NHL First Round Dream Draft: Cam Ward

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

NHL.com is doing a dream draft where they pick the best (current and past) players at the spot they were taking (1-30) and list them out.

 

The Carolina Hurricanes own Cam Ward came in as the best current player to be drafted 25th overall...

 

Link: http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=673100

 

The Carolina Hurricanes were riding high after reaching the Stanley Cup Final for the first time in 2002, and that success carried over to the 2002 NHL Draft.

 

The first round in Toronto planted the seeds for even greater success a few years later.

 

The Hurricanes selected goaltender Cam Ward, and 11 years later, NHL.com's 13-member Dream Draft panel has voted Ward the best No. 25 first-round pick.

 

Ward finished 14-8-2 in 28 games in his first NHL season, with a 3.68 GAA and .882 save percentage. The Hurricanes won the Southeast Division with Gerber playing the majority of the games, but when Gerber stumbled in Game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, coach Peter Laviolette inserted Ward, and the rookie never relinquished the job. He posted a 2.14 GAA and two shutouts in 23 games and won the Conn Smythe Trophy en route to helping the Hurricanes win their first Stanley Cup.

 

"Cam Ward is a franchise-defining goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes who has delivered the team a Stanley Cup despite just entering his prime," NHL.com senior managing editor Shawn P. Roarke said. "He could, conceivably, be a difference-maker for the Hurricanes for another decade. That is a legacy that is impossible to ignore."

 

Honorable Mention (Players That Played/Coached For The Hurricanes/Whalers Organization

Philadelpha Flyers right wing: Justin Williams was an honorable mention for the number number 28 pick.

Washington Capitals defenseman: Kevin Hatcher was an honorable mention for the number 17 pick.

Hartford Whalers goalie: Jean-Sebastien Giguere was an honorable mention for the number 13 pick.

Calgary Flames left wing: Gary Roberts was an honorable mentions for the 12th pick.

Hartford Whalers center: Bobby Holik was an honorable mention for the number 10 pick.

St. Louis Blues center: Rod Brind'Amour was an honorable mention for the number 9 pick.

Buffalo Sabres goalie: Tom Barrasso was an honorable mention for the number 5 pick.

Hartford Whalers center: Ron Francis was an honorable mention for the number 4 pick

New Jersey Devils winger: Brendan Shanahan was an honorable mention for the 2nd pick

Hartford Whalers defenseman: Chris Pronger was an honorable mention for the 2nd pick

 

NHL Dream Draft

#2 Marcel Dionne, Detroit Red Wings, Center, 1971 Draft

#3 Scott Niedermayer, New Jersey Devils, Defenseman, 1991 Draft

#4 Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings, Center, 1983 Draft

#5 Jaromir Jagr, Pittsburgh Penguins, Right Wing, 1990 Draft

#6 Paul Coffey, Edmonton Oilers, Defenseman, 1980 Draft (Coffey played for the Whalers and Canes)

#7 Bill Barber, Philadelphia Flyers, Left Wing, 1972 Draft

#8 Ray Bourque, Boston Bruins, Defenseman, 1979 Draft

#9 Brian Leetch, New York Rangers, Defenseman, 1986 Draft

#10 Teemu Selanne, Winnipeg Jets, Right Wing, 1988 Draft

#11 Jarome Iginla, Dallas Stars, Right Wing, 1995 Draft

#12 Marian Hossa, Ottawa Senators, Right Wing, 1997 Draft

#13 Dustin Brown, Los Angeles Kings, Right Wing, 2003 Draft

#14 Brian Propp, Philadelphia Flyers, Left Wing, 1977 Draft AND Sergei Gonchar, Washington Capitals, Defenseman, 1992 Draft

#15 Mike Bossy, New York Islanders, Right Wing, 1977 Draft

#16 Dave Andreychuk, Buffalo Sabres, Left Wing, 1982 Draft

#17 Zach Parise, New Jersey Devils, Left Wing, 2003 Draft

#18 Ken Daneyko, New Jersey Devils, Defenseman, 1982 Draft

#19 Keith Tkachuk, Winnipeg Jets, Left Wing, 1990 Draft

#20 Martin Brodeur, New Jersey Devils, Goalie, 1990 Draft

#21 Kevin Lowe, Edmonton Oilers, Defenseman, 1979 Draft

#22 Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers, Right Wing, 2006 Draft

#23 Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks, Center, 2003

#24 Mike Richards, Philadelphia Flyers, Center, 2003 Draft

#25: Cam Ward, Carolina Hurricanes, Goalie, 2002 Draft

#26: Martin Havlat, Ottawa Senators, Right Wing, 1999 Draft

#27: Scott Gomez, New Jersey Devils, Center, 1998 Draft

#28: Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks, Right Wing, 2003 Draft

#29: Mike Green, Washington Capitals, Defenseman, 2004 Draft

#30: Simon Despres, Pittsburgh Penguins, Defenseman, 2009 Draft

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I'm going to keep this thread updated because it's kind of cool to see how this is playing out.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Updated to number 19.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Based off of the draft so far...

 

Best Overall Draft: 2003 Draft

Best Drafting Team: New Jersey Devils

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

I finally got around to updating the OP.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

Updated to number three