The 210 prospects that will get picked in the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh are hoping some of the magic of the last draft class to hear their names called in the Steel City rubs off on them.
The 1997 Entry Draft was held at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena, and of the 246 players selected through nine rounds, 24 have played at least 500 games, and two have surpassed the 1,000-game mark, with a third rapidly approaching that milestone. Three players have scored at least 300 goals, while three have at least 700 points, topped by one 1,000-point scorer.
That would be Joe Thornton, taken by the Boston Bruins with the No. 1 pick. The lanky 6-foot-4 center was taken after an outstanding two-season junior career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds of the Ontario Hockey League.
Thornton endured a rough start to his career under coach Pat Burns, scoring just 3 goals in 55 games, but soon developed into a franchise stalwart. He's scored 20 goals 11 times in his 13 full seasons with the Bruins and San Jose Sharks, won the Art Ross and Hart trophies in 2006, scored his 1,000th point late last season and played in his 1,000th game Oct. 21 against the New Jersey Devils.
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2012 NHL Draft
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2012 NHL Draft
1997 Draft was launching pad for today's stars
Thursday, 10.27.2011 / 3:04 PM / 2012 NHL Draft
Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
Vibrant amateur hockey scene among Mario's legacies
Thursday, 10.27.2011 / 3:04 PM / 2012 NHL Draft
NHL.com
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had an undeniable impact on amateur hockey in the past quarter century.
For many, that growth began when Mario Lemieux, now the team's owner, arrived in 1984 as a fresh-faced rookie ready to rewrite the NHL record books and turn the Steel City into one of North America's most passionate hockey markets.
The city -- and, as importantly, the region -- immediately embraced the prodigy from the province of Quebec as he became the impetus for Pittsburgh's run from also-rans to hockey powerhouses, a journey culminated by back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and 1992.
For many, that growth began when Mario Lemieux, now the team's owner, arrived in 1984 as a fresh-faced rookie ready to rewrite the NHL record books and turn the Steel City into one of North America's most passionate hockey markets.
The city -- and, as importantly, the region -- immediately embraced the prodigy from the province of Quebec as he became the impetus for Pittsburgh's run from also-rans to hockey powerhouses, a journey culminated by back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and 1992.
Pittsburgh natives played major role in 2011 draft
Thursday, 10.27.2011 / 3:04 PM / 2012 NHL Draft
Adam Kimelman and Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writers
The 2012 NHL Draft will be held in Pittsburgh, but it was the 2011 draft in Minnesota at which the Steel City made it first big impact on the future of the NHL.
Four players with Pittsburgh hockey roots -- forwards J.T. Miller, Brandon Saad and Vincent Trocheck, as well as goaltender John Gibson -- were chosen in the first three rounds of last June's draft.
Much of that success can be credited to the Penguins' three Stanley Cup championships, as well as the roster of current and future Hall of Famers who helped win those Cups.
Four players with Pittsburgh hockey roots -- forwards J.T. Miller, Brandon Saad and Vincent Trocheck, as well as goaltender John Gibson -- were chosen in the first three rounds of last June's draft.
Much of that success can be credited to the Penguins' three Stanley Cup championships, as well as the roster of current and future Hall of Famers who helped win those Cups.
Pittsburgh draft announcement creates Sharks deja vu
Thursday, 10.27.2011 / 3:04 PM / 2012 NHL Draft
Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer
The Draft's return to Pittsburgh revives memories for Joe Thornton of the 1997 Draft. (Getty Images)There in all their glossy, colorful glory were current teammates Thornton and Marleau standing together and smiling like the giddy teenagers they were after hearing their names called as the first two picks at the 1997 Entry Draft at Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.
"I don't know how it came out, but he had a picture of us on draft day in his briefcase," Marleau told NHL.com. "It was pretty funny."
The laughs aside, the picture brought a flood of great memories back into the minds of both players.
Top prospect Galchenyuk to undergo ACL surgery
Monday, 10.24.2011 / 2:40 PM / 2012 NHL Draft
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com Staff Writer
Sarnia Sting center Alex Galchenyuk, a highly-touted 2012 draft prospect from the Ontario Hockey League, will be sidelined indefinitely after the team announced on Monday he'll undergo surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Galchenyuk, who was second among OHL rookies with 83 points, including 31 goals, in 2010-11, had yet to suit up this season for the Sting after suffering his injury in a preseason game against the Windsor Spitfires on Sept. 16.
The big question now is whether or not Galchenyuk's absence will hurt his draft status in June.
"One element for Galchenyuk is the fact he played last year and, going into this season, he was already recognized as one of the top prospects," Dan Marr, Director of NHL Central Scouting, told NHL.com. "I think most of the teams are pretty comfortable in knowing the type of player they'll be getting. Obviously, you'd like to see him play during his draft year, but the scouts and general managers are going to be more concerned with how the surgery went, what type of surgery it was and how the recovery process is going along."
There's little doubt Galchenyuk will be in high demand at the NHL Scouting Combine in May.
Galchenyuk, who was second among OHL rookies with 83 points, including 31 goals, in 2010-11, had yet to suit up this season for the Sting after suffering his injury in a preseason game against the Windsor Spitfires on Sept. 16.
The big question now is whether or not Galchenyuk's absence will hurt his draft status in June.
"One element for Galchenyuk is the fact he played last year and, going into this season, he was already recognized as one of the top prospects," Dan Marr, Director of NHL Central Scouting, told NHL.com. "I think most of the teams are pretty comfortable in knowing the type of player they'll be getting. Obviously, you'd like to see him play during his draft year, but the scouts and general managers are going to be more concerned with how the surgery went, what type of surgery it was and how the recovery process is going along."
There's little doubt Galchenyuk will be in high demand at the NHL Scouting Combine in May.
Nieves named top prep school draft prospect
Friday, 10.21.2011 / 3:42 PM / 2012 NHL Draft
Adam Kimelman - NHL.com Deputy Managing Editor
Cristoval Nieves, a center at the Kent (Conn.) School, ranks as NHL Central Scouting's top-rated U.S. high school player eligible for the 2012 Entry Draft.
NHL Central Scouting on Friday released its list of Players to Watch for Canadian and U.S. junior and midget hockey leagues and U.S. scholastic leagues.
A 6-foot-2 3/4, 184-pound center, Nieves had 43 goals and 18 assists in just 23 games last season, and is the lone player to earn an 'A' ranking on the list, meaning he is a potential first- or second-round pick.
NHL Central Scouting on Friday released its list of Players to Watch for Canadian and U.S. junior and midget hockey leagues and U.S. scholastic leagues.
A 6-foot-2 3/4, 184-pound center, Nieves had 43 goals and 18 assists in just 23 games last season, and is the lone player to earn an 'A' ranking on the list, meaning he is a potential first- or second-round pick.
- Draft results by Round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ››
- Pens: Hosts with the most | '13 look ahead ››
- Caps stock up at draft with 10 selections ››
- Twenty high-schoolers drafted | Numbers ››
- Oilers select Yakupov with top overall pick |
- Host Pens steal show | Teams beef up on 'D' ››
- Galchenyuk eyes MTL lineup | Russian first ››
- Bruins pick Subban, add spice to great rivalry ››
- Isles nab Visnovsky | | Completed trades ››
- New Jersey, Philly to host next two NHL Drafts ››
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