UNDATED (AP) — The Buffalo Sabres went with blueline help with the first overall pick in the NHL draft.
The Sabres chose 6-foot-6 Michigan defenseman Owen Power, who scored three goals and 16 points in 26 games as a freshman last season. The Ontario native was second among all Wolverines defensemen with 13 assists and second in points. He later helped Canada win the world hockey championship.
The Kraken selected Wolverines center Matthew Beniers with the second pick, marking the fourth time teammates were chosen with the first two picks of the draft.
The Ducks used the third pick to take center Mason Mctavish of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes.
The Devils grabbed a Hughes brother for the second time in three drafts, selecting defenseman Luke Hughes.
Michigan became the first college program to have three first-round picks in the same draft when the Blue Jackets came away with center Kent Johnson.
Hughes is committed to Michigan next season.
In other NHL news:
— The Blackhawks have landed star defenseman Seth Jones from the Blue Jackets, according to three people with knowledge of the move. Jones also has agreed to terms on a $76 million, eight-year contract extension that carries an annual salary cap hit of $9.5 million. It was not immediately clear what Chicago gave up to get the 26-year-old who could become cornerstone of the franchise’s blue line for years to come.
— The Sabres acquired an extra first-round pick in Friday’s NHL draft by sending defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen to the Philadelphia Flyers. The Sabres also picked up fifth-year defenseman Robert Hagg and the Flyers’ second-round selection in 2023.
— Coyotes captain Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forward Conor Garland have been shipped to the Canucks for the No. 9 selection in Friday’s draft, a 2022 second-round pick, a 2023 seventh-rounder and three veteran forwards. Antoine Roussel, Jay Beagle and Loui Eriksson head to Arizona.
— The Blues acquired high-scoring forward Pavel Buchnevich from the Rangers for Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick.
— The Rangers have put defenseman Tony DeAngelo on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying out the final year of his contract.
