Every #4 Overall Pick
| Year | Team | Player | Pos | Amateur Club | NHL Career |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 |
BUF
|
Daxon Rudolph | D | PRINCE ALBERT (WHL) | — |
| 2025 |
UTA
|
Caleb Desnoyers | C | Moncton (QMJHL) | — |
| 2024 |
CBJ
|
Cayden Lindstrom | C | Medicine Hat (WHL) | — |
| 2023 |
SJS
|
Will Smith | C | USA U-18 (NTDP) | 143 GP · 42G 62A 104P |
| 2022 |
SEA
|
Shane Wright | C | Kingston (OHL) | 169 GP · 36G 42A 78P |
| 2021 |
NJD
|
Luke Hughes | D | USA U-18 (NTDP) | 223 GP · 23G 105A 128P |
| 2020 |
DET
|
Lucas Raymond | LW | Frolunda (SWEDEN) | 400 GP · 123G 207A 330P |
| 2019 |
COL
|
Bowen Byram | D | Vancouver (WHL) | 328 GP · 44G 108A 152P |
| 2018 |
OTT
|
Brady Tkachuk | LW | Boston University (H-EAST) | 572 GP · 213G 250A 463P |
| 2017 |
COL
|
Cale Makar | D | Brooks (AJHL) | 470 GP · 136G 371A 507P |
| 2016 |
EDM
|
Jesse Puljujarvi | RW | Karpat (FINLAND) | 387 GP · 58G 70A 128P |
| 2015 |
TOR
|
Mitch Marner | C | London (OHL) | 738 GP · 245G 576A 821P |
| 2014 |
CGY
|
Sam Bennett | C | Kingston (OHL) | 767 GP · 188G 206A 394P |
| 2013 |
NSH
|
Seth Jones | D | Portland (WHL) | 912 GP · 106G 367A 473P |
| 2012 |
NYI
|
Griffin Reinhart | D | Edmonton (WHL) | 37 GP · 0G 2A 2P |
| 2011 |
NJD
|
Adam Larsson | D | Skelleftea (SWEDEN) | 1012 GP · 59G 207A 266P |
| 2010 |
CBJ
|
Ryan Johansen | C | Portland (WHL) | 905 GP · 202G 376A 578P |
| 2009 |
ATL
|
Evander Kane | C | Vancouver (WHL) | 1001 GP · 339G 309A 648P |
| 2008 |
STL
|
Alex Pietrangelo | D | Niagara (OHL) | 1087 GP · 148G 489A 637P |
| 2007 |
LAK
|
Thomas Hickey | D | Seattle (WHL) | 456 GP · 22G 95A 117P |
| 2006 |
WSH
|
Nicklas Backstrom | C | Brynas (SWEDEN) | 1105 GP · 271G 762A 1033P |
| 2005 |
MIN
|
Benoit Pouliot | LW | Sudbury (OHL) | 625 GP · 130G 133A 263P |
| 2004 |
CAR
|
Andrew Ladd | LW | Calgary (WHL) | 1001 GP · 256G 294A 550P |
| 2003 |
CBJ
|
Nikolay Zherdev | F | HC CSKA (RUS) | 421 GP · 115G 146A 261P |
| 2002 |
PHI
|
Joni Pitkanen | D | Karpat (FINLAND) | 535 GP · 57G 225A 282P |
| 2001 |
FLA
|
Stephen Weiss | C | Plymouth (OHL) | 732 GP · 156G 267A 423P |
| 2000 |
CBJ
|
Rostislav Klesla | D | Brampton (OHL) | 659 GP · 48G 111A 159P |
| 1999 |
NYR
|
Pavel Brendl | RW | Calgary Hitmen (WHL) | 78 GP · 11G 11A 22P |
| 1998 |
VAN
|
Bryan Allen | D | Oshawa Generals (OHL) | 721 GP · 29G 107A 136P |
| 1997 |
NYI
|
Roberto Luongo | G | Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) | 1044 GP · 489-392, 0.919 SV% |
| 1996 |
WSH
|
Alexander Volchkov | LW | Barrie Colts (OHL) | 3 GP · 0G 0A 0P |
| 1995 |
ANA
|
Chad Kilger | LW | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) | 714 GP · 107G 111A 218P |
| 1994 |
EDM
|
Jason Bonsignore | C | Niagara Falls Thunder (OHL) | 79 GP · 3G 13A 16P |
| 1993 |
ANA
|
Paul Kariya | LW | U. of Maine (NCAA) | 989 GP · 402G 587A 989P |
| 1992 |
QUE
|
Todd Warriner | LW | Windsor Spitfires (OHL) | 453 GP · 65G 89A 154P |
| 1991 |
NYI
|
Scott Lachance | D | Boston University (NCAA) | 819 GP · 31G 112A 143P |
| 1990 |
PHI
|
Mike Ricci | C | Peterborough Petes (OHL) | 1099 GP · 243G 362A 605P |
| 1989 |
WIN
|
Stu Barnes | C | Tri-City Americans (WHL) | 1136 GP · 261G 336A 597P |
| 1988 |
PIT
|
Darrin Shannon | LW | Windsor Compuware Spitfires (OHL) | 506 GP · 87G 163A 250P |
| 1987 |
LAK
|
Wayne Mcbean | D | Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) | 211 GP · 10G 39A 49P |
| 1986 |
PIT
|
Zarley Zalapski | D | Canadian National Team (Intl) | 637 GP · 99G 285A 384P |
| 1985 |
VAN
|
Jim Sandlak | RW | London Knights (OHL) | 549 GP · 110G 119A 229P |
| 1984 |
TOR
|
Al Iafrate | D | Belleville Bulls (OHL) | 799 GP · 152G 311A 463P |
| 1983 |
DET
|
Steve Yzerman | C | Peterborough Petes (OHL) | 1514 GP · 692G 1063A 1755P |
| 1982 |
PHI
|
Ron Sutter | C | Lethbridge Broncos (WHL) | 1093 GP · 205G 330A 535P |
| 1981 |
HFD
|
Ron Francis | C | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) | 1731 GP · 549G 1249A 1798P |
| 1980 |
LAK
|
Larry Murphy | D | Peterborough Petes (OHA) | 1615 GP · 288G 929A 1217P |
| 1979 |
WSH
|
Mike Gartner | RW | Cincinnati Stingers (WHA) | 1432 GP · 708G 627A 1335P |