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Stamkos was rated the top skater in North America by the NHL's chief scouting service. He led his minor league team with 105 points this year and he was also a member of the 2008 Canadian team that captured the World Junior Championships.

The centerman also fits a major need for Tampa Bay, which traded away Brad Richards to Dallas last season.

With the second choice in the draft, the Los Angeles Kings picked up defenseman Drew Doughty. He also played for Canada at the World Junior Championships.

Doughty was the first of four straight defenseman chosen in the first round. Zach Bogosian went to Atlanta, St. Louis chose Alex Pietrangelo and Toronto, which moved up to fifth from seventh in a trade with the New York Islanders, picked Luke Schenn.

Among the many draft-day trades, Florida sent team captain and centerman Olli Jokinen to Phoenix for defensemen Nick Boynton and Keith Ballard along with a second-round pick.

 BREAKING STORIES

Pittsburgh breaks ground on new arena

Scott Gordon named coach of Islanders

Granato leads hockey hall of fame list

NHL names Collins chief operating officer

Wild lock up Bouchard for 5 years

Toronto Maple Leafs offering a free game

Philadelphia sports arena to be torn down

N.Y. Islanders fire coach

Rhoden wins celebrity event for 7th time

Tampa Bay Lightning GM Feaster resigns

Bluejackets extend Hitchcock's contract

Owen Nolan signed by Minnesota Wild

Jaromir Jagr joins Russian hockey club

Red Wings sign free agent Marian Hossa

Rangers sign defenseman Wade Redden

Maple Leafs sign 3 for $26.7 million

Vancouver offers Sundin record $20M

Blackhawks sign Campbell and Huet

Flyers ink Jeff Carter to long-term deal

Lightning player personnel head to resign