2000s- Erik Karlsson
At the 2008 NHL Draft, the Senators made a trade with the Nashville Predators to move up to the 15th overall pick. When trading up in a draft, it's important to draft a player that's worth trading up for.
The 2008 NHL Draft was filled with talent. From Steven Stamkos, to Drew Doughty, to Alex Pietrangelo and to Josh Bailey. The selection the Senators made with the 15th pick would turn out to not only be one of the biggest first-round draft steals in NHL history, but one of the best players in Senators history. That would be Erik Karlsson.
Although Karlsson is no longer on the Senators, his impact with the Senators goes down in Senators history. Karlsson recorded 518 points in 617 games as a defenseman. Karlsson would win the Norris Trophy twice as a Senator, and he won his first one in 2012 at 21 years old. In the 2015-16 season, Karlsson led the NHL in assists with 66, which as a defenseman, is an impressive feat.
Karlsson would turn into one of the best players in the NHL in the 2010s decade. Only Jordan Eberle and John Carlson were the only two other first-round draft picks after Karlsson that made one NHL All-Star Game, but Karlsson turned into the better selection for the Senators.