Highest Scoring First Overall Picks in NHL History

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby was the top pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. During the past 20 seasons, he’s done some magical things like winning the Stanley Cup, scoring a Golden Goal at the Olympics, and chasing Mario Lemieux’s franchise records. 

At 37, Crosby is not only on pace to surpass Lemieux’s Pittsburgh records; when he does, he’ll become the NHL’s highest-scoring first-overall pick in history. 

Since the first NHL Amateur Draft in 1963, 62 players have heard their name called first at the annual event, including the most recent top pick, Macklin Celebrini (San Jose Sharks). Fifty-eight of those prospects have gone on to play at least one game in the NHL, with 56 of them scoring a point since three of these names have been goalies: Michel Plasse (1968), Rick DiPietro (2000), and Marc-Andre Fleury (2003). 

A further analysis of the list shows that 22 players played over 1,000 games, 24 scored at least 300 goals, 26 had a minimum of 400 assists, and 32 managed to collect 500 points. Although all those performances are worth celebrating, today, we look at the highest-scoring first-overall picks in NHL history.

Highest Scoring First Overall Picks in NHL History

10. Gilbert Perreault (1970)

1,191 GP - 512 G - 814 A - 1,326 P

Gilbert Perreault played his entire career with the Buffalo Sabres from 1970 to 1987, winning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. Although he played in the Stanley Cup Final twice, he never won a title, the only item missing from his Hall of Fame resume. Perreault was a three-time 40–goal scorer who reached 100 points twice in his career. As of 2024, he remains the Sabres' all-time leading scorer.

9. Pierre Turgeon (1989)

1,294 GP - 515 G - 812 A - 1,327 P

Pierre Turgeon, a member of the 500-goal club, entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023. During his 19-year career, he dressed for six clubs and scored a personal best 58 goals in 1992-93, the same season he finished with 132 points. Unlike Perreault, Turgeon never skated in the Stanley Cup Final but was a 13-time 20-goal scorer and finished with 1,327 points.

8. Mats Sundin (1989)

1,346 GP - 564 G - 785 A - 1,349 P

Mats Sundin became the first Swedish player selected first overall and the only one from the Scandinavian country to score 500 goals in the NHL. Like Turgeon, he won a single award during his 18-year career and never played for the Stanley Cup. Sundin was a 15-time 30-goal scorer and, having scored 987 points with the Toronto Maple Leafs became the closest any player ever got to 1,000 with the Original Six franchise. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012.

7. Guy Lafleur (1971)

1,126 GP - 560 G - 793 A - 1,353 P

The Montreal Canadiens have had some legendary players in their history, with Guy Lafleur one of the best of all time. As the franchise leading scorer with 1,353 points, he was the highest-scoring first-overall pick when he retired in 1991. He won the Stanley Cup five times, with three scoring titles and three MVPs. Even though Lafleur didn’t play his entire career in Montreal, he remains the only skater to reach 60 goals with the club.

6. Mike Modano (1988)

1,499 GP - 561 G - 813 A - 1,374 P

Mike Modano played 20 years with the Dallas Stars franchise, which was the Minnesota North Stars when they drafted him in 1988. Interestingly, he reached 1,374 points without scoring 100 in a single season. As a one-time 50-goal scorer, Modano scored over 80 points on eight occasions and didn’t win any awards besides the Stanley Cup in 1999. He entered the Hall of Fame in 2014 and is the second highest scoring American-born player. 

5. Dale Hawerchuk (1981)

1,188 GP - 518 G - 891 A - 1,409 P

Dale Hawerchuk became the first top pick to score over 100 points in their rookie season, capturing the Calder Trophy in 1982. The seven-time 40-goal scorer reached 53 in 1985, the same season he netted 130 points. Like a handful of players on the list, Hawerchuk never won the Stanley Cup, losing in the 1997 Final, his final season. The Hall of Famer (Class of 2001) finished with 1,409 points.

4. Joe Thornton (1997)

1,714 GP - 430 G - 1,109 A - 1,539 P

Joe Thornton is the only professional athlete in North American sports history to win the MVP award in the season a team traded them. Despite ranking as one of the best passers of all-time, Thornton didn’t win any awards except the Hart and Art Ross in 2005-06, finishing the campaign with 125 points with a split of 33 with Boston and 92 with San Jose. The only first overall pick to skate in over 1,700 games, he lost in the Stanley Cup Final (2016), the only time he had a chance to win hockey’s grandest prize. Having officially retired in 2023, he’s eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2026. 

3. Alex Ovechkin (2004)*

1,446 GP - 843 G - 697 A - 1,550 P

Alex Ovechkin enters the 2024-25 season just 41 goals shy of Wayne Gretzky’s record of 894. Arguably the greatest Russian-born player in NHL history, he’s a record nine-time Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner. For years, many wondered if he’d be considered one of the greatest without a Stanley Cup, but he helped Washington win their only title in 2018, cementing his legacy. At 39, Ovechkin still has two seasons left on his current deal. 

2. Sidney Crosby (2005)*

1,272 GP - 598 G - 1,004 A - 1,596 P

As mentioned in the opening, Crosby is not only one of the top first-overall picks but also genuinely regarded as one of the best hockey players ever. His resume includes several champions and many trophies, including the Art Ross and Hart Trophies. Everyone tunes in to watch Sid the Kid work his magic in the NHL or on the international stage. Already a guaranteed first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s an argument that the Hall waives his three-year eligibility period, just like Lemieux and Gretzky, and inducts Crosby whenever he hangs them up.

1. Mario Lemieux (1984)

915 GP - 690 G - 1,033 A - 1,723 P

Lemieux needs no introduction. As one of the top three or five hockey players of all time, Le Magnifique scored 1,723 points in just 915 games. Unfortunately, injuries and cancer derailed one of the game’s most promising careers. If he remained healthy for his entire career, there’s a chance he would have scored 2,000 points and 800 goals. Lemieux was a special player who saved the Penguins on and off the ice, becoming the first-ever player-owner in 2000. No matter who passes him for the top spot on this list, Lemieux will always have one of the most unique hockey legacies that no one can match.

Further Perspective

The cut-off for future first-overall picks to climb into the top ten on this list stands at 1,326 points. Active skaters who are within striking distance of that include the following players:

●      Patrick Kane (Detroit Red Wings) 1,284 points (needs 42)

●      John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs) 1,040 points (needs 286)

●      Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) 982 points (needs 344)

●      Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) 899 points (needs 427)

●      Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (Edmonton Oilers) 699 points (needs 627) 

There’s no telling how many points or goals Bedard, Celebrini, Jack Hughes, or Auston Matthews will have. But watching them on their respective journeys is one of the best things about being a sports fan. Records are meant to be broken, and Lemieux has been at the top of this list for quite some time. Who’s next?