2006 NHL Draft: The Opening Round

2006 NHL Draft Headlines:
Johnson Starts at the Bottom in St. Louis
The Next Chris Pronger?

Here are the players selected in the first round of the 2006 NHL Draft, listed by position and birthplace, with 2005-06 team in brackets.

1. St. Louis Blues: Erik Johnson
   Defenseman from Bloomington, Minnesota.
   (US Under-18 Team)
2. Pittsburgh Penguins: Jordan Staal
   Center from Thunder Bay, Ontario.
   (Peterborough Petes, OHL)
3. Chicago Blackhawks: Jonathan Toews
   Center from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
   (North Dakota, NCAA)
4. Washington Capitals: Nicklas Backstrom
   Center from Gavle, Sweden.
   (Brynas, Swedish Elite League)
5. Boston Bruins: Phil Kessel
   Center from Madison, Wisconsin
   (Minnesota, NCAA)
6. Columbus Blue Jackets: Derick Brassard
   Center from Hull, Quebec.
   (Drummondville, QMJHL)
7. New York Islanders: Kyle Okposo
   Right wing from St. Paul, Minnesota.
   (Des Moines, USHL)
8. Phoenix Coyotes: Peter Mueller
   Center from Bloomington, Minnesota.
   (Everett, WHL)
9. Minnesota Wild: James Sheppard
   Left wing from Sackville, Nova Scotia.
   (Cape Breton, QMJHL)
10. Florida Panthers: Michael Frolik
    Right wing from Kladno, Czech Republic.
    (Kladno, Czech Elite League)
11. Los Angeles Kings: Jonathan Bernier
    Goaltender from Laval, Quebec.
    (Lewiston, QMJHL)
12. Atlanta Thrashers: Bryan Little
    Center from Edmonton, Alberta.
    (Barrie, OHL)
13. Toronto Maple Leafs: Jiri Tlusty
    Left wing from Slany, Czech Republic.
    (Kladno, Czech Elite League)
14. Vancouver Canucks: Michael Grabner
    Right wing from Villach, Austria.
    (Spokane, WHL)
15. Tampa Bay Lightning: Riku Helenius
    Goaltender from Palkane, Finland.
    (Ilves, Finnish Elite League)
16. San Jose Sharks (from Montreal): Ty Wishart
    Defenseman from Comox, British Columbia.
    (Prince George, WHL)
17. Los Angeles Kings (from Minnesota/Edmonton): Trevor Lewis
    Center from Murray, Utah.
    (Des Moines, USHL)
18. Colorado Avalanche: Chris Stewart
    Right wing Toronto, Ontario.
    (Kingston, OHL)
19. Anaheim Ducks: Mark Mitera
    Defenseman from Livonia, Michigan.
    ((Michigan, NCAA)
20. Montreal Canadiens (from San Jose): David Fischer
    Defenseman from Apple Valley, Minnesota.
    (Apple Valley High School)
21. New York Rangers: Bob Sanguinetti
    Defenseman from Lumberton, New Jersey.
    (Owen Sound, OHL)
22. Philadelphia Flyers: Claude Giroux
    Right wing from Hearst, Ontario.
    (Gatineau, QMJHL)
23. Washington Capitals (from Nashville): Semen Varlamov
    Goaltender from Saratov, Russia.
    (Lokomotiv 2, Russian First League)
24. Buffalo Sabres: Dennis Persson
    Defenseman from Nykoping, Sweden.
    (Vasteras, Swedish Junior League)
25. St. Louis Blues (from New Jersey): Patrik Bergland
    Center from Vasteras, Sweden.
    (Vasteras, Swedish Second Division)
26. Calgary Flames: Leland Irving
    Goaltender from Barrhead, Alberta.
    (Everett, WHL)
27. Dallas Stars: Ivan Vishnevsky
    Defenseman from Barnaul, Russia.
    (Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL)
28. Ottawa Senators: Nick Foligno
    Left wing from Buffalo, New York.
    (Sudbury, OHL)
29. Phoenix Coyotes (from Detroit): Chris Summers
    Defenseman from Ypsilanti, Michigan.
    (US Under-18 Team)
30. New Jersey Devils (from St. Louis/Carolina): Mathew Corrente
    Defenseman from Mississauga, Ontario.
    (Saginaw, OHL)

Complete NHL Draft picks from NHL.com.

See Also: Complete NHL Draft Resources