NHL: The last five number one picks and where they are now

2. Nico Hischier

Nico Hischier was drafted #1 overall in the 2017 NHL draft by the New Jersey Devils. This young center has built a promising future for himself on the devils’ roster and has certainly showed his ability to contribute to the team. In his first two years in the NHL, Hischier has been able to give his team 99 points.

Hischier has been a very dynamic player from the start. He has a natural awareness for the game both offensively and defensively and also has a natural play-making ability. There is no doubt that his time with the Devils will be an important one, not only for himself but the organization itself. The opportunity to also skate with players such as Taylor Hall, P.K. Subban, and Jack Hughes will certainly improve his performance.

Hischier has shown that he has what it takes to prosper in the league and there is a good future for the devils with him on the team. He most likely will remain on the Devils unless there is a serious trade involved but he would be considered a potential franchise player for the Devils.

It has been a long time coming for the Devils on their recent improvement as a team. This team hasn’t excelled in quite some time. Next year will be a very crucial and interesting one for the Devils as they have acquired some great players during the off-season. Hischier will be one of the key players to help lead the team to success.

3. Auston Matthews

Auston Matthews made history in his NHL debut not only as a number one draft pick but also by netting four goals in his first game. He surely wasted no time showing the league that he entered the NHL ready to play. The Toronto Maple Leafs are fortunate enough to have such a dynamic player on their team.

Matthews has a powerful shot, excellent puck control, and has some of the most well-balanced skating in the entire league. There is no doubt that Matthews has a bright future with the Maple Leafs. If he were to be traded, it would be humongous news to the entire league.

Matthews already has several achievements and records during his time in the NHL. One of those achievements is winning the Calder Trophy. This is not an easy task for any rookie to achieve but it is well deserved by Matthews. In addition, he already has 200 points for his first three seasons in the league.

Matthews is certainly on track to achieve legendary status at this rate in the NHL. He definitely has some of the highest potential and will certainly be an asset to any team that he plays for. The Leafs are best to hold on to Matthews for as long as they can because this is a player that is too good to lose.

Not only does he have franchise player potential but he also is able to lead and boost the players on his team. Matthews is a player who will do many great things in the present and future in the NHL.

4. Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid is arguably the greatest player in the league currently. His amazing speed, natural scoring ability, and the constant highlight reel plays, have marked him as one of the leagues’ best. McDavid was drafted number one for a reason and his ability to pull his weight has certainly shown to his team and the rest of the NHL.

With four years of playing in the NHL, McDavid already has a total of 372 points; that’s almost 100 points per season. His style of play and statistics certainly show that he not only has earned his spot to play in the NHL but he also will have a spot for a very long time.

McDavid will definitely be a franchise player for the Edmonton Oilers unless there is a major trade involved. He is not only their captain but he is the best player on the team. His place on the team is certainly an important piece to the Oilers’ puzzle. This is a player that the Oilers cannot afford to lose and if they do, he will be a challenging replacement.

McDavid surely has a bright future and this is a future that has the utmost potential of legendary status. He has put up amazing points in his career and has definitely changed the Edmonton Oilers organization for the better. It will be both entertaining and interesting to watch what McDavid will do for the rest of his career in the NHL.

5. Aaron Ekblad

Aaron Ekblad has been a very dynamic player from the start of his career with the Florida Panthers. He is a good sized player, with an accurate shot, and very well defensive minded who can also back check well to help the teams’ play. Ekblad certainly has the potential to be an excellent player for any team that he is a part of.

Although the Panthers have been a struggling team for quite some time, Ekblad has still been an important asset to the team. With players like Jonathan Huberdeau, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Aleksander Barkov, this will not only boost Ekblad’s potential but it will definitely help the Panthers to success.

Ekblad also has a few awards to showcase his talent as well. Ekblad was the 2015 Calder Trophy winner and it was a well deserved award for his outstanding rookie performance. It is challenging for Defenseman to be awarded such a highly regarded trophy but Ekblad’s performance showed that this challenge was accomplish able.

It is unsure whether or not Ekblad will be a franchise player for the Panthers but if he is traded, it will be an important one. A trade involving Ekblad will require a lot of money and good players involved. Ekblad certainly has a lot of potential for the rest of his career no matter what team he is a part of.

However staying on the Panthers will certainly lead to better performance for the team. No matter what roster he is on, Ekblad will definitely contribute well to the team and be a solid entertainment to the NHL.