Seventh-round selection Lundqvist tops 2000 re-draft

NHL.com will take a look back at the NHL drafts from five, 10 and 15 years ago this week, leading up to the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. How would a redo of those drafts look today?

It's not often a seventh-round draft pick makes it to the NHL, let alone becomes a star.

But 15 years after he was the 205th player selected at the 2000 NHL Draft, there's no question New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist is not your average seventh-round selection.

Since taking the starting job with the Rangers during the 2005-06 season, Lundqvist has consistently been among the best at his position in the League. His 339 wins and 55 shutouts since 2005 lead all goalies, according to Hockey-Reference.com.

Lundqvist wasn't the only player from the 2000 draft to develop into a star. So with 15 years of hindsight, how would that draft go if the same players were made available today?

Note: Players listed with current teams; original draft position in parentheses

1. Henrik Lundqvist, G, New York Rangers (205)

Lundqvist had seven straight 30-win seasons to start his NHL career, and his nine in all are fourth in NHL history. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2012 and has been a finalist four other times. Of active goalies with more than 75 games played, Lundqvist's 2.26 goals-against average is third, according to Hockey-Reference.com.

2. Marian Gaborik, LW, Los Angeles Kings (3)

Drafted by the Minnesota Wild, Gaborik's 219 goals in eight seasons lead that franchise. He has scored at least 30 goals seven times and more than 40 goals three times in 14 seasons. He had a League-high 14 goals in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs to help the Kings win the Stanley Cup. His 374 goals lead all players from the 2000 draft, and he's second with 751 points.

3. Scott Hartnell, RW, Columbus Blue Jackets (6)

Hartnell scored 20 goals twice in his first six seasons with the Nashville Predators but emerged as a star with the Philadelphia Flyers. He had 17 points in 23 games to help the Flyers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2010, and had personal bests of 37 goals and 67 points in 2011-12, the same season he played in his only NHL All-Star Game. His 28 goals were second on the Blue Jackets this season. He's third among players in his draft class with 278 goals.

4. Justin Williams, RW, Los Angeles Kings (28)

Drafted by the Flyers, Williams had 31 goals in 2005-06 and helped the Carolina Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup. He became a playoff force with the Kings. He had 15 points in 20 games to help Los Angeles win the Cup in 2012. In the 2014 playoffs, Williams had 25 points and a plus-13 rating in 26 games when the Kings won the Cup again, and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy.

5. Niklas Kronwall, D, Detroit Red Wings (29)

Kronwall's hard hits during 11 seasons with the Red Wings have turned "Kronwalled" into a verb. He's more than a hitting machine, though; he's a leader who plays in all situations, and his 71 goals and 339 points are third among defensemen in his draft class.

6. Antoine Vermette, C, Chicago Blackhawks (55)

Vermette has been a dependable secondary scoring option for four teams in 11 seasons since the Ottawa Senators selected him in the second round. Acquired by the Blackhawks this season to add depth during their playoff run, three of his four goals in the postseason were game-winners, including Game 1 and Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final.

7. Paul Martin, D, Pittsburgh Penguins (62)

A dependable two-way defenseman since being selected in the second round by the New Jersey Devils, Martin had 20 points this season, the ninth time in 11 seasons he's reached that number. His 272 points are fourth among defensemen in his draft class.

8. Lubomir Visnovsky, D, New York Islanders (118)

The Slovakian defenseman was 23 when the Kings selected him in the fourth round. He's been a premier offensive defenseman, scoring at least 15 goals four times in 14 seasons, topped by 18 goals and 68 points in 2010-11 with the Anaheim Ducks. Injuries slowed Visnovsky this season, but he has 495 points, most among defensemen and fifth among all players in the 2000 draft.

9. Dany Heatley, LW, San Antonio (AHL) (2)

A dynamic scorer drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers, Heatley had 299 goals in his first eight seasons, including back-to-back 50-goal seasons with the Senators. But his numbers went into a rapid decline starting in 2010-11, and he had no goals in six games with the Ducks this season before finishing with eight goals in 43 games in the American Hockey League. His 791 points are the most of any player in the 2000 draft, and his 372 goals are second.

10. Brooks Orpik, D, Washington Capitals (18)

The hard-hitting Orpik has played 781 games, third among defensemen in his draft class. He helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2009 and was one reason the Capitals became a much-improved defensive team this season.

11. Alex Frolov, LW, retired (20)

Frolov scored at least 20 goals five times in eight seasons, seven of which he spent with the Kings, who drafted him. He left the NHL in 2011 after one season with the Rangers and retired in 2014 after three seasons in Russia.

12. Nick Schultz, D, Philadelphia Flyers (33)

A durable, defensive-minded player for 13 seasons after being picked in the second round by the Wild, Schultz ended a 126-game goal drought Jan. 29 with a game-winning goal against the Winnipeg Jets, then scored again two games later.

13. Dominic Moore, C, New York Rangers (95)

A third-round pick by the Rangers, Moore played for eight teams in six seasons before returning to New York in 2013. A top penalty-killer and faceoff specialist, Moore had 10 goals and 27 points in 82 games this season.

14. Paul Gaustad, C, Nashville Predators (220)

A seventh-round pick by the Buffalo Sabres, Gaustad has developed into big, physical center who can play on the third or fourth line, provide energy and win key faceoffs.

15. Jarret Stoll, C, Los Angeles Kings (46)

A second-round pick of the Calgary Flames, Stoll never signed and was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the second round (No. 36) of the 2002 draft. He had 22 goals and 68 points in 2005-06 and helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final. He's spent the past seven seasons with the Kings and was a key bottom-six forward on two Stanley Cup championship teams.

16. Brad Boyes, C, Florida Panthers (24)

A first-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Boyes was traded twice before becoming a full-time NHL player with the Boston Bruins in 2005. He had a career-best 43 goals in 2007-08 with the St. Louis Blues and has scored at least 20 four times in 11 seasons. He had 14 goals and 38 points in 78 games this season.

17. John-Michael Liles, D, Carolina Hurricanes (159)

A fifth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, Liles had 56 goals in his first five seasons, including back-to-back 14-goal seasons with the Avalanche in 2005-06 and 2006-07. He had 22 points in 57 games with the Hurricanes this season. His 81 goals and 344 points are second among defensemen in the draft.

18. Ilya Bryzgalov, G, free agent (44)

Bryzgalov was a second-round pick of the Ducks and the backup goaltender on the 2007 Stanley Cup championship team. His best seasons came with the Arizona Coyotes. In 2009-10, he won 42 games with a 2.29 goals-against average, was a Vezina Trophy finalist and finished fifth in voting for the Hart Trophy. He returned to the Ducks this season but left in February after playing eight games. His 221 wins are second among goalies in his draft class.

19. Steve Ott, C, St. Louis Blues (25)

The pesky forward, drafted by the Dallas Stars, had five straight seasons with at least 10 goals with the Stars. This season he had three goals and 12 points in 78 games.

20. Dan Ellis, G, Florida Panthers (60)

A second-round pick of the Stars, Ellis' best season came after he signed with the Predators in 2007 and led the NHL with a .924 save percentage in 44 games in 2007-08. He's bounced around the League since then and split this season between the Panthers and their AHL affiliate.

21. Ron Hainsey, D, Carolina Hurricanes (13)

Drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, Hainsey has been a solid performer for 12 seasons. His most productive time came during a three-season stint with the Blue Jackets, when he had 19 goals in 213 games. He had 10 points in 81 games this season.

22. Roman Cechmanek, G, retired (171)

A sixth-round pick by the Flyers at age 29, Cechmanek took the starting job in 2000-01 and was a Vezina Trophy finalist after finishing second in the League with a 2.01 GAA. His 1.83 GAA in 2002-03 is the best single-season total in Philadelphia history, but poor play in the postseason led the Flyers to trade him to the Kings in 2003. After one season with Los Angeles, Cechmanek returned to his native Czech Republic and retired in 2009.

23. Rick DiPietro, G, retired (1)

The first pick of the draft by the New York Islanders never was the same after injuring his hip during the 2008 NHL All-Star Game. After playing at least 50 games the four previous seasons, DiPietro never played more than 26 after the 2008-09 season. He last played in November 2013.

24. Mike Rupp, LW, retired (76)

A third-round pick of the Devils, Rupp scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal in Game 7 of the Cup Final against the Ducks. A smart, physical player, his career spanned 11 seasons with six teams.

25. Raffi Torres, LW, San Jose Sharks (5)

Drafted by the Islanders, Torres had his best seasons with the Oilers, scoring 20 goals in back-to-back seasons in 2003-04 and 2005-06. He had 11 points in 22 playoff games to help the Oilers reach the 2006 Stanley Cup Final. A knee injury kept him out all season, but when healthy he's been a solid, physical presence for the Sharks.

26. Niclas Wallin, D, retired (97)

A fourth-round pick of the Hurricanes, Wallin was a smart, steady defenseman for 10 seasons, nine of which he spent in Carolina. He had five points and averaged 16:39 per game in 25 playoff games to help the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup in 2006.

27. Deryk Engelland, D, Calgary Flames (194)

A sixth-round pick of the Devils, Engelland spent six seasons in the minor leagues before making his NHL debut with the Penguins in 2009-10. He's known for his physical play, but he was a solid contributor in all areas for the Flames this season.

28. Tomas Kopecky, C, Florida Panthers (38)

A second-round pick of the Red Wings, Kopecky was part of their Stanley Cup championship in 2008, and then two seasons later he won the Cup again with the Chicago Blackhawks. He also helped the Panthers end a 10-season playoff drought in 2011-12, his first season with Florida.

29. Travis Moen, LW, Dallas Stars (155)

Moen was picked in the fifth round by the Flames but never played for them. His best season was in 2006-07, when he had 11 goals and 21 points in 82 games, then 12 points in 21 playoff games as a fourth-liner to help the Ducks win the Stanley Cup.

30. Matthew Lombardi, C, Geneve-Servette (SUI) (215)

A seventh-round pick of Edmonton, Lombardi never signed with them and was picked by Calgary in the third round (No. 90) in the 2002 draft. He had a career-best 20 goals with the Flames in 2006-07 and 19 goals with the Coyotes in 2009-10. Injuries slowed him the following three seasons; he's played in Switzerland since 2013.

Missing first-round picks: Rostislav Klesla (4), Lars Jonsson (7), Nikita Alexeev (8), Brent Krahn (9), Mikhail Yakubov (10), Pavel Vorobiev (11), Alexei Smirnov (12), Vaclav Nedorost (14), Artem Kryukov (15), Marcel Hossa (16), Alexei Mikhnov (17), Krys Kolanos (19), Anton Volchenkov (21), David Hale (22), Nathan Smith (23), Brian Sutherby (26), Martin Samuelsson (27), Jeff Taffe (30)

Follow Adam Kimelman on Twitter: @NHLAdamK