The NHL Entry Draft first took place in 1963. The NHL Rookie of the Year was first awarded in 1933. The Calder Memorial Trophy was first given to the NHL Rookie of the Year in 1937. In the nearly fifty years since the NHL Entry Draft began, only eight first overall draft picks have gone on to win the Calder.

Gilbert Perreault was the first overall pick in the 1970 NHL Entry Draft and the first ever pick of the Buffalo Sabres. The Sabres entered the NHL for the 1970-71 season, along with the Vancouver Canucks, expanding the league to fourteen teams. Perreault scored 38 goals and contributed a total of 72 points while playing the full 78 game schedule.

Denis Potvin was the first overall pick, taken by the New York Islanders, in the 1973 NHL Entry Draft. Potvin led the team’s defensive corps right from the beginning, earning the Calder in 1973-74. The Islanders were just entering their second year of existence and Potvin contributed 54 points as a defenseman.

Bobby Smith, fresh off setting scoring records in the Ontario Hockey League that still stand today, was selected first overall by the Minnesota North Stars in the 1978 NHL Entry Draft. Although a far cry from his 123 assists and 192 points he produced with the Ottawa 67’s the year before, Smith scored 30 goals and totalled 74 points while playing the full 80 game schedule in 1978-79.

Dale Hawerchuk was taken first overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft. He won the Calder for 1981-82 while scoring 45 goals and totalling 103 points. This was the first of six 100-point seasons that Hawerchuk would enjoy over his NHL career, en route to an induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Mario Lemieux was the first overall pick in 1984 and made an immediate impact on the NHL in 1984-85 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Lemieux contributed an even 100 points and set the foundation for a career that is only rivalled by that of Wayne Gretzky as the best ever.

Bryan Berard was selected by the Ottawa Senators first overall in 1995. However, he would play his rookie year in 1996-97 with the New York Islanders and win the Calder. From the blue line, Berard contributed 48 points while playing the full 82 games.

Alexander Ovechkin is currently one of the most known hockey players in the world. In 2004, he was a lesser known teenager from Russia who was chosen first overall by the Washington Capitals. Ovechkin won the Calder Trophy in 2005-06 while scoring 52 goals and finishing with 106 points for the Capitals.

Patrick Kane is the last NHL player to be a first overall pick and win the Calder Trophy. Kane was selected first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. He won the Calder in 2007-08 with Chicago.

The 2010 first overall pick, Taylor Hall of the Edmonton Oilers, is in the running for the 2011 Calder Trophy. Because of a season ending injury that cut Hall’s rookie year short, it is unlikely that the award will go to him. However, we will find out shortly if Hall becomes the ninth first overall pick to win the award.