The Thrashers originally picked goaltender Kari Lehtonen second overall in the first round of the 2002 draft lottery. Lehtonen was a solid goalie, when healthy, for the Thrashers and Dallas Stars for nearly a decade and a half long career in the league in the NHL in net.
Lehtonen slides down two spots to be selected by the Philadelphia Flyers fourth overall in the top five of this reimagining of the 2002 draft lottery.
The Penguins originally picked defenseman Ryan Whitney fifth overall in the first round of the 2002 draft lottery. Whitney played over 200 career regular season games with the Pens, and made the postseason multiple times in Pittsburgh.
Instead of picking Whitney in the top five in the 2002 draft lottery in the first round, the Penguins pick another defenseman in Bouwmeester at No. 5 overall in this reimagining of the 2002 class, hypothetically.
With the sixth overall selection in the 2002 draft lottery, the Nashville Predators originally picked left winger Scottie Upshall in the first round. Upshall only played a few seasons in Nashville, and he never scored double-digit goals while playing in the Music City in the early to mid-2000s decade.
Alexander Semin was picked originally by the Washington Capitals 13th overall in the first round of the 2002 draft. Semin was one of only two wingers from this draft class in 2002 who scored over 500 career total points in the regular season and over 200 goals.
The Predators fans should be happy with the haul Nashville gets at left wing with Semin going sixth overall in this redrafting of the 2002 draft lottery in the first round in the top 10.