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1991 NHL Expansion Draft

The 1991 NHL expansion draft was unusual in that it involved both an expansion team (the San Jose Sharks) and an established NHL team (the Minnesota North Stars). The North Stars negotiated their way into the draft because their owner, George Gund, was making noise about moving the North Stars to San Jose. To placate him, the NHL granted Gund an expansion franchise in San Jose. Gund was allowed to take a number of North Star players with him to seed the franchise. The North Stars would then restock their team via the same expansion draft that San Jose participated in.

The Minnesota North Stars were first allowed to protect 14 skaters and two goaltenders. The San Jose Sharks then selected 14 skaters and two goaltenders from the North Stars reserve player list. Then the remaining players on the North Stars reserve list were divided among the two teams by alternating picks until San Jose had selected 30 players in total.

Next, each NHL team was allowed to protect 16 skaters and two goaltenders, and the Sharks and North Stars alternated selecting players from the NHL reserve lists. Both the Sharks and the North Stars selected 10 players, and once a NHL team lost a player their reserve list was protected against more selections.

Since the North Stars were the beneficiary of the dissolution of the Cleveland Barons in 1978 - Cleveland players were merged into Minnesota - and since Cleveland was the original California Seals franchise, many people consider this draft to be the"un-merger" of the two franchises, giving the San Jose Sharks a claim to the heritage of the original Seals.

Round 1           NHL Totals after draft  
Round Num. Drafted By Player Pos Drafted From GP G A Pts PIM Last Season
1 San Jose Jeff Hackett G New York Islanders [NHL] 457 0 8 8 56 2003-04
2 Minnesota Rob Ramage D Toronto Maple Leafs [NHL] 129 9 20 29 231 1993-94
3 San Jose Jayson More D Montreal Canadiens [NHL] 400 18 54 72 686 1998-99
4 Minnesota Dave Babych D Hartford Whalers [NHL] 456 25 137 162 324 1998-99
5 San Jose Rick Lessard D Calgary Flames [NHL] 8 0 2 2 16 1991-92
6 Minnesota Allen Pedersen D Boston Bruins [NHL] 95 1 5 6 79 1993-94
7 San Jose Bob McGill D Chicago Blackhawks [NHL] 126 4 4 8 171 1993-94
8 Minnesota Charlie Huddy D Edmonton Oilers [NHL] 323 18 67 85 285 1996-97
9 San Jose Tim Kerr F Philadelphia Flyers [NHL] 54 7 17 24 19 1992-93
10 Minnesota Kelly Kisio C New York Rangers [NHL] 189 51 105 156 178 1994-95
11 San Jose Jeff Madill R New Jersey Devils [NHL]
12 Minnesota Randy Gilhen L Pittsburgh Penguins [NHL] 243 27 33 60 156 1995-96
13 San Jose David Bruce L St. Louis Blues [NHL] 79 24 19 43 79 1993-94
14 Minnesota Rob Murray C Washington Capitals [NHL] 49 2 5 7 34 1998-99
15 San Jose Greg Paslawski R Buffalo Sabres [NHL] 168 48 41 89 32 1993-94
16 Minnesota Tyler Larter C Winnipeg Jets [NHL]
17 San Jose Bengt Gustafsson F Detroit Red Wings [NHL]
18 Minnesota Jim Thomson R Los Angeles Kings [NHL] 75 1 3 4 264 1993-94
19 San Jose Craig Coxe C Vancouver Canucks [NHL] 10 2 0 2 19 1991-92
20 Minnesota Guy Lafleur R Quebec Nordiques [NHL]

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