Sabres fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief
After all the nutty moments that have sidetracked the Sabres in their modern history, what a relief to have Rasmus Dahlin make his way to and from the draft stage without incident, returning in a Buffalo sweater.
The wire-to-wire Central Scouting favourite as No. 1 bubbled: “I want everything to start.”
Sportsnet greeted him with a video clip from Mats Sundin, the only other Swede to go first overall back in 1989.
“Welcome to the NHL,” Sundin said in two languages. “We are No. 1.”
Sabres general manager Jason Botterill made the pick “on behalf of the fans” and owner Terry Pegula and welcomed the Dahlin family to Western New York.
CHOCK FULL OF TKACHUKS
The Tkachuks had an estimated 95 family and friends converge in Dallas this weekend, counting patriarch Keith, Calgary Flames winger Matthew, and little brother Brady, who now joins the Ottawa Senators at centre.
Keith and Brady are the first NCAA father-and-son team to be drafted so high and people are already wondering if the hyper competitive Tkachuk brothers will drop their gloves in a future Hockey Night in Canada date.
Before the proceedings, in the seats reserved for first-rounders, playful Keith leaned over and asked Dahlin, ‘Hey Rasmus, where do you think you’ll be drafted?’
The top of the order was shaken up when Montreal took Jesperi Kotkaniemi at No. 3. But with the Finn ranked from 15th to 20th in scouting reports, the announcement stunned the Montreal fans at American Airlines Center, who were likely expecting to hear Tkachuk’s name called.
LISTEN UP, KIDS
Last year’s No. 1 overall, Nico Hischier, in an open letter to the players the Devils draft this weekend, advised among other things to properly prepare for post-draft interviews.
“You don’t want to say something like, ‘I love to hockey’ on national TV, ( but) enjoy the moment and get ready to work. The fun starts now.”
Rich Clune, a third-round pick of Dallas in 2005 who battled some personal problems a few years ago and just won a Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies, posted this good luck Twitter message for draftees:
“Thank your parents, save your money, don’t waste your time with the booze or drugs, get ripped, make millions, and give back to your community.”
DRAFT DOTTINGS
How ancient does it make some of us feel to see 2000 birth dates on this draft class? ... Among the first to start networking on Friday night was Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello ... Sportsnet’s opening credits caught George McPhee crossing his fingers for luck. Like Vegas needs more good fortune? ... Going in, the Habs’ 10 picks were next to Detroit’s 11 as the most held in this draft ... London Knights captains to be drafted include Mitch Marner, Max Domi, Christian Dvorak — and now Evan Bouchard, who went 10th to the Oilers ... American defenceman Quinn Hughes, who went seventh to the Vancouver Canucks, was born in Orlando, Fla., where father Jim was an assistant coach with the ECHL’s Solar Bears and later a player development director with the Leafs. But Quinn said it was his mom who taught him to skate ... Brian Burke, on sitting out this draft in the broadcast booth: “It’s a lot easier to hear about other people screwing up.”