2004 NHL Draft Best Steals and re-ordering of draft:

(Goalie Stats are categorized by stats in parenthesis)

Ten Best Steals
Player
Pick #
and
(Out of
Position 290)

Games
Played:

Goals:
(Wins)

258

459

2. Mark
262
Streit
(D)
3. Ryan
127
Callaha
n (F)
4. Kris
134
Verstee
g (F)
5.
150
Mikhail
Grabovs
ki (F)
6. Tyler
99
Kennedy
(F)
7. David 63
Krejci
(F)
8. Johan 97
Franzen
(F)
9.
91
Alexand
er Edler
(D)
10. Mike 29
Green
(D)
Summary:

1.
Pekka
Rinne
(G)

Total
Points:
(ShutOuts)

Plus/Minu
s:
(Save %)

243

Assists:
(Goals
Against
Average
)
2.37

41

.918

729

93

323

416

-65

629

173

176

349

+6

562

133

184

317

+24

534

125

171

296

+5

527

89

126

215

+6

639

136

346

482

+106

602

187

183

370

+93

636

73

206

279

-12

666

123

283

406

+53

Of these players, Pekka Rinne easily takes the cake as the

biggest steal of the 2004 NHL Draft. Not only was he an eight round
draft pick (NHL Draft is now only 7 rounds) but he has some of the best
career stats amongst active goaltenders in the league. Additionally, he
has had some record setting seasons in years prior.
Mark Streit comes in at second because for a defenseman, he
has put up nearly unheard of stats in his career, and the only thing
holding him back is his plus minus, which is the only stat he has that is
less than stellar.
Ryan Callahan is known for being one of the leagues most
consistent players, respected leaders, and one of the most clutch
playoff point producers, these three attributes are what helped to earn
him the #3 spot.
Kris Versteeg is the fourth best take in this draft as he was
drafted in a high round (Round 5) and he has always been known as a
solid offensive weapon, as he produces at just over a point every other
game.
Mikhail Grabovski is ranked number 5 not necessarily because of
how great he was on the ice, but mainly because of his draft number.
Being drafted at the end of the fifth round, the small Belarusian
performed well above what was expected of him and ended up proving
to have a respectable career with solid career totals.
Tyler Kennedy is in the sixth spot because of his ability to be a
dependable two-way forward and because he was scooped up in the
fourth round as the 99th pick overall.
David Krejci was the 7th best steal in the draft and to be honest
had he not been picked so much earlier in the draft than the people in
front of him could have been the #2 or #1 best steal. Krejci has turned
out to be a top 5 player from his draft class and is worthy of any praise
he may receive as he has put up many solid seasons point wise. He is
also known for performing spectacularly in the playoffs.
Johan Franzen is the 8th overall steal from this class and he was
and still is, even in his mid 30s, an incredibly reliable point producer
for the Detroit Red Wings, he had produced at slightly over half a point
per game and has held steady totals for each season of his career in
the NHL.
Alexander Edler would be higher in this order if it werent for the
fact that he is a defenseman with a negative plus/minus. Dont get me
wrong, Edler is an incredibly solid top six defenseman and his stats
prove that despite his position he puts up a good amount of points,
however, the one thing holding him back is his plus-minus.
Lastly is Mike Green, the story is much of the same for Green as
it is for Krejci, the only reason he isnt higher on this list is because of
his draft position, Green especially. Being chose in the first round may
not make it seem as though he can be a steal but Green turned out to
be the top defensemen in his draft class and was one of the last picks

of the first round. In fact, Green was the eighth defenseman taken in
the first round alone, but as mentioned before, turned out to be the top
defenseman in his draft class.

2004 Original First Round Draft Results:

1. Alexander Ovechkin Washington Capitals
2. Yevgeni Malkin Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Cam Barker Chicago Blackhawks
4. Andrew Ladd Carolina Hurricanes
5. Blake Wheeler Arizona Coyotes
6. Al Montoya New York Rangers
7. Rostislav Olesz Florida Panthers
8. Alexandre Picard Columbus Blue Jackets
9. Ladislav Smid Anaheim Ducks
10.
Boris Valbik Atlanta Thrashers
11.
Lauri Tukonen Los Angeles Kings
12.
A.J. Thelen Minnesota Wild
13.
Drew Stafford Buffalo Sabres
14.
Devan Dubnyk Edmonton Oilers
15.
Alexander Radulov Nashville Predators
16.
Petteri Nokelainen New York Islanders
17.
Marek Schwarz St. Louis Blues
18.
Kyle Chipchura Montreal Canadiens
19.
Lauri Korpikoski New York Rangers
20.
Travis Zajac New Jersey Devils
21.
Wojtek Wolski Colorado Avalanche
22.
Lukas Kaspar San Jose Sharks
23.
Andrej Mezaros Ottawa Senators
24.
Kris Chucko Calgary Flames
25.
Rob Shremp Edmonton Oilers
26.
Cory Schneider Vancouver Canucks
27.
Jeff Schultz Washington Capitals
28.
Mark Fistric Dallas Stars
29.
Mike Green Washington Capitals
30.
Andy Rogers Tampa Bay Lightning

2004 Re-Draft Results: -New Team (Original Team - Pick)

1. Evgeni Malkin - Washington Capitals (Pittsburgh Penguins 2)
2. Alexander Ovechkin Pittsburgh Penguins (Washington Capitals
1)
3. Corey Schneider Chicago Blackhawks (Vancouver Canucks 26)
4. Pekka Rinne Carolina Hurricanes (Nashville Predators 258)
5. David Krejci Arizona Coyotes (Boston Bruins 63)
6. Mike Green New York Rangers (Washington Capitals 29)
7. Johan Franzen Florida Panthers (Detroit Red Wings 97)
8. Mark Streit Columbus Blue Jackets (Montreal Canadiens 262)
9. Ryan Callahan Anaheim Ducks (New York Rangers 127)
10.
Andrew Ladd Atlanta Thrashers (Carolina Hurricanes 4)
11.
Blake Wheeler Los Angeles Kings (Arizona Coyotes 5)
12.
Travis Zajac Minnesota Wild (New Jersey Devils 20)
13.
Brandon Dubinsky Buffalo Sabres (New York Rangers
60)
14.
Kris Versteeg Edmonton Oilers (Boston Bruins 134)
15.
Troy Brouwer Nashville Predators (Chicago Blackhawks
214)
16.
Dave Bolland New York Islanders (Chicago Blackhawks
32)
17.
Drew Stafford St. Louis Blues (Buffalo Sabres 13)
18.
Alex Goligoski Montreal Canadiens (Pittsburgh Penguins
61)
19.
Alexander Edler New York Rangers (Vancouver Canucks
91)
20.
Bryan Bickell New Jersey Devils (Chicago blackhawks
41)
21.
Carl Soderberg Coloardo Avalanche (St. Louis Blues 49)
22.
Tyler Kennedy San Jose Sharks (Pittsburgh Penguins 99)
23.
David Booth Ottawa Senators (Florida Panthers 53)

24.
Alexander Edler Calgary Flames (Vancouver Canucks
91)
25.
Roman Polak Edmonton Oilers (St Louis Blues 180)
26.
Lauri Korpikoski Vancouver Canucks (New York Rangers
19)
27.
Andrej Sekera - Washington Capitals (Buffalo Sabres 71)
28.
Nick Grossman Dallas Stars (Dallas Stars 56)
29.
Jeff Schultz - Washington Capitals (Washington Capitals
27)
30.
Alexander Radulov Tampa Bay Lightning (Nashville
Predators 15)