New Jersey Devils select Nico Hischier 1st overall

Serell Williams works on a street hockey rink for the NHL Centennial Fan Arena outside the United Center as preparation for the NHL Draft continue, Thursday, June 22, 2017, in Chicago.

The league’s newest 31st team had three first-round picks – the most ever for an expansion club.

Elias then made his way through the crowd, offering selfies and signings along the way, into their warm embrace.They were steamy, but happy, pouring out of Redd’s, out of the Edison Ale House, out of Taste Venue and back into the blocked off street where music played, street hockey commenced and smiles ruled.

Here are the notable winners and losers of the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft.

The Philadelphia Flyers then grabbed center Nolan Patrick with the second selection.

“They’ve been my two biggest role models through everything since I was young”, Nolan said. Cole Harbour’s Nathan MacKinnon went No. 1 to Colorado in 2013.

The Coyotes also acquired center Derek Stepan and goalie Antti Raanta from the New York Rangers for defenseman Anthony DeAngelo and the seventh overall pick in last night’s draft. Hischier is the best fantasy forward in the draft – he’s creative, shifty and smart, with a great vision and a sharp, accurate shot. He also has good size and strength at 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, and we know the Kings love to play a heavy game. The draft’s first round will begin at 7 p.m. ET. The top pick has been a Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) finalist in each of the past four seasons.

Sabres: General manager Jason Botterill has all but given up on signing goalie prospect Cal Petersen, who was one of five finalists for the Mike Richter Award as college hockey’s top goalie last season with Notre Dame.

As the Devils pick first, the choice will ultimately be out of the hands of the Flyers. The previous high was five, set in 2002.

“It’ll be good for me; I think it’s the right way to approach it”, he said.

The problem was that the first three picks – Nathan MacKinnon, Aleksander Barkov and Drouin – were all forwards, leaving the Predators with a decision to make.

Other Friday flurries saw Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta sent to Arizona for the seventh overall pick.

Reaves is nothing more than an enforcer.

In 64 games last season with the Blues, Lehtera (6-2, 210) put up 22 points on seven goals and 15 assists.

Now comes the hard part: Refining his game, bulking up a bit, and becoming the kind of player that’s ready to make an National Hockey League impact. The Winnipeg native will be outfitted from head-to-toe with elite Bauer equipment, including the brand’s new Supreme 1S stick and Supreme 1S skate.