The 2006 NHL entry draft was the 44th draft for the National Hockey League. It was held at General Motors Place in Vancouver on June 24, 2006.
The draft order for the first 14 picks was decided during a lottery held on April 20. The draft was televised in Canada on TSN and RDS, with the first three hours simulcast in the United States on OLN.
As of 2026, the six remaining active players in the NHL from this draft are Nick Foligno, Claude Giroux, Brad Marchand, Jeff Petry, James Reimer, and Jordan Staal. Semyon Varlamov remains under contract until the 2026–27 NHL season but has not played for the Islanders since November 24, 2024 due to a knee injury.
Draft day trades
The Florida Panthers traded Roberto Luongo, Lukas Krajicek and the 163rd pick (Sergei Shirokov) to the Vancouver Canucks for Todd Bertuzzi, Alex Auld and Bryan Allen. (This trade was completed two days prior to the draft, and officially announced the day before it.) The Atlanta Thrashers traded Patrik Stefan and Jaroslav Modry to the Dallas Stars for Niko Kapanen and the 210th pick (Will O'Neill). The Colorado Avalanche traded Alex Tanguay to the Calgary Flames for Jordan Leopold, the 59th pick (Codey Burki) and a conditional draft pick in 2007 or 2008. The Montreal Canadiens traded the 16th pick (Ty Wishart) to the San Jose Sharks for the 20th pick (David Fischer) and the 53rd pick (Mathieu Carle). The Los Angeles Kings traded Pavol Demitra to the Minnesota Wild for Patrick O'Sullivan and the 17th pick (Trevor Lewis). The Boston Bruins traded Andrew Raycroft to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Tuukka Rask.
Final central scouting rankings
Skaters North American European 1 Erik Johnson (D) Nicklas Backstrom (C) 2 Jordan Staal (C) Michael Frolik (RW) 3 Jonathan Toews (C) Jiri Tlusty (LW) 4 Derick Brassard (C) Yuri Alexandrov (D) 5 Phil Kessel (C/RW) Tomas Kana (C) 6 Peter Mueller (C) Artem Anisimov (C) 7 Bryan Little (C) Alexander Vasyunov (LW) 8 Chris Stewart (RW) Patrik Berglund (C) 9 James Sheppard (C/LW) Andrei Popov (RW) 10 Cory Emmerton (LW/C) Jonas Ahnelov (D)
Goaltenders North American European 1 Jonathan Bernier Jhonas Enroth 2 Leland Irving Semyon Varlamov 3 Jeff Zatkoff Reto Berra
Selections by round
Round one # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 1Erik Johnson (D) St. Louis Blues US NTDP (NAHL) 2 Jordan Staal (C) Pittsburgh Penguins Peterborough Petes (OHL) 3Jonathan Toews (C) Chicago Blackhawks University of North Dakota (WCHA) 4Nicklas Backstrom (C) Washington Capitals Brynas IF (Sweden) 5Phil Kessel (RW) Boston Bruins University of Minnesota (WCHA) 6 Derick Brassard (C) Columbus Blue Jackets Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL) 7 Kyle Okposo (RW) New York Islanders Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) 8 Peter Mueller (C) Phoenix Coyotes Everett Silvertips (WHL) 9 James Sheppard (C/LW) Minnesota Wild Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL) 10 Michael Frolik (RW) Florida Panthers HC Rabat Kladno (Czech Republic) 11 Jonathan Bernier (G) Los Angeles Kings Lewiston Maineiacs (QMJHL) 12 Bryan Little (C) Atlanta Thrashers Barrie Colts (OHL) 13 Jiri Tlusty (LW) Toronto Maple Leafs HC Rabat Kladno (Czech Republic) 14 Michael Grabner (RW) Vancouver Canucks Spokane Chiefs (WHL) 15 Riku Helenius (G) Tampa Bay Lightning Ilves Jr. (Finland) 16 Ty Wishart (D) San Jose Sharks (from Montreal) Prince George Cougars (WHL) 17 Trevor Lewis (C) Los Angeles Kings (from Edmonton via Minnesota) Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) 18 Chris Stewart (RW) Colorado Avalanche Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 19 Mark Mitera (D) Anaheim Ducks University of Michigan (CCHA) 20 David Fischer (D) Montreal Canadiens (from San Jose) Apple Valley High School (USHS–MN) 21 Bobby Sanguinetti (D) New York Rangers Owen Sound Attack (OHL) 22 Claude Giroux (C/RW) Philadelphia Flyers Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) 23 Semyon Varlamov (G) Washington Capitals (from Nashville) Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia) 24 Dennis Persson (D) Buffalo Sabres VIK Vasteras HK (Sweden) 25 Patrik Berglund (C) St. Louis Blues (from New Jersey) VIK Vasteras HK (Sweden) 26 Leland Irving (G) Calgary Flames Everett Silvertips (WHL) 27 Ivan Vishnevskiy (D) Dallas Stars Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) 28Nick Foligno (LW) Ottawa Senators Sudbury Wolves (OHL) 29 Chris Summers (D) Phoenix Coyotes (from Detroit) US NTDP (NAHL) 30 Matt Corrente (D) New Jersey Devils (from Carolina via St. Louis) Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Round two # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 31 Tomas Kana (C) St. Louis Blues HC Vitkovice (Czech Republic) 32 Carl Sneep (D) Pittsburgh Penguins Brainerd High School (USHS–MN) 33 Igor Makarov (RW) Chicago Blackhawks Krylya Sovetov (Russia) 34 Michal Neuvirth (G) Washington Capitals Sparta Prague (Czech Republic) 35 Francois Bouchard (RW) Washington Capitals (from Boston) Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL) 36 Jamie McGinn (LW) San Jose Sharks (from Columbus) Ottawa 67's (OHL) 37 Yuri Alexandrov (D) Boston Bruins (compensatory) Severstal Cherepovets (Russia) 38 Bryce Swan (RW) Anaheim Ducks (from New York Islanders via Vancouver) Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 39 Andreas Nodl (RW) Philadelphia Flyers (from Phoenix) Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) 40 Ondrej Fiala (C) Minnesota Wild Everett Silvertips (WHL) 41 Cory Emmerton (C/LW) Detroit Red Wings (from Phoenix via Florida and Philadelphia) Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 42 Mike Ratchuk (D) Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles) US NTDP (NAHL) 43 Riley Holzapfel (C) Atlanta Thrashers Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) 44 Nikolay Kulemin (F) Toronto Maple Leafs Metallurg Magnitogorsk (Russia) 45 Jeff Petry (D) Edmonton Oilers (compensatory) Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) 46 Jhonas Enroth (G) Buffalo Sabres (from Vancouver) Sodertalje SK (Sweden) 47 Shawn Matthias (C) Detroit Red Wings (from Phoenix via Tampa Bay and Philadelphia) Belleville Bulls (OHL) 48 Joey Ryan (D) Los Angeles Kings (compensatory) Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) 49 Ben Maxwell (C) Montreal Canadiens Kootenay Ice (WHL) 50 Milan Lucic (LW) Boston Bruins (from Edmonton) Vancouver Giants (WHL) 51 Nigel Williams (D) Colorado Avalanche US NTDP (NAHL) 52 Keith Seabrook (D) Washington Capitals (from Anaheim) Burnaby Express (BCHL) 53 Mathieu Carle (D) Montreal Canadiens (from San Jose) Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL) 54 Artem Anisimov (C) New York Rangers Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia) 55 Denis Bodrov (D) Philadelphia Flyers Lada Togliatti (Russia) 56 Blake Geoffrion (LW) Nashville Predators US NTDP (NAHL) 57 Mike Weber (D) Buffalo Sabres Windsor Spitfires (OHL) 58 Alexander Vasyunov (LW) New Jersey Devils Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (Russia) 59 Codey Burki (C) Colorado Avalanche (from Calgary) Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) 60 Jesse Joensuu (F) New York Islanders (from Dallas) Assat (Finland) 61 Simon Danis-Pepin (D) Chicago Blackhawks (from Ottawa) University of Maine (Hockey East) 62 Dick Axelsson (F) Detroit Red Wings Huddinge IK (Sweden) 63 Jamie McBain (D) Carolina Hurricanes US NTDP (NAHL)
Round three # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 64 Jonas Junland (D) St. Louis Blues Linkopings HC (Sweden) 65 Brian Strait (D) Pittsburgh Penguins US NTDP (NAHL) 66 Ryan White (C) Montreal Canadiens (from Chicago via Philadelphia) Calgary Hitmen (WHL) 67 Kirill Tulupov (D) New Jersey Devils (from Washington) Alemetjevsk (Russia) 68 Eric Gryba (D) Ottawa Senators (from Boston) Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) 69 Steve Mason (G) Columbus Blue Jackets London Knights (OHL) 70 Robin Figren (F) New York Islanders Frolunda HC (Sweden) 71 Brad Marchand (LW) Boston Bruins (from Phoenix via New York Islanders) Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 72 Cal Clutterbuck (RW) Minnesota Wild Oshawa Generals (OHL) 73 Brady Calla (RW) Florida Panthers Everett Silvertips (WHL) 74 Jeff Zatkoff (G) Los Angeles Kings Miami University (CCHA) 75 Theo Peckham (D) Edmonton Oilers (from Atlanta) Owen Sound Attack (OHL) 76 Tony Lagerstrom (C) Chicago Blackhawks (from Toronto) Sodertalje SK (Sweden) 77 Vladimir Zharkov (RW) New Jersey Devils (from Vancouver via St. Louis) CSKA Moscow (Russia) 78 Kevin Quick (D) Tampa Bay Lightning Salisbury School (USHS–CT) 79 Jonathan Matsumoto (C) Philadelphia Flyers (from Montreal) Bowling Green University (CCHA) 80 Michael Forney (LW) Atlanta Thrashers (from Edmonton) Thief River Falls (USHS–MN) 81 Mike Carman (C) Colorado Avalanche US NTDP (NAHL) 82 Daniel Rahimi (D) Vancouver Canucks (from Anaheim) IF Bjorkloven Jr. (Sweden) 83 John de Gray (D) Anaheim Ducks (from San Jose via New York Rangers) Brampton Battalion (OHL) 84 Ryan Hillier (LW) New York Rangers Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL) 85 Tom Sestito (LW) Columbus Blue Jackets (from San Jose via Philadelphia) Plymouth Whalers (OHL) 86 Bud Holloway (C/RW) Los Angeles Kings (from Nashville via Philadelphia) Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) 87 John Armstrong (C/RW) Calgary Flames (from Buffalo) Plymouth Whalers (OHL) 88 Jonas Ahnelov (D) Phoenix Coyotes (from New York Islanders via New Jersey) Frolunda HC (Sweden) 89 Aaron Marvin (C/W) Calgary Flames Warroad High School (USHS–MN) 90 Aaron Snow (LW) Dallas Stars Brampton Battalion (OHL) 91 Kaspars Daugavins (LW) Ottawa Senators HK Riga 2000 (Latvia) 92 Daniel Larsson (G) Detroit Red Wings Hammarby IF (Sweden) 93 Harrison Reed (RW) Carolina Hurricanes Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Round four # Player Nationality NHL team College/junior/club team 94 Ryan Turek (C) St. Louis Blues Omaha Lancers (USHL) 95 Ben Shutron (D) Chicago Blackhawks (from Pittsburgh) Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) 96 Joe Palmer (G) Chicago Blackhawks US NTDP (NAHL) 97 Oskar Osala (LW) Washington Capitals Mississauga IceDogs (OHL) 98 James DeLory (D) San Jose Sharks (from Boston via Edmonton, Boston and New York Islanders) Oshawa Generals (OHL) 99 James Reimer (G) Toronto Maple Leafs (from Columbus via Carolina and Chicago) Red Deer Rebels (WHL) 100 Rhett Rakhshani (RW) New York Islanders US NTDP (NAHL) 101 Joonas Lehtivuori (D) Philadelphia Flyers (from Phoenix) Ilves (Finland) 102 Kyle Medvec (D) Minnesota Wild University of Vermont (Hockey East) 103 Michael Caruso (D) Florida Panthers Guelph Storm (OHL) 104 David Kveton (RW) New York Rangers (from Los Angeles) Vsetínska Hokejova (Czech Republic) 105 Niko Snellman (F) Nashville Predators (from Atlanta) Ilves (Finland) 106 Reto Berra (G) St. Louis Blues (from Toronto via Carolina) ZSC Lions (NLA) 107 T. J. Miller (D) New Jersey Devils (from Vancouver) Penticton Vees (BCHL) 108 Jase Weslosky (G) New York Islanders (from Tampa Bay via San Jose) Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL) 109 Jakub Kovar (G) Philadelphia Flyers (from Montreal) HC Ceske Budejovice Jr. (Czech Republic) 110 Kevin Montgomery (D) Colorado Avalanche (from Edmonton via New York Islanders) US NTDP (NAHL) 111 Korbinian Holzer (D) Toronto Maple Leafs (from Colorado via Chicago) EC Bad Tolz (Germany) 112 Matt Beleskey (LW) Anaheim Ducks Belleville Bulls (OHL) 113 Ben Wright (D) Columbus Blue Jackets (from San Jose) Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL) 114 Niclas Andersen (D) Los Angeles Kings (from New York Rangers) Leksands IF (Sweden) 115 Tomas Marcinko (C) New York Islanders (from Philadelphia via Phoenix) HC Kosice (Slovakia) 116 Derrick LaPoint (D) Florida Panthers (from Nashville via Pittsburgh) North High School (USHS–WI) 117 Felix Schutz (C) Buffalo Sabres Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) 118 Hugo Carpentier (C) Calgary Flames (from New Jersey) Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) 119 Doug Rogers (C) New York Islanders (from Calgary via Phoenix) Saint Sebastian's School (ISL) 120 Richard Bachman (G) Dallas Stars Cushing Academy (USHS–MA) 121 Pierre-Luc Lessard (D) Ottawa Senators Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL) 122 Luke Lynes (C/LW) Washington Capitals (from Detroit) Brampton Battalion (OHL) 123 Bobby Hughes (C) Carolina Hurricanes Kingston Frontenacs (OHL)
Round five