NHL: The 30 best draft picks in NHL history (Updated 2023)

25. Best NHL draft picks in history: Paul Kariya, Anaheim Ducks

There are a lot of hockey players that play with true grit and aggression and others that are simply ahead in an entirely different category of their own. When it comes to left winger Paul Kariya, he’s in a rare group of players that was easily able to dissect what he saw on the ice as good as if not better than many of the best head coaches in hockey.

From a player’s point of view, Kariya, selected fourth overall in the 1993 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, was able to make quick adjustments to strategies on the fly and capitalize on mismatches against opposing teams. He was eerily accurate in predicting what defensive alignments would be thrown his way and attack accordingly.

Kariya spent almost a decade with the Ducks, seven of which as team captain, and helped bring the franchise massive exposure to the hockey world. Besides being a great leader for his team, he won back-to-back Lady Byng Memorial Trophies in 1996 and 1997 respectively for incredible sportsmanlike conduct on the ice.

He was also a class act off the ice as many considered him one of the friendliest players you’d ever want to call a teammate or even face as an opponent. The Ducks officially retired Kariya’s No. 9 jersey, especially since he represented the franchise in six NHL All-Star Games.