With the 2019-20 NHL season on pause due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, NHL.com will reimagine one NHL Draft each week. Today, we look back at the 2003 NHL Draft, which was held at Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville on June 21-22, 2003.
2003 NHL Redraft: Bergeron climbs 44 spots, replaces Fleury at No. 1
Penguins take center over goalie, who drops to No. 7; Weber moves into top 10 from second round
Patrice Bergeron has had an incredible NHL career in the black and gold of the Boston Bruins. Now imagine the center wearing those colors for the Pittsburgh Penguins instead.
Bergeron, who was selected No. 45 by Boston in the 2003 NHL Draft, which arguably is the best in League history, was the first one off the board in NHL.com's redraft, going to Pittsburgh.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, originally selected No. 1 by the Penguins, fell back to No. 7.
The player in the top 10 who made the biggest leap was forward Joe Pavelski, who originally was selected in the seventh round by the San Jose Sharks. Shea Weber (originally selected No. 49) and Brent Burns (No. 20) moved up to join Ryan Suter as defensemen taken in the first 10 picks.
Who else would move up? Who else would drop? Thirty NHL.com staffers, using the draft order and class from 2003, and selected in random order, have answered those questions. Here are the results. For reference, here is how the original draft went.
1. Patrice Bergeron, C, Pittsburgh Penguins (originally selected No. 45 by Boston Bruins) -- The Penguins went with arguably the best two-way forward to play in the NHL since 2003. Bergeron has won the Selke Trophy voted the best defensive forward in the NHL four times (2012, 2014, 2015, 2017), is the center on arguably the best line in hockey, and has been to the Stanley Cup Final three times with the Bruins, winning the championship in 2011. And he's gotten better with age, with five 30-goal seasons in the past seven, including 31 this season at 34. The potential of Pittsburgh going three-deep at center in consecutive drafts with Bergeron, Evgeni Malkin in 2004 and Sidney Crosby in 2005 could have been the foundation of an era of dominance for the Penguins similar to the 1970s Montreal Canadiens. -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor
BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart
2. Eric Staal, C, Carolina Hurricanes (No. 2 by Carolina Hurricanes) -- The Hurricanes got this pick right the first time by selecting Staal, so there was no need to change history. Staal leads the 2003 class with 436 goals and 1,021 points, and he has been durable, playing 1,240 NHL games, also tops in the class. Staal has reached 40 goals three times and 30 goals six times in his 16 NHL seasons. He also helped Carolina win the Stanley Cup in 2006, when he had a League-high 28 points (nine goals, 19 assists) in 25 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and reach the Eastern Conference Final in 2009. -- Tom Gulitti, staff writer
3. Ryan Getzlaf, C, Florida Panthers (No. 19 by Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) -- With Bergeron and Staal off the board, Florida was down to choosing between Getzlaf and Fleury. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart was already entrenched as the Panthers' No. 1 goalie, but they had a clear need for a forward who could lead them, so Getzlaf was the perfect pick. He is first in the 2003 class with an average of 0.92 points per game, 691 assists (106 more than Staal in second) and 326 power-play points (81 goals, 245 assists), and he is second in points (965) and rating (plus-131; Bergeron, plus-201). Getzlaf, who leads 2003 forwards in average ice time per game (19:39 per game), has been captain of the Ducks since 2010-11 and holds the Anaheim record for games (1,053), assists and playoff points (120; 37 goals, 83 assists). He helped the Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007, when he had 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 21 postseason games. -- Matt Cubeta, Editor-in-Chief, NHL.com International
4. Ryan Suter, D, Columbus Blue Jackets (No. 7 by Nashville Predators) -- Heading into their fourth NHL season, the Blue Jackets selected the player they would build their defense around. Suter is plus-96 in 15 NHL seasons, second among 2003 defensemen, and his average of 25:11 of ice time per game is fifth in the NHL since he entered the League in 2005-06 (minimum 400 games). Suter, who was named to the NHL First All-Star Team for 2012-13, remains an elite player in the NHL at 35. He is second among 2003 defensemen with 588 points (90 goals, 498 assists) in 1,142 NHL games. -- Tim Campbell, staff writer
5. Shea Weber, D, Buffalo Sabres (No. 49 by Nashville Predators) -- Already set in goal with Ryan Miller, the Sabres bypassed Fleury and Corey Crawford to select Weber. Having scored at least 20 goals three times in his 15 NHL seasons, Weber leads defensemen from the 2003 draft in goals (218) and power-play goals (102), and he is third in points (570). Like Suter, Weber chews up minutes, averaging 24:07 in 990 games with the Predators and Canadiens. -- William Douglas, staff writer
VAN@MTL: Weber cranks home heavy slap shot
6. Brent Burns, D, San Jose Sharks (No. 20 by Minnesota Wild) -- Some marriages just work, and that's the case with Burns and the Sharks. The flashy defenseman, who was acquired in a trade from the Wild on June 24, 2011, has played nine seasons with San Jose and won the Norris Trophy voted as the top defenseman in the NHL in 2016-17, when he scored 76 points (29 goals, 47 assists). Burns leads NHL defensemen in points (694) and game-winning goals (39) since 2003-04, when he entered the League, and is second at the position from the 2003 class in goals (210). His seemingly effortless skating at times makes him like a fourth forward on the ice, a rover if you will. Fleury and forwards like Pavelski, Corey Perry, Jeff Carter and Zach Parise were enticing here, but Burns was too special and unique a player to pass up. -- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
7. Marc-Andre Fleury, G, Nashville Predators (No. 1 by Pittsburgh Penguins) -- With three big-name defensemen taken the three previous picks, the Predators opted to select a true franchise goalie. Fleury leads the NHL in wins (466) and is tied for second in shutouts (61) with Luongo and Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart since 2003-04 (Henrik Lundqvist, 64). He helped the Penguins win the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017) and leads the NHL in postseason victories (78; 17 more than Lundqvist in second) and shutouts (15) over the same span. -- Rob Reese, fantasy editor
EDM@VGK: Fleury powers Vegas with 61st NHL shutout
8. Joe Pavelski, C, Atlanta Thrashers (No. 205 by San Jose Sharks) -- Pavelski not only would have provided elite playmaking on a line with Ilya Kovalchuk for the Thrashers, but he also would have provided the unquestioned leadership that made him a mainstay with the Sharks for 13 seasons, including the final four as captain. He is tied for fifth in the 2003 class in points (792; 369 goals, 423 assists) and played his 1,000th NHL game this season, his first with the Dallas Stars. Always durable, always reliable, it's hard to imagine Pavelski's steadying presence was available at No. 8 in this redraft and even harder to imagine he was available in the seventh round in 2003. -- Dan O'Leary, staff writer
9. Zach Parise, LW, Calgary Flames (No. 17 by New Jersey Devils) -- It was a coin flip between Parise and Perry, but the Flames took Parise, who is second in the 2003 draft class with 386 goals and tied for fifth with 792 points. A 10-time 20-goal scorer, he scored at least 31 goals in five of his first seven NHL seasons and could have helped Jarome Iginla get Calgary over the top. Parise, who is known as a leader, has 74 points (35 goals, 39 assists) in 97 NHL playoff games. -- David Satriano, staff writer
10. Corey Perry, RW, Montreal Canadiens (No. 28 by Mighty Ducks of Anaheim) -- The Canadiens went with offense after finishing 20th in scoring (206 goals; 2.51 per game) and not making the playoffs in 2002-03. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart's 31 goals led Montreal, but just two others scored more than 16 (Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, 24; Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, 21). Perry won the Stanley Cup with Anaheim in 2007, when he scored 15 points (six goals, nine assists) in 21 playoff games. He peaked four seasons later when he led the NHL with 50 goals and became the first Ducks player to win the Hart Trophy voted as NHL MVP. Perry is second in Anaheim history in games (988) and goals (372; Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, 457), and he is third in assists (404) and points (776). -- Jon Lane, staff writer
ARI@DAL: Perry taps Hintz's feed home for early PPG
11. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, D, Philadelphia Flyers (No. 245 by Chicago Blackhawks) -- The Flyers selected a franchise defenseman who ranks third at the position from the 2003 draft in goals (177) and fourth in points (525). Byfuglien, like Burns, has been able to shoulder a heavy workload at defenseman and shift to forward at times and be a difference-maker. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2010 and helped the Winnipeg Jets qualify for the postseason three times since they relocated from Atlanta in 2011 (2015, 2018, 2019). Byfuglien's physicality (1,951 hits, 16th in NHL since entering League in 2005-06) and playoff production (50 points in 66 games) have made him one of the best late-round picks in recent memory. -- Pete Jensen, senior fantasy editor
12. Corey Crawford, G, New York Rangers (No. 52 by Chicago Blackhawks) -- Fleury might have the most wins since 2003-04, but Crawford is the best goalie in this draft. He's first in the 2003 class in goals-against average (2.45) and save percentage (.918), and is a two-time Stanley Cup champion as the starter for the Blackhawks (2013, 2015). In the 2013 playoffs, he led the NHL with a 1.84 GAA and had a .932 save percentage in 23 games. Crawford won at least 30 games in each of his first six full NHL seasons, and only twice has he had a save percentage below .917 since becoming Chicago's No. 1 in 2010-11. Although concussions kept him out for most of the two seasons from 2017-19, Crawford rebounded this season with a .917 save percentage, which tied for fifth in the NHL among goalies who played at least 40 games. With Lundqvist not coming over from Sweden until 2005-06, Crawford was a steal for the Rangers at No. 12. -- Brett Amadon, staff writer
13. Jeff Carter, C, Los Angeles Kings (No. 11 by Philadelphia Flyers) -- With the first of their three first-round picks, the Kings selected Carter, a center who would have given them an incredible 1-2 punch down the middle for many seasons with the addition of Anze Kopitar in the 2005 NHL Draft. He is third in the 2003 class with 382 goals and eighth with 732 points. Carter, who was traded to Los Angeles by Columbus on Feb. 23, 2012, would have provided a boost to the Kings on special teams that much sooner; he is in the top five in the class in power-play goals (112; fifth) and shorthanded goals (18; third). A two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Kings (2012, 2014), he has 11 20-goal seasons, tied for second in the class behind Staal's 12. -- Sebastien Deschambault, managing editor, LNH.com
CGY@LAK: Carter nets one-timer from slot
14. Brent Seabrook, D, Chicago Blackhawks (No. 14 by Chicago Blackhawks) -- Happy to find Seabrook available in 2003, the Blackhawks were delighted to pick him again in 2020 in the same spot. Seabrook was the fourth defenseman chosen in this draft, behind Suter, Braydon Coburn and Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart at Nos. 7-9, but his three Stanley Cup championships with Chicago (2010, 2013, 2015) put him at the head of that class. He's been a clutch performer in the postseason with three overtime goals, including in Game 7 of the 2013 Western Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Red Wings. Seabrook has been remarkably durable, missing 10 regular-season games the combined seven seasons preceding 2019-20 before he was shelved in December by shoulder and hip surgeries. -- Dave Stubbs, columnist
15. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, LW, New York Islanders (No. 5 by Buffalo Sabres) -- The Islanders chose Vanek, whose 789 points (373 goals, 416 assists) in 1,029 games for eight teams from 2005-19 are seventh in the 2003 class and the most in NHL history by an Austria-born player. He had 11 seasons with at least 20 goals and at least 48 points, including NHL career highs of 43 goals and 84 points for Buffalo in 2006-07, when he was plus-47. Vanek was particularly effective on the power play; he leads the 2003 class with 137 power-play goals. He announced his retirement on Feb. 25. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
16. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, C, San Jose Sharks (No. 23 by Vancouver Canucks) -- This pick might be hard to stomach for Vancouver and Anaheim fans, and even San Jose fans. But after choosing Burns with the sixth pick of this redraft, the Sharks selected a stalwart, two-way center 10 picks later. Kesler is a five-time Selke Trophy finalist, winning the award for 2010-11, when he scored 73 points (41 goals, 32 assists) and helped the Canucks reach the Stanley Cup Final. Kesler has scored at least 20 goals in nine of 15 seasons with Vancouver and Anaheim but has not played in the NHL since March 6, 2019, because of a chronic hip injury. -- Pat Pickens, staff writer
17. Dustin Brown, RW, New Jersey Devils (No. 13 by Los Angeles Kings) -- The Devils were pleased to find a player of Brown's caliber and character available at No. 17. Despite his blue-collar, physical style, which often forces opponents to take penalties, Brown has been among the most durable players from the 2003 draft. His 1,183 NHL games are second in the class, and his 3,459 hits since 2005-06, his first full NHL season, are first in the League in that span. Brown has scored at least 22 goals in seven of his 16 NHL seasons, all with Los Angeles, and his 653 points (299 goals, 354 assists) are ninth among 2003 forwards. He became the youngest captain in Kings history at 23, a role he had from 2008-16, including for Stanley Cup championships in 2012 and 2014. Brown won the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2014. -- Paul Strizhevsky, columnist, NHL.com/ru
18. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, D, Washington Capitals (No. 9 by Calgary Flames) -- The Capitals were happy at this point of the draft to land a defenseman who played 1,048 games in 14 NHL seasons and scored 494 points (137 goals, 357 assists), fifth most at the position from the 2003 draft. Phaneuf, who has not retired but did not play this season, brought size (6-foot-4, 222 pounds) and offensive abilities, scoring an NHL career-high 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) for Calgary in 2007-08. He finished third in voting for the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 2005-06 and second to Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart for the Norris Trophy in 2007-08. -- Amalie Benjamin, staff writer
19. David Backes, RW, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (No. 62 by St. Louis Blues) -- Anaheim got its big, physical forward. Backes (6-3, 215) has 2,679 hits since entering the NHL in 2006-07, seventh most in the League in that span. His 557 points (245 goals, 312 assists) in 950 NHL games are 15th in the 2003 class. Backes, who came close to winning the Stanley Cup with the Bruins in 2019, has 39 points (17 goals, 22 assists) in 82 NHL playoff games. His best postseason came when he had 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 20 games for the Blues in 2016. He was St. Louis captain for five seasons from 2011-16. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
20. Jaroslav Halak, G, Minnesota Wild (No. 271 by Montreal Canadiens) -- Coming off their first trip to the playoffs since entering the NHL in 2000-01, the Wild were happy to select Halak, who has had a shutout in 10 percent of his NHL starts (50 of 500), the highest rate in the 21st century. Halak is second in the 2003 class in wins (272), GAA (2.48), save percentage (.916) and shutouts. He has never won a major individual award in the NHL but shared the William M. Jennings Trophy with Brian Elliott for the Blues in 2011-12 (NHL-low 155 goals-against) and with Tuukka Rask for the Bruins this season (167). -- John Kreiser, managing editor
21. Jimmy Howard, G, Boston Bruins (No. 64 by Detroit Red Wings) -- After using five goalies in 2002-03, Boston filled a need by selecting the capable Howard. He had a 2.48 GAA and .915 save percentage in 10 seasons from 2009-18 after becoming Detroit's No. 1 goalie but has struggled since (3.42 GAA, .900 save percentage 2018-20). Fourth in the 2003 draft class with 246 wins, his numbers compare favorably with the three goalies taken ahead of him in this redraft, and he would have provided stability at the position for the Bruins. -- Barry Rubinstein, manager, assignments
22. Braydon Coburn, D, Edmonton Oilers (No. 8 by Atlanta Thrashers) -- The Oilers needed a defenseman with some snarl, some bite to his game, one who could play strong in his own zone and get involved offensively when needed. Coburn filled the need. He's been a winner in his career, playing in the Stanley Cup Final twice, in 2010 with the Flyers and in 2015 with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He has played 134 NHL playoff games, tied with Pavelski for third most in the 2003 class behind Bergeron and Mike Richards (136 each). Coburn has 232 points (49 goals, 183 assists), a plus-49 rating and an average time on ice of 19:25 in 964 NHL games. -- Dan Rosen, senior writer
23. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, C, Vancouver Canucks (No. 24 by Philadelphia Flyers) -- With Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart nearing the end of his career, the Canucks needed to add a promising center prospect behind the still-emerging Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart. Richards was a perfect fit. With his gritty style of play and two-way skill set, he would have been the ideal No. 2 center for the Canucks. He had 487 points (181 goals, 306 assists) in 749 NHL games from 2005-16. The tireless worker was Flyers captain from 2008-11, helping them to the Cup Final in 2010, and played a big role in the Kings' Stanley Cup runs in 2012 and 2014. -- Guillaume Lepage, staff writer, LNH.com
24. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, RW, Philadelphia Flyers (No. 3 by Florida Panthers) -- Injuries have dimmed the luster on Horton's career, but he was a force as a top-flight power forward in 627 NHL games, scoring at least 20 goals and 45 points in six of his 10 seasons. Horton (6-2, 229), who last played in the NHL with the Blue Jackets in 2013-14, averaged 0.67 points per game in his career, ninth in the 2003 class. -- Shawn P. Roarke, Senior Director of Editorial
25. Loui Eriksson, LW, Florida Panthers (No. 33 by Dallas Stars) -- After getting Getzlaf at No. 3 in this redraft, the Panthers, rebuilding following a 24-win season in 2002-03, went for a scoring wing to complement him. Eriksson is 11th in the 2003 class in goals (250) and points (593). He has scored at least 22 goals in six of 14 seasons, including an NHL career-high 36 for the Stars in 2008-09, and has 134 power-play points (60 goals, 74 assists),12th among 2003 forwards. -- Frank Giase, staff writer
26. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, D, Los Angeles Kings (No. 239 by Atlanta Thrashers) -- With the first of two consecutive picks late in the first round, the Kings decided to select Enstrom, the steady defenseman who played 719 NHL games from 2007-18, all with the Thrashers/Jets franchise. Enstrom averaged 22:45 of ice time, fourth most among players in the 2003 class, including 3:18 on the power play and 1:51 on the penalty kill. He scored 308 points (54 goals, 254 assists), seventh among 2003 defensemen. -- Jim Cerny, senior editor
27. Brian Elliott, G, Los Angeles Kings (No. 291 by Ottawa Senators) -- What if the Kings selected Elliott in 2003 instead of Jonathan Quick in 2005? What if he'd hit his prime in, say, 2011-12, when they won the first of two titles in three seasons? At his best, Elliott has been elite. With the Blues in 2011-12, he had a 1.56 GAA, the lowest since 1940-41 among NHL goalies who played at least 25 games. His .940 save percentage was the second lowest since 1955-56 among goalies who played at least 25 games, behind Jacques Plante's .944 for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1970-71. He led the NHL with a .930 save percentage in 2015-16 too. -- Nick Cotsonika, columnist
28. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, LW, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (No. 6 by San Jose Sharks) -- Following their run to the Cup Final in 2003, Anaheim's high-scoring left wing Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart left for Colorado as a free agent, so a talented scorer like Michalek certainly would have helped replace him. Despite his NHL career ending early in the 2016-17 season, he ranks 15th in goals (208) and 10th in shorthanded goals (nine) in the 2003 class. In five of his first seven full NHL seasons, Michalek scored at least 22 goals, including 35 with Ottawa in 2011-12. -- John Ciolfi, senior producer, LNH.com
29. Brian Boyle, C, Ottawa Senators (No. 26 by Los Angeles Kings) -- Boyle has played 919 NHL games between the regular season and playoffs, going to the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons with two teams, helping the Rangers get there in 2014 and the Lightning in 2015. A leader on and off the ice who can play in all situations, Boyle set NHL career highs in goals (21) and points (35) for the Rangers in 2010-11. -- Brian Compton, deputy managing editor
30. Video: BOS@PHI: Bergeron wrists one past Hart, RW, St. Louis Blues (No. 148 by St. Louis Blues) -- Stempniak is 14th among forwards from the 2003 draft with 469 points (203 goals, 266 assists) and with 911 games. The journeyman played for 10 teams in his 14-season NHL career, scoring an NHL career-high 28 goals in 2009-10 for the Maple Leafs and Phoenix Coyotes. Not bad for the last pick in the first round. -- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief
