Fansided · Nov 13, 2025
Re-drafting the 2004 NHL Draft lottery
A top-heavy draft among Russian forwards, the 2004 NHL Entry Draft class was highlighted by two all-time great goal and point scorers.
2004 NHL Draft | Sara D. Davis/GettyImagesThere aren't many draft classes in the recent history of the NHL Draft in the past few decades that had two better Russian players being selected at the top of the draft lottery than the class from 2004. Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are two of the best Russian players in the history of the league in the NHL.
The 2004 NHL Draft has one of the best top two pick runs, including Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin being picked among the Russian forwards in the first round