The 1973 NHL Amateur Draft was the 11th National Hockey Leaguedraft. It was the first to be held on a separate day from other league activities on May 15, 1973, at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, Quebec, so it would not overshadow the rest of the league meetings. Previously, the league had held the amateur draft in mid-June. It also marks the second time the meeting took place at the Mount Royal Hotel rather than the Queen Elizabeth Hotel. In 1972, when the World Hockey Association was beginning to take form, some teams were more focused on the amateur draft that they stopped paying attention to other issues (mainly the WHA raiding NHL rosters) and were spending their time preparing for the draft.
With the WHA having already operated for a full season, NHL teams realized they would have to fight to sign their top picks. This was especially important in a year when the draft was considered extremely deep and the WHA was scheduled to draft players just three days after the NHL.
The top pick of the 1973 NHL amateur draft was Ottawa 67's star Denis Potvin who was projected to be the next Bobby Orr. The Montreal Canadiens, the most active team on draft day, re-positioned themselves by trading for several high picks and then offered the New York Islanders all types of packages for the first choice overall as they want to select Potvin for themselves. Islanders general manager Bill Torrey was not interested, however and held on to the top pick. He selected Potvin, who became a big part of the building block for the Islanders hockey dynasty between 1980 and 1983.
Although the NHL had to compete hard with the WHA to sign these amateur players, they managed to sign all 16 of their first-round draft picks before the rival league could. The NHL-WHA competition was so fierce that the Toronto Maple Leafs offered a staggering, at the time, five-year $600,000 contract for right winger Lanny McDonald of the Medicine Hat Tigers, which kept the No. 4 pick from signing with the WHA's Cleveland Crusaders.
Eligible for the draft were all amateur players born before January 1, 1954. The NHL paid a lump sum to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to support major junior hockey as a group. Teams could offer a player a contract at any time after the draft without risking re-entry in a future NHL draft.
The last active players in the NHL from this draft class were Lanny McDonald and Bob Gainey, who both retired after the 1988–89 season.
The Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick went to the Atlanta Flames as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's two first-round picks in 1973 and second-round pick in 1973 to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first-round pick in 1973, first-round pick in 1977 and second-round pick in 1978.[3][4]
The Montreal previously acquired this pick 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.
The Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's first-round pick and third-round pick in 1973 to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' first-round pick in 1973, fourth-round pick in 1973 and first-round pick in 1975.[3][4]
The Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's two first-round picks in 1973 and second-round pick in 1973 to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first-round pick in 1973, first-round pick in 1977 and second-round pick in 1978.
The Los Angeles Kings' first-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on May 14, 1969 that sent Los Angeles' first-round pick in 1971, first round pick in 1973 and to Boston in exchange for Ross Lonsberry and Eddie Shack.[3][4]: 671, 792
The St. Louis Blues' first-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's first-round pick and third-round pick in 1973 to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' first-round pick in 1973, fourth-round pick in 1973 and first-round pick in 1975.[3][4]
The Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's first-round pick in 1973 to Vancouver in exchange for Vancvouver's first-round pick in 1974.[3][4]
The Canadiens previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 10, 1968 that sent Minnesota's first-round pick in 1972, first-round pick in 1973 and a player to be named later (Andre Pronovost) to Montreal in exchange for Danny Grant, Claude Larose and future considerations (Bob Murdoch on May 25,1971).
The Philadelphia Flyers' first-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Philadelphia's first-round pick in 1973 and Future considerations (Doug Favell) to Toronto in exchange for Toronto's second-round pick in 1973 and the rights to Bernie Parent.[3][4]: 792, 894
The Boston Bruins' first-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on March 3, 1973 that sent Boston's first-round pick in 1973 and future considerations (Eddie Johnstone) to Toronto in exchange for Jacques Plante and Toronto's third-round pick in 1973.[3][4]: 884, 895
The Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick went to the Atlanta Flames as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's two first-round picks in 1973 and second-round pick in 1973 to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first-round pick in 1973, first-round pick in 1977 and second-round pick in 1978.[3][4]
The New York Islanders' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972 that sent the Islanders' second-round pick in 1973 and cash to Montreal in exchange for Alex Campbell, Denis DeJordy, Glenn Resch and future considerations (Germain Gagnon).[3][4]: 567, 873, 897
The Montreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's second-round pick in 1973 to Minnesota in exchange for Minnesota's second-round pick in 1975.[3]
Montreal previously acquired this pick 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.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Philadelphia's first-round pick in 1973 and Future considerations (Doug Favell) to Toronto in exchange for Toronto's second-round pick in 1973 and the rights to Bernie Parent.[3][4]: 894, 792
The Montreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to the Atlanta Flames as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's two first-round pick in 1973 and second-round pick in 1973 to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first-round pick in 1973, first-round pick in 1977 and second-round pick in 1978.[3][4]
The Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 16, 1972 that sent Lynn Powis and Rey Comeau to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's second-round pick and cash.[4]: 514, 755
The Los Angeles Kings' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on January 26, 1971 that sent Los Angeles' 1973 second-round pick, Ray Fortin and Gord Labossiere to Montreal in exchange for Ralph Backstrom.[3][6]
The Toronto Maple Leafs' third-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on March 3, 1973 that sent Boston's first-round pick in 1973 and future considerations (Eddie Johnstone) to Toronto in exchange for Jacques Plante and Toronto's third-round pick in 1973.[3][4]: 884, 895
The Atlanta Flames' third-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on August 10, 1972 that sent Atlanta's third-round pick in 1973 and cash to Montreal in exchange for Noel Price.[3][4]: 756
The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on February 25, 1973 that sent Pittsburgh's third-round pick in 1973 and cash to Detroit in exchange for Andy Brown.[3][4]: 869
The St. Louis Blues' third-round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on December 14, 1972 that sent St. Louis' third-round pick in 1973 and Andre Dupont to Philadelphia in exchange for Brent Hughes and Pierre Plante.[3][4]: 545, 614, 751
The Montreal Canadiens' third-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's first-round pick and third-round pick in 1973 to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' first-round pick in 1973, fourth-round pick in 1973 and first-round pick in 1975.[3][4]
The St. Louis Blues' fourth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Montreal's first-round pick and third-round pick in 1973 to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' first-round pick in 1973, fourth-round pick in 1973 and first-round pick in 1975.[3][4]
The New York Rangers' seventh-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972 that sent the Rangers' seventh-round pick and eighth-round pick in 1973 to the Islanders in exchange for the Islanders' promised to not take certain players in the 1972 expansion draft.[3]
The Los Angeles Kings' eighth-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Los Angeles' eighth-round pick to Detroit in exchange for cash.[3]
The New York Rangers' seventh-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972 that sent the Rangers' seventh-round pick and eighth-round pick in 1973 to the Islanders in exchange for the Islanders' promised to not take certain players in the 1972 expansion draft.[3]
The St. Louis Blues' ninth-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent St. Louis' ninth-round pick and tenth-round pick in 1973 to Detroit in exchange for cash.[3]
The Buffalo Sabres' ninth-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Buffalo's ninth-round pick, tenth-round pick and eleventh-round pick in 1973 to Detroit in exchange for cash. The eleventh-round pick was not exercised by Detroit.[3]
The New York Rangers' ninth-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent the Rangers' ninth-round pick in 1973 to Chicago in exchange for cash.[3]
The New York Islanders' tenth-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent the Islanders' tenth-round pick and eleventh-round pick in 1973 to Toronto in exchange for cash.[3]
The Los Angeles Kings' tenth-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.[3]
The St. Louis Blues' tenth-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent St. Louis' ninth-round pick and tenth-round pick in 1973 to Detroit in exchange for cash.[3]
The Buffalo Sabres' tenth-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Buffalo's' ninth-round pick, tenth-round pick and eleventh-round pick in 1973 to Detroit in exchange for cash. The eleventh-round pick was not exercised by Detroit.[3]
The New York Islanders' eleventh-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent the Islanders' tenth-round pick and eleventh-round pick in 1973 to Toronto in exchange for cash.[3]
The Toronto Maple Leafs' eleventh-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Toronto's eleventh-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for cash.[3]
The Los Angeles Kings' eleventh-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent Los Angeles' eleventh-round pick to Minnesota in exchange for cash.[3]
The New York Rangers' thirteenth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973 that sent the Rangers' thirteenth-round pick in 1973 to Montreal in exchange for Montreal's thirteenth-round pick in 1973. The thirteenth-round pick was not exercised by the Rangers.[3]
Denis Potvin
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