The Toronto Maple Leafs made center Auston Matthews the first pick of the NHL draft Friday.
Matthews became the seventh American-born player to be selected No. 1 and first since the Chicago Blackhawks chose Patrick Kane with the top pick in 2007.
Buffalo used the eighth pick to select forward Alexander Nylander. His father, Michael, was a 15-year NHL veteran, and his brother William plays for the Maple Leafs.
Before the draft began, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the league’s annual pre-draft rookie combine will return to Buffalo for a third consecutive year.
Rounds 2-7 will be held today.