The Ottawa Senators have gone to Sweden again with a top draft pick, selecting centre Mika Zibanejad with the sixth overall pick in the 2011 entry draft.
Zibanejad is a six foot two, 191-pound all-around forward from Djurgarden, one of the signature teams in the Swedish Elite League.
Ottawa general manager Bryan Murray called Zibanejad "a big guy who can skate and handle the puck," on TSN.
He scored five goals and four assists in 26 games for Djurgarden's men's team with limited ice time, but eight points in eight games in the playoffs.
He also put up nine points in six games at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
"It's my goal to make the team (next year)" Zibanejad told TSN moments after being drafted. "If I don't, I'll work hard at Djurgarden and come back next year."
His mother is Finnish, his father is Iranian, and he speaks Swedish, Finnish and English, according to his NHL.com profile.
Zibanejad follows recent Swedish prospects Erik Karlsson, Robin Lehner and David Rundblad, as well as captain Daniel Alfredsson.
Ottawa took right winger Stefan Noeson from the OHL's Plymouth Whalers with the 21st pick, a Texas native who Murray compared to league MVP Corey Perry.
Noesen had 33 goals and 43 assists for the Whalers and grew up cheering for the Dallas Stars and Mike Modano, according to NHL.com.
"I met with (the Senators) twice and they told me I'd be a superstar here," Noesen said on TSN. "I'm excited."
Noesen's coach Mike Vellucci said Noesen was a big-game player who is the "ultimate competitor."
That pick was acquired in last season's Mike Fisher trade.
The Senators then traded up in the draft, dealing picks 35 and 48 for the 24th choice.
They took left winger Matt Puempel from the Peterborough Petes, who brings his 34 goals and 35 assists from the Peterborough Memorial Centre to Scotiabank Place.
They will continue to stock their roster Saturday. when rounds two through seven happen in Minnesota.
The top Ottawa 67s pick was centre Shane Prince, who will stay in the city after being picked 61st overall by the Senators.
The Edmonton Oilers made centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins the first overall draft pick, followed by winger Gabriel Landeskog to the Colorado Avalanche and centre Jonathon Huberdeau to the Florida Panthers.
