NHL DRAFT: North Dakota freshman Jake Sanderson top collegian selected in Tuesday’s NHL Draft; Wisconsin’s Holloway grabbed 14th by Edmonton

In a draft that was scheduled to be in Montreal but instead held virtually due to COVID-19, Jake Sanderson, who will begin his freshman season at North Dakota when NCHC play resumes, was the top collegian, selected fifth overall by the Ottawa Senators in the NHL Draft.

Only three total players with college ties were selected in the first round, the lowest number since the 2014 NHL Draft.

Sanderson was the second-highest American defenseman drafted in the last decade behind only Seth Jones, picked fourth by Nashville in 2013. In 68 games played last season, he registered nine goals and 34 assists for the U.S. National Team Development Program.

“For me growing up in Whitefish (Mont.), I was playing with kids younger and older than me,” Sanderson told NBC Sports. He could become the first player from Montana-born player to every play in the NHL. “Hockey is growing there and so am I.”

Wisconsin’s Dylan Holloway, who as a freshman notched eight goals and nine assists in 35 games, was the top active college player selected, taken by Edmonton as the 14th-overall selection.

Late in the second round, Brendon Brisson, who played last season for Chicago of the USHL and is enrolled at Michigan, was selected 29th by the Vegas Golden Knights.

The draft will be conducted over two days total, with the first round held on Tuesday evening and rounds 2 through 7 hosted beginning at 11:30 a.m. ET on Wednesday (NHL Network).

Here is a complete list of current U.S. college players and recruits selected in Tuesday’s opening round: