Toronto Maple Leafs Select Auston Matthews 1st Overall in NHL Draft

Overall: 1. Toronto, Auston Matthews, C, Zurich; 2.

The Leafs started their teardown in January 2015 and hit rock bottom this season, giving them the chance to take Matthews, who has been favourably compared to Hall of Famer Peter Forsberg and retiring Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk.

Winnipeg was set to select second, followed by the Columbus Blue Jackets, whose general manager Jarmo Kekalainen said he’s considering trading the pick depending upon which two players are taken ahead of him. Edmonton took forward Jesse Puljujarvi at No. 4, and Vancouver selected defenseman Olli Juolevi fifth.

It began with the 18-year-old Matthews who became the seventh American-born player to be selected No. 1, and first since the Chicago Blackhawks chose Patrick Kane with the top pick in 2007.

He boasts perhaps the highest upside of any Leafs draft pick ever.

The host Buffalo Sabres selected Swedish forward Alex Nylander from the Mississauga Steelheads eighth overall and Montreal went with Russian blue liner Mikhail Sergachyov at ninth.

It also marks the first time in history that three Finns have gone in the top five of the draft – or even the top 10. Toronto selected Wendel Clark first in 1985.

He also had nine points in 10 games while playing for a weak USA team at the world championships that lost in the bronze medal game.

“Hockey’s a team game so there’s really no saviour”, Matthews told reporters. “The NHL is the best league in the world, so for me I definitely want to learn a lot, soak in as much as possible, and just try to continue to get better and better each day”. “I believe I can be a franchise centreman, the No. 1 centreman in the National Hockey League, so that’s my ultimate goal”.

The Canadiens made another trade as well, dealing forward Lars Eller to Washington for the Capitals” second-round draft picks in 2017 and “18.

Two trades involving the Montreal Canadiens were announced by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman before the second pick.

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He was the youngest player in college hockey last season, as he did not turn 18 until December 21, yet earned Hockey East All-Rookie Team honors.

To view the 2016 NHL Draft order click NHL 2016 Draft. “You’re not waiting for someone else to take a player”.

– Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs)Huge congrats to @A_Matthews34 on being selected the #1 overall pick at the #NHLDraft. Perhaps appropriately the PA system played “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue as the crowd waited.

All in his first interview.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are counting on an American phenom to change the direction of their franchise. A chant of Go Leafs Go was matched by home-town boos.