Little drama atop NHL draft

DALLAS – Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin went first overall to the Buffalo Sabres and Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov second to the Carolina Hurricanes in the two most predictable developments of an NHL draft that also featured some curveballs.

The Sabres taking Dahlin was automatic since they won the draft lottery in April, and the 18-year-old wore a Buffalo Bills hat Friday before the selection. Svechnikov got to try on the Hurricanes’ draft hat before he was the No. 2 pick just as general manager Don Waddell acknowledged recently.

Dahlin is the second Swedish player to be taken No. 1. Mats Sundin went first in 1989 and had a Hall of Fame career.

“It’s pretty crazy actually,” Dahlin said. “He’s a legend in the hockey world.”

The selections after Dahlin and Svechnikov brought some surprises. Montreal took Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi third, Brady Tkachuk went fourth to Ottawa and Arizona went a bit off the board with center Barrett Hayton fifth, allowing high-scoring Czech winger Filip Zadina to fall to Detroit with the sixth pick.

“I wasn’t really surprised,” said Kotkaniemi. “I heard that they were looking for centers.”

The top 10 picks were all made without any trades, despite Edmonton GM Peter Chiarelli advertising the 10th overall pick was available.

University of Wisconsin recruit K’Andre Miller, a defenseman out of Minnetonka, Minn., was selected with the 22nd pick by the New York Rangers.