Top 5 Most Valuable 1st Overall Picks Since 2000

Getting the first overall pick gives you a chance to reboot your franchise and rebuild your team to contend down the road. There are first overall picks who are considered “generational” and these are the players who can quickly make an impact on your roster. This will allow teams to speed up the rebuild process and get into the winner’s circle. Here are the top 5 first overall picks since 2000 who made a quick impact and has brought success to their respective franchise.

5. Auston Matthews

Auston Matthews came into the league in 2016 after a disappointing season from the Toronto Maple Leafs. One of the greatest NHL debuts of all time, having 4 goals against the Ottawa Senators. In his rookie season, the Maple Leafs made playoffs after coming last the previous year. He is the only Leaf to record 60 goals in a season and won the Hart Trophy (MVP) for the first time since Ted Kennedy in 1955. He has been driving the Leafs in the right direction but still looking for success in the playoffs.

4. Connor McDavid

Has been labelled as the “Next Sidney Crosby” ever since he entered junior hockey. Connor McDavid has surpassed any expectations that people had on him when entering the NHL. At the age of 26, he already has 2 Hart Trophies, 4 Art Ross trophies, and 3 Ted Lindsay’s. He currently has 83 points in 45 games which leads the NHL and has a 15 point window from his teammate Leon Draisaitl. In McDavid’s first full year (broken collarbone in rookie year), the Edmonton Oilers made playoffs for the first time since the 2005-2006 season. McDavid has had a taste of the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the playoffs but is still shy of his first Stanley Cup.

3. Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane was one of the last cornerstone pieces to their eventual dynasty run. Chicago already had Toews, Keith, and Seabrook in the system but Kane made the biggest change to the franchise. In 06-07, the Hawks were 11 games under 500. In Kane’s first year, they were 6 games over 500. Kane ended up winning the Calder Trophy as the best rookie and then he took off from there. From 2010-2015, the Blackhawks won 3 Stanley Cups with Kane winning a Conn Smythe as the most valuable player in the playoffs. He currently sits 5th in all time points by an American born player. Kane is 183 points away from Brett Hull for 1st all time. With rumours of him leaving Chicago, he has been a crucial part of their success and will go down as one of the best to wear the Chicago Blackhawks jersey.

2. Alexander Ovechkin

Taken first overall by the Washington Capitals, Alex Ovechkin has been dominant ever since he stepped on the ice. He scored 52 goals in his rookie year, earning him the Calder trophy over rookie phenom Sidney Crosby. He has nine 50 goal seasons and even cracked 65 goals in 2007-2008. He currently carries 9 Rocket Richard trophies and is in the hunt for his tenth as he is sitting 4th with 30 goals this season. He led the Washington Capitals to their first ever Stanley Cup in 2017 where the beat the Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Ovi is hunting down Wayne Gretzky for the most goals all time. He is currently 85 away from being the greatest goal scorer of all time. He is a franchise changing player for the city of Washington. When he retires, expect a statue and his jersey to the rafters.

1. Sidney Crosby

Labelled as the “Next One”, Crosby had high expectations coming into the NHL. He became the youngest player to record 100 points. Let’s just say, it didn’t take long for Crosby to feel comfortable in the NHL. It only took four seasons to get his first Stanley Cup, becoming the youngest captain to hoist Lord Stanley. He has been successful every where he played. Crosby became a member of the Triple Crown after getting gold in the 2010 Olympics, 2015 World Championship, and winning the Stanley Cup. From 2015 to 2017, Pittsburgh became the first team to win the Stanley Cup back to back years since Detroit in 1997. The Pittsburgh Penguins were struggling financially in the early 2000s and if it wasn’t for them winning the lottery and getting Crosby, they may have moved locations. Sidney Crosby has made the biggest impact on a Franchise since the Oilers got Gretzky in the 80s.

These are 5 players who have made a “franchise changing” impact. A player who leads by example, makes their teammates better, and looks for success every day. Getting the 1st overall pick can put your team in the right direction for a future Stanley Cup run.