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| 1982 DRAFT QUICK FACTS |
DATE: JUNE 9, 1982
LOCATION: MONTREAL
FORUM |
| DRAFT HISTORY |
The fourth NHL Entry Draft had been known either as both the "Brian Bellows
Derby" and "Brian Bellows Sweepstakes" for as much as a year before it took
place. The hype surrounding the talented Kitchener right wing began right after
the 1981 Entry Draft and lasted right up until draft day in 1982. Ironically,
however, Bellows didn't end up being the draft's No. 1 pick. That honor went to
defenseman Gord Kluzak, who was taken first overall by Boston. The main reason
Kluzak was chosen No. 1 was because Minnesota had traded Brad Palmer and
Dave Donnelly to Boston in exchange for a promise that the Bruins would not take
Bellows with the pick, thereby letting Minnesota select him with its No. 2
overall pick. The move was very popular with North Stars fans, but upset Boston
fans, who had been counting on Bellows.
Once the Bellows drama was settled, the 1982 Entry Draft took on a very
straightforward tone. Prior to the draft, the league had set the number of
rounds at 12, and as in 1981, all teams were required to use or trade all of
their selections. The 12-round draft was so successful that it became the
standard for the next decade. It was not until the expansion year of 1992 that
the NHL cut back the number of rounds.
The league made two other changes for the 1982 draft. The first, which would
prove largely inconsequential, prevented players from being selected in more
than two drafts. Since few players were known to re-enter at this time, and most
of those were willing to sign with the second team that drafted them, this move
proved largely symbolic.
The second change was more consequential. It required all Europeans entering
the league to do so via the draft, rather than as free agents. This
had major ramifications for teams which suddenly lost the luxury of scouting
older Europeans and signing them at will. Now, teams would have to secure
the rights to a player before they could sign him. As a result of this rule, NHL
teams began drafting Czechs and Soviets in the hope that they would own their
rights if they either defected or were released to other leagues by their
national federations.
In 1982, some 13 Czechs and three Soviets were drafted. Three of the Czechs,
Milan Novy, Jaroslav Pouzar and Miroslav Dvorak had already been given
permission to join the NHL in 1981-82, but the other 10 were all drafted on
speculation that they would one day become available. While there was less of a
temptation to draft Soviets, NHL teams scooped up the only two, Sergei Kapustin
and Viktor Zhluktov, who were rumored to be on their way to North America.
Unfortunately for the drafting teams, this never materialized. A third drafted
Soviet, Viktor Nechaev, did reach the NHL, but his arrival was certain since he
had already left his native Russia to join his American wife in Boston.
The other big increase was the number of U.S. players selected. The previous
record of 47 Americans was easily shattered as 62 were taken in a breakout year.
More than half came from U.S. high schools, including 26 from the state of
Minnesota alone. Like high schools, the Canadian and U.S. Tier II leagues also
saw big gains in 1982. A total of 27 Tier II players were taken, up from just 10
the previous year.
Finally, 1982 was notable because teams that had failed to make the playoffs in
the previous season were allowed to draft before playoff teams, even if the
playoff teams had weaker records. This was done as part of restructuring the
playoff format to allow the top four teams from each division to reach the
postseason. In order not to punish teams from the more competitive divisions,
the NHL adjusted its draft order to allow the non-playoff teams to draft first
regardless of total points. This became an underlying principle of subsequent
drafts and eventually led to the draft lottery, giving non-playoff teams an even
better chance of improving their rosters through the annual Entry Draft. |
| THE BASICS |
Eligible For Draft: All North American amateur players
born between January 1, 1962, and September 15, 1964, and all European
players born before September 15, 1964.
Draft
Order: Non-playoff teams had the first five picks and drafted in reverse order of their 1981-82 finish.
The 16 playoff teams then drafted in reverse order of their 1981-82 finish.
Irregularities: None
Rotation:
New Jersey, Detroit, Toronto, Hartford, Washington, Los Angeles, Chicago,
St. Louis, Calgary, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Quebec, Philadelphia,
N.Y. Rangers, Buffalo, Minnesota, Boston, Montreal, Edmonton, N.Y. Islanders
Total Rounds:
Twelve
Cost to Draft: The NHL paid a lump sum to the CMJHL to support
major junior hockey as a whole. The NHL teams also negotiated fees with
individual European teams for the release of European players.
Draft Rights: Team could offer
player contract at any time after draft, however, underage players would be
required to begin the 1982-83 season with their major-junior teams if they did
not make their NHL teams out of camp, and would only be available for
emergency recall. |
| DRAFT RECAP |
No. 1 pick: Gord Kluzak (by Boston)
Reached
NHL: 109 players (43.2 percent)
Won Stanley Cup: 18 players
(7.1 percent)
Most NHL Games:
Scott Stevens (1,635 games)
Most
Playoff Games: Scott Stevens (233 games)
Highest Pick to Miss:
No. 19 (Alain Heroux)
Lowest Pick to Reach: No. 232 (Dan Dorion)
Players Drafted:
252 (152 forwards, 82 defense, 18 goalies) |
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SNAPSHOT '82 | | Total Selected: |
252 | | Forwards: |
152 | | Defense: |
82 | | Goaltenders: |
18 | | Major Junior: |
129 | | Tier II/Jr. B: |
27/4 | | College Players: |
20 | | High School: |
37 |
| Canadian: |
152 |
| Euro-Canadian: |
3 | | USA Citizens: |
62 | | U.S.-Born: |
62 |
| European: |
35 |
| Reached NHL: |
109 |
| Stanley Cup: |
18 | | Hall of Fame: |
0 |
| All-Star Game: |
14 |
| Year-end All-Star: |
4 |
| Olympians: |
37 |
| Picks Traded: |
50 |
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