Habs News: Montreal Canadiens, NHL, Draft Lottery, Kent Hughes, Shane Wright, Josh Anderson, Sam Montembeault, Laval Rocket
ROCKET SPORTS MEDIA | MONTREAL, QC. — This is your one-stop destination for your Canadiens news capsule. Here are your Habs Headlines!
Habs Win Lottery
The Montreal Canadiens won the lottery on Tuesday night providing them with the first overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The Canadiens had an 18.5 percent chance of winning the lottery, the highest odds of all non-playoff teams who participated in the lottery.
The first round pick was a consolation prize to the team and its fans for a miserable regular season finishing 32nd place with a record of 22-49-11.
The final two cards in the lottery belonged to the Canadiens and the New Jersey Devils. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly flipped the card with the CH logo signifying the Canadiens as the winner of the lottery.
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes said that making the first overall selection at the Bell Centre will be a very special event.
“You hope as an organization that you don’t pick number one overall too often, but when you’re in that situation, it’s pretty special.”
“It’s certainly exciting for us as an organization. I remember the last time the Draft was in Montreal. It was a packed house. That isn’t the case in every Draft location, so especially with us owning the first pick, I can only imagine the buildup of anticipation, excitement and interest in the Montreal Canadiens,” said Hughes. “You hope as an organization that you don’t pick number one overall too often, but when you’re in that situation, it’s pretty special.”
The Canadiens are the first team to make the first overall selection at home since 1985 when the Maple Leafs picked Wendall Clark. Montreal hasn’t had the first overall pick since 1980 when they selected Doug Wickenheiser.
2022 NHL Entry Draft: July 7-8
Who will the Canadiens pick in 2022? Hughes wasn’t willing to share that information.
“We think we have the opportunity to draft a player that’s going to have an important role in the future of the Montreal Canadiens,” Hughes said. “When? How? That’s to be determined, like every other year in the draft, but we’re excited. We’re excited about the potential in this draft.”
The top North American skater ranked by NHL Central Scouting Bureau is centreman Shane Wright from the Ontario Hockey League’s Kingston Frontenacs. Wright recorded 94 points on 32 goals, 62 assists in 63 games in the 2021-22 season. Left-winger Juraj Slafkovsky of TPS of Liiga in Finland is ranked number one among International skaters.
Hughes said that Canadiens management team will be looking for particular traits in addition to talent when determining their selection. “We’re looking to establish a culture I’ve been talking about since my arrival, so it’s important to have talent but also character and leadership,” said Hughes.
Surgery for Montembeault
Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault underwent surgery on his right wrist last Friday May 6. The operation was performed by Dr. Robert Hotchkiss at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
The Canadiens announced that Montembeault is expected to be ready for the start of training camp in September.
Anderson to World Championship
Canadiens forward Josh Anderson was named to the final roster of Team Canada for the upcoming IIHF World Championship in Tampere and Helsinki, Finland. Anderson was one of 24 players selected by general manager Shane Doan for Hockey Canada.
The tournament runs from May 13 to 29.
Fellow Canadiens Jordan Harris and Sean Farrell will also participate in the World Championship representing Team USA.
Calder Cup Playoffs
The Laval Rocket earned a split in Syracuse in the first two games of their North Division semifinal with the Crunch. The best of five series now makes its way to Laval for games three and four on Thursday May 12 and Saturday May 14.
For full coverage of the Laval Rocket’s playoff run, visit AHL Report and for a Calder Cup playoff primer, subscribe to The Press Zone podcast.
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Think the kid played very well under less than ideal circumstances. No problem with him coming.. and the first pick yah….f…..n. hoo. Hope he gets a better deal than Doug Wickenheiser. May God rest his soul.
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