quick reflexes and solid positioning.[27] |
| 7 | Kris Beech | Canada | Washington Capitals | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) | C | 6'3" | 207 lbs | Big center with good size and playmaking potential. |
| 8 | Taylor Pyatt | Canada | New York Islanders | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) | LW | 6'3" | 210 lbs | Strong left winger valued for physicality and net-front presence. |
| 9 | Jamie Lundmark | Canada | New York Rangers | Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) | C | 6'0" | 195 lbs | Versatile center with speed and scoring instincts. |
| 10 | Branislav Mezei | Slovakia | New York Islanders | Belleville Bulls (OHL) | D | 6'3" | 215 lbs | Mobile defenseman with strong defensive awareness. |
| 11 | Oleg Saprykin | Russia | Calgary Flames | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | LW | 6'0" | 190 lbs | Skilled left winger with good hands and international experience. |
| 12 | Denis Shvidki | Ukraine | Florida Panthers | Barrie Colts (OHL) | RW | 6'0" | 185 lbs | Speedy right winger with offensive flair.[28] |
| 13 | Jani Rita | Finland | Edmonton Oilers | Jokerit (Finland) | LW | 6'4" | 205 lbs | Tall left winger with a powerful shot and physical game. |
| 14 | Jeff Jillson | United States | San Jose Sharks | Michigan (CCHA) | D | 6'3" | 219 lbs | Steady defenseman from college with strong puck-moving skills.[29] |
| 15 | Scott Kelman | Canada | Phoenix Coyotes | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | C | 6'0" | 185 lbs | Energetic center with solid two-way play. |
| 16 | David Tanabe | United States | Carolina Hurricanes | Wisconsin (WCHA) | D | 6'0" | 195 lbs | College defenseman noted for defensive reliability. |
| 17 | Barret Jackman | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Regina Pats (WHL) | D | 5'11" | 200 lbs | Tough defenseman with leadership qualities and shot-blocking ability. |
| 18 | Konstantin Koltsov | Belarus | Pittsburgh Penguins | Severstal Cherepovets (Russia) | RW | 6'0" | 195 lbs | Agile right winger with creative offensive skills. |
| 19 | Kirill Safronov | Russia | Phoenix Coyotes | SKA St. Petersburg (Russia) | D | 6'2" | 220 lbs | Physical defenseman with size and international pedigree. |
| 20 | Barrett Heisten | United States | Buffalo Sabres | Maine (H-East) | LW | 6'3" | 205 lbs | College left winger with good size and scoring potential. |
| 21 | Nick Boynton | Canada | Boston Bruins | Ottawa 67's (OHL) | D | 6'2" | 210 lbs | Offensive-minded defenseman with puck skills. |
| 22 | Maxime Ouellet | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) | G | 6'1" | 190 lbs | Quick goaltender with strong fundamentals. |
| 23 | Steve McCarthy | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Kootenay Ice (WHL) | D | 6'2" | 215 lbs | Solid two-way defenseman with physical edge. |
| 24 | Luca Cereda | Switzerland | Toronto Maple Leafs | HC Ambri-Piotta (Switzerland) | C | 6'1" | 200 lbs | Skilled center representing European development. |
| 25 | Mikhail Kuleshov | Russia | Colorado Avalanche | Severstal Cherepovets (Russia) | LW | 6'2" | 200 lbs | Promising left winger with speed and skill. |
| 26 | Martin Havlat | Czech Republic | Ottawa Senators | HC Trinec (Czech) | RW | 6'0" | 185 lbs | Dynamic right winger with elite skating and hands. |
| 27 | Ari Ahonen | Finland | New Jersey Devils | JYP Jr. (Finland Jr.) | G | 6'0" | 185 lbs | Young goaltender with potential in junior ranks.[30] |
| 28 | Kristian Kudroc | Slovakia | New York Islanders | HC VTJ MEZ Michalovce (Slovakia) | D | 6'3" | 205 lbs | Tall defenseman with raw potential from European leagues.[31] |
Later Round Picks
The later rounds of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, spanning rounds 2 through 9, accounted for 244 selections out of the total 272 picks, emphasizing prospects requiring significant development and reflecting teams' strategies to stock their systems with depth. These rounds featured a broader scouting scope, with international representation growing notably in the middle and later stages, as teams increasingly tapped European and other global leagues for untapped potential. For example, Swedish forward Henrik Zetterberg was selected 210th overall in the seventh round by the Detroit Red Wings from Timrå IK of Sweden's second division.[2][7] Selections in these rounds often prioritized project players, including goaltenders with raw athleticism, such as Canadian netminder Craig Anderson, chosen 77th overall in the third round by the Calgary Flames from the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. The focus shifted toward long-term investments, with teams like the Washington Capitals and Atlanta Thrashers adding international and junior league talents early in the cluster.[32][7] To illustrate the diversity of picks, the following tables present representative selections from each round cluster, highlighting the mix of nationalities and pre-draft affiliations.Rounds 2-3 (Picks 29-96)
| Pick Number | Player | Nationality | Team | Pre-Draft Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Michal Sivek | Czech Republic | Washington Capitals | HC Kladno (Czech) |
| 30 | Luke Sellars | Canada | Atlanta Thrashers | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 77 | Craig Anderson | Canada | Calgary Flames | Guelph Storm (OHL) |
| 95 | Andre Lakos | Austria | New Jersey Devils | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 96 | Mathias Tjarnqvist | Sweden | Dallas Stars | Rögle BK (Sweden) |
Rounds 4-6 (Picks 97-186)
| Pick Number | Player | Nationality | Team | Pre-Draft Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | Chris Dyment | United States | Montreal Canadiens | Boston University (H-East) |
| 98 | David Kaczowka | Canada | Atlanta Thrashers | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 115 | Ryan Malone | United States | Pittsburgh Penguins | Omaha Lancers (USHL) |
| 138 | Ryan Miller | United States | Buffalo Sabres | Michigan State University (CCHA) |
| 185 | Scott Cameron | Canada | New Jersey Devils | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 186 | Brett Draney | Canada | Dallas Stars | Kamloops Blazers (WHL) |
Rounds 7-9 (Picks 187-272)
| Pick Number | Player | Nationality | Team | Pre-Draft Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 187 | Ivan Rachunek | Czech Republic | Tampa Bay Lightning | ZPS Zlin Juniors (Czech) |
| 210 | Henrik Zetterberg | Sweden | Detroit Red Wings | Timrå IK (Sweden-2) |
| 245 | Tommi Santala | Finland | Atlanta Thrashers | Jokerit (Finland) |
| 270 | James Desmarais | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) |
| 272 | Mikhail Donika | Russia | Dallas Stars | Torpedo Yaroslavl (Russia) |
Notable Trades
Sedin Twins Acquisition Trade
Prior to the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, the top four picks were ordered as follows: the expansion Atlanta Thrashers held the first overall selection, followed by the Tampa Bay Lightning at second, the Vancouver Canucks at third, and the Chicago Blackhawks at fourth.[14] In preparation for the draft, Vancouver general manager Brian Burke executed a key pre-draft transaction on March 14, 1999, trading defenseman Bryan McCabe and the Canucks' 2000 first-round draft pick (which became Pavel Vorobiev) to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Chicago's 1999 first-round pick, the fourth overall selection.[33] This move gave Vancouver control of both the third and fourth picks entering draft day.[34] On June 26, 1999, during the draft proceedings at the FleetCenter in Boston, Burke orchestrated a multi-step maneuver to secure consecutive top-three selections for Swedish twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin, who were widely regarded as the draft's premier prospects and had expressed a desire to play together.[14] The centerpiece was a trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning, in which Vancouver sent its fourth overall pick (rights to Pavel Brendl), a compensatory third-round pick (75th overall, originally Brett Scheffelmaier), and a third-round pick acquired from Buffalo (88th overall, originally Jimmie Olvestad) to Tampa Bay in exchange for the Lightning's second overall pick.[35] This positioned Vancouver with the second and third picks.[36] To ensure the twins could be drafted consecutively without interference, Burke coordinated with Atlanta's general manager Don Waddell, securing an informal agreement that the Thrashers would select Czech center Patrik Stefan first overall, preserving the draft order and avoiding a Sedin selection.[37] Atlanta honored the arrangement by choosing Stefan, allowing Vancouver to select right winger Daniel Sedin second overall and center Henrik Sedin third overall.[14] The acquisition is widely regarded as one of the most astute draft-day maneuvers in NHL history, transforming the Canucks' franchise trajectory under Burke's leadership.[38]Other Significant Draft-Day Trades
In addition to the high-profile maneuver for the Sedin twins, the 1999 NHL Entry Draft featured several other notable trades on June 26 that reshaped pick ownership and team rosters, with a total of 15 deals affecting more than 20 selections across rounds.[39] One key transaction involved the New York Rangers and Calgary Flames, where the Rangers acquired the Flames' 9th overall pick, forward Jan Hlavac, and a 1999 third-round pick in exchange for center Marc Savard and the Rangers' 11th overall pick.[39][40] This swap allowed the Rangers to move up in the first round, selecting center Jamie Lundmark at 9th overall, while the Flames used the 11th pick on left wing Oleg Saprykin. The deal provided the Rangers with immediate forward depth through Hlavac, who contributed 19 goals and 42 points in 67 games in his first full season with the team in 1999-2000, enhancing their offensive flexibility during a rebuilding phase.[41][42] Another significant exchange occurred between the Anaheim Mighty Ducks and Phoenix Coyotes, with the Ducks acquiring defenseman Oleg Tverdovsky from Phoenix in exchange for center Travis Green and the Ducks' 15th overall pick. Phoenix used the acquired selection on center Scott Kelman, bolstering their prospect pool, while Anaheim gained a proven NHL defender in Tverdovsky, who had recorded 20 points in 82 games the previous season and helped stabilize their blue line. This trade exemplified teams leveraging draft assets to address immediate roster needs, with Green providing veteran leadership and 13 goals in 70 games for Phoenix in 1999-2000.[39][43][44] Overall, these transactions, including the Nashville Predators' focus on goaltending by selecting Brian Finley at 6th overall after positioning for high-value picks, underscored the draft's role in enhancing team flexibility and long-term planning amid a league expansion era.[45]Notable Draftees
First-Round Successes and Underperformers
The first round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft featured 28 selections that ultimately produced a modest return on investment for teams, with only 12 players establishing themselves as NHL regulars and an average debut age of 21.5 years across those who reached the league.[2] The draft's clearest successes were the Sedin twins, selected second and third overall by the Vancouver Canucks, who formed one of the most productive sibling duos in NHL history and anchored the franchise for nearly two decades. Daniel Sedin amassed 1,040 games played, 393 goals, and 571 assists while capturing the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer twice.[46][47] His brother, Henrik Sedin, logged 1,041 games with 218 goals and 689 assists, earning the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP in 2010.[48][49] Other standout performers included forward Martin Havlat, who contributed offensively with 790 games, 272 goals, and 322 assists for 594 points over a journeyman career spanning multiple teams, and defenseman Barret Jackman, a stay-at-home stalwart who played 876 games, won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in 2003, and helped the St. Louis Blues reach the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.[2][50][51] Several first-rounders delivered solid, if unspectacular, contributions as reliable role players. Taylor Pyatt provided physical presence and secondary scoring, appearing in 772 games with 127 goals across various franchises.[2] Defenseman Nick Boynton offered steady puck-moving ability in 507 games, totaling 139 points.[2] Tim Connolly, a skilled playmaker limited by chronic injuries, still managed 497 games and 261 points, showcasing flashes of high-end talent when healthy.[2] In contrast, numerous high picks underperformed relative to expectations, highlighting the draft's volatility. Patrik Stefan, taken first overall by the Atlanta Thrashers, struggled to translate his junior dominance to the NHL, playing 455 games for 127 points and earning a reputation as one of the draft's premier busts.[52][2] Pavel Brendl, selected fourth by the New York Rangers, appeared in only 78 games with 11 goals before fading from the league.[2] Kris Beech tallied 30 points in 166 games after being picked seventh by the Washington Capitals.[2] Goaltender Brian Finley, sixth overall to the Nashville Predators, managed a mere four NHL appearances and spent the bulk of his professional career in the minor leagues.[2]Late-Round Standouts
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft is often critiqued for its thin talent pool in the early rounds, yet it yielded several unexpected contributors from later selections, particularly from rounds three through nine, where players outperformed their draft positions to forge substantial NHL careers. These late-round picks exemplified the value of persistent scouting and development, providing teams with cost-controlled talent that contributed to playoff runs and individual accolades, in stark contrast to the high expectations and frequent disappointments among top-30 selections. Henrik Zetterberg, selected 210th overall in the seventh round by the Detroit Red Wings, emerged as the draft's premier late-round gem, anchoring the franchise for 15 seasons. In 1,082 regular-season games—all with Detroit—he tallied 337 goals and 623 assists for 960 points, while adding 57 goals and 63 assists in 137 playoff contests. Zetterberg won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2008, leading the Red Wings to a Stanley Cup championship that year with 13 goals and 14 assists in 22 games, and he earned All-Star selections in 2007 and 2008. His two-way prowess and leadership, including a stint as team captain from 2013 to 2018, underscored Detroit's scouting acumen under general manager Ken Holland, who prioritized international talent evaluation.[53][5] Craig Anderson, drafted 77th overall in the third round by the Calgary Flames, became one of the draft class's most durable goaltenders, playing 740 NHL games across multiple teams before retiring in 2023. He posted a career record of 319-275-71 with a 2.86 goals-against average, .912 save percentage, and 43 shutouts, including a franchise-record 202 wins for the Ottawa Senators over 10 seasons from 2011 to 2021. Anderson earned a Vezina Trophy finalist nod in 2011-12 after leading the league with a .917 save percentage and five shutouts, and he was the last active player from the 1999 class, signing a ceremonial one-day contract with the Buffalo Sabres to retire as a member of that organization. His longevity highlighted the potential for mid-round goaltenders to thrive through steady minor-league seasoning and opportunistic trades.[54][32] Other notable late-round selections included Ryan Miller, taken 138th overall in the fifth round by the Buffalo Sabres, who played 796 games with a .914 save percentage and 44 shutouts, winning the Vezina Trophy in 2010 after a league-leading .929 save percentage and seven shutouts. These players, alongside depth contributors like forward Sean Avery (118th overall, fourth round, New York Rangers) with 507 games and noted agitator reputation, demonstrated the draft's hidden value beyond its early picks. In total, at least 11 players from rounds seven through nine appeared in over 200 NHL games, with eight surpassing 400, illustrating the class's tail-end productivity despite overall criticism. Detroit's success with Zetterberg exemplified the Red Wings' renowned scouting system in the late 1990s, which emphasized thorough evaluation of European prospects and led to multiple low-risk, high-reward acquisitions that bolstered their "Motor City" core during a dynasty era. This approach contrasted sharply with the draft's first-round volatility, where many high selections failed to materialize, underscoring how late-round investments could yield Hall of Fame-caliber returns.[55]International Representation
Draftees by Nationality
The 1999 NHL Entry Draft featured a diverse group of 272 players selected from 17 different countries, reflecting growing international participation in the league's talent pool. Canadian players dominated the selections, comprising the largest contingent and underscoring the country's traditional stronghold in hockey development.[4] North American draftees accounted for 158 players (58%), with Canada leading at 108 selections (40%) and the United States at 50 (18%). European representation was substantial, totaling 114 players (42%), the highest non-North American share since the 1990 draft.[2] The following table aggregates the draftees by nationality, including totals, percentages of the overall draft class, and notable first-round selections for major countries:| Nationality | Total | Percentage | First-Round Picks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | 108 | 40% | 9 (e.g., Brian Finley, Kris Beech, Taylor Pyatt) |
| United States | 50 | 18% | 4 (e.g., Tim Connolly, Jeff Jillson) |
| Russia | 27 | 10% | 3 (e.g., Oleg Saprykin, Kirill Safronov, Mikhail Kuleshov) |
| Sweden | 23 | 8% | 2 (e.g., Daniel Sedin, Henrik Sedin) |
| Czech Republic | 18 | 7% | 3 (e.g., Patrik Stefan, the top overall pick) |
| Finland | 18 | 7% | 2 (e.g., Jani Rita) |
| Slovakia | 12 | 4% | 2 (e.g., Branislav Mezei) |
| Others (e.g., Ukraine 1, Belarus 1, Switzerland 1, Latvia 1, Kazakhstan 4, etc.) | 16 | 6% | 3 (e.g., Denis Shvidki, Konstantin Koltsov, Luca Cereda) |