The 2002 NHL entry draft was the 40th draft for the National Hockey League. It was held on June 22 and 23, 2002, at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. In total, 291 players were drafted: 35 from the Ontario Hockey League (OHL); 23 from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL); 43 from the Western Hockey League (WHL); 41 from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) hockey conferences; six from U.S. high schools and 110 from outside North America.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Duncan Keith, who played his last NHL game in the 2021–22 season.
Final central scouting rankings
Skaters North American European 1 Rick Nash (Left wing) Joni Pitkanen (defence) 2 Jay Bouwmeester (defence) Alexander Semin (left wing) 3 Ryan Whitney (defence) Jiri Hudler (centre) 4 Joffrey Lupul (centre) Denis Grebeshkov (defence) 5 Scottie Upshall (right wing) Michal Barinka (defence) 6 Steve Eminger (defence) Kirill Koltsov (defence) 7 Petr Taticek (centre) Anton Babchuk (defence) 8 Martin Vagner (centre) Sergei Anshakov (defence) 9 Chris Higgins (centre) Alexei Kaigorodov (centre) 10 Pierre-Marc Bouchard (centre) Jakub Koreis (centre)
Goaltenders North American European 1 Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers Kari Lehtonen 2 Todd Ford Tobias Stephan 3 Maxime Daigneault Hannu Toivonen
Selections by round
Round one # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team1Rick Nash (LW)Columbus Blue Jackets (from Florida)1London Knights (OHL)2Kari Lehtonen (G)Atlanta ThrashersJokerit (Finland)3Jay Bouwmeester (D)Florida Panthers (from Columbus)2Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)4Joni Pitkanen (D)Philadelphia Flyers (from Tampa Bay)3Karpat (Finland)5Ryan Whitney (D)Pittsburgh PenguinsBoston University (Hockey East)6Scottie Upshall (LW)Nashville PredatorsKamloops Blazers (WHL)7Joffrey Lupul (RW)Mighty Ducks of AnaheimMedicine Hat Tigers (WHL)8Pierre-Marc Bouchard (C)Minnesota WildChicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)9Petr Taticek (C)Florida Panthers (from Calgary)4Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)10Eric Nystrom (LW)Calgary Flames (from NY Rangers via Florida)5University of Michigan (Big Ten)11Keith Ballard (D)Buffalo SabresUniversity of Minnesota (Big Ten)12Steve Eminger (D)Washington CapitalsKitchener Rangers (OHL)13Alexander Semin (RW)Washington Capitals (from Dallas)6Traktor Chelyabinsk Jrs. (Russia)14Chris Higgins (LW)Montreal Canadiens (from Edmonton)7Yale University (ECAC)15Jesse Niinimaki (C)Edmonton Oilers (from Montreal)8Ilves (Finland)16Jakub Klepis (C)Ottawa SenatorsPortland Winterhawks (WHL)17Boyd Gordon (C)Washington Capitals (from Vancouver)9Red Deer Rebels (WHL)18Denis Grebeshkov (D)Los Angeles KingsLokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia)19Jakub Koreis (C)Phoenix CoyotesHC Plzen (Czech Republic)20Daniel Paille (LW)Buffalo Sabres (from New Jersey via Dallas and Columbus)10Guelph Storm (OHL)21Anton Babchuk (D)Chicago BlackhawksElemash Elektrostal (Russia)22Sean Bergenheim (LW)New York IslandersJokerit (Finland)23Ben Eager (LW)Phoenix Coyotes (from St. Louis)11Oshawa Generals (OHL)24Alexander Steen (LW)Toronto Maple LeafsVastra Frolunda HC (Sweden)25Cam Ward (G)Carolina HurricanesRed Deer Rebels (WHL)26Martin Vagner (D)Dallas Stars (from Philadelphia via Washington)12Hull Olympiques (QMJHL)27Mike Morris (RW)San Jose SharksSaint Sebastian's School (USHS–MA)28Jonas Johansson (RW)Colorado AvalancheHV71 (Sweden)29Hannu Toivonen (G)Boston BruinsHPK (Finland)30Jim Slater (C)Atlanta Thrashers (from Detroit via Buffalo and Columbus)13Michigan State University (Big Ten) Florida's first-round pick went to Columbus as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 3 overall) and future considerations (Florida's option to swap first-round picks in the 2003 entry draft to Florida in exchange for this pick. Columbus' first-round pick went to Florida as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 1 overall) to Columbus in exchange for future considerations (Florida's option to swap first-round picks in the 2003 entry draft and this pick. Tampa Bay's first-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on June 21, 2002 that sent Ruslan Fedotenko and two second-round picks (# 34 & # 52 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft to Tampa Bay in exchange for this pick. Calgary's first-round pick went to Florida as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 10 overall) and a fourth-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft to Calgary in exchange for this pick. Florida's acquired first-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 9 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft to Florida in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft and this pick. Florida previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 18, 2002 that sent Pavel Bure and a second-round pick (# 33 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft to the Rangers in exchange for Igor Ulanov, Filip Novak a second-round pick (# 40 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft, a fourth-round pick in the 2003 entry draft and this pick. Dallas' first-round pick went to Washington as the result of a trade on June 12, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 26 overall) and a second-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft along with a sixth-round pick in the 2003 entry draft to Dallas in exchange for this pick. Edmonton's first-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 15 overall) and an eighth-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft to Edmonton in exchange for this pick. Montreal's first-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 14 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft to Montreal in exchange for an eighth-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft and this pick. Vancouver's first-round pick went to Washington as the result of a trade on November 10, 2001 that sent Trevor Linden and a second-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft to Vancouver in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2003 entry draft and this pick. Columbus' acquired first-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent the rights to Mike Pandolfo and a first-round pick (# 30 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft to Columbus in exchange for this pick. Columbus previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 18, 2002 that sent Ron Tugnutt and a second-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft to Dallas in exchange for this pick. Dallas previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 19, 2002 that sent Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner to New Jersey in exchange for Jason Arnott, Randy McKay and this pick. St. Louis' first-round pick went to Phoenix as the result of a trade on March 13, 2001 that sent Keith Tkachuk to St. Louis in exchange for Michael Handzus, Ladislav Nagy, the rights to Jeff Taffe and a first-round pick in the 2001 entry draft or 2002 Entry Draft. The first-round pick option became a first-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft after St. Louis lost its first-round pick in the 2001 entry draft to New Jersey as a penalty for Scott Stevens tampering. Washington's acquired first-round pick went to Dallas as the result of a trade on June 12, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 13 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft to Washington in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft and a sixth-round pick in the 2003 entry draft along with this pick. Washington previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 19, 2002 that sent Adam Oates to Philadelphia in exchange for Maxime Ouellet, a second-round pick and a third-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft along with this pick. Columbus' acquired first-round pick went to Atlanta as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent a second-round pick and a third-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft to Columbus in exchange for this pick. Columbus previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent a first-round pick (# 20 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft to Buffalo in exchange for the rights to Mike Pandolfo and this pick. Buffalo previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 29, 2001 that sent Dominik Hasek to Detroit in exchange for Vyacheslav Kozlov, a conditional pick in the 2003 entry draft and this pick. The conditions of the conditional pick are unknown and the pick was not exercised.
Round two # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team31Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers (G)Edmonton Oilers (from Atlanta via Buffalo)1Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)32Janos Vas Dallas Stars (from Columbus)2Malmo IF (Sweden)33Lee FalardeauNew York Rangers (from Florida)3Michigan State University (Big Ten)34Tobias Stephan (G)Dallas Stars (from Tampa Bay via Ottawa, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay)4EHC Chur (Switzerland)35Ondrej Nemec (D)Pittsburgh PenguinsHC Vsetin (Czech Republic)36Jarret Stoll Edmonton Oilers (from Nashville via Buffalo)5Kootenay Ice (WHL)37Tim Brent Mighty Ducks of AnaheimToronto St. Michael's Majors (OHL)38Josh Harding (G)Minnesota WildRegina Pats (WHL)39Brian McConnell Calgary FlamesBoston University (Hockey East)40Rob Globke Florida Panthers (from New York Rangers)6University of Notre Dame (Hockey East)41Joakim LindstromColumbus Blue Jackets (from Buffalo via Atlanta)7MODO (Sweden)42Marius Holtet Dallas Stars (from Washington)8Farjestad BK (Sweden)43Trevor Daley (D)Dallas StarsSault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)44Matt Greene (D)Edmonton OilersGreen Bay Gamblers (USHL)45Tomas Linhart (D)Montreal CanadiensHC Pardubice Jr. (Czech Republic)46David LeNeveu (G)Phoenix Coyotes (compensatory)9Cornell University (ECAC)47Alexei Kaigorodov Ottawa SenatorsMetallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia)48Aleksei Shkotov St. Louis Blues (compensatory)10Elemash Elektrostal (Russia)49Kirill Koltsov (D)Vancouver CanucksAvangard Omsk (Russia)50Sergei Anshakov Los Angeles KingsCSKA Moscow Jr. (Russia)51Anton Kadeykin (D)New Jersey Devils (compensatory)11Elemash Elektrostal (Russia)52Dan Spang (D)San Jose Sharks (from Phoenix via Philadelphia and Tampa Bay)12Winchester High School (USHS–MA)53Barry Tallackson New Jersey DevilsUniversity of Minnesota (Big Ten)54Duncan Keith (D)Chicago BlackhawksMichigan State University (Big Ten)55Denis Grot (D)Vancouver Canucks (from New York Islanders via Tampa Bay and Washington)13Elemash Elektrostal (Russia)56Vladislav Evseev Boston Bruins (from St. Louis)14CSKA Moscow Jr. (Russia)57Matt StajanToronto Maple LeafsBelleville Bulls (OHL)58Jiri Hudler Detroit Red Wings (from Carolina)15HC Vsetin (Czech Republic)59Maxime Daigneault (G)Washington Capitals (from Philadelphia)16Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL)60Adam Henrich Tampa Bay Lightning (from San Jose)17Brampton Battalion (OHL)61Johnny Boychuk (D)Colorado AvalancheCalgary Hitmen (WHL)62Andriy Mikhnov St. Louis Blues (from Boston)18Sudbury Wolves (OHL)63Tomas Fleischmann Detroit Red WingsHC Vitkovice (Czech Republic) Buffalo's acquired second-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent Jochen Hecht to Buffalo in exchange for a second-round pick (# 36 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft and this pick. Buffalo previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 22, 2002 that sent Vyacheslav Kozlov and a second-round pick (# 41 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft to Atlanta in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft and this pick. Columbus' second-round pick went to Dallas as the result of a trade on June 18, 2002 that sent a first-round pick in the 2002 Entry Draft to Columbus in exchange for Ron Tugnutt and this pick. Florida's second-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on March 18, 2002 that sent Igor Ulanov, Filip Novak a first-round pick and a second-round pick (# 40 overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft along with a fourth-round pick in the 2003 entry draft to the Rangers in exchange for Pavel Bure and this pick.