1997 NHL entry draft

The 1997 NHL Entry Draft was the 35th NHL Entry Draft. It was held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 21, 1997.

The last active player from the 1997 draft class was Joe Thornton, who played his last NHL game in the 2021–22 season.

Selections by round
Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.

Round one

 * 1)  Toronto's first-round pick went to the Islanders as the result of a trade on March 13, 1996 that sent Wendel Clark, Mathieu Schneider and D.J. Smith to Toronto in exchange for Sean Haggerty, Darby Hendrickson, Kenny Jonsson and this pick.
 * 2)  Carolina's first-round pick went to Boston as the result of a trade on August 26, 1994 that sent Glen Wesley to Hartford in exchange for first-round picks of the 1995 Entry Draft and the 1996 Entry Draft along with this pick.  Hartford relocated to Carolina after the 1996–97 NHL season.
 * 3)  St. Louis' first-round pick went to Los Angeles as the result of a trade on February 27, 1996 that sent Wayne Gretzky to St. Louis in exchange for Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, a fifth-round pick of the 1996 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * St. Louis' first-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade with Edmonton on August 4, 1995 that sent Curtis Joseph and the rights to Mike Grier to Edmonton in exchange a first-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * Edmonton previously acquired this pick and a first-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft as compensation on July 28, 1995 after St. Louis signed free agent Shayne Corson.
 * 1)  Phoenix's first-round pick went to Chicago as the result of a trade on August 16, 1996 that sent Jeremy Roenick to Phoenix in exchange for Craig Mills, Alexei Zhamnov and this pick.
 * 2)  Detroit's first-round pick went to Hartford as the result of a trade on October 9, 1996 that sent Brian Glynn and Brendan Shanahan to Detroit in exchange for Paul Coffey, Keith Primeau and this pick.  Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
 * 3)  Carolina's acquired first-round pick went to San Jose as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round in the 1997 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Carolina in exchange for this pick.
 * Hartford's previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on December 15, 1996 that sent Paul Coffey and a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to Philadelphia in exchange for Kevin Haller, a seventh-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.  Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.

Round two

 * 1)  San Jose's second-round pick went to Carolina as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a first-round in the 1997 Entry Draft to San Jose in exchange for a third-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * 2)  Toronto's first-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on August 30, 1995 that sent Dmitry Yushkevich and a second-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft to Toronto in exchange for a first-round and a fourth-round picks in the 1996 Entry Draft along with this pick.
 * 3) Carolina's second-round pick went to Vancouver as the result of a trade on December 19, 1995 that sent Jeff Brown and a third-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Hartford in exchange for Jim Dowd, Frantisek Kucera and this pick.  Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
 * 4) St. Louis' second-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on July 4, 1994 that sent Al MacInnis and a fourth-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to St. Louis in exchange for Phil Housley, a second-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * 5)  St. Louis acquired this pick as compensation on July 21, 1996 after the Rangers signed free agent Wayne Gretzky.
 * 6)  Ottawa's second-round pick went to New Jersey as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent two third-round picks (# 58 and # 66 overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft to Ottawa in exchange for this pick.
 * 7)  Carolina's second-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on March 5, 1997 that sent Steve Chiasson and a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to Hartford in exchange for Hnat Domenichelli, Glen Featherstone, a third-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft and this pick.  Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
 * Hartford previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on December 19, 1995 that sent Jocelyn Lemieux and a second-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to New Jersey in exchange for Jim Dowd and this pick.

Round three

 * 1)  St. Louis' third-round pick went to Colorado as the result of a trade on May 30, 1997 that sent Brent Johnson to St. Louis in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in the 2000 Entry Draft and this pick.  Conditions of the conditional draft pick are unknown.
 * St. Louis previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with San Jose on March 6, 1995 that sent Craig Janney and cash and to San Jose in exchange for Jeff Norton and this pick. The pick was a conditional third-round pick at the time of the trade and conditions of the pick are unknown.
 * 1)  Los Angeles' third-round pick went to Florida as the result of a trade on November 28, 1996 that sent Brad Smyth to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick.
 * 2)  New Jersey's acquired third-round pick went to Ottawa as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to New Jersey in exchange for a third-round pick (# 66 overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * New Jersey acquired this pick as compensation on July 22, 1996 after Washington signed free agent Phil Housley.
 * 1)  Carolina's third-round pick went to Philadelphia as the result of a trade on December 15, 1996 that sent Kevin Haller, a first-round and seventh-round picks in the 1997 Entry Draft to Hartford in exchange for Paul Coffey and this pick.   Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
 * 2)  Washington's third-round pick went to Boston as the result of a trade on March 1, 1997 that sent Adam Oates, Bill Ranford and Rick Tocchet to Washington in exchange for Jason Allison, Jim Carey, Anson Carter, a conditional second-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * 3)  Ottawa's third-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to New Jersey in exchange for a third-round pick (# 58 overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * New Jersey acquired this pick from Ottawa as compensation on October 5, 1995 after Ottawa claimed Tom Chorske off waivers.
 * 1)  St. Louis' third-round pick went to Buffalo as the result of a trade on March 20, 1996 that sent Yuri Khmylev and an eighth-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft to St. Louis in exchange for Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre, a second-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * 2)  Calgary acquired this pick as compensation on July 1, 1996 after Phoenix hired Don Hay as head coach.
 * 3)  Philadelphia's third-round pick went to Dallas as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a second-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
 * 4)  St. Louis' third-round pick went to Colorado as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent two fourth-round picks in the 1996 Entry Draft (# 98 and # 106 overall) to St. Louis in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * St. Louis previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with New Jersey on November 1, 1995 that sent Esa Tikkanen to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.
 * 1)  Dallas' third-round pick went to the Islanders as the result of a trade on June 1, 1996 that sent Brad Lukowich to Dallas in exchange for this pick.
 * 2)  Calgary's acquired third-round pick went to Carolina as the result of a trade on March 5, 1997 that sent Hnat Domenichelli, Glen Featherstone, a second-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and a third-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Calgary in exchange for Steve Chiasson and this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
 * Calgary previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with the Islanders on November 27, 1996 that sent Paul Kruse to the Islanders in exchange for this pick.
 * The Islanders previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade with Colorado on September 4, 1996 that sent Brent Severyn to Colorado in exchange for this pick.

Round four

 * 1)  San Jose's sixth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent fourth-round (# 93 overall) and sixth-round picks in the 1997 Entry Draft to the Rangers in exchange for this pick.
 * The Rangers previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on August 20, 1996 that sent Marty McSorley to San Jose in exchange for Jayson More, Brian Swanson and this pick.
 * 1) Calgary's fourth-round pick went to St. Louis as the result of a trade on July 4, 1994 that sent Phil Housley, second-round picks in the 1996 Entry Draft and 1997 Entry Draft to Calgary in exchange for Al MacInnis and this pick.
 * 2) Tampa Bay's fourth-round pick went to Colorado as the result of a trade on October 5, 1995 that sent Steven Finn to Tampa Bay in exchange for this pick.
 * 3) Ottawa's fourth-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on October 7, 1995 that sent Frank Musil to Ottawa in exchange for this pick.
 * 4)  San Jose's fourth-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a fourth-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to San Jose in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * San Jose previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 6, 1995 that sent Jimmy Waite to Chicago in exchange for this pick.
 * 1)  St. Louis' fourth-round pick went to Florida as the result of a trade on September 28, 1995 that sent Dallas Eakins to St. Louis in exchange for this pick
 * 2)  Colorado's acquired fourth-round pick went to St. Louis as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Colorado in exchange for a fourth-round pick (# 106 overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * Quebec previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 9, 1995 that sent Dave Karpa to Anaheim in exchange for this pick. Quebec relocated to Denver and became the Colorado Avalanche after the 1994–95 NHL season.
 * 1)  The Rangers' fourth-round pick went to Los Angeles as the result of a trade on March 14, 1996 that sent Shane Churla, Jari Kurri and Marty McSorley to the Rangers in exchange for Ray Ferraro, Nathan LaFayette, Ian Laperriere, Mattias Norstrom and this pick.
 * 2)  Florida's fourth-round pick went to Calgary as the result of a trade on September 29, 1994 that sent Robert Svehla and Magnus Svensson to Philadelphia in exchange for a third-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * 3)  Colorado's fourth-round pick went to St. Louis as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 1998 Entry Draft to Colorado in exchange for a fourth-round pick in (# 98 overall) the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.

Round five

 * 1)  Boston's fifth-round pick went to San Jose as the result of a trade on September 30, 1996 that sent Rob DiMaio to Boston in exchange for this pick.
 * 2)  San Jose's fifth-round pick went to Tampa Bay as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent Shawn Burr to San Jose in exchange for this pick.
 * 3)  Los Angeles' fifth-round pick went to Tampa Bay as the result of a trade on August 22, 1996 that sent Petr Klima to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick.
 * 4)  Chicago acquired this pick as compensation on July 8, 1996 after St. Louis signed free agent Joe Murphy.
 * 5)  The Islanders' fifth-round pick went to Tampa Bay as the result of a trade on September 14, 1995 that sent Alexander Semak to the Islanders in exchange for this pick.
 * 6)  Tampa Bay's fifth-round pick went to Vancouver as the result of a trade on March 23, 1995 that sent Adrien Plavsic to Tampa Bay in exchange for this pick.
 * 7)  Carolina's fifth-round pick went to the Islanders as the result of a trade on March 18, 1997 that sent Derek King to Hartford in exchange for this pick.  Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
 * 8)  St. Louis' fifth-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on October 29, 1996 that sent Craig Conroy, Rory Fitzpatrick and Pierre Turgeon to St. Louis in exchange for Murray Baron, Shayne Corson and this pick.
 * 9)  Philadelphia's fifth-round pick went to Chicago as the result of a trade on February 16, 1995 that sent Karl Dykhuis to Philadelphia in exchange for Bob Wilkie and this pick.
 * 10)  The Rangers acquired this pick as compensation on September 10, 1996 after Anaheim signed free agent Jari Kurri.

Round six

 * 1)  San Jose's sixth-round pick went to the Rangers as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a fourth-round pick (# 82 overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft to San Jose in exchange for a fourth-round pick (# 93 overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * 2)  Calgary's sixth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade on March 18, 1997 that sent Robert Reichel to the Islanders in exchange for Tyrone Garner, Marty McInnis and this pick.
 * The Islanders previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 20, 1996 that sent Bob Sweeney to Calgary in exchange for Pat Conacher and this pick.
 * 1)  Tampa Bay's sixth-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on March 18, 1997 that sent Jeff Norton to Tampa Bay in exchange for Drew Bannister and this pick.
 * 2)  Edmonton's sixth-round pick went to Vancouver as the result of a trade on August 24, 1995 that sent Brett Hauer to Edmonton in exchange for this pick.
 * 3)  Los Angeles acquired this pick as compensation on August 15, 1996 after San Jose signed free agent Tony Granato.
 * 4)  Anaheim's sixth-round pick went to Tampa Bay as the result of a trade on November 18, 1996 that sent Brian Bellows to Anaheim in exchange for this pick.

Round seven

 * 1)  Los Angeles' fourth-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade with Philadelphia on March 19, 1996 that sent John Druce and a fourth-round pick in the 1996 Entry Draft to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
 * 2)  Carolina's seventh-round pick was re-acquired as the result of a trade with Philadelphia on December 15, 1996 that sent Paul Coffey and a third-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft to Philadelphia in exchange for Kevin Haller, a first-round pick in the 1997 Entry Draft and this pick.
 * Philadelphia previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on December 28, 1995 that sent Kevin Dineen to Hartford in exchange for this pick. Hartford relocated to Raleigh to become the Carolina Hurricanes after the 1996–97 NHL season.
 * 1)  Tampa Bay's seventh-round pick went to Washington as the result of a trade on November 15, 1995 that sent Eric Charron to Tampa Bay in exchange for this pick.
 * 2)  The Rangers acquired this pick as compensation on September 28, 1996 after Edmonton signed free agent Kevin Lowe.
 * 3)  Philadelphia's acquired seventh-round pick went to Anaheim as the result of a trade on February 6, 1996 that sent Bob Corkum to Philadelphia in exchange for Chris Herperger and this pick.
 * Philadelphia previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on September 20, 1995 that sent Andre Faust to Winnipeg in exchange for this pick. Winnipeg relocated to Arizona after the 1995–96 NHL season.
 * 1)  Boston acquired this pick as compensation on July 11, 1996 after Dallas signed free agent Dave Reid.
 * 2)  Tampa Bay acquired this pick as compensation on October 24, 1996 after Edmonton signed free agent Michel Petit.
 * 3)  Philadelphia's seventh-round pick went to Edmonton as the result of a trade on June 18, 1997 that sent the rights to Martin Cerven to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
 * 4)  Colorado's seventh-round pick went to Toronto as the result of a trade on October 2, 1995 that sent Warren Rychel to Colorado in exchange for this pick.

Round eight

 * 1)  Carolina acquired this pick as compensation on July 16, 1996 after Phoenix signed free agent Brad McCrimmon.
 * 2)  Calgary's eight-round pick went to Montreal as the result of a trade on November 25, 1995 that sent Craig Ferguson and Yves Sarault to Calgary in exchange for this pick.

Round nine

 * 1)  St. Louis acquired this pick as compensation on September 26, 1996 after Buffalo signed free agent Charlie Huddy.
 * 2)  Boston's acquired ninth-round pick went to Colorado as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a ninth-round pick (# 246 overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft to Boston in exchange for this pick.
 * Boston previously acquired this pick as compensation on September 5, 1996 after Pittsburgh signed free agent Joe Mullen.
 * 1)  Colorado's acquired ninth-round pick went to Boston as the result of a trade on June 21, 1997 that sent a ninth-round pick (# 245 overall) in the 1997 Entry Draft to Colorado in exchange for this pick.
 * Colorado previously acquired this pick as compensation on September 13, 1996 after Ottawa signed free agent Dave Hannan.