The Detroit Red Wings have had the first overall pick just three times since 1963. Because of the team’s success over the past few decades, the Red Wings have not had the first overall draft pick since 1986. In fact, seven times since 1997, Detroit has not had a draft pick in the first round.

The first time the Wings had the first overall pick was in the second year of the draft, 1964. Claude Gauthier was picked but never played an NHL game. This was not rare because with junior sponsorship, the best players were already protected by the NHL clubs. In fact, Gauthier wasn’t alone. Out of the first three rounds of the 1964 draft, only five of the eighteen players ever played a single game in the NHL. Of the five, one played four games and one played three. The highest profile player from that draft was Ken Dryden. Dryden was taken fourteenth overall by the Boston Bruins. Dryden, of course, would go on to a Hockey Hall of Fame career between the pipes with the Montreal Canadiens.

In 1977, the Red Wings had the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft once again. Dale McCourt had a stellar career in the Ontario Hockey League with the Sudbury Wolves and Hamilton Fincups from 1972-73 to 1976-77. In his final three seasons, his point totals were 126, 139 and 139. McCourt played parts of four seasons with Detroit and totalled 532 NHL regular season games with the Wings, Buffalo Sabres and Toronto Maple Leafs. Dale finished out his professional hockey career with eight seasons in Switzerland’s National League.

The last first overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings came in 1986 when they picked Joe Murphy. Murphy caught Detroit’s eye while playing for nearby Michigan State in the NCAA. Joe played just 85 regular season games with the Red Wings over three seasons. His next stop was more successful as he won a Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers. In all, Murphy played 779 regular season NHL games with Detroit, Edmonton, Chicago Blackhawks, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals. He played in an additional 120 playoff games and retired after the 2000-01 season.

With the continued annual success of the Red Wings, it is unlikely they will have the first overall pick in the near future. However, this obviously isn’t a handicap to the team. Stellar scouting has seen the team pick hidden gems deep in the draft, time and time again.