2. Scott Niedermayer
1991 NHL Draft
Everyone wanted the number-one overall pick in the 1991 NHL Draft. In fact, when the Toronto Maple Leafs traded their first-round pick for Tom Kurvers a season earlier, they were worried they just handed off the most important prospect since Mario Lemieux. Interestingly enough, Eric Lindros didn’t end up being as good as the hype suggested, and the whole John Elway-like trade demands after the draft made this an even bigger stretch. Two picks after Lindros went, the Devils took the top defensive prospect in the draft, Scott Niedermayer.
This was still a great pick when the Devils made it. Lou Lamoriello was not upset with the choice at all, as he just got one of the best offensive defensemen in the league.
Niedermayer finished 27th in points among defensemen in his career, but that doesn’t tell the actual story. He was so good with the puck, such a smooth skater, and had the best offensive instincts we’ve ever seen. Niedermayer was so good that he had Scott Stevens change his whole philosophy to defending.
Beyond Lindros, Peter Forsberg and Ray Whitney are two other great players. However, Niedermayer clears everyone pretty easily. He was so easily a Hall of Famer, playing on each of the Devils' three Stanley Cup winners, and adding another Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks.