2004 NHL Draft

Lore & Background

The Columbus Blue Jackets' first-round pick went to the Carolina Hurricanes as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Carolina's first-round pick in 2004 (8th overall) and Toronto's second-round pick in 2004 (59th overall) to Columbus in exchange for this pick. The Carolina Hurricanes' first-round pick went to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Columbus' first-round pick in 2004 (4th overall) to Carolina in exchange for Toronto's second-round pick in 2004 (59th overall) and this pick. The Calgary Flames' first-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 25, 2004 that sent Toronto's first-round pick in 2004 (24th overall) and New York's compensatory second-round pick in 2004 (46th overall) to Calgary in exchange for Calgary's eighth-round pick in 2004 (247th overall) and this pick. The Dallas Stars' first-round pick went to the New Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent New Jersey's first-round pick in 2004 (22nd overall) and their third-round pick in 2004 (88th overall) to Dallas in exchange for this pick. The New Jersey Devils' first-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent San Jose's first-round pick in 2004 (28th overall) and San Jose's compensatory second-round and third-round picks in 2004 (52nd and 91st overall) to Dallas in exchange for Dallas' fifth-round pick in 2004 (153rd overall) and this pick. Dallas previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Dallas' first-round pick in 2004 (20th overall) to New Jersey in exchange for New Jersey's third-round pick in 2004 (88th overall) and this pick. The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on June 25, 2004 that sent Calgary's first-round pick in 2004 (19th overall) and Calgary's eighth-round pick in 2004 (247th overall) to the New York Rangers in exchange for New York's compensatory second-round pick in 2004 (46th overall) and this pick. New York previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 3, 2004 that sent Brian Leetch and future considerations (Edmonton's fourth-round pick in 2004) to Toronto in exchange for Maxim Kondratyev, Jarkko Immonen, Toronto's second-round pick in 2005 and this pick. The Philadelphia Flyers' first-round pick went to

In Their Own Story

The draft room hummed with the low murmur of agents and front-office staff. On the other side of the glass, a small cluster of Columbus supporters in blue jackets and scarves watched the board, their faces a mix of hope and quiet anxiety. The news had been all over the past few weeks—talk of a lockout, of a season that might simply not happen. A young fan, maybe sixteen, clutched a program and whispered to his father, 'Do you think they'll actually play next year?' His father just nodded, eyes on the screen, and said, 'They'll find a way. They always do.' The name on the board was called. The room exhaled. For one brief moment, the future felt solid again—just a kid with a stick and a number, waiting to put on the jacket.

Reader's Guide

The Columbus Blue Jackets' second-round pick went to the Dallas Stars as the result of a trade on July 22, 2003 that sent Darryl Sydor to Columbus in exchange for Mike Sillinger and this pick. The Florida Panthers' second-round pick was re-acquired from the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Dallas' compensatory second-round pick in 2004 (50th overall) and Florida's third-round pick in 2004 (73rd overall) to New York in exchange for this pick. New York previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 8, 2004 that sent Matthew Barnaby and the Rangers' third-round pick in 2004 to Colorado in exchange for Chris McAllister, David Liffiton and this pick. Colorado previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 18, 2003 that sent Eric Messier and Vaclav Nedorost to Florida in exchange for Peter Worrell and this pick. The Los Angeles Kings' second-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on February 19, 2004 that sent Alexei Zhamnov and Washington's fourth-round pick in 2004 to Philadelphia in exchange for Jim Vandermeer, Colin Fraser and this pick. Philadelphia previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 28, 2003 that sent Roman Cechmanek to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick. The Nashville Predators' second-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on February 16, 2004 that sent Steve Sullivan to Nashville in exchange for Nashville's second-round pick in 2005 and this pick. The New York Rangers' compensatory second-round pick went to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Columbus and Tampa Bay's third-round picks in 2004 (70th and 98th overall) to Calgary in exchange for this pick. Calgary previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 25, 2004 that sent Calgary's first and eighth-round picks in 2004 (19th and 247th overall) to New York in exchange for Toronto's first-round pick in 2004 (24th overall) and this pick. New York previously received the 16th pick of this round (46th overall) as compensation for not signing 2001 first-round draft pick R. J. Umberger. New York acquired the rights to Umberger from Vancouver on March 9, 2004. The Edmonton Oilers' compensatory second-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on March 3, 2004 that sent Petr Nedve

Did You Know?

• The 2004 draft was the last NHL event before the 2004–05 lockout that canceled the entire season.
• As of the 2023-24 season, several players from this draft remained active in the NHL, including Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Ovechkin, and Blake Wheeler.