The 2004 NHL entry draft was the 42nd draft for the National Hockey League. It was held on June 26 and 27, 2004 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the 2004–05 NHL lockout, which canceled all the games scheduled for that season.
As of 2026, the remaining active players in the NHL from this draft are Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin.
Final central scouting rankings
Skaters North American European 1 Cam Barker (D) Alexander Ovechkin (LW) 2 Andrew Ladd (LW) Evgeni Malkin (C) 3 Alexandre Picard (LW) Rostislav Olesz (C) 4 Kyle Chipchura (C) Ladislav Smid (D) 5 Wojtek Wolski (LW) Lauri Tukonen (RW) 6 Boris Valabik (D) Andrej Meszaros (D) 7 Drew Stafford (RW) Johan Fransson (D) 8 Dave Bolland (C) Viktor Alexandrov (C) 9 Mike Green (D) Alexander Radulov (RW) 10 Rob Schremp (C) Petteri Nokelainen (C)
Goaltenders North American European 1 Al Montoya Marek Schwarz 2 Devan Dubnyk Magnus Akerlund 3 David Shantz Michal Valent
Selections by round
Round one # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 1Alexander Ovechkin (LW) Washington Capitals Dynamo Moscow (Russia) 2 Evgeni Malkin (C) Pittsburgh PenguinsMetallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia) 3 Cam Barker (D) Chicago Blackhawks Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) 4 Andrew Ladd (LW) Carolina Hurricanes (from Columbus)1 Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 5 Blake Wheeler (RW) Phoenix Coyotes Breck School (USHS–MN) 6 Al Montoya (G) New York Rangers University of Michigan (CCHA) 7 Rostislav Olesz (C) Florida Panthers HC Vitkovice (Czech Republic) 8 Alexandre Picard (LW) Columbus Blue Jackets (from Carolina)2 Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL) 9 Ladislav Smid (D) Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Bili Tygri Liberec (Czech Republic) 10 Boris Valabik (D) Atlanta Thrashers Kitchener Rangers (OHL) 11 Lauri Tukonen (RW) Los Angeles Kings Espoo Blues (Finland) 12 A. J. Thelen (D) Minnesota Wild Michigan State University (CCHA) 13 Drew Stafford (RW) Buffalo Sabres University of North Dakota (WCHA) 14 Devan Dubnyk (G) Edmonton Oilers Kamloops Blazers (WHL) 15 Alexander Radulov (RW) Nashville PredatorsTHK Tver (Russia) 16 Petteri Nokelainen (C) New York Islanders SaiPa (Finland) 17 Marek Schwarz (G) St. Louis Blues Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) 18 Kyle Chipchura (C) Montreal Canadiens Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) 19 Lauri Korpikoski (C) New York Rangers (from Calgary)3 TPS Jrs. (Finland) 20 Travis Zajac (C) New Jersey Devils (from Dallas)4 Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) 21 Wojtek Wolski (LW) Colorado Avalanche Brampton Battalion (OHL) 22 Lukas Kaspar (RW) San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey via Dallas)5 HC Chemopetrol (Czech Republic) 23 Andrej Meszaros (D) Ottawa Senators Vancouver Giants (WHL) 24 Kris Chucko (RW) Calgary Flames (from Toronto via New York Rangers)6 Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) 25 Rob Schremp (C) Edmonton Oilers (from Philadelphia)7 London Knights (OHL) 26Cory Schneider (G) Vancouver Canucks Phillips Academy (USHS–MA) 27 Jeff Schultz (D) Washington Capitals (from Boston)8 Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 28 Mark Fistric (D) Dallas Stars (from San Jose)9 Vancouver Giants (WHL) 29 Mike Green (D) Washington Capitals (from Detroit)10 Saskatoon Blades (WHL) 30 Andy Rogers (D) Tampa Bay Lightning Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
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 the Edmonton Oilers as the result of a trade on December 16, 2003 that sent Mike Comrie to Philadelphia in exchange for Jeff Woywitka, Philadelphia's third-round pick in 2005 and this pick. The Boston Bruins' first-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on March 3, 2004 that sent Sergei Gonchar to Boston in exchange for Shaone Morrisonn, Boston's second-round pick in 2004 (62nd overall) and this pick. The San Jose Sharks' first-round pick went to the Dallas Stars as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent New Jersey's first-round pick in 2004 (22nd overall) and Dallas' fifth-round pick in 2004 (153rd overall) to San Jose in exchange for San Jose's compensatory second-round and third-round picks in 2004 (52nd and 91st overall) and this pick. The Detroit Red Wings' first-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on February 27, 2004 that sent Robert Lang to Detroit in exchange for Tomas Fleischmann, Detroit's fourth-round pick in 2006 and this pick.
Round two # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 31 Johannes Salmonsson (LW) Pittsburgh Penguins Djurgardens IF (Sweden) 32 Dave Bolland (C) Chicago Blackhawks London Knights (OHL) 33 Chris Bourque (C) Washington Capitals Cushing Academy (USHS–MA) 34 Johan Fransson (D) Dallas Stars (from Columbus)1 Lulea HF (Sweden) 35 Logan Stephenson (D) Phoenix Coyotes Tri-City Americans (WHL) 36 Darin Olver (C) New York Rangers Northern Michigan University (CCHA) 37 David Shantz (G) Florida Panthers (from Florida via Colorado and New York Rangers)2 Mississauga Ice Dogs (OHL) 38 Justin Peters (G) Carolina Hurricanes Toronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL) 39 Jordan Smith (D) Mighty Ducks of Anaheim Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) 40 Grant Lewis (D) Atlanta Thrashers Dartmouth College (ECAC) 41 Bryan Bickell (LW) Chicago Blackhawks (from Los Angeles via Philadelphia)3 Ottawa 67's (OHL) 42 Roman Voloshenko (LW) Minnesota Wild Krylya Sovetov Moscow Jr. (Russia) 43 Michael Funk (D) Buffalo Sabres Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 44 Roman Teslyuk (D) Edmonton Oilers Kamloops Blazers (WHL) 45 Ryan Garlock (C) Chicago Blackhawks (from Nashville)4 Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 46 Adam Pineault (RW) Columbus Blue Jackets (from New York Rangers via Calgary; compensatory)5 Boston College (Hockey East) 47 Blake Comeau (RW) New York Islanders Kelowna Rockets (WHL) 48 Dane Byers (LW) New York Rangers (from Edmonton; compensatory)6 Prince Albert Raiders (WHL) 49 Carl Soderberg (C) St. Louis Blues Malmo IF (Sweden) 50 Enver Lisin (RW) Phoenix Coyotes (from Dallas via Florida and New York Rangers; compensatory)7 Kristall Saratov (Russia) 51 Bruce Graham (C) New York Rangers (from Montreal)8 Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 52 Raymond Sawada (RW) Dallas Stars (from San Jose; compensatory)9 Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) 53 David Booth (LW) Florida Panthers (from Calgary)10 Michigan State University (CCHA) 54 Jakub Sindel (C) Chicago Blackhawks (from Dallas)11 Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) 55 Victor Oreskovich (RW) Colorado Avalanche Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) 56 Nicklas Grossmann (RW) Dallas Stars (compensatory)12 Sodertalje SK Jr. (Sweden) 57 Geoff Paukovich (LW) Edmonton Oilers (from New Jersey via Phoenix)13 US NTDP U18 (NAHL) 58 Kirill Lyamin (D) Ottawa Senators CSKA Moscow (Russia) 59 Kyle Wharton (LW) Columbus Blue Jackets (from Toronto via Carolina)14 Ottawa 67's (OHL) 60 Brandon Dubinsky (C) New York Rangers (from Philadelphia via Phoenix)15 Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) 61 Alex Goligoski (D) Pittsburgh Penguins (from Vancouver)16 Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) 62 Mikhail Yunkov (C) Washington Capitals (from Boston)17 Krylja Jr. (Russia) 63 David Krejci (C) Boston Bruins (from San Jose)18 HC Rabat Kladno Jr. (Czech Republic) 64 Martins Karsums (LW) Boston Bruins (from Detroit via Los Angeles)19 Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) 65 Mark Tobin (LW) Tampa Bay Lightning Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)
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.