Power No. 1 pick by Sabres in 2021 NHL Draft

Owen Power was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft by the Buffalo Sabres on Friday.

"It's pretty special," Power said. "Just being able to have a bunch of my family behind me and celebrate with me was pretty special and even better than the way I thought it was going to turn out.
"I didn't know (Buffalo would choose me) until they called my name. I was kind of hoping. They've got a lot of young prospects and I think a promising future, so I'm excited for what's to come."
The left-shot defenseman is the third player to be selected No. 1 directly from the NCAA and the first from the University of Michigan to be selected No. 1.
The Sabres on June 2 won the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft Lottery for the second time in the past four drawings; they selected defenseman Rasmus Dahlin at No. 1 in the 2018 NHL Draft.
Center Matthew Beniers was picked No. 2 by the expansion Seattle Kraken; center Mason McTavish was selected No. 3 by the Anaheim Ducks; defenseman Luke Hughes was the No. 4 choice by the New Jersey Devils; and center Kent Johnson was chosen No. 5 by the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Beniers is the first NHL Draft pick by the Kraken, who participated in their expansion draft Wednesday and begin play next season.
"There's so many words I can use to describe it, it's surreal," Beniers said. "It's honestly amazing. I could not be happier, and I'm honestly at a loss of words just thinking about what just happened and, actually, being drafted in the first place, going second overall and going to a new expansion team. I'm so unbelievably excited and thankful for everything."
RELATED: 2021 [NHL Draft first-round results, analysis | Complete coverage of NHL Draft]
Beniers and Johnson played at Michigan last season, and Hughes plans to play there as a freshman next season.
The Hugheses became the first American family with three siblings selected in the first round. Luke Hughes joined his brother, center Jack Hughes, with the Devils, who picked him No. 1 in the 2019 NHL Draft. Quinn Hughes, a defenseman for the Vancouver Canucks, was selected No. 7 in 2018.
"Yeah, I mean it's a dream come true," Luke Hughes told ESPN. "I'm super happy, super excited to play with Jack, and someday hopefully to play with Quinn too. I'm super excited to be a Devil."
Jack Hughes said, "It's an awesome, awesome (day), it's a great pick for our team. [We're] getting a great player. But I'm just a proud older brother right now."
The draft was conducted virtually for the second straight year due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus, with each team selecting from its draft venue in its city and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman based at NHL Studios in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Rounds 2-7 are Saturday (11 a.m. ET; NHLN, SN, SN NOW).
McTavish was the first of five Ontario Hockey League players drafted in the first round. The OHL season was canceled in April due to the pandemic.
"He's a real good fit for our young guys," Ducks general manager Bob Murray said. "He compliments our young guys real well with the leadership and a little bit of a different game than the rest of our young players at the moment."
Two goalies were chosen in the first round for the first time since the 2012 NHL Draft: Sebastian Cossa at No. 15 by the Detroit Red Wings, and Jesper Wallstedt at No. 20 by the Minnesota Wild. (Goalies Andrei Vasilevskiy, Tampa Bay Lightning, No. 19, and Malcolm Subban, Boston Bruins, No. 24, were picked in 2012).
The Red Wings moved up from No. 23 in a trade with the Dallas Stars to select Cossa. The Wild traded the No. 22 pick to the Edmonton Oilers to move up for Wallstedt, who became the first Sweden-born goalie to be selected in the first round.
"I think Minnesota is a great organization and I'm very happy and looking forward to this," Wallstedt told ESPN.

The Arizona Coyotes, who forfeited the No. 11 pick for violating the NHL Combine Testing Policy during the 2019-20 season,
received the No. 9 pick as part of a trade
that sent defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson and forward Conor Garland to the Canucks. Arizona used it to draft forward Dylan Guenther.
Buffalo previously selected No. 1 three times: Dahlin, center Pierre Turgeon (1987) and center Gilbert Perreault (1970).
New York Islanders goalie Rick DiPietro (Boston University, 2000 NHL Draft) and Red Wings forward Joe Murphy (Michigan State, 1986) were the previous NCAA players to be selected No. 1.
Power has said he was leaning toward playing at Michigan again next season.
"I know we're talking about the No. 1 overall pick and a player that is clearly capable of stepping right into the NHL, but you have to look at the long game even with a player at this level and say, 'What is best for him, how does he continue to get better?'" Sabres GM Kevyn Adams said. "For me, it's great to have someone step right in and they're playing, but really want to make sure these guys are going to be at their peak however many years that takes.
"It's too early, but we're going to sit down and have those discussions. We're absolutely open to what we think is the best to work with Owen to help him become the best player he can."
Beniers also has said he plans to return to Michigan. A player can sign an entry-level contract and play in the NHL next season after his college season ends.
"I think I can step in and play," Power said. "I don't think the decision will be whether or not I'm ready to play, it's what is better for my development at the end of the day. I don't think there's a bad option, and it's something we have to figure out."
The last player chosen No. 1 to not play in the NHL the following season was Erik Johnson, selected by the St. Louis Blues in the 2006 NHL Draft. The defenseman returned to play at the University of Minnesota and made his NHL debut during the 2007-08 season.

The Blue Jackets had three picks in the first round. They also selected center Cole Sillinger at No. 12, a pick
obtained from the Chicago Blackhawks
in a trade for defenseman Seth Jones, and defenseman Corson Ceulemans at No. 25.
"A bittersweet day, but exciting, and I think we accomplished a lot," Columbus GM Jarmo Kekalainen said. "With the picks that we got, they were basically exactly who we targeted. A lot of times you get disappointed one or two picks before yours. We had some nervous moments today, obviously, waiting to see if any of the guys fall."
The Montreal Canadiens selected defenseman Logan Mailloux with the No. 31 pick.
On July 20, Mailloux renounced himself from the draft, asking all 32 NHL teams to refrain from picking him. He made the announcement on social media after a charge related to a photo of a sexual encounter in Sweden.
"The Canadiens are aware of the situation and by no means minimize the severity of Logan's actions," Montreal said in a statement. "Logan understands the impact of his actions. His recent public statement is a genuine acknowledgement of his poor behavior, and the first step on his personal journey.
"We are making a commitment to accompany Logan on his journey by providing him with the tools to mature and the necessary support to guide him in his development. We are also committed to raising awareness among our players about the repercussions of their actions on the lives of others."
2021 NHL DRAFT FIRST ROUND
1. Buffalo Sabres: Owen Power, D
2. Seattle Kraken: Matthew Beniers, C
3. Anaheim Ducks: Mason McTavish, C
4. New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes, D
5. Columbus Blue Jackets: Kent Johnson, C
6. Detroit Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson, D
7. San Jose Sharks: William Eklund, LW
8. Los Angeles Kings: Brandt Clarke, D
9. Arizona Coyotes (from VAN): Dylan Guenther, RW
10. Ottawa Senators: Tyler Boucher, RW
11. Arizona Coyotes: Forfeited
12. Columbus Blue Jackets (from CHI): Cole Sillinger, C
13. Calgary Flames: Matthew Coronato, RW
14. Buffalo Sabres (from PHI): Isak Rosen, RW
15. Detroit Red Wings (from DAL): Sebastian Cossa, G
16. New York Rangers: Brennan Othmann, LW
17. St. Louis Blues: Zachary Bolduc, C
18. Winnipeg Jets: Chaz Lucius, C
19. Nashville Predators: Fedor Svechkov, C
20. Minnesota Wild (from EDM): Jesper Wallstedt, G
21. Boston Bruins: Fabian Lysell, RW
22. Edmonton Oilers (from MIN): Xavier Bourgault, C
23. Dallas Stars (from WSH via DET): Wyatt Johnston, C
24. Florida Panthers: Mackie Samoskevich, RW
25. Columbus Blue Jackets (from TOR): Corson Ceulemans, D
26. Minnesota Wild (from PIT): Carson Lambos, D
27. Nashville Predators (from CAR): Zachary L'Heureux, LW
28. Colorado Avalanche: Oskar Olausson, RW
29. New Jersey Devils (from NYI): Chase Stillman, RW
30. Vegas Golden Knights: Zach Dean, C
31. Montreal Canadiens: Logan Mailloux, D
32. Chicago Blackhawks (from TBL via CBJ): Nolan Allan, D