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Lightning will face top two picks in NHL draft

 
Connor McDavid will try to get the Oilers into the playoffs for the first time since 2006. “Absolutely a dream come true,’’ he says. The Lightning faces Edmonton twice in January.
Connor McDavid will try to get the Oilers into the playoffs for the first time since 2006. “Absolutely a dream come true,’’ he says. The Lightning faces Edmonton twice in January.
Published June 27, 2015

SUNRISE — With his destiny as the No. 1 overall pick a lock, Connor McDavid added some spontaneity to his day Friday.

McDavid, 18, spent some time jetskiing in the choppy Atlantic Ocean, with storm clouds overhead.

"Probably wasn't the safest thing to do," he said, smiling.

But the selections of McDavid (by Edmonton) and Boston University star Jack Eichel, 18, (Buffalo) at No. 1 and No. 2 were likely the safest of the first round. The two centers, expected to be generational-type talent, immediately sparked some life in the two struggling franchises.

"It was better than I was expecting," McDavid said of getting his name called. "It was unbelievable. Absolutely a dream come true."

Eichel, a 6-foot-2, 196-pounder, won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player — the first freshman Hobey Baker winner since Paul Kariya in 1993. He said this has been "the best year of my life." The Lightning will get a good look at him when it plays the Sabres four times in the first 17 games, including Oct. 10.

McDavid, a 6-1, 195-pound center from Erie (OHL), has world-class skating ability, and is considered the best prospect since his idol, Sidney Crosby. Tampa Bay will face McDavid Jan. 8 in Edmonton, then Jan. 19 in Tampa.

"Buffalo wants success, and success soon," Eichel said. "I think that's what's going to happen."

With Eichel and defenseman Noah Hanifin (No. 5 to the Hurricanes), two U.S. players were top-five picks for the first time since 2007.

BRUINS trade lucic: The Bruins traded top-line left wing Milan Lucic to the Kings for defenseman Colin Miller, goalie Martin Jones and the 13th pick in the draft. The hard-hitting Lucic is coming off a subpar season: 18 goals and 26 assists in 81 games. Boston also traded defenseman Dougie Hamilton to the Flames for the 15th, 45th and 52nd picks.

AVS-SABRES TRADE: The Avalanche traded center Ryan O'Reilly and left wing Jamie McGinn to the Sabres for defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forwards Mikhail Grigorenko and JT Compher and a second-round pick.

KINGS: A felony count of a drug possession charge against center Jarret Stoll was reduced to two misdemeanors in a plea agreement approved in Las Vegas Justice Court. His sentence includes 32 hours of community service. … Forward Tyler Toffoli agreed to a $6.5 million, two-year contract to stay with Los Angeles. He had 23 goals, 26 assists, a plus-25 rating and five shorthanded goals last season.

PREDATORS: Center Mike Fisher signed a two-year, $8.8 million contract to stay with Nashville. Fisher had 19 goals and 20 assists in 59 games last season.

RED WINGS: Center Pavel Datsyuk had surgery to repair ruptured tendons in his right ankle and will be re-evaluated in three months. … Forward Joakim Andersson re-signed a one-year deal worth $815,000. Detroit has a little under $14 million in cap space, with restricted free agents still to be signed in Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Jurco, Teemu Pulkkinen, Landon Ferraro and Brendan Smith.

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Times staff writer Joe Smith contributed to this report.