This Day in Hockey History – July 8, 1995 – Drafting Defense

Edmonton’s Coliseum hosted the NHL Entry Draft for the only time (thus far) in 1995. Over 300 media personnel attended even though one stated that this draft “lacked thrills” because the “talent pool [was] not especially deep.” On July 8, three big defensemen were drafted right off the bat.

The Ottawa Senators had the No. 1 pick for the third consecutive year. They chose the predicted top choice, Bryan Berard of Rhode Island, making him only the third American-born player to be the top draftee. Senators GM Randy Sexton explained, “I just feel (Berard) comes from a home with a lot of pride and commitment. … He doesn’t want to be a good player. He wants to be a great player.” From Berard’s point of view, “There will be pressure. I know, but I handle pressure well. In fact, I think I play better with it.” Sexton concluded, “You can’t pass up a player with Bryan Berard’s (potential).”

As it turned out, Berard refused to report for the Senators. They traded him to the New York Islanders for their No. 2 pick from that same draft. After two and a half seasons with the Islanders, they traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs on January 9, 1999. He then hopped teams almost every season. In 2001, he signed with the New York Rangers, in 2002 with the Boston Bruins, in 2003 with the Chicago Blackhawks, in 2005 with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and finally in October 2007 back with the Islanders. Berard’s NHL career ended after 619 games (76G, 247A, 323P). He then spent a final season with the KHL.

The No. 2 pick was Wade Redden of Saskatchewan, selected by the New York Islanders. Although they had considered trading away their first-round pick, instead the Islanders went with the “safest pick.” Islanders GM Don Maloney remarked, “He’s a good player now and he’s going to be a good player in the NHL. He could be a special player. He’s an effortless player. He does so many things you don’t notice. He’s got the intelligence and the ability to go with it.” Redden himself said, “I guess when you’re drafted this high the team has a lot of plans for you. Hopefully, I can make them happy.” 

However, before Redden could play for the Islanders, they had traded him to Ottawa. Redden spent ten seasons with Ottawa but never played more than 20 NHL games per season. He then signed with the New York Rangers in 2008 but mostly played for their AHL affiliate in Hartford. On January 18, 2013, he signed with the St. Louis Blues, who within three months traded him to the Boston Bruins. He finished out his NHL career with five games for them. Overall, he had played 1023 NHL games (109G, 348A, 457P).

The third defenseman, drafted No. 3 by the Los Angeles Kings, was Aki-Petteri Berg of Finland. At the time, he was the highest draftee from Finland. The Oilers had wanted to draft him, but the Kings had moved up in the lottery. Berg would have to finish the eight remaining months of his compulsory military stint in Finland before joining the Kings.

Still, Berg started his NHL career during the 1995-96 season. He remained with the Kings for five seasons until March 13, 2001, when they traded him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He finished out his NHL career in Toronto during the 2003-04 season. Berg totaled 606 NHL games (15G, 70A, 85P). Throughout, he had played practically every major competition with Finland’s national team. After the NHL, he continued playing in Sweden and Finland.

Although none of the top three draftees became superstars, the No. 11 pick from 1995 did. Right wing Jarome Iginla was drafted by the Dallas Stars, but he was traded that December to the Calgary Flames. Iginla was not predicted to be chosen in the top 15, so he commented, “It was a nice surprise for me. Eleventh, I thought it would be nice just to get drafted. This is gravy. I didn’t want to get myself up to be let down.”

Iginla played 20 seasons in the NHL, all but the last five with Calgary. Along the way, in 2002, he received the Art Ross Trophy, the Maurice Richard Trophy, and the Ted Lindsay Award. In 2004, he took home the King Clancy Memorial Trophy and the Maurice Richard again. Finally, in 2009, he earned the Mark Messier Leadership Award. 

Additional Sources:

• https://www.hockey-reference.com/draft/NHL_1995_entry.html
• “1995 NHL Entry Draft,” Edmonton Journal, 9 July 1995, pp. C1-C4.
• Ken Warren, “Family rallies round Senators’ top choice,” Ottawa Citizen, 9 July 1995, pp. A1 and A2.
• Ken Warren, “Senators do the expected, draft Berard,” Ottawa Citizen, 9 July 1995, p. B1.
• Lisa Dillman, “Kings Draft Defense, Add Offense,” Los Angeles Times, 9 July 1995, p. C2.