(L-R) Leon Draisaitl, third overall pick by the Edmonton Oilers, Aaron Ekblad, first overall pick by the Florida Panthers, and Sam Reinhart, second overall pick by the Buffalo Sabres, pose during the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Friday. — AFP





PHILADELPHIA — The Florida Panthers selected Canadian defenceman Aaron Ekblad with the top pick in the 2014 National Hockey League Draft Friday.



The 1.93 meter (6-foot-4) Ekblad is expected to bolster the Panthers’ blueline with his dynamic skills and steady presence.



In 58 games with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League last season, Ekblad finished with 23 goals and 53 assists. He also tallied two goals and six points in nine playoff games.



“I wanted to get drafted by Florida, because they are an up and coming team where I can facilitate my development and help them win a Stanley Cup,” Ekblad said.



The Buffalo Sabres selected center Sam Reinhart second overall while forward Leon Draisaitl was taken third by the Edmonton Oilers, making him the highest German-born player every picked by an NHL club.



The Calgary Flames snagged center Sam Bennett fourth and the New York Islanders chose left winger Michael Dal Colle to round out the top five picks.



The entry draft, held this year at the Wells Fargo Center home of the Philadelphia Flyers, is the annual selection of the top junior players which allows NHL teams to replenish their talent pools.



Eight of the top 10 players drafted Friday were Canadian-born, and Ekblad was the eighth consecutive player from the Canadian Hockey League to be selected first overall.



Panthers general manager Dale Tallon said he hopes 18-year-old Ekblad can become a shut down defenseman who goes up against the top lines on the other teams.



“His character is impeccable,” said Tallon. “He is so mature for his age. He is a guy you can build a solid team around.



“We have to take our time, take baby steps, we want to continue building our team the way we are building.”

Reinhart, also 18, scored 105 points in just 60 games for the Kootenay Ice of the Western Hockey League last season.



The son of former Calgary Flames and Vancouver Canucks defenseman Paul Reinhart, Sam was chosen 10 spots higher than his dad, who was a first round pick in 1979.



“They have a young team. I am thrilled to be picked and excited for the future,” said Reinhart.



Draisaitl, of Cologne, finished a superb second season with the WHL’s Prince Albert Raiders, who took him with the second-overall pick in the 2012 WHL import draft.



The 1.85 meter Draisaitl, 18, led Prince Albert with 38 goals, 67 assists and 105 points in 64 appearances.

“We all know how difficult centres are to obtain, so you have to draft big centres. Leon fits that bill for us,” said Edmonton general manager Craig MacTavish.



There were a couple of significant trades on draft day, including a three-player deal between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Nashville Predators. Pittsburgh shipped forward James Neal to Nashville for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling.



The Anaheim Ducks also made a trade with Vancouver for American forward Ryan Kesler, sending Swiss defenceman Luca Sbisa and forward Nick Bonino to the Canucks in return for the USA Olympic star. — AFP