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

Over the last five years, the NHL has acquired some extraordinarily talented hockey players. Here are the last five number one overall picks and where they are now.

The New Jersey Devils drafted Jack Hughes with the number one overall pick at the 2019 NHL Draft. Hughes is the latest player to be drafted first overall. He has an impressive legacy to live up to, as the last five first overall picks have made a huge difference in the NHL.

If Hughes can live up to the billing and be as good as his fellow first overall pick brethren, the Devils should be in good shape. Who does he have to live up to? Here are the five previous first overall picks, and what they’re up to these days.

1. Rasmus Dahlin

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Before Rasmus Dahlin was selected by the Buffalo Sabres with the first overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, it had been four years since a defenseman was picked with the first overall selection. Dahlin has proven to the league that he is deserving of that selection. As a rookie defenseman, he was able to put up a total amount of 44 points, making him one of the top rookies in the league.

Dahlin is a very dynamic skater and has an amazing ability to make plays for his team. Although, he is very young and has only had one year of play, his potential to be a star is extremely high; especially for a developing team.

The Sabres have been a struggling team for a lot of seasons and they are currently in a developing stage. However, they have been able to acquire a lot of dynamic players to help boost the team.

His future appears to be very promising to stay with the Sabres and help them blossom into a powerful team. Having the opportunity to play with players such as Jeff Skinner and Jack Eichel will certainly increase his potential as well as the team itself.

It is hard to tell whether or not Dahlin will have a lasting place in Buffalo, as he only has one year of experience. However, the Sabres certainly should hold on to him as long as they can. A trade involving Dahlin will definitely be a big one. As of now, they will benefit more by having him on the team.

Dahlin is a prime example of a true well-rounded defenseman. He can shoot, pass, score, read plays, and have a good physical play as well. This is exactly what the Sabres need in a player and one that will also help boost the rest of team. Dahlin has certainly earned his keep in the NHL so far and there’s no telling what the future will have in store for him but it can be inferred that it will be a bright one.

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.

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.