Is 1996 the worst draft in the last 20 years?

[oilsands]

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1996e.html

The only 'above average' players in the first round are JP Dumont and Danny Briere.

What do you think?

[Bryanbryoil]

Phillips is decent as well.

Chara (Norris Candidate) was also drafted in the later rounds.

Pretty crappy draft, how does it compare to the '02 (Niinimaki) draft???

[jsho]

What are you talking about? Joe Sakic's successor was drafted 14th overall.

In all honesty though the best player out of that draft was Tomas Kaberle at 204th (8th round).

[Enstrom39]

Originally Posted by saskyoil

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1996e.html

The only 'above average' players in the first round are JP Dumont and Danny Briere.

What do you think?

1999 was pretty brutal as well

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/draft/nhl1999e.html

[gonzo11]

pretty bad drafts

[SK13]

The only 'above average' players in the first round are JP Dumont and Danny Briere.

In what world are Marco Sturm and Chris Phillips average?

[CanmoreMike]

Every draft seems to have it's moments. Knock these drafts all you want but they produced some very good late rounders in Tomas Kaberle and Henrick Zetterberg, as well as 1st rounders like Sturm, Phillips, Zubrus, Briere, Sedins, Havlat. A fair number of grinder, character players who've etched out careers. It's all relative.

Too much is made out of pre-draft speculation. Last year nobody wanted their 1st rounder. This year, you'd have to be an idiot not to want in this one. Yet last year's doesn't look as bad as projected and who knows how this one will be remembered in 5 years.

The prospects still have to develop.