Reinhart, Fleury and Ritchie land in top 10 June 30, 2014

After flirting with a potential 1^st overall selection all year long, Sam Reinhart was finally taken 2^nd overall in the 2014 NHL draft on Friday, selected by the Buffalo Sabres. The native of North Vancouver was one of the top players in the CHL this past season, finishing with 36 goals, 69 assists, and 105 points in the Western Hockey League.

Meanwhile, Haydn Fleury was the 2^nd D-man taken in the draft (7^th overall by the Carolina Hurricanes) after being named the top defenseman at the U-18 World Championships earlier this season. The rugged blue-liner finished this season with career highs in goals (8), assists (38), and points (46).  

With the 10^th pick in the draft, the Anaheim Ducks went for the top power forward prospect available, Peterborough Petes top scorer, Nick Ritchie. The product of Orangeville, Ontario led his team in numerous categories in the 2013-14 season, including goals (39), points (74) and PIM’s (136).

Other notable players taken in the first round were Travis Sanheim and Robby Fabbri. Sanheim, taken 17^th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers, is a good puck-moving defenseman who had risen up the scouting ranks over the last few months. As for Fabbri, the 21^st selection by the St. Louis Blues proved his worth after an excellent year with Guelph Storm. The dynamic forward followed up a 45-goal regular season with an even more impressive playoffs, one in which he was named the OHL MVP.