The 1984 entry draft is noted for the unusually high number of futureHall of Famers picked, particularly in lower rounds. In addition toMario Lemieux being taken first overall,Patrick Roy was chosen in the third round,Brett Hull in the sixth, andLuc Robitaille in the ninth. In addition, Lemieux,Gary Suter and Robitaille would all go on to win theCalder Memorial Trophy, Lemieux in 1985, Suter in 1986, and Robitaille in 1987, making this a rare draft in which multiple Rookie of the Year winners were produced.
The surprise at the time of the draft wasMontreal's selection ofPetr Svoboda at fifth-overall. As a player trained behind the Iron Curtain, very few people expected him to be available for selection in the draft, let alone be actually attending the draft and coming to the podium when his name was announced, as he had only recently defected to West Germany following the1984 European under 18 championship (onlySerge Savard, the then-GM of the Canadiens, had been aware of Svoboda's defection).
In addition to Svoboda, of note is thatTom Glavine, playing centre in high school, who later became a starMajor League Baseballpitcher withmore than 300 career wins, as well as a 2014 inductee of theBaseball Hall of Fame was chosen in the fourth round (69th overall) by theLos Angeles Kings, ahead of notable players such as future Hall of Famers Brett Hull (117th overall), and Luc Robitaille (171st overall).
The Montreal Canadiens, with their last pick, drafted Troy Crosby, the father ofSidney Crosby.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class wasGary Roberts, who retired after the2008–09 season.
TheLos Angeles Kings' first-round pick went to theChicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sentBob Janecyk, Chicago's first-round, third-round and fourth-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to Los Angeles in exchange for Los Angeles's fourth-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and this pick.
TheHartford Whalers' first-round pick went to theMontreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on December 21, 1981 that sentPierre Larouche, Montreal's first-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and third-round pick in1985 NHL entry draft to Hartford in exchange for Hartford's second-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft, third-round pick in1985 NHL entry draft and this pick.
TheChicago Black Hawks' first-round pick went to theLos Angeles as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sent Los Angeles' first-round and fourth-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to Chicago in exchange forBob Janecyk, Chicago's third-round, fourth-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and this pick.
TheSt. Louis Blues' first-round pick went to theMontreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sentRick Wamsley, Montreal's two second-round (pick #26 & pick #32) and third-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' second-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and this pick.
TheMontreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to theSt. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sent St. Louis' first-round and second-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to Montreal in exchange forRick Wamsley, Montreal's second-round pick (32nd overall) and third-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft along with this pick.
Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on December 21, 1981 that sent that sentPierre Larouche, Montreal's first-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and third-round pick in1985 NHL entry draft to Hartford in exchange for Hartford's first-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft, third-round pick in1985 NHL entry draft and this pick.
TheSt. Louis Blues' second-round pick went to theMontreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sentRick Wamsley, Montreal's two second-round (pick #26 & pick #32) and third-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' first-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and this pick.
TheMontreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to theSt. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sent St. Louis' first-round and second-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to Montreal in exchange forRick Wamsley, Montreal's second-round pick (26th overall) and third-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft along with this pick.
Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on December 17, 1982 that sentDan Daoust to Toronto in exchange for this pick.
TheChicago Black Hawks' first-round pick went to theLos Angeles as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sent Los Angeles' first-round and fourth-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to Chicago in exchange forBob Janecyk, Chicago's first-round, fourth-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and this pick.
TheMontreal Canadiens' third-round pick went to theSt. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sent St. Louis' first-round and second-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to Montreal in exchange forRick Wamsley, Montreal's two second-round pick (26th and 32nd overall) and with this pick.
Pittsburgh previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with thePhiladelphia Flyers on October 23, 1983 that sentRich Sutter, Pittsburgh's 2nd-rd pick and 3rd-rd picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft in exchange forAndy Brickley,Ron Flockhart,Mark Taylor Philadelphia's 1st-rd pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and this pick.
TheNew Jersey Devils' fourth-round pick went to theMontreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on March 10, 1981 that sentBill Baker to Colorado in exchange for New Jersey's third-round pick in1983 NHL entry draft and Montreal's option to swap fourth-round picks in this year's draft (this pick, New Jersey gets pick # 74). Colorado relocated to New Jersey on May 27, 1982.
TheLos Angeles Kings' first-round pick went to theChicago Black Hawks as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sentBob Janecyk, Chicago's first-round, third-round and fourth-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to Los Angeles in exchange for Los Angeles's first-round pick in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and this pick.
TheHartford Whalers' fourth-round pick went to theWinnipeg Jets as the result of a trade on July 4, 1983 that sentNorm Dupont to Hartford in exchange for this pick.
TheChicago Black Hawks' first-round pick went to theLos Angeles as the result of a trade on June 9, 1984 that sent Los Angeles' first-round and fourth-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft to Chicago in exchange forBob Janecyk, Chicago's first-round, third-round picks in 1984 NHL Entry Draft and this pick.
Los Angeles previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 8, 1983 that sent Los Angeles' fourth-round pick in1983 NHL entry draft to Detroit in exchange for this pick.
TheMontreal Canadiens' fourth-round pick went to theNew Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on March 10, 1981 that sent New Jersey's third-round pick in1983 NHL entry draft and Montreal's option to swap fourth-round picks in this year's draft (pick # 65) in exchange forBill Baker and this pick. Colorado relocated to New Jersey on May 27, 1982.
TheQuebec Nordiques' fifth-round pick went to theWinnipeg Jets as the result of a trade on February 6, 1984 that sentJimmy Mann to Quebec in exchange for this pick.
ThePittsburgh Penguins' eighth-round pick went to theSt. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on February 14, 1981 that had Pittsburgh right to claimGary Edwards off waivers from Blues without having to pay a cash waiver price in exchange for this pick.
^abcdPlayers are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.
^The Buffalo Sabres called the name ofEric Weinrich with the 186th pick. Weinrich, however, was born later than the cutoff date of September 15, 1966, and was therefore ineligible for the 1984 draft.[9]
^The Philadelphia Flyers attempted to select Petr Rucka with the 225th overall pick, but Rucka had already been drafted by the Calgary Flames with the 200th overall pick.[12]
Mario Lemieux
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