NHL Draft

Questions:

1) The Chicago Blackhawks will select first in this year’s NHL Draft. Who is the only current player to have been drafted first overall by the team?

2) The 1979 NHL Draft was the first to occur following the merger of the NHL and the WHA. Which player was drafted first overall that year?

3) Which player made Seattle Kraken history by being the first player ever drafted by the new franchise?

4) Prior to 1987, no American city had hosted the NHL Draft — which was the first U.S. city to do so?

5) The 2004 NHL Draft featured two Russian superstars drafted first and second overall. Alex Ovechkin was drafted first — who was second?

6) Which franchise has the most first overall drafts in NHL history?

7) Which player was picked first overall in 2012 by the Edmonton Oilers?

8) Which Hall of Fame Baseball pitcher was drafted by an NHL franchise?

9) Swedish players have long been fixtures on NHL team rosters. Which Swedish player was the first to be drafted as the #1 overall pick?

10) Nashville, Tennessee, will host the 2023 NHL Draft after acting as host 20 years earlier. Who was selected first overall that year (2003)?

Answers:

Canadiens (six times as of 2023)

6)

3) Matty Beniers (2nd overall in 2021)

BY ROBERTO JOZEF

Only a few names resonate with consistency and grit, but at the age of 35, Paul Goldschmidt has some doubters questioning whether his best days are behind him. Currently, the St. Louis Cardinals hold a 25-35 won-lost record with a 14-18 record on the road. Despite the less-than-ideal start to the season, the Cardinals are third in total home runs with 80 on the year — 10 of those coming from Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt was traded to the Cardinals back in 2019 after a successful stint with the Arizona Diamondbacks, helping kickstart his career. Since his arrival in St. Louis, he’s been a vital part of the team by adding more all-star and Silver Slugger awards to his resume. At this point in his career, Goldschmidt is well known for his power at the plate and defensive awareness, establishing himself as one of the most consistent offensive and defensive threats in Major League Baseball.

While the team struggles to establish a winning record, it doesn’t seem to have bothered the first baseman. Goldschmidt currently ranks 18th in batting average. His onbase percentage ranks ninth and he’s 19th in the league in slugging (.615 in his last 10 games).

Putting the team on his back for much of the year, Goldschmidt has single-handedly made strong plays throughout the season, scoring in 28 games this year (48.3%), including multiple runs in nine games. Goldschmidt has had at least one RBI in 27.6% of his games this season (16 of 58), and accounts for three or more of his team’s runs in one game. Currently sitting at the bottom of the NL Central (fifth), Goldschmidt and the Cardinals will look to get back to their winning ways as they take on the Chicago Cubs. Catch all the action Sunday, June 25, live on ESPN.

Full name: Paul Edward Goldschmidt

Birth date: Sept. 10, 1987 Birthplace: Wilmington, Delaware

Height/weight: 6-2/220

Teams: Arizona Diamondbacks (2011-2018), St. Louis Cardinals (2019-present)

Honors and achievements:

NL MVP (2022), seven-time All-Star (2013-2018, 2022), four-time Gold Glove Award (2013, 2015, 2017, 2021) and five-time Slugger Award (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022)