Top 10 NHL Draft Picks at Fifth Overall
The LA Kings are selecting fifth overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. Where have past draftees in that spot ended up?
by Robyn Dutton @LAKings / LAKings.com
In case you missed it, the Draft Lottery took place on Tuesday, and the LA Kings will draft in the fifth position at the 2019 NHL Entry Draft in June. The Kings had a 13.5 percent chance of winning the first-overall selection, but someone must have dropped the (ping pong) ball.
Fifth overall may have been the worst-case scenario for the Kings, but by no means is it something to be disappointed about. In the past, fifth overall picks have gone on to be team leaders, and with this year's strong draft class, there are plenty of talented players to choose from.
This is the second time that the Kings will have the fifth pick, with the organization previously drafting Brayden Schenn in 2009.
The Kings also own the Toronto Maple Leafs' first round draft pick, which will be determined by how far they reach in the playoffs.
In addition to those two first round picks, the team also has eight additional selections at numbers: 33, 64, 90 (Washington's third round pick), 95, 122 (Calgary's fourth round pick), 126, 157 and 188.
Check out the top 10 players drafted fifth overall:
10. Ryan Whitney | Pittsburgh Penguins, 2002
Whitney proved to be a top offensive defenseman in his second season with the Penguins, helping the team progress from last place in the Eastern Conference to the Stanley Cup Finals in just one year.
Not a big deaaaaal.
9. Elias Lindholm | Carolina Hurricanes, 2013
Lindholm is coming off his best NHL season yet, producing 78 points in 81 games as a center for the Calgary Flames, who finished at the top of the Western Conference standings.
8. Brayden Schenn | LA Kings, 2009
Schenn finished the season strong with five points in the St. Louis Blues' last four games and will be an integral part of their playoff pursuit.
7. Elias Pettersson | Vancouver Canucks, 2017
The 20-year-old Swede has been lighting up the league, notching 66 points in 71 games during his first year with the Vancouver Canucks.
6. Carey Price | Montreal Canadiens, 2005
Price was drafted by the Canadiens in 2005, the same year that Anze Kopitar was selected by the Kings 11th overall. With his 315th career win this season, Price surpassed Jacques Plante to become the franchise leader in wins.
5. Blake Wheeler | Phoenix Coyotes, 2004
The Winnipeg Jets' right winger has been in the league for a decade now and seems to only be getting better. He's leading the Jets into playoffs after finishing this season with 90-plus points, for the second year in a row.
4. Phil Kessel | Boston Bruins, 2006
Not only does this guy know how to win, with two Stanley Cups to his name, but he knows how to celebrate too.
3. Bill Guerin | New Jersey Devils, 1987
Guerin played 18 seasons in the NHL and has two Stanley Cups to his name.
He was inducted to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013.
2. Scott Stevens | Washington Capitals, 1982
Stevens, known as one of the top 100 players to ever play, had an impressive positive plus/minus in all 22 seasons played. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007 in his first year of eligibility.
1. Jaromir Jagr | Pittsburgh Penguins, 1990
Jagr's offensive production speaks for itself. He sits just behind Wayne Gretzky at second all-time on the NHL points list.
Save the Date: The NHL Entry Draft will take place at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, BC from June 21-22!