Canadian: eleven new players … but only one from Quebec

The debate on Quebecers and QMJHL players will always be present after a draft.

• Read also – First choice of the repechage: stupor at the Bell Center

• Read also – All first-round picks in the NHL Draft

• Read also – The Canadian’s gamble

Last year, the Canadian had drawn four times in the courtyard of the Courteau circuit with the selections of Riley Kidney (2^e tower), William Trudeau (4^e tower), Joshua Roy (5^e tower) and Xavier Simoneau (6^e round).

A year later, in the first draft under the direction of Nick Bobrov and Martin Lapointe, the Habs did not experience a miraculous catch with local products. Of the 11 players selected, only one comes from the QMJHL. This is the 20-year-old defender Miguël Tourigny, the 216^e choice, in the seventh and final round.

” The timing was not there “

Asked by a colleague about the choice to go for center Owen Beck before defenders Noah Warren and Tristan Luneau, two second-round picks from the Anaheim Ducks, Lapointe logically defended the organization’s decisions.

“It’s not that Beck won the bet,” said Lapointe. But like I said, Owen plays well over 200 feet. If you notice, in the first round, there were several centers and defenders. We wanted a center. He’s a player who plays the right way, he fits the profile of our team. That’s what tipped the balance. »

“It has nothing to do with Quebecers. We love them, we want them. But it doesn’t always work. the timing was not there. We had tried to advance in the first round. »

When we read between the lines, we can therefore deduce that the Habs had their eyes on center Nathan Gaucher, on the 22nd^e first-round choice. Again by the Ducks.

A Franco-Ontarian

It is not just Tourigny who speaks the language of Jean Béliveau in the choices of the Canadiens of 2022. Winger Cédrick Guindon, from Rockland in Ontario, is perfectly bilingual. He wore the colors of the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL.

“It’s perfect, it’s a perfect day,” said Guindon. I get picked up by Montreal in Montreal! »

When he was younger, Guindon was a fan of the… Ottawa Senators.

Brief analyzes

Lapointe and Bobrov, director and co-director of amateur recruiting in Montreal, briefly analyzed the team’s 11 draft picks.

Here is a brief portrait of the new hopes of the CH.

1^er TURN – 1^er CHOICE

Juraj Slafkovsky

Left winger

• GST Turku (Finland)
• 6’4″ | 229 lbs.
• Born in Kosice, Slovakia

“A big striker. What he has done on the international scene, at his age, is very special. He wants to make a difference. He’s not perfect, but he’s going to get better. »

– Martin Lapointe

1^er TOWER – 26^e CHOICE

Filip Mesar

Right winger

• Poprad (Slovakia)
• 5 ft 10 in | 174 lbs.
• Born in Kezmarok, Slovakia

“He grew up as a center player, but plays on the wing in the pros. He is very quick and skillful. He can skate, make games. He works tirelessly. »

–Nick Bobrov

2^e TOWER – 33^e CHOICE

Owen Beck

Center

• Mississauga (OHL)
• 5 ft 11 in | 187 pounds
• Born in Port Hope, Ontario

“He’s playing the right way, over 200 feet. He was the best in the OHL in the face-off circle. He’s a mature, fast player who makes plays and helps his defensemen. »

– Martin Lapointe

2^e TOWER – 62^e CHOICE

Lane Hutson

Defender

• United States U18 (NTDP)
• 5 ft 8 in | 158 lbs.
• Born in Holland, Michigan

“He is considered the best defender of the American development program. He has a very interesting sense of hockey. He’s the type of defender that’s hard to find. »

–Nick Bobrov

3^e TOWER – 75^e CHOICE

Vinzenz Rohrer

Center

• Ottawa (OHL)
• 5 ft 10 in | 167 lbs.
• Born in Rankweil, Austria

“He plays 200 feet. He pays attention to detail. Physically, he will have to strengthen, but he is quite an athlete. He excels in everything he touches. »

– Martin Lapointe

3^e TOWER – 92^e CHOICE

Adam Engstrom

left-handed defender

• Djugardens Jr (Sweden)
• 6’2″ | 185 lbs.
• Born in Jarna, Sweden

“He played in a good organization and comes from a country that usually produces good defenders. He has the speed, the physique and is effective in protecting the puck. We like its development curve. »

–Nick Bobrov

4^e TOWER – 127^e CHOICE

Cedrick Guindon

Left winger

• Owen Sound (OHL)
• 5 ft 10 in | 170 lbs.
• Born in Rockland, Ontario

“We love his talent. He is explosive. He’s not the biggest, but he reads the game very well.”

– Martin Lapointe

5^e TOWER – 130^e CHOICE

Jared Davidson

Center

• Seattle (WHL)
• 5 ft 11 in | 179 lbs.
• Born in Edmonton, Alberta

“In Seattle, he was the engine of his junior team. He never stops working. He can score from any place. He plays like we play in the playoffs. »

–Nick Bobrov

6^e TOWER – 162^e CHOICE

Emmett Croteau

Guardian

• Waterloo (USHL)
• 6’3″ | 195 lbs.
• Born in Bonnyville, Alberta

“He’s a big goalkeeper who moves well. He’s going to Clarkson University, so it’ll give him time to develop. Our Guardians expert held him in very high esteem. »

–Nick Bobrov

7^e TOWER – 194^e CHOICE

Petteri Nurmi

left-handed defender

• HPK (Finland)
• 6 ft | 167 lbs.
• Born in Helsinki, Finland

“He’s a very mobile defender. It is good for collecting pucks in the back of the rink and in transition play. He needs to strengthen himself, but he already plays with men. »

– Martin Lapointe

7^e TOWER – 216^e CHOICE

Miguel Tourigny

Right-handed defender

• Acadie-Bathurst (QMJHL)
• 5 ft 8 in | 168 lbs.
• Born in Victoriaville, Quebec

“A defender with a smaller size, but skilful offensively. When I went to see him with the Armada, I thought he was a striker. He has flair. »

– Martin Lapointe