The 1973 NHL amateur draft was the 11th draft for the National Hockey League. It was the first to be held on a separate day from other league activities on May 15, 1973, at the Mount Royal Hotel in Montreal, so it would not overshadow the rest of the league meetings. Previously, the league had held the amateur draft in mid-June. It also marks the second time the meeting took place at the Mount Royal Hotel rather than the Queen Elizabeth Hotel.

Eligible for the draft were all amateur players born before January 1, 1954. The NHL paid a lump sum to the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to support major junior hockey as a group. Teams could offer a player a contract at any time after the draft without risking re-entry in a future NHL draft.

The last active players in the NHL from this draft class were Bob Gainey and Lanny McDonald, who both retired after the 1988–89 season.

Selections by round

Below are listed the selections in the 1973 NHL amateur draft.

Round one

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"

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! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| #

! style="background:#ddf; width:22.0%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:20.0%;"| Nationality

! style="background:#ddf; width:34.0%;"| NHL team

! style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"| College/junior/club team

|-

! 1

| bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| Denis Potvin (D) || || New York Islanders || Ottawa 67's (OHA)

|-

! 2

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Tom Lysiak (C) || || Atlanta Flames (from Montreal via California)<sup>1</sup> || Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)

|-

! 3

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Dennis Ververgaert (RW) || || Vancouver Canucks || London Knights (OHA)

|-

! 4

| bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| Lanny McDonald (RW) || || Toronto Maple Leafs || Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)

|-

! 5

| John Davidson (G) || || St. Louis Blues (from Montreal via Atlanta)<sup>2</sup> || Calgary Centennials (WCHL)

|-

! 6

| Andre Savard (C) || || Boston Bruins (from Los Angeles)<sup>3</sup> || Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

|-

! 7

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Blaine Stoughton (RW) || || Pittsburgh Penguins || Flin Flon Bombers (WCHL)

|-

! 8

| bgcolor="#CCFFCC"| Bob Gainey (LW) || || Montreal Canadiens (from St. Louis)<sup>4</sup> || Peterborough Petes (OHA)

|-

! 9

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Bob Dailey (D) || || Vancouver Canucks (from Montreal via Minnesota)<sup>5</sup> || Toronto Marlboros (OHA)

|-

! 10

| Bob Neely (D) || || Toronto Maple Leafs (from Philadelphia)<sup>6</sup> || Peterborough Petes (OHA)

|-

! 11

| Terry Richardson (G) || || Detroit Red Wings || New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

|-

! 12

| Morris Titanic (LW) || || Buffalo Sabres || Sudbury Wolves (OHA)

|-

! 13

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Darcy Rota (LW) || || Chicago Black Hawks || Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)

|-

! 14

| bgcolor="#FBCEB1"| Rick Middleton (RW) || || New York Rangers || Oshawa Generals (OHA)

|-

! 15

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Ian Turnbull (D) || || Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston)<sup>7</sup> || Ottawa 67's (OHA)

|-

! 16

| Vic Mercredi (C) || || Atlanta Flames (from Montreal)<sup>8</sup> || New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

|-

|align=center colspan="6" bgcolor="#efefef"|

|}

  1. The Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick went to the Atlanta Flames as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent Montreal's two first-round picks and second-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft to Atlanta in exchange for Atlanta's first-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, first-round pick in 1977 NHL amateur draft and second-round pick in 1978 NHL amateur draft.
  2. : Montreal previously acquired this pick as the result of a trade on June 8, 1972, that sent Montreal's second-round pick in 1972 NHL amateur draft (Stan Weir) to California in exchange for California's first-round and second-round picks in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft as settlement of waiver draft payment owed from California to Montreal for California selecting Carol Vadnais in the 1968 intra-league draft.
  3. The Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick went to the St. Louis Blues as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent St. Louis' first-round and fourth-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and first-round pick in 1975 NHL amateur draft in exchange for Montreal's third-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick.

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  1. The New York Islanders' second-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972, that sent Alex Campbell, Denis DeJordy, Glenn Resch and future considerations (Germain Gagnon) to the Islanders in exchange for cash and this pick.

Round three

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"

|-

! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| #

! style="background:#ddf; width:22.0%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:20.0%;"| Nationality

! style="background:#ddf; width:34.0%;"| NHL team

! style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"| College/junior/club team

|-

! 33

| Dave Lewis (D) || || New York Islanders || Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)

|-

! 34

| Jeff Jacques (C) || || California Golden Seals || St. Catharines Black Hawks (OHA)

|-

! 35

| Paul Sheard (RW) || <br> || Vancouver Canucks || Ottawa 67's (OHA)

|-

! 36

| Doug Gibson (C) || || Boston Bruins (from Toronto)<sup>1</sup> || Peterborough Petes (OHA)

|-

! 37

| Ed Humphreys (G) || || Montreal Canadiens (from Atlanta)<sup>2</sup> || Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)

|-

! 38

| Russ Walker (RW) || || Los Angeles Kings || Saskatoon Blades (WCHL)

|-

! 39

| Nelson Pyatt (C) || || Detroit Red Wings (from Pittsburgh)<sup>3</sup> || Oshawa Generals (OHA)

|-

! 40

| Bob Stumpf (RW) || || Philadelphia Flyers (from St. Louis)<sup>4</sup> || New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

|-

! 41

| Rick Chinnick (RW) || || Minnesota North Stars || Peterborough Petes (OHA)

|-

! 42

| Mike Clarke (C) || || Philadelphia Flyers || Calgary Centennials (WCHL)

|-

! 43

| Robbie Neale (C) || || Detroit Red Wings || Brandon Wheat Kings(WCHL)

|-

! 44

| Andre Deschamps (LW) || || Buffalo Sabres || Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

|-

! 45

| Randy Holt (D) || || Chicago Black Hawks || Sudbury Wolves (OHA)

|-

! 46

| John Campbell (LW) || || New York Rangers || Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHA)

|-

! 47

| Al Sims (D) || || Boston Bruins || Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)

|-

! 48

| Bob Gassoff (D) || || St. Louis Blues (from Montreal)<sup>5</sup> || Medicine Hat Tigers (WCHL)

|-

|align=center colspan="6" bgcolor="#efefef"|

|}

  1. The Toronto Maple Leafs' third-round pick went to the Boston Bruins as the result of a trade on March 3, 1973, that sent Boston's first-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft (Ian Turnbull) and future considerations (Eddie Johnston) to Toronto in exchange for Jacques Plante and this pick.

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  1. The St. Louis Blues' fourth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent Montreal's first-round pick (John Davidson) and third-round pick (Bob Gassoff) in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' first-round pick (Bob Gainey) in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, first-round pick in 1975 NHL amateur draft and this pick.

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Round six

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"

|-

! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| #

! style="background:#ddf; width:22.0%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:20.0%;"| Nationality

! style="background:#ddf; width:34.0%;"| NHL team

! style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"| College/junior/club team

|-

! 81

| Keith Smith (D) || || New York Islanders || Brown University (ECAC)

|-

! 82

| Willie Trognitz (LW) || || California Golden Seals || Thunder Bay Vulcans (TBJHL)

|-

! 83

| Jim Cowell (C) || || Vancouver Canucks || Ottawa 67's (OHA)

|-

! 84

| Doug Marit (D) || || Toronto Maple Leafs || Regina Pats (WCHL)

|-

! 85

| Ken Houston (D) || || Atlanta Flames || Chatham Maroons SOJHL

|-

! 86

| bgcolor="#FFCC00"| Blair MacDonald (RW) || || Los Angeles Kings || Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)

|-

! 87

| Don Seiling (LW) || || Pittsburgh Penguins || Oshawa Generals (OHA)

|-

! 88

| Randy Smith (LW) || || St. Louis Blues || Edmonton Oil Kings (WCHL)

|-

! 89

| David Lee (LW) || <br> || Minnesota North Stars || Ottawa 67's (OHA)

|-

! 90

| Doug Ferguson (D) || || Philadelphia Flyers || Hamilton Red Wings (OHA)

|-

! 91

| Glen Cickello (D) || || Detroit Red Wings || Hamilton Red Wings (OHA)

|-

! 92

| Neil Korzack (LW) || || Buffalo Sabres || Peterborough Petes (OHA)

|-

! 93

| Garry Doerksen (C) || || Chicago Black Hawks || Winnipeg Jets (WCHL)

|-

! 94

| Dwayne Pentland (D) || || New York Rangers || Brandon Wheat Kings (WCHL)

|-

! 95

| Jean-Pierre Burgoyne (D) || || Boston Bruins || Shawinigan Dynamos (QMJHL)

|-

! 96

| Denis Patry (RW) || || Montreal Canadiens || Drummondville Rangers (QMJHL)

|-

|align=center colspan="6" bgcolor="#efefef"|

|}

Round seven

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"

|-

! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| #

! style="background:#ddf; width:22.0%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:20.0%;"| Nationality

! style="background:#ddf; width:34.0%;"| NHL team

! style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"| College/junior/club team

|-

! 97

| Don Cutts (G) || || New York Islanders || Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NCAA)

|-

! 98

| Paul Tantardini (LW) || || California Golden Seals || Downsview Bombers (OPJHL)

|-

! 99

| Clay Hebenton (G) || || Vancouver Canucks || Portland Winter Hawks WCJHL

|-

! 100

| Dan Follet (G) || || Toronto Maple Leafs || Downsview Bombers (OPJHL)

|-

! 101

| Tom Machowski (D) || || Atlanta Flames || University of Wisconsin (NCAA)

|-

! 102

| Roly Kimble (G) || || Los Angeles Kings || Hamilton Red Wings (OHA)

|-

! 103

| Terry Ewasiuk (LW) || || Pittsburgh Penguins || Victoria Cougars (WCHL)

|-

! 104

| John Wensink (LW) || || St. Louis Blues || Cornwall Royals (QMJHL)

|-

! 105

| Lou Nistico (C) || || Minnesota North Stars || London Knights (OHA)

|-

! 106

| Tom Young (D) || || Philadelphia Flyers || Sudbury Wolves (OHA)

|-

! 107

| Brian Middleton (D) || || Detroit Red Wings || University of Alberta (CIAU)

|-

! 108

| Bob Young (D) || || Buffalo Sabres || University of Denver (NCAA)

|-

! 109

| Wayne Dye (LW) || || Chicago Black Hawks || New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

|-

! 110

| Denis Anderson (D) || || New York Islanders (from the Rangers)<sup>1</sup> || New Westminster Bruins (WCHL)

|-

! 111

| Walter Johnson (RW) || || Boston Bruins || Oshawa Generals (OHA)

|-

! 112

| Michel Belisle (C) || || Montreal Canadiens || Montreal Junior Canadiens (QMJHL)

|-

|align=center colspan="6" bgcolor="#efefef"|

|}

  1. The New York Rangers' seventh-round pick went to the New York Islanders as the result of a trade on June 6, 1972, that the Islanders' promised to not take certain players in the 1972 NHL expansion draft in exchange for Rangers' eight-round pick in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick.

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  1. The Los Angeles Kings' eighth-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent cash to Los Angeles in exchange for this pick.

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  1. The St. Louis Blues' ninth-round pick went to the Detroit Red Wings as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent cash to St. Louis in exchange for St. Louis' tenth-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick.

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  1. The New York Islanders' tenth-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent cash to the Islanders in exchange for the Islanders' eleventh-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick.

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  1. The New York Islanders' eleventh-round pick went to the Toronto Maple Leafs as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent cash to the Islanders in exchange for the Islanders' tenth-round pick (Lee Palmer) in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft and this pick.

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Round thirteen

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"

|-

! style="background:#ddf; width:2.75%;"| #

! style="background:#ddf; width:22.0%;"| Player

! style="background:#ddf; width:20.0%;"| Nationality

! style="background:#ddf; width:34.0%;"| NHL team

! style="background:#ddf; width:100.0%;"| College/junior/club team

|-

! 168

| Louis Chiasson (C) || || Montreal Canadiens (from the Rangers)<sup>1</sup> || Trois-Rivieres Draveurs (QMJHL)

|-

! –

| Not exercised || || New York Rangers (from Montreal)<sup>2</sup> ||

|-

|align=center colspan="6" bgcolor="#efefef"|

|}

  1. The New York Rangers' thirteenth-round pick went to the Montreal Canadiens as the result of a trade on May 15, 1973, that sent Montreal's thirteenth-round pick in 1973 NHL Amateur Draft to the Rangers in exchange for this pick.