The 1990 NHL Draft saw Owen Nolan go #1 to Quebec, but it is best remembered for Jaromir Jagr falling to #5 due to fears he wouldn't leave Czechoslovakia. The first round was incredibly top-heavy, featuring legends like goaltender Martin Brodeur (#20), Keith Tkachuk (#19), and Doug Weight (#34). Derian Hatcher (#8) and Petr Nedved (#2) also became elite fixtures. Late-round gems included Peter Bondra (156th) and Sergei Zubov (85th). Overall, the 1990 class was defined by legendary longevity, producing two of the greatest European players in history and the winningest goaltender in the game's history.
Career earnings of players picked in the first round of the 1990 NHL entry draft:
| Player | Pos. | Pick # | Drafted by | Career Earnings |
Rank | Career Earnings In today's $ |
Rank |
| Owen Nolan | RW | 1 | Quebec Nordiques | $43,581,484 | 372 | $79,314,168 | 208 |
| Petr Nedved | C | 2 | Vancouver Canucks | $33,871,477 | 533 | $63,098,255 | 327 |
| Keith Primeau | C | 3 | Detroit Red Wings | $39,592,857 | 431 | $72,008,891 | 257 |
| Mike Ricci | C | 4 | Philadelphia Flyers | $21,033,349 | 836 | $39,513,026 | 648 |
| Jaromir Jagr | RW | 5 | Pittsburgh Penguins | $140,037,488 | 6 | $239,687,617 | 2 |
| Scott Scissons | C | 6 | New York Islanders | $225,000 | 5336 | $516,801 | 5400 |
| Darryl Sydor | D | 7 | Los Angeles Kings | $31,738,143 | 573 | $56,713,057 | 389 |
| Derian Hatcher | D | 8 | Minnesota North Stars | $53,432,145 | 254 | $93,349,009 | 139 |
| John Slaney | D | 9 | Washington Capitals | $2,386,429 | 2777 | $4,886,518 | 2484 |
| Drake Berehowsky | D | 10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | $7,151,154 | 1646 | $13,776,429 | 1431 |
| Trevor Kidd | G | 11 | Calgary Flames | $12,446,317 | 1193 | $24,016,256 | 997 |
| Turner Stevenson | RW | 12 | Montreal Canadiens | $8,942,648 | 1456 | $16,616,083 | 1276 |
| Brad May | LW | 14 | Buffalo Sabres | $15,525,943 | 1035 | $29,230,188 | 855 |
| Mark Greig | RW | 15 | Hartford Whalers | $962,779 | 3807 | $2,083,627 | 3561 |
| Karl Dykhuis | D | 16 | Chicago Blackhawks | $8,255,000 | 1523 | $15,577,536 | 1331 |
| Scott Allison | C | 17 | Edmonton Oilers | $157,130 | 5545 | $360,911 | 5712 |
| Shawn Antoski | LW | 18 | Vancouver Canucks | $1,435,147 | 3423 | $3,011,786 | 3095 |
| Keith Tkachuk | C | 19 | Winnipeg Jets | $80,190,946 | 86 | $144,712,941 | 30 |
| Martin Brodeur | G | 20 | New Jersey Devils | $81,598,224 | 77 | $137,064,376 | 44 |
| Bryan Smolinski | C | 21 | Boston Bruins | $21,052,401 | 835 | $38,021,627 | 683 |