OTTAWA-Luke Schenn was a Maple Leaf for all of a nanosecond when he found out what it was like to represent the blue and white in the home of the Ottawa Senators.
As soon as Leaf executive Mike Penny announced his name, the boos cascaded down from the Scotiabank Place crowd, and Schenn's baptism was under way.
"Obviously, Ottawa and Toronto are great rivals, and that's all part of it," said the smiling, 6-foot-2, 215-pound defenceman from the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. "I feel so honoured to wear this jersey. I couldn't be more excited. It feels unbelievable."
Leafs GM Cliff Fletcher was beaming at how he landed Schenn, a mobile, physical, stay-at-home defenceman who had seven goals and 27 assists and 100 penalty minutes for Kelowna.
After Tampa Bay took Sarnia Sting centre Steven Stamkos first overall, it was a march of highly touted defencemen: Drew Doughty, Zach Bogosian and Alex Pieterangelo.
Coveting Schenn, and convinced about 15 other teams were trying to get the fifth overall pick from the Islanders, the Leafs offered the seventh overall pick and two conditional picks (a second-rounder and a third-rounder).
"I'll take quality over quantity any day of the week," said Fletcher. "He'll be a cornerstone of the Leaf defence for years to come. He's not that far removed from playing immediately in the NHL. He's physical, he's mobile, he makes a great first pass and he plays with tremendous composure."
Schenn was a standout on Canada's gold-medal winning world junior hockey team. Scouts aren't projecting he will be a big scorer in the NHL, but compare him most often to Adam Foote.
"He does so many things well in a detailed way," said Dave Morrison, the Leafs' top amateur scout. "He's not your flashy guy back there, but he finishes his checks, he's reliable, he's got great experience from the world juniors."
Schenn's arrival comes at a pivotal time in Leaf history. It appears Mats Sundin's career in Toronto is over. The team has a new coach in Ron Wilson, and a new general manager is in the cards.
"We moved up in the draft to get the player we wanted," said Wilson. "That's a huge message to everybody.
"(Schenn) is the kind of guy who could step in and play right away. You never know. You don't want to put that kind of pressure on an 18-year-old. It does signal that this team wants to get young, and build the right way."
Being a No.5 pick - the highest the Leafs have picked since selecting Wendel Clark first overall in 1985 - will bring some added heat in an already pressure-packed Leaf atmosphere.
"I'm looking to come here and help contribute and turn things around," said Schenn. "I'm set to be here. I'm a piece of the puzzle."
He says he's ready for the crazy atmosphere that often surrounds the Leafs.
"You always watch the Leafs on TV and read the papers, and they're the centre of attention everywhere you look," said Schenn. "It's really cool to be a part of and it we'll learn more as we go ahead.
"There's always pressure when you play in Toronto. But I put a lot of pressure on myself to be the best I can be. It's going to come from within."
Fletcher said Schenn will have a chance to make the team in training camp, but wasn't necessarily counting on it. Schenn said he welcomes the chance.
"I'm going to have to have a good summer, go to camp and see what happens," said Schenn.
In all, there were 13 trades involving seven established NHLers and 37 draft picks in a lively evening that lasted until Detroit chose Guelph goalie Thomas McCollum 30th overall.
The draft continues today with rounds two through seven. The Leafs have seven picks, having also traded a third-round pick to St. Louis for Jamal Mayers on the eve of the draft.
"Toronto's going to love this guy," St. Louis president John Davidson said. "He's a real character guy. He takes draws, he kills penalties, a lot of speed. He can fight."
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