60 Diamonds: Greatest picks from 60 NHL Drafts, Nos. 50-41

The 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft will mark the 60th anniversary of the selection process. That's a lot of great picks, and maybe a few not-so-great ones.

Who were the greatest draft picks ever? Well, that's what NHL.com set out to find with 60 Diamonds: The Greatest Picks of the 60 NHL Drafts.

But what makes a great draft pick? Is it the first-round selection who outperforms his draft slot? Is it the mid-round find who becomes a team leader? Or the late-round gem who develops into a star?

NHL.com left that question to be decided by a panel of 13 writers and editors. Each member of the panel submitted his or her top 60 draft picks, with No. 1 given 60 points, No. 2 getting 59 points, all the way down to No. 60 receiving one point. Any ties were broken by the players' average place on voters' lists, the total number of ballots the players appeared on, and, if needed, the players' highest ranking on any single ballot.

RELATED: [More 2023 Upper Deck NHL Draft coverage | Nos. 60-51 ]

The voting panel consisted of senior director of editorial Shawn P. Roarke, managing editor Brian Compton, deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman, columnist Nicholas J. Cotsonika, senior writer Dan Rosen and staff writers Amalie Benjamin, William Douglas, Tom Gulitti, Mike G. Morreale, Tracey Myers, David Satriano, Paul Strizhevsky and Mike Zeisberger.

Here is the Top 60 of the Past 60, players 50-41:

50. Marcel Dionne, F (149 points)

Selected by: Detroit Red Wings, first round (No. 2), 1971

Dionne set an NHL rookie record with 77 points (28 goals, 49 assists) in 1971-72 and was third in the NHL with 121 points (47 goals, 74 assists) in 1974-75. But Dionne's career took off the following season, after he signed with the Los Angeles Kings. As the centerpiece of the "Triple Crown" line with Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor, Dionne had five straight 100-point seasons (1978-83). His eight 100-point seasons are third in NHL history, behind Wayne Gretzky (15) and Mario Lemieux (10). When he retired in 1989, only Gordie Howe (801) had more goals than Dionne's 731, and Howe (1,850) and Gretzky (1,837) were the only ones with more points (1,771). Dionne was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1992.

49. Auston Matthews, F (152)

Selected by: Toronto Maple Leafs, first round (No. 1), 2016

Any questions about how Matthews would handle the pressure of being the No. 1 pick in Toronto were answered two periods into his first game, when he scored his fourth goal, the best NHL debut of the modern era (since 1943-44). He finished with 40 goals as a rookie in 2016-17 and won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. Matthews has scored at least 34 goals in each of his seven seasons, topped by 60 in 73 games in 2021-22. He's led the NHL in goals twice, and in 2022 became the first Maple Leafs player to win the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player since Ted Kennedy in 1955. The 25-year-old already has scored 299 goals, tied with Rick Vaive for fifth all-time with Toronto.

"Despite the Maple Leafs postseason struggles since Matthews was selected, he made them relevant again; not an easy task. Prior to his selection, Toronto had reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs only once since 2004. Since his arrival, they've been in the postseason each of his seven seasons. He scored a Maple Leafs-record 60 goals in 2021-22 when he won the Hart Trophy as the League's most valuable player as voted by members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association, and the Ted Lindsay Award as most outstanding player as voted by members of the NHL Players' Association. In the process, he became only the second United States-born player to win the Hart, joining his idol, Patrick Kane, who did it in 2015-16 with the Chicago Blackhawks. And Matthews has done it all with flair, like his four-goal NHL debut at the rival Ottawa Senators. If that's not a debut for the ages, I don't know what is."-- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer

48. Joe Nieuwendyk, F (163)

Selected by: Calgary Flames, second round (No. 27), 1985

The day of the 1985 NHL Draft, the Flames traded forward Kent Nilsson, their leading scorer in 1984-85, to the Minnesota North Stars for two draft picks. Hours later, they used one of those picks on Nieuwendyk, a Cornell University freshman. While Nilsson played three more seasons, Nieuwendyk would go on to have a Hall of Fame career, including 51 goals in each of his first two full NHL seasons and a Stanley Cup championship with the Flames in 1989. In the 1999 playoffs, he led the NHL with 11 goals, including six game-winners, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy while helping the Dallas Stars win the Cup. Nieuwendyk won the Cup again with the New Jersey Devils in 2003 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011.

47. Duncan Keith, D (166)

Selected by: Chicago Blackhawks, second round (No. 54), 2002

The Blackhawks chose defensemen with their first two picks at the 2002 NHL Draft, but Keith made a slightly larger impact than first-round pick Anton Babchuk (No. 21). Keith and Brent Seabrook formed Chicago's most reliable defense pair for three Stanley Cup championships (2010, 2013, 2015). Keith won the Norris Trophy twice (2009-10, 2013-14) and won the Conn Smythe Trophy after scoring the Cup-clinching goal in Game 6 of the Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2015.

46. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G (170)

Selected by: Tampa Bay Lightning, first round (No. 19), 2012

Only once before had a Russia-born goalie been selected in the first round when the Lightning selected Vasilevskiy at the 2012 NHL Draft (Semyon Varlamov, Washington Capitals, 2006). It turned out to be the right call as the 28-year-old has developed into the best big-game goalie in the NHL. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2016-17, Vasilevskiy's 245 wins are 20 more than any other goalie (Connor Hellebuyck, 225), and his 30 shutouts are tied with Hellebuyck and Marc-Andre Fleury for the most. He backstopped the Lightning to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021, and in the 2021 playoffs, won the Conn Smythe Trophy after his five shutouts were the most since in a single playoff season since Miikka Kiprusoff and Nikolai Khabibulin each had five in 2004.

45. Pekka Rinne, G (172)

Selected by: Nashville Predators, eighth round (No. 258), 2004

Rinne was overlooked in his draft year, lasting until the final selection of the eighth round, and the Predators still weren't sure after he led the American Hockey League with 36 wins in 2007-08, using the No. 18 pick of the 2008 NHL Draft on goalie Chet Pickard. Rinne never wavered and finished his 15-season NHL career in 2021 with 369 wins, tied for 20th in League history with Tom Barrasso. Rinne helped the Predators reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2017, and the following season, won the Vezina Trophy as the best goalie in the NHL after winning 42 games and tying with Vasilevskiy for the League with eight shutouts. His No. 35 was the first to be retired by the Predators, and an 11-foot bronze statue stands outside Bridgestone Arena in his honor.

"There are a few reasons I ranked Rinne at No. 15. The No. 258 pick in 2004, chosen in a round which doesn't even exist anymore, and few players in that draft made more of an impact in the NHL or on their team. Arguably he was the third-best player taken in the draft, behind Alex Ovechkin, who went No. 1 to the Washington Capitals, and Evgeni Malkin, who went No. 2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Rinne is the Predators leader in nearly every goalie category, including games played (683), wins, goals-against average (2.43), saves (17,627) and shutouts (60). He was a four-time Vezina Trophy finalist (2010-11, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2017-18), and won the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2020-21 for his dedication and work in the Nashville community. The Predators did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in their first five seasons but were a mainstay during Rinne's time with them, making it in 12 of his 15 seasons, including each of his final seven." -- David Satriano, staff writer

44. Peter Forsberg, F (176)

Selected by: Philadelphia Flyers, first round (No. 6), 1991

The Flyers selected Forsberg, but it wasn't until 2005 that he played for them. Instead, he was the final piece added by the Flyers in the trade with the Quebec Nordiques for Eric Lindros in 1992. Forsberg came to the NHL for the 1994-95 season and won the Calder Trophy, and as the center on the second line behind Joe Sakic, helped the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 1996 and 2001. Recovery from surgery for a ruptured spleen and to fix an ankle injury kept him out for the 2001-02 season, but he returned in 2002-03 to lead the NHL with 106 points (29 goals, 77 assists) and won the Hart Trophy. Injuries limited him to 708 games, but his average of 1.25 points per game is seventh all-time among players to play at least 700 games. Forsberg was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.

"I remember talking to Russ Farwell, who was Flyers GM when Philadelphia drafted him, and he said what set Forsberg apart was the way he attacked the game, that he was, 'more Saskatchewan than Saskatchewan guys. They can hardly handle him in his hockey league because he plays so hard and so tough.' That ferocity, combined with his otherworldly skill, is what made Forsberg special. It also led to the injuries that unfortunately shortened his career. But in most of the 708 games he played, Forsberg was the best player on the ice." -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor

43. Sergei Zubov, D (186)

Selected by: New York Rangers, fifth round (No. 85), 1990

The Rangers received an extra pick to start the fifth round of the 1990 NHL Draft as compensation for losing forward Guy Lafleur to the Nordiques in free agency. With the pick, they selected Zubov, and after he spent two more seasons in his native Russia, he arrived in the NHL in 1992-93. In 1993-94, he led the Rangers with 89 points (12 goals, 77 assists) and partnered with defenseman Brian Leetch to help the Rangers win the Stanley Cup. He also helped the Dallas Stars win the Cup in 1999, when he was a plus-13 while averaging 30:16 of ice time in 23 games. Zubov had eight seasons with at least 50 points, and on March 15, 2007, he became the second Russia-born defenseman to play 1,000 games (Alexei Zhitnik). Zubov was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019.

42. Patrick Kane, F (187)

Selected by: Chicago Blackhawks, first round (No. 1), 2007

It had been 19 years since a United States-born forward was chosen with the No. 1 pick (Mike Modano, 1988) when the Blackhawks selected Kane, who was No. 2 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters for the 2007 NHL Draft, behind forward Kyle Turris. Three Stanley Cup championships later, it's clear the Blackhawks made the right choice. Kane scored the Stanley Cup-clinching overtime goal in Game 6 of the 2010 Final against the Flyers, then won the Conn Smythe Trophy when the Blackhawks won the Cup in 2013. In 2015-16, he led the NHL with 106 points (46 goals, 60 assists) and became the first U.S.-born player to win the Hart Trophy. Kane helped Chicago win the Cup again in 2015, and his 1,237 points (451 goals, 786 assists) are second among U.S.-born players all-time behind Modano (1,374).

"Kane was No. 18 on my list because he's a generational talent and arguably the best American player to play in the NHL. He's got the hardware to prove it: a three-time Stanley Cup champion, an Art Ross Trophy winner, Hart Trophy winner, Conn Smythe Trophy winner, Calder Trophy winner (2007-08). Kane is second in scoring to Modano among U.S.-born players, but he has been more impactful. He helped usher in a golden era for the Blackhawks; Chicago hadn't won the Stanley Cup in 49 years until he slipped a short side wrist shot by Flyers goalie Michael Leighton at 4:06 of overtime in Game 6 of the 2010 Final. And Kane's speed, skill and swagger has influenced the current generation of American NHL players, like New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes."-- William Douglas, staff writer

41. Mike Modano, F (192)

Selected by: Minnesota North Stars, first round (No. 1), 1988

Modano's skating and strength were on display for 21 seasons, 20 of which were spent with the North Stars/Dallas Stars. He had nine seasons with at least 33 goals, topped by 50 in 1993-94, the franchise's first season in Dallas. In the 1999 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Modano was second in the NHL with 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 23 games. He had assists on Dallas' four goals in Games 5 and 6 of the Final against the Buffalo Sabres, including Brett Hull's Cup-clinching goal in the third overtime of Game 6. Modano is the all-time leader among U.S.-born players in goals (561) and points (1,374) and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2014.

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