The 2014 NHL draft featured the relatively rare occurrence of a defenseman going first overall. Do the draft over, though, and there's no doubt Leon Draisaitl takes the No. 1 spot.

USA Today

A defenseman was picked first overall just once in the 17 NHL drafts from 1997 through 2013, when St. Louis selected Erik Johnson No. 1 in 2006. Aaron Ekblad brought the blueline back into focus when Florida took him at the top of the 2014 draft, ahead of Sam Reinhart and Leon Draisaitl.

Here’s a look at the original top 10 draft picks in 2014, followed by a redo of the top 10 with the benefit of hockey hindsight.

2014 NHL draft: The original top 10

1. Aaron Ekblad, Florida

2. Sam Reinhart, Buffalo

3. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton

4. Sam Bennett, Calgary

5. Michael Dal Colle, NY Islanders

6. Jake Virtanen, Vancouver

7. Haydn Fleury, Carolina

8. William Nylander, Toronto

9. Nikolaj Ehlers, Winnipeg

10. Nick Ritchie, Anaheim

2014 NHL draft: The top 10 do-over (with original draft position in parentheses)

1. Leon Draisaitl (3rd, Edmonton)

2. David Pastrnak (25th, Boston)

3. Brayden Point (79th, Tampa Bay)

4. Aaron Ekblad (1st, Florida)

5. Dylan Larkin (15th, Detroit)

6. William Nylander (8th, Toronto)

7. Nikolaj Ehlers (9th, Winnipeg)

8. Viktor Arvidsson (112th, Nashville)

9. Sam Reinhart (2nd, Buffalo)

10. Tony DeAngelo (19th, Tampa Bay)

Honorable mentions: Kevin Fiala (11th, Nashville); Jakub Vrana (13th, Washington); Nick Schmaltz (20th, Chicago); Kevin Labanc (171st, San Jose); Brandon Montour (55th, Anaheim).

Notable: