Hughes taken 1st overall

Photo: The Canadian Press

As expected, the New Jersey Devils nabbed U.S. National Team Development Program centre Jack Hughes with the first pick in the NHL draft in Vancouver.

Hughes is the younger brother of Vancouver Canucks defenceman Quinn Hughes.

Over two seasons with the under-18 development team, Hughes amassed a record 154 assists and 228 points.

The New York Rangers, picking second for the first time in 53 years, selected Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko.

Kakko played in the top Finnish pro league last season, scoring 22 goals.

Hughes and Kakko were the consensus top two players in the draft.

Saskatoon forward Kirby Dachs was the first Canadian and first Western Hockey League player selected, going third overall to Chicago.

Lethbridge centre Dylan Cozens, a native of Whitehorse, became the first player from the Yukon taken in the first round. He went seventh overall to Buffalo.

The Vancouver Canucks pick 10th.

Two Kelowna Rockets could go in the opening round, including defenceman Lassi Thomson and forward Nolan Foote.