Taylor trumps Tyler: Edmonton Oilers choose F Taylor Hall with No. 1 pick in NHL draft

Edmonton chooses Taylor Hall to begin NHL draft

LOS ANGELES — The Edmonton Oilers have selected forward Taylor Hall with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft.

The league-worst Oilers chose Hall over fellow OHL forward Tyler Seguin on Friday, making the toughest call at the top of a draft in several years.

The Boston Bruins eagerly grabbed Seguin moments later with the No. 2 pick.

Most NHL scouts and executives couldn’t choose a favorite between Hall, a physical left wing from the Windsor Spitfires, and Seguin, a smooth-skating center from the Plymouth Whalers.

Florida selected Kingston defenseman Erik Gudbranson with the third pick, and Columbus grabbed WHL center Ryan Johansen next. Swiss forward Nino Niederreiter, Johansen’s teammate in Portland, went to the New York Islanders with the fifth pick.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Edmonton Oilers have selected forward Taylor Hall with the No. 1 pick in the NHL draft.

The league-worst Oilers chose Hall over fellow OHL forward Tyler Seguin on Friday, making the toughest call at the top of a draft in several years.

The Boston Bruins eagerly grabbed Seguin moments later with the No. 2 pick.

Most NHL scouts and executives couldn’t choose a favorite between Hall, a physical left wing from the Windsor Spitfires, and Seguin, a smooth-skating center from the Plymouth Whalers. Both players expect to be on NHL rosters this fall.

Florida selected Kingston defenseman Erik Gudbranson with the third pick, and Columbus grabbed WHL center Ryan Johansen next.

Hall is the fourth straight OHL player chosen No. 1.