# 1971 NHL amateur draft

The 1971 NHL amateur draft was the ninth NHL entry draft. It was held on June 10, 1971, at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Quebec.
The last active player in the NHL from this draft class was Larry Robinson, who retired after the 1991–92 season.

## Selections by round

Below are listed the selections in the 1971 NHL amateur draft.
| = NHL All-Star · | = NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star team · | = Hall of Famers |

### Round one

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 1 | Guy Lafleur (C) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from California)$^1$ | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 2 | Marcel Dionne (C) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 3 | Jocelyn Guevremont (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 4 | Gene Carr (C) | Canada | St. Louis Blues (from Pittsburgh)$^2$ | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 5 | Rick Martin (LW) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 6 | Ron Jones (D) | Canada | Boston Bruins (from Los Angeles)$^3$ | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 7 | Chuck Arnason (RW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from Minnesota)$^4$ | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 8 | Larry Wright (C) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 9 | Pierre Plante (RW) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers (from Toronto)$^5$ | Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL) |
| 10 | Steve Vickers (LW) | Canada | New York Rangers (from St. Louis)$^6$ | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 11 | Murray Wilson (LW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 12 | Dan Spring (C) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 13 | Steve Durbano (D) | Canada | New York Rangers | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 14 | Terry O'Reilly (RW) | Canada | Boston Bruins | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |

#### Notes

* The California Golden Seals' first-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on May 22, 1970 that sent Ernie Hicke and Montreal's 1970 first-round pick (Chris Oddleifson) to California in exchange for Francois Lacombe, cash and this pick.
* The Pittsburgh Penguins' first-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on June 6, 1969 that sent Craig Cameron, Ron Schock and St. Louis' second-round pick in 1972 to Pittsburgh in exchange for Lou Angotti and this pick.
* The Los Angeles Kings' first-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on May 14, 1969 that sent Ross Lonsberry and Eddie Shack to Los Angeles in exchange for Los Angeles' first round pick in 1973, Ken Turlik and this pick.
* The Minnesota North Stars' first-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 6, 1967 that sent Minnesota's first-round pick in 1971 to Montreal in exchange for Andre Boudrias, Bob Charlebois and Bernard Cote.
* The Toronto Maple Leafs' first-round pick went to the Philadelphia Flyers as the result of a trade on January 31, 1971 that sent Bernie Parent and Philadelphia's second-round pick in 1971 to Toronto in exchange for Bruce Gamble, Mike Walton and this pick.
* The St. Louis Blues' first-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on May 25, 1971 that sent Peter McDuffe to St. Louis in exchange for this pick.

### Round two

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 15 | Ken Baird (D) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 16 | Henry Boucha (C) | United States | Detroit Red Wings | US National Development Team |
| 17 | Bobby Lalonde (C) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 18 | Brian McKenzie (LW) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | St Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 19 | Craig Ramsay (LW) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 20 | Larry Robinson (D) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from Los Angeles)$^1$ | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 21 | Rod Norrish (LW) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 22 | Rick Kehoe (RW) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs (from Philadelphia)$^2$ | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
| 23 | Dave Fortier (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | St Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 24 | Michel DeGuise (G) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from St. Louis)$^3$ | Sorel Eperviers (QMJHL) |
| 25 | Terry French (C) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 26 | Dave Kryskow (LW) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 27 | Tom Williams (LW) | Canada | New York Rangers | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
| 28 | Curt Ridley (G) | Canada | Boston Bruins | Portage Terriers (MJHL) |
* The Los Angeles Kings' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on January 23, 1970 that sent Dick Duff to Los Angeles in exchange for Dennis Hextall and this pick.
* The Philadelphia Flyers' second-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on January 31, 1971 that sent Toronto's first-round pick in 1971 (Pierre Plante), Bruce Gamble and Mike Walton to Philadelphia in exchange for Bernie Parent and this pick.
* The St. Louis Blues' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on January 28, 1971 that sent Fran Huck to St. Louis in exchange for this pick.

### Round three

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 29 | Rich LeDuc (C) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 30 | Ralph Hopiavuori (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 31 | Jim Cahoon (C) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from Vancouver)$^1$ | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 32 | Joe Noris (D) | United States | Pittsburgh Penguins | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 33 | Bill Hajt (D) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Saskatoon Blades (WCHL) |
| 34 | Vic Venasky (C) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 35 | Ron Wilson (D) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 36 | Glen Irwin (D) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Estevan Bruins (WCHL) |
| 37 | Gavin Kirk (C) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 38 | John Garrett (G) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 39 | Richard Lemieux (C) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks (from Montreal)$^2$ | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 40 | Bob Peppler (LW) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | St Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 41 | Terry West (C) | Canada | New York Rangers | London Knights (OHA) |
| 42 | Dave Bonter (C) | Canada | Boston Bruins | Estevan Bruins (WCHL) |
* The Vancouver Canucks' third-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on May 25, 1971 that sent Vancouver's fourth-round pick in 1971, cash and this pick to Montreal in exchange for Gregg Boddy and Montreal's third-round pick in 1971.
* The Montreal Canadiens' third-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on May 25, 1971 that sent Vancouver's third-round pick (Jim Cahoon) and fourth-round pick in 1971 along with cash to Montreal in exchange for Gregg Boddy and this pick.

### Round four

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 43 | Hartland Monahan (RW) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 44 | George Hulme (G) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | St Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 45 | Ed Sidebottom (D) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens (from Vancouver)$^1$ | Estevan Bruins (WCHL) |
| 46 | Gerry Methe (LW) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 47 | Bob Richer (C) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Trois-Rivières Draveurs (QMJHL) |
| 48 | Neil Komadoski (D) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) |
| 49 | Mike Legge (LW) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) |
| 50 | Ted Scharf (D) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Kitchener Rangers (OHA) |
| 51 | Rick Cunningham (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 52 | Derek Harker (D) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |
| 53 | Greg Hubick (D) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) |
| 54 | Clyde Simon (RW) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | St Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 55 | Jerry Butler (RW) | Canada | New York Rangers | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
| 56 | Dave Hynes (LW) | United States | Boston Bruins | Harvard University (ECAC) |
* The Vancouver Canucks' fourth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on May 25, 1971 that sent Vancouver's third-round pick (Jim Cahoon), cash and this pick to Montreal in exchange for Gregg Boddy and Montreal's third-round pick in 1971 (Richard Lemieux).

### Round five

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 57 | Ray Belanger (G) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL) |
| 58 | Earl Anderson (RW) | United States | Detroit Red Wings | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 59 | Mike McNiven (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Halifax Jr. Canadians (NSJHL) |
| 60 | Dave Murphy (G) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | University of North Dakota (WCHA) |
| 61 | Steve Warr (D) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 62 | Gary Crosby (C) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |
| 63 | Brian McBratney (D) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | St Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |
| 64 | Don McCulloch (D) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Niagara Falls Flyers (OHA) |
| 65 | Bob Sykes (LW) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Sudbury Wolves (NOHA) |
| 66 | Wayne Gibbs (D) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 67 | Mike Busniuk (D) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | University of Denver (WCHA) |
| 68 | Dean Blais (LW) | United States | Chicago Black Hawks | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 69 | Fraser Robertson (D) | Canada | New York Rangers | Lethbridge Sugar Kings (AJHL) |
| 70 | Bert Scott (C) | Canada | Boston Bruins | Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL) |

### Round six

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 71 | Gerry Egers (D) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Sudbury Wolves (NOHA) |
| 72 | Charlie Shaw (D) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Toronto Marlboros (OHA) |
| 73 | Tim Steeves (D) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | Charlottetown Royals (NBSHL) |
| 74 | Ian Williams (RW) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | University of Notre Dame (NCAA) |
| 75 | Pierre Duguay (C) | Canada | Buffalo Sabres | Quebec Remparts (QMJHL) |
| 76 | Camille LaPierre (C) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 77 | Alan Globensky (D) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 78 | Yvon Bilodeau (D) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Estevan Bruins (WCHL) |
| 79 | Mike Ruest (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 80 | Bernie Doan (D) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Calgary Centennials (WCHL) |
| 81 | Ross Butler (LW) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) |
| 82 | Jim Johnston (C) | Canada | Chicago Black Hawks | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 83 | Wayne Wood (G) | Canada | New York Rangers | Montreal Junior Canadiens (OHA) |
| 84 | Bob McMahon (D) | Canada | Boston Bruins | St Catharines Black Hawks (OHA) |

### Round seven

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 85 | Al Simmons (D) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Winnipeg Jets (WCHL) |
| 86 | Jim Nahrgang (D) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |
| 87 | Bill Green (D) | United States | Vancouver Canucks | University of Notre Dame (NCAA) |
| 88 | Doug Elliott (D) | Canada | Pittsburgh Penguins | Harvard University (ECAC) |
| 89 | Peter Harasym (LW) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings (from Buffalo)$^1$ | Clarkson University (ECAC) |
| 90 | Norm Dube (LW) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |
| 91 | Bruce Abbey (D) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Peterborough Petes (OHA) |
| 92 | Bobby Gerrard (RW) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 93 | Dale Smedsmo (LW) | United States | Toronto Maple Leafs | Bemidji State University (NAIA) |
| 94 | Dave Smith (D) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
| 95 | Peter Sullivan (C) | Canada | Montreal Canadiens | Oshawa Generals (OHA) |
| 96 | Doug Keeler (C) | Canada | New York Rangers (from Chicago)$^2$ | Ottawa 67's (OHA) |
| 97 | Jean-Denis Royal (D) | Canada | New York Rangers | Saint-Jérôme Alouettes (QMJHL) |
| 98 | Steve Johnson (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston)$^3$ | Verdun Maple Leafs (QMJHL) |
* The Buffalo Sabres' seventh-round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on November 24, 1970 that sent Dick Duff and Eddie Shack to Buffalo in exchange for Buffalo's eight-round pick in 1971, Mike McMahon Jr. and this pick.
* The Chicago Blackhawks' seventh-round pick went to the New York Rangers as the result of a trade on June 10, 1971 that sent cash to Chicago in exchange for this pick.
* The Boston Bruins' seventh-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on June 10, 1971 that sent cash to Boston in exchange for this pick.

### Round eight

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 99 | Angus Beck (C) | Canada | California Golden Seals | Charlottetown Royals (NBSHL) |
| 100 | Bob Boyd (D) | Canada | Detroit Red Wings | Michigan State University (WCHA) |
| 101 | Norm Cherrey (RW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks | University of Wisconsin (WCHA) |
| 102 | Bob Murphy (LW) | Canada | Vancouver Canucks (from Pittsburgh)$^1$ | Cornwall Royals (QMJHL) |
| 103 | Lorne Stamler (LW) | Canada | Los Angeles Kings (from Buffalo)$^2$ | Michigan Technological University (WCHA) |
| 104 | Rod Lyons (LW) | Canada | California Golden Seals (from Los Angeles)$^3$ | Halifax Colonels (NSJHL) |
| 105 | Russ Friesen (C) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |
| 106 | Jerome Mrazek (G) | Canada | Philadelphia Flyers | University of Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) |
| 107 | Bob Burns (D) | Canada | Toronto Maple Leafs | Royal Military College (CIAU) |
| 108 | Jim Collins (LW) | Canada | St. Louis Blues | Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL) |
| 109 | Gene Sobchuk (LW) | Canada | New York Rangers | Regina Pats (WCHL) |
* The Pittsburgh Penguins' eighth-round pick went to the Vancouver Canucks as the result of a trade on June 10, 1970 that sent this pick in exchange for Vancouver's promised to not take certain players in the expansion draft.
* The Buffalo Sabres' eighth-round pick went to the Los Angeles Kings as the result of a trade on November 24, 1970 that sent Dick Duff and Eddie Shack to Buffalo in exchange for Buffalo's seventh-round pick in 1971 (Pete Harasym), Mike McMahon Jr. and this pick.
* The Los Angeles Kings' eighth-round pick went to the California Golden Seals as the result of a trade on February 5, 1971 that sent Harry Howell to Los Angeles in exchange for cash and this pick.

### Round nine

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 110 | Jim Ivison (D) | Canada | New York Rangers | Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL) |

### Round ten

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 111 | Andre Peloffy (C) | Canada | New York Rangers | Rosemont National (QMJHL) |

### Round eleven

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 112 | Elston Evoy (C) | Canada | New York Rangers | Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (NOHA) |

### Round twelve

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 113 | Mike Antonovich (C) | United States | Minnesota North Stars | University of Minnesota (WCHA) |
| 114 | Gerry Lecomte (D) | Canada | New York Rangers | Sherbrooke Castors (QMJHL) |

### Round thirteen

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 115 | Wayne Forsey (LW) | Canada | New York Rangers | Swift Current Broncos (WCHL) |

### Round fourteen

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 116 | Bill Forrest (D) | Canada | New York Rangers | Hamilton Red Wings (OHA) |

### Round fifteen

| # | Player | Nationality | NHL team | College/junior/club team |
| 117 | Richard Coutu (G) | Canada | Minnesota North Stars | Rosemont National (QMJHL) |
| = NHL All-Star · | = NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star team · | = Hall of Famers |

## Draftees based on nationality

| Rank | Country | Number |
| 1 | Canada | 109 |
| 2 | United States | 8 |