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Aaron Ekblad may be the most mature 18-year-old hockey player on the planet. "Not only does he have a 30-year-olds physique under his equipment but he also thinks and acts like a 10-year NHL vet," said Dan Stewart, scouting director for the independent scouting service Future Considerations. Ekblad, a two-way, right-shooting defenceman, knows what he wants to be not only in this weeks NHL draft but as a professional. Hed love to go No. 1 and continue to mould himself in the images of Shea Weber, Alex Pietrangelo and Duncan Keith. More than anything, though, the Barrie Colts captain wants to be considered reliable on and off the ice. "I dont do too many things that are going to surprise anyone," Ekblad said at last months scouting combine. "Im going to be the kind of player that you know what youre going to get from me." Steady and dependable doesnt put butts in seats, but Ekblad isnt touting himself as a flashy kind of player. Instead, and more importantly, he has the potential to develop into a franchise cornerstone. Because of that, the Belle River, Ont., native is the front-runner to be the top pick Friday night in Philadelphia, whether the Florida Panthers choose to keep it or trade it. Buffalo Sabres general manager Tim Murray said last week he expected Ekblad to go No. 1 regardless. If that happens, Ekblad would be the first defenceman to be selected with the top pick since Erik Johnson in 2006, and the first Canadian-born blue-liner in that spot since Chris Phillips in 1996. Ekblad knows it has been a "long time" since a defenceman was drafted first. But it would come as no shock to NHL Central Scouting director Dan Marr. "Aaron Ekblad is a hard player to go past in the draft, I think, for any of the teams, and they know that," Marr said at the combine. "There doesnt seem to be a will to take a defenceman high because a lot of times you dont get the quick bang for your buck." Ekblad wants to provide that, just as 2013 No. 4 pick Seth Jones did for the Nashville Predators. "A hundred per cent" he wants to be in the NHL next season, and he told that to all 16 teams that interviewed him. "Thats the way I believe in myself," Ekblad said. "I wouldnt say Im cocky, but Im confident and I believe that if I work hard and I do all the little things and pay attention to details, I can be in that league next year." With that confidence in mind, Ekblad still watched games this past season and recognized the NHL is a hard league to crack and that getting drafted is just a foot in the door. "It means nothing until you prove that youre ready to do it," he said. Scouts believe Ekblad is prepared to prove it. In the six-foot-three, 213-pound prospect, Ross MacLean of ISS Hockey, another independent scouting service, sees someone with skills to insulate himself from making mistakes and the maturity to be able to adjust to the next level. "Hes a kid that I think probably couldve played in the NHL this year, let alone next year," MacLean said. "I think we saw that with Seth Jones, as well, last year. Theyve just been put into positions where theyve been able to acclimatize and get comfortable and confident and develop their skills at the appropriate pace, and theyre ready for the next step." Typically, theres a learning curve for even the best young defencemen before they can become NHL regulars, let alone stars. But a handful from the top 10 of the 2012 draft, including the Toronto Maple Leafs Morgan Rielly, Anaheim Ducks Hampus Lindholm and Columbus Blue Jackets Ryan Murray, played the full 2013-14 season and showed it may not be as steep as it once was. During the season, then-Predators and now Washington Capitals coach Barry Trotz theorized that its because junior hockey has more pro systems designed to help defencemen adapt quicker. Stewart thinks Ekblad can adjust on the fly because of his awareness. After being given the captaincy in Barrie, Ekblad "was trying to do everything," Stewart said, before recognizing his weaknesses and dialling back to what hes good at. "He has shown time and time again that he learns from mistakes," Stewart said. "Ekblad is always thinking and while he does make some mistakes from time to time, he also shows an ability to compensate for any situational deficiencies. Because of his slower feet, while defending speedy forwards attacking the zone, he gives himself a little larger gap than say if he were going up against someone he feels he can easily wedge off the puck. "Its his advanced thinking on the fly and understanding of his position that should benefit him quickly at the next level." Physically, Ekblad is undoubtedly NHL-ready. After earning exceptional status to play in the OHL at the age of 15, he has gone through three junior seasons in Barrie and held his own at the world junior championship. Stewart was impressed with how Ekblad handled pressure situations and defensive responsibilities while playing for Canada at the world juniors. In Barrie, Colts teammate, roommate and best friend Brendan Lemieux — a projected first- or second-round pick in his own right and the son of former NHL agitator Claude Lemieux — saw Ekblad show even more. "Ek really showed that he was willing to stand up and answer the bell, even with his gloves off. I watched him pound a few guys this year," Lemieux said at the combine. "He might not show that physical presence and how big he is and how tough he can be, but hes a tough guy, too. Hes not just a super-skilled big guy, hes a super-skilled big, tough guy." Ekblad is certainly better known for his 23 goals and 30 assists than his three fights, and it was that offence balanced with defensive acumen that earned him OHL defenceman of the year honours. Its hard to be upset about that kind of season, but Ekblad insisted hes not satisfied with what he showed scouts. "Thats kind of the way everyone here should be thinking: I believe I can always be better," he said. "You look back on some games, some shifts and (think), What if you did this instead of that? I wouldnt say I have any regrets, per se. I think I had a pretty good year. But theres always things you couldve done." --- Follow @SWhyno on Twitter Cheap Atlanta Falcons Gear . His right arm rested in a sling and was encased in a cast from above the elbow to his hand. "Im excited," Fernandez said with a grin. Discount Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . Leaning forward with both hands on his knees, Buffon appeared to be resting or somehow trying to withstand the rain. Or perhaps the 36-year-old goalkeeper and Italy captain was reflecting on this: He is only the third player in history to be part of five World Cup squads, along with Germany great Lothar Matthaus and former Mexico goalkeeper Antonio Carbajal. http://www.cheapfalcons.com/ . He left in the 4th inning of Saturdays game against the Tigers after experiencing tightness. Reyes and the team still hope that he will be ready for Opening Day in Tampa Bay in one week. Stitched Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . Harrison Barnes had 15 points and Reggie Bullock scored 11 for the Tar Heels (17-3, 4-1 ACC), who took the court for the first time without starter Dexter Strickland. The junior guard tore his right ACL last Thursday at Virginia Tech and will miss the rest of the season. Wholesale Atlanta Falcons Jerseys . - The Baltimore Ravens have hired Steve Spagnuolo to be their secondary coach and assistant head coach.After a year away from the game, former Toronto FC defender Adrian Cann is ready to resume his career as a San Antonio Scorpion in the North American Soccer League. The 10-team, second-tier NASL, which includes FC Edmonton and the expansion Ottawa Fury FC, kicks off its spring season this weekend. The Scorpions host Minnesota United in one of four games Saturday. Released by Toronto following the 2012 season after an injury-plagued stint with the MLS team, the 33-year-old Cann elected to take some time off "to see where I am with the game, reassess my life." "Because Ive been playing for so long. It was a time in my life where I had to just step away for a bit to see where Im at." He kept Toronto as his base but he and his girlfriend used some of the time to travel, spending time in Europe and the U.S. "It was good to finally get some down time, maybe catch up on life," he said. "Sometimes you get caught up in the game so much, you kind of overlook important things in your life such as family and friends. "It was nice to kind of catch up with everyone." After reflection, he concluded he still had the "urgency to compete and win something." Scorpions coach Alan Hankinson had reached out to Cann previously but he wasnt ready. Canadian Alen Marcina, an assistant under Hankinson who is now head coach, tried Cann again and got a positive response. Marcina and Cann have some history together having played in Vancouver. So far Cann has enjoyed his time in the Texas heat. The San Antonio roster includes fellow Toronto FC alumni Eric Hassli and Julius James. Hassli, a former designated player with Toronto, Vancouver and FC Dallas, owns a ranch in Frisco, Texas. Canadian midfielder Shaun Saiko, a former Middlesbrough youth player and FC Edmonton player, is also a Scorpion.dddddddddddd Also on the roster is midfielder Walter Restrepo, traded to San Antonio from Fort Lauderdale last year in a deal that reportedly included hotel and transportation arrangements for the Florida clubs trip to Texas. Other Scorpions of note include American-born El Salvador international Richard Menjivar. San Antonio finished the pre-season undefeated (4-0-3). Cann, who played 48 games for Toronto from 2010 to 2012, says he holds no hard feelings toward his former club. "At the same time a little disappointed," he said of how it all ended. "Its my home city and a great organization to be a part of." After being named TFCs player of the year in 2010 when he played 26 games, Canns 2011 season started with a salary dispute and ended prematurely when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in training. The injury hampered him for much of the 2012 season as well. He saw action in 12 games in 2011 and just 10 in 2012. The six-foot-three defender was originally drafted by the Colorado Rapids in the second round -- 16th overall -- of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Louisville. He saw limited action in just two games for the Rapids before joining the pre-MLS Montreal Impact in 2004 and the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2006. Cann spent two seasons in Denmark with Esberg FB before signing in Toronto. While Cann had a roller-coaster ride with Toronto FC, he usually had a smile on his face. "Thats just part of the whole story," he said philosophically. "If you didnt have the ups and downs, then I guess you wouldnt know when you experience good times. "I take the good with the bad." 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