The NHL Entry Draft is an annual meeting in which every franchise of the National Hockey League (NHL) systematically select the rights to available ice hockey players who meet draft eligibility requirements. The NHL Entry Draft is held once every year, generally within two to three months after the conclusion of the previous season. During the draft, teams take turns selecting amateur players from junior or collegiate leagues and professional players from European leagues.
The 2002 NHL Entry Draft was the 40th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 22 and 23, 2002 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Two hundred and ninety-one players were drafted in total: 35 from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL); 23 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL); 43 from the Western Hockey League (WHL); 41 from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey conferences; six from U.S. high schools and 110 from outside North America.
Thomas James Fitzgerald is an American former professional ice hockey player who played 17 seasons in the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League. He currently serves as the general manager and executive Vice President of the New Jersey Devils. He won the Stanley Cup in 2009 as a director of player development with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Slovenian men's national ice hockey team is controlled by the Ice Hockey Federation of Slovenia. The team is currently ranked 18th in the world by the International Ice Hockey Federation as of the 2019 IIHF World Ranking. Their best record is 13th place at the Ice Hockey World Championships, while their highest IIHF ranking is 12th place.
The 1997–98 NHL season was the 81st regular season of the National Hockey League. The Stanley Cup champions were the Detroit Red Wings, who swept the Washington Capitals in four games.
Anže Kopitar is a Slovene professional ice hockey centre and captain for the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League (NHL). The 11th overall pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Kopitar became the first Slovene to play in the NHL upon making his debut in 2006. Kopitar has spent his entire NHL career with the Kings, and has led the team in scoring in all but two seasons and is fourth in franchise history in points, goals, and assists. Following the 2015–16 season, he was named the Kings' captain. Noted for both his offensive and defensive play, Kopitar was awarded the Frank J. Selke Trophy as the best defensive forward in the NHL in 2016, as well as the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for gentlemanly play the same year. He won his second Selke trophy in 2018.
The 2000 NHL Entry Draft was the 38th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 24 and 25, 2000 at the Pengrowth Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, following the 2000 NHL Expansion Draft on June 23 for the Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild. This was the second NHL Entry Draft in which a goaltender was taken first overall, when the New York Islanders selected Rick DiPietro with the first overall pick. Previously, Michel Plasse was selected 1st overall in the 1968 NHL Amateur Draft.
Jordan Douglas Leopold is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He was drafted in the second round, 44th overall, by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 1999, though never making an appearance with the team. In his NHL career, Leopold played for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues, Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild.
The 2001 NHL Entry Draft was the 39th NHL Entry Draft. It was held on June 23 and 24, 2001 at the National Car Rental Center in Sunrise, Florida.
Brent Bernard Sopel is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played the majority of his career in the National Hockey League (NHL). Sopel was originally selected 144th overall at the 1995 NHL Entry Draft by the Vancouver Canucks, the organization he began his NHL career with. He has also played for the New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Chicago Blackhawks, Atlanta Thrashers and Montreal Canadiens, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010 with Chicago.
Rumun Ndur is a Nigerian-born Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Ndur played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Buffalo Sabres, the New York Rangers, and the Atlanta Thrashers. Ndur was the first Nigerian-born player to play in the NHL. He was born in Nigeria but grew up in Hearst, Ontario.
Marcus Ragnarsson is a retired Swedish professional ice hockey defenseman. His last team was Djurgårdens IF of the Elitserien. He previously played nine seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the San Jose Sharks and Philadelphia Flyers.
Jan Muršak is a professional Slovenian ice hockey forward currently playing for SC Bern of the National League (NL). Muršak first played hockey in Slovenia as a member of HDK Maribor before he left to spend one season in the Czech junior league. He was then selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft and moved to the major junior Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and played for two teams, the Saginaw Spirit and Belleville Bulls. After finishing his junior career Muršak then joined the Red Wings American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2008.
David Quinn is an American professional ice hockey coach and former player. He is the current head coach of the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was formerly head coach of the Lake Erie Monsters of the American Hockey League, an assistant coach for the Colorado Avalanche of the NHL, and the head men's hockey coach at Boston University.
Janez Leo Jakopin is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman who played in the National Hockey League for the Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the San Jose Sharks.
Olivier Roy is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for Augsburger Panther of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga (DEL).
Derek Kenneth Stepan is an American professional ice hockey center for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has played for two other teams in the NHL: the Arizona Coyotes and the New York Rangers who drafted Stepan in the second round, 51st overall, in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Charles Robert Coyle is an American professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He has also played for the Minnesota Wild.
Nico Hischier is a Swiss professional ice hockey forward and captain for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Hischier made his professional debut in his native Switzerland in 2015, spending time both in the top-tier National League A (NLA) and the second-tier National League B. He moved to North America for the 2016–17 season to play major junior hockey for the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) in hopes of furthering his hockey career; in his first season in the QMJHL, he was named rookie of the year, along with the award for best rookie in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), the governing body for major junior hockey in Canada. Internationally Hischier has represented Switzerland at several junior tournaments, including two World Junior Championships. Regarded as a strong two-way forward and a top prospect for the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Hischier was selected first overall by the Devils, the first time a Swiss player was selected first overall, and made his NHL debut in 2017. He was named captain of the Devils in 2021.
Slovenia 