The Hamilton Spectator

Sabres select Swedish defenceman Dahlin

- JOSHUA CLIPPERTON

DALLAS — The Buffalo Sabres selected Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft on Friday night.

Considered far and away the class of the 2018 talent pool, the slick 18-year-old had seven goals and 13 assists in 41 games for Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League in 2017-18.

“It’s amazing to finally put on the Buffalo Sabres’ jersey,” Dahlin said. “I’ve been there twice. I love that city.”

Dahlin is the second Swedish-born player selected first overall. Mats Sundin was the top choice of the Quebec Nordiques in 1989.

Dahlin also was named his country’s top junior hockey player last season.

The six-foot-three, 185-pound Dahlin was honoured as the top blue liner at the 2018 world junior championsh­ip in Buffalo, registerin­g six assists in seven games. He also played twice for his country as a 17-year-old at the 2018 Pyeongchan­g Winter Olympics.

“I’m so excited at the moment,” he said.

The Carolina Hurricanes, selecting second, took Russianbor­n Barrie Colts winger Andrei Svechnikov, brother of Detroit Red Wings rookie Evgenvy Svechnikov.

The Montreal Canadiens, the first Canadian team to pick, took Finnish centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the No. 3 selection. The Ottawa Senators then selected Boston University winger Brady Tkachuk, the son of ex-NHLer Keith Tkachuk, at No. 4.

The Arizona Coyotes selected the first Canadian-born player in the draft, grabbing Barrett Hayton of Peterborou­gh, Ont., with the fifth pick. The centre plays for the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.

When asked about being the top Canadian picked, Hayton said, “I haven’t really thought of it that much yet, but it’s a tremendous honour.”

Prior to the start of the draft, NHL commission­er presented the 2017-18 Humboldt Broncos with the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence. The Broncos were on their way to Nipawin for a Saskatchew­an Junior Hockey League playoff game on April 6 when their bus collided with a truck, resulting in the deaths of 16 people, including 10 players.

Created in 2015, the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence is given annually by the league to the draft candidate who exemplifie­s commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiv­eness and athleticis­m.

 ?? MICHAEL AINSWORTH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Rasmus Dahlin puts on a jersey after being selected by the Buffalo Sabres first overall in Friday’s NHL draft.
MICHAEL AINSWORTH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Rasmus Dahlin puts on a jersey after being selected by the Buffalo Sabres first overall in Friday’s NHL draft.

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