New York Islanders Top 5 Bill Torrey Shrewdest Draft Picks

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UNIONDALE, NY – JUNE 26: Former New York Islander Bryan Trottier signs autographs during the New York Islanders Draft Party on June 26, 2009 at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /

Bryan Trottier | Swift Current Broncos (WCHL)

Selection: 22nd overall in 1974

Bryan Trottier was selected 22nd overall. In 1974, that’s a second round pick. Again, remember in those days the draft had fewer picks per round. But when you think about what Trottier became, being a second round pick is incredible.

There’s no doubt Trottier was small. At 5’11” he wasn’t an impressive physical force. So regardless of his talent, his physical stature was an impediment for most teams.

Conventional wisdom said that the New York Islanders should select Clark Gillies as the fourth overall pick, so they did. But when it came time to draft again, the Isles didn’t hesitate to take a player that put up 112 points in 68 games for the Swift Current Broncos.

And he didn’t disappoint.

Trottier didn’t go right into the NHL. He stayed in the WHL one more season, putting up an even better 144 points in 67 games in the 74-75 season. Trottier was in the fold the very next year for the Isles.

Funnily enough, teammate Bob Nystrom remarked that Trottier would never make it in the NHL after seeing him at training camp:

Trottier put up 32 goals and 63 assists for 95 points in his first regular season in the NHL. Obviously, he won the Calder trophy that season. And he never looked back. In the following 17 NHL seasons, Bryan Trottier had 524 goals and 901 assists for an incredible 1425 points.

And he was drafted in the second round. The Montreal Canadiens famously selected five times in the 74 draft. They took Cam Connor (5th), Doug Risenbrough (7th), Rick Chartraw (10th), Mario Tremblay (12th), and Gord McTavish (15th). Together those four players combined for 1183 points, or 242 less than Trottier.