The 1993 NHL Entry Draft is etched in Ottawa Senators history for all the wrong reasons. Leading up to the draft, Alexandre Daigle was the consensus, can't-miss prospect, prompting the Senators to draft him first overall and sign him to a historic rookie contract. But when Daigle famously said that nobody remembers number two, he had no idea he’d be paving the way for one of the greatest draft "what ifs" in hockey history.
If Ottawa had looked past the immense hype and selected future Hall of Famers Chris Pronger or Paul Kariya instead, the entire trajectory of the franchise could have been different.
What if the Senators drafted Chris Pronger?
Selecting Chris Pronger at number one would have given the expansion Senators an immediate foundational pillar on the blue line. While Daigle struggled under the weight of first-overall expectations, Pronger adapted quickly as the number two overall pick and developed into a dominant, nasty, minute-eating defenseman.
Putting a young Pronger on an Ottawa roster that eventually added Alexei Yashin, Daniel Alfredsson, and Wade Redden. Would have made the Senators an absolute nightmare to play against in the late 1990s and into the early 2000s. Especially against those Toronto Maple Leafs teams that beat them time and time again. They likely would have been a true Eastern Conference powerhouse; with a defense anchored by Pronger, likely push the Senators into deep playoff runs much earlier. His mean streak and elite defensive play were exactly what those highly skilled but occasionally soft early Ottawa teams lacked when the playoffs rolled around.
What if the Senators went with Paul Kariya?
Drafting Paul Kariya at number one would have given the Senators one of the most dynamic, electric wingers of the 1990s, exactly what Daigle was supposed to be. Kariya brought game-breaking speed and elite playmaking that would have paired beautifully with the aforementioned Yashin down the middle.
A top line featuring Kariya and Yashin in their primes would have been one of the most potent offensive duos in the NHL, instantly putting Ottawa on the map as a must-watch team. By the time Alfredsson arrived, the Senators would have had one of the best top lines in the league. Giving them a devastating transition game that could have easily bypassed the defensive-minded traps of the era.
Ultimately, passing on both future legends for Daigle remains a painful memory for the fan base. While Daigle’s career never reached the heights anyone expected and he is thought to be one of the biggest draft busts in hockey history, However, drafting Pronger or Kariya could have fast-tracked the Senators' rebuild by half a decade and potentially brought a Stanley Cup to Ottawa during the franchise's early years.
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