The Toronto Maple officially have their man. And his name is Auston Matthews.
For the first time since 1986, when the franchise selected Wendel Clark, the Leafs on Friday night set the tone at the NHL draft, picking Matthews, of Scottsdale, Ariz., with the No. 1 pick at the First Niagara Centre in Buffalo.
Matthews, the consensus top prospect throughout his draft-eligible season, immediately becomes the face of the storied franchise.
If he lives up to expectations, the 18-year-old should blossom into a cornerstone centre, a 200-foot player with the size and skill to lead a competitive NHL club.