On Friday and Saturday, the 2012 NHL Draft will put more 200 of the top hockey prospects around the world into NHL hands. Some will be hits, some will be busts and some will just be pretty darn average choices.
For teams scrambling to find last-minute draft choices, maybe a look at Wednesday night's NHL Awards winners would be a start. When were all of these NHL stars selected?
Here's a look:
Where The 2012 NHL Award Winners Were Drafted Slideshow
Evgeni Malkin: Hart, Lindsay Trophies
The 2011-12 MVP and Most Outstanding Player of the Pittsburgh Penguins narrowly missed the top spot of the 2004 draft. The Washington Capitals decided on a different Russian with the first choice: Alexander Ovechkin. With two Harts and three Lindsays already for Ovechkin, the Capitals are not exactly kicking themselves in the shins. But Malkin does have one big thing Alexander the Great lacks: A Stanley Cup title.
Henrik Lundqvist: Vezina Trophy
The league's top goaltender was a relatively unknown 18-year-old Swede in 2000 when the Rangers made him a seventh-round pick, 205th overall. King Henrik played his first five professional seasons in Sweden, before making his Big Apple debut in 2005. Now, 252 wins later, the pick appears well worth the wait. As for some of the top goalies drafted before Lundqvist, ninth overall pick Brent Krahn and 45th overall pick Mathieu Chouinard have played in one total NHL game each, 60th overall pick Dan Ellis has never played more than 44 games in a season and Ilya Bryzgalov currently runs a circus on Broad Street. Oh, and first overall pick Rick DiPietro ... he's played in 47 games over the past four seasons but still has nine years left on his 15-year deal. And people wonder why Islanders fans are bitter.
Erik Karlsson, Norris Trophy
A draft day trade landed the 15th pick in the Senators' hands, as Ottawa fans anxiously watched events unfold at Scotiabank Place. Steven Stamkos, a 2012 Hart Trophy finalist, was taken with the first overall pick. After Stamkos, six defensemen were chosen from picks 2-14. At the 15th slot, the Senators still felt they could scrape out defensive talent in 18-year-old Swede Karlsson, this season's top defenseman. Among the six defensemen selected before Karlsson, only Drew Doughty of the Kings has been a Norris Trophy finalist.
Gabriel Landeskog, Calder Memorial Trophy
Like Lundqvist and Karlsson, Landeskog was an 18-year-old Swede when the Avalanche drafted him second overall last year. Unlike Lundqvist and Karlsson, Landeskog wasted no time making his NHL debut. The winger started his rookie-of-the-year campaign just months after draft day. Landeskog's 52 points were tied for the most among rookies in 2011-12. As for the one player drafted before Landeskog, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins -- he was the other rookie with 52 points. For now, it is too early to judge the 2011 draft class.
Patrice Bergeron, Selke Trophy
In a star-studded draft (14 All-Stars were taken in the first round), this season's top defensive forward slipped to the second round at 45th overall. Although all 30 first-round draft choices of 2003 reached the NHL, it is hard to argue there was not a spot for a member of the Triple Gold Club (Olympic gold medal, World Championships gold medal and Stanley Cup).
Max Pacioretty, Masterton Trophy
Pacioretty, winner of the award for the "player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication" is a bright spot from a very weak draft. Of the 211 players drafted, only three players, first overall pick Patrick Kane, ninth pick Logan Couture and 129th pick Jamie Benn have been named to All-Star Games. Pacoretty's career is on the rise, though, as he recovered from a vicious Zdeno Chara hit in 2011 that ended his season to post 65 points in 2011-12.
Brian Campbell, Lady Byng
The Panthers defenseman, winner of the 2011-12 award for sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability, was a sixth-round draft choice of the Buffalo Sabres in 1997. Despite the low draft choice, Campbell has enjoyed a successful career of a Stanley Cup title, four All-Star appearances and 365 total points. Campbell has proven he is not your everyday sixth-round defenseman.
Daniel Alfredsson, King Clancy Trophy
One of the NHL's greatest stars in the past 15 years and this year's top humanitarian, Alfresson was not viewed as a top player at the 1994 draft. While most scouts were skeptical of the Swede, John Ferguson of the Senators' front office convinced Ottawa to pull the trigger on him in the sixth round. Alfredsson is the only member of the 1994 class to have more than 1,000 points (1,082).
Mike Fisher, NHL Foundation Award
Six years before Carrie Underwood auditioned for "American Idol", the Predators center was a second-round pick of the Senators in 1998. Fisher was coming off just a 49-point season in the Ontario Hockey League, and he did not appear to have first-round talent. The center stayed in the OHL one more season, posting 106 points to make his naysayers groan. He has had a steady NHL career, scoring between 32 and 53 points in each of the last seven seasons. Centers the Senators passed on to take Fisher: Brad Richards and Pavel Datsyuk. The NHL Foundation Award is given to the player "who applies the core values of hockey -- commitment, perseverance and teamwork -- to enrich the lives of people in his community."
Shane Doan, Mark Messier Leadership Award
1995: Seventh overall. Doan, drafted by the Winnipeg Jets (now the Phoenix Coyotes), watched six teams miss out on his 788 career points. Bryan Berard was the first overall pick by the Senators, and he was immediately traded to the Islanders in a deal that sent second overall pick Wade Redden to Ottawa. Berard experienced a short-lived mediocre career, while Redden hit a short-lived prime and has spent the last two seasons in the AHL. Third pick Aki Berg and sixth pick Steve Kelly both had very short careers, as well. But Doan may not have been the top player available at No. 7. Jarome Iginla, a career 1,073-point scorer, was drafted 11th overall. The Mark Messier Leadership Award is given to the "individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes."
