The Montreal Canadiens will be hosting the 2020 NHL Entry Draft
By Omar L
The 2019 NHL Entry Draft is set to take place in Vancouver, but the Montreal Canadiens will have the honour of hosting the event in 2020.
What a day for NHL News. The Anaheim Ducks buy out Corey Perry (which is of interest to the Montreal Canadiens), Jesse Puljijarvi requests a trade from the Edmonton Oilers (also a point of interest to the Montreal Canadiens), and Kevin Hayes finds his way into the $7-million threshold. But the latest news is something special, not only for the organization but for the city of Montreal.
According to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, the Montreal Canadiens will be hosting the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
The last time the Habs were the host city of the draft was back in 2009. John Tavares went first overall to the New York Islanders while Montreal selected 19th overall after making the playoffs but losing to the Boston Bruins in the first round via sweep.
That saw centreman Louis Leblanc join the organization. Scouts praised his size and goal-scoring ability but only managed to play 43 games for the Montreal Canadiens tallying up five goals and five assists in the process. The bulk of his professional career was spent in the AHL playing for the Hamilton Bulldogs before being traded to the Anaheim Ducks in 2014 and eventually leaving North America for the KHL.
That’s all in the past. It’ll be interesting to see what the 2020 draft will bring for the Montreal Canadiens. The team will be expected to perform and make the playoffs ideally having their table as far back on the floor as possible. Marc Bergevin‘s ability to make the right signings and trades between then and the beginning of the 2019-20 season will determine how successful that goal is.
Another eyebrow raiser for the 2020 draft is who is expected to go first overall. Alexis Lafrenière has held all the eyes for years now since his days playing for Saint-Eustache Vikings of the QMAAA. Lafrenière was selected first overall by Rimouski Océanic of the QMJHL scoring 42 goals and 38 assists for 80 points in 60 games and went on to improve to 37 goals and 68 assists for 105 points in 61 games this past year.
His goal output from his rookie season was the highest seen since Sidney Crosby, and he has been a player to watch tear up major junior. Another thing about Lafrenière is that he is a hometown boy hailing from Saint-Eustache, Quebec.
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The Montreal Canadiens shouldn’t be anywhere close to a position to draft Lafrenière, but seeing a future francophone superstar be drafted in the Bell Centre will be special.