Revisiting the 2005 NHL Draft: A Look at What Could Have Been

Imagine a scenario where Anze Kopitar dons the colors of the Anaheim Ducks. For Los Angeles Kings fans, that thought is enough to send shivers down their spines. Yet, if given a chance to redo the 2005 NHL Draft, that’s precisely where the Kings’ all-time scoring leader might have found himself. The prospect of a Kopitar and Ryan Getzlaf one-two punch could have signaled the dawn of a new era of dominance for the Ducks.

With the benefit of hindsight, the 2005 draft reveals intriguing possibilities for several teams. Take the Carolina Hurricanes, for instance. At the time, they were unaware that a young Cam Ward was on the verge of delivering a Conn Smythe-winning performance just a year later, leading to Carolina’s 2006 Stanley Cup victory. Had they known, would they have selected Carey Price, who was then waiting in the wings? Such a move could have reshaped their goaltending future significantly.

The potential ramifications extend beyond Carolina. Imagine Tuukka Rask, primarily known for his time with the Boston Bruins, donning the red, white, and blue of the Montreal Canadiens. This scenario would undoubtedly haunt many Bruins fans, as Rask’s talent could have altered the landscape of the rivalry.

The 2005 draft is noteworthy not just for its potential re-draft scenarios but also for producing an exceptional crop of goaltenders. Five netminders from this draft class boast over 150 career wins, with four surpassing the 200-win mark, making it the most prolific goalie draft since the NHL’s lockout.

Here’s how the 2005 draft might have unfolded if every team had a crystal ball, with the original selection positions noted:

• 1. PITTSBURGH PENGUINS – Sidney Crosby (1st overall by Pittsburgh)
• 2. ANAHEIM DUCKS – Anze Kopitar (11th overall by Los Angeles)
• 3. CAROLINA HURRICANES – Carey Price (5th overall by Montreal)
• 4. MINNESOTA WILD – Jonathan Quick (72nd overall by Los Angeles)
• 5. MONTREAL CANADIENS – Tuukka Rask (21st overall by Toronto)
• 6. COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS – Kris Letang (62nd overall by Pittsburgh)
• 7. CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS – Paul Stastny (44th overall by Colorado)
• 8. SAN JOSE SHARKS – Keith Yandle (105th overall by Phoenix)
• 9. OTTAWA SENATORS – T.J. Oshie (24th overall by St. Louis)
• 10. VANCOUVER CANUCKS – Ben Bishop (85th overall by St. Louis)
• 11. LOS ANGELES KINGS – Marc-Edouard Vlasic (35th overall by San Jose)
• 12. NEW YORK RANGERS – Niklas Hjalmarsson (108th overall by Chicago)
• 13. BUFFALO SABRES – James Neal (33rd overall by Dallas)
• 14. WASHINGTON CAPITALS – Patric Hornqvist (230th overall by Nashville)
• 15. NEW YORK ISLANDERS – Anton Stralman (216th overall by Toronto)
• 16. ATLANTA THRASHERS – Bobby Ryan (2nd overall by Anaheim)
• 17. PHOENIX COYOTES – Andrew Cogliano (25th overall by Edmonton)
• 18. NASHVILLE PREDATORS – Matt Niskanen (28th overall by Dallas)
• 19. DETROIT RED WINGS – Martin Hanzal (17th overall by Phoenix)
• 20. FLORIDA PANTHERS – Darren Helm (132th overall by Detroit)
• 21. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS – Marc Staal (12th overall by NY Rangers)
• 22. BOSTON BRUINS – Jack Johnson (3rd overall by Carolina)
• 23. NEW JERSEY DEVILS – Kris Russell (67th overall by Columbus)
• 24. ST. LOUIS BLUES – Justin Abdelkader (42nd overall by Detroit)
• 25. EDMONTON OILERS – Ondrej Pavelec (41st overall by Atlanta)
• 26. CALGARY FLAMES – Cody Franson (79th overall by Nashville)
• 27. WASHINGTON CAPITALS – Benoit Pouliot (4th overall by Minnesota)
• 28. DALLAS STARS – Devin Setoguchi (8th overall by San Jose)
• 29. PHILADELPHIA FLYERS – Alex Stalock (112th overall by San Jose)
• 30. TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING – Adam McQuaid (55th overall by Columbus)

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.