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Dorion believes Englund could and should eventually be among the Senators top four defencemen in a few years because he has quiet, natural leadership abilities and matches up well against top opposition players.

“He’s just a guy who plays a North American style of game and we’re excited to bring a guy like that who brings those attributes to the ice.”

Dorion says the Senators have had their eye on Englund for a long time. While he says Englund needs to get stronger, Dorion suggested that he could challenge for a spot on the Senators in two or three seasons.

The Senators followed that up by choosing Miles Gendron, an offensive defenceman from Rivers Academy, near Boston. They also chose United States Hockey League centre/winger Shane Eiserman — pronounced Yzerman — Carleton Place Canadians defenceman Kelly Summers and skilled (but perhaps undersized) centre Francis Perron.

Englund, 6-3 and 190 pounds, was the first pick of the draft for the Senators, who didn’t have a selection in Friday’s opening round, having traded the choice away to the Anaheim Ducks in last summer’s trade for Bobby Ryan.

In selecting Englund, the Senators went to familiar territory, back to Djurgardens in Stockholm, the original home of current Senators centre Mika Zibanejad. Djurgardens is also home to Tobias Lindberg, whom the Senators selected in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.

Englund isn’t ready to step into the NHL next season and after attending development camp in Ottawa next week, he’ll go back to Djurgardens, hoping to play in the Swedish Elite League.

“I’ve heard a lot of great things (about Ottawa),” said Englund. “It’s exciting. I’ve heard they have a great development camp and the organization really helps you develop.”

In terms of Swedish comparisons, Englund’s style is closer to that of Frederik Claessen than to Karlsson. Claessen, originally selected by the Senators in the 2011 draft, is coming off a strong season as a physical defenceman with Binghamton of the American Hockey League.