The 2007 NHL Draft saw Patrick Kane go #1, sparking the Chicago Blackhawks' modern dynasty. James van Riemsdyk (#2) and Kyle Turris (#3) followed. The first round was famous for its consistency, including Logan Couture (#9), Ryan McDonagh (#12), and Max Pacioretty (#22). Jakub Voracek (#7) and Mikael Backlund (#24) also became long-term stars. The ultimate steal was Jamie Benn at 129th. Overall, 2007 was a prolific offensive draft that ushered in a new era of American stardom in the NHL and provided several teams with first-line wingers for over a decade.
Career earnings of players picked in the first round of the 2007 NHL entry draft:
| Player | Pos. | Pick # | Drafted by | Career Earnings |
Rank | Career Earnings In today's $ |
Rank |
| Patrick Kane | RW | 1 | Chicago Blackhawks | $129,637,195 | 9 | $168,230,294 | 14 |
| James van Riemsdyk | LW | 2 | Philadelphia Flyers | $44,525,000 | 355 | $55,218,691 | 407 |
| Kyle Turris | C | 3 | Phoenix Coyotes | $47,724,085 | 313 | $60,305,268 | 347 |
| Thomas Hickey | D | 4 | Los Angeles Kings | $16,647,256 | 975 | $21,647,407 | 1070 |
| Karl Alzner | D | 5 | Washington Capitals | $35,576,667 | 506 | $46,569,422 | 517 |
| Sam Gagner | F | 6 | Edmonton Oilers | $36,537,706 | 483 | $49,410,837 | 477 |
| Jakub Voracek | RW | 7 | Columbus Blue Jackets | $86,336,280 | 64 | $109,988,722 | 83 |
| Logan Couture | C | 9 | San Jose Sharks | $94,184,756 | 48 | $114,658,778 | 73 |
| Keaton Ellerby | D | 10 | Florida Panthers | $2,807,256 | 2562 | $4,013,721 | 2709 |
| Brandon Sutter | F | 11 | Carolina Hurricanes | $36,720,732 | 478 | $48,637,017 | 491 |
| Ryan McDonagh | D | 12 | Montreal Canadiens | $76,837,195 | 99 | $93,299,250 | 140 |
| Lars Eller | F | 13 | St. Louis Blues | $41,485,671 | 402 | $52,001,189 | 445 |
| Kevin Shattenkirk | D | 14 | Colorado Avalanche | $49,762,195 | 292 | $64,101,762 | 319 |
| Colton Gillies | C | 16 | Minnesota Wild | $1,855,488 | 3076 | $2,703,686 | 3232 |
| Alexei Cherepanov | RW | 17 | New York Rangers | $1,500,000 | 3352 | $2,398,184 | 3400 |
| Ian Cole | D | 18 | St. Louis Blues | $37,087,195 | 467 | $44,903,430 | 552 |
| Riley Nash | C | 21 | Edmonton Oilers | $13,100,000 | 1157 | $16,846,658 | 1266 |
| Max Pacioretty | LW | 22 | Montreal Canadiens | $63,623,160 | 170 | $81,238,793 | 197 |
| Jonathon Blum | D | 23 | Nashville Predators | $2,492,988 | 2716 | $3,480,708 | 2892 |
| Mikael Backlund | C | 24 | Calgary Flames | $56,911,890 | 218 | $68,834,255 | 282 |
| David Perron | LW | 26 | St. Louis Blues | $61,931,098 | 176 | $77,741,404 | 217 |
| Brendan Smith | D | 27 | Detroit Red Wings | $26,687,195 | 673 | $34,188,631 | 738 |
| Nick Petrecki | D | 28 | San Jose Sharks | $1,155,488 | 3622 | $1,679,607 | 3883 |
| Jim O'Brien | C | 29 | Ottawa Senators | $1,314,187 | 3503 | $1,854,250 | 3715 |