2014 NHL Draft - Round 1

Defenseman Aaron Ekblad tries on a Florida Panthers jersey after being selected first overall in the 2014 NHL Draft.

(Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA – Flyers general manager Ron Hextall admitted trying to trade up in the NHL Draft, which got underway Friday night at Wells Fargo Center.

Other than that, Hextall disclosed little.

Florida Panthers GM Dale Tallon shared more.

Tallon admitted the Flyers made a big run at trading for first overall pick, which the Panthers held and used to draft defenseman Aaron Ekblad.

“We were close,” Tallon said. “(The Flyers) made a legitimate attempt. We had a number of conversations with Ron. They teased me. It was not an easy decision. They were willing. It was enticing.”

If the Flyers had completed the trade, they were expected to draft Ekblad, the top defense prospect in the draft.

The Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reported that the Flyers offered centers Brayden Schenn and Vincent Lecavalier, but the Panthers said no because they wanted right wing Wayne Simmonds either added to the deal or instead of Schenn.

Earlier, the Miami Herald reported that Simmonds was in play, along with both Schenns – Brayden and defenseman Luke – and Lecavalier. That report had the Flyers also looking to acquire defenseman Erik Gudbranson, the third pick of the 2010 draft.

Lecavalier is expected to be traded to the Panthers on July 2 or shortly thereafter for left wing Scottie Upshall, a Flyer for three seasons from 2006-07 to 2008-09. Lecavalier won’t be dealt until then because he has a $2 million signing bonus that will be paid on July 1.

After falling to move up to No. 1, the Flyers ended up keeping their 17th overall pick and drafted defenseman Travis Sanheim.

“We tried a number of things over the past few days and nothing came to fruition,” Hextall said. “I’m not going to comment on dynamics or anything. You do anything you can to try to make a team better. If at any point we can trade up? Yeah, we’re going to try to trade up."