Sabres make Sweden’s Dahlin first pick in draft
DALLAS — After Buffalo made defenseman Rasmus Dahlin the second Swede ever to be selected No. 1 overall, Carolina made another expected move, snagging Russian right wing Andrei Svechnikov with the second pick.
Then came the first intrigue of the NHL draft’s first round Friday night at American Airlines Center.
Montreal, which was considering three players for the third pick and reportedly looking to trade to move down a few spots, ended the suspense by taking Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
“I was a little surprised,” Kotkaniemi said, smiling. “But I heard they were looking for centers and I hoped that they would choose me. I’m so excited at the moment.”
The Senators then snatched left wing Brady Tkachuk fourth overall, whom the Canadiens had also considered. Tkachuk, whose father, Keith, played in the NHL and brother, Matthew, currently does, became the first American player picked.
That led to Arizona choosing center Barrett Hayden. Detroit followed by happily grabbing Rasmus Dahlin is the first player from Sweden to be drafted with the first overall pick since Mats Sundin in 1989.
right wing Filip Zadina at No. 5. The Red Wings expected to take defenseman Quinn Hughes, but when Zadina slipped after the Canadiens passed on him, they quickly pounced and left Hughes for Vancouver at No. 7.
With the next pick, Chicago took Swedish defenseman Adam Boqvist. Prior to his countryman, Dahlin, the last Swede to be selected first overall was Mats Sundin in
1989. Dahlin had known since April that he’d be the first prospect chosen Friday but was “nervous” before hearing his name.
“It’s been long waiting. … It’s amazing to finally put on a Buffalo Sabres jersey,” Dahlin said. “I’ve been there twice and I love that city. I can’t wait to get everything started.”
Of matching Sundin’s feat, he said, “Very much emotions in my mind right now. … It’s
pretty crazy, actually. He’s a legend in Sweden and the whole world. It’s kind of real, but amazing.”
Svechnikov, who the Hurricanes hope will be the centerpiece of their rebuilding effort, called his selection “the best moment of my life.” The top-ranked North American skater, according to NHL Central Scouting, added that it was significant to him that he was the first player off the board after Dahlin.
Kotkaniemi, who finished as the sixth-ranked European skater after being ninth at midterm, faces major expectations to fill a glaring hole for Montreal, but doesn’t mind the pressure.
“I’m the cool guy,” he quipped. He noted of his game, “I’m mostly a playmaker, but I also have a good shot I need to maybe use a little more.”
Less than an hour before the draft started, Washington and Colorado completed the first trade this weekend, with the Capitals giving away goalie Philipp Grubauer and defenseman Brooks Orpik in exchange for a second-round pick (47th overall). The deal helped give the newly minted Stanley Cup champs salary cap flexibility to re-sign pending unrestricted free agent John Carlson.
Commissioner Gary Bettman was booed as usual when he took the stage prior to the first pick.
“Let’s do this, and then you can boo me all night,” Bettman said before a tribute to the Humboldt Broncos, who were awarded the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence in the wake of their tragic bus accident.