The NHL draft isn’t just about picking talent. It’s about finding the pieces that transform franchises from rebuilding projects into championship contenders.
Over the past decade, two teams have mastered this process better than anyone else.
Have the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs Become the NHL’s Draft Kings?
The Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs have set the standard for building through the draft over the past decade. A recent review of first-round picks between 2014 and 2020 shows both clubs pulling ahead of the pack, largely because they turned their top choices into true franchise players.
Toronto came out on top, but Edmonton wasn’t far behind. The Leafs struck gold with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander, all homegrown stars who became the faces of their offense. Together, these players elevated Toronto into regular playoff contention and secured the highest average scoring rate of any team studied.
The Leafs also posted the best hit rate, meaning almost all of their first-round picks turned into full-time NHL players. Awards and All-Star appearances added to their score, giving Toronto the edge over Edmonton in the final rankings.
Meanwhile, Edmonton’s big swing was Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl’s development into one of the league’s most dominant centers. When you hit on picks like that, a franchise’s entire outlook changes.
The Oilers’ draft record during that stretch reads like a blueprint for a turnaround. McDavid and Draisaitl have accumulated approximately 2,000 points combined and dragged Edmonton into back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. Two players can’t carry a team alone, but when they’re this good, they give every other move the club makes a better chance to succeed.
The study, by RG Media, graded teams across categories like scoring impact, awards, and efficiency compared to draft position. Edmonton ranked high largely because its stars delivered elite production and playoff success.
The Colorado Avalanche’s Cale Makar and Mikko Rantanen haul landed them third. Canadian teams did well, with Vancouver, Winnipeg, and Calgary all cracking the top ten.
What Do These Rankings Reveal About Draft Success?
Step back from the numbers, and a few clear patterns emerge. Some clubs, like Vancouver and Minnesota, didn’t necessarily land superstars yearly, but they drafted players who stuck around and contributed consistently.
Winnipeg’s score leaned heavily on Kyle Connor blossoming into one of the NHL’s most consistent goal scorers.
Others weren’t so lucky. The Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, and Ottawa Senators were dinged hard for early picks that never panned out, dragging their overall efficiency down significantly.
For Edmonton and Toronto, though, the lesson is crystal clear. When you nail the top of the draft, it sets you up for years of sustained success. And with the salary cap squeezing every roster decision, building around homegrown talent remains the surest path to long-term championship contention.