Eric Staal At Top Of 2003 Draft Class  RALEIGH NC - NOVEMBER 29:
Eric Staal #12 of the Carolina Hurricanes scores a second period
goal against the Dallas Stars at the RBC Center on November 29
2010 in Raleigh North Carolina. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty
Images)  Hockey experts have been saying the same thing for
awhile now.  The first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft might
have been the best group of picks in NHL history.  From the top
of that first round, to the bottom, draftees are not only
playing in the league, they are among the best players in the
NHL.   Several now serve as team captains, like Mike Richards,
Dion Phaneuf, Dustin Brown, Eric Staal, and Ryan Getzlaf. 
Others are stars in their own right.  That group includes Zach
Parise, Jeff Carter, Nathan Horton, Thomas Vanek, Milan
Michalek, and Ryan Kesler.  The list goes on and on.    Out of
all 30 athletes selected in that round, only one of them never
played an NHL game. Hugh Jessiman, selected 12th overall by the
New York Rangers has that disti