NHL Draft: Oilers take McDavid 1st, Leafs take GTA’s Mitchell Marner 4th

The Edmonton Oilers made it official by selecting Connor McDavid with the first pick in the NHL draft on Friday night, while the Toronto Maple Leafs picked the GTA’s Mitchell Marner with the 4th overall selection.

Marner, a forward with the London Knights, finished second in OHL scoring with 126 points this season.

“I think he’s got elite hockey sense and great character and will to win,” said Leafs Asst. GM and Director of Player Personnel, Mark Hunter.

Toronto also had the 24th overall pick, acquired in a trade with the Nashville Predators for defenceman Cody Franson earlier this season.

Toronto traded pick number 24th to the Philadelphia Flyers for number 29th and number 61st.

They then traded pick number 29th to the Columbus Blue Jackets for pick number 34th and 68th.

Sportsnet 2015 NHL Draft Tracker

McDavid is considered hockey’s “Next One” in the lineage of Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby, and now he can start the Oilers chapter of his career.

“To be honest I think it was even better than I was expecting,” McDavid said. “I didn’t know exactly how I was going to feel. I wasn’t too nervous, I was just anxious.”

As fans at BB&T Center cheered the selection of this generational talent, the 18-year-old finally felt a sense of relief. Wearing a baby blue tie, the 18-year-old took off his suit jacket, strode onto the stage and first shook commissioner Gary Bettman’s hand.

Within seconds, McDavid put on the Oilers’ brand-new WHA-inspired orange jersey with his trademark No. 97 on the back and shoulders. Blue and orange has been on the shelves back in Erie already, and it’s about to be in fashion again.

“It means a lot for them to do that,” McDavid said. “To see 97 when I flipped that jersey around was special.”

After an incredible junior career that included 285 points in 166 games, McDavid can now shift his focus to professional hockey.

While acknowledging that it’s a big jump from the Ontario Hockey League to playing against men, the humble superstar added the caveat that he has to work to make the team. That won’t be an issue, as McDavid joins the core of Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins.

“Welcome to Edmonton, Connor,” Hall tweeted. “Don’t mess up everything we’ve built the last 5 years! #FutureIsBright”

The Oilers haven’t made the playoffs since 2006 but do have a bright future with McDavid immediately as the face of the franchise.

The second pick, Jack Eichel, just as instantly became the poster boy for the new-look Buffalo Sabres, who also acquired goaltender Robin Lehner and forward Ryan O’Reilly at the draft.

After weeks of listening to offers, Arizona Coyotes general manager Don Maloney kept the No. 3 pick and took McDavid’s good friend and Otters teammate Dylan Strome, the dynamic centre who led the OHL in scoring.

Here’s a look at the Top Ten picks:

For an entire list of all the trades from the 2015 NHL draft visit Sportsnet here.