Do #1 overall picks pay off?
By Steve Paulus
First rounders matter
One fact is important. Although the number one picks haven’t been as successful as you may think, the fact is that in order to succeed, teams need first round picks. The 2019 St. Louis Blues won the Stanley Cup with the following breakdown:
- First round picks: 9
- Second round picks: 6
- Third round picks: 4
- Sixth round picks: 2
- Seventh round picks: 1
- Undrafted free agents: 1
Of the first rounds picks, two were top five picks, three were in picks 10-16 and the remaining four were all selected 20th or later. 19 of the 23 players who suited up for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the Blues were picked in the first three rounds.
Let’s take a look at the 2018 Washington Capitals:
- First round picks: 11
- Second round picks: 3
- Third round picks: 2
- Fourth round picks: 2
- Fifth round picks: 1
- Sixth round picks: 1
- Seventh round picks: 1
- Undrafted free agents: 3
Of the first round picks, Ovechkin was number one overall and Backstrom was number four. Four players were picked from number six to 16. The last six were selected 18th or later. 22 players got into a playoff game for the Capitals two years ago. 16 of them were picked in the first three rounds.