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Dale Tallon leaning towards using the No. 1 overall pick despite quality trade offers

Steve Marcus / REUTERS

Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon has been openly shopping the first overall pick at the 2014 NHL Entry Draft from almost the moment that the Panthers won the draft lottery in mid-April.

The veteran Panthers executive is reportedly telling rival general managers that he already has one "really good offer" for the first overall pick in addition to some other "so-so" offers, according to TSN's Darren Dreger.

Speaking with reporters in Philadelphia, Pa. on Thursday, Tallon reiterated that he's received one very intriguing offer for the first overall selection. Tallon also suggested that, more than likely, the Panthers will simply keep that pick and select a player (probably Barrie Colts defender Aaron Ekblad).

Tallon also added that the offers the first overall selection is generating on the market have surpassed his wildest expectations:

Considering the pricey ransom that rival general managers are willing to pay for the opportunity to select first at Friday's draft, if the Panthers keep the pick, they better be certain that Ekblad is really worth it.

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