In the 1980’s, the NHL entry draft has served as a platform for teams to dramatically improve their team in one pick. Many teams have benefited from owning the rights to a top 20 pick; Detroit took Steve Yzerman 4th overall in 1983, Toronto drafted Wendel Clark 1st overall in 1985 and the North Stars added Brian Bellows with their first round pick in 1982.
Not every player selected in the top 20 is not guaranteed to impress however; in fact, many have been hyped up as stand out junior players only to be nothing but a disappointment after being drafted.
*The biggest bust from each year is based on the highest draft pick to perform at the lowest level from each draft year*
1980 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Montreal Canadiens select Doug Wickenheiser from the Regina Pats of the WHL
Biggest Bust: The Hartford Whalers took forward Fred Arthur with the 8th pick in 1980. Arthur played 80 NHL games and had 9 points over 3 seasons. Rather than accept a demotion to the minors in October 1982, he retired to attend medical school.
1981 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Winnipeg Jets drafted Dale Hawerchuk from the Cornwall Royals of the QMJHL
Biggest Bust: The Minnesota North Stars opted to select defenseman Ron Meighan who was a Max Kaminsky Trophy winner (most outstanding defenseman in OHL) but only managed to record 10 points in 48 NHL games.
1982 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Boston Bruins select Gord Kluzak from the Billings Bighorns of the WHL
Biggest Bust: Gord Kluzak. The Bruins passed on Brian Bellows, who went 2nd overall to Minnesota. Kluzak was forced to retire at the age of 27 as his knee injuries were so severe. Kluzak had 123 points in 299 career games – all with Boston.
1983 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Minnesota North Stars select Brian Lawton from Mount St. Charles High School.
Biggest Bust: The Buffalo Sabres burned the 10th overall pick on forward Normand Lacombe who only played 4 full seasons compiling 115 points between Buffalo, Edmonton and Philadelphia.
1984 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Pittsburgh Penguins select Mario Lemieux from the Laval Voisins of the QMJHL
Biggest Bust: The Los Angeles Kings used the 6th overall pick to take defenseman Craig Redmond. Redmond split his time between the NHL and AHL over his 13 year career, tallying only 84 points.
1985 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Toronto Maple Leafs select Wendel Clark from the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL
Biggest Bust: The LA Kings had both the 9th and 10th picks in 1985; they took forwards Craig Duncanson and Dan Gratton who combined to play 45 games and had 10 points between them.
1986 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Detroit Red Wings select Joe Murphy from Michigan State University of the NCAA
Biggest Bust: The New Jersey Devils wasted the 3rd overall pick on forward Neil Brady. Although Brady scored the first goal for the modern-day Ottawa Senators franchise against Patrick Roy, he never found the scoring touch he displayed at the junior ranks and retired in 2001.
1987 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Buffalo Sabres select Pierre Turgeon from the Granby Bisons of the QMJHL
Biggest Bust: Passing on Joe Sakic (#15 pick), the LA Kings continue their run of terrible picks by taking defenseman Wayne McBean. Sakic is a future Hall of Famer player, McBean’s greatest success while in the NHL was dating actress Alyssa Milano from 1988 to 1990.
1988 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Minnesota North Stars select Mike Modano from the Prince Albert Raiders of the WHL
Biggest Bust: Daniel Dore. Who, you ask? Dore was drafted by the Quebec Nordiques and played just 17 NHL games. The very next year, Quebec would wise up and select Mats Sundin in the first round.
1989 NHL Draft
1st overall: The Quebec Nordiques select Mats Sundin from Nacka (Sweden)
Biggest Bust: The Vancouver Canucks gambled on Jason Herter, and it paid off. Herter recorded a point in every NHL game he ever played – too bad he only played 1 game.
Dan Leggieri - Hockey runs in this man's blood. From the first time he laced up his first pair of skates, he was hooked and there was no stopping his ...
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