Below are listed the selections in the 1972 NHL amateur draft. The expansion Islanders won the first pick by a coin toss between themselves and the Flames.
The Los Angeles Kings' first-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 11, 1968, that sent Los Angeles' 1969 first-round pick and the 1972 first-round pick to Montreal in exchange for Gerry Desjardins.[2][3]
The California Golden Seals' first-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 10, 1968, that sent California's first-round pick in 1972 and future considerations (Tom Thurlby) to Montreal in exchange for Bryan Watson and cash.[2][4]
The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on October 1, 1968, that sent Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 1972 to Minnesota in exchange for Bob Woytowich.[2][5]
The Montreal Canadiens received the lowest of Minnesota's two first-round pick.[2][6]
The Minnesota North Stars' first-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 10, 1968, that sent Minnesota's first-round pick in 1972, cash and future considerations (Marshall Johnston trade completed on May 25, 1971) to Montreal in exchange for Danny Grant, Claude Larose and future considerations (Bob Murdoch trade completed on May 25, 1971).[2][6]
The Detroit Red Wings' first-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on May 24, 1972, that sent Detroit's first-round pick in 1972 and Joe Zanussi to the Rangers in exchange for Gary Doak and Rick Newell.[2][7]
The Buffalo Sabres' second-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on January 14, 1972, that sent Buffalo's second-round pick in 1972 to the Rangers in exchange for Jim Lorentz.[2][8]
The St. Louis Blues' second-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on March 5, 1972, that sent St. Louis' second-round pick in 1972 and George Morrison to Buffalo in exchange for Chris Evans.[2][9]
The Montreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to the California Golden Seals as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent Montreal's second-round pick in 1972 to California in exchange for California's first-round and second-round picks in 1973 as settlement of waiver draft payment owed from California to Montreal for California selecting Carol Vadnais in the 1968 intra-league draft.[2][10]
Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 24, 1971, that sent Montreal's first-round pick in 1972, Gary Gambucci and Bob Paradise to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's first-round pick in 1972, second-round pick in 1972 and cash.
The original trade between Montreal and California was on June 12, 1968, that sent California's first-round and second-round picks in 1973 to Montreal in exchange for the opportunity to select Carol Vadnais in the 1968 intra-league draft.
The St. Louis Blues' second-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the result of a trade on June 6, 1969, that sent Pittsburgh's first-round pick in 1971 and Lou Angotti to St. Louis in exchange for Craig Cameron, Ron Schock and St. Louis' second-round pick in 1972.[2][10]
The Atlanta Flames' fifth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 7, 1972, that sent the Atlanta's fifth-round pick in 1972 and cash to Montreal in exchange for Ted Tucker and Montreal's fifth-round pick in 1973.[2][11]
The Montreal Canadiens' fifth-round pick went to the Atlanta Flames as the result of a trade on June 7, 1972, that sent the Atlanta's fifth-round pick in 1972 and cash to Montreal in exchange for Ted Tucker and Montreal's fifth-round pick in 1973.[2][11]
The Buffalo Sabres' seventh-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972, that sent Buffalo's seventh-round pick to the Islanders in exchange for the Islanders' promised to not take certain players in the 1972 expansion draft.[2]
The Los Angeles Kings' eighth-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent Los Angeles' eighth-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for cash.[2]
The Buffalo Sabres' eighth-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972, that sent Buffalo's eighth-round pick to the Islanders in exchange for the Islanders' promised to not take certain players in the 1972 expansion draft.[2]
The Los Angeles Kings' ninth-round pick went to the Atlanta Flames as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972, that sent Los Angeles' ninth-round pick in 1972 and tenth-round pick in 1973 to Atlanta in exchange for the Atlanta's promised to not take certain players in the 1972 expansion draft.[2]
The Buffalo Sabres' ninth-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972, that sent Buffalo's ninth-round pick to the Islanders in exchange for the Islanders' promised to not take certain players in the 1972 expansion draft.[2]
The St. Louis Blues' ninth-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent St. Louis' ninth-round pick to the Rangers in exchange for cash.[2]
The Boston Bruins' ninth-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent Boston's' ninth-round pick to Toronto in exchange for cash.[2]
The Los Angeles Kings' tenth-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent Los Angeles' tenth-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for cash.[2]
The Buffalo Sabres' tenth-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972, that sent Buffalo's tenth-round pick to the Islanders in exchange for the Islanders' promised to not take certain players in the 1972 expansion draft.[2]
The California Golden Seals' tenth-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent California's tenth-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for cash.[2]
The Philadelphia Flyers' tenth-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent Philadelphia's tenth-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for cash.[2]