NHL draft: Panthers have plenty of options with No. 1 pick

PHILADELPHIA – The NHL may as well put out a casting call for a movie set in Philadelphia.

The league sent its top draft prospects to all the tourist areas for photos and interviews, from the Rocky statue, to the baseball stadium, and, yes, the obligatory cheesesteak stand.

But much like the fictional fighter who conquered the odds, only one standout can stand tall as the No. 1 overall pick.

And with the first pick of the 2014 draft, the Florida Panthers select …

Well, unlike some of the recent drafts, this one remained a mystery heading into tonight’s draft at Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center.

There is no consensus No. 1 pick and the Panthers have plenty of options to help try and turn the franchise into a consistent playoff team.

Panthers general manager Dale Tallon, however, hasn’t been shy about his willingness to trade the No. 1 pick for the right price.

The top candidates for No. 1 include: Kingston Frontenacs center Samuel Bennett, Barrie Colts defense- man Aaron Ekblad, Kootenay Ice center Sam Reinhart and Prince Albert Raiders center Leon Draisaitl. –AP