NHL draft: Oilers take McDavid first overall
No player has entered the league with such hype since Crosby a decade ago, and his level of celebrity within the game might rival what James was dealing with when he joined the NBA in 2003.
The Oilers haven’t made the playoffs since 2006, a far cry from the days when Wayne Gretzky dominated the NHL and Edmonton won five titles in a seven-year span from 1984 through 1990.
Eichel scored 26 goals and added 45 assists in 40 games this past season, on his way to being considered college hockey’s best player.
The intrigue in this draft started essentially at No. 3, when Arizona grabbed forward Dylan Strome — McDavid’s teammate with the Ontario Hockey League’s Erie Otters, and someone who finished this past season with nine more points than the new No. 1 pick (in 21 more games).
The Bruins dealt left wing Milan Lucic to Los Angeles for defenseman Colin Miller, goalie Martin Jones and the 13th pick, then got No. 15, No. 45 and No. 52 from Calgary in exchange for defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
Before selecting the Sabres’ forward of the future with the No. 2 draft pick, Buffalo general manager Tim Murray traded the 21st pick — the second of Buffalo’s two first-round selections — to Ottawa to acquire goalie Robin Lehner and forward David Legwand. ...
The Devils gave up the 41st overall pick in the 2015 draft and a third-round choice next year for Palmieri, who had 14 goals in 57 games last season.
With the ninth pick in the NHL draft, San Jose selected Timo Meier, 18, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound right wing with the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.