Maple Leafs select Arizona-born Matthews No. 1 in NHL draft

William plays for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Sabres’ closest and fiercest rival.

“It was very nerve-wracking”, Matthews said. It’s going to be a learning curve. And it reflected how the nation has begun to dominate on the world state.

“He’ll develop into a top, top centre in the National Hockey League”. Championships and to a silver a few months later at the World Championships. “Very nerve-racking. Once they called my name, it was definitely a sigh of relief”.

That’s not how Mike Babcock treats his young players, throwing them immediately into that. Now as a rookie I think Matthews will show us a little bit of everything when it comes to his offensive and defensive game. “He’s going to be under that, but it’s our job to insulate him too and surround him with good players and veteran guys who help him become a good pro”.

As expected, right winger Patrik Laine was chosen second overall by the Winnipeg Jets.

As a freshman, the blueliner tallied three goals and 22 assists in 37 games, along with a plus-10 rating and 56 penalty minutes. Ultimately, the Leafs picked the best player the 2016 draft had to offer and filled a much-needed hole at center.

“I think it is easier to go there, to the city and the organisation (when they) know something about the Finnish people and Finnish players”, he said. “They’re going to be a very good for next and a great organization”.

Laine, a 6-foot-4, 206-pound winger, is regarded as a pure goal-scorer.

“It was an unbelievable moment, best moment of my life, big dream come true”, he said.

Forward Pierre-Luc Dubois was a surprise pick at No. 3 by the Columbus Blue Jackets. “I think I have the ability to make my linemates better”.

Matthews, who grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona, was expected to be selected first. To round out the Top 10, the Colorado Avalanche selected University of North Dakota commit, Tyson Jost.

Ottawa used the 11th pick to take center Logan Brown, New Jersey selected Mississauga center Michael McLeod at 12 while Calgary took Carolina blue liner Jake Bean at 13.

Once the “Go Leafs, Go!” chants subsided after Toronto selected Arizona-born center Auston Matthews with the first pick in the National Hockey League draft, the Finns began their march to the podium.

The Flames selected left wing Matthew Tkachuk, son of former Blues forward and US standout Keith Tkachuk with the sixth overall pick. Kekalainen, who is from Finland, also noted he wouldn’t take a player based on his nationality. Anaheim took Max Jones of the Memorial Cup Champion London Knights at No. 24 and the Dallas Stars selected Riley Tufte with the 25th selection.

The Bruins then selected 18-year-old center Trent Frederic with the 29th overall pick. Toronto selected Wendel Clark first in 1985.

A record 12 American-born players (including Jakob Chychrun, who represents Canada in global hockey) were selected in the first round on Friday night at the First Niagara Center.

Even with that new wave of talent from the NHL draft, the trades made Friday night may shape the league’s future even more.

There were a couple notable trades completed on the draft floor on Friday night.

The Montreal Canadiens dealt center Lars Eller to Washington for the Capitals’ second-round picks in 2017 and 2018, and also shipped two picks in Saturday’s second round (No. 39 & 45) to Chicago for Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw.

St. Louis acquired Calgary’s second-round pick, 35th overall, and a conditional third-round selection in 2018.

And the Detroit Red Wings poised themselves to take a run at this year’s top free agent, Tampa Bay Lightning goal scorer Steven Stamkos, by unloading the contract of veteran Pavel Datsyuk – who is returning home to Russian Federation with a year remaining on his deal – in a package to the Arizona Coyotes.