Late-round picks among best of 1994 re-draft

NHL.com will take a look back at the NHL Draft from five, 10 and 20 years ago this week, leading up to the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. How would those drafts look today?

Looking back at the 1994 NHL Draft, it might be best to start from the bottom when searching for star players.

Of the 26 players taken in the first round, seven scored more than 100 NHL goals. Fourteen played more than 300 NHL games; three never reached the League at all.

Then look at the sixth round. Six of the 26 players picked reached the NHL; five of the six played many more than 300 games, and the sixth played 296.

The seventh round had four 300-game players, the ninth round had six, and the 10th round had four. There were two from the 11th (final) round.

There were a few good players taken in the first round 20 years ago. But if we went back and re-drafted that group, the order would look much different.

Note: Players listed with current team (pick number in parentheses).

1. Daniel Alfredsson, RW, Detroit Red Wings (133)

Ottawa Senators' all-time leader in every important offensive category; second-highest scoring Swedish player in League history; tops in goals, assists and points from draft class.

2. Patrik Elias, LW, New Jersey Devils (51)

Two-time Stanley Cup champion and four-time 30-goal scorer; Devils' all-time leader in goals and points; second in goals, assists and points in draft class.

3. Tim Thomas, G, Dallas Stars (217)

Two-time Vezina Trophy winner one of two players to win Vezina, Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup in one season.

4. Tomas Holmstrom, LW, retired (257)

Arguably no player took more punishment on way to winning Stanley Cup four times with Detroit Red Wings and scoring 122 power-play goals, third in team history.

5. Evgeni Nabokov, G, New York Islanders (219)

His 350 wins are most in strong goaltending draft class.

6. Milan Hejduk, RW, retired (87)

Fourth in draft class in goals and points; only Joe Sakic had more than Hejduk's 350 goals for Colorado Avalanche.

7. Tomas Vokoun, G, Pittsburgh Penguins (226)

Missed 2013-14 due to blood clots in pelvis; has 300 wins, 51 shutouts in 700 games.

8. Marty Turco, G, retired (124)

His 262 wins and 40 shutouts are most for Dallas Stars.

9. Chris Drury, C, retired (72)

Started career with nine 20-goal seasons in first 10, helped Avalanche win Stanley Cup in 2001; only player in League history with Little League World Series title and Stanley Cup.

10. Ryan Smyth, LW, retired (6)

"Captain Canada" played 1,270 games, most in draft class; is third with 386 goals.

11. Sheldon Souray, D, Anaheim Ducks (71)

Two-time 20-goal scorer has been slowed by serious injuries.

12. Ed Jovanovski, D, Florida Panthers (1)

Played more games (1,128) and has more points (500) than any defenseman in draft class.

13. Jose Theodore, G, retired (44)

Most recent goaltender to win Hart Trophy (2002); 286 wins are third in draft class.

14. Freddy Modin, LW, retired (64)

Defensive-minded forward had five 20-goal seasons; 29 goals and career-best 57 points for Tampa Bay Lightning in run to 2004 Stanley Cup.

15. Jeff O'Neill, C, retired (5)

Had three-season run of 102 goals in 240 games with Carolina Hurricanes (2000-03).

16. Steve Sullivan, LW, retired (233)

Returned in 2008-09 after missing season-and-a-half with back injury to play five more seasons and win Masterton Trophy.

17. Mattias Ohlund, D, Tampa Bay Lightning (13)

Reached double-figures in goals four times; knee injuries have kept him out most of past four seasons.

18. Sergei Berezin, LW, retired (256)

Played two seasons in Germany then joined Toronto Maple Leafs for 1996-97; scored 126 goals in first five NHL seasons.

19. Bryce Salvador, D, New Jersey Devils (138)

Led defensemen in scoring during Devils' run to 2012 Stanley Cup Final.

20. Richard Zednik, RW, retired (249)

His 200 goals in 745 games are 10th among Slovakian-born players.

21. Kim Johnsson, D, retired (286)

Last pick of draft developed into flashy offensive defenseman with Philadelphia Flyers; series of concussions slowed him in final NHL seasons.

22. Johan Hedberg, G, retired (218)

"Moose" made memorable NHL debut with Pittsburgh Penguins in 2000-01 and surprising run to 2001 Eastern Conference Final; lasted into his late 30s as backup with Devils.

23. Jeff Friesen, LW, retired (11)

Had career-best 31 goals for San Jose Sharks in 1997-98; was second with 10 goals to help Devils win 2003 Stanley Cup.

24. Richard Park, RW, retired (50)

Speedy, defensive-minded forward had best seasons playing with Minnesota Wild; three straight seasons with at least 10 goals and 24 points.

25. Chris Clark, RW, retired (77)

Best part of 11-season career was five with Washington Capitals; had 50 goals in first two and was captain for four.

26. Bates Battaglia, LW, retired (132)

Had 21 goals for Carolina during 2001-02 season when Hurricanes reached Stanley Cup Final; after retiring, won "The Amazing Race" with his brother.

Missing first-round picks: Oleg Tverdovsky (2), Radek Bonk (3), Jason Bonsignore (4), Jamie Storr (7), Jason Wiemer (8), Brett Lindros (9), Nolan Baumgartner (10), Wade Belak (11), Alexander Kharlamov (15), Eric Fichaud (16), Wayne Primeau (17), Brad Brown (18), Chris Dingman (19), Jason Botterill (20), Yevgeni Ryabchikov (21), Jeffrey Kealty (22), Yan Golubovsky (23), Chris Wells (24), Vadim Sharifijanov (25), Dan Cloutier (26)

Follow Adam Kimelman on Twitter: @NHLAdamK