Canada tops draft with 102 players, only seven Russians picked

MONTREAL - Canada led all countries with 102 players selected at the NHL draft, down from 120 in 2008 but the same number as in 2007.

The United States had 55 players chosen, up 10 from last year, although it had none in the top 15.

Sweden had 24 chosen, up seven from 2008 and there were 10 from Finland, a gain of three. Slovakia had five after not having a player drafted last year.

Russia, still hurting from the lack of a transfer agreement with the NHL, had seven and for a second year in a row the Czech Republic had only three. Belarus, Denmark, Germany and Britain each had one player picked.