The 1973 NHL amateur draft was the 11th draft for the National Hockey League. 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, 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.
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 Bob Gainey and Lanny McDonald, who both retired after the 1988–89 season.
Selections by round Below are listed the selections in the 1973 NHL amateur draft.
Round one # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 1 Denis Potvin (D) New York Islanders Ottawa 67's (OHA) 2 Tom Lysiak (C) Atlanta Flames (from Montreal via California)1 Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) 3 Dennis Ververgaert (RW) Vancouver Canucks London Knights (OHA) 4 Lanny McDonald (RW) Toronto Maple Leafs Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) 5 John Davidson (G) St. Louis Blues (from Montreal via Atlanta)2 Calgary Centennials (WCHL) 6 Andre Savard (C) Boston Bruins (from Los Angeles)3 Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 7 Blaine Stoughton (RW) Pittsburgh Penguins Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) 8 Bob Gainey (LW) Montreal Canadiens (from St. Louis)4 Peterborough Petes (OHA) 9 Bob Dailey (D) Vancouver Canucks (from Montreal via Minnesota)5 Toronto Marlboros (OHA) 10 Bob Neely (D) Toronto Maple Leafs (from Philadelphia)6 Peterborough Petes (OHA) 11 Terry Richardson (G) Detroit Red Wings New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) 12 Morris Titanic (LW) Buffalo Sabres Sudbury Wolves (OHA) 13 Darcy Rota (LW) Chicago Black Hawks Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) 14 Rick Middleton (RW) New York Rangers Oshawa Generals (OHA) 15 Ian Turnbull (D) Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston)7 Ottawa 67's (OHA) 16 Vic Mercredi (C) Atlanta Flames (from Montreal)8 New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) 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 and second-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, first-round pick in 1977 NHL amateur draft and second-round pick in 1978 NHL amateur draft. Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent Montreal's second-round pick in 1972 NHL amateur draft (Stan Weir) to California in exchange for California's first-round and second-round picks in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft 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 St. Louis' first-round and fourth-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and first-round pick in 1975 NHL amateur draft in exchange for Montreal's third-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick. The Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent Montreal's two first-round picks (#2 - Tom Lysiak) and second-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, first-round pick in 1977 NHL amateur draft and second-round pick in 1978 NHL amateur draft. The Los Angeles Kings' first-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on May 14, 1969, that sent Ross Lonsberry and Eddie Shack to Los Angeles in exchange for Los Angeles' first round pick in 1973, Ken Turlik and this pick. 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 (John Davidson) and third-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' fourth-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, first-round pick in 1975 NHL amateur draft and this pick. The Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent Vancouver's first-round pick in 1974 NHL amateur draft in exchange for this pick. The Canadiens previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 10, 1968, that sent Minnesota's first-round pick (Dave Gardner) in 1972 NHL amateur draft, a player to be named later (Andre Pronovost) and this pick 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 Toronto's second-round pick in 1973 and the rights to Bernie Parent to Philadelphia in exchange for future considerations (Doug Favell) and this pick. The Boston Bruins' first-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on March 3, 1973, that sent Jacques Plante and Toronto's third-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft in exchange for future considerations (Eddie Johnston) and this pick. 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 (#2 - Tom Lysiak) and second-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft (#5 - STL - John Davidson), first-round pick in 1977 NHL amateur draft and second-round pick in 1978 NHL amateur draft.
Round two # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 17 Glenn Goldup (RW) Montreal Canadiens (from the Islanders)1 Toronto Marlboros (OHA) 18 Blake Dunlop (C) Minnesota North Stars (from California via Montreal)2 Ottawa 67's (OHA) 19 Paulin Bordeleau (RW) Vancouver Canucks Toronto Marlboros (OHA) 20 Larry Goodenough (D) Philadelphia Flyers (from the Toronto)3 London Knights (OHA) 21 Eric Vail (LW) Atlanta Flames (from Montreal via Atlanta)4 Sudbury Wolves (OHA) 22 Peter Marrin (C) Montreal Canadiens (from Los Angeles)5 Toronto Marlboros (OHA) 23 Wayne Bianchin (LW) Pittsburgh Penguins Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) 24 George Pesut (D) St. Louis Blues Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) 25 John Rogers (RW) Minnesota North Stars Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) 26 Brent Leavins (LW) Philadelphia Flyers Swift Current Broncos (WCHL) 27 Colin Campbell (D) Pittsburgh Penguins Peterborough Petes (OHA) 28 Jean Landry (D) Buffalo Sabres Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 29 Reg Thomas (LW) Chicago Black Hawks London Knights (OHA) 30 Pat Hickey (LW) New York Rangers Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) 31 Jimmy Jones (RW) Boston Bruins Peterborough Petes (OHA) 32 Ron Andruff (C) Montreal Canadiens Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) The New York Islanders' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972, that sent Alex Campbell, Denis DeJordy, Glenn Resch and future considerations (Germain Gagnon) to the Islanders in exchange for cash and this pick. The Montreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to the Minnesota North Stars as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent Minnesota's second-round pick in 1975 NHL amateur draft in exchange for this pick. Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent Montreal's second-round pick (Stan Weir) in 1972 NHL amateur draft to California in exchange for California's first-round (ATL - Tom Lysiak) in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick 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 (Bob Neely) in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and future considerations (Doug Favell) to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Bernie Parent and this pick. The Montreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to the Atlanta Flames as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent Atlanta's first-round pick (#5 - STL - John Davidson) in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, first-round pick in the 1977 NHL amateur draft and second-round pick in the 1978 NHL amateur draft to Montreal in exchange for Montreal's two first-round picks (#2 - Tom Lysiak and #16 - Vic Mercredi) in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick. Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 16, 1972, that sent Rey Comeau and Lynn Powis to Atlanta for cash and this pick. The Los Angeles Kings' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on January 26, 1971, that sent Ralph Backstrom to Los Angeles in exchange for Ray Fortin, Gord Labossiere and this pick.
Round three # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 33 Dave Lewis (D) New York Islanders Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) 34 Jeff Jacques (C) California Golden Seals St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) 35 Paul Sheard (RW) Vancouver Canucks Ottawa 67's (OHA) 36 Doug Gibson (C) Boston Bruins (from Toronto)1 Peterborough Petes (OHA) 37 Ed Humphreys (G) Montreal Canadiens (from Atlanta)2 Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) 38 Russ Walker (RW) Los Angeles Kings Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) 39 Nelson Pyatt (C) Detroit Red Wings (from Pittsburgh)3 Oshawa Generals (OHA) 40 Bob Stumpf (RW) Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis)4 New Westminster Bruins (WCHL) 41 Rick Chinnick (RW) Minnesota North Stars Peterborough Petes (OHA) 42 Mike Clarke (C) Philadelphia Flyers Calgary Centennials (WCHL) 43 Robbie Neale (C) Detroit Red Wings Brandon Wheat Kings(WCHL) 44 Andre Deschamps (LW) Buffalo Sabres Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 45 Randy Holt (D) Chicago Black Hawks Sudbury Wolves (OHA) 46 John Campbell (LW) New York Rangers Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA) 47 Al Sims (D) Boston Bruins Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) 48 Bob Gassoff (D) St. Louis Blues (from Montreal)5 Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL) 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 NHL Amateur Draft (Ian Turnbull) and future considerations (Eddie Johnston) to Toronto in exchange for Jacques Plante and this pick. The Atlanta Flames' third-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on August 10, 1972, that sent Noel Price to Atlanta in exchange for cash and this pick. The Pittsburgh Penguins' third-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on February 25, 1973, that sent Andy Brown to Pittsburgh in exchange for cash and this pick. The St. Louis Blues' third-round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on December 14, 1972, that sent Brent Hughes and Pierre Plante to St. Louis in exchange for Andre Dupont and this pick. The Montreal Canadiens' third-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent St. Louis' first-round pick (Bob Gainey) and fourth-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and first-round pick in 1975 NHL amateur draft to Montreal in exchange for Montreal's first-round pick (John Davidson) in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick.
Round four