The 2008 NHL entry draft was the 46th draft for the National Hockey League. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on June 20–21, 2008. The Senators were originally awarded the 2005 NHL entry draft, but because of the lockout, that draft was scaled back significantly from its usual format of being open to the public and having many draft-eligible players in attendance. The actual 2005 drafting was held in Ottawa's Westin Hotel instead of the Corel Centre. As a result of 2005's abridged draft, Ottawa was compensated with the 2008 draft.
As of 2026, there are 15 active NHL players from this draft.
The 2008 NHL entry draft was the 46th draft for the National Hockey League. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on June 20–21, 2008. The Senators were originally awarded the 2005 NHL entry draft, but because of the lockout, that draft was scaled back significantly from its usual format of being open to the public and having many draft-eligible players in attendance. The actual 2005 drafting was held in Ottawa's Westin Hotel instead of the Corel Centre. As a result of 2005's abridged draft, Ottawa was compensated with the 2008 draft.
As of 2026, there are 15 active NHL players from this draft.
Draft weekend
The draft was part of a festival of events that Ottawa and the NHL presented at the Scotiabank Place arena. Before the first round and during the later rounds, the patio outside the main doors was the site of the 'Senators Fan Fest', with hockey games and music. Indoors, the NHL presented an exhibit of NHL trophies, including the Stanley Cup. A hockey card and memorabilia sale was also held.
Draft lottery
The 2008 draft lottery was held April 7. The Tampa Bay Lightning retained the first overall selection. There were no changes from the reverse order of finish of the 2007–08 NHL season.
Final rankings
Source: NHL Central Scouting Bureau staff.
Selections by round
Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise noted.
Round one
The New York Islanders' first-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent conditional second and third-round picks in either 2008 or 2009 to New York in exchange for this pick.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick in 2008 (9th overall) and Florida's second-round pick in 2008 (40th overall) to the New York Islanders in exchange for this pick.
New York previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick in 2008 (5th overall) to Toronto in exchange for conditional second and third-round picks in either 2008 or 2009
The Florida Panthers' first-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick 2008 (7th overall) to Nashville in exchange for Florida's second-round pick in 2008 (40th overall) and this pick.
Nashville previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 22, 2007 that sent Tomas Vokoun to Florida in exchange for Detroit's second-round pick in 2007, a conditional second-round pick in 2007 or 2008 and this pick.
The Edmonton Oilers' first-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick in 2008 (13th overall) and a third-round pick in 2009 to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick.
Los Angeles previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Calgary and Dallas' first-round picks in 2008 (17th and 28th overall) to Anaheim in exchange for this pick.
Anaheim previously acquired this pick as compensation for not matching an offer sheet from Edmonton to restricted free agent Dustin Penner on August 2, 2007.
The Buffalo Sabres' first-round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Edmonton's first-round pick in 2008 (12th overall) to Buffalo in exchange for a third-round pick in 2009 and this pick.
The Nashville Predators' first-round pick went to the Ottawa Senators as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick in 2008 (18th overall) and a third-round pick in 2009 to Nashville in exchange for this pick.
The Calgary Flames' first-round pick went to the Anaheim Ducks as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Edmonton's first-round pick in 2008 (12th overall) to Los Angeles in exchange for Dallas' first-round pick in 2008 (28th overall) and this pick.
Los Angeles previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Michael Cammalleri to Calgary in exchange for this pick.
The Ottawa Senators' first-round pick went to the Nashville Predators as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick in 2008 (15th overall) to Ottawa in exchange for a third-round pick in 2009 and this pick.
The Colorado Avalanche's first-round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent R. J. Umberger and a fourth-round pick in 2008 (118th overall) to Columbus in exchange for a third-round pick in 2008 (67th overall) and this pick.
Columbus previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 26, 2008 that sent Adam Foote to Colorado in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2009 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade). The condition – Colorado qualifies for the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs – was converted.
The New Jersey Devils' first-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first and second-round pick in 2008 (23rd and 54th overall) to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.
The Anaheim Ducks' first-round pick went to the Edmonton Oilers as the result of a trade on July 3, 2006 that sent Chris Pronger to Anaheim in exchange for Joffrey Lupul, Ladislav Smid, a first-round pick in 2007, a second-round pick in 2008 and this pick (being conditional at the time of the trade). The condition – Edmonton will receive a first-round pick in 2008 if Anaheim reaches the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals – was converted on May 22, 2007.
The Washington Capitals' first-round pick went to the Minnesota Wild as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick in 2008 (24th overall) and a third-round pick in 2009 to New Jersey in exchange for this pick.
New Jersey previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent a first-round pick in 2008 (21st overall) to Washington in exchange for a second-round pick in 2008 (54th overall) and this pick.
The Minnesota Wild's first-round pick went to the New Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Washington's first-round pick in 2008 (23rd overall) to Minnesota in exchange for a third-round pick in 2009 and this pick.
The Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick went to the Calgary Flames as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Alex Tanguay and a fifth-round pick in 2008 (138th overall) to Montreal in exchange for a second-round pick in 2009 and this pick.
The San Jose Sharks' first-round pick went to the Buffalo Sabres as the result of a trade on February 26, 2008 that sent Brian Campbell and a seventh-round pick in 2008 to San Jose in exchange for Steve Bernier and this pick.
The Philadelphia Flyers' first-round pick went to the Washington Capitals as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Steve Eminger and a third-round pick in 2008 (84th overall) to Philadelphia in exchange for this pick.
The Dallas Stars' first-round pick went to the Phoenix Coyotes as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent two second-round picks in 2008 (35th and 39th overall) to Anaheim in exchange for this pick.
Anaheim previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 20, 2008 that sent Edmonton's first-round pick in 2008 (12th overall) to Los Angeles in exchange for Calgary's first-round pick in 2008 (17th overall) and this pick.
Los Angeles previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on February 27, 2007 that sent Mattias Norstrom, Konstantin Pushkaryov, a third-round pick in 2007 and a fourth-round pick in 2007 to Dallas in exchange for Jaroslav Modry, Johan Fransson, a second-round pick in 2007, a third-round pick in 2007 and this pick.
The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the Atlanta Thrashers as the result of a trade on February 26, 2008 that sent Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis to Pittsburgh in exchange for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito and this pick.