The 2010s saw a lot of impressive first overall picks, but let’s take a look at which ones were the best players.
With the NHL on pause and no promise of a return this season, it gives us time to talk about all sorts of hockey history. One interesting talking point is always past NHL drafts, whether it’s the steals, the busts, or the bonafide superstars.
A good draft is what can create a dynasty like the Chicago Blackhawks, while a bad one can cause a team struggle for many years like the Edmonton Oilers.
Generally, if a team is able to get their hands on a first overall pick, that player will soon help turn the franchise around and become a contender shortly thereafter.
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However, that is not always the case. As mentioned above, the Oilers are the perfect example of this. In the 2010’s they selected first overall four separate times, and struggled throughout most of those years to find success.
There are those picks however like the Ovechkin’s and the Crosby’s of the past that can completely change a franchise for the better and have their respective teams become contenders for a long time. In today’s article, I will go over the three best first overall picks from the 2010s.
3. Auston Matthews
The Toronto Maple Leafs, after many years of struggling and not seeming to have answers, finally turned a corner when they were able to obtain the first overall pick for the 2016 NHL Entry Draft and select the American phenom Auston Matthews.
Matthews instantly helped turn the franchise around, as the rookie led the team in scoring with 40 goals and 69 points and brought them back into the playoffs for the first time in four seasons. It turns out the now 22-year-old was only scratching the surface.
The Rocket Richard Trophy was a very real possibility for Matthews this season as his 47 goals trailed both Alex Ovechkin and David Pastrnak by just one for the NHL lead. Unfortunately, because of the NHL season potentially being cancelled, he may not capture that award this year, but should have no problem winning one in the near future. In just 282 career regular season games to this point, he has put up an incredible 158 goals and 285 points.
At his age, it is expected that Matthews will only continue to get better, which has to be a big fear of goaltenders all around the league. The sky is the limit here and although he is still very young, he has a very good chance to end up going down as the greatest American born goal scorer of all time. This pick couldn’t have worked out any better for the Leafs.