The NHL draft 1997 featured Joe Thornton going #1 and the top four selections all going on to have illustrious careers. Marion Hossa was the steal of the 1997 NHL entry draft going #12 overall to the Ottawa Senators as he went on to have a Hall of Fame career.
Other notable 1997 draft picks outside of the first round were the Buffalo Sabres selecting Maxim Afinogenov #69 overall and Brian Campbell #156 overall.
NHL Draft 1997 Round 1 Results
| # | Player | Nationality | NHL Team | College/Junior/Club Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joe Thornton (C) | Canada | Boston Bruins | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL) |
| 2 | Patrick Marleau (C) | Canada | San Jose Sharks | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) |
| 3 | Olli Jokinen (C) | Finland | Los Angeles Kings | HIFK (Finland) |
| 4 | Roberto Luongo (G) | Canada | New York Islanders (from Toronto) | Val-d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL) |
| 5 | Eric Brewer (D) | Canada | New York Islanders | Prince George Cougars (WHL) |
| 6 | Daniel Tkaczuk (C) | Canada | Calgary Flames | Barrie Colts (OHL) |
| 7 | Paul Mara (D) | United States | Tampa Bay Lightning | Sudbury Wolves (OHL) |
| 8 | Sergei Samsonov (LW) | Russia | Boston Bruins (from Carolina) | Detroit Vipers (IHL) |
| 9 | Nick Boynton (D) | Canada | Washington Capitals | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 10 | Brad Ference (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 11 | Jason Ward (RW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Erie Otters (OHL) |
| 12 | Marian Hossa (RW) | Slovakia | Ottawa Senators | Dukla Trencin (Slovakia) |
| 13 | Daniel Cleary (LW) | Canada | Chicago Blackhawks | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 14 | Michel Riesen (RW) | Switzerland | Edmonton Oilers | EHC Biel (Switzerland) |
| 15 | Matt Zultek (LW) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings (from St. Louis via Edmonton and St. Louis) | Ottawa 67's (OHL) |
| 16 | Ty Jones (LW) | United States | Chicago Blackhawks (from Phoenix) | Spokane Chiefs (WHL) |
| 17 | Robert Dome (RW) | Slovakia | Pittsburgh Penguins | Las Vegas Thunder (IHL) |
| 18 | Michael Holmqvist (C) | Sweden | Mighty Ducks of Anaheim | Djurgardens IF (Sweden) |
| 19 | Stefan Cherneski (RW) | Canada | New York Rangers | Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) |
| 20 | Mike Brown (LW) | Canada | Florida Panthers | Red Deer Rebels (WHL) |
| 21 | Mika Noronen (G) | Finland | Buffalo Sabres | Tappara (Finland) |
| 22 | Nikos Tselios (D) | United States | Carolina Hurricanes (from Detroit) | Belleville Bulls (OHL) |
| 23 | Scott Hannan (D) | Canada | San Jose Sharks (from Philadelphia via Carolina) | Kelowna Rockets (WHL) |
| 24 | Jean-Francois Damphousse (G) | Canada | New Jersey Devils | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) |
| 25 | Brenden Morrow (LW) | Canada | Dallas Stars | Portland Winter Hawks (WHL) |
| 26 | Kevin Grimes (D) | Canada | Colorado Avalanche | Kingston Frontenacs (OHL) |