We’ve officially reached the top 10 of our 50 best New York draft picks of the last half century, and the latest four entries are dominated by hockey stars.
All three local teams are represented on the latest reveal, including arguably the two best goalies the Big Apple has ever seen.
Here are entries 12-8 on our list, with the next four to be revealed on Friday:
12: Mike Bossy, 1st round, 1977
Another cornerstone of the Islanders dynasty makes our list of best New York draft picks ever, and for good reason. A 15th overall pick, Bossy buried 573 goals across his unbelievable career, hoisted the Stanley Cup four times, won a Calder trophy, a Conn Smythe, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Bossy only played 10 years in the NHL, but boy did he make those years count.
11: Bryan Trottier, 2nd round, 1974
Yet another member of the Islanders dynasty makes this list, but that’s what happens when you have a hand in a remarkable four consecutive Stanley Cups. A second-round pick turned 500 goal scorer, Trottier may have been the biggest steal of all for the Isles, as he led the league in assists twice, won the Conn Smythe in 1980, won a Hart trophy, a Calder trophy, a Ross trophy, and of course, was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Trottier’s 901 career assists are 20th in NHL history, and holds the franchise record in that category, as well as points, games played, and assists per game.
10: Henrik Lundqvist, 7th round, 2000
Certainly a contender for one of the biggest draft steals in New York sports history, Lundqvist owns just about every goaltending record in Rangers franchise history, won a Vezina trophy, and helped New York to finally get back to a Stanley Cup in 2014. Now a Hall of Famer, it’s not hard to fathom the Rangers’ Cup drought already being over had the team done more to build around Lundqvist, who was as steady a presence between the pipes as any goaltender of his era.
9: Martin Brodeur, 1st round, 1990
The goaltender in the New York area that Lundqvist is constantly compared to, Marty has a legit case for the GOAT label among goalies in NHL history. The backbone of the Devils run of success through the early 2000s, New Jersey’s dreaded “trap” system doesn’t work without an elite goaltender, and boy was Brodeur fitting of the “elite” label. The league’s all-time leader in wins and shutouts, Brodeur has three Stanley Cups to his name and played in five, and has a case to be, when considering his standing in his sport, the most accomplished player that will appear on this list.