1997 NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft in 1997, the annual talent contraction of the National Hockey League, was held on 21 June 1997 in the Civic Arena in the U.S. instead of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
There were 246 players pulled in nine rounds. In addition to Joe Thornton, by the Boston Bruins to their first choice right at the same time the first time for the Bruins at all in the first place, outdated, they could still pull in eighth position and Sergei Samsonov. The two have been for several years to the decisive players in Boston. With Roberto Luongo in fourth place for the first time a goalkeeper was rather than selected with the fifth pick. For the first time a Swiss was drawn in the first round, as the Edmonton Oilers Michel Riesen with their Pick attracted to 14th position. However, the successful Swiss made this draft was goalkeeper David Aebischer, who was, however, only selected in the sixth round by the Colorado Avalanche. With Gregor Baumgartner only the second Austrian was drafted. In the eighth round it was again the Boston Bruins, with Antti Laaksonen again attracted a player who was able to win in the NHL, but this is not accomplished in Boston.