The 2017 NHL Draft - a gold mine for NHL talent?

If you take a look back to the 2017 NHL entry-draft, you will notice a higher number of established NHLers, more-so than the average draft year.

The 2017 draft held the narrative of first inaugural draft for the expansion Vegas Golden Knights. Vegas GM George Mcphee had three picks in the first-round; and he set his plan in-motion with three solid picks. Starting out with Cody Glass at 6 followed by Nick Suzuki at pick 13 (centre from the OHL's Guelph Storm) and finally Erik Brannstrom with the 15 overall pick (defenceman out of the Swedish league)

2017's crop of prospects filled out each position; NHL gm's had lots to think about.

The night begun with the New Jersey Devil's selecting Swiss centre Nico Hischier first overall; captain of the QMJHL's Halifax Mooseheads.


The second overall pick was held by the Philadelphia Flyers, and they used it to select Canadian centre Nolan Patrick from the WHL's Brandon Wheat King's.

Rounding out the top-3 picks was the Dallas Stars, who selected Finnish defenseman, Miro Heiskanen (Liiga- HIFK).

The league-wide consensus best player of the 2017 NHL draft class, looking back now is defenceman Cale Makar, overwhelmingly.

Makar was selected at fourth-overall by the Colorado Avalanche out of the BCHL (British Columbia Hockey League), a future commit to UMass (University of Massachusetts).

Makar has flourished right before NHL fans eyes; winning the Calder Trophy, then the Norris Trophy, a Stanley Cup championship and finally a Conn Smythe Trophy. All before his 23rd Birthday.

Here's how the final 28-picks of the first-round unfolded:

5. Elias Pettersson, C, Timra, Hockey Allsvenskan - Vancouver Canucks

6. Cody Glass, C, Portland Winter Hawks, OHL - Nashville Predators

7. Lias Andersson, C, HV71, SHL - Los Angeles Kings

8. Casey Middelstadt, C, Greenbay Gamblers, USHL - Buffalo Sabres

9. Michael Rasmussen, C, Tri-City Americans, WHL - Detroit Red Wings

10. Owen Tippett, RW, Mississauga Steelheads, OHL - Philadelphia Flyers

11. Gabriel Vilardi, C, Windsor Spitfires, OHL - LA Kings

12. Martin Necas, C, HC Kometa Brno, Czech Extraliga - Carolina Hurricanes

13. Nick Suzuki, C, Guelph Storm, OHL - Montreal Canadiens

14. Callan Foote, D, Kelowna Rockets, WHL - Tampa Bay Lightning

15. Erik Brannstrom, D, JV71, SHL - Ottawa Senators

16. Juuso Valimaki, D, Tri-City Americans, WHL - Calgary Flames

17. Timothy Liljegren, D, Rogle BK, SHL - Toronto Maple Leafs

18. Urho Vaakanainen, D, JYP, Liiga - Boston Bruins

19. Josh Norris, C, USNTDP, USHL - Ottawa Senators

20. Robert Thomas, C, London Knights, OHL - St. Louis Blues

21. Filip Chytil, C, PSG Zlin, Czech Extraliga - New York Rangers

22. Kailer Yamamoto, RW, Spokane Chiefs, WHL - Edmonton Oilers

23. Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D, Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL - Pittsburgh Pengiuns

24. Kristian Vesalainen, RW, Frolunda HC, SHL - Winnipeg Jets

25. Ryan Poehling, C, St. Cloud State, NCHC - Pittsburgh Penguins

26. Jake Oettinger, G, Boston University, HE - Dallas Stars

27. Morgan Frost, C, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL - Philadelphia Flyers

28. Shane Bowers, C, Waterloo Blackhawks, USHL - Colorado Avalanche

29. Henri Jokiharju, D, Portland Winter Hawks, WHL - Buffalo Sabres

30. Eeli Tolvanen, RW, Sioux City Musketeers, USHL - Nashville Predators

31. Klim Kostin, C/LW, Dynamo Moscow, KHL - St. Louis Blues

32. Conor Timmins, D, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, OHL - Arizona Coyotes

Follow-up piece in the works about each players progression, and statistics since being drafted.