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Predators: Retrospective on the 1998 draft

Written by: Brian Roe on 06/19/2003

When that opportunity became a reality, Nashville made a draft-day trade that sent the third overall pick and a second round pick to the San Jose Sharks for the second overall pick in the draft.  The rest became history when OHL superstar David Legwand was selected as the first ever Nashville Predators entry draft choice. Defensemen Brad Stuart was selected number three after all, by the Sharks.

More foundational pieces were to come.  In the third round, the Predators selected a Russian winger by the name of Denis Arkhipov.  Arkhipov, now a center for the Predators, scored 20 goals and 42 points in the 2001-2002 season.  Even though Arkhipov dropped in points total last season, he is still considered a top young player for the Predators and will factor in the team’s future.

The next two picks for the Predators came from the college ranks when left winger Greg Koch from University of Michigan was chosen in the late third round and defenseman Kent Sauer from Northern Iowa came in the fourth round.  Neither Koch nor Sauer panned out for the Predators and both have been released from the organization. 

In the fifth round, Nashville went back to the blueline in selecting defenseman Martin Beauchesne.  The 138^th overall selection is also no longer on in the Nashville system. 

In the sixth and eighth rounds, the Predators selected wingers Craig Brunel from Prince Albert of the WHL and Martin Bartek from the QMJHL.  Neither player is with the organization.

Finally, in what might be Poile’s best round in the draft, the Predators selected a defenseman from Finland with the 230^th overall pick.  That defenseman, who has now played in over 200 games with Nashville, was Karlis Skrastins. 

The 1998 draft has already been deemed a success by many in and out of the organization.  And with the expected development of Arkhipov and the maturing Legwand getting better every year, the first ever Nashville draft in Buffalo may go down as one of the best for the Predators.  

1998 NHL Entry Draft

1^st round, 2^nd overall – David Legwand,C

3^rd round, 60^th overall – Denis Arkhipov, LW

3^rd round, 85^th overall – Greg Koch, LW

4^th round, 88^th overall – Kent Sauer, D

5^th round, 138^th overall – Martin Beauchesne, D

6^th round, 147^th overall – Craig Brunel, RW

8^th round, 202^nd overall – Martin Bartek, RW

9^th round, 230^th overall – Karlis Skrastins, D

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