| All-time first overall picks | |||||
| Year | Player | Pos. | Team | Drafted From | Age |
| 2009 | John Tavares | C | New York Islanders | London Knights | 18.8 |
| 2008 | Steve Stamkos | C | Tampa Bay Lightning | Sarnia Sting | 18.5 |
| 2007 | Patrick Kane | RW | Chicago Blackhawks | London Knights | 18.8 |
| 2006 | Erik Johnson | D | St. Louis Blues | U.S. National U-18 | 18.3 |
| 2005 | Sidney Crosby | C | Pittsburgh Penguins | Rimouski Oceanic | 17.11 |
| 2004 | Alexander Ovechkin | LW | Washington Capitals | Dynamo Moscow | 18.9 |
| 2003 | Marc-Andre Fleury | G | Pittsburgh Penguins | Cape Breton Screaming Eagles | 18.0 |
| 2002 | Rick Nash | LW | Columbus Blue Jackets | London Knights | 18.0 |
| 2001 | Ilya Kovalchuk | RW | Atlanta Thrashers | Spartak | 18.2 |
| 2000 | Rick DiPietro | G | New York Islanders | Boston University | 18.9 |
| 1999 | Patrik Stefan | C | Atlanta Thrashers | Long Beach Ice Dogs | 18.9 |
| 1998 | Vincent Lecavalier | C | Tampa Bay Lightning | Rimouski Oceanic | 18.2 |
| 1997 | Joe Thornton | C | Boston Bruins | Sault Ste. Marie | 17.11 |
| 1996 | Chris Phillips | D | Ottawa Senators | Prince Albert Raiders | 18.3 |
| 1995 | Bryan Berard | D | Ottawa Senators | Detroit Jr. Red Wings | 18.4 |
| 1994 | Ed Jovanovski | D | Florida Panthers | Windsor Spitfires | 18.0 |
| 1993 | Alexandre Daigle | C | Ottawa Senators | Victoriaville Tigers | 18.5 |
| 1992 | Roman Hamrlik | D | Tampa Bay Lightning | ZPS Zlin | 18.2 |
| 1991 | Eric Lindros | C | Quebec Nordiques | Oshawa Generals | 18.3 |
| 1990 | Owen Nolan | RW | Quebec Nordiques | Cornwall Royals | 18.4 |
| 1989 | Mats Sundin | RW | Quebec Nordiques | Nacka | 18.4 |
| 1988 | Mike Modano | C | Minnesota North Stars | Prince Albert Raiders | 18.0 |
| 1987 | Pierre Turgeon | C | Buffalo Sabres | Granby Bisons | 17.10 |
| 1986 | Joe Murphy | C | Detroit Red Wings | Michigan State | 18.8 |
| 1985 | Wendel Clark | LW/D | Toronto Maple Leafs | Saskatoon Blades | 18.7 |
| 1984 | Mario Lemieux | C | Pittsburgh Penguins | Laval Voisins | 18.8 |
| 1983 | Brian Lawton | C | Minnesota North Stars | Mount St. Charles H.S. | 18.11 |
| 1982 | Gord Kluzak | D | Boston Bruins | Nanaimo Islanders | 18.3 |
| 1981 | Dale Hawerchuk | C | Winnipeg Jets | Cornwall Royals | 18.2 |
| 1980 | Doug Wickenheiser | C | Montreal Canadiens | Regina Pats | 19.2 |
| 1979 | Rob Ramage | D | Colorado Rockies | London Knights | 20.5 |
| 1978 | Bobby Smith | C | Minnesota North Stars | Ottawa 67s | 20.4 |
| 1977 | Dale McCourt | C | Detroit Red Wings | St. Catharines Fincups | 20.4 |
| 1976 | Rick Green | D | Washington Capitals | London Knights | 20.3 |
| 1975 | Mel Bridgman | C | Philadelphia Flyers | Victoria Cougars | 20.1 |
| 1974 | Greg Joly | D | Washington Capitals | Regina Pats | 20.0 |
| 1973 | Denis Potvin | D | New York Islanders | Ottawa 67s | 19.7 |
| 1972 | Bill Harris | RW | Montreal Canadiens | Toronto Marlboros | 20.4 |
| 1971 | Guy Lafleur | RW | Montreal Canadiens | Quebec Remparts | 19.9 |
| 1970 | Gilbert Perreault | C | Buffalo Sabres | Montreal Jr. Canadiens | 19.7 |
| 1969 | Rejean Houle | LW | Montreal Canadiens | Montreal Jr. Canadiens | 19.8 |
| 1968 | Michel Plasse | G | Montreal Canadiens | Drummondville Rangers | 20.0 |
| 1967 | Rick Pagnutti | D | Los Angeles Kings | Garson Native Sons | |
| 1966 | Barry Gibbs | D | Boston Bruins | Estevan Bruins | 17.7 |
| 1965 | Andre Veilleux | RW | New York Rangers | Montreal Ranger Jr. B. | |
| 1964 | Claude Gauthier | Detroit Red Wings | Rosemont Comite des Jeunes | ||
| 1963 | Garry Monahan | LW | Montreal Canadiens | St. Michael's Juveniles | 16.7 |
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