The NHL draft has begun with the Florida Panthers selecting defenseman Aaron Ekblad with the first overall pick.

Ekblad played for Barrie of the OHL and was the league's most outstanding defenseman, leading all blueliners with 23 goals and collecting 53 points and 91 penalty minutes of 58 games.

The Sabres used the second pick to grab center Sam Reinhart, who had a team-high 105 points for Kootenay of the WHL.

One pick later, the Oilers took German-born Leon Draisaitl (DRY'-sy-tul), a center who led Prince Albert with 105 points in 64 games.

The Flames grabbed center Samuel Bennett with the fourth pick, and the Islanders chose left wing Michael Dal Colle at No. 5. Bennett was ninth in the OHL with 91 points in 57 games for Kingston, and Dal Colle paced the OHL's Oshawa franchise with 95 points.

The draft will resume with the second of seven rounds on Saturday.

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