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A18 wearing matching McDa- Bruins or anyone else did,
vid No. 97 jerseys. A few the lights shined brightest
SPORTSSaturday 27 June 2015 from Buffalo wore “I like on McDavid.
Eich” T-shirts, an obvious Last year’s No. 1 pick, Flori-
NHL draft nod to the 34th U.S. Presi- da defenseman Aaron Ek-
dent Dwight Eisenhower. blad, was at Friday’s draft
Continued from Page 17 The intrigue in this draft es- — held on the very floor
sentially started at No. 3, where the Panthers play
“Unbelievable,” McDavid In this Jan. 2, 2015, file photo, Canada’s Connor McDavid cel- when Arizona grabbed for- their home games. A year
said. “This is such a surreal ebrates his goal against Denmark during second-period quar- ward Dylan Strome — Mc- ago on draft night, Ekblad
feeling. It’s really hard to terfinal action at the world junior hockey championships in To- David’s teammate with the was a nervous wreck.
put into words right now ronto. Ontario Hockey League’s This time around, fresh off
how much this means to Erie Otters, returning from Las Vegas
me.” Associated Press and someone who actu- where he was presented
The Oilers haven’t made ally finished this past season the Calder Trophy as the
the playoffs since 2006, a crowd cheered. lege hockey’s best player. with nine more points than NHL’s best rookie this past
far cry from the days when “We’re lucky to have him,” Fans from all around the the new No. 1 pick, albeit in season, Ekblad coolly
Wayne Gretzky dominated Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli league — at least their 21 more games. munched on chicken fin-
the NHL and Edmonton said. jersey choices suggested The biggest early first-round gers in an arena suite.
won five titles in a sev- Buffalo then took Hobey that was the case — were splash was made by Bos- He knows McDavid well,
en-year span from 1984 Baker winner Jack Eichel in South Florida for the fes- ton, which had the No. 14 and believes the Gretzky,
through 1990. of Boston University with tivities. Many endured long pick in the first round to start Crosby, whoever compari-
No pressure, Connor. the No. 2 pick, a move that lines to pose with the Stan- the day — then got the No. sons won’t affect the new
“The Edmonton Oilers have was also expected. Eichel ley Cup (and some with 13 and No. 15 selections in No. 1 pick.
such a historic history,” Mc- scored 26 goals and add- Phil Pritchard, the keeper of a pair of trades on Friday. “I’m lucky. I’m not nearly as
David said. ed 45 assists in 40 games the Cup). A group of a half- The Bruins traded left wing good as him. I don’t draw
That they do. this past season, on his way dozen men from Edmonton Milan Lucic to Los Angeles those comparisons,” Ek-
And now he’s their future. to being considered col- headed to their seats, all for defenseman Colin Mill- blad said.
McDavid looked on ner- er, goalie Martin Jones and “It’s going to be tough to
vously as Edmonton’s the 13th pick, then got No. live up to but Connor has
3-minute draft clock ran 15, No. 45 and No. 52 from a set of expectations for
down, then hugged family Calgary in exchange for himself and I’m thinking
when his name was finally defenseman Dougie Ham- he’s probably the only one
called. He slipped out of his ilton. who’s going to worry about
suit jacket, strolled to the But regardless of what the that. q
stage, shook a few hands
and then slipped the Oilers
jersey over his head as the
