2002 NHL Redraft: Keith, Ward rise to top five

The 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft will be held July 7-8 at Bell Centre in Montreal. The first round will be July 7 (7 p.m. ET; ESPN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS) and rounds 2-7 are July 8 (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, ESPN+, SN, TVAS). NHL.com is counting down to the draft with in-depth profiles on top prospects, podcasts and other features. Today, we examine what a redo of the 2002 NHL Draft might look like. NHL.com's full draft coverage can be found here.

Duncan Keith developed from a player his own father believed was too small to play in the Western Hockey League to a vital part of three Stanley Cup championship teams with the Chicago Blackhawks.
"He's going to have his No. 2
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1. Duncan Keith, D, Chicago Blackhawks (54)
Keith is second among players drafted in 2002 with 646 points and leads defensemen in his draft class with 106 goals and 540 assists. He won the Norris Trophy, voted as the best defenseman in the NHL, twice (2010, 2014), won the Conn Smythe Trophy, voted as most valuable player of the playoffs, in 2015 and was named one of the NHL 100 Greatest Players in 2017. The only active player from the 2002 draft, the 38-year-old had 21 points (one goal, 20 assists) in 64 games with the Edmonton Oilers this season.
2. Rick Nash , F, Columbus Blue Jackets (1)
Nash was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, voted as NHL rookie of the year, in 2002-03, and the next season won the Rocket Richard Trophy for finishing tied for the NHL lead with 41 goals. It was the first of his three 40-goal seasons, and he had eight seasons with at least 30. He's the Blue Jackets' all-time leader in goals (289), assists (258) and points (547). He leads all players drafted in 2002 with 437 goals and 805 points.
3. Cam Ward , G, Carolina Hurricanes (25)
Ward played 28 regular-season games as a rookie in 2005-06, then replaced Martin Gerber in goal during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, led Carolina to the Stanley Cup and won the Conn Smythe Trophy. He won at least 30 games five times in 14 seasons with the Hurricanes and Blackhawks; his 334 wins are the most of any goalie drafted in 2002 and 26th in NHL history.
4. Alexander Steen , F, Toronto Maple Leafs (24)
Steen joined the Maple Leafs in 2005-06 and began his NHL career with three straight seasons scoring at least 15 goals. He was traded to the St. Louis Blues during the 2008-09 season and was a solid two-way center for 12 seasons. He scored at least 20 goals four times, topped by 33 in 2013-14, and helped the Blues win the Stanley Cup in 2019. Steen is second among players drafted in 2002 in goals (245) and assists (377), and third in points (622).
5. Jay Bouwmeester , D, Florida Panthers (3)
Bouwmeester was a reliable defensive presence for 17 seasons with the Panthers, Calgary Flames and Blues. He played all 82 games nine times, including seven consecutive (2005-12); his streak of 737 straight games played is the second-longest by a defenseman in NHL history. Bouwmeester tied for the St. Louis lead with a plus-9 rating in 26 postseason games to help St. Louis win the Stanley Cup in 2019. He had two seasons with 15 goals, and his 424 points (88 goals, 336 assists) and 1,240 games played are second among defensemen to Keith in his draft class.
6. Jiri Hudler , F, Detroit Red Wings (58)
In his second season spent entirely in the NHL, Hudler had 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 22 playoff games to help Detroit win the Stanley Cup in 2008. He scored at least 20 goals three times in 12 seasons with the Red Wings, Flames, Panthers and Dallas Stars; his best season was 2014-15, when he led the Flames with 76 points (31 goals, 45 assists) in 78 games and won the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play. He's tied for fourth among players in his draft class with an average of 0.60 points per game (428 points in 708 games).
7. Frans Nielsen , C, New York Islanders (87)
The third-round pick joined the Islanders in 2006-07 after playing four seasons in Sweden. He scored 20 goals twice in 15 NHL seasons with the Islanders and Red Wings, topped by 25 in 2013-14, and his 167 goals are sixth in his draft class. Nielsen also was a dangerous penalty killer; his seven shorthanded goals led the NHL in 2010-11.
8. Kari Lehtonen , G, Atlanta Thrashers (2)
Lehtonen won at least 30 games five times in 14 seasons with the Thrashers and Stars, and was durable enough to play at least 65 games four times. In 2006-07 he had 34 wins and four shutouts in 68 games to help Atlanta reach the playoffs for the first time, and in 2015-16 he helped the Stars win a playoff series for the first time since 2008. Lehtonen's 310 wins are third all-time among Finland-born NHL goalies, and second to Ward among goalies drafted in 2002.
9. Alexander Semin , F, Washington Capitals (13)
Semin scored at least 30 goals three times, including 40 in 2009-10, in 11 seasons with the Washington Capitals, Hurricanes and Montreal Canadiens. He's third among players in the 2002 draft class with 239 goals, and his average of 0.80 points per game (517 points in 650 games) is first.
10. Valtteri Filppula , C, Detroit Red Wings (95)
The third-round pick helped the Red Wings win the Stanley Cup in 2008, his second full NHL season, and helped the Tampa Bay Lightning reach the Cup Final in 2015. Filppula was a solid two-way forward for 16 seasons with the Red Wings, Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers and Islanders. He had two 20-goal seasons, and he's fourth in his draft class with 530 points (197 goals, 333 assists) in 1,056 games.
11. Joffrey Lupul , F, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (7)
Lupul scored 28 goals in 2005-06, his second NHL season. He scored at least 20 goals five times in 12 seasons with the Mighty Ducks, Oilers, Flyers and Maple Leafs. A back injury led to his retirement in 2016, but his 205 goals are fourth among players in his draft class, and his average of 0.60 points per game (420 points in 701 games) is tied for fourth.
12. Pierre-Marc Bouchard , C, Minnesota Wild (8)
Bouchard averaged 59 points (16 goals, 43 assists) from 2005-08, but concussion issues limited his effectiveness during his final six NHL seasons. He had 356 points (110 goals, 246 assists) in 11 seasons with the Wild and Islanders, but his average of 0.60 points per game is tied for fourth in his draft class.
13. Matt Stajan , C, Toronto Maple Leafs (57)
The second-round pick was a solid middle-six forward for most of his 15 NHL seasons with the Maple Leafs and Flames, scoring at least 15 goals four times. He ranks in the top 10 in his draft class in games played (1,003, seventh), goals (146, ninth), assists (267, ninth) and points (413, 10th). He also is third with 27 shorthanded points (11 goals, 16 assists).
14. Joni Pitkanen , D, Philadelphia Flyers (4)
The Flyers traded forward Ruslan Fedotenko and two draft picks to select Pitkanen. He made the NHL All-Rookie team in 2003-04 after he had 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists) in 71 games, and the next season he led Flyers defensemen with 13 goals and 46 points. Pitkanen had three seasons with at least 40 points during nine seasons with the Flyers, Oilers and Hurricanes. His career was cut short because of a heel injury and he retired in 2013, but his average of 0.53 points per game (282 points in 535 games) is second among defensemen drafted in 2002.
15. Ryan Whitney , D, Pittsburgh Penguins (5)
Whitney had 59 points (14 goals, 45 assists) in 81 games in 2006-07, his second NHL season, and 40 points (12 goals, 28 assists) in 76 games the following season to help the Penguins reach the Stanley Cup Final for the first time since 1992. He had at least 20 points seven times in nine NHL seasons with the Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Oilers and Panthers. His 259 points (50 goals, 209 points) in 481 games are seventh among defenseman drafted in 2002, but his average of 0.54 points per game is first.
16. Chris Higgins , F, Montreal Canadiens (14)
After playing two games early in the 2003-04 season, Higgins had three straight 20-goal seasons starting in 2005-06, including 27 goals and 52 points in 2007-08, to help the Canadiens finish with the best record in the Eastern Conference. He never reached that level of production again but scored at least 15 goals five times in 12 seasons with five teams, and his 165 goals are seventh among players in his draft class.
17. Jarret Stoll , C, Edmonton Oilers (36)
The second-round pick had 68 points (22 goals, 46 assists) in 2005-06, his third NHL season, and helped the Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final. He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 2008 and was a vital part of Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014. He led the Kings in face-off winning percentage (minimum 200 face-offs) each playoff season, including 56.7 percent in 2014, the best by a Kings player since 1997-98, when the stat became official. He won 55.5 percent of his face-offs in 14 NHL seasons, 15th among NHL players to take at least 10,000 face-offs since 1997-98.
18. Scottie Upshall , F, Nashville Predators (6)
Upshall scored at least 15 goals five times in 15 seasons with six teams, including 22 in 82 games with the Phoenix Coyotes and Blue Jackets in 2010-11. He's 11th among players in his draft class with 138 goals, but his 25 game-winning goals are fifth. That includes one in his first game with the Flyers after being traded there by the Nashville Predators in 2007, and his winning goal for the Flyers against the Canadiens in the second round of the 2008 playoffs sent Philadelphia to the Eastern Conference Final after they had finished last in the NHL standings the previous season.
19. Trevor Daley , D, Dallas Stars (43)
The second-round pick had eight seasons with at least 20 points, topped by 38 points (16 goals, 22 assists) in 68 games in 2014-15. He also averaged more than 19:00 of ice time in the playoffs to help the Penguins win the Stanley Cup in 2016 and 2017. He missed the Final in 2016 because of a broken left ankle, but was the first player Pittsburgh captain Sidney Crosby handed the Cup to. Daley's 1,058 games in 16 seasons with the Stars, Blackhawks, Penguins and Red Wings are fourth among players selected in 2002.
20. Max Talbot , C, Pittsburgh Penguins (234)
The eighth-round pick is best remembered for scoring two goals in the Penguins' 2-1 win against the Red Wings in Game 7 of the 2009 Cup Final. Talbot's best offensive season was 34 points (19 goals, 15 assists) in 81 games with the Flyers in 2011-12. His 204 points (91 goals, 113 assists) in 11 seasons with the Penguins, Flyers, Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins are 15th among forwards drafted in 2002, and his 16 shorthanded goals are third among all players in his draft class.
21. Johnny Boychuk , D, Colorado Avalanche (61)
The second-round pick played two seasons in the WHL and three in the AHL before making his NHL debut in 2007-08. Boychuk was traded to the Bruins the following season and was a key part of Boston's Stanley Cup championship in 2011. He scored the series-clinching goal in Game 4 of the second round against the Flyers and had a plus-12 rating in the playoffs, averaging 20:38 of ice time. He also helped the Islanders reach the NHL Semifinals in 2020, but an eye injury forced him to end his playing career after that season. His plus-123 rating is second among players selected in 2002, and he's the only player from his draft class with at least 1,300 hits (1,476) and 1,300 blocked shots (1,328).
22. Dennis Wideman , D, Buffalo Sabres (241)
The eighth-round pick was fourth among NHL defensemen with 56 points (15 goals, 41 assists) in 80 games with the Flames in 2014-15, one of four seasons of at least 40 points and one of four with at least 10 goals. Wideman's 99 goals with five teams are second among defensemen in his draft class, and his 387 points are third.
23. Sean Bergenheim , F, New York Islanders (22)
Bergenheim scored at least 10 goals six times in nine seasons, topped by 17 with the Panthers in 2011-12. In 2010-11 with the Lightning, he had 29 points (14 goals, 15 goals) in 80 games and scored nine goals in 16 playoff games to help Tampa Bay reach the Eastern Conference Final after it had missed the playoffs the previous three seasons. His 96 goals rank 15th among forwards in his draft class.
24. Tomas Fleischmann , F, Detroit Red Wings (63)
The second-round pick never played for the Red Wings, who traded him to the Capitals in 2004, when Fleischmann was playing in the WHL. He scored at least 20 goals twice in 11 NHL seasons, topped by 27 goals and 61 points, which led the Panthers in 2011-12. He ranks in the top 15 among forwards in his draft class in goals (137, 12th) and points (335, 11th).
25. Matthew Lombardi , C, Calgary Flames (90)
The third-round pick had a promising start to his career with 16 goals as a rookie in 2003-04 and an NHL career-best 20 goals in 2006-07. Lombardi was second on the Coyotes with 53 points (19 goals, 34 assists) in 2009-10 but concussion issues that began the following season kept him from reaching that level again. He left the NHL after the 2012-13 season; his average of 0.49 points per game (262 points in 536 games) is 10th among forwards chosen in 2002.
26. Gregory Campbell , F, Florida Panthers (67)
The third-round pick played six seasons for the Panthers, and was traded to the Bruins in 2010. He became a key bottom-six forward and penalty killer for Boston's Stanley Cup championship team in 2011, and helped it reach the Cup Final in 2013 despite sustaining a broken leg blocking a shot in the conference final. Campbell's best offensive season was 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 77 games with Florida in 2008-09. His 1,302 hits are second among forwards selected in 2002 and his 524 blocked shots are fifth.
27. Matt Greene , D, Edmonton Oilers (44)
The second-round pick was an important part of Stanley Cup championships with the Kings in 2012 and 2014, playing more than 14:28 per game each postseason, and more than 2:00 per game on the penalty kill. Greene also helped the Oilers reach the Cup Final as a rookie in 2006. His 79 playoff games are third among defensemen drafted in 2002.
28. James Wisniewski , D, Chicago Blackhawks (156)
The fifth-round pick tied for fifth among NHL defensemen with 51 points (10 goals, 41 assists) in 75 games with the Canadiens and Islanders in 2010-11. In 2013-14 he tied for eighth among defensemen with 51 points (seven goals, 44 assists) in 75 games with the Blue Jackets and was third with 28 power-play points (three goals, 25 assists). His 274 points (53 goals, 221 assists) are sixth among defensemen in his draft class.
29. Jonathan Ericsson, D, Detroit Red Wings (291)
The final pick of the 2002 draft played 13 NHL seasons, all with the Red Wings. His 680 games rank sixth among defensemen in his draft class. Ericsson was steady and reliable, averaging more than 18:00 per game seven times and playing at least 74 games three times.
30. Petr Prucha , F, New York Rangers (240)
The eighth-round pick was fourth among NHL rookies with 30 goals for the Rangers in 2005-06 and scored 22 goals the following season. Prucha never reached that level again and was traded to the Coyotes during the 2008-09 season for defenseman Derek Morris. He scored 13 goals for Phoenix in 2009-10 and left the NHL after the 2010-11 season. He played 346 games, but his average of 0.42 points is tied for 13th among forwards picked in 2002.
Missing first-round picks:
Petr Taticek
, F, Florida Panthers (9);
Eric Nystrom
, F, Calgary Flames (10);
Keith Ballard
, D, Buffalo Sabres (11);
Steve Eminger
, D, Washington Capitals (12); Jesse Niinimaki, F, Edmonton Oilers (15);
Jakub Klepis
, F, Ottawa Senators (16);
Boyd Gordon
, F, Washington Capitals (17);
Denis Grebeshkov
, D, Los Angeles Kings (18); Jakub Koreis, F, Phoenix Coyotes (19);
Daniel Paille
, F, Buffalo Sabres (20);
Anton Babchuk
, D, Chicago Blackhawks (21);
Ben Eager
, F, Phoenix Coyotes (23); Martin Vagner, D, Dallas Stars (26); Mike Morris, F, San Jose Sharks (27); Jonas Johansson, F, Colorado Avalanche (28);
Hannu Toivonen
, G, Boston Bruins (29);
Jim Slater
, F, Atlanta Thrashers (30)
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