Article content

When the Buffalo Sabres won the NHL draft lottery, general manager Jason Botterill had a smile that would light up a hockey rink because he was getting the right to draft Swedish phenom defenceman Rasmus Dahlin first overall in June.

Dahlin is what every NHL team is looking for; a true No. 1 defenceman. At least that’s what the scouts think.

It’s certainly what Edmonton Oilers GM Peter Chiarelli needs to complement Connor McDavid, but the Oilers haven’t had one of those since Hall of Famer Chris Pronger left in 2006. But he’s not getting that so will try for a right-shot defenceman who puts up 50-60 points and can play the point on the power play as a fall back.

In other words, a No. 2 D, which is what Justin Schultz might be today if he hadn’t been shell-shocked in Edmonton and traded to Pittsburgh where he’s won two Stanley Cups.

You almost always have to draft your true No. 1 defenceman.

Like Los Angeles with Drew Doughty, the No. 2 overall pick in 2008, or Tampa’s Victor Hedman, who went No. 3 in 2009, or Ottawa’s Erik Karlsson, the No. 15 pick in 2008.