The infamous Alexander Ovechkin draft saga. On June 21, 2003, the Florida Panthers made history by drafting the future hockey superstar not once, not twice, but four times in the same draft. Yes, you read that right.
The controversy began with the draft eligibility rules. Ovechkin was born on September 17, 1985, just two days shy of the cutoff date for the 2003 NHL entry draft. Panthers GM Rick Dudley argued that due to the leap year, Ovechkin would have been four days older if not for the extra day in February.
The NHL ultimately sided with the other teams, ruling Ovechkin ineligible for the 2003 draft. But the Panthers weren’t ready to let the matter go without a fight. In a bold move, they selected Ovechkin in the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th rounds, despite knowing the draft would likely be overturned.
The Panthers’ strategy was clear: they wanted to document their claim on Ovechkin multiple times, hoping to strengthen their case for an arbitration hearing and a potential overturned decision. Although it ultimately didn’t work out, the team’s persistence made for an unforgettable moment in NHL draft history. Ovechkin would go on to be drafted first overall by the Washington Capitals in 2004, becoming one of the greatest players in NHL history. The Panthers’ gamble may not have paid off, but it cemented their place in draft lore.
