On This Day in 2003: The Florida Panthers Tried (and Failed) to Draft Alexander Ovechkin—Four Times
The NHL Draft has seen its fair share of drama, surprise picks, and franchise-altering moments—but none quite like what happened on this day in 2003. It’s a tale involving one of the greatest players in hockey history, a determined general manager, and a protest that would be etched into hockey lore forever.
Yes, on this day in 2003, the Florida Panthers tried to draft Alexander Ovechkin—not once, not twice, but four separate times. And every time, they were denied.
A Technicality That Changed Everything
Alexander Ovechkin, now a legendary NHL figure, was born on September 17, 1985. The problem? That was two days past the eligibility cutoff for the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, which required players to be born on or before September 15, 1985, in order to be included in that year’s class. As a result, Ovechkin was officially ineligible for the 2003 draft and slated for the 2004 draft, where he would eventually go first overall to the Washington Capitals.
But back in 2003, one general manager wasn’t ready to accept that fate so easily.
Florida Panthers GM Rick Dudley had a bold idea—challenge the NHL’s age eligibility rule based on the existence of leap years. According to Dudley and the Panthers’ front office, if not for leap years that added extra days over the course of Ovechkin’s life, he would technically be “older” in days lived, and thus eligible for the draft.
Their argument was unorthodox, to say the least: if you counted the leap year days that had occurred since Ovechkin’s birth, he was effectively four days older than his official birth date suggested—putting him within the eligibility window.
The Draft Floor Erupts
When the Panthers announced Alexander Ovechkin’s name in the fourth round of the 2003 draft, chaos ensued.
Confusion turned quickly to protest as league officials, rival GMs, and scouts swarmed the draft floor. The NHL, after deliberation, denied the selection, reaffirming that Ovechkin was ineligible for the 2003 draft under the rules as written—regardless of any leap year logic. The league’s stance was firm: birth date, not “days lived,” determined draft eligibility.
But Rick Dudley and the Panthers weren’t finished. In what would become one of the most bizarre and boldest moves in NHL draft history, Florida selected Ovechkin again in the fifth round. Denied again. Then again in the sixth round. Again denied. Then finally, one more time in the seventh round.
Four times, the Panthers called out the name “Alexander Ovechkin.” Four times, they were overruled.
Making a Statement
Why would a team knowingly try to draft a player they knew was ineligible? The answer lies in strategy, symbolism, and perhaps even a bit of desperation.
The Panthers were adamant about making a public record of their desire to draft Ovechkin. By formally selecting him four times, they hoped to build a case for arbitration, should the NHL be pressured into revisiting its eligibility standards. Though such a reversal never came, the Panthers wanted it documented in league history: they tried.
Despite being denied each time, Florida continued on with the draft, selecting other eligible players in the remaining rounds. But the message had been sent loud and clear—they believed Ovechkin belonged to the 2003 class, and they were willing to fight for him.
What Could Have Been
In hindsight, the Panthers’ actions become all the more intriguing given Ovechkin’s iconic career. Had the NHL agreed with Dudley’s argument, and had the Panthers successfully drafted him in any