The 2004 NHL entry draft was the 42nd draft for the National Hockey League. It was held on June 26 and 27, 2004 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the 2004–05 NHL lockout, which canceled all the games scheduled for that season.
As of 2026, the remaining active players in the NHL from this draft are Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin.
The 2004 NHL entry draft was the 42nd draft for the National Hockey League. It was held on June 26 and 27, 2004 at the RBC Center in Raleigh, North Carolina. It is especially notable because it was the last NHL event to take place before the beginning of the 2004–05 NHL lockout, which canceled all the games scheduled for that season.
As of 2026, the remaining active players in the NHL from this draft are Evgeni Malkin and Alexander Ovechkin.
Selections by round
Round one
The Columbus Blue Jackets' first-round pick went to the Carolina Hurricanes as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Carolina's first-round pick in 2004 (8th overall) and Toronto's second-round pick in 2004 (59th overall) to Columbus in exchange for this pick.
The Carolina Hurricanes' first-round pick went to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Columbus' first-round pick in 2004 (4th overall) to Carolina in exchange for Toronto's second-round pick in 2004 (59th overall) and this pick.
The Calgary Flames' first-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 25, 2004 that sent Toronto's first-round pick in 2004 (24th overall) and New York's compensatory second-round pick in 2004 (46th overall) to Calgary in exchange for Calgary's eighth-round pick in 2004 (247th overall) and this pick.
The Dallas Stars' first-round pick went to the New Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent New Jersey's first-round pick in 2004 (22nd overall) and their third-round pick in 2004 (88th overall) to Dallas in exchange for this pick.
The New Jersey Devils' first-round pick went to the San Jose Sharks as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent San Jose's first-round pick in 2004 (28th overall) and San Jose's compensatory second-round and third-round picks in 2004 (52nd and 91st overall) to Dallas in exchange for Dallas' fifth-round pick in 2004 (153rd overall) and this pick.
Dallas previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Dallas' first-round pick in 2004 (20th overall) to New Jersey in exchange for New Jersey's third-round pick in 2004 (88th overall) and this pick.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on June 25, 2004 that sent Calgary's first-round pick in 2004 (19th overall) and Calgary's eighth-round pick in 2004 (247th overall) to the New York Rangers in exchange for New York's compensatory second-round pick in 2004 (46th overall) and this pick.
New York previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 3, 2004 that sent Brian Leetch and future considerations (Edmonton's fourth-round pick in 2004) to Toronto in exchange for Maxim Kondratyev, Jarkko Immonen, Toronto's second-round pick in 2005 and this pick.
The Philadelphia Flyers' first-round pick went to the Edmonton Oilers as the result of a trade on December 16, 2003 that sent Mike Comrie to Philadelphia in exchange for Jeff Woywitka, Philadelphia's third-round pick in 2005 and this pick.
The Boston Bruins' first-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on March 3, 2004 that sent Sergei Gonchar to Boston in exchange for Shaone Morrisonn, Boston's second-round pick in 2004 (62nd overall) and this pick.
The San Jose Sharks' first-round pick went to the Dallas Stars as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent New Jersey's first-round pick in 2004 (22nd overall) and Dallas' fifth-round pick in 2004 (153rd overall) to San Jose in exchange for San Jose's compensatory second-round and third-round picks in 2004 (52nd and 91st overall) and this pick.
The Detroit Red Wings' first-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on February 27, 2004 that sent Robert Lang to Detroit in exchange for Tomas Fleischmann, Detroit's fourth-round pick in 2006 and this pick.
Round two
The Columbus Blue Jackets' second-round pick went to the Dallas Stars as the result of a trade on July 22, 2003 that sent Darryl Sydor to Columbus in exchange for Mike Sillinger and this pick.
The Florida Panthers' second-round pick was re-acquired from the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Dallas' compensatory second-round pick in 2004 (50th overall) and Florida's third-round pick in 2004 (73rd overall) to New York in exchange for this pick.
New York previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 8, 2004 that sent Matthew Barnaby and the Rangers' third-round pick in 2004 to Colorado in exchange for Chris McAllister, David Liffiton and this pick.
Colorado previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on July 18, 2003 that sent Eric Messier and Vaclav Nedorost to Florida in exchange for Peter Worrell and this pick.
The Los Angeles Kings' second-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on February 19, 2004 that sent Alexei Zhamnov and Washington's fourth-round pick in 2004 to Philadelphia in exchange for Jim Vandermeer, Colin Fraser and this pick.
Philadelphia previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on May 28, 2003 that sent Roman Cechmanek to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick.
The Nashville Predators' second-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on February 16, 2004 that sent Steve Sullivan to Nashville in exchange for Nashville's second-round pick in 2005 and this pick.
The New York Rangers' compensatory second-round pick went to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Columbus and Tampa Bay's third-round picks in 2004 (70th and 98th overall) to Calgary in exchange for this pick.
Calgary previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 25, 2004 that sent Calgary's first and eighth-round picks in 2004 (19th and 247th overall) to New York in exchange for Toronto's first-round pick in 2004 (24th overall) and this pick.
New York previously received the 16th pick of this round (46th overall) as compensation for not signing 2001 first-round draft pick R. J. Umberger. New York acquired the rights to Umberger from Vancouver on March 9, 2004.
The Edmonton Oilers' compensatory second-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on March 3, 2004 that sent Petr Nedved and Jussi Markkanen to Edmonton in exchange for Steve Valiquette, Dwight Helminen and this pick.
Edmonton previously received this pick as compensation for the loss of Group III free agent Brian Leetch.
The Dallas Stars' compensatory second-round pick went to the Phoenix Coyotes as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Philadelphia's second-round pick and Edmonton's third-round pick both in 2004 (60th and 80th overall) to the New York Rangers in exchange for this pick.
New York previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Florida's own second-round pick in 2004 (37th overall) back to the Panthers in exchange for Florida's third-round pick in 2004 (73rd overall) and this pick.
Florida previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 8, 2004 that sent Valeri Bure to Dallas in exchange for Drew Bagnall and this pick.
Dallas previously received this pick as compensation for the loss of Group III free agent Derian Hatcher.
The Montreal Canadiens' second-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on March 2, 2004 that sent Alexei Kovalev to Montreal in exchange for Jozef Balej and this pick.
The San Jose Sharks' compensatory second-round pick went to the Dallas Stars as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent New Jersey's first-round pick and Dallas' fifth-round pick both in 2004 (22nd and 153rd overall) to San Jose in exchange for San Jose's first and compensatory third-round picks both in 2004 (28th and 91st overall) and this pick.
San Jose previously received this pick as compensation for the loss of Group III free agent Teemu Selanne.
The Calgary Flames' second-round pick went to the Florida Panthers as the result of a trade on March 8, 2004 that sent Marcus Nilson to Calgary in exchange for this pick.
The Dallas Stars' second-round pick went to the Chicago Blackhawks as the result of a trade on November 17, 2003 that sent Stephane Robidas and the New York Rangers' fourth-round pick in 2004 to Dallas in exchange for Jon Klemm and this pick.
The Dallas Stars' received the 26th pick of this round (56th overall) as compensation for not signing 2002 first-round draft pick Martin Vagner.
The New Jersey Devils' second-round pick went to the Edmonton Oilers as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Jason Chimera and Edmonton's third-round pick in 2004 (80th overall) to Phoenix in exchange for Buffalo's fourth-round pick in 2004 (112th overall) and this pick.
Phoenix previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 5, 2004 that sent Jan Hrdina to New Jersey in exchange for Michael Rupp and this pick.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' second-round pick went to the Columbus Blue Jackets as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Columbus' first-round pick in 2004 (4th overall) to Carolina in exchange for Carolina's first-round pick in 2004 (8th overall) and this pick.
Carolina previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 9, 2003 that sent Glen Wesley to Toronto in exchange for this pick.
The Philadelphia Flyers' second-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Dallas' compensatory second-round pick in 2004 (50th overall) to Phoenix in exchange for Edmonton's third-round pick in 2004 (80th overall) and this pick.
Phoenix previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 10, 2003 that sent Tony Amonte to Philadelphia in exchange for Guillaume Lefebvre, Atlanta's third-round pick in 2003 and this pick.
The Vancouver Canucks' second-round pick went to the Pittsburgh Penguins as the result of a trade August 25, 2003 that sent Johan Hedberg to Vancouver in exchange for this pick.
The Boston Bruins' second-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on March 3, 2004 that sent Sergei Gonchar to Boston in exchange for Shaone Morrisonn, Boston's first-round pick in 2004 and this pick.
The San Jose Sharks' second-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on June 26, 2004 that sent Boston's third and ninth-round picks and Tampa Bay's fourth-round pick all in 2004 (94th, 129th and 288th overall) to San Jose in exchange for this pick.
The Detroit Red Wings' second-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on June 20, 2003 that sent Jozef Stumpel and Boston's seventh-round pick in 2003 to Los Angeles in exchange for Philadelphia's fourth-round pick in 2003 and this pick.
Los Angeles previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on March 11, 2003 that sent Mathieu Schneider to Detroit in exchange for Sean Avery, Maxim Kuznetsov, Detroit's first-round pick in 2003 and this pick.