1997 NHL entry draft


The 1997 NHL entry draft was the 35th NHL entry draft. It was held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 21, 1997.
The last active player from the 1997 draft class was Joe Thornton, who played his last NHL game in the 2021–22 season.

Selections by round

Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.

Round one

#PlayerNationalityNHL teamCollege/junior/club team
1Joe Thornton Boston BruinsSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds
2Patrick Marleau San Jose SharksSeattle Thunderbirds
3Olli Jokinen Los Angeles KingsHIFK
4Roberto Luongo New York Islanders 1Val-d'Or Foreurs
5Eric Brewer New York IslandersPrince George Cougars
6Daniel Tkaczuk Calgary FlamesBarrie Colts
7Paul Mara Tampa Bay LightningSudbury Wolves
8Sergei Samsonov Boston Bruins 2Detroit Vipers
9Nick Boynton Washington CapitalsOttawa 67's
10Brad Ference Vancouver CanucksSpokane Chiefs
11Jason Ward Montreal CanadiensErie Otters
12Marian Hossa Ottawa SenatorsDukla Trencin
13Daniel Cleary Chicago BlackhawksBelleville Bulls
14Michel Riesen Edmonton OilersEHC Biel
15Matt Zultek Los Angeles Kings 3Ottawa 67's
16Ty Jones Chicago Blackhawks 4Spokane Chiefs
17Robert Dome Pittsburgh PenguinsLas Vegas Thunder
18Michael Holmqvist Mighty Ducks of AnaheimDjurgardens IF
19Stefan Cherneski New York RangersBrandon Wheat Kings
20Mike Brown Florida PanthersRed Deer Rebels
21Mika Noronen Buffalo SabresTappara
22Nikos Tselios Carolina Hurricanes 5Belleville Bulls
23Scott Hannan San Jose Sharks 6Kelowna Rockets
24Jean-Francois Damphousse New Jersey DevilsMoncton Wildcats
25Brenden Morrow Dallas StarsPortland Winter Hawks
26Kevin Grimes Colorado AvalancheKingston Frontenacs

  1. Toronto's first-round pick went to the Islanders as the result of a trade on March 13, 1996 that sent Wendel Clark, Mathieu Schneider and D.J. Smith to Toronto in exchange for Sean Haggerty, Darby Hendrickson, Kenny Jonsson and this pick.
  2. Carolina's first-round pick went to Boston as the result of a trade on August 26, 1994 that sent Glen Wesley to Hartford in exchange for first-round picks of the 1995 entry draft and the 1996 entry draft along with this pick. Hartford relocated to Carolina after the 1996–97 NHL season.
  3. St. Louis' first-round pick went to Los Angeles as the result of a trade on February 27, 1996 that sent Wayne Gretzky to St. Louis in exchange for Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, a fifth-round pick of the 1996 entry draft and this pick.
  4. : St. Louis' first-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade with Edmonton on August 4, 1995 that sent Curtis Joseph and the rights to Mike Grier to Edmonton in exchange a first-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
  5. :: Edmonton previously acquired this pick and a first-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft as compensation on July 28, 1995 after St. Louis signed free agent Shayne Corson.
  6. Phoenix's first-round pick went to Chicago as the result of a trade on August 16, 1996 that sent Jeremy Roenick to Phoenix in exchange for Craig Mills, Alexei Zhamnov and this pick.
  7. Detroit's first-round pick went to Hartford as the result of a trade on October 9, 1996 that sent Brian Glynn and Brendan Shanahan to Detroit in exchange for Paul Coffey, Keith Primeau and this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
  8. Carolina's acquired first-round pick went to San Jose as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round in the 1997 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 1998 entry draft to Carolina in exchange for this pick.
  9. : Hartford's previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on December 15, 1996 that sent Paul Coffey and a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to Philadelphia in exchange for Kevin Haller, a seventh-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.

    Round two

  10. San Jose's second-round pick went to Carolina as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a first-round in the 1997 Entry Draft to San Jose in exchange for a third-round pick in the 1998 entry draft and this pick.
  11. Toronto's first-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on August 30, 1995 that sent Dmitry Yushkevich and a second-round pick in the 1996 entry draft to Toronto in exchange for a first-round and a fourth-round picks in the 1996 entry draft along with this pick.
  12. Carolina's second-round pick went to Vancouver as the result of a trade on December 19, 1995 that sent Jeff Brown and a third-round pick in the 1998 entry draft to Hartford in exchange for Jim Dowd, Frantisek Kucera and this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
  13. St. Louis' second-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on July 4, 1994 that sent Al MacInnis and a fourth-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to St. Louis in exchange for Phil Housley, a second-round pick in the 1996 entry draft and this pick.
  14. St. Louis acquired this pick as compensation on July 21, 1996 after the Rangers signed free agent Wayne Gretzky.
  15. Ottawa's second-round pick went to New Jersey as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent two third-round picks in the 1997 Entry Draft to Ottawa in exchange for this pick.
  16. Carolina's second-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on March 5, 1997 that sent Steve Chiasson and a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to Hartford in exchange for Hnat Domenichelli, Glen Featherstone, a third-round pick in the 1998 entry draft and this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
  17. : Hartford previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on December 19, 1995 that sent Jocelyn Lemieux and a second-round pick in the 1998 entry draft to New Jersey in exchange for Jim Dowd and this pick.

    Round three

  18. St. Louis' third-round pick went to Colorado as the result of a trade on May 30, 1997 that sent Brent Johnson to St. Louis in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in the 2000 entry draft and this pick. Conditions of the conditional draft pick are unknown.
  19. : St. Louis previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with San Jose on March 6, 1995 that sent Craig Janney and cash and to San Jose in exchange for Jeff Norton and this pick. The pick was a conditional third-round pick at the time of the trade and conditions of the pick are unknown.
  20. Los Angeles' third-round pick went to Florida as the result of a trade on November 28, 1996 that sent Brad Smyth to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick.
  21. New Jersey's acquired third-round pick went to Ottawa as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to New Jersey in exchange for a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
  22. : New Jersey acquired this pick as compensation on July 22, 1996 after Washington signed free agent Phil Housley.
  23. Carolina's third-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on December 15, 1996 that sent Kevin Haller, a first-round and seventh-round picks in the 1997 Entry Draft to Hartford in exchange for Paul Coffey and this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
  24. Washington's third-round pick went to Boston as the result of a trade on March 1, 1997 that sent Adam Oates, Bill Ranford and Rick Tocchet to Washington in exchange for Jason Allison, Jim Carey, Anson Carter, a conditional second-round pick in the 1998 entry draft and this pick.
  25. Ottawa's third-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to New Jersey in exchange for a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
  26. : New Jersey acquired this pick from Ottawa as compensation on October 5, 1995 after Ottawa claimed Tom Chorske off waivers.
  27. St. Louis' third-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on March 20, 1996 that sent Yuri Khmylev and an eighth-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft to St. Louis in exchange for Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, a second-round pick in the 1996 entry draft and this pick.
  28. Calgary acquired this pick as compensation on July 1, 1996 after Phoenix hired Don Hay as head coach.
  29. Philadelphia's third-round pick went to Dallas as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round pick in the 1998 entry draft to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
  30. St. Louis' third-round pick went to Colorado as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent two fourth-round picks in the 1996 entry draft to St. Louis in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 1998 entry draft and this pick.
  31. : St. Louis previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with New Jersey on November 1, 1995 that sent Esa Tikkanen to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.
  32. Dallas' third-round pick went to the Islanders as the result of a trade on June 1, 1996 that sent Brad Lukowich to Dallas in exchange for this pick.
  33. Calgary's acquired third-round pick went to Carolina as the result of a trade on March 5, 1997 that sent Hnat Domenichelli, Glen Featherstone, a second-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 1998 entry draft to Calgary in exchange for Steve Chiasson and this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
  34. : Calgary previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with the Islanders on November 27, 1996 that sent Paul Kruse to the Islanders in exchange for this pick.
  35. :: The Islanders previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with Colorado on September 4, 1996 that sent Brent Severyn to Colorado in exchange for this pick.