NHL : Americans go 1-2 in draft

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Oh, Canada! For the first time, Americans were taken with the top two picks in the NHL draft.

First, the Chicago Blackhawks, trying to rebuild a once-proud franchise after four consecutive losing seasons, selected Buffalo, N.Y., native Patrick Kane with the No. 1 pick Friday night.

Then the Philadelphia Flyers picked left wing James vanRiemsdyk, a member of the U.S. National Team Development Program from Middletown, N.J.

Only the first round was held. The draft will conclude today. No Spokane Chiefs were chosen.

“It’s good to have the No. 1 and No. 2 picks,” said Kane, a 5-foot-9, 160-pound right wing who had 62 goals and 83 assists in 58 games last year for the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. “It’s unbelievable. It’s good to see the Americans start coming into the league.”

The 6-3, 200-pound vanRiemsdyk had 33 goals and 30 assists in 42 games for the U.S. Under-18 team a year ago.

Even before the first pick was made, it was a busy day for many teams.

“The Toronto Maple Leafs dealt three draft picks – possibly one from the first round – for goalie Vesa Toskala and forward Mark Bell.

“The Nashville Predators dealt goaltender Tomas Vokoun to the Florida Panthers for three picks.

“The Blackhawks sent defenseman Adrian Aucoin and a seventh-round selection to Calgary for defensemen Andrei Zyuzin and Steve Marr.

In addition, the Pittsburgh Penguins reached agreements with veteran forwards Gary Roberts and Mark Recchi on one-year deals before they could become unrestricted free agents; the Colorado Avalanche signed forward Tyler Arnason to a two-year deal; Ottawa re-signed forward Dean McAmmond to a multiyear contract; and the San Jose Sharks locked up defenseman Craig Rivet with a four-year deal.