| YEAR TEAM | PLAYER | POS | FROM |
| 2011 - Edmonton Oilers | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | C | Red Deer (WHL) |
| 2010 - Edmonton Oilers | Taylor Hall | LW | Windsor (OHL) |
| 2009 - New York Islanders | John Tavares | C | London (OHL) |
| 2008 - Tampa Bay Lightning | Steve Stamkos | C | Sarnia (OHL) |
| 2007 - Chicago Blackhawks | Patrick Kane | RW | London (OHL) |
| 2006 - St. Louis Blues | Erik Johnson | D | US National U-18 (USA) |
| 2005 - Pittsburgh Penguins | Sidney Crosby | C | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
| 2004 - Washington Capitals | Alexander Ovechkin | LW | Dynamo Moscow (Russia) |
| 2003 - Pittsburgh Penguins | Marc-Andre Fleury | G | Cape Breton (QMJHL) |
| 2002 - Columbus Blue Jackets | Rick Nash | LW | London (OHL) |
| 2001 - Atlanta Thrashers | Ilya Kovalchuk | RW | Spartak Moscow (Russia) |
| 2000 - New York Islanders | Rick DiPietro | G | Boston University |
| 1999 - Atlanta Thrashers | Patrik Stefan | C | Long Beach (IHL) |
| 1998 - Tampa Bay Lightning | Vincent Lecavalier | C | Rimouski (QMJHL) |
| 1997 - Boston Bruins | Joe Thornton | C | Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) |
| 1996 - Ottawa Senators | Chris Phillips | D | Prince Albert (WHL) |
| 1995 - Ottawa Senators | Bryan Berard | D | Detroit (OHL) |
| 1994 - Florida Panthers | Ed Jovanovski | D | Windsor (OHL) |
| 1993 - Ottawa Senators | Alexander Daigle | C | Victoriaville (QMJHL) |
| 1992 - Tampa Bay Lightning | Roman Hamrlik | D | ZPS (Chechoslovakia) |
| 1991 - Quebec Nordiques | Eric Lindros | C | Oshawa (OHL) |
| 1990 - Quebec Nordiques | Owen Nolan | RW | Cornwall (OHL) |
| 1989 - Quebec Nordiques | Mats Sundin | RW | Nacka (Sweden) |
| 1988 - Minnesota North Stars | Mike Modano | C | Prince Albert (WHL) |
| 1987 - Buffalo Sabres | Pierre Turgeon | C | Granby (QMJHL) |
| 1986 - Detroit Red Wings | Joe Murphy | C | Michigan State |
| 1985 - Toronto Maple Leafs | Wendel Clark | LW-D | Saskatoon (WHL) |
| 1984 - Pittsburgh Penguins | Mario Lemieux | C | Laval (QMJHL) |
| 1983 - Minnesota North Stars | Brian Lawton | C | Mount St. Charles H.S. |
| 1982 - Boston Bruins | Gord Kluzak | D | Billings (WHL) |
| 1981 - Winnipeg Jets | Dale Hawerchuck | C | Cornwall (QMJHL) |
| 1980 - Montreal Canadiens | Doug Wicckenheiser | C | Regina (WHL) |
| 1979 - Colorado Rockies | Bobby Ramage | D | London (OHL) |
| 1978 - Minnesota North Stars | Bobby Smith | C | Ottawa (OHL) |
| 1977 - Detroit Red Wings | Dale McCourt | C | St. Catharines (OHL) |
| 1976 - Washington Capitals | Rick Green | D | London (OHL) |
| 1975 - Philadelphia Flyers | Mel Bridgman | C | Victoria (WHL) |
| 1974 - Washington Capitals | Greg Joly | D | Regina (WHL) |
| 1973 - New York Islanders | Denis Potvin | D | Ottawa (OHL) |
| 1972 - New York Islanders | Bill Harris | RW | Toronto (OHL) |
| 1971 - Montreal Canadiens | Guy Lafleur | RW | Quebec (QMJHL) |
| 1970 - Buffalo Sabres | Gilbert Perreault | C | Montreal (QMJHL) |
| 1969 - Montreal Canadiens | Rejean Houle | LW | Montreal (QMJHL) |
| 1968 - Montreal Canadiens | Michel Plasse | G | Drummondville (QMJHL) |
| 1967 - Los Angeles Kings | Rick Pagnutti | D | Garson (Northern Ont.) |
| 1966 - Boston Bruins | Barry Gibbs | D | Estevan (SJHL) |
| 1965 - New York Rangers | Andre Veilleux | RW | Montreal Ranger (Jr.B) |
| 1964 - Detroit Red Wings | Claude Gauthier | NA | Rosemont (Que.) |
| 1963 - Montreal Canadiens | Garry Monahan | LW | St. Michael's Juveniles |
