Dan Rosen ranks NHL's top No. 1 draft picks, placing Lemieux first
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 3, 2026, 8:15 PM
Last updated Oct 3, 2026
NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen has ranked the top No. 1 draft picks in NHL history, placing Mario Lemieux at the top. Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin follow in the second and third spots, respectively. Connor McDavid ranks fourth, while rookie Macklin Celebrini makes the list at No. 10 after two seasons. Rosen's rankings are based on players' careers, championships, and overall impact, with Lemieux’s achievements highlighted prominently in the detailed evaluation.
- •Rosen ranks Mario Lemieux as the best No. 1 pick.
- •Sidney Crosby is second, followed by Alex Ovechkin.
- •Connor McDavid is fourth due to lack of championships.
- •Macklin Celebrini is ranked tenth after just two seasons.
- •Rosen evaluates players based on achievements and impact.
- 8:15 PMYahoo Sports — Dan Rosen reveals where the NHL’s legendary No. 1 picks rank
"NHL.com’s Dan Rosen ranked Mario Lemieux as the greatest No. 1 draft pick, ahead of Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini, his biggest projection.
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