No. 1 draft picks in NHL history: Celebrini, Ovechkin, more - ESPN

The Montreal Canadiens made history on June 5, 1963, selecting Garry Monahan with the No. 1 overall pick in the first-ever NHL draft.

Monahan scored 285 points (116 goals and 169 assists) over 12 seasons in the NHL, but only 14 of his 748 career games came in a Canadiens uniform. After spending just two seasons in Montreal, Monahan went on to play for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks.

Last year, the Chicago Blackhawks chose center Connor Bedard with the first overall pick, and he made an immediate impact on the ice. Bedard notched 22 goals and 39 assists, earning the Calder Trophy awarded to the league's best rookie.

The San Jose Sharks chose Macklin Celebrini with their No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL draft.

Here's a list of the No. 1 overall picks in the history of the NHL draft:

2024: Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks

2023: Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks

2022: Juraj Slafkovsky, Montreal Canadiens

2021: Owen Power, Buffalo Sabres

2020: Alexis Lafreniere, New York Rangers

2019: Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils

2018: Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres

2017: Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils

2016: Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

2015: Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

2014: Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers

2013: Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

2012: Nail Yakupov, Edmonton Oilers

2011: Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Edmonton Oilers

2010: Taylor Hall, Edmonton Oilers

2009: John Tavares, New York Islanders

2008: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

2007: Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

2006: Erik Johnson, St. Louis Blues

2005: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

2004: Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

2003: Marc-Andre Fleury, Pittsburgh Penguins

2002: Rick Nash, Columbus Blue