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Sharks draft D-man first overall
7/3/1991 15.05 EST
With the first overall pick in their inaugural draft, The San Jose Sharks picked Kamloops Blazer stand-out defencemen Scott Niedermayer.
Considered one of the deepest first rounds in recent memory, the Sharks front office gathered at the podium in Buffalo’s Memorial Auditorium and selected Niedermayer over the consensus first overall pick Eric Lindros.
“For us it was an easy decision” GM Fyvie said. “We liked Lindros and Forsberg but thought neither player was as durable, dependable and dangerous in all areas of the ice as Niedermayer”.
It was an unusual opening day as Lindros, the media’s favourite to go first, lasted until the 4th selection, by the Quebec Nordiques. Philadelphia and Vancouver both passed over the Oshawa Generals’ star picking Rucchin and Russian sniper Pavel Bure respectively.
An unnamed source from the Vancouver camp said that a lot of teams had reservations about Lindros’ attitude, and durability.
Both Eric Lindros and Swedish superstar Peter Forsberg were left stunned that they managed to pass through the first couple of selections. Forsberg, in particular, thought he and Lindros would go first and second. “I am happy to be picked 5th by the Maple Leafs, but I was certain I was going to San Jose”.
Pavel Bure was the top European skater, being drafted 3rd by the Vancouver Canucks, whilst Chris Osgood was the first goalie drafted at 7th by the Winnipeg Jets.
The following rounds will take place tomorrow morning, where San Jose starts the process all over again with the first pick in the second round. Slovak centre Jozef Stumpel and Latvian defender Sandis Ozolinsh are the favourites to be picked early in the second round, though some predict the Sharks to pick “off the board” again with sources saying Swedish centre Michael Nylander may be selected by the expansion team.
The complete first round is listed below:
1 - Scott Niedermayer - SJ
2 - Steve Rucchin - PHI
3 - Pavel Bure - VAN
4 - Eric Lindros - QUE
5 - Peter Forsberg - TOR
6 - Ray Whitney - STL
7 - Chris Osgood - WPG
8 - Brian Savage - BUF
9 - Brian Rolston - DET
10-John Madden - HFD
11-Zigmund Palffy - NJD
12-David Oliver - WAS
13-Nikolai Khabibulin - NYI
14-Glen Murray - MLT
15-Daniel Alfredsson - MIN
16-Rob Valicevic - LA
17-Todd Marchant - BOS
18-Marcus Naslund - NYR
19-Pat Falloon - CAL
20-Jere Lehtinen - EDM
21-Phillipe Boucher - CHI
22-Kirk Maltby - PIT
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